Historical sources on Xun Yous life

The authoritative historical source on Xun You's life is his official biography in volume 10 of the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), which was written by Chen Shou in the third century.

In the fifth century, Pei Songzhi annotated the Sanguozhi by incorporating information from other sources to Chen Shou's original work and adding his personal commentary. Some alternative texts used in the annotations to the Sanguozhi include: the Wei Shu (魏書; Book of Wei), by Wang Shen (王沈), Xun Yi (荀顗) and Ruan Ji; the Xun Shi Jia Zhuan (荀氏家傳; Xun Family Genealogy); the Han Ji (漢紀; Annals of Han), by Zhang Fan; the Fu Zi (傅子), by Fu Xuan.

Family background and childhood

Xun You was born in the influential Xun family, whose ancestral home was in Yingyin County, Yingchuan Commandery (穎川郡), which is in present-day Xuchang, Henan. His grandfather, Xun Tan (荀曇), whose courtesy name was Yuanzhi (元智), served as the Administrator (太守) of Guangling Commandery (廣陵郡; around present-day Huai'an, Jiangsu). Xun You's father, Xun Yi (荀彝), served as a commandery-level Assistant Officer. Xun Yi was a second cousin of Xun Yu, hence Xun You was Xun Yu's second cousin-nephew even though he was six years older than Xun Yu.

Xun You was orphaned at a young age. He was probably raised by his uncle Xun Qu (荀衢) and his grandfather Xun Tan. When his grandfather died, a minor administrative assistant, Zhang Quan, offered to be the tomb keeper. Xun You, who was 12 years old then, sensed that something was wrong. He told his uncle Xun Qu, "This man looks suspicious. I believe he's up to something." Upon investigation, it was revealed that Zhang Quan was actually a murderer on the run. Because of this incident, the young Xun You was seen as an extraordinary boy. When Xun You was six or seven, Xun Qu once accidentally injured him while he was drunk. Since then, every time Xun You left or entered his home, he would do so at times to deliberately avoid meeting his uncle. Xun Qu was very surprised by his nephew's intelligence when he heard about it.

Early career

When the general He Jin rose to power in 189 and became regent to the child Emperor Shao, he recruited over 20 notable members of scholar-gentry background to join the civil service. Xun You was one of them. He was appointed as a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate in the imperial capital, Luoyang. However, within the same year, He Jin was assassinated by the eunuch faction led by the Ten Attendants. The warlord Dong Zhuo took advantage of the ensuing political turmoil to hijack and control the central government. Between 190 and 191, several regional warlords formed a coalition and launched a campaign against Dong Zhuo in the name of saving the emperor. Dong Zhuo ordered Luoyang to be burnt down and relocated the capital to Chang'an. In Chang'an, Xun You secretly plotted with Zheng Tai, He Yong, Chong Ji (种輯) and Wu Qiong (伍瓊) to assassinate Dong Zhuo, who was notorious for his cruelty and tyranny. However, they were discovered and Xun You was arrested and imprisoned. While he was incarcerated, Xun You spoke and behaved normally as though nothing had happened. He was only released after Dong Zhuo was killed in 192. However, the Wei Shu mentioned that Xun You was released after he sent someone to persuade and convince Dong Zhuo to free him.

Xun You then resigned and returned home, but soon rejoined the civil service and was appointed as the Chancellor (相) of Rencheng State (任城; southwest of present-day Zoucheng, Shandong). He rejected this appointment and asked to be the Administrator (太守) of Shu Commandery (蜀郡; around present-day Chengdu, Sichuan) because he heard that Shu Commandery was prosperous and situated in a geographically strategic location. However, he was unable to travel to Shu Commandery because the roads leading there had been damaged and cut off. He had no choice but to relocate to Jing Province and station there.

Service under Cao Cao

In 196, the warlord Cao Cao received and fetched Emperor Xian to Xu (許; present-day Xuchang, Henan) and established the new capital there. He wrote to Xun You: "The Empire is in chaos. It is time for intelligent people to do something. Do you not think you have spent too much time observing the changes in the Shu region?" Xun You was then appointed as the Administrator (太守) of Runan Commandery (汝南郡; around present-day Gushi County, Henan) and later summoned to the capital to serve as a Master of Writing (尚書). Cao Cao had long heard of Xun You and was overjoyed when they finally met. He told Xun Yu and Zhong Yao: "Gongda is no ordinary person. Now that I have him to advise me, why should I worry about not being able to pacify the Empire?" He also appointed Xun You as a Military Adviser.

