Xing Yong 邢顒

Xing Yong, courtesy name Ziang, was a man of Mao County in Hejian State. He was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and summoned by the Minister over the Masses, but declined both. He changed his surname and courtesy name, went to Youbeiping and kept company with Tian Chou. Records, Wei 12 §58

After five years, when Cao Cao pacified Ji Province, Xing Yong said to Tian Chou, 'It is more than twenty years since the Yellow Turbans rose; the realm has boiled like a cauldron and the people have been driven from their homes. Now I hear that Lord Cao's laws and orders are strict. The people are weary of disorder, and when disorder reaches its extreme, peace follows. Let me go first myself.' He then packed up and returned to his home district. Tian Chou said, 'Xing Yong is one who has awakened before the rest of the people.' Records, Wei 12 §58–59

Cao Cao summoned Xing Yong to be an Attendant Officer of Ji Province, and the people of the time praised him, calling him 'Xing Ziang, imposing in virtue and conduct'. He was appointed Chief of Guangzong but left office to mourn his former commander. When the responsible officials impeached him to correct the matter, Cao Cao said, 'Xing Yong is devoted to his former lord and has a steadfast integrity,' and had the matter dropped. Records, Wei 12 §60

He was summoned again as a clerk to the Minister of Works and appointed Prefect of Xingtang, where he encouraged the people in farming and sericulture, and his moral influence spread widely. Entering the court, he became Commander of the Gate Guard to the Chancellor and was transferred to Left Supporter, but he fell ill and left office. Records, Wei 12 §60

At this time Cao Cao was carefully selecting officials for his sons and issued an order saying, 'The officials of a marquis's household should be men of depth and principle like Xing Yong,' and at last he made Xing Yong Household Assistant to Cao Zhi, Marquis of Pingyuan. Xing Yong kept Cao Zhi in check with propriety and would not bend in the least, so the two did not get along. Records, Wei 12 §61

The Household Cadet (shuzi) Liu Zhen sent a letter to Cao Zhi saying that the Household Assistant Xing Yong was an outstanding man of the northern lands who had kept lofty integrity from his youth, a truly refined gentleman of few words but much reason. Yet he himself received exceptional courtesy while Xing Yong was instead treated with neglect, and he remonstrated that he feared onlookers would say that His Lordship picked the spring blossoms of his Cadet while forgetting the autumn fruit of his Household Assistant. Records, Wei 12 §61–62

Later Xing Yong served as Army Adviser to the Chancellor and was transferred to Officer of the Eastern Bureau. Earlier, when the crown prince had not yet been decided, Cao Zhi, Marquis of Linzi, enjoyed favor, and Ding Yi (丁儀) and others together praised his excellence and supported him. When Cao Cao asked Xing Yong, Xing Yong answered, 'Replacing the heir with a younger son is a warning from former ages. I beg Your Highness to consider it deeply and carefully.' Cao Cao understood his meaning, and later he made him Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince and then transferred him to Grand Tutor. Records, Wei 12 §62–63

When Emperor Wen took the throne, Xing Yong became Palace Attendant and Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat and was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. He went out from the court to become Colonel-Director of Retainers, was transferred to Minister of Ceremonies, and died in the 4th year of Huangchu (223). His son Xing You succeeded him. Records, Wei 12 §64

In his assessment Chen Shou said, 'Xu Yi, He Kui and Xing Yong valued and esteemed sternness and became famous figures of their time.' Records, Wei 12 §99