背景

徐知询生年不详，也不知何母所出，只知道他是徐温的亲生次子，但宋齐丘曾称他的哥哥徐知训为「三郎」，暗示徐知询还有两个因早夭而未入族谱的哥哥，或曾被徐温对诸子称为「你们的二哥」的养子徐知诰亦被列入排行。他有四个亲弟弟徐知诲、徐知谏、徐知证、徐知谔。徐温养子徐知诰年长于徐知询。徐知询和徐知训都不把徐知诰当兄弟看待。

徐温摄政期间

天佑十五年（918年），徐知询第一次在史料中出现。当时徐温屯升州，在吴都广陵为少摄政的内外马步都军使、昌化节度使、同平章事徐知训因欲掠夺将领平卢节度使兼任诸道副都统朱瑾的歌妓，被朱瑾刺杀，朱瑾随后自杀。徐温诸子除30岁的徐知诰外都年幼，故徐温以徐知诰为少摄政，以代徐知训。随后，徐温信任的官员严可求建议以徐知询取代徐知诰，但徐温不从。

此后数年，严可求和镇海节度判官、楚州团练使陈彦谦、行军副使徐玠劝说徐温用亲生子取代徐知诰，尽管他们并没有特别推荐徐知询。徐知询自己也数次游说徐温，徐温答：「你们都不如你们的哥哥。」但顺义七年（927年）十月，徐知询为行军司马、忠义节度使，且有同中书门下平章事荣衔时，徐温改主意了。他打算前往广陵请吴王杨溥称帝，给两个儿子重新分配职务，以徐知询代徐知诰为少摄政。但当他准备离开升州时，病了，于是写了表文让徐知询送去广陵劝进，意图在上表后以徐知询代徐知诰。徐知诰闻讯，决定辞职，求任镇南节度使。但徐知询还在半路上，徐温死了，徐知询闻讯，立即回升州参与后事，使得徐知诰得以仍居摄政之位。

徐温死后

徐温死后不久，十一月，杨溥按徐温临终推举称帝。徐温的头衔被分给徐知诰和徐知询，徐知诰为都督中外总军事，徐知询为诸道副都统、宁国及镇海节度使、兼侍中、辅国大将军、检校太尉、守中书令、金陵尹。

徐温刚死时，徐知诰亲吏周宗也在金陵。徐知询叫周宗通知徐知诰：处理政务更重要，不需要前来奔丧。周宗猜到这并非徐知询本意，坚持徐知询把这个意向写成手札，徐知询以无暇相辞，周宗就从衣袖里拿出笔，从左右那里取来纸，求徐知询写手札，徐知询只得写了。当徐温的其他亲子为徐知诰不来奔丧而不悦时，周宗将徐知询写的手札给他们看，徐知询语塞。

尽管徐知诰仍掌控吴朝廷，在金陵（即升州）的徐知询握有全吴最大的军队，他仗此和徐知诰争夺决策权，徐知诰则意图限制徐知询的权力。乾贞三年（929年）八月，徐知询的岳父武昌节度使李简卒，徐知询擅自将李简麾下二千亲兵留在金陵，上表推荐李简子李彦忠继任。徐知诰却无视徐知询推荐，任龙武统军柴再用为武昌节度使，激怒了徐知询：「刘崇俊是哥哥的亲戚，三代镇守濠州；彦忠是我妻族，却偏偏不能得到这职位！」

徐知诰害怕徐知询的军力，但内枢密使王令谋说：「公辅政日久，挟天子以令境内，谁敢不从！知询年少，不能给人恩惠与信任，没有甚么作为。」徐知询懦弱且太傲慢，薄待诸弟，尤其薄待徐知诲和徐知谏。徐知诲秘密将徐知询的动向报告徐知诰，而徐知谏则在广陵加入徐知诰对徐知询的行动。原先支持徐知询的徐玠也意识到徐知询缺乏领导才能，必败，也转而效忠徐知诰并告以徐知询的短处。徐知询对诸弟和徐玠的背叛一无所知，自以为握有强兵又身居重地，除掉徐知诰易如反掌。同时，徐知询也举措失当：邻国吴越国国王钱鏐送给徐知询装饰有龙凤的金玉鞍勒、器皿，都是君主用物，徐知询却不以为嫌而用之。徐知询的典客周廷望说服他派周带大量财物去广陵贿赂其他高官背离徐知诰倒向徐知询，但他到广陵后，又通过与自己相善的周宗宣布效忠徐知诰，向徐知诰报告徐知询的动向；回到金陵，又将徐知诰动向告知徐知询，意图两边摇摆。

