Xu Shu

A disciple of Sima Hu. An expert swordsman. He first served as strategist for Liu Bei, but when his mother was kidnapped by Cao Cao, he was forced to leave Liu Bei's side. He recommended Zhuge Liang as his successor and departed for Wei.

In the novel, his mother's plea to see him was actually a ruse concocted by Cao Cao's advisers to make him leave Liu Bei. His mother was ashamed to see her son leave the virtuous Liu Bei for "the traitor Cao Cao" and hung herself. Devastated by his inability to see through the trick, his devotion to Shu strengthened and he swore to never tell Cao Cao any of his strategies.