Jia Xu

Jia Xu
Portrait of Jia Xu during the Qing Dynasty
Strategist of Cao Wei
Born	147
Died	223 (aged 75–76)
Names
Simplified Chinese	贾詡
Traditional Chinese	賈詡
Pinyin	Jiǎ Xǔ
Wade-Giles	Chia Xü
Style name	Wenhe (文和)
Posthumous name	Marquis Su (肅侯)

Jia Xu (147–223),^[1] style name Wenhe (文和), was an advisor to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He previously served Dong Zhuo, Li Jue and Zhang Xiu before finally joining Cao Cao. During the Three Kingdoms era, he served as an official in the state of Cao Wei under Cao Pi, Cao Cao's son and successor.

Early life

Jia Xu was born in Gozang (姑臧) in Wuwei (now Wuwei, Gansu). He received proper education since his childhood. A man from Hanyang named Yan Zhong (閻忠) once stated that Jia Xu had the genius of Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, two famous strategists in the 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 Duan Gong (段熲), a popular general at that time, and was treated with respect and released, while the other travellers were all executed.

In 185, Han Sui in the northwest initiated 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 one of Dong's advisers at the time. In 189, Dong Zhuo entered the capital city of Luoyang, and became the de facto leader of the court by using Emperor Xian as a mere puppet. Dong Zhuo's cruelty and recklessness, however, 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.

In May 192, Dong Zhuo was murdered by Lü Bu in Luoyang. Li Jue and a few other loyalists of Dong Zhuo, including Niu Fu Fan Chou, Guo Si, and Zhang Ji, managed to escape. However, Niu Fu was soon killed by one of his own servants, then Jia Xu went to join Li Jue 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 Xu's mediation, and Jia Xu left them, partly also because his mother died. Nonetheless, Li Jue and Guo Si, admiring his talent, ordered him back.

A portrait of Jia Xu by an unknown artist

Serving Zhang Xiu

In 196, Li Jue and Guo Si were once again engaged in a major conflict against each other, and because of this, Jia Xu deserted them. Jia Xu then made connections with Zhang Ji's nephew Zhang Xiu who was in Nanyang and joined him. Jia Xu 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, the powerful warlord Cao Cao attacked Zhang Xiu. Jia Xu and Zhang Xiu feigned surrender and made a sudden fire attack against Cao Cao in the Battle of Wancheng, which destroyed Cao Cao's entire army, though Cao himself managed to escape. 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.

Serving Cao Cao

In 199, Yuan Shao, a major warlord at the time, sent a request for Zhang Xiu to join him in his fight against 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 Shao'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, after Cao Cao took Jing province from Liu Biao, Jia Xu suggested Cao Cao not to attack Eastern Wu, an advice which was rejected, and Cao Cao soon regretted the decision when his entire army was demolished at the Battle of Red Cliffs. Soon afterwards, Cao Cao was attacked by an army led by Han Sui and Ma Chao in the Battle of Tong Pass. 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.

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 state of Eastern Wu or Shu Han first. Jia Xu said that Cao Pi with his state of Cao 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 by Chinese age reckoning. He was given the posthumous title Marquis Su (肅侯; Respected Lord).

Family

According to the New Book of Tang, Jia Xu was a descendant of the Western Han Dynasty statesman Jia Yi. According to Weijin Shiyu (魏晉世語; Sayings of Wei and Jin), members of the Jia clan served as high ranking officials during the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin.

• Sons:
  • Jia Mu (賈穆), Jia Xu's oldest son, served as Prince Consort Commandant (駙馬都尉) and was appointed as administrator of various commanderies, inherited Jia Xu's marquis title
  • Jia Fang (賈訪), received a quarter of his father's fief of 800 households, was also granted the title of a marquis

• Grandsons:
  • Jia Mo (賈模), Jia Mu's oldest son, inherited Jia Mu's marquis title, served as Attendant of Scattered Cavalry (散騎常侍) and General Who Protects the Army (護軍將軍) during the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin
  • Jia Pi (賈疋), Jia Mo's cousin, also served Emperor Hui of Jin

• Great grandsons:
  • Jia Yin (賈胤), Jia Mo's son, served Emperor Hui of Jin
  • Jia Kan (賈龕), Jia Yin's younger brother, also served Emperor Hui of Jin

Appointments and titles held

• Filial and Incorrupt (孝廉) - nominated candidate to be a Gentleman Cadet (郎)
• Assistant to the Grand Commandant (太尉掾)
• Commandant of Pingjin (平津都尉)
• Colonel Who Attacks Barbarians (討虜校尉)
• Deputy Director in the Imperial Secretariat (尚書僕射)
• Imperial Secretary (尚書)
• Household Counsellor (光祿大夫)
• General Who Proclaims Righteousness (宣義將軍)
• Bearer of the Mace (執金吾)
• Marquis of Du (都亭侯)
• Army Advisor (參軍事) to the Excellency of Works
• Palace Counsellor (太中大夫)

The following appointments and titles were held by Jia Xu when he served the state of Wei

• Grand Commandant (太尉)
• Marquis of Weishou (魏壽鄉侯)
• Marquis Su (肅侯) - granted to Jia Xu posthumously

Modern references

Jia Xu is first introduced as a playable character in the seventh installment of Koei's Dynasty Warriors video game series.

See also

• List of people of the Three Kingdoms
• List of Dynasty Warriors characters

References

• Chen Shou. Records of Three Kingdoms, Volume 10, Biography of Jia Xu.
• Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms.