The truth about Yang Xiu: Ruined his life because of one deadly habit

Who wouldn't want to be recognized by the world? To be recognized, you naturally have to show off your talents. But you must show off in the right place, at the right time, with moderation. Obviously, no one praises showing off in public. Like blocking an ambulance and smashing its windows as seen in Tra Vinh. Or trying to impress your girlfriend by abusing the COVID response team. Like the incident in Thanh Tien Nam, Hanoi in 2021, and countless others. Now, looking back at the Three Kingdoms era. Many cases involved excessive showing off at the wrong time. Leading to embarrassing lessons from great men, or even the loss of life. A classic example, and the most expensive lesson of all. Is the story of Yang Xiao and Chow Chow. Welcome to Batacry, Chinese History Chronicles. He was undoubtedly brilliant. Yang Xiao, born 175, style name Dezu, from Huain, Shanxi, came from an elite clan. His ancestors served as Grand Commanders in the Eastern Han, culminating in his father, Yang Biao, who served under Emperor Xian. The Book of the Later Han calls them the four-generation Grand Commanders, a clan as prestigious as the Yuans of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, or the Wangs of Wanyun. His father, Yang Biao, was a rare loyalist who dared to oppose the usurpation of Dong Zhuo and later Chow Chow. Yang Biao's wife, Lady Yuan, was the sister of Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao. With such a background, Yang Xiao easily climbed the ranks of the court. From filial and incorrupt, he rose to master of accounts, serving under Prime Minister Chow Chow. With such power, Chow Chow was busy, Yang Xiao handled almost all the administrative affairs. Chow Chow once praised Yang Xiao as a clever man, someone who could read his mind. It is fair to say that Yang Xiao was then one of the most influential figures in court. He maintained close ties with Chow Ji, Chow Chow's fourth son, and chose to be his strategist in the succession battle against Chow Pai. However, Yang Xiao's relationship with Chow Pai was not necessarily bad. Legend has it that Yang Xiao once gifted Chow Pai a sword, which he cherished and carried everywhere. Later, when Chow Pai became emperor, he saw that sword and remembered Yang Xiao, saying, Yang Dezi said this was Wang Mao's sword, and he had Wang Mao sought out to receive gifts and provisions. By using Yang Xiao's courtesy name and rewarding others for his sake, it's clear Chow Pai did not despise him. Clearly, a man talented enough to serve as Chow Chow's master of accounts, acting as Chow Ji's strategist against his brother Chow Pai in the battle for succession. While managing to maintain a good rapport with his rival, Chow Pai. To the point where Chow Pai respected him enough not to use his given name. Someone with such talent should have become a major figure in the Three Kingdoms, right? Why then, is he not more prominent, nor widely recognized, even in Romance of the Three Kingdoms? The problem, as the video title suggests, is his habit of showing off with cheap tricks. Both the novel and official history recount that in major matters of state or trivial wordplay, Yang Xiao was always quick to cut in and speak for Chow Chow. Even if he was right, Chow Chow was far from pleased, feeling as if a brat young enough to be his son was reading his every thought. For those who don't know, Chow Chow was born in 155, about 20 years Yang Xiao's senior. Not only did he pry into Chow Chow's mind, but Yang Xiao was also utterly tactless, acting as if he had to prove how smart he was. Constantly blabbering about it, showing off before every general and strategist without a shred of restraint. With a suspicious and perfectionist like Chow Chow, Yang Xiao's behavior was just asking for trouble. For minor incidents, tensions escalated until their master-servant relationship reached a point of no return. Legend says after Chow Chow toured a newly built garden, he stared at the gate, wrote the character for alive on it without a word, and left. No one understood, but Yang Xiao caught on and immediately blabbered about it to everyone. He said, the character for alive inside the gate makes it look like wide, clearly implying the gate is too big. He assumed the prime minister was criticizing the gate for being too spacious. He then ordered the workers to make the gate smaller. Chow Chow returned later and saw the gate had been narrowed down. When he asked who understood his intent, they told him it was Yang Xiao. Chow Chow smiled outwardly, but was displeased that Yang Xiao could read his every thought. Another time, someone from the northern frontier gifted Chow Chow a box of butter. Chow Chow tasted it, praised it, and wrote one box of butter on the lid. Yang Xiao saw the note and realized the vertical strokes could be read as each person, one mouthful of butter. So, Yang Xiao took the butter and shared it with everyone until the box was empty. Chow Chow was curious when he found out and demanded an explanation from Yang Xiao. Yang Xiao just cited the wordplay mentioned