賈詡

Profile

The supreme survivor of the age — and its most unerring strategist. He designed the night raid that nearly killed Cao Cao at Wancheng, then later joined Cao Cao and was welcomed with honors. One wedge-driving scheme of his broke the Ma Chao–Han Sui alliance at Tong Pass; one oblique sentence — "I was thinking of Yuan Shao and Liu Biao" — settled the Wei succession on Cao Pi. He died one of the Three Excellencies, at seventy-seven.

Key events

1. 192

   The Li Jue–Guo Si Chaos

   Refused amnesty, Dong Zhuo’s Xiliang remnants storm Chang’an and execute Wang Yun — the court falls back into the hands of violence.

   Wang YunLü BuEmperor Xian

2. 197

   Battle of Wancheng — Dian Wei’s Last Stand

   The surrendered Zhang Xiu strikes at night on Jia Xu’s plan; Cao Cao escapes with his life only through bodyguard Dian Wei’s dying stand.

   Cao CaoDian Wei

3. 211

   Battle of Tong Pass — Ma Chao Rises

   Ma Chao’s Xiliang coalition slams into Cao Cao — pressing him so hard legend says he cut off his beard to flee — before Jia Xu’s discord scheme broke the alliance.

   Ma ChaoCao CaoXu Chu

History vs. the novelHistoryvsNovel

The novel gives him little stage time, but the histories rate him near-infallible — and note the self-effacement, the closed gates, the studied avoidance of suspicion that made his brilliance survivable.