Xun Chen

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Xun Chen (courtesy name Youruo) was a government official in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He came from the powerful Xun family in Yingchuan (now part of Xuchang, Henan) and was the younger brother of Xun Yu.

His father, Xun Gun, served as the Chancellor of the Jinan State. Xun Chen first advised the warlord Han Fu, who governed Ji Province. In 191, Yuan Shao, urged by Pang Ji, plotted with Gongsun Zan to take Ji Province. Gongsun Zan attacked Han Fu, and Yuan Shao sent his nephew Gao Gan to win over Han Fu’s advisers, including Xun Chen, Xin Ping, and Guo Tu. They convinced Han Fu to hand Ji Province to Yuan Shao to prevent it from falling into Gongsun Zan’s hands, promising that Han Fu would stay safe. Xun Chen then joined Yuan Shao as an adviser.

In 199, after Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan at the Battle of Yijing and gained control of his enemy’s lands, he planned to launch a campaign against Cao Cao, who controlled the figurehead Emperor Xian and the central government. Yuan Shao assigned his sons to govern different provinces and began mobilizing troops.

Xun Chen served as a strategist in Yuan Shao’s camp during the Battle of Guandu. His ultimate fate is not recorded in history.