Xu Kang 徐康
| Appears | N | Biography in | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Native place | Yingchuan Commandery Unverified | |
| Existence | Fictional | Mentions |
Profile
Xu Kang, the younger brother of Xu Shu, is mentioned only by name in Chapter 36 of the Romance. When Cao Cao asks how Xu Shu might be made to come over, Cheng Yu says that Xu Shu is deeply filial, that he lost his father young and has only his aged mother, and that now his younger brother Xu Kang has already died and there is no one to care for the old woman; he advises Cao Cao to trick the mother into coming to Xuchang and have her summon her son by letter. The letter that Cheng Yu forges by imitating the handwriting of Xu Shu's mother also opens with the words that 'your younger brother Kang' has died. Romance, Ch. 36 §15 · 20–21
Xu Kang himself never appears; of the 120 chapters of the Romance his name occurs only in one, Chapter 36, in just two passages, and no chapter has his name in its title. The name Xu Kang appears neither in Chen Shou's main text nor in Pei Songzhi's commentary. The Biography of Zhuge Liang in Chen Shou's main text records only that when they were pursued and routed by Lord Cao, Xu Shu's mother was captured, and that Xu Shu, saying that with the loss of his aged mother his heart was in turmoil, took leave of the First Sovereign and went to Lord Cao. Romance, Ch. 36 §15 · 21Records, Shu 5 §10–11
In the Romance
In Chapter 36 of the Romance, Cao Ren returns to Xudu with Li Dian and reports the loss of generals and troops, and when Cao Cao asks who has been laying plans for Liu Bei, he answers that they were the plans of Shan Fu. Cheng Yu laughs and says that this man is not Shan Fu but Xu Shu of Yingchuan, courtesy name Yuanzhi, and that Shan Fu is merely a name he has borrowed; he adds that Xu Shu's talent is ten times his own. Romance, Ch. 36 §13–14
When Cao Cao asks how he might be made to come over, Cheng Yu says that Xu Shu is by nature deeply filial, that he lost his father young and only his aged mother is at home, and that now his younger brother Xu Kang has already died and there is no one to care for the old woman. He then advises that if someone is sent to trick the mother into coming to Xuchang and she is made to write a letter summoning her son, Xu Shu will surely come; Cao Cao, greatly pleased, sends men through the night to bring Xu Shu's mother. Romance, Ch. 36 §15–16
Xu Shu's mother rebukes Cao Cao for disparaging Liu Bei and strikes at him with a stone inkstone, and when Cao Cao orders her beheaded, Cheng Yu stops him. Cheng Yu calls on her every day, falsely claiming to have sworn brotherhood with Xu Shu, and each time he sends her gifts he encloses a letter in his own hand, drawing replies from Xu Shu's mother. Imitating her handwriting, he forges a family letter and has a trusted follower carry it to 'Shan Fu' in Xinye County. Romance, Ch. 36 §17–20
The letter Xu Shu opens begins, 'Lately your younger brother Kang has died, and when I raise my eyes I have not a single kinsman,' and goes on to say that Chancellor Cao tricked her into coming to Xuchang and threw her into prison, that she was spared through the help of Cheng Yu and others, and that if he surrenders she can escape death. Having read the letter through, Xu Shu, tears welling up like a spring, goes to Xuande, reveals his real name, and takes his leave, saying that with his mother held captive he cannot give his all. Xu Kang's name does not appear again in the Romance after this. Romance, Ch. 36 §21–22 · 24
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
There is no record in the main text of Chen Shou’s Records, so only the Romance score is given.
- LEA31
- STR31
- INT38
- POL35
- CHA35
- VIR45
- ADP35
- SCH35
- DIP31
- DIS31
Evidence by ability
NNo direct record — mentioned only as Xu Shu's younger brother who had already diedCh. 36 §15
NNo direct record — mentioned only as Xu Shu's younger brother who had already diedCh. 36 §15
NNo direct record — mentioned only as Xu Shu's younger brother who had already diedCh. 36 §15
NNo direct record — mentioned only as Xu Shu's younger brother who had already diedCh. 36 §15
NNo direct record — mentioned only as Xu Shu's younger brother who had already diedCh. 36 §15
NNo direct record — mentioned only as Xu Shu's younger brother who had already diedCh. 36 §15
NNo direct record — mentioned only as Xu Shu's younger brother who had already diedCh. 36 §15
NNo direct record — mentioned only as Xu Shu's younger brother who had already diedCh. 36 §15
NNo direct record — mentioned only as Xu Shu's younger brother who had already diedCh. 36 §15
NNo direct record — mentioned only as Xu Shu's younger brother who had already diedCh. 36 §15
Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Family
| Siblings | Xu Shu Romance |
|---|
Based on Wikidata items for the historical and Romance figures. Relations without the Unverified badge were also confirmed in the Records.