Xu Guang
徐光
Recordskeeping Army Advisor (記室參軍)
In office
?–326
MonarchShi Le
Prefect of the Palace Secretariat (中書令)
In office
330–333
MonarchShi Le/Shi Hong
Personal details
BornUnknown
Qingfeng County, Henan
Died333
Parent
  • Xu Cong (father)
Courtesy nameJiwu (季武)

Xu Guang (died 333), courtesy name Jiwu, was a minister of Later Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was captured by Shi Le's general Wang Yang (王陽) and served as a servant, but after discovering his potential, he was recruited into Shi Le's army instead. Misconducts by Xu Guang angered Shi Le who had him and family imprisoned in 326. However, Xu Guang won Shi Le's favour back in 328, after his advice earned them a victory over Zhao's rival Han-Zhao. As he became a prominent member of the administration, Xu Guang tried to reduce the power of Shi Le's nephew, Shi Hu but could not convince Shi Le to fully remove him. Shi Hu resented him for this, and after his coup in 333, Shi Hu had him and his ally Cheng Xia executed.

Early life and background

Xu Guang was from Dunqiu County in Dong Commandery. He grew up poor and his father Xu Cong (徐聰) only worked as a mere cow doctor. Despite his poor upbringing, he took a liking for studying and reciting literature. As northern China fell into chaos, the Han-Zhao general, Shi Le, invaded Dunqiu. His general Wang Yang captured the county, where he took in a 13-year-old Xu Guang as a servant. Xu Guang was ordered to work in Wang Yang's stables, where he would tend to the horses. Xu Guang had no interest in his new work, and instead spent the rest of his time writing poetry and songs on the posts tied to the horses.

Wang Yang eventually found out of Xu Guang's procrastination. Angered, he had him imprisoned and whipped. However, after his release, Wang Yang felt guilty after being informed that Xu Guang had cried all night long. Wang Yang summoned Xu Guang and handed him a brush and paper, which Xu Guang wrote an ode on. Wang Yang was impressed by Xu Guang's talents and rewarded him with robes. He also recommended him to Shi Le, who agreed to appoint him into his administration.[1]

Career under Shi Le

Early career

In 314, Xu Guang followed Shi Le in his Youzhou campaign to capture the Jin dynasty warlord, Wang Jun. The Book of Jin states that after Jicheng fell and Wang Jun was captured, Shi Le had Xu Guang chastise Wang and list his crimes against the people of his domain.[2] In 320, Xu Guang was made Shi Le's envoy to Shao Xu, another Jin warlord who has just been captured. Xu Guang questioned Shao Xu in Shi Le's words regarding his insistence to remain loyal to Jin and was given a satisfactory response for Shi.[3]

Battle of Luoyang

Xu Guang was serving as Records Keeping Army Advisor by 326. That year, Xu Guang ran into trouble when, one day, Shi Le summoned him to court but Xu did not answer as he was too drunk. Shi Le thus demoted him to a standard official. On a later occasion, Xu Guang was attending Shi Le, during which he displayed an irritated look. Shi Le noticed his lack of respect and was angered. He had Xu Guang and his wife thrown into prison because of this.[4]

Xu Guang remained in prison until 328, when Shi Le was leading his final campaign against his rival, Liu Yao of Han-Zhao. Shi Le was frustrated by his officials who opposed his decision to personally lead the campaign. With his court against him, he looked towards Xu Guang. Shi Le freed and pardoned him before asking for his advice. Xu assured Shi Le that Liu Yao was nothing to fear, as evident of Liu wasting his momentum on Luoyang instead of Later Zhao's capital, Xiangguo. Shi Le was pleased and laughingly said, "It is just as Xu Guang says!"[5]

Xu Guang followed Shi Le during the assault on Luoyang. As Xu had predicted, Shi Le overcame Liu Yao and even captured him in battle. The last remaining resistance of Han-Zhao's forces were defeated in 329. The following year in 330, Shi Le declared himself Heavenly King and handed out appointments to his officials. Xu Guang in particular became Prefect of the Palace Secretariat and acting Custodian of the Private Library.

