Xun Yu

Xun Yu's first appearance - defects from Yuan Shao to Cao Cao with his nephew Xun You; Cao Cao calls him 'my Zifang' (his Zhang Liang). The arrival that sets up Cao Cao's career-long brain trust.

With Cheng Yu, desperately holds Juancheng, Fanxia, and Dongjun - the last three counties of Yanzhou - while Lü Bu takes everything else.

Talks Cao Cao out of trading Yanzhou for Xuzhou - 'to barter the trunk for the branches' - invoking the Supreme Ancestor's Land Within the Passes and Liu Xiu's Henei; then points him at the Yellow Scarves' hoards in Runan and Yingchuan to feed the starving army.

Sets the course of the era three times: 'take the lead in restoring the Emperor or someone will get in before you'; the 'Rival Tigers and One Prey' ruse to make Liu Bei kill Lü Bu; and when that fails, the 'Tiger against Wolf' ruse that sets Yuan Shu on Liu Bei. Made Imperial Counselor and Chair of the Secretariat.

Urges Cao Cao to destroy the sheltering Liu Bei - 'too much of a hero' - and is overruled; then supplies the subtler tool: flatter Lü Bu with a title and a peace commission, for 'he is led astray by any little advantage before his eyes'.

Stops the pursuit across the Huai - famine-stricken land cannot feed an army; return and wait for the spring wheat - and is left in chief military command of Xuchang for the Zhang Xiu expedition.

His letters steer the chapter: warning that Liu Biao has cut the retreat at Anzhong, then that Yuan Shao eyes Xuchang - the news that turns the army home. He asks the question that draws out Cao Cao's baited-retreat logic, and insists on securing Liu Bei's cooperation before any move on Lü Bu.

Names the winning stroke aloud - 'I suppose you mean drowning the city by River Si and River Yi' - as the council turns from retreat to the flood.

Warns Cao Cao that an Emperor with a recognized uncle is no gain for him - answered with the logic of the puppet: 'I control the decrees of the Throne; he will be all the more ready to obey.'

Talks Cao Cao out of executing the returned minders, then supplies the next move: secret orders to Che Zhou to destroy Liu Bei at Xuzhou.

Answers Kong Rong's catalogue of Yuan Shao's talent with the chapter's famous takedown: Tian Feng bold but treacherous, Xu You greedy, Shen Pei devoted but stupid, Peng Ji steady but useless - 'what is the use even of their hundred thousands?'

Xun Yu; running Xuchang.

On the march, reads the tornado-snapped blue-and-red banner: a night raid is coming. The eight-point ambush that ruins Liu Bei follows his interpretation; at Xuzhou he urges taking Xiapi fast, before Yuan Shao can.

Distrusts the retirement Guan Yu demands before submitting - 'I fear treachery' - and later frames the trap Cao Cao lives by: a man who must render a parting service can be kept by denying him the chance.

Warns against giving Guan Yu the Runan command - any news of Liu Bei and he is gone - and is answered with 'if he does well this time, I will not let him fight again.'

Xun Yu; sends the famous letter from Xuchang stiffening Cao Cao's resolve when he was on the verge of pulling back ('the small holds the great here - do not falter').

His letter reaches the river camp: Liu Bei is strengthening at Runan with Liu Pi and Gong Du and means to strike Xuchang while its master is away - 'hasten homeward to defend it'. The warning that redirects the whole campaign south.

Greets Xu Shu at the gate on Cao Cao's behalf, and talks his master out of a winter campaign against the south - wait for milder weather.

Cautions against despising Liu Bei now that he has a Directing Instructor - the warning Xiahou Dun laughs off with his head as the stake.

Left in command of the capital for the great campaign - but not before saving the mourner Zhi Xi from Cao Cao's anger: 'you should not slay a righteous man who came to mourn over his friend's corpse.'

Author of both halves of the capital's scheming: attack the south first now that Zhou Yu is dead - and lure Ma Teng in with the title of General Who Subdues the South, 'thus he can be enticed to the capital and got rid of.'

Xun Yu; in Xuchang.

Xun Yu; in Xuchang - dies later this chapter, sent an empty box by Cao Cao when he opposes the Duke-of-Wei elevation; takes poison.

Xun Yu; named in passing - already dead.

Xun Yu; named in passing - long dead.