Xu Yi 徐奕

Xu Yi 徐奕, courtesy name Jicai 季才, was a high official of the warlord Cao Cao 曹操 during the late Eastern Han period 東漢 (25-220 CE).

He hailed from Dongguan 東莞 (modern Yishui 沂水, Shandong), and fled to southeast China during the Yellow Turban rebellion 黃巾起義. The local potentate, Sun Ce 孫策, offered him a post, but Xu refused. When he returned, he became a follower of the warlord Cao Cao 曹操 and took part in the campaigns of Cao's general Ma Chao 馬超.

Cao Cao appointed him aide to the Counsellor-in-chief (chengxiang zhangshi 丞相長史), a position in which he was responsible for the defense of the Western Capital Chang'an 長安 (Xi'an 西安, Shaanxi), when Cao Cao undertook a campaign against Sun Quan 孫權.

Later on Xu was made regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Yongzhou 雍州, but then demoted to governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Weijun 魏郡, then returned to the capital as Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu ling 尚書令) and was finally made commandant of the palace (zhongwei 中尉), with the honorific title of Grand Master of Remonstrance (jianyi dafu 諫議大夫).

Xu Yi was famous for his loyalty and sincerity. He withdrew from office when he fell ill, and died soon.