十月，徐知询屡次试图召徐知诰来金陵参加除丧典礼，徐知诰以杨溥不放行为由拒绝。同时，周宗让周廷望通知徐知询：他被弹劾七大不臣之罪，应去都城自辩。徐知询相信周廷望，去了广陵。周廷望谏止，徐知询不听。徐知询出发后，周廷望说：「公去了，就回不来了。」哭著再拜相送。十一月，徐知询一入朝，徐知诰就拘禁了他，不许他回金陵，并派右雄武都指挥使柯厚率金陵军回广陵，自领之。徐知询被留在广陵，任左统军（一作右统军），仍领镇海节度使，宁国军被徐知诰接管。兄弟俩有一场言语交锋。徐知询说：「先王（指徐温）离世，哥哥作为他的儿子，竟然不参加他的葬礼，可以吗？」徐知诰答：「你挺剑等著我，我怎么敢去！你身为人臣，却使用帝王的马车服饰，就可以吗？」徐知询又问及徐知诰的所为，徐知诰意识到周廷望首鼠两端，杀之。

十二月，又发生了徐知诰试图毒杀徐知询的事件。徐知诰召徐知询饮宴，用金杯敬酒，说：「希望弟弟活一千岁。」徐知询怀疑有毒，用另一尊酒器倒了一半给徐知诰，说：「我愿意和哥哥各享五百岁。」徐知诰变色，不肯喝，徐知询也捧著酒不退，左右都不知所措。伶人申渐高走到他们身边，说了些诙谐话，抢过两尊酒杯，喝光了酒，拿著酒杯离开。徐知诰秘密派人送解药去申渐高家，为时已晚，申渐高头部溃烂而死。此后，徐知诰没再试图谋害徐知询的性命。他后来允许徐知询去镇海治所润州履职。徐知询失去金陵后，过去的幕僚都散去，只有李建勋一人相随。徐知询到任后经常会见僚佐，谈说饮宴，以消除徐知诰的顾忌，不再像以前一样，认真处理政务。

大和三年（931年）九月，徐知谏在镇南节度使任上过世。杨溥命徐知询代之，封东海郡王（一说武陵王，未详是否改封）。赴任途中，他遇到徐知谏的丧车，抚摸著棺材，哭著说：「弟弟你用心如此，我也没什么好遗憾的，但你有何面目见先王于地下！」六年（934年）五月，他也在镇南任上过世。谥号康。

天祚二年（936年）七月，时任润州团练使的徐知谔亲近小人，游乐荒废政务，在牙城西设市场亲自贸易。徐知诰闻之怒，召徐知谔左右诘责，徐知谔惧怕。有人对徐知诰说：「忠武王（徐温）最爱知谔，却以后事传公。往年知询失守，论议至今未息。如果知谔治政有能名，训兵养民，对公有何利？」徐知诰感悟，对徐知谔更厚待。

注释及参考文献

Background

It is not known when Xu Zhixun was born, or who his mother was. He was the second oldest known biological son of Xu Wen's, but his older brother Xu Zhixun (elder) was at one point referred to as Sanlang (三郎, "third-born son") by Song Qiqiu, implying that he might have had two other older brothers who died in infancy and therefore were not counted in traditional counting of birth order. He had four younger biological brothers, Xu Zhihui (徐知诲), Xu Zhijian (徐知谏), Xu Zhizheng (徐知证), and Xu Zhi'e (徐知谔). Xu Wen's adoptive son Xu Zhigao was older than he was. It was said that neither he nor the elder Xu Zhixun had any real regard for Xu Zhigao as a brother.

