Xu Xuan 徐宣

Xu Xuan, courtesy name Baojian, was a man of Haixi County in Guangling Commandery. He took refuge from the disorders in Jiangdong, but declined Sun Ce's summons and returned to his home commandery. He held important posts in the commandery together with Chen Jiao; the two were equally famous but privately did not get along. Both, however, won the regard of the Administrator Chen Deng, and together with Chen Deng they set their hearts on Cao Cao. Records, Wei 22 §68

When the people of the two counties of Haixi and Huaipu rose in revolt, the Commandant Wei Mi and the Prefect Liang Xi fled at night to Xu Xuan's house, and Xu Xuan secretly sent them away so that they escaped harm. Cao Cao sent the Army Inspector Hu Zhi (扈質) to suppress the rebels, but Hu Zhi would not advance on the grounds that his troops were few. Xu Xuan secretly met him, rebuked him and showed him the situation, and only then did Hu Zhi advance and defeat the rebels. Records, Wei 22 §68–69

Cao Cao summoned Xu Xuan and made him a clerk on the staff of the Minister of Works, appointed him Prefect of Dongmin and of Fagan, and transferred him to Administrator of Qi Commandery; he then entered the court as Commander of the Gate Guard and followed Cao Cao to Shouchun. When Ma Chao rose in revolt and the main army was to campaign in the west, Cao Cao said that as he was going on a distant campaign while this region was not yet settled, he must find a man who was upright, fair and of great virtue to keep it under control and command it, and so he made Xu Xuan Protector of the Army of the Left and left him in command of the various troops. On Cao Cao's return he became Officer of the Eastern Bureau under the Chancellor, and went out to be Administrator of Wei Commandery. Records, Wei 22 §69–70

When Cao Cao died at Luoyang, the officials entered the palace hall to mourn. When someone said that the commanders of the various cities should be replaced with men of Qiao and Pei, Xu Xuan raised his voice and said that now near and far were united and every man wished to offer his loyalty, so why must they be men of Qiao and Pei? That would only dishearten those who stood guard. Hearing this, Cao Pi said, 'This is what is called a minister of the altars of state.' Records, Wei 22 §70

When Cao Pi ascended the throne as emperor, Xu Xuan became Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk and was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes; he was transferred to Colonel of the City Gates, within a month rose to Colonel-Director of Retainers, and moved to Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary. When he followed the emperor to Guangling, the Six Armies were travelling by boat when a storm suddenly arose and the emperor's boat spun round as if about to capsize; Xu Xuan, who had fallen behind because of illness, pushed forward through the waves, and none of the officials reached the emperor before him. The emperor admired his courage and promoted him to Master of Writing. Records, Wei 22 §71

When Cao Rui ascended the throne, Xu Xuan was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jinyang Village with a fief of 200 households. The Central Commander of the Army Huan Fan recommended him, saying that the Master of Writing Xu Xuan embodied loyal and generous conduct and an upright and clear-sighted nature, was steadfast and hard to move, and had the integrity to guard the altars of state; now that the post of Supervisor was vacant and Xu Xuan was acting in charge of the remaining affairs, there was no one better suited than Xu Xuan to be entrusted, as a confidant, with heavy duties. Records, Wei 22 §72

The emperor at length made Xu Xuan Left Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat, and later added Palace Attendant and Grandee of Splendid Happiness. When the emperor visited Xuchang, Xu Xuan took overall charge of the affairs left behind; when the emperor returned and the officials in charge presented the documents, he issued an edict saying, 'How would my inspecting them differ from the Supervisor's inspecting them?' and in the end did not look at them. Records, Wei 22 §73

When the Prefect of the Imperial Workshops was charged over a trivial matter and died under interrogation, Xu Xuan memorialized that punishments meant to inspire awe had gone too far, and also remonstrated that building palaces was exhausting the people's strength. The emperor praised and accepted all of this in edicts written in his own hand. Xu Xuan said that there was a rite of hanging up one's carriage at seventy, and as he was already sixty-eight he might retire; he firmly asked to resign on grounds of illness, but the emperor would not allow it to the end. Records, Wei 22 §73

Xu Xuan died in the 4th year of Qinglong (236). He left instructions that he be dressed in plain cloth and a coarse headcloth and shrouded in the clothes he ordinarily wore. The emperor issued an edict saying that through three reigns he had been fair and clear-sighted and kept a correct countenance, with the integrity to be entrusted with an orphaned ruler and the fate of the state, a minister like a pillar and foundation stone; he had always wished to raise him to one of the Three Excellencies and rely on him, but had not managed to do so in time. He posthumously made him General of Chariots and Cavalry and had him buried with the rites of one of the Three Excellencies. His posthumous name was Marquis Zhen, and his son Xu Qin succeeded him. Records, Wei 22 §74

In his assessment Chen Shou said that in the Wei era the affairs of government were concentrated in the Imperial Secretariat, so the Eight Seats and Masters of Writing held the duties of the Six Ministers of old; Chen Jiao, Xu Xuan, Wei Zhen and Lu Yu long held these posts, and Chen Jiao and Xu Xuan were firm, decisive and upright, while Wei Zhen and Lu Yu governed with clarity through their standards and discernment, so none of them disgraced their posts. Records, Wei 22 §108