RNo direct record — estimated from his being Yuan Shao's second son and his career in You ProvinceWei 6 §49
NSought to kill Gongsun Kang, who had given him refuge, and seize his landCh. 33 §44
Yuan Xi 袁熙
| Occupation | RNGeneral | Faction | Yuan Shao faction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | Book of Wei |
| Born | R? Unverified | Native place | Runan Commandery Ruyang County Unverified |
| Died | R207 Unverified | Place of death | RNLiaodong Commandery |
| Cause of death | RKilled NKilled Unverified | ||
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R12 |
Profile
Yuan Xi was the second son of Yuan Shao. After defeating Gongsun Zan at Yijing, Yuan Shao entrusted Qing Province to his eldest son Yuan Tan, You Province to Yuan Xi, and Bing Province to his nephew Gao Gan. Yuan Xi's wife Lady Zhen was taken in by Cao Pi after Ji Province was pacified, and bore Emperor Ming, Cao Rui. Records, Wei 6 §49Records, Wei 5 §19
In the 1st month of the 10th year of Jian'an (205), Yuan Xi's senior generals Jiao Chu, Zhang Nan and others rebelled and attacked Yuan Xi and his younger brother Yuan Shang, and the two fled to the Wuhuan of the Three Commanderies. In the 12th year of Jian'an (207), defeated by Cao Cao together with the Wuhuan at Mount Bailang, they fled to Liaodong, and in the 9th month of that year Yuan Xi was beheaded together with Yuan Shang by Gongsun Kang, Administrator of Liaodong. Records, Wei 1 §88 · 99–101Records, Wei 6 §68 · 70
The Records have no separate biography of Yuan Xi; he is appended together with his brothers at the end of the Biography of Yuan Shao, and in his assessment Chen Shou wrote that Yuan Shao set aside his eldest son and established a younger one, so that his succession was overturned. In the Romance he first appears in Chapter 31 as the second son, with the courtesy name Xianyi, and he appears in 4 of the 120 chapters, though his name does not feature in any chapter title. Yuan Shao says of him that he is weak and soft by nature and unlikely to accomplish anything. Records, Wei 6 §59 · 96Romance, Ch. 31 §7–8
In the Records
The Records have no separate biography of Yuan Xi; he is appended at the end of the Biography of Yuan Shao together with his elder brother Yuan Tan and younger brother Yuan Shang. After defeating Gongsun Zan at Yijing and absorbing his followers, Yuan Shao sent his eldest son Yuan Tan out to Qing Province. Ju Shou remonstrated that this would be the beginning of calamity, but Yuan Shao did not listen, saying that he meant for each of his sons to hold a province. He also entrusted You Province to his second son Yuan Xi and Bing Province to his nephew Gao Gan. Records, Wei 6 §59 · 49
According to the Biographies of Empresses and Consorts, during the Jian'an era Yuan Shao took the future Empress Wenzhao Zhen as wife for his second son Yuan Xi. When Yuan Xi went out to You Province, she stayed behind to care for her mother-in-law. When Ji Province was pacified, Cao Pi took her in at Ye, and she won his favor and bore Emperor Ming, Cao Rui, and the Princess of Dongxiang. Records, Wei 5 §19
Yuan Shao was succeeded by Yuan Shang, whom Shen Pei and others supported, while the eldest, Yuan Tan, was not made heir, and a rift opened between the two. While Cao Cao was besieging Ye, Yuan Tan seized Ganling, Anping, Bohai and Hejian and attacked Yuan Shang at Zhongshan; Yuan Shang fled to Gu'an and took refuge with Yuan Xi, and Yuan Tan took over all his followers. Records, Wei 6 §60 · 67
In the 1st month of the 10th year of Jian'an (205), the same month that Cao Cao beheaded Yuan Tan and Ji Province was pacified, Yuan Xi's senior generals Jiao Chu, Zhang Nan and others rebelled and attacked Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang, and the two fled to the Wuhuan of the Three Commanderies. Jiao Chu styled himself Inspector of You Province and drove the administrators, prefects and chiefs of the various commanderies to turn their backs on the Yuan and face toward Cao. He arrayed several tens of thousands of troops and had them swear an oath over a sacrificed white horse, but the Assistant Officer Han Heng said that, having received deep kindness from Lord Yuan and his sons, he could not face north and serve Cao. Jiao Chu said they should let Han Heng fulfil his resolve to encourage those who serve their lords, and Jiao Chu and the others surrendered with their counties and were enfeoffed as marquises. Records, Wei 1 §88Records, Wei 6 §68–69
According to the Biography of the Wuhuan, after Yuan Shao had brought the region north of the Yellow River under his control, he cultivated the Wuhuan of the Three Commanderies, showing favor to their famous kings and taking in their elite cavalry, and later Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi fled to Tadun. In the 12th year of Jian'an (207), when Cao Cao went out through the Lulong Pass and headed for Liucheng, Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi met him with several tens of thousands of horsemen together with Tadun, Louban, chanyu of Liaoxi, Nengchendizhi, chanyu of Youbeiping, and others. In the 8th month at Mount Bailang, under Cao Cao's attack with Zhang Liao in the vanguard, the enemy host was routed and Tadun was beheaded, and Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi, together with Supuwan, chanyu of Liaodong, and others, still leading several thousand horsemen, fled to Liaodong. Records, Wei 30 §4Records, Wei 6 §70Records, Wei 1 §99–100
