Xu Shu entered Cao Ying, without saying a word, and the last two sentences were enough to anger Liu Bei and make Kong Ming doubt his life

Everyone in the world knows the story of Xu Shu entering Cao Ying without saying a word, but they don't know what happened to this brilliant military advisor. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, after Xu Shu left Liu Bei and defected to Cao Cao, it seemed that the world had evaporated, and there was no trace. However, in the long river of history, Xu Shu's story is far from over. His choice not only made Liu Bei lose his talent, but also made Zhuge Liang have deep doubts about human nature. What kind of two sentences can make the late Liu Bei angry, and make Kong Ming, who is as wise as a star, confused? Xu Shu's experience in Cao Ying, what are the little-known twists and turns?

1. Xu Shu's early experience

It is said that at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the heroes rose together, and the world was in chaos. In this turbulent era, Xu Shu's story unfolded quietly. Everyone in the world knows that Xu Shu is a famous strategist in the Three Kingdoms period, but they don't know that his real name is actually Xu Fu.

Xu Fu was born in a scholarly family and has been brilliant since he was a child. His father, Xu Da, is a well-known local talent and has high hopes for his son. However, when Xu Fu was sixteen years old, an accident took Xu Da's life. It turned out that a local bully took a fancy to the Xu family's property and wanted to forcibly occupy it, so he designed to kill Xu Da.

When Xu Fu learned of this, he was overwhelmed with grief. He knelt before his father's spirit and swore: "I will not avenge this, I will not be a man!" From that day on, Xu Fu changed his name to Xu Shu, and the word "Shu" took the meaning of "Shu several revenge". In order to complete the great cause of revenge, Xu Shu began to study the art of war and strategy, vowing to outwit the enemy.

Opportunity always favors those who are prepared. Three years later, Xu Shu designed to lead the bully into a trap and slash the enemy in one fell swoop. However, just as he was about to flee, he was captured by the government. Seeing that Huangquan was about to die, an old man passing by came to the rescue. This person was Sima Hui, a well-known hermit at that time.

Sima Hui saw that Xu Shu was brilliant, so he accepted him as an apprentice. Under the guidance of Sima Hui, Xu Shu's knowledge increased day by day. Soon, he got acquainted with Shi Guangyuan, Zhuge Liang and others, and often learned from them. Xu Shu's talent soon spread in the Jiangdong area, and he was known as another genius under the "Wolong".

In 201 AD, Cao Cao's army went south, and Liu Bei was defeated again and had to defect to Liu Biao in Jingzhou. Liu Biao remembered the friendship of the same clan and asked Liu Bei to garrison Xinye. At this time, although Liu Bei was already famous all over the world, he still lacked the assistance of a powerful strategist.

Xu Shu heard that Liu Bei treated people with benevolence and righteousness and recruited talents, and he was quite yearning in his heart. One day, he came to Xinye to see Liu Beizhi's true face. Who knew that Liu Bei was inspecting the armament outside the city, so Xu Shu toured around the city. Suddenly, he saw an old man playing chess under a tree, and his chess skills were exquisite, so Xu Shu stepped forward to play against him.

This game of chess is a whole day. At dusk, Liu Bei returned to the city and was very surprised to see this situation. The old man introduced to Liu Bei and said: "This is a sleeping dragon and phoenix, and it can be peaceful in the world." Liu Bei was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly asked Xu Shu for advice.

Xu Shu saw that Liu Bei was sincere and polite, so he told his opinions. He analyzed the current situation and pointed out that although Cao Cao was strong, he also had weaknesses to be found. If Jingzhou can be held and Sun Quan can be united, a three-legged trend can be formed. Liu Bei was fascinated by what he heard, and even said that it was wonderful.

In this way, Xu Shu became Liu Bei's military advisor. In the following days, Xu Shu strategized and gave advice to Liu Bei. He suggested that Liu Bei build a city defense, accumulate grain and grass, and wait for work. Sure enough, when Cao Cao attacked again, Liu Bei's army was demoralized, and he won successive battles and repelled Cao's army.