Later life, opposing Shi Hu and death

Later that year, Shi Le was worried about his Crown Prince Shi Hong, who was not as militaristic as his father. Xu Guang told him not to worry much about it, comparing the father and son relationship of Shi Le and Shi Hong to that of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Wen of Han, as the former unified the state through war while the latter established peace in his rule. Shi Le was satisfied with the answer but Xu Guang furthered their conversation by bringing up Shi's powerful nephew, Shi Hu. Xu Guang urged Shi Le to reduce his power while increasing that of Shi Hong's as he feared that Hu would go against Hong in the future. Shi Le considered his advice but never acted upon it at the time.[6]

In 331, Shi Le intended to construct a new palace in Ye. However, he was opposed by his Minister of Justice, Xu Xian (續咸). Shi Le was angry and wanted to execute him, but Xu Guang intervened and told him that Xu Xian was only giving honest criticism. Shi Le realized this and did not carry out the execution. Instead, he rewarded Xu Xian and delayed the start of the construction.[7]

In 332, Shi Le held a banquet at the beginning of the year. He asked Xu Guang which rulers could he be compared with. Xu Guang remarked that Shi Le's talents and prowess surpassed that of Emperor Gaozu of Han, which made Shi Le laugh and tell Xu that he had overestimated him. Shi Le believes himself to be lower than Emperor Gaozu but equal to Emperor Guangwu of Han. He concluded his evaluation by condemning the likes of Cao Cao and Sima Yi, who he said "bullied orphans and widows" and took power through deception. The ministers present kowtowed and chanted "Long live the emperor!"[8]

Some time later, the minister Cheng Xia attempted to persuade Shi Le into reducing Shi Hu's power, which grew by the day. After failing to do so, Cheng Xia, remembering Xu Guang's past attempt at doing the same, approached Xu and warned him of Shi Hu's grudge against them. Xu was once again determined to undermine Shi Hu. That same day, when Shi Le was worried about his legacy, Xu Guang dissipated Le's doubt and at the same time, took the opportunity to convince Le into shifting his worries towards Shi Hu.[9]

Xu Guang was successful and Shi Le began taking steps to empower Shi Hong. Shi Le allowed Hong to review petitions from ministers and had the Palace Regular Attendant, Yan Zhen (嚴震) to act as Hong's supervisor. However, this was not enough to completely stop Shi Hu. Shi Hu eventually found out about the incident and heavily resented Xu Guang because of it. Shi Le died on the 17th of August in 333. Almost immediately, Shi Hu seized Shi Hong and took over the government. Xu Guang and Cheng Xia were arrested by Shi Hu and brought before the Minister of Justice. Shi Hu granted a general amnesty but left out Xu Guang and Cheng Xia, who were both executed for defying him.[10]