When someone urged him to go on and attack Liaodong, Cao Cao did not move his troops, saying that he would have Gongsun Kang behead Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi and send their heads. In the 9th month, when Cao Cao returned from Liucheng, Gongsun Kang at once beheaded Yuan Shang, Yuan Xi, Supuwan and others and sent their heads. The Biography of Yuan Shao states that Gongsun Kang lured them in and beheaded them. Cao Cao explained that Gongsun Kang had always feared Yuan Shang and the others, so that if pressed they would join forces, but if left alone they would plot against one another. Records, Wei 1 §101–102Records, Wei 6 §70
Chen Shou gives no separate assessment of Yuan Xi. The assessment in the Biography of Yuan Shao states that Yuan Shao set aside his eldest son and established a younger one, abandoning propriety and exalting favoritism, so that the overturning of his succession and the fall of his state were not a matter of misfortune. Records, Wei 6 §96
In the Romance
Chapter 31 of the Romance introduces Yuan Xi, the second of Yuan Shao's three sons, as having the courtesy name Xianyi and being posted out to guard You Province. Discussing the succession, Yuan Shao says that his eldest son Yuan Tan is harsh by nature and fond of killing, and that his second son Yuan Xi is weak and soft by nature and unlikely to accomplish anything, and he wishes to establish his third son Yuan Shang. While Guo Tu is dissuading him, saying that setting aside the eldest is the seed of disorder, Yuan Xi arrives from You Province with 60,000 troops to help in the fighting. Romance, Ch. 31 §7–9
As Yuan Shao and his sons, fleeing in defeat from Cangting, barely break out of the encirclement by Cao Hong and Xiahou Dun, Yuan Xi and Gao Gan are both wounded by arrows. Yuan Shao wails with his arms around his three sons and vomits blood, and sends Yuan Xi back to You Province to gather men and horses. Later, when Yuan Shang sets out to meet Cao Cao, Yuan Shao sends men to summon Yuan Xi from You Province. Romance, Ch. 31 §19–20 · 46
In Chapter 32, Yuan Xi and Gao Gan arrive outside the city of Liyang, station their troops in three places and face Cao Cao every day, but in the 2nd month of spring in the 8th year of Jian'an, when Cao Cao attacks along separate routes, they are badly defeated together with Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, abandon Liyang and flee. When Cao Cao pursues them as far as Ji Province, Yuan Xi and Gao Gan set up camp 30 li from the city to make a show of strength, and when Cao Cao's troops withdraw, each takes his leave and departs. Romance, Ch. 32 §14 · 16
In Chapter 33, when Ji Province falls, Yuan Shao's wife Lady Liu tells Cao Pi that when Yuan Xi went out to guard You Province, Lady Zhen did not want to travel far and so remained there. Pursued by Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang flees to You Province and takes refuge with Yuan Xi, and after Yuan Tan's death Yuan Xi's subordinate generals Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan surrender to Cao Cao. On Guo Jia's advice Cao Cao has Jiao Chu, Zhang Nan and others attack You Province in three columns, and Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi, judging that they cannot resist, abandon the city and flee overnight to Liaoxi to take refuge with the Wuhuan. Romance, Ch. 33 §1 · 10 · 19–20 · 22–23
Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang come at Mount Bailang with several tens of thousands of horsemen together with Tadun and others, and when Zhang Liao beheads Tadun they flee to Liaodong with several thousand horsemen. The two secretly agree that with the tens of thousands of troops of Liaodong they could contend with Cao Cao, so they will take refuge there for a time, then kill Gongsun Kang, seize his land and recover the region north of the Yellow River. When Gongsun Kang hears the report that Cao Cao's troops have no intention of coming down, he hides axe-and-sword men behind the hangings and receives the two. When Yuan Shang asks for a mat to be laid, Gongsun Kang rebukes him: 'Your two heads are about to travel ten thousand li,' and the axe-and-sword men cut off the two men's heads where they sit. When the heads reach Yizhou, Cao Cao brings out the letter Guo Jia left behind and shows it. Romance, Ch. 33 §36–37 · 44–47
Chapter 91 again states that Cao Pi's consort Lady Zhen had been the wife of Yuan Shao's second son Yuan Xi, and was taken when Ye was captured. Romance, Ch. 91 §12
Where the Romance differs
Yuan Shao's judgment: In Chapter 31 of the Romance, Yuan Shao says that Yuan Xi is weak and soft by nature and unlikely to accomplish anything. The Biography of Yuan Shao in the Records states only that Yuan Shao loved his youngest son Yuan Shang and wished to make him his successor, and says nothing about Yuan Xi's character. Romance, Ch. 31 §8Records, Wei 6 §59–70
