Xu Guang (Later Zhao)

Xu Guang followed Shi Le during his campaign to capture Wang Jun in 314. After Wang Jun was captured, Wang Jun scolded Shi Le, "How dare a barbarian like you make a fool of me? What wicked treason is this?" Xu Guang, who was with Shi Le at the time, replied, "You hold the loftiest of offices, and you have powerful soldiers at hand. Yet you sat and watched as the court you served was overthrown, and you did nothing to lend them aid. Now you even want to exalt yourself as the Son of Heaven. Is that not 'wicked treason'? And even though you held an important office, you gave in to perverse greed, inflicting your tyranny on the common people and taxing and harming the loyal and the good. Poison has spread through the whole Yan region, and whose fault is it but yours?" Wang Jun was later brought to Xiangguo (襄國, in modern Xingtai, Hebei) where he was executed.[3]

In 320, a retainer of Wang Jun, Shao Xu was finally captured by Shi Le's nephew, Shi Hu. Shi Le sent Xu Guang as an envoy to the defeated general, telling him in Shi Le's own words, "The nation should be united in order to set aside chaos and return from all directions. Our prestige spreads, but you still cling to Sima Rui and arrogantly defy my king's will. You may think us as inferior but how is it that is my ruler not fit to rule this land? Why remain ignorant? The world is inhabited by virtuous people, so why must you continue to divide it?” Shao Xu provided a lengthy explanation for his loyalty to Jin and his reason for defying Shi Le. Shi Le was impressed and had Shao Xu as a respected guest from then on.[4]

Xu Guang was serving as Records Keeping Army Advisor by 326. That year, Xu Guang ran into trouble with Shi Le. Shi Le summoned him to court one day but Xu Guang could not arrive as he was too drunk. Shi Le thus demoted him to a standard official. On a later occasion, Xu Guang was attending Shi Le when he was displaying an irritated face around him. Shi Le noticed this and was greatly angered. He had Xu Guang and his wife thrown into prison for his behaviour.[5]

Xu Guang was imprisoned for two year until 328, when Shi Le was having his final campaign against 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 for his past crimes before asking for his advice, which Xu told him, "Liu Yao gained an advantage when he won at Gaohou (高候, north of modern Wenxi County, Shanxi). But rather than advance straight for Xiangguo, he lay siege to Luoyang instead. This shows his lack of ability. Great King, you need only match your valor and cunning against his, and then he will certainly strike his banners and flee in defeat. By this one act, you will settle and bring peace to the realm. You cannot squander this chance." Shi Le was pleased and laughingly said, "It is just as Xu Guang says."[6]

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. Liu Yao saw Shi Le and told him, "King Shi, have you forgotten the pledge we made together at Zhongmen?" Shi Le sent Xu Guang to tell him, "Today's events were dictated by Heaven's will; what use is there of saying anything further?"[7] 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 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 pleased with the answer but Xu Guang took a step further to bring up about his powerful nephew, Shi Hu. Xu Guang urged Shi Le to reduce his power while increasing Shi Hong's as he feared that Shi Hu would go against Shi Hong in the future. Shi Le took his advice but never acted upon it.[8]

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 realised this and did not carry out the execution. Instead, he rewarded Xu Xian and delayed the start of the construction.[9]

In 332, Shi Le held a banquet at the beginning of the year. He asked Xu Guang which rulers does he compare to. Xu Guang told him, "In martial valor, strategy, and resourcefulness, Your Majesty surpasses even Han Gaozu. There shall never be anyone who can compare with you." Shi Le laughed and said, "What man does not know his own worth? Sir, you go too far. If I had met Han Gaozu, then I would have faced north to him as his servant, shoulder to shoulder with Han Xin and Peng Yue. And had I met Emperor Guangwu, then I would have contended with him for the Central Plains, and we would have seen to whom the deer would fall. When a true man acts, he should be forthright and aboveboard, and open and clear as the sun and moon. One should not imitate the examples of Cao Mengde and Sima Zhongda, who only bullied mere orphans and widows and captured the realm through their beguiling." The ministers present kowtowed and chanted "Long live the emperor!"[10]

Some time later, the minister Cheng Xia tried to persuade Shi Le to reduce Shi Hu's power. He failed and went to Xu Guang, warning him "The Prince of Zhongshan (Shi Hu) has long held a grudge against the two of us. I fear that not only is the state in danger, but even our families will suffer misfortune." Xu Guang thus took his chance at convincing Shi Le to do so. When he approached Shi Le, Shi was worried that he would not conquer the southlands before his death. Xu Guang said to him:[11]

"When Wei inherited the mandate from Han, although Liu Bei established himself in Shu, Han certainly did not still exist! And the Li clan of our time is only the same as Sun Quan of Wu from back then. Your Majesty holds the two capitals, and has pacified eight provinces. If Your Majesty does not hold the mandate to rule, then who else can claim to? "Rather than fear external troubles, Your Majesty should be concerned with sickness from within. The Prince of Zhongshan, relying upon Your Majesty's power and shrewdness, has vanquished all whom he has faced. All the world says that no one but Your Majesty can surpass him in soldierly bearing. Furthermore, he is cruel by nature and lacks benevolence, seeking personal gains and ignoring what is just. He and his sons all occupy positions of authority, and their influence overpowers that of your imperial line; yet even so, he still broods and often harbors resentment, for his heart is not satisfied. At a recent feast in the Eastern Palace, he looked upon the Crown Prince with contempt. I fear that after Your Majesty is no more, the fortunes of your line might not be maintained."

Shi Le finally decided to take some action to increase Shi Hong's power. Shi Le allowed him to review petitions from ministers with the Palace Regular Attendant Yan Zhen (嚴震) acting as a supervisor. However, this was still not enough to completely diminish Shi Hu's influence. Shi Hu eventually found out of this decision and begrudged Xu Guang, which would eventually lead to Xu's demise. Shi Le passed away 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.[12]