Battles against Zhang Xiu and Lü Bu

In 198, when Cao Cao wanted to launch another attack on a rival warlord, Zhang Xiu, Xun You advised him against it, saying, "Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao share borders. Zhang Xiu and his wandering army rely on Liu Biao for supplies. Liu Biao is unable to provide for them so they will eventually fall out. Why not wait and try to induce Zhang Xiu to surrender to you? When Zhang Xiu ends up in a desperate situation, Liu Biao will definitely support him." Cao Cao ignored Xun You's advice and attacked Zhang Xiu at Rang County (穰縣; present-day Dengzhou, Henan). Just as Xun You predicted, when Zhang Xiu's situation became more desperate, Liu Biao sent reinforcements to help him and put Cao Cao's attacking forces in a disadvantageous position. Cao Cao told Xun You that he regretted not listening to his advice. He then changed tactics, attacked Zhang Xiu again, and defeated him the second time.

In the same year, after defeating Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao, Cao Cao wanted to move on to attack another rival warlord, Lü Bu. Many of his subordinates thought that it was too dangerous. However, Xun You had a different opinion. He believed that Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao had yet to recover from their recent defeat and would not make any further moves. He also pointed out that even though Lü Bu was a formidable warrior and had support from the warlord Yuan Shu, relations between them had recently deteriorated, so it was an opportune moment for Cao Cao to attack Lü Bu. Lü Bu defeated Liu Bei and received help from Zang Ba.

During the Battle of Xiapi, Cao Cao defeated Lü Bu in the initial stages and forced him to retreat back to Xiapi Commandery (下邳郡; south of present-day Pizhou, Jiangsu). Cao Cao then laid siege to Xiapi and launched several attacks but was unable to breach the city walls. As his troops grew weary, Cao Cao considered withdrawing. However, Xun You and Guo Jia advised him, "Lü Bu is brave but foolhardy. His forces' morale is very low after suffering consecutive defeats. An army's morale depends on its commander's will to fight on. Chen Gong is intelligent but slow. Since Lü Bu's army's morale hasn't recovered yet and Chen Gong hasn't finalised his plans yet, you can eventually defeat Lü Bu if you continue attacking him." Cao Cao then ordered his troops to dig ditches and redirect the waters of the Yi and Si rivers to flood Xiapi. Xiapi fell quickly and Lü Bu was captured alive and executed.

Battles against the Yuan family

In 200 CE, war broke out between Cao Cao and the northern warlord Yuan Shao. At the Battle of Boma, Xun You suggested that Cao Cao use a diversionary tactic to eliminate Yuan Shao's general Yan Liang; the battle ended with victory for Cao Cao and Yan Liang's death at the hands of Guan Yu. After the victory at Boma, Cao Cao and his forces headed west with their baggage train along the south banks of the Yellow River. Yuan Shao sent his troops across the river to raid the baggage train and they encountered Cao Cao. Cao Cao's subordinates were shocked and they asked him to head back to protect his camp. Xun You said, "This is an opportunity to capture the enemy! Why should we retreat?" Cao Cao looked at Xun You and laughed. He then ordered his troops to use their baggage as bait to lure Yuan Shao's forces into a trap. At the Battle of Yan Ford, when Yuan Shao's soldiers were scrambling for the baggage, Cao Cao sent his infantry and cavalry forces to attack them and scored a major victory; Yuan Shao's general Wen Chou was killed in action. Cao Cao then retreated to Guandu (官渡; northeast of present-day Zhongmu County, Henan); Yuan Shao laid siege to Guandu.