Cangting: In Chapter 31 of the Romance, Yuan Xi is defeated with his father at Cangting and wounded by an arrow. The Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records state only that in the 4th month of the 6th year of Jian'an (201) Cao Cao broke Yuan Shao's army at Cangting, and Yuan Xi does not appear. Romance, Ch. 31 §19Records, Wei 1 §73
The battle of Liyang: In Chapter 32 of the Romance, Yuan Xi comes to Liyang with Gao Gan, faces Cao Cao and is defeated. In the Biography of Yuan Shao in the Records, it is Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang who face Cao Cao at Liyang, and Yuan Xi does not appear. Romance, Ch. 32 §14Records, Wei 6 §61–62
Why Lady Zhen stayed behind: In Chapter 33 of the Romance, Lady Liu says that Lady Zhen stayed behind because she did not want to travel far. The Biographies of Empresses and Consorts in the Records state that when Yuan Xi went out to You Province, she stayed behind to care for her mother-in-law. Romance, Ch. 33 §1Records, Wei 5 §19
Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan: In Chapter 33 of the Romance, Yuan Xi's subordinate generals Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan surrender to Cao Cao after Yuan Tan's death and, following Guo Jia's plan, attack You Province on Cao Cao's orders. Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang abandon the city and flee before those troops arrive. In the Records, Yuan Xi's senior generals Jiao Chu, Zhang Nan and others rebelled and attacked Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang, so that the two fled to the Wuhuan, and Jiao Chu and the others surrendered with their counties. Romance, Ch. 33 §19–20 · 22–23Records, Wei 1 §88Records, Wei 6 §68
The oath in You Province: In Chapter 33 of the Romance, the man who presides over the oath to turn against the Yuan is Wuhuanchu, Inspector of You Province. In the Records, it was Jiao Chu, who had attacked Yuan Xi, who styled himself Inspector of You Province and had them swear an oath over a sacrificed white horse. Romance, Ch. 33 §23Records, Wei 6 §68
Death in Liaodong: In Chapter 33 of the Romance, Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang secretly agree to kill Gongsun Kang and seize Liaodong, and Gongsun Kang has axe-and-sword men hidden behind the hangings cut the two down where they sit. The Records state only that Gongsun Kang lured them in and beheaded them, and there is no plot by the brothers. Romance, Ch. 33 §44–45Records, Wei 6 §70Records, Wei 1 §101
Why Liaodong was not attacked: In Chapter 33 of the Romance, Cao Cao refrains from attacking Liaodong as directed by the letter left by the late Guo Jia. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records, Cao Cao himself said that Gongsun Kang would behead Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi and send their heads, and explained why. Romance, Ch. 33 §40–41 · 47Records, Wei 1 §101–102
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
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total354 / 1000Rank 879 of 996 · Top 89%Romance total322 / 1000Rank 1,041 of 1,113 · Top 94%
Romance adaptation index−32Romance total − Records total
- LEA4038−2
- STR3835−3
- INT3530−5
- POL3535±0
- CHA2830+2
- VIR4530−15
- ADP2825−3
- SCH3533−2
- DIP3533−2
- DIS3533−2
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
9 similar abilities — show evidence
RMet Cao Cao with Yuan Shang and tens of thousands of Wuhuan horsemen but was routed at Mount BailangWei 1 §99Wei 1 §100
NCame with 60,000 troops but was badly defeated by Cao Cao at LiyangCh. 31 §9Ch. 32 §14
RNo direct record — estimated from his being Yuan Shao's second son and his career in You ProvinceWei 6 §49
NWas wounded by an arrow in the defeat at CangtingCh. 31 §19
RNo direct record — estimated from his being Yuan Shao's second son and his career in You ProvinceWei 6 §49
NPlotted to kill Gongsun Kang and seize Liaodong, but was struck down firstCh. 33 §44Ch. 33 §46
RHis senior generals Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan rebelled and attacked himWei 1 §88Wei 6 §68
NHis subordinate generals Jiao Chu and Zhang Nan surrendered to Cao Cao, and You Province turned against himCh. 33 §19Ch. 33 §23
RTook refuge with Gongsun Kang in Liaodong, but was lured in and beheadedWei 6 §70Wei 1 §101
NYuan Shao judged him weak and soft by nature and unlikely to accomplish anythingCh. 31 §8
Records 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 (4)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Yuan Shao faction · Records · Records vol. 6 「又以中子熙爲幽州」
Family
| Parents | Yuan Shao(袁紹) Novel & History |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Empress Zhen (Wenzhao) Records |
| Siblings | Yuan Shang Novel & History, Yuan Tan Novel & History |
Based on Wikidata items for the historical and Romance figures. Relations without the Unverified badge were also confirmed in the Records.
Related events (3)
- Cao Cao Defeats Yuan Shao at Cangting 201 · Appears (Romance scene)
- Battle of White Wolf Mountain 207 · Command
- Guo Jia's Last Plan Settles Liaodong 207 · Appears (Romance scene)
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).