Xu Miao 徐邈

Xu Miao 徐邈 (171-249), courtesy name Jingshan 景山, was a high official of the Wei dynasty 曹魏 (220-265) during the Three Kingdoms period 三國 (220-280).

His home town was Ji 薊 in the princedom of Yan 燕 (close to modern Beijing). Under the warlord Cao Cao 曹操 he was cleark for military advice under the Counsellor-in-chief (chengxiang jumou yuan 丞相軍謀掾), then magistrate (ling 令) of Fenggao 奉高, secretarial court gentleman (shangshu lang 尚書郎), then governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Anping 安平, and Vice Minister of the Agricultural Office (diannong zhonglangjiang 典農中郎將) of Yingchuan 穎川. For his proper administration he was rewarded with the title of a Marquis within the Passes (guanneihou 關內侯), and appointed General-in-chief and Marshal of the Pacification Army (fujun da jiangjun junshuai 撫軍大將軍軍帥).

Xu Miao was then transferred to the post of regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Liangzhou 涼州 (approx. modern Gansu), where he also acted as commander protecting the Qiang 羌 tribes (hu Qiang xiaowei 護羌校尉). Xu cared for better irrigation systems in the dry northwest and helped to raise the economical conditions of the region. He accomplished peaceful relations with the Qiang and pursued them to accept the suzerainty of the Wei empire. In 240 he was appointed Chamberlain for the National Treasury (da sinong 大司農), then metropolitan commandant (sili xiaowei 司隸校尉), afterwards Grand Master for Splendid Happiness (guanglu dafu 光祿大夫). His last honours was the prestigious title of Minister of Works (sikong 司空). Xu's posthumous title was Marquis Mu 穆侯.