生平

以少創敵

徐盛起初因為北方戰亂而到吳郡避亂。200年（建安五年），孫權繼兄長孫策統治江東，任命徐盛為別部司馬，授予兵士五百人，守柴桑長，對抗劉表屬下的江夏太守黃祖。及後黃祖兒子黃射曾經率幾千人進攻徐盛，當時徐盛以不到二百人的部下抵抗，殺傷黃射的部隊千餘人。其後開門主動出戰，大敗黃射，黃射于是不敢再次入侵。孫權升徐盛為校尉、蕪湖令。當時蔣欽屯宣城，討豫章賊，徐盛抓捕蔣欽屯吏，上表要斬殺，孫權因蔣欽在遠地領兵，不許，徐盛因而擔心蔣欽記恨。後因征討臨城南阿山盜賊有功，升為中郎將，督校兵。

215年，孫權發動逍遙津之戰，張遼出城突襲。陳武戰死，徐盛受襲負傷，其部下軍旗兵丟掉自軍的矛旗，從後方救援的賀齊撿回徐盛的牙旗。

217年，後來曹操與孫權戰于濡須，蔣欽與呂蒙持諸軍節度，徐盛擔心蔣欽尋找機會加害自己，但蔣欽總是對孫權讚揚徐盛，于是徐盛對蔣欽心服。曹操進攻濡須口，徐盛跟隨孫權前去防禦。

當時徐盛與孫權學友朱然被孫權安排在濡須督周泰統領，二人不服于在寒門出身的周泰之下，孫權藉此到濡須塢(濡須口重要據點)擺宴設席犒賞諸將，期間令周泰脫下戰袍，孫權以周泰的傷痕展示其戰功並做出獎賞，徐盛、朱然等將被孫權說得對周泰敬服。

魏軍曾經大舉進攻橫江，徐盛和其他將領齊去征討。當時徐盛等人乘坐的蒙衝戰船遇大風，戰船被吹到敵人控制的江岸。諸將見此恐懼，無人敢出擊，唯獨徐盛帶領士兵上岸突擊敵人大軍，期間受到徐盛的大殺傷使得曹操軍披靡敗逃，風停了便返回吳軍營寨，孫權得知後對此大為讚賞。

222年，魏將曹休出兵洞口，徐盛與呂范、全琮渡過長江前去防守，遭遇大風，船上很多人落水喪生，徐盛召集殘部，與曹休隔江對峙。曹休派部隊乘船進攻，徐盛以少抗多，魏軍不能取勝，而援軍已到，于是逼使曹休撤兵。戰後，徐盛升為安東將軍，封蕪湖侯。

萬夫莫開

魏黃初二年（221年），孫權以諸侯身份向曹魏稱藩屬結盟，曹魏派邢貞拜孫權為吳王。孫權到都亭迎接邢貞，邢貞卻在見孫權時露出傲慢神色，張昭對此很是生氣，於是邢貞急著向群臣道謝。而徐盛更加憤怒，對同僚說：「我徐盛和大家不能挺身而出，為國家消滅曹魏和蜀漢，卻讓我們君王來與邢貞這樣的人來訂盟約，這不是恥辱嗎？」說完，淚流滿面。邢貞聽了，對隨從說：「江東有這樣的將、相，不會久居于人下的。」後來徐盛被升為建武將軍，封都亭侯，領廬江太守，賜臨城縣為奉邑。

同年，劉備伐吳，發動彞陵之戰，但於次年（222年）在夷陵被陸遜以火攻擊敗，徐盛亦乘勢進擊，攻下劉備多處屯營，一路立功。

疑城制防

吳黃武三年（224年），魏文帝曹丕大舉攻吳，並打算渡過長江。徐盛建議在建業外圍築上圍牆，建籬笆，並在牆上設置假箭樓，江中擺上戰船。一眾將領都認為這沒什麼意義，但徐盛堅持將計劃施行。曹丕到達廣陵後，看到圍牆驚愕不已。圍牆連綿數百里，而長江正在漲水，于是曹丕放棄進攻，引軍撤退。諸將于是十分佩服徐盛。

黃武年間（按其本傳，卒年應於224年與229年之間），徐盛病逝，由兒子徐楷承襲爵位。

家庭

• 徐楷

藝術形象

三國演義

在演義中，無論前期或者後期，徐盛與丁奉是一起登場和殺敵。在曹丕224年伐吳，徐盛與丁奉一起率軍迎敵，偃旗息鼓地在廣陵城內設蘆葦草人，裝作佈滿士兵的空城。曹丕在龍舟上聞曹真回報城裡沒有一人，認為是詭計打算下舟查探，但心裡拿不定注意詢問劉曄，但劉曄也跟曹丕一樣看法。當夜，曹丕軍舉起火把，燈火通明，反而江南沒有半點光。曹丕認為是詭計便撤退，而淮河佈滿事先浸滿魚油的蘆葦，徐盛把蘆葦點燃，大火連橫。

