In the history of our country, the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Three Kingdoms era, is an era of civil servants and military generals shine, in this period of decades of history, there have emerged many strategists with superhuman wisdom, among them, in addition to the Zhuge Liang, Guo Jia, Zhou Yu and other people we are familiar with, there is also a strategist, who has a lifetime of strange plots, and he is Cao Wei's heavy minister - Jia Xu.
In later generations, many people commented that the first counselor of the Three Kingdoms was not Zhuge Liang or Guo Jia, but Jia Xu (xǔ).
So, why can Jia Xu get such a high evaluation?
Jia Xu (147–223), courtesy name Wenhe, was a native of Guzang, Liangzhou (present-day Liangzhou District, Wuwei, Gansu). Jia Xu was an official under Dong Zhuo in his early years, and he did not show any outstanding talent, until After Dong Zhuo was killed, Jia Xu, who was over forty years old, began to show his prominence.
In the third year of Chuping (192), after Dong Zhuo was killed, Wang Yun wanted to liquidate Dong Zhuo's Yu Party. At that time, Li Dai, Guo Feng and others were uneasy and planned to flee separately.
Jia Xu intervened to stop them, and said: "Wen Chang'an zhongzhong wants to do everything possible to curse the people of Liangzhou, and the kings abandon the crowd and go alone, that is, a pavilion can bind the king." It is better to lead the crowd to the west, collect troops, attack Chang'an, avenge Dong Gong, fortunately, serve the country to conquer the world, if not, go away later. (Romance of the Three Kingdoms)
Therefore, Li Dai, Guo Feng and others contacted the generals of Liangzhou and led their troops day and night to attack Chang'an, and to the city of Chang'an, where more than 100,000 people had gathered. Later, under the guidance of the rebellious soldiers in the city, the Liangzhou army invaded Chang'an City and engaged in a street battle with the defender Lü Bu, who was defeated and only led more than a hundred horses to escape.
Li Dai then occupied Chang'an, killed Wang Yun, took control of Emperor Xian of Han, and began to control the political power of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
When Li Dai and others were finished, jia xu wanted to make him a marquis, and jia xu said: "This life-saving plan, he has a merit!" "And resolutely do not accept."
Li Dai also asked Jia Xu to be a servant of Shangshu, but Jia Xu still refused to accept it. In the end, Li Dai had to worship Jia as a Shangshu and was responsible for selecting talents. Although Li Dai and others were close to Jia Xu, they were also very jealous of him.
In the second year of Xingping (195), Li Dai, Guo Feng, and Fan Chou were suspicious of each other and began to fight for power and profit. Emperor Xian of Han secretly fled east to Luoyang during their civil unrest, falling into Cao Cao's hands.
Jia Xu was worried about harming himself, so he defected to Zhang Xiu in Nanyang and became Zhang Xiu's adviser. Under the persuasion of Jia Xu, Zhang Xiutun bing Wancheng and Jingzhou Mu Liu Biao united. Since then, the two have become Cao Cao's confidants.
Relying on Jia Xu's schemes, Zhang Xiu twice defeated Cao Cao, who was not yet powerful at the time, and Cao Cao even lost his eldest son Cao Ang and the fierce general Dianwei.
Before the Battle of Guandu, Yuan Shao sent people to summon Zhang Xiu, and Zhang Xiu was ready to agree, but Jia Xu strongly discouraged him and suggested that Zhang Xiu once again submit to Cao Cao, who was still weaker than Yuan Shao at that time.
To this end, Jia Xu pointed out the three advantages of submitting to Cao Cao: "Fu Cao Gong serves the Son of Heaven to order the world, and it is advisable to follow one. Shao is strong and prosperous, and I will not take me as the most important. Cao public is weak, it is pleasing to me, and it is advisable to follow the second also. Those who have the ambition of overlordship will release their personal grievances and use virtue in the four seas, and it is advisable to follow the three also. (Romance of the Three Kingdoms)
After Jia Xu became Cao Cao's adviser, he made many plans for Cao Cao. In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208), after Cao Cao occupied Jingzhou, he wanted to take the opportunity to attack Wu along the east side of the river. Jia Xu dissuaded, saying that at this time, the people should be appeased, and that they should not mobilize the masses to beg Jiangdong and wait for the opportunity to make plans.
However, the only time Cao Cao did not listen to Jia Xu's words, he was defeated in the Battle of Chibi.
In the sixteenth year of Jian'an (211), ten allied armies led by Han Sui and Ma Chao gathered more than 100,000 horses and horses to defend Tongguan against Cao Cao. Jia Xu also offered a divisive plan to break up the alliance between Ma Chao and Han Sui, so that Cao Cao could pacify Guanzhong in one fell swoop.
In the twenty-second year of Jian'an (217), Cao Cao, who had become the king of Wei, was wavering on the issue of making a prince, and cao Zhi's side was gaining momentum. Cao Pi asked Jia Xu, who simply said, "The former general reveres virtue and devotes himself to the cause of a scholar, and works diligently day and night, and does not violate the Way of the Son." So much for. ”
These few words seem to be bland, but if you think about it carefully, you will find the mystery of it: in the face of Cao Zhi, who is superb in literary style and deeply liked by Cao Cao, you must be no drama with him, then you have to avoid its sharp edge and obediently be an honest filial piety.
Later, Cao Cao privately asked Jia Xu what he thought of Li Si, Jia Xu did not answer, Cao Cao asked him why he did not answer, Jia Xu said: "I was thinking about Yuan Shao and Liu Biao. Cao Cao laughed, so he established Cao Pi as the crown prince in the winter of that year. Jia Xu thus secretly helped Cao Pi become the crown prince.
Jia Xu believed that he was not Cao Cao's old vassal, but he had a deep strategist, so he was afraid of being suspected by Cao Cao in his later years, but adopted a strategy of self-preservation, he closed the door and did not communicate privately with others, his children did not marry and marry the powerful, "the theory of the world is the wisdom of the scheming."
In the first year of the Huang Dynasty (220), shortly after Cao Cao's death, Cao Pi forced Emperor Chan of Han to give up the throne, build Wei on behalf of Han, and become emperor. Cao Pi repaid Jia Xu's favor, worshiped him as a lieutenant, and made him the Marquis of Wei Shouxiang.
In the fourth year of the Huang Dynasty (223), Cao Pi asked Jia Xu whether he should destroy Shu or Wu first, and Jia Xu suggested that the country should be governed before using force, but Cao Pi did not listen, and as a result, he went out to Eastern Wu without success. In August of the same year, Jia Xu died of illness at the age of 77.
In such a complex environment as the last years of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the chaotic world of the Three Kingdoms, Jia Xu was able to influence Fengyuan, and after changing his master, he was even able to rank in the third duke and live to the age of 77, so it can be seen that Jia Xu is not only superior in wisdom and strategy, but also well versed in the way of dealing with the world, saying that his wisdom is not inferior to Zhuge Liang, is not exaggerated, right?
This article is referenced from: "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "The Famous Man on the Cliff Edge"