Xu Gong

Xu Gong (許貢) was a minor official serving under the warlord Sun Ce during the late Eastern Han Dynasty in China. His main claim to historical notability lies in his attempted assassination of Sun Ce.

He served as the Administrator of Wu Commandery. Believing Sun Ce to be a threat to the Han Dynasty, he secretly wrote a memorial to Emperor Xian recommending that Sun Ce be recalled to the capital, Xuchang, or at least be given a position to keep him away from his burgeoning power in the south. The memorial, unfortunately for Xu Gong, was intercepted by Sun Ce's men. Enraged, Sun Ce confronted Xu Gong and executed him.

Later, Xu Gong's former retainers, motivated by revenge, ambushed and fatally wounded Sun Ce during a hunting trip. These retainers were then captured and executed themselves. This act of revenge posthumously gave Xu Gong a more prominent place in historical accounts and folklore, notably in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where his role in Sun Ce's death is dramatized. He is primarily remembered for his opposition to Sun Ce and the ultimately successful, albeit indirect, consequences of his actions.