As both sides reached a stalemate at Guandu and Cao Cao's forces ran out of supplies, Xun You advised Cao Cao, "Yuan Shao's supplies will be reaching in one day. Han Xun (韓𦳣), the officer leading the convoy, tends to underestimate the enemy. He can be easily defeated." Xun You also recommended Cao Cao's general Xu Huang to lead the attack on Han Xun. Cao Cao sent Xu Huang and Shi Huan (史渙) to raid Han Xun's convoy and they burnt the supplies. Later, Yuan Shao's adviser Xu You defected to Cao Cao's side and urged Cao to attack Yuan's supply depot at Wuchao (烏巢; southeast of present-day Yanjin County, Henan), which was guarded by Chunyu Qiong. While Cao Cao's other subordinates were suspicious about Xu You, only Xun You and Jia Xu advised Cao to heed Xu You's suggestion. Cao Cao then ordered Xun You and Cao Hong to remain behind to guard his main camp, while he personally led his forces to attack Wuchao and succeeded in destroying Yuan Shao's supplies and killed Chunyu Qiong in battle. As the tide turned against Yuan Shao, two of his generals, Zhang He and Gao Lan (高覽), destroyed their own camps and led their men to defect and surrender to Cao Cao's side. When Zhang He and Gao Lan showed up at Cao Cao's main camp, Cao Hong felt suspicious and was reluctant to accept their surrender. Xun You told Cao Hong, "Zhang He was angry that Yuan Shao did not listen to him so he decided to defect. Sir, what's there to suspect about him?" Cao Hong then accepted their surrender.

After Yuan Shao's death in June 202, Cao Cao launched a campaign against Yuan's sons Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang and defeated them at the Battle of Liyang. In the following year, when Cao Cao was planning to attack Liu Biao, he received news that Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang had started fighting over control of Ji Province. Yuan Tan sent his adviser Xin Pi to convey to Cao Cao his wish to surrender and seek aid from Cao in countering his brother. Cao Cao considered accepting Yuan Tan's surrender and sending troops to aid him, and then consulted his advisers. Most of them thought that Liu Biao was more powerful and that Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang posed no threat, so they urged Cao Cao to attack Liu Biao first. Xun You had a different opinion from them. He said, "The Empire has experienced so much turmoil, yet Liu Biao has holed up in the Jiang and Han regions. This shows that he has no intention of expanding his territory. The Yuans occupy four provinces and have 100,000 troops. Yuan Shao had treated his subordinates generously and hoped that his sons would cooperate harmoniously to safeguard his territories; that was why turmoil in the Empire never seemed to end. As of now, relations between the brothers have deteriorated and they seek to destroy each other. If one of them defeats and absorbs the other, he will become more powerful and more difficult to defeat. If you take advantage of their internal conflict to defeat them, you will restore stability in the Empire. You shouldn't miss this great opportunity." Cao Cao agreed, accepted Yuan Tan's surrender and led his forces to attack Yuan Shang. Yuan Tan later rebelled against Cao Cao but was defeated and killed at the Battle of Nanpi in 205.

Later life and death

After pacifying Ji Province, Cao Cao wrote a memorial to Emperor Xian to recommend him to award Xun You a marquis title to honour him for his contributions. Xun You was thus enfeoffed as the Marquis of Lingshu Village (陵樹亭侯). In 207, while assessing his subordinates' contributions and recommending Emperor Xian to give out rewards accordingly, Cao Cao credited Xun Yu and Xun You for developing grand strategic plans for him. Xun You received an additional 400 taxable households in his marquisate, making it 700 households in total. He was also reassigned to serve as Central Military Adviser. The Wei Shu recorded that Cao Cao visited Xun You's residence when he returned from Liucheng (柳城; southwest of present-day Chaoyang, Liaoning) after a campaign. He told Xun You, "Now that the Empire has basically been pacified, it's time for me to share the rewards with virtuous scholar-officials like you. In the past, Emperor Gaozu allowed Zhang Zifang to choose 30,000 taxable households to form his own marquisate. Today, I intend to suggest to the Emperor to let you do the same."

In 213, Emperor Xian enfeoffed Cao Cao as the Duke of Wei (魏公) and granted him a dukedom covering parts of present-day Hebei and Henan. Xun You was appointed as the Prefect of the Masters of Writing (尚書令). In 214, Xun You accompanied Cao Cao on a campaign against the southern warlord Sun Quan but died of illness along the way. He was 58 (by East Asian age reckoning) when he died. Cao Cao shed tears when he heard of Xun You's death.

During the Zhengshi era (240–249) of the reign of Cao Fang, Xun You was posthumously honoured as "Marquis Jing" (敬侯; "respected marquis").

Appraisal

Xun You was known for being a highly profound and insightful thinker who hid secrets very well. Since he started accompanying Cao Cao on his military campaigns, he had often helped Cao Cao devise and develop strategic plans. Many people, including his family members and relatives, hardly knew what was on his mind or what he had said. The Wei Shu recorded that Xin Tao (辛韜), a maternal cousin of Xun You, once asked Xun You why he urged Cao Cao to attack Ji Province. Xun You replied, "Since Zuozhi has come on behalf of Yuan Tan to surrender, it's expected that the Imperial Army will go there to pacify the area. How would I know why?" Xin Tao and others did not dare to ask Xun You again about state and military affairs after that.

Cao Cao often praised Xun You and once said, "Gongda is intelligent but appears foolish; he is courageous but appears cowardly; he is resilient but appears weak. He neither flaunts his talents nor brags about his achievements. You may be as intelligent as him, but you can't pretend to be foolish as well as he does. Even Master Yan and Ning Wu cannot be compared to him." When Cao Pi was still Cao Cao's heir apparent, his father told him, "Xun Gongda is a role model for people. You should treat him courteously and respectfully." When Xun You was ill, Cao Pi visited him and knelt down beside his bed; such was Cao Pi's level of respect for Xun You. Zhong Yao also once said, "Every time I plan something, I'll carefully think through it again and again until I'm certain that I can't make any more changes. However, after consulting Gongda, he always has new insights to offer." Xun You created 12 strategies for Zhong Yao. Zhong Yao died before he managed to finish writing a book about the 12 strategies, hence some of them were lost. The historian Pei Songzhi thought it was a huge pity that Xun You's strategies were lost because Zhong Yao died at the age of 79 – some 16 years after Xun You's death – so he probably should have had ample time to finish writing the book.

The Wei Shu recorded that Cao Cao once said, "I have travelled with Xun Gongda for over 20 years. I can't find any fault with him." He also said, "Xun Gongda is truly a virtuous man; he fits the saying '(he is) benign, upright, courteous, temperate, and complaisant and thus he gets what he desires.' He is exactly the man described in this quote by Confucius: 'Yan Ping Zhong knew well how to maintain friendly intercourse. The acquaintance might be long, but he showed the same respect as at first.'"

The Xun Yu Biezhuan (荀彧別傳; Unofficial Biography of Xun Yu) recorded that Cao Cao once commended Xun Yu and Xun You for their excellent judgments about people's talents and said he would never forget them for their contributions.

The Fu Zi mentioned that someone, who lived around the same time as Xun You, once asked if there were any virtuous junzis in their time. He received an answer as follows: "The benevolence of Lord Prefect Xun (Yu) and the intelligence of Military Adviser Xun (You) make them worthy of being called virtuous junzis of our time. Lord Prefect Xun is benevolent and virtuous, he displays wisdom in recommending talents, his personal conduct is flawless, and he is capable of adapting his strategies to suit changes. Meng Ke once said, 'It is a rule that a true royal sovereign should arise in the course of five hundred years, and that during that time there should be men illustrious in their generation.' Lord Prefect Xun is one of such men. As Taizu once said, 'Lord Prefect Xun provides advice and doesn't stop providing advice; Military Adviser Xun eliminates evil and doesn't stop eliminating evil.'"

Chen Shou, who wrote Xun You's biography in the Sanguozhi, appraised him as follows: "Xun You and Jia Xu were very detailed in their strategising and had never miscalculated before. However, in terms of adaptability and flexibility, they were second to (Zhang) Liang and (Chen) Ping."

Family

Xun You had at least three sons. The eldest, Xun Ji (荀緝), resembled his father in character but died early. The second, Xun Shi (荀適), inherited his father's title "Marquis of Lingshu Village" (陵樹亭侯) and had no son to succeed him when he died. In the early Huangchu era (220-226) of Cao Pi's reign, Xun You's grandson, Xun Biao (荀彪), inherited the title "Marquis of Lingshu Village" and received 300 taxable households to form his marquisate. His title was later changed to "Marquis of Qiuyang Village" (丘陽亭侯).

生平

內藏英知

荀攸出身於士族家庭，父親荀彞，任州從事之職。從小失去父母。荀攸十三歲的時候，他的祖父荀曇去世，一個過去在荀曇手下叫張權的官吏，主動找來要求為荀曇守墓。荀攸對叔父荀衢說：「這個人臉上的神色反常，我猜他是做了什麼奸猾的事情！」荀衢趁著晚上睡覺的時候趁機盤問，果然張權是因殺了人，逃亡在外，想以守墓隱藏自身。184年，何進秉政，徵海內名士荀攸等二十餘人。荀攸到，拜黃門侍郎。

刺殺董卓

189年，董卓之亂，關東兵起，董卓遷都長安。荀攸與議郎鄭泰、何顒、侍中種輯、越騎校尉伍瓊等人商議說：「董卓無道，天下人都怨恨他，雖然他聚集了不少精兵，但實際上不過是一個勇夫而已。我們應該刺殺他以謝百姓，然後借皇帝的詔令來號令天下，這是像齊桓公、晉文公那樣的霸王之舉。」事未成就被人發覺，收何顒、荀攸入獄，顒憂懼自殺，荀攸言語飲食自若，董卓見之免其死罪，出獄後荀攸棄官離開洛陽。荀攸認為巴蜀險固，人民殷盛，求為蜀郡太守，但由於路太難走交通不便而放棄，改遷荊州居住。

志同契若

196年，曹操迎天子至許昌，曹操素聞荀攸之名，做書招荀攸，於是升荀攸為汝南太守，入為尚書。曹操初見荀攸，與語大悅，對荀彧，鍾繇說：「公達不是平常的人，我能夠和他一同商議大事，怎麼還會憂慮得不到天下呢？」

經達權變

198年，荀攸隨曹操征討張繡。荀攸看出當時的形勢對曹操很不利，就對曹操說：「張繡與劉表聯合，互為犄角之勢，但是張繡人馬靠劉表供給，時間一久，劉表力不能支，必然與張繡分裂。我不如緩兵以待其變；若急切進攻，劉表必拼死相救，我軍不易取勝。那時就會形成進退維谷之勢。」曹操沒聽勸告，出兵對張繡作戰，劉表果然發兵相救，曹軍失利，曹操幾乎死在那裡。198年，曹操自宛征呂布，至下邳，呂布敗退固守，攻之不勝，連戰，士卒疲勞，曹操欲回。荀攸與郭嘉說曰：「呂布勇而無謀，今三戰皆敗，其銳氣已無。三軍以將為主，主衰則軍無戰意。就算陳宮有計謀也太遲了，現在呂布士氣尚未恢復，陳宮的計謀尚未定奪，乘此機會奮進急攻，就可以擊破呂布了。」乃引沂、泗之水灌城，城潰，生擒呂布。

