Xú Yì appellation Jìcái, was a Dōngguǎn man. He took refuge east of the Jiāng, and Sūn Cè sought to invite and recruit him. Yì changed his name and fled in disguise back to his home prefecture.

徐奕字季才，東莞人也。避難江東，孫策禮命之。奕改姓名，微服還本郡。

When Tàizǔ [Cáo Cāo] was Excellency of Works he was appointed to his staff. He followed in the western campaign against Mǎ Chāo [211]. Chāo was defeated and the army returned. At that time the land within the Passes was newly taken and not yet at fully peace, so Yì was left as Chief Clerk to the Chancellor to defend and support the western capital [Cháng’ān], and there in the western capital he was praised and trusted. He was transferred to Inspector of Yōngzhōu, then returned [to headquarters] as Officer Assistant. At the time Dīng Yí and his group were in favor and they all hated and acted against him, but to the end Yì made no move [in response]. (1) He was transferred out to serve as Administrator of Wèi-jùn.

太祖為司空，辟為掾屬，從西征馬超。超破，軍還。時關中新服，未甚安，留奕為丞相長史，鎮撫西京，西京稱其威信。轉為雍州刺史，復還為東曹屬。丁儀等見寵於時，並害之，而奕終不為動。〔一〕出為魏郡太守。

• (1) Wèishū states: Someone said to Yì: “You have Shǐyú’s uprightness, but what about Qú Bóyù’s wisdom? Dīng Yí is in high favor. You should think of this and so defer to him.” [Xú] Yì said: “With a wise and sagely lord, how can [Dīng] Yí and his deceptions last long? And I can defend against those who act treacherously, so let him plot against me.”
• Fù-zǐ states: Wǔ–dì [Cáo Cāo] had limits to his wisdom. Cuī Yǎn and Xú Yì were always pure and worthy, and both were loyal and sincere to the Wèi Court. Dīng Yí spoke against them, so Xú Yì lost his position while Cuī Yǎn was put to death.

〔一〕　魏書曰：或謂奕曰：「夫以史魚之直，孰與蘧伯玉之智？丁儀方貴重，宜思所以下之。」奕曰：「以公明聖，儀豈得久行其偽乎！且姦以事君者，吾所能禦也，子寧以他規我。」傅子曰：武皇帝，至明也。崔琰、徐奕，一時清賢，皆以忠信顯於魏朝；丁儀閒之，徐奕失位而崔琰被誅。

When Tàizǔ attacked Sūn Quán, he transferred Yì to remain at headquarters as Chief Clerk and said to him: “Your loyalty and integrity is unsurpassed by the ancients, but you are a bit too strict. In the past Xīmén Bào wore a girdle to restrain himself, and so could act both with gentleness or hardness. I hope that you can be like this. Now I send you to remain to manage affairs, I will have no fears behind me.”

太祖征孫權，徙為留府長史，謂奕曰：「君之忠亮，古人不過也，然微太嚴。昔西門豹佩韋以自緩，夫能以柔弱制剛彊者，望之於君也。今使君統留事，孤無復還顧之憂也。」

When Wèi state was established [213] he joined the Secretariat, served as an Elector, and was promoted to Director of the Secretariat.

魏國既建，為尚書，復典選舉，遷尚書令。

While Tàizǔ campaigned in Hànzhōng, Wèi Fěng and others rebelled. Subaltern Yáng Jùn was sent east. Tàizǔ sighed and said: “The reason Fěng dared rebel was because among my followers there was none who can discover those with treacherous plans. If I could obtain someone like a Zhūgě Fēng, who can I send to Jùn?”

太祖征漢中，魏諷等謀反，中尉楊俊左遷。太祖歎曰：「諷所以敢生亂心，以吾爪牙之臣無遏姦防謀者故也。安得如諸葛豐者，使代俊乎！」

Huán Jiē said: “Xú Yì is your man.”

桓階曰：「徐奕其人也。」

Tàizǔ therefore sent Yì as Subaltern, and hand wrote an order: “In the past Chǔ had Zǐyù, so Wén-gōng could not be at ease at his seat. When Jí Àn sat at Court, [the King of] Huáinán abandoned his treacherous plans. The Shī [jīng] tells of “one to manage a state,” and that is speaking of you!” He held the post for several moons, but because of serious illness resigned, was appointed Critical-Consultant Officer, but died. (1)

太祖乃以奕為中尉，手令曰：「昔楚有子玉，文公為之側席而坐；汲黯在朝，淮南為之折謀。詩稱『邦之司直』，君之謂與！」在職數月，疾篤乞退，拜諫議大夫，卒。〔一〕

• Wèishū states: Wén-dì at every meeting with his ministers would never fail to sigh and think of Yì’s conduct. Yì had no sons, so an Imperial Order appointed his cousin’s son Tǒng as an official and as Yì’s posterity.

〔一〕　魏書曰：文帝每與朝臣會同，未嘗不嗟歎，思奕之為人。奕無子，詔以其族子統為郎，以奉奕後。