Qiao Xuan

Qiao Xuan (109–183), style name Gongzu, was an official who lived in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Family background
Qiao Xuan was born in the Eastern Han Dynasty during the reign of Emperor An (r. 106–125 CE). He was a native of Suiyang (睢陽) in the Liang state (梁國; south of present-day Shangqiu, Henan) and came from a scholar-gentry background. His ancestor Qiao Ren (橋仁), who lived seven generations before him, served as a Minister Herald (大鴻臚) during the reign of Emperor Cheng (r. 33–7 BCE). Qiao Ren also wrote 49 volumes of the Li Ji Zhangju (禮記章句; Verses from the Book of Rites), and was nicknamed "Scholar Qiao" (橋君學). Qiao Xuan's grandfather Qiao Ji (橋基) served as the Administrator (太守) of Guangling (廣陵), while Qiao Xuan's father Qiao Su (橋肅) served as the Administrator of Donglai (東萊).

Early career
In his youth, Qiao Xuan served as an "Officer of Merit" (功曹) in the local county office. When Zhou Jing (周景), the Inspector (刺史) of Yu Province, visited the Liang state, Qiao Xuan reported to him the crimes of Yang Chang (羊昌), the Chancellor (相) of the Chen state (陳國). Zhou Jing ordered Qiao Xuan to conduct an investigation so Qiao detained Yang Chang and wrote a thorough list of Yang's offences. However, as Yang Chang was favoured by the General-in-Chief (大將軍) Liang Ji, Liang sent an urgent letter to Zhou Jing, asking him to release Yang. Zhou Jing feared Liang Ji so he obliged and instructed Qiao Xuan to set Yang Chang free. However, Qiao Xuan returned the letter and had Yang Chang escorted to the capital as a criminal in a prison cart. Qiao Xuan became famous after this incident.

Qiao Xuan was later nominated to be a xiaolian and he was appointed as a "Left Commandant" (左尉) in the capital Luoyang. His superior was Liang Buyi (梁不疑), the Intendant of Henan (河南尹) and Liang Ji's brother. Liang Buyi made life difficult for Qiao Xuan because of Yang Chang's case and he often humiliated Qiao. Qiao Xuan eventually resigned and returned to his hometown.

Mid career
Qiao Xuan later became the Chancellor (相) of the Qi state (齊國; in present-day Shandong). Once, he committed an offence and was stripped off his post and sent to perform hard labour. After serving his sentence, he was allowed to rejoin the civil service and was appointed as the Administrator (太守) of Shanggu (上谷) and later as the Administrator of Hanyang (漢陽). While he was in office, Qiao Xuan heard that Huangfu Zhen (皇甫禎), the Prefect (令) of Shanggui (上邽), was guilty of corruption, so he had the latter arrested. Huangfu Zhen was flogged, had his head shaved bald, and he later died in Ji County (兾縣). This incident shocked everyone in the region. Around the time, Qiao Xuan heard of a famous man called Jiang Qi (姜岐) who lived in Shanggui and he wanted to recruit Jiang into the civil service but Jiang declined, claiming that he was ill. Qiao Xuan was angered, so he sent an Investigator (督郵) called Yin Yi (尹益) to force Jiang Qi into service. He threatened to make Jiang Qi's mother marry another man if Jiang refused again, and Yin Yi conveyed the threat to Jiang Qi but Jiang still declined, claiming that he was sick. The Counsellors (士大夫) in the commandery came to see Qiao Xuan and managed to persuade him to stop forcing Jiang Qi. This incident became the subject of jokes at that time. Qiao Xuan later resigned on the grounds that he was ill, but later entered service again as a "Chief Clerk" (長史) to the Excellency of Works (司徒). He was later promoted to "Court Architect" (將作大匠).

Towards the end of the reign of Emperor Huan (r. 146–168), the Xianbei and Southern Xiongnu tribes and the Korean kingdom Goguryeo often made incursions into Liaodong in northeastern China. Qiao Xuan was selected to be "General Who Enters Liao(dong)" (度遼將軍) and commissioned to defend the northeastern border. He served there for three years and repelled intrusions by the foreign invaders, maintaining peace in the area.

In the early reign of Emperor Ling (r. 168–189), Qiao Xuan was summoned to the capital Luoyang, where he served consecutively as the "Intendant of Henan" (河南尹), "Minister Steward" (少府) and "Minister Herald" (大鴻臚). In 170, he was promoted to "Excellency of Works" (司空), one of the Three Ducal Ministers (three high ranking positions in the imperial court), and later to "Excellency over the Masses" (司徒, also among the Three Ducal Ministers). He could not get along well with Chen Qiu (陳球), the Administrator of Nanyang (南陽), but when he was in the two top positions, he recommended Chen to be the "Minister of Justice" (廷尉). Qiao Xuan saw that the nation was too weak as the government was plagued by corruption and he felt he could not do much to help, so he claimed illness and resigned.

Later life and death
In his later years, Qiao Xuan entered office again as an "Imperial Secretary" (尚書令). Around the time, he discovered that the Palace Counsellor (太中大夫) Gai Sheng (蓋升), to whom Emperor Ling's predecessor, Emperor Huan, was indebted, had abused his power when he was serving as the Administrator of Nanyang (南陽), and had amassed a large fortune from corrupt dealings. Qiao Xuan wrote a memorial to Emperor Ling, requesting for Gai Sheng to be stripped off his post and his property confiscated, but Emperor Ling refused. Qiao Xuan's appointment was then changed from "Imperial Secretary" to "Palace Attendant" (侍中) but he delayed assuming office by claiming to be ill again. He was reassigned to be a "Household Counsellor" (光祿大夫). In 178, he was appointed "Grand Commandant" (太尉) but he rejected on the grounds that he was sick. He remained as a "Household Counsellor" while receiving medical treatment.