影視形象

• 1994年電視劇《三國演義》：張曉明

• 1994年電視劇《三國英雄傳之關公》：曹華興

• 2010年電視劇《三國》：孫岩

動漫遊戲

• 《蒼天航路》（王欣太）

• 《火鳳燎原》（陳某）:設定為山家麾下刺客及傭兵組織「敗將」之成員老三，奉首領劉大之命與潘璋追隨孫權，曾和潘璋脅迫喬老爺歸順孫策。

• 《真·三國無雙8》（光榮特庫摩，新垣樽助配音）

• 《幻想三國誌5》（宇峻奧汀）

評價

• 蔣欽：「盛忠而勤強，有膽略器用，好萬人督也。」

• 邢貞：「江東將相如此，非久下人者也。」

• 陳壽：「凡此諸將，皆江表之虎臣，孫氏之所厚待也。」

• 符生：「驍勇多權略，攻必取，戰必勝，關（關羽）、張（張飛）之流，萬人之敵者，則前將軍、新興王飛（霍去病），建切將軍鄧羌，立忠將軍彭越，安遠將軍范俱難，建武將軍徐盛。」（唐《晉書·載記第十二·符生傳》）

• 《徐州先賢贊》：「以敦直、勇氣聞。魏王出濡須，孫權每選出戰者，盛常在前。」

• 孫元晏：「欲把江山鼎足分，邢真銜冊到江南。當時將相誰堪重，徐盛將軍最不甘。」

• 章如愚：「如程普、黃蓋、甘寧、徐盛、潘璋、朱然、朱桓、賀齊、凌統、全琮、呂范，皆智足以御眾，勇足以卻敵，未有不為守令之職者。」

• 劉咸炘：「程普最長，黃、韓從堅，蔣、周、陳、董從策，甘、凌、潘、徐則權所用也，丁奉行輩最後。」

Early life and career

Xu Sheng was from Ju County (莒縣), Langya Commandery (琅邪郡), which is present-day Ju County, Shandong. When chaos broke out in central and northern China towards the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, Xu Sheng moved from his hometown to Wu Commandery (around present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu) in southern China, where he gained a reputation for his bravery. He was later recruited by the warlord Sun Quan, who controlled much of the territories in Jiangdong at the time. Sun Quan appointed Xu Sheng as a Major of Separate Command (別部司馬), placed him in command of 500 troops, and appointed him as the Chief of Chaisang (柴桑; around present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi) to defend the county from attacks by Huang Zu, the Administrator of Jiangxia Commandery (江夏郡; around present-day Xinzhou District, Wuhan, Hubei).

Huang Zu once sent his son, Huang She (黃射), to lead a few thousand troops to attack Chaisang. At the time, Xu Sheng had less than 200 men with him, so they released arrows at Huang She's advancing forces and wounded over 1,000 enemy soldiers. Xu Sheng then ordered the city gates to be opened and they charged out and defeated the enemy. Huang She no longer posed a threat to Xu Sheng after that battle. Xu Sheng was promoted to Colonel (校尉) and appointed as the Prefect of Wuhu County. Later, he defeated some bandits in Nan'e (南阿) and Lincheng (臨城) counties. He was subsequently promoted to General of the Household (中郎將) and tasked with overseeing a regiment.

Wars with Cao Cao and Liu Bei

In 213, when Sun Quan's rival Cao Cao led an army to attack Ruxu (濡須; north of present-day Wuwei County, Anhui), Xu Sheng followed Sun Quan to resist the enemy at the Battle of Ruxu. Cao Cao launched a heavy assault on Hengjiang (橫江; southeast of present-day He County, Anhui, on the northern shore of the Yangtze), so Xu Sheng and Sun Quan's other generals led their forces to defend that position. Strong winds blew their mengchongs (a type of warship) across the river towards Cao Cao's side. Sun Quan's generals were all terrified and did not dare to land on the enemy's grounds. However, Xu Sheng led his men to charge at the enemy and succeeded in killing a few and forcing the rest to retreat. When the winds stopped, Sun Quan's forces returned to their side. Sun Quan highly praised Xu Sheng for his courage.

Between 214 and 215, Sun Quan led his armies to attack Hefei, a strategic fortress defended by Cao Cao's general Zhang Liao, leading to the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford. During an early skirmish, when Sun Quan's forces were just setting up their camps outside Hefei, Zhang Liao suddenly led hundreds of troops on a fierce assault, completely catching the enemy off guard. Xu Sheng's unit was routed and his men turned around and fled. Pan Zhang, another officer under Sun Quan, executed two deserters – one from Xu Sheng's unit and the other from Song Qian's. Xu Sheng had no choice but to gather his remaining men and return to battle. He lost his mao (矛; a type of long spear) in the earlier clash but He Qi found his weapon later on the battlefield. A plague eventually forced Sun Quan to withdraw his forces from Hefei. As they were retreating, Zhang Liao and his troops launched a sudden counterattack and inflicted a crushing defeat on the enemy at Xiaoyao Ford.