earlier as his reason. Chow Chow was livid, but had to force a smile, taking the hit because he'd been outsmarted by his own handwriting. Naturally suspicious and often making enemies with everyone. Chow Chow feared being harmed in his sleep, so he warned his servants that I often kill in my sleep, when I'm sound asleep, stay clear, or you might suffer. One day, Chow Chow slept in his tent and dropped his quilt, so a servant rushed to cover him. Chow Chow leaped up, drew his sword, killed the servant, then went back to sleep. Half an hour later, he woke up, feigning ignorance and asking, Who killed my servant? Everyone thought it was his sleepwalking, except for Yang Xiao. At the funeral, Yang Xiao pointed at the coffin and sighed, Not him, but you were the one dreaming. This only made Chow Chow harbor deeper resentment toward him. Once, Chow Chow led his troops against Blue Bay and stopped to visit Caiyan. She was the daughter of Caiyang, since he was away, only she was home. Hearing of his arrival, she hurried out to welcome him. While touring, Chow Chow noticed a stone tablet hanging on the wall. Seeing it had an inscription, he stepped forward to examine its origins. Caiyan explained it was a memorial for Chow Yi, The daughter of a shaman from the reign of Emperor He. Seeing her father drown, she wept for seven days and nights before jumping into the river. Five days later, her body floated to the surface, clutching her father. Praised for her filial piety, Han Danchen was tasked to engrave the story on a tablet. Han Danchen, only 13, wrote the entire piece in one breath without needing a single revision. Caiyang, hearing this, came to read it at night, Unable to see, he traced the characters by touch. After reading, he wrote eight characters on the back, Which were later carved into the stone. Chow Chow saw these eight characters inscribed on the stone tablet next to the essay. They read, yellow silk, young maiden, grandson, pestle. These were truly cryptic, and even Chow Chow and others couldn't grasp their meaning. Only his clerk, Yang Xiu, spoke up, But Chow Chow told him to keep it to himself for a while. After traveling 30 miles, Chow Chow finally understood and asked Yang Xiu to explain. Yang Xiu revealed that these eight characters were a hidden riddle from Caiyang. Yellow silk refers to dyed silk. It represents the color of silk, Si and Se. Combined, they form the character for exquisite. Young maiden means a girl still young. Specifically, a young woman. The characters for young and woman combined make wonderful. Grandson is one's daughter's child. That is, the daughter of one's own child. Literally woman and child. Combined, they form the character for good. Pestle is a tool for grinding spices. It is a substance that endures, forming the character for prose. In short, they form the hidden phrase, exquisite, wonderful, good prose. Meaning Caiyang was praising Han Dongchun's writing to the heavens. Everyone praised Yang Xiu endlessly, claiming that Chow Chow was exactly 30 miles slower than him. But is showing off one's talent before Chow Chow really wise? It leads to clashes and threats to one's survival. Later, as Chow Xi's strategist, Yang Xiu constantly devised plans for him to win his father's favor. Unfortunately, Chow Pai's side caught on and launched schemes to counter them. Ultimately, Yang Xiu helped nothing and only earned Chow Chow's hatred for meddling in family affairs. Once, Chow Chow discussed with his officials naming Xi as his heir. Hearing this, Chow Pai secretly invited his advisor, Wu Xi, into his mansion to consult. Fearing discovery, Pai had Wu Xi in a large hamper, disguised as silk, and smuggled him in. Yang Xiu tipped off Chow Chow, who then lay in wait at Pai's gate. Pai panicked, but Wu Xi calmly said, don't worry, just fill the hamper with silk again tomorrow. Let the prime minister think it's a ruse, so Pai took his advice and sent the silk in. The inspectors checked, found only silk, and reported back to Chow Chow. Chow Chow suspected Yang Xiu of trying to frame Pai, deepening his resentment. Another time, Chow Chow wanted to test the talents of both sons. He ordered them both to leave the city but secretly told the guards to stop them. Pai arrived first, was blocked by the guards, and had to turn back. Chow Xi saw this and asked Yang Xiu, who advised, you are acting on the prime minister's orders, behead anyone who dares to block you. Xi followed orders and reached the gate, but the guards refused him. He barked, I act under the prime minister's orders. Behead anyone who dares block my path. Seeing this, Chow Chow thought Xi was superior to Pai. Later, someone revealed Yang Xiu's scheme. Chow Chow was curious and grew to resent Xi as well. Yang Xiu prepared dozens of responses for Chow Xi, ensuring he had an answer for anything Chow Chow asked. Chow Chow often questioned Xi on state affairs, he answered fluently, yet Chow Chow remained suspicious. Later, Chow Pai bribed Xi's staff to steal his responses and presented them to Chow Chow. Chow Chow flew into a rage, saying, you scoundrels, how dare you deceive me. By then, Chow Chow