Jia Xu
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese: | 贾詡 |
| Traditional Chinese: | 賈詡 |
| Pinyin: | Jiá Xù |
| Wade-Giles: | Chia Xü |
| Zi: | Wénhé (文和) |
Jia Xu (賈詡) (147 - 224 AD), styled Wenhe (文和), was an important strategist and advisor in the Three Kingdoms era of China, who has followed Dong Zhuo, Li Jue and Zhang Xiu before finally joining Cao Cao. After Cao Cao's death, he served his successor, Cao Pi. Jia Xu was known as a straightforward and practical man [1].
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[edit] Early life
Jia Xu was born in Gozang in Wuwei (now Wuwei, Gansu). He received proper education since his childhood. A man from Hanyang named Yan Zhong once stated that Jia Xu had the genius of Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, two famous strategists in early Han dynasty. He was appointed as an official in the Eastern Han government when he was a youth. However, upon seeing the corruption in the government at the time, he returned to Wuwei with excuses of sickness. On the way back he was captured by rebels from the Di tribe along with several other travellers. He lied that he was the grandson-in-law of Duangong, a popular general at that time, and was treated with respect and released, while the other travellers were all executed.
In 185 AD, Han Sui in the northwest initated a rebellion with the assistance of the various Qiang tribes, and took the Liang province for himself. The court of Eastern Han appointed general Dong Zhuo to subdue the rebellion, and Jia Xu was appointed as an advisor of the campaign. Dong Zhuo soon grew powerful as victory came after victory with Jia Xu's advice. In 189 AD, Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang, the capital of Eastern Han, and became the de jure leader of the court by controlling Emperor Xian. However, Dong Zhuo's cruelty and recklessness soon started to create enemies, and Jia Xu, sensing defeat in Dong Zhuo, left the court. Jia Xu was then appointed as an advisor of Dong Zhuo's son-in-law, Niu Fu.
On April, 192 AD, Dong Zhuo and Niu Fu were killed by Lu Bu in Luoyang. Li Jue and a few other loyalists of Dong Zhuo, including Guo Si, Fan Chou and Zhang Ji, managed to escape. Jia Xu then went to join Li and suggested him to gather troops and take Chang'an so as to avenge the death of Dong Zhuo and to take the Emperor captive. The plan succeeded; however, Guo Si and Li Jue start to fight over who was in control despite Jia's mediation, and Jia left them, partly also because his mother died. Nonetheless, Li Jue and Guo Si, admiring his talent, ordered him back.
[edit] Serving Zhang Xiu
In 196 AD, Li Jue and Guo Si were once again engaged in a major conflict against each other, and thus Jia Xu deserted them. Jia then made connections with Zhang Ji's nephew Zhang Xiu who was in Nanyang and joined him. Jia suggested an alliance with Liu Biao, which was concluded. However, he soon repented and told Zhang Xiu that Liu Biao was weak in nature, a view shared by many others, including the famous strategist Zhuge Liang.
In 197 AD, Cao Cao attacked Zhang Xiu. Jia Xu and Zhang Xiu feigned surrender and made a sudden fire attack against Cao Cao, which destroyed Cao's entire army, though Cao escaped. In part to Jia Xu's advice, Zhang Xiu was able to turn back several of Cao's later attacks with the help of Liu Biao.
[edit] Serving Cao Cao
In 199 AD, Yuan Shao, a major warlord at the time, sent a request for Zhang Xiu to join him in his attack on Cao Cao. Zhang Xiu wanted to accept the request; however, Jia Xu turned away the messenger and told Zhang Xiu that Yuan Shao was not worth serving. Ultimately Jia Xu advised Zhang Xiu to surrender to Cao Cao, a surrender which was well-received by Cao. Jia Xu then became an advisor to Cao Cao and later Cao Pi.
Jia Xu helped Cao Cao defeat Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu by advising Cao Cao to cut off Yuan's grain supply, which succeeded and became an important factor of the decisive victory of Cao Cao, and eventually his unification of Northern China.
In 208 AD, after Cao Cao took the province of Jing from Liu Biao, Jia Xu suggested Cao Cao not to attack Eastern Wu, an advice which was rejected, and Cao soon regretted the decision when his entire army was demolished at Chibi. Soon afterwards, Cao Cao was attacked by an alliance of Han Sui and Ma Chao. Jia Xu laid out a plan which turned Han Sui against Ma Chao and ensured victory for Cao Cao.
Jia Xu was a major supporter of Cao Pi, the eldest son of Cao Cao, in his conflict with Cao Zhi for the succession of Cao Cao, and successfully talked Cao Cao into selecting Cao Pi.
[edit] Serving Cao Pi and death
When Cao Pi abolished Emperor Xian of Han and made himself emperor, he asked Jia Xu whether to attack the Kingdom of Wu or the Kingdom of Shu first. Jia Xu said that Cao Pi with his Kingdom of Wei at that time had neither the power to attack Wu nor Shu. Cao Pi rejected his advise and once again suffered a major defeat from Wu.
Jia Xu died out of natural causes when he was 77 years old. He was given the posthumous title "Respected Lord".
[edit] External links
- Biography of Jia Xu from Kongming.net
- Biography of Jia Xu translated from Sanguozhi