Xu Sheng was promoted to General Who Builds Martial Might (建武將軍), enfeoffed as a Marquis of a Chief Village (都亭侯), appointed as the Administrator of Lujiang Commandery (廬江郡), and given Lincheng County (臨城縣) as his marquisate. Between 221 and 222, when the Battle of Xiaoting broke out between Sun Quan and Liu Bei, Xu Sheng participated in the war and succeeded in capturing many enemy camps when Sun Quan's forces launched a counterattack after enduring defeats in earlier engagements.

War with Wei, and death

In late 222, Cao Pi ordered his general Cao Xiu to lead the Wei armies to attack Dongkou County. In response to the invasion, Xu Sheng, along with Lü Fan and Quan Cong led Sun Quan's forces across the river to defend Dongkou. However, they encountered a storm and many of their troops and ships were lost. Sun Quan's generals were browbeaten because they had lost about half of their ships in the storm, but were overjoyed when they heard of the arrival of He Qi, who reached Dongkou behind schedule and was not affected by the disaster. Coincidentally, He Qi was obsessed with luxuries so his ships were finely decorated and his weapons were of top quality. Cao Xiu was shocked when he witnessed the grandeur display of He Qi's refulgent navy so he paused the attack and withdrew. Xu Sheng managed to gather his surviving troops and form a defence line along the shore. A naval battle ensued, during which Cao Xiu targeted Lü Fan while sending his subordinates to attack Xu Sheng. Xu Sheng was outnumbered but he managed to hold his position. Both sides eventually withdrew their forces. Xu Sheng was subsequently promoted to General Who Stabilises the East (安東將軍) and elevated from the status of a village marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Wuhu" (蕪湖侯).

In late 224, when Cao Pi mobilised a large army to attack Sun Quan, Xu Sheng suggested to pitch encampments from Jianye, erect fake towers within each camp, and suspend some warships on the river. Sun Quan's other generals disagreed and felt that such "defences" would serve no purpose, but Xu Sheng ignored them and proceeded with his plan.

Xu Sheng's ruse effectively led to the construction of a "wall" along the river banks that served as a border stretching over hundreds of li. When Cao Pi reached Guangling Commandery (廣陵郡; covering parts of present-day Jiangsu), he saw Sun Quan's "strong defences" and the high tide and sighed, "Wei has thousands of armed cavalry units but they can't be deployed here". He then withdrew his forces. Sun Quan's generals finally recognised the value of Xu Sheng's plan.

Xu Sheng died sometime during the Huangwu era (222-229) of Sun Quan's reign before Sun Quan declared himself emperor and established the state of Eastern Wu. His militia and marquis title were inherited by his son, Xu Kai (徐楷).

Appraisal

Xu Sheng was known for his confidence and fervent loyalty towards Sun Quan, as demonstrated in the incident when Xing Zhen (邢貞) came to confer the title "King of Wu" (吳王) on Sun Quan. In 220, Sun Quan became a vassal of the state of Cao Wei, which replaced the Han dynasty after the Wei founder, Cao Pi, forced Emperor Xian to abdicate the throne to him. Cao Pi sent Xing Zhen as an emissary to meet Sun Quan and confer the title "King of Wu" (吳王) on him. Xing Zhen behaved arrogantly in front of Sun Quan and incurred much anger from Sun Quan's subjects, including Zhang Zhao and Xu Sheng. Xu Sheng told his colleagues: "Isn't it humiliating to watch our lord submit to Xing Zhen and not be able to serve him with our lives and help him conquer Xu, Luoyang and Bashu?" Tears rolled down his face. When Xing Zhen heard Xu Sheng's remark, he told an aide: "It's obvious from the reactions of the subjects of Jiangdong that they won't remain subservient for long." Xing Zhen was right, because in 222, Sun Quan declared independence from Wei but continued ruling his domain under the title "King of Wu" before declaring himself emperor in 229.

Xu Sheng's ego did not always lead to positive actions though. After the Battle of Ruxu in 217, Zhou Tai was appointed as the commander of the garrison at Ruxu, with Xu Sheng and Zhu Ran as his subordinates. However, both of them were unwilling to submit to Zhou Tai's command, citing the latter's humble origins in comparison to their more affluent family backgrounds. When Sun Quan heard about it, he visited Ruxu and hosted a party for all the officers there, during which he asked Zhou Tai to display his battle scars for all to see. He later awarded Zhou Tai with an imperial parasol. After that incident, Xu Sheng and Zhu Ran agreed to submit to Zhou Tai's command.

Xu Sheng was also known for his tendency to worry too much. When he was serving as the Prefect of Wuhu County, he arrested one of Jiang Qin's subordinates and sought permission from Sun Quan to have that man executed. However, Sun Quan declined because Jiang Qin was away battling bandits in Yuzhang Commandery (豫章郡). Since then, Xu Sheng had been apprehensive of Jiang Qin. During the Battle of Ruxu in 217, Jiang Qin and Lü Meng were placed in charge of military discipline among Sun Quan's forces. Xu Sheng was worried that Jiang Qin might use the opportunity to find fault with him, but much to his surprise, Jiang Qin praised him in front of Sun Quan. When Sun Quan asked Jiang Qin why he did so, Jiang Qin replied that Xu Sheng was "loyal and hardworking, possessed both courage and talent, and was capable of leading thousands of troops".