妙計百出

200年二月，袁紹首先派大將顏良圍攻白馬（今河南滑縣東）。四月，曹操親自率軍北上救白馬之圍。當部隊正向前開進時，荀攸認為不能與實力懸殊的強大敵人正面對抗，他分析了當時的形勢提出了聲東擊西、解救白馬的作戰方略。他認為袁紹兵多，應設法分散其兵力，於是勸曹操引兵先到延津，偽裝渡河攻袁紹後方，使袁紹分兵向西應戰，然後再派輕騎襲擊進攻白馬的袁軍，攻其不備，一定可以打敗顏良。曹操聽了他的這一番話，覺得十分有道理，就依計而行，袁紹果然分兵延津。曹操乘機率輕騎襲擊白馬，顏良不及防備，被關羽斬殺。曹操解白馬之圍後，率六百騎兵押送糧草輜重沿河西退。軍行不久，與袁紹五六千追兵相遇。諸將見敵眾我寡，都感到很害怕，勸曹操退守大營，荀攸知道敵人的弱點，就說：「這正是殲敵的好時機，為何要退呢?」曹操與荀攸對視而笑，心意相通，於是命令士兵解鞍放馬，丟棄輜重，引誘袁軍；待袁軍逼近，爭搶輜重的時候，曹操突然命令上馬，迅猛發起攻擊，大破袁軍。到袁紹烏巢糧草被燒，軍心大亂之後，荀攸向曹操獻計說：「現在乘勝追擊，可以傳假情報說我軍將調撥人馬，一路做出攻取鄴郡的樣子；另一路做出攻打黎陽的樣子，斷袁兵歸路。袁紹如果聽說了這個傳聞，以他的多疑性格，必定會信以為真，就會分出兵力阻擊我軍。我方可乘他調兵拔寨之時，急攻袁寨，袁紹的軍隊本來就沒有什麼鬥志，定能一攻而破。」曹操聽了他的這一番話，覺得有道理，立即採用荀攸的計謀，出動三路人馬，四處揚言，散佈迷惑袁紹的消息。袁軍聽到消息急忙報告袁紹：「曹操分兵兩路：一路取鄴郡，一路去黎陽了。」袁紹信以為真，急忙派兵十萬人，分別去援救鄴郡和黎陽，連夜急行軍走了。曹操立即集中大隊兵馬，乘虛而入，沖向袁紹營寨。袁軍本來已無鬥志，官兵四處逃散，抵抗不了。袁紹連盔甲都來不及披上，帶著幼子袁尚逃奔而走，曹軍在後緊迫不舍。袁紹為了渡河逃命，把金銀財寶、圖書車輛全都丟棄，只有隨身騎兵八百多人一同逃往黎陽，曹軍獲得全勝。

算無遺策

202年，跟從曹操討袁譚、袁尚于黎陽。203年，曹操剛剛征討劉表，袁譚、袁尚爭冀州。袁譚遣辛毗請降求救，曹操許之，問部將。部將多認為劉表強，應先攻之，袁譚、袁尚不足為慮。荀攸說：「天下大亂，劉表坐領江、漢之間，可以看出他沒有吞併四方的志向。袁氏佔據四州之地，帶甲十萬，袁紹以寬厚得眾心，想使二子和睦以守其成業，如今他們兄弟交惡，勢不兩立。如果這兩人聯合起來，就難以擊敗他們了。現在趁他們內亂時攻打他們，河北就可以平定了，這個好機會不能失去。」曹操說：「好。」就答應袁譚請和，回去擊破袁尚。而後袁譚兵叛，荀攸跟從曹操斬譚于南皮。冀州平，曹操表奏天子曰：「軍師荀攸，自初佐臣，無征不從，前後克敵，皆攸之謀也。」於是封荀攸陵樹亭侯（屬陳留郡尉氏縣）。

207年，曹操下令論功行賞，說：「為人忠誠正直而善於密謀，為我安撫內外的人是文若，公達則次於他。」增邑四百，並前七百戶，轉為中軍師。曹操被封魏公建立魏公國時，荀攸為尚書令。

遺憾離去

214年，荀攸跟從曹操征孫權，在路上去世。曹操每次說起就想哭。荀攸曾病，世子曹丕問病，獨拜床下，其見尊異如此。荀攸與鍾繇交厚，鍾繇說：「我每有所行，反覆思惟，自謂無以易；以諮公達，輒複過人意。」荀攸前後設奇策共十二計，只有鍾繇知道。鍾繇整理未全就去世了，故後世不得而知，所以「世不得盡聞也」。

正始五年冬十一月癸卯（245年1月6日），曹芳詔祀故尚書令荀攸于太祖廟庭。

軼聞

荀攸於建安十九年病逝，年五十八歲。荀攸與朱建平、鍾繇結交好友。荀攸早死，兒子尚幼。鍾繇幫助打理荀家，欲讓荀攸的妾改嫁。在寫給別人的信上說：「我和公達都曾讓建平相過面。建平說：『雖然荀君比較年輕，但是後事卻要託付給鍾君。』我當時說了句玩笑話：『那時我可要把你的阿騖嫁掉。』想不到他真的早逝了，戲言就要成真了！現在我要讓阿騖改嫁，使她能有個好歸宿。回想建平的妙語，不在唐舉、許負以下。」