During Xu Wens regency

The first historical reference to Xu Zhixun was in 918, when the elder Xu Zhixun, then serving as the junior regent at Wu's capital Guangling (广陵, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) with Xu Wen stationed at Sheng Prefecture (升州, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu), was assassinated by the general Zhu Jin, who then committed suicide. All of Xu Wen's sons, except Xu Zhigao, who was then 30, were then said to be young, so Xu Wen made Xu Zhigao the junior regent, replacing the elder Xu Zhixun. Subsequently, Xu's entrusted official Yan Keqiu suggested replacing Xu Zhigao with Xu Zhixun, but Xu Wen did not do so.

Over the years, Yan and other officials, including Chen Yanqian (陈彦谦) and Xu Jie, had also advocated for Xu Wen to replace Xu Zhigao with a biological son, although the historical records did not indicate that they recommended Xu Zhixun specifically. Xu Zhixun himself had also lobbied Xu Wen, but Xu Wen responded, "None of you has much talent as your older brother." However, by 927, by which time Xu Zhixun carried the titles of commander of armed forces (行军司马, Xingjun Sima), military governor (Jiedushi) of Zhongyi Circuit (忠义, headquartered in modern Xiangyang, Hubei, but which was then under control of Later Tang), and honorary chancellor (同中书门下平章事, Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi), Xu Wen changed his mind. He was planning to head to Guangling to recommend to then-King of Wu, Yang Pu, that Yang Pu claim imperial title, and then assign his two sons to new posts, with Xu Zhixun replacing Xu Zhigao as junior regent. However, as he was set to depart Sheng Prefecture, he became ill, and he instead wrote his petition and sent Xu Zhixun toward Guangling, intending to have Xu Zhixun replace Xu Zhigao after the petition were delivered. Xu Zhigao, hearing this, decided to resign and request to be the military governor of Zhennan Circuit (镇南, headquartered in modern Nanchang, Jiangxi). However, when Xu Zhixun was still on the way, Xu Wen died, and Xu Zhixun, hearing of Xu Wen's death, immediately returned to Sheng Prefecture to attend to the aftermaths, allowing Xu Zhigao to, for the time being, remain as regent.

After Xu Wens death

Shortly after Xu Wen's death, Yang Pu, per Xu Wen's final recommendations, took imperial title. Meanwhile, Xu Wen's titles were split between Xu Zhigao and Xu Zhixun, with Xu Zhigao assuming Xu Wen's title as overseer of all military matters (都督中外总军事, Dudu Zhongwai Zongjunshi), while Xu Zhixun took on the title of deputy supreme commander of all circuits (诸道副都统, Zhudao Fu Dutong, with Xu Wen having been supreme commander before, and that post now left open) and military governor of Ningguo (宁国, headquartered in modern Xuancheng, Anhui) and Zhenhai (镇海, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) Circuits, which Xu Wen had been; he also took the greater honorary chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中).

Even though Xu Zhigao remained in control of Wu's imperial government, Xu Zhixun, at Jinling (i.e., Sheng Prefecture), controlled the largest army of the state, and he, wielding that authority, contended for decision-making with Xu Zhigao, who tried to curb Xu Zhixun's military power. For example, in 929, when Xu Zhixun's father-in-law, the general Li Jian (李简) the military governor of Wuchang Circuit (武昌, headquartered in modern Wuhan, Hubei) died, Xu Zhixun took 2,000 of Li Jian's soldiers and kept them under his command, while recommending Li Jian's son Li Yanzhong (李彦忠) to succeed Li Jian. Xu Zhigao, however, ignoring Xu Zhixun's recommendations, made the general Chai Zaiyong (柴再用) the military governor of Wuchang, drawing Xu Zhixun's ire.

