| | Wen Xu, courtesy name Cifang, was transferred to serve as the Inspector of Qiang Tribes. While on an official inspection tour, he was seized by Gou Yu, a separate general under Wei Qiao. Gou Yu said to Wen Xu, "If you and I join forces and work together, we can take control of the world." Wen Xu had always been a man of strength and courage. He became very angry and shouted at Gou Yu and others, "How dare you bandits threaten a Han general!" He then used his official staff to strike and kill several people. The bandits wanted to kill him, but Gou Yu stopped them, saying, "This is a man of righteousness; we can give him a sword." Wen Xu accepted the sword, put his beard in his mouth, and said to those around him, "Since I am about to be killed by bandits, do not let my beard touch the dirt." He then fell on the sword and died.
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