Xu Shu

The chapter's second title figure, debuting as Shan Fu: he is Water Mirror's midnight visitor who left Liu Biao with only a letter ('he treats good people correctly but cannot use them'), then catches Liu Bei's ear singing in the Xinye market. He tests the new lord's virtue with the give-away-the-Dilu trick, is made Commanding Adviser on the spot, and wins his first battle with the left-right-front plan that kills both Lü brothers.

Unmasked by Cheng Yu as Xu Shu, the friend-avenging swordsman who turned scholar after escaping the drum-cart: the forged letter in his mother's hand breaks him, and he leaves Liu Bei with the vow that Cao Cao 'though he use all manner of means, will never get one plan from me'. At the Daisy Pavilion farewell he turns his horse back twice - first to name Zhuge Liang ('a sleeping dragon among men'), then to ride to the Ridge himself and beg his friend to accept, earning only 'so you have made me a victim of the world's sacrifice.'

Xu Shu; arrives at Cao Cao's court; his mother berates him for abandoning Liu Bei for the false letter and hangs herself rather than have her name used to corrupt him. Xu Shu vows lifelong silence at Cao Cao's councils.

Xu Shu; named in passing.

Breaks his silence to warn against the Xinye expedition: with Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei is 'a tiger who has grown wings' - and, pressed for a comparison, 'I am a mere glow-worm spark; he is the glory of the full moon.'

Sent as Cao Cao's surrender envoy on Liu Ye's cynical logic that shame guarantees his return: he uses the embassy to warn his old lord instead - the assault is coming from every side, the White River is being dammed - repeats his vow never to plan for Cao Cao, and carries back a bare refusal.

Puts Pang Tong's escape plan to work: seeds the camp with rumors of Han Sui and Ma Teng marching on the capital, then volunteers to guard San Pass against the invented threat - and rides out of the Red Cliffs story with three thousand men and his life.