Xu Shu's talent soon caught Cao Cao's attention. This hero has always loved talents and is determined to take Xu Shu under his command. He sent someone to spy secretly and learned that Xu Shu's mother was still in his hometown. So, Cao Cao made a plan and sent someone to deceive Xu's mother to Xu Du and put her under house arrest.

Human ethics is the righteousness of the world, Xu Shu learned that his mother was trapped, and he was anxious. He resigned to Liu Bei and prepared to go to Cao Ying to rescue his mother. Although Liu Bei was reluctant, he also understood Xu Shu's difficulties, so he had to endure the pain and cut his love.

Before leaving, Xu Shu recommended a genius to Liu Bei: "If the lord wants to achieve great things, in today's world, who does Nanyang Zhuge Liang belong to?" This sentence pointed out the direction for Liu Bei and opened a new page in the history of the Three Kingdoms.

In this way, Xu Shu embarked on the road to Cao Ying. He secretly swore in his heart that he would never give advice to Cao Cao. However, the twist of fate is far from over, Xu Shu's experience in Cao Ying, and there are more untold stories...

2. Xu Shu's encounter in Cao Ying

The moment Xu Shu stepped into the gate of Xudu, he had mixed feelings in his heart. He knew the difficulty of his journey, and he had to rescue his mother and preserve his own integrity. Cao Cao personally greeted Xu Shu when he heard the news and treated Xu Shu with great courtesy. However, Xu Shu remained silent and did not say a word.

Seeing this, Cao Cao did not force it, but just placed Xu Shu in a quiet courtyard. Every day, he sent people to deliver sumptuous meals, and ordered people to send a large number of books for Xu Shu to read. This seemingly generous treatment is actually a strategy for boiling frogs in warm water.

As the days passed, Xu Shu still didn't speak. Every day he just paced in the courtyard or buried himself in the pile of books. The attendants sent by Cao Cao were secretly surprised, was this gentleman dumb or stubborn?

A month later, Cao Cao visited Xu Shu again in person. This time, he brought with him a map showing the current distribution of the power of the various princes under heaven. Cao Cao pointed to the map and explained his great cause of reunification to Xu Shu in detail. He hoped that Xu Shu would be able to give advice for himself and participate in the grand event.

However, Xu Shu still didn't say a word. He just listened quietly, his eyes glancing over the map, but he didn't say anything. Seeing this, Cao Cao was not annoyed, but just sighed, left the map and left.

After another half a month, Cao Cao sent someone to deliver an edict. This edict was issued in the name of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, appointing Xu Shu as the Taizhong doctor. Although this official position is not too high, it is also an important minister of the imperial court. Cao Cao's intentions were obvious, he hoped to use his official position to win Xu Shu's heart.

Xu Shu took the edict, and after reading it carefully, he just bowed lightly, but still didn't say a word. The official who sent the edict was a little embarrassed and didn't know what to do. In the end, he had to report the situation to Cao Cao truthfully.

After Cao Cao heard the news, he couldn't help laughing: "Xu Yuanzhi is really a man!" In this way, it shows his talent even more. He instructed left and right, continue to treat Xu Shu well, and not be the slightest neglect.

Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, Xu Shu has spent half a year in Cao Ying. During this half year, he remained silent and did not talk to anyone. The attendants sent by Cao Cao also gradually became accustomed to this taciturn gentleman.

However, just then, an unexpected piece of news came. It turned out that after Liu Bei gained a foothold in Jingzhou, he began to use troops to Xichuan. This news made Cao Cao quite uneasy. He knew very well that if Liu Bei got Xichuan, he would be like a tiger with wings, and he would become a big disaster in the future.

Cao Cao came to Xu Shu's courtyard again, and this time, he brought detailed information about Liu Bei's attack on Xichuan. Cao Cao analyzed the current situation to Xu Shu in detail, hoping to get Xu Shu's advice.