Qiao Xuan died in 183 at the age of 75 (by East Asian age reckoning).

Kidnap of Qiao Xuan's son
Once, Qiao Xuan's youngest son, who was ten years old at that time, travelled out alone and was kidnapped by three robbers. The robbers, holding the boy hostage, broke into Qiao Xuan's house and demanded a ransom but Qiao refused. Yang Qiu (陽球), the Colonel of the Capital Province (司隷校尉), along with the Intendant of Henan (河南尹) and the Prefect of Luoyang (洛陽令), led several soldiers to surround Qiao Xuan's house. Yang Qiu did not order his men to advance further because he was worried that the robbers might harm Qiao Xuan's son. However, Qiao Xuan shouted, "Such criminals have no humanity! I'll not let these criminals have their way just for the sake of my son!" He then instructed the soldiers to force their way in and attack the robbers. The robbers were killed but Qiao Xuan's son also died in the struggle. Qiao Xuan later submitted a memorial to the imperial court, requesting for the following law to be implemented: "Any person who takes another person hostage should be killed. No ransom is to be paid, so as not to open up a channel for criminals to make pecuniary gains." The court approved. Since after the reign of Emperor An (r. 106–125), law enforcement had been weakening: many kidnapping and hostage-taking incidents occurred in the capital and even the family members of government officials and influential persons had become victims. However, after the case of Qiao Xuan's son, such incidents never happened again.

Relationship with Cao Cao
When Cao Cao, a warlord who rose to prominence in the final years of the Han Dynasty and became the de facto head of the Han central government, was still relatively unknown to others, he once visited Qiao Xuan. Qiao Xuan was surprised to see Cao Cao and he told the latter, "The empire is about to enter a state of chaos. You're the person who will restore peace and order!" At the time, Qiao Xuan and He Yong were the only two persons who felt that Cao Cao was extraordinary. Cao Cao later often said that Qiao Xuan was someone who really understood him. The Wei Shu (魏書) recorded that Qiao Xuan said to Cao Cao, "I've seen many famous persons but I've never seen someone like you before! You should work hard. I'm old already! I hope to be able to entrust my family to you." Cao Cao's fame increased after his meeting with Qiao Xuan. The Shishuo Xinyu recorded that when Qiao Xuan met Cao Cao, who was still a youth then, he told the latter, "The world is in chaos and warlords are fighting for supremacy. Aren't you the person who will eliminate all of them and restore order? You're actually a hero in chaotic times but a villain in times of peace. It's a pity that I'm old already because I won't be able to see you become wealthy and powerful. I entrust my descendants to you." Qiao Xuan also recommended Cao Cao to see Xu Shao, a well-known commentator and character evaluator.

After Qiao Xuan's death, whenever Cao Cao passed by Qiao's grave, he would mourn Qiao and pay his respects. He wrote a eulogy for Qiao Xuan, which read:

"The late Grand Commandant Qiao Xuan was a man of principles and virtues, one who was kind and compassionate. The nation is grateful for his sermons while scholars learn from his lessons. Rest his soul in Heaven, we have fond memories of him. In my younger days, when I was stubborn and obstreperous, I visited him and he received me well. The encouragement he gave me was equivalent to that of Confucius remarking that none of his other students could replace Yan Hui, and that of Li Sheng (李生) praising Jia Fu (賈復). As the saying goes, 'a scholar would die for someone who understands him', I've never forgotten what he said to me. I remember that he once told me, 'After I die, if you pass by my grave and do not offer a jar of wine and a chicken as sacrifices to me, you'll get a stomachache after your carriage moves another three steps. Do not blame me if that really happens.' Although that was light hearted humour, if we weren't very close at that time, how would he have cracked such a joke? Now, as I recall these old memories, I feel grief and sorrow. I'm now on a eastern campaign and my army is garrisoned in this village. I'm looking at the lands in the north, but my thoughts are at his grave. I hereby offer him these sacrifices and I hope he enjoys them!"

Family
One of Qiao Xuan's sons, Qiao Yu (橋羽), served as the Chancellor (相) of Rencheng (任城).

Appraisal
Qiao Xuan was known to be an impatient and impulsive person who did not take the overall perspectives of issues into consideration. However, he led a humble and simple life, and treated people with respect. He did not abuse his status and power by helping any of his family members and relatives to obtain high-ranking positions in the civil service. When he died, his family did not own much property and no funeral was held for him. His humility earned him praise at that time.

The historian Fan Ye, who wrote Qiao Xuan's biography, commented on Qiao as follows: "Qiao Xuan established his authority and was known for his sternness, but he was lacking in his personal relations with others." When commenting on Qiao Xuan spotting Cao Cao's talent, Fan Ye wrote: "Qiao Xuan had the privilege of being the first to recognise a hero."

In fiction
In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Qiao Xuan was the father of the two Qiao sisters, and was referred to as "Qiao Guolao" (喬國老; lit. "State Elder Qiao"). He appears in chapter 54 in the events leading to the marriage between Liu Bei and Sun Shangxiang.

Historicity
Zhou Yu's biography in the historical text Records of the Three Kingdoms did not state the name of the Qiao sisters' father, who was simply referred to as "Qiao Gong" (橋公; lit. "Elder Qiao"). Historically, Qiao Xuan died in 183 while the Qiao sisters married Sun Ce and Zhou Yu in 200, so it was not possible that Qiao Xuan was still living when the marriages took place. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that Qiao Xuan was the "Qiao Gong" mentioned in Zhou Yu's biography.

The marriage between Liu Bei and Lady Sun took place sometime in 209 or 210, so Qiao Xuan's role in the events leading to the marriage is purely fiction as he was already dead for over 20 years then.