Xun Yu
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Xun Yu(荀彧), styled Wenruo(文若), was one of Cao Cao's greatest advisors during the Three Kingdoms period in ancient China.
Xun Yu was a man from Yinghang in Yingchuan. Xun Yu was once under the service of Yuan Shao. However, seeing that Yuan Shao was not a man who could accomplish great things, he left for Cao Cao with his nephew Xun You. During the reign of Emperor Huan of Han, he was famous throughout the empire of Han. He was also praised as an extraordinary man. Cao Cao once praised him as "my zifang". Zi fang, courtesy name of Zhang Liang, was the man who aided Liu Bang in the founding of the Han.
Xun Yu was responsible for much invaluable advice given to Cao Cao. He advised Cao Cao to make the emperor into a puppet of his so that Cao Cao could have a political advantage over the other warlords. He also advised Cao Cao during the Battle of Guandu, which eventually lead to the defeat of the warlord Yuan Shao. For example, when Cao Cao realised that his food supplies were exhausted, Xun Yu advised him "to employ unexpected tactics because great changes are about to take place". This advice caused Cao Cao to execute a sneak attack on a garrison of Yuan Shao. This eventually led to the execution of Yuan Shao's general, Chunyu Qiong, and the surrendering of Xu You to Cao Cao. All these had happened just as Xun Yu had predicted.
Xun Yu met an untimely end when he became ill in the established Kingdom of Wei. In the 17th year of Jian'an (212)Cao Cao wanted to be the Duke of Wei, which Xun Yu strongly opposed. This incident irritated Cao Cao. Cao Cao thought that Xun Yu was not helping him anymore. One day, when Cao Cao went off for a campaign against Sun Quan, Xun Yu feigned illness and stayed home, whereupon Cao Cao sent him a 'gift'. When Xun Yu opened the box, he found it to be empty. The great advisor took the hint, drank poison and died. Xun Yu was only 51 when he died. Cao Cao then became the Duke of Wei in the subsequent year. (NOTE: Xun Yu's nephew, Xun You, died in the same manner as he did)
He was succeeded by his son Xun Han, who died at 30.