References

  1. ↑ (又《後趙錄》曰：徐光字季武，頓丘人。父聰，以牛醫爲業。光幼好學，有文才。年十三，嘉平中王陽攻頓丘，掠之，令主秣馬，光但書柱爲詩賦，而不親馬事。陽怒，撻之，啼呼終夜不止。左右以白陽，陽召光，付紙筆，光立爲頌，陽奇之。) Taiping Yulan, Volume 384
  2. ↑ (勒升其廳事，命甲士執浚，立之于前，使徐光讓浚曰：「君位冠元臺，爵列上公，據幽都驍悍之國，跨全燕突騎之鄉，手握強兵，坐觀京師傾覆，不救天子，而欲自尊。又專任姦暴，殺害忠良，肆情恣欲，毒遍燕壤。自貽于此，非為天也。」) Book of Jin, Volume 104
  3. ↑ (季龍遣使送續於勒，勒使使徐光讓之曰：「國家應符撥亂，八表宅心，遺晉怖威，遠竄揚越。而續蟻封海阿，跋扈王命，以夷狄不足為君邪？何無上之甚也！國有常刑，于分甘乎？」續對曰：「晉末饑亂，奔控無所，保合鄉宗，庶全老幼。屬大王龍飛之始，委命納質，精誠無感，不蒙慈恕。言歸遺晉，仍荷寵授，誓盡忠節，實無二心。且受彼厚榮，而復二三其趣者，恐亦不容于明朝矣。周文生於東夷，大禹出於西羌，帝王之興，蓋惟天命所屬，德之所招，當何常邪！伏惟大王聖武自天，道隆虞夏，凡在含生，孰不延首神化，恥隔皇風，而況囚乎！使囚去真即偽，不得早叩天門者，大王負囚，囚不負大王也。釁鼓之刑，囚之恆分，但恨天實為之，謂之何哉！」勒曰：「其言慨至，孤愧之多矣。夫忠於其君者，乃吾所求也。」) Book of Jin, Volume 63
  4. ↑ (勒如苑鄉，召記室參軍徐光，光醉不至。以光物情所湊，常不平之，因此發怒，退為牙門。勒自苑鄉如鄴，徐光侍直，慍然攘袂振紛，仰視不顧。勒因而惡之，讓光曰：「何負卿而敢怏怏邪！」於是幽光並其妻子于獄。) Book of Jin, Volume 105
  5. ↑ (冬，十一月，後趙王勒欲自將救洛陽，僚佐程遐等固諫曰：「劉曜懸軍千里，勢不支久。大王不宜親動，動無萬全。」勒大怒，按劍叱遐等出。乃赦徐光，召而謂之曰：「劉曜乘一戰之勝，圍守洛陽，庸人之情皆謂其鋒不可當。曜帶甲十萬，攻一城而百日不克，師老卒怠，以我初銳擊之，可一戰而擒也。若洛陽不守，曜必送死冀州，自河已北，席卷而來，吾事去矣。程遐等不欲吾行，卿以爲何如？」對曰：「劉曜乘高候之勢，不能進臨襄國，更守金墉，此其無能爲可知也。以大王威略臨之，彼必望旗奔敗。平定天下，在今一舉，不可失也。」勒笑曰：「光言是也。」乃使內外戒嚴，有諫者斬。命石堪、石聰及豫州刺史桃豹等各統見衆會滎陽；中山公虎進據石門，勒自統步騎四萬趣金墉，濟自大堨。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 94
  6. ↑ (弘虛衿愛士，好為文詠，其所親昵，莫非儒素。勒謂徐光曰：「大雅愔愔，殊不似將家子。」光曰：「漢祖以馬上得天下，孝文以玄默守之。聖人之後，必世勝殘，天之道也。」勒大悅。程遐言於勒曰：「中山怏怏，不可以輔少主，乞早除之，以便大計。」勒不從。) Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 2
  7. ↑ (夏，趙主勒如鄴，將營新宮；廷尉上黨續咸苦諫，勒怒，欲斬之。中書令徐光曰：「咸言不可用，亦當容之，柰何一旦以直言斬列卿乎！」勒嘆曰：「爲人君，不得自專如是乎！匹夫家貲滿百匹，猶欲市宅，況富有四海乎！此宮終當營之，且敕停作，以成吾直臣之氣。」) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 94
  8. ↑ (三年正月，大饗於建德殿，酒酣，勒謂徐光曰：「朕方自古開基，何等上也？」光對曰：「陛下神武，籌略邁于高皇，雄藝卓犖，超絕魏武，三五以來，無可比也。其軒轅之亞乎！」勒笑曰：「人豈不自知，卿言亦已太過。朕若逢高皇，當北面而事之，然猶與韓、彭競健而爭先耳。倘遇光武，當並驅于中原，未知鹿死誰手。大丈夫行事當磊磊落落，如日月皎然，終不能如曹孟德、司馬仲達，欺他孤兒寡婦，狐媚以取天下也。朕在二劉之間耳，軒轅豈所擬乎？」羣臣皆稱萬歲。) Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Volume 2
  9. ↑ (遐退，告徐光，光曰：「中山王常切齒於吾二人，恐非但危國，亦將為家禍也。」它日，光承間言於勒曰：「今國家無事，而陛下神色若有不怡，何也？」勒曰：「吳、蜀未平，吾恐後世不以吾為受命之王也。」光曰：「魏承漢運，劉備雖興於蜀，漢豈得為不亡乎！孫權在吳，猶今之李氏也。陛下苞括二都，平蕩八州，帝王之統不在陛下，復當在誰！且陛下不憂腹心之疾，而更憂四支乎！中山王藉陛下威略，所向輒克，而天下皆言其英武亞於陛下。且其資性不仁，見利忘義，父子並據權位，勢傾王室；而耿耿常有不滿之心。近於東宮侍宴，有輕皇太子之色。臣恐陛下萬年之後，不可複製也。」勒默然，始命太子省可尚書奏事，且以中常侍嚴震參綜可否，惟征伐斷斬大事乃呈之。於是嚴震之權過於主相，中山王虎之門可設雀羅矣。虎愈怏怏不悅。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 95
  10. ↑ (勒死，虎擅誅右光祿大夫程遐、中書令徐光，遣子邃率兵入大雅宮，直衞文武皆奔散。大雅大懼，自陳弱劣，讓位于虎。虎曰：「若其不堪，天下自當有大義，何足豫論。」遂逼立之。) Book of Northern Wei, Volume 95
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