In the late Eastern Han dynasty, warlords carved up the land, waging wars against and annexing one another. The imperial court was politically corrupt, relatives of the empress and eunuchs interfered in government, and the country was in turmoil. Xun Yu rose to prominence amid the chaos and was hailed as a "talent capable of assisting a king." Gifted from a young age and recommended by renowned scholars, Xun Yu was nominated as a filial and incorrupt official in the first year of the Yonghan era (189), and appointed Palace Attendant, responsible for managing the emperor's brushes, ink, paper, and other supplies. From then on, this descendant of Xunzi officially stepped onto the stage of history. He assisted Cao Cao in planning great endeavors and embarked on a grand and turbulent career, becoming a renowned politician and strategist of his time.