Unexpectedly, this time Xu Shu spoke. He said, "Why should the lord be worried? Liu Bei's move was really self-defeating. "

As soon as this sentence came out, Cao Cao was overjoyed. He hurriedly asked why. Xu Shu continued: "Xichuan is dangerous, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Liu Bei is the lord of benevolence and virtue, and cherishes the people. If the attack is strong, the people's strength will be injured, and if the attack is delayed, the rear will be difficult to protect. In any case, it's a lose-lose situation. "

After Cao Cao listened, he couldn't stop nodding. He deeply agreed with Xu Shu's analysis. However, just as Cao Cao was about to inquire further about countermeasures, Xu Shu regained his silence. No matter how Cao Cao asked, Xu Shu no longer spoke.

These two sentences, although short, contain deep meaning. They not only show Xu Shu's accurate grasp of the situation, but also hint at his understanding of Liu Bei. This made Cao Cao both surprised and worried.

The news soon spread to Jingzhou. When Liu Bei heard these two sentences that Xu Shu said in Cao Ying, he couldn't help but be furious. He thinks that Xu Shu betrayed him and reveals his character and strategy. These two sentences were enough to make Liu Bei completely disappointed in Xu Shu.

And in Hanzhong, Zhuge Liang, who was planning the Battle of Xichuan for Liu Bei, also learned the news. As a former friend, Zhuge Liang was deeply confused by Xu Shu's choice. These two seemingly simple words made Zhuge Liang doubt human nature. He began to think, in the troubled times, how should people behave themselves?

In this way, Xu Shu spent three years in Cao Ying. In the past three years, he has not spoken again except for those two sentences. Although Cao Cao was disappointed, he also had to admire Xu Shu's persistence. Eventually, Cao Cao ordered the release of Xu Shu's mother and allowed Xu Shu to leave.

When Xu Shu left Xudu with his mother, Cao Cao personally sent him off. When parting, Cao Cao sighed: "Xu Yuanzhi is really a genius in the world, but unfortunately you and I have not arrived." Xu Shu just smiled slightly and turned to leave.

Since then, Xu Shu has lived in seclusion in the mountains and forests, not asking about the world. His story has become a legend in the Three Kingdoms period. Those two sentences have also become a mystery for future generations to interpret history. Is Xu Shu's choice a helpless move, or does it have another deep meaning? This question may only be answered by Xu Shu himself.

3. Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang's reaction

The news of Xu Shu's departure from Liu Bei's camp was like a pebble thrown into the calm lake, stirring up ripples round after round. When Liu Bei first heard about this, he was inevitably disappointed. However, as a generation of heroes, he quickly adjusted his mentality and shifted his attention to the wizard recommended by Xu Shu when he left-Zhuge Liang.

Liu Bei knows very well that in this chaotic era of separation, it is difficult to achieve great things without the assistance of good talents. He decided to go to Longzhong in person to visit this prodigy who was called "Wolong" by Xu Shu. So, Liu Bei took Guan Yu and Zhang Fei and embarked on a journey of visiting the thatched house.

At the same time that Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang, the two words that Xu Shu said in Cao Yingzhong also reached his ears. When Liu Bei heard the news, his originally calm face instantly became gloomy. He took the case and reprimanded angrily: "Xu Yuanzhi, in vain I trust you so much, but you give my character and strategy to Cao Cao!" "

Liu Bei's anger is not unreasonable. As a monarch known for his benevolence, "cherishing the people" is his core philosophy. And Xichuan, who is "easy to defend and difficult to attack", is his next strategic goal. Xu Shu's two sentences seemed to reveal Liu Bei's thoughts and thoughts, which made Liu Bei feel extremely uneasy and angry.

However, Liu Bei's anger was quickly cooled by realistic considerations. He realized that whether Xu Shu intended it or not, the news had reached Cao Cao's ears. If he rashly changed his strategy at this time, it might cause Cao Cao to be vigilant. As a result, Liu Bei decided to continue with the plan for the Battle of Xichuan while being doubly cautious.

At the same time, in the thatched house in Longzhong, Zhuge Liang also received news about Xu Shu. As a former friend, Zhuge Liang was deeply confused by Xu Shu's choice. He couldn't help but start thinking, in this troubled world, how should people deal with themselves?

Zhuge Liang did not immediately make a conclusion about Xu Shu's behavior. Instead, he began to carefully analyze the two sentences Xu Shu said. On the surface, these two sentences seem to expose Liu Bei's weaknesses. However, Zhuge Liang was keenly aware of the mystery.

"Why should the lord be worried? Liu Bei's move was really self-defeating. At first glance, this sentence seems to belittle Liu Bei. However, if you look closely, this sentence just hints that Liu Bei's actions may worry Cao Cao. And the expression "self-destruction" is more like a reverse hint to guide Cao Cao to underestimate Liu Bei's strength.

As for the second sentence, "Xichuan is dangerous, easy to defend and difficult to attack." Liu Bei is the lord of benevolence and virtue, and cherishes the people. If the attack is strong, the people's strength will be injured, and if the attack is delayed, the rear will be difficult to protect. In any case, it's a lose-lose situation. Although this sentence points out Liu Bei's characteristics and Xichuan's geographical advantages, it also hints at the difficulty of attacking Xichuan. This may make Cao Cao hesitate to send troops to Xichuan, thus buying Liu Bei more time and space.

The more Zhuge Liang analyzed, the more he felt that Xu Shu's two sentences might not be a simple betrayal, but a clever strategy. In this way, he not only kept himself and his mother safe, but also protected Liu Bei's interests to a certain extent. This kind of wisdom of surviving in the cracks made Zhuge Liang can't help but be in awe of Xu Shu.

However, Zhuge Liang also realized that regardless of Xu Shu's intentions, the news had reached Cao Cao's ears and could have an impact on Liu Bei's Battle of Xichuan. He decided that once he met Liu Bei, he would tell him his analysis and give him advice.

Just as Zhuge Liang was thinking about these questions, Liu Bei had already come to the door of his thatched house. In the face of Liu Bei's sincerity, Zhuge Liang decided to go out of the mountain to help. In the subsequent conversation, Zhuge Liang not only elaborated on his "Longzhong pair" strategy, but also specifically mentioned Xu Shu's matter.

Zhuge Liang explained to Liu Bei his analysis of Xu Shu's two sentences, and advised Liu Bei not to easily change the plan for the Battle of Xichuan. He believed that if Xu Shu's words could be skillfully used, Cao Cao might be able to relax his vigilance and create favorable conditions for Liu Bei.

After listening to Zhuge Liang's analysis, Liu Bei suddenly realized. He not only admired Zhuge Liang's wisdom, but also had a new understanding of Xu Shu's intentions. Liu Bei realized that in this chaotic era, everyone has their own difficulties and choices. He decided not to blame Xu Shu anymore, but to devote all his energy to the upcoming Battle of Xichuan.

In this way, Liu Bei got Zhuge Liang, a great talent, and began his journey of hegemony. And Xu Shu's two sentences also invisibly affected the trend of the Three Kingdoms pattern. This seemingly simple piece of history actually contains profound wisdom and complex human nature. It not only shows the way of survival in troubled times, but also embodies the forbearance and wisdom in traditional Chinese culture.

Fourth, the influence of Xu Shu's choice

Xu Shu's choice was like a stone thrown into the lake, stirring up ripples one after another, and had a profound impact on the pattern of the Three Kingdoms. This influence is not only reflected in the military and political aspects, but also more profoundly affects people's values and behaviors.

First of all, from a military point of view, Xu Shu's departure directly affected Liu Bei's strategic deployment. Although Liu Bei quickly obtained Zhuge Liang, a more outstanding military advisor, Xu Shu's sudden departure still caused some confusion in the short term. Liu Bei had to readjust his plans, which gave Cao Cao some respite.

