“ | Cao Ahman! If it weren't for me, Xu You, would you a lot ever be able to enter the city of Jizhou? | „ |
~ Xu You to Cao Cao. |
Xu You is a supporting antagonist from the 14th-century Chinese classic novel Romance of the Three Kindoms and it's multiple adaptations being a major antagonist during the Battle of Guandu. He is an advisor working for warlords Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.
Biography[]
Xu Yu was a charismatic and intelligent man as well as a childhood friend of Cao Cao. In 191 AD after the alliance against Dong Zhuo dissolved, Xu You started to serve under the most powerful warlord of the time and former leader of the anti-Dong Zhuo alliance, Yuan Shao and quickly became one of his top advisers. In 196 AD Xu You was the one who advised his master to save the fleeing Han Emperor Xian, in order to control him and gain legitimacy. Yuan Shao who was known of being very indecisive, ignored his advice, which turned out to be a fatal mistake, much to Xu You's disappointment.
A few years later, in 200 AD following a victory over another warlord named Gongsun Zan, Yuan Shao planned to attack his biggest rival Cao Cao. At the time Cao Cao, had been recently victorious over Lu Bu and Yuan Shu and was about to invade Xu Province in order to take it back from the rogue Liu Bei. With his army having to face Liu Bei, his capital would have weak defenses so Xu You advised Yuan Shao to attack quickly. Yuan Shao ignored his advice once again because his youngest son had fallen ill. Enraged, Xu You started to insult his master in front of everyone so Yuan Shao ordered his men to give him a beating. Eventually, Yuan Shao regretted that, but it was too late, as Cao Cao managed to easily take Xuzhou back and go back to his capital.
The two forces soon fought each other in the Battle of Guandu. Xu You advised Yuan Shao to launch war quickly, while another advisor named Tian Feng advised him to wait a few years and then attack. Xu You antagonized Tian Feng and started to spread false rumors about him, which eventually led to his imprisonment, with Xun You thus being Yuan Shao's top strategist during the campaign against Cao Cao. The war didn't start well for Yuan Shao who lost his two top generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou and kept rejecting Xu You's strategies which led to his detection to Cao Cao's side.
Xu You met his old friend and suggested to him to raid Wuchao, where Yuan Shao had stored all of his grain, which turned out to be the key factor for Cao Cao's decisive victory. Xu You later helped Cao Cao conquer Yuan Shao's territory but was unhappy for not gaining a higher post. When Cao Cao entered Yuan Shao's former capital Jizhou, a drunk Xu You appeared and started to insult him. Xu Chu, one of Cao Cao's bodyguards had enough for this and told him to stop but when Xu You provoked him, Xu Chu cut his head and delivered it to his master. Cao Cao was furious and had his old friend buried.
Other Media[]
TV Shows[]
Xu Yu is a supporting character in the 2010 TV Show Three Kingdoms, appearing as an anti-villain before joining Cao Cao and the secondary antagonist in episodes 28-29. He is portrayed by Xu Maomao.
Video Games[]
Xu You appears in various video-game series such as Dynasty Warriors, Dynasty Tactics, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Relationships[]
Enemies[]
- Tian Feng
- Guo Tu
- Yuan Shao (formerly)
- Cao Cao (formerly)
- Xu Chu
- Gongsun Zan
Gallery[]
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Wei Empire Wu Empire Shu Empire Jin Empire Other Villains Lu Bu's Army Nanman Tribe Yellow Turbans Yuan Shao's Army Zhong Dynasty Others |
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Wei Empire Wu Empire Shu Empire Jin Empire Other Villains Lu Bu's Army Nanman Tribe Yellow Turbans Yuan Shao's Army Zhong Dynasty Others Guest Characters |