Du Xi ( 190–231), courtesy name Zixu, was an adviser to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was a subordinate of Cao Cao's general Xiahou Yuan. Du Xi proposed to the troops that Zhang He take command after Xiahou Yuan was killed at the Battle of Mount Dingjun. He continued serving as an official in the state of Cao Wei, established by Cao Cao's successor Cao Pi, during the Three Kingdoms period.
Before joining Cao Cao In the early 190s, when Du Xi sought refuge at Jing Province, Liu Biao treated him like an honored guest; Liu Biao repeatedly praised Po Qin (繁钦), who was with Du and was also from the same commandery as Du. Unwilling to serve Liu Biao, Du Xi then moved further south to Changsha Commandery.(袭避乱荆州，刘表待以宾礼。同郡繁钦数见奇于表，袭喻之曰：“吾所以与子俱来者，徒欲龙蟠幽薮，待时凤翔。岂谓刘牧当为拨乱之主，而规长者委身哉？子若见能不已，非吾徒也。吾其与子绝矣！”钦慨然曰：“请敬受命。”袭遂南适长沙。) Sanguozhi, vol.23
Anecdotes When Cao Cao was still alive, Du Xi saw that Xiahou Shang was very close to Cao Pi, who had by then been confirmed as heir over his brother Cao Zhi. He informed Cao Cao that Xiahou was a "friend who would not be beneficial (to Cao Pi)" and should not be given such preferential treatment. When Cao Pi knew about Du's comments, he was greatly displeased.(时夏侯尚昵于太子，情好至密。袭谓尚非益友，不足殊待，以闻太祖。文帝初甚不悦，...) Sanguozhi, vol.23
Xiahou Shang married the younger sister of Cao Zhen.([夏侯]玄，爽之姑子也。) Sanguozhi vol. 9.(景懷夏侯皇后諱徽，字媛容，沛國譙人也。父尚，魏徵南大將軍；母曹氏，魏德陽鄉主。) Jin Shu vol. 31. In his later years, Xiahou Shang took a concubine, whom he loved dearly. A family feud broke out when Xiahou Shang's concubine started fighting with Cao Zhen's sister to become Xiahou Shang's official spouse. When Cao Pi heard about it, he decided to intervene as a show of support for his fellow members of the Cao clan, so he had Xiahou Shang's concubine executed by strangulation.(尚有愛妾嬖幸，寵奪適室；適室，曹氏女也，故文帝遣人絞殺之。) Sanguozhi vol. 9.
Xiahou Shang was so upset by his concubine's death that he fell sick and his health started deteriorating. After burying his concubine, he stayed indoors all the time and refused to meet anyone. When Cao Pi heard about it, he remarked, "Maybe Du Xi had good reason(s) to look down on (Xiahou) Shang." Despite this incident, Cao Pi still highly favoured Xiahou Shang because he was a close childhood friend.(尚悲感，發病