However, the two sentences that Xu Shu said in Cao Ying became a double-edged sword for Liu Bei. On the one hand, these words gave Cao Cao a certain understanding of Liu Bei's strategy and increased the difficulty of Liu Bei's actions. But on the other hand, as Zhuge Liang analyzed, these words may also make Cao Cao misjudge Liu Bei's strength, thus creating some favorable conditions for Liu Bei.

At the political level, Xu's choice set off a series of ripple effects. Cao Cao's courtesy and eventual release to Xu Shu showed his thirst for and respect for talents. This attitude undoubtedly strengthened Cao Cao's prestige among the scholars and attracted more talents to join his camp.

At the same time, Liu Bei's reaction to Xu Shu's departure also became an important political signal. Although Liu Bei was initially disappointed and angry with Xu Shu, he quickly adjusted his attitude under Zhuge Liang's persuasion. This tolerant and understanding attitude further consolidated Liu Bei's image as the lord of benevolence and won the support of more people.

However, the impact of Xu Shu's choice goes far beyond that. It affects people's values and behaviors on a deeper level. Xu Shu had to leave Liu Bei in order to save his mother, and this contradiction between filial piety and loyalty became a hot topic in society at that time.

Many people have begun to think about how to balance the interests of individuals, families and countries in troubled times. Xu Shu's choice provides a reference for people. Although he left Liu Bei, he did not really betray him. His silence in Cao's camp, as well as those two intriguing words, show his wisdom to survive in the cracks.

This way of life has influenced many people. Some scholars who were originally hesitant began to learn from Xu Shu's practice, maneuvering between different forces, not only protecting themselves and their families, but also maintaining their own positions as much as possible. To a certain extent, this kind of behavior accelerates the flow of talent and promotes the balance between the forces of all parties.

At the same time, Xu Shu's choice has also triggered a rethinking of the concept of "loyalty". Prior to this, loyalty was often understood as absolute allegiance to the monarch. But Xu Shu's actions show that loyalty can take many forms. Even if you are in an enemy camp, you can defend your position in clever ways. This change of concept alleviated the antagonistic emotions of the society at that time to a certain extent and laid the ideological foundation for reconciliation in the future.

In addition, Xu Shu's experience also had an impact on the concept of education at that time. Many people are beginning to realize that it is not enough to simply educate the monarch and patriotism, but also to cultivate the wisdom to deal with complex situations. Therefore, some private schools have begun to add analysis and discussion of historical cases to the traditional classical education, so as to cultivate students' judgment and adaptability.

In the field of literature, Xu Shu's story has also become a popular theme. Many literati began to write poems, essays, and scripts with Xu Shu as the main character. These works not only describe Xu Shu's experience, but also delve into complex human issues such as loyalty, filial piety, wisdom, and morality. The circulation of these works further expanded the social influence of Xu Shu's choice.

Even among the people, the story of Xu Shu is widely spread. Some local operas have compiled Xu Shu's experiences into operas, which are performed in fairs and temple fairs. These easy-to-understand performances have allowed Xu Shu's story and the wisdom contained in it to spread to a wider range of people.

With the passage of time, the influence of Xu Shu's choice gradually sublimated from the specific military and political level to a cultural phenomenon. It has become an important reference for people to discuss moral dilemmas and weigh the pros and cons. In later history books and literary works, the story of Xu Shu has been repeatedly mentioned and interpreted, and has become one of the models of wisdom and forbearance in traditional Chinese culture.

In general, although Xu Shu's choice stems from his personal predicament, its impact goes far beyond the scope of the individual. It has had a profound impact on the pattern of the Three Kingdoms at multiple levels such as military, political, and cultural, and has become an important node in this period of history that is worth pondering. This seemingly simple personal choice actually reflects the complexity of that era, as well as the struggle and wisdom of human nature in troubled times.

5. Historical Enlightenment

Xu Shu's choice and the series of events it triggered have left many historical revelations worth pondering for future generations. These revelations not only involve personal ways of dealing with the world, but also cover political, military, cultural and other aspects, and have become an important lesson in traditional Chinese culture.

First, Xu Shu's experience teaches us that in a complex political environment, wisdom and flexibility are often more important than blind loyalty. Although Xu Shu was forced to leave Liu Bei, he did not completely betray his ideas. His performance in Cao Ying not only kept himself and his mother safe, but also safeguarded Liu Bei's interests to a certain extent. This wisdom of surviving in the cracks became an example for later generations of literati and politicians to follow.

For example, during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the famous politician Fan Ye faced a similar dilemma. He went back and forth between the Southern Song Dynasty and the Northern Wei Dynasty, and although he changed his court many times, he always maintained his political ideals. Fan Ye's description of Xu Shu in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty was obviously influenced by his own experience, and his understanding and sympathy for Xu Shu also reflected the general mentality of intellectuals at that time.

Secondly, Xu Shu's story also enlightens us that when judging a person's behavior, we need to take into account the specific environment and the dilemma he faces. Simply defining a person as "loyal" or "traitorous" tends to ignore the complexity of history. This understanding has had a profound impact on the historiography of later generations.

For example, Wang Shizhen, a historian of the Ming Dynasty, pointed out when evaluating Xu Shu: "Xu Shu's wisdom is not unwilling, and he has to do so." This more comprehensive and objective evaluation method has gradually become an important tradition of Chinese historiography.

In addition, Xu Shu's experience also provided an important inspiration for later monarchs on talent management. Cao Cao's courtesy and eventual release of Xu Shu shows how a wise ruler should treat talent. This attitude of respecting talents and tolerating dissidents has become the way of governing many successful monarchs in later generations.

For example, Tang Taizong Li Shimin is well versed in this. Not only did he reuse the old ministers of the previous dynasty, but he was also able to accommodate different opinions. Wei Zheng spoke out many times, but Li Shimin not only did not blame, but trusted him more. This open-minded attitude laid a solid foundation for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

In addition, Xu's story reveals the complex relationship between family ethics and political responsibility. This question has always been a difficult proposition in Chinese history. Xu Shu had to leave Liu Bei in order to save his mother, and this contradiction between filial piety and loyalty became an important theme for later generations of literati.

For example, Su Shi, a great writer of the Song Dynasty, once discussed this issue in "Teaching War and Defending Strategies". He believes that between the state and the family, the state should be the priority. But he also acknowledges that such choices often come with great personal suffering. To a certain extent, Su Shi's view reflects people's in-depth thinking about ethical issues after the rise of the Song Dynasty.

Xu Shu's story also provided inspiration for later generations of military strategists about the importance of intelligence. The two sentences that Xu Shu said in Cao Ying, although they seem simple, contain important strategic information. This tells us that in a military operation, proper intelligence analysis can be more decisive than a large number of troops.

This point has been fully embodied in the military practice of later generations. For example, Di Qing, a famous general of the Northern Song Dynasty, paid special attention to intelligence work. When he fought against Western Xia, he often sent secret scouts deep into enemy territory to gather intelligence. It was precisely by relying on accurate intelligence that Di Qing was able to defeat the powerful Western Xia army many times under inferior circumstances.

Finally, Xu Shu's experience also teaches us that personal choices often have a profound impact on history. Xu Shu's decision not only changed the trajectory of his life, but also affected the direction of the Three Kingdoms pattern. This tells us that everyone should be cautious about their choices, as these choices can have unexpected historical effects.

This concept has been further developed in the historiographical research of later generations. For example, the theory of "unity of knowledge and action" proposed by the Ming Dynasty thinker Wang Yangming emphasized the close connection between individual behavior and social change. He believes that everyone's ethical practices can have a profound impact on society.

Overall, Xu Shu's story provides us with a unique perspective on history. Through this seemingly ordinary personal choice, we can get a glimpse of the political situation, military strategy, ethical dilemmas and many other aspects of the Three Kingdoms period. These revelations not only help us better understand history, but also provide a useful reference for us to think about current social issues.