Given Xu Zhixun's military strength, Xu Zhigao feared him, but Xu Zhixun's arrogance alienated his younger brothers, particularly both Xu Zhihui and Xu Zhijian; Xu Zhihui secretly reported Xu Zhixun's actions to Xu Zhigao, while Xu Zhijian, at Guangling, participated in Xu Zhigao's machinations against Xu Zhixun. Xu Jie, who had previously supported Xu Zhixun, also realized that Xu Zhixun lacked the proper abilities to lead, and instead turned his allegiance to Xu Zhigao. Meanwhile, Xu Zhixun was not curbing his actions properly; for example, when Qian Liu, the king of Wu's neighbor Wuyue, sent Xu Zhixun gifts of vessels and saddles adorn with dragons and phoenixes — which only the sovereign could use — Xu Zhixun used them, making no attempts to avoid making them into a display. His close associate Zhou Tingwang (周廷望) persuaded him to let Zhou take large amounts of wealth to Guangling to try to use them to bribe other high level officials to turn from Xu Zhigao and toward him, but when Zhou arrived at Guangling, Zhou secretly pledged allegiance to Xu Zhigao through Xu Zhigao's associate Zhou Zong, and informed Xu Zhixun's actions to Xu Zhigao — but then, when he returned to Jinling, also informed Xu Zhigao's actions to Xu Zhixun, trying to play both sides.

Later in 929, Xu Zhixun tried to summon Xu Zhigao to Jinling to attend a ceremony where they would remove mourning clothes that they had put on for Xu Wen's death; Xu Zhigao refused, claiming that Yang Pu would not let him leave the capital. Meanwhile, Zhou Zong told Zhou Tingwang to inform Xu Zhixun that he had been accused of seven major crimes and should go to the capital to defend himself. Xu Zhixun believed Zhou Tingwang, and therefore went to Guangling. Once he arrived there, Xu Zhigao detained him and did not allow him to return to Jinling, sending the officer Ke Hou (柯厚) to lead the Jinling forces back to Guangling, thus consolidating the command under Xu Zhigao himself. Xu Zhixun was kept at Guangling to take the office of army commander (统军, Tongjun), still carrying the title of military governor of Zhenhai Circuit. (The command of Ningguo Circuit went to Xu Zhigao.) The brothers then had a verbal confrontation in which Xu Zhixun stated, "When the deceased Prince Xu Wen, who carried the title of Prince of Donghai) left this world, you, older brother, were his son. How could it be that you did not attend to his funereal matters?" Xu Zhigao responded, "You had a sword drawn, intended for me. How could I dare to go? You are a subject, so how could you have ridden on imperial wagons and worn imperial clothes?" When Xu Zhixun then questioned him about his actions, Xu Zhigao realized that Zhou Tingwang was playing both sides, so had Zhou Tingwang executed.

Later in 929, there was an incident in which, traditionally, it was believed that Xu Zhigao tried to poison Xu Zhixun. Xu Zhigao had held a feast for Xu Zhixun and offered him wine in a gold goblet, stating, "May my younger brother live a thousand years." Xu Zhixun, suspecting that the wine was poisoned, poured half of the wine into another gold goblet and offered it to Xu Zhigao, stating, "I wish to live five hundred years a piece with you, older brother." Xu Zhigao's expression changed and initially would not drink, while Xu Zhixun would not withdraw his offer, and their attendants did not know what to do. However, a performer named Shen Jiangao (申渐高) walked by them and, after stating some humorous words, grabbed the two goblets and drank the wine inside himself, and then left with the goblets. When Xu Zhigao secretly sent an antidote to Shen's house, it was too late; Shen had already died. After this, however, Xu Zhigao appeared to have made no further attempts on Xu Zhixun's life. At some point, it appeared that Xu Zhigao allowed him to report to Zhenhai's capital Run Prefecture (润州), but he did not spend much effort in governing the circuit.

In 931, Xu Zhijian, who was then serving as the military governor of Zhennan, died. Yang Pu commissioned Xu Zhixun to replace him, and also created him the Prince of Donghai. On the way to Zhennan, he met Xu Zhijian's funereal train, and he was said to have touched Xu Zhijian's casket and wept, stating, "You, younger brother, intended this, and I have no regrets. But how can you face the deceased Prince in the underworld?" He died in 934, while still serving at Zhennan.

Notes and references

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 270, 276, 277, 279.

• Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms (十国春秋), vol. 13.