wanted to execute Yang Xiu to silence this meddlesome man. During the Hanzhong campaign against Lubei, 217-219, the perfect opportunity finally arose. After several defeats, Chow Chow was forced to hole up in Xia Valley, trapped in a dilemma. He couldn't advance against Ma Chow, yet feared being mocked if he retreated, he was truly torn. One night, the kitchen served chicken soup. Looking at the chicken ribs, he felt weary. Xiaodan entered to ask for the knight's password. Chow Chow blurted out, chicken ribs. Chicken ribs. Dun passed the password on. Hearing it, Yang Xiu immediately began packing his bags to leave. Someone told Xiaodan, who was shocked and summoned Yang Xiu to ask why. Xiu explained, judging by tonight's password, the king knows we must retreat soon. Chicken ribs have no meat to eat, but it's a waste to discard them. Advancing is impossible, yet retreating invites mockery. There's no point in staying, we might as well head home early. The prince will retreat tomorrow, so I'm packing early to avoid the rush. Xiaodan followed suit, and soon the other generals began packing as well. That night, unable to sleep, Chow Chow grabbed his axe and patrolled the camp. Seeing Dun's troops packing, he was shocked and summoned Dun to demand an explanation. Dun immediately shifted the blame onto Yang Xiu. Yang Xiu offered the same explanation as before. Though his interpretation perfectly matched Chow Chow's inner thoughts. Given Chow Chow's suspicious nature and his fear of losing face before the entire army, he decided to use this opportunity to take Yang Xiu's head. Removing a thorn who constantly pricked at his authority, Chow Chow flew into a rage and shouted, How dare you spread rumors to confuse my men? You are causing chaos in my ranks. He ordered the executioner to drag Yang Xiu away and behead him. Dun displayed his head to the entire army as a warning. Yang Xiu died in 219 AD, at the age of 44. Later, after suffering a major defeat and losing his front teeth, Chow Chow finally admitted his mistake and honored Yang Xiu's grave. But with him gone, who could he blame, or whose family could he purge? Besides, Yang Xiu had long been a thorn in Chow Chow's side. This was the perfect opportunity to remove him. A bloody lesson. Now that history has been studied in greater detail, people realize Yang Xiu's habit of reading Chow Shih wasn't just to show off his ego. Deep down, he likely harbored resentment toward Chow Chow due to his family background. As mentioned, Yang Xiu was the son of Yang Biao, related to the Han nobility. Later, the Han dynasty fell to Chow Chow, and Yang Biao was imprisoned for his resistance. He was only spared thanks to the intervention of virtuous men. Realizing the Han was doomed, Yang Biao retired, sending Yang Xiu into service. He may have inherited his father's vendetta and anti-Chow sentiment. With no actual power, he resorted to these petty mind games. Perhaps Chow Chow realized Yang Xiu, like his father, would never truly support him. Yet, Yang Xiu's defiance was subtle, making it hard for Chow Chow to strike back directly. If Chow Chow knew this, why hire him as chief clerk, giving him control over his entire office? Many believe this highlights Chow Chow's true genius in talent management. Suspicious but appreciative of talent, he overlooked the history with Yang Biao to use the son. Chow Chow treated Yang Xiu according to his motto, trust those you employ, employ only those you trust. The tragedy was Yang Xiu exposing Chow Chow's every thought to everyone, with no sense of decorum. Meanwhile, he kept his own thoughts well hidden. For a man as suspicious as Chow Chow, he wanted the opposite. To fully understand his subordinates to control and use them. Yet, he never wanted anyone to understand him. To remain unpredictable. So subordinates couldn't find his weaknesses to exploit. Thus, with a subordinate constantly exposing his thoughts, it is easy to see why Chow Chow had to eliminate him. As for Yang Xiu, he was arrogant, boastful, and vain. Lacking discretion and repeatedly humiliating his lord, breaking every rule of military and official conduct. He died a pointless death, without leaving any significant achievements for history to praise. Dying in disgrace like a prisoner, was this sentence too lenient? From Yang Xiu's death, future generations have drawn bloody lessons. If you are an employee, never try to look too smart in front of your boss. Leaders fear being undermined by those closest to them. And subordinates who show off like that will surely be the first targets. If you are perceptive and can read others, don't broadcast it. By doing so, you turn yourself into a threat to them. And they will be ready to remove you to hide their own weaknesses. You must be aware of your surroundings, not every place or time is meant for showing off your talent. Showing off at the wrong time makes you look ridiculous, like playing music for the deaf. Or painting pictures for the blind. It also endangers yourself and those around you, just like Yang Xiu and the chicken ribs. Exposing every secret of your superior only leads to disaster.