家庭

父

• 荀彞，荀攸之父，早逝 。

子

• 長子荀緝，頗有父風，可惜早亡。

• 次子荀適，嗣爵，無子，絕。

• 黃初年間，紹封荀攸孫荀彪為陵樹亭侯，邑三百戶，後轉封丘陽亭侯。

特徵

• 荀攸深密有智防，自為曹操籌謀獻策，而且有為人師表的特質。官渡之戰為曹操獻策，智破袁紹立大功，一生中曾籌劃十二道奇策，是曹操手下重要的謀臣。

評價

• 陳壽：「荀攸、賈詡，庶乎算無遺策，經達權變，其良、平之亞歟！」「是時荀攸常為謀主。」

• 曹操表封荀攸：「軍師荀攸，自初佐臣，無征不從，前後克敵，皆攸之謀也。」嘉許荀攸：「忠正密謀，撫寧內外，文若是也，公達其次也。」常稱：「公達外愚內智，外怯內勇，外弱內強，不伐善，無施勞，智可及，愚不可及，雖顏子、甯武不能過也。」又向身為世子的曹丕說：「荀公達，人之師表也，汝當盡禮敬之。」《魏書》載曹操令：「孤與荀公達周遊二十餘年，無毫毛可非者。」又說：「荀公達真賢人也，所謂『溫良恭儉讓以得之』。孔子稱『晏平仲善與人交，久而敬之』，公達即其人也。」「公達，非常人也，吾得與之計事，天下當何憂哉！」「軍師荀攸，自初佐臣，無征不從，前後克敵，皆攸之謀也。」「荀令君之進善，不進不休；荀軍師之去惡，不去不止。」

• 陳群：「荀文若、公達、休若、友若、仲豫，當今並無對。」

• 《魏志》載：「太祖素聞攸名，與語大悅，謂彧曰：『公達非常人，吾得與計事，天下當何憂哉？』」

• 傅玄：「或問近世大賢君子，答曰：『荀令君之仁，荀軍師之智，斯可謂近世大賢君子矣。』」又載曹操言：「荀令君之進善，不進不休，荀軍師之去惡，不去不止。」

• 鍾繇：「我每有所行，反覆思惟，自謂無以易；以咨公達，輒復過人意。」

• 袁宏《三國名臣頌》：「董卓之亂，神器遷逼，公達慨然，志在致命。由斯而譚，故以大存名節。至如身為漢隸而跡入魏幕，源流趣舍，抑亦文若之謂。所以存亡殊致，始終不同，將以文若既明且哲，名教有寄乎！夫仁義不可不明，則時宗舉其致；生理不可不全，故達識攝其契。相與弘道，豈不遠哉！」又詩贊：「公達潛朗，思同蓍蔡。運用無方，動攝群會。爰初發跡，遘此顛沛。神情玄定，處之彌泰。愔愔幕裏，算無不經。亹亹通韻，跡不暫停。雖懷尺璧，顧哂連城。智能極物，愚足全生。」

• 王儉：「子房之遇漢後，公達之逢魏君，史籍以為美談，君子稱其高義。」

• 朱敬則：「神人無功，達人無跡。張子房元機孤映，清識獨流。踐若發機，應同急箭；優遊澹泊，神交太虛，非諸人所及也。至若陳平、荀彧、賈詡、荀攸、程昱、郭嘉、田豐、沮授、崔浩、張賓等，可謂天下之菁英。帷幄之至妙，中權合變，因敗為功，爰自秦漢，訖於周隋。」

• 楊炯：「孝通神明，忠定社稷。馬伏波來游二帝，晏平仲能事百君。在魏則賈詡、荀攸，在周則太顛閎夭。」、「攻城野戰，張飛、關羽；奇策密謀，荀攸、賈詡。」

• 嚴從：「公達慷慨，總角耀奇，惡奸臣之擅命，想桓文之高舉，群雄競起，漢歷寢微，翻然回慮，吐詞魏幕。原其所以然者，豈不以桑榆之暉，非魯陽可止；溝瀆之節，豈仲尼所嘉？是以攝管仲之高蹤，攀魏武之遐轍，全生之理，其亦遠乎！」

• 武三思：「志同魚水，契若鹽梅，如魏武之得荀攸，似漢光之逢鄧禹。」

• 鄭藝：「運籌決勝，荀攸可比於良平。仗鉞祓威，謝艾足同於方召。」

• 司馬光：「攸深密有智防，自從魏公操攻討，常謀謨帷幄，時人及子弟莫知其所言。」

• 章如愚：「至于三國，各自據其土而成鼎峙之勢，亦諸人之力也。故在魏，則荀攸、賈詡之算無遺策，郭嘉、劉曄之才策謀畧，管寧之淵雅高尚，毛玠之典選清正；在吳，則周瑜、魯肅之儔入為腹心，出為股肱，甘寧、凌統之徒奮其威，黃蓋、蔣欽之屬宣其力；在蜀，則諸葛孔明之長于治國，費禕、董允之志慮忠純，向寵之性行均淑，皆一時之人傑也。」

• 洪邁：「荀彧、荀攸、郭嘉皆腹心謀臣，共濟大事，無待贊說。其餘智效一官，權分一郡， 無小無大，卓然皆稱其職。」

• 陳亮：「攸隱于智者也，可以為智矣。攸不能安董卓之禍，漢魏之際，豈其心哉？以文若之力，因事以導之，而卒不能正也。攸于是以智隱矣。」

• 范浚：「漢高祖以陳平為腹心，或計秘，世莫得聞。荀攸從魏武攻討，常謀謨帷幄，時人及子弟，莫知其所言。古之君臣，于機事慎密；如此其至，是以決策舉亊，鮮不有成。今廟堂之上，沈機秘畫，必如漢髙之與陳平，魏武之與荀攸；則何攻之不克？何戰之不勝？何敵之不摧？何宼之不滅哉！」

• 劉祁：「已而諸豪割據，士大夫各欲擇主立功名，如荀攸、賈詡、程昱、郭嘉、諸葛亮、龐統、魯肅、周瑜之徒，爭以智能自效。」

• 郝經：「攸亦智計之士，彧之次也。……鐘繇稱彧為顏子，操稱攸為顏子。夫顏子，與禹稷未易地爾，豈以譎計教人簒竊者邪？故二荀之顏子，曹操之周文，曹丕之舜禹，皆以盜賊自名聖賢，欺天下之甚者也。」「公達貢籌，保身之哲。」「當是之時，魏有荀彧、荀攸、賈詡、程昱、郭嘉、董昭、劉曄、蔣濟、司馬懿為之謀，吳有張昭、周瑜、魯肅、呂蒙、陸遜運其籌。」

• 王義山：「某仰惟某官學通六藝，忠貫三精，其謀略則荀攸、賈詡之密，其經濟則周瑜、魯肅之英，其吟嘯則謝安、庾亮之雅，其牧御則羊祜、陸遜之仁。」

• 朱元璋：「王保保以鐵騎勁兵，虎踞中原，其志殆不在曹操下，使有謀臣如攸、彧，猛將如遼、郃，予兩人能高枕無憂乎。」

• 王夫之：「曹孟德推心以待智謀之士，而士之長于略者，相踵而興。孟德智有所窮，則荀彧、郭嘉、荀攸、高柔之徒左右之，以算無遺策。」

• 羅貫中：「漢末荀公達，當時號大賢。知能過寧武，德可配顏淵。功振三分國，才成二十篇。曹丕曾下拜，聲跡尚昭然！」

民間藝術

動漫遊戲

• 《蒼天航路》（王欣太）

• 《火鳳燎原》（陳某）

• 《真·三國無雙8》（光榮特庫摩，濱田賢二配音）

演義傳記

初仕大將軍何進，後棄官還鄉。曹操在兗州時，荀攸和從叔荀彧共投曹操，為曹操重用。後曹操迎天子都許，拜為軍師，隨討呂布，定河北，及官渡、赤壁之戰，屢出奇謀。及魏建，以攸為尚書令。曹操進魏王，荀攸不贊同曹操叛漢，曹操憤怒，荀攸憂憤成疾，隨後死去。

電視劇及電影

• 1994年電視劇《三國演義》：于家乃飾演荀攸

• 1999年電視劇《曹操》：于根義飾演荀攸

• 2008年電影《赤壁》及《赤壁2：決戰天下》：趙成順飾演荀攸

• 2011年電影《關雲長》：董勇飾演荀攸

• 2017年電視劇《軍師聯盟》：楊猛飾演荀攸

著作

《魏官儀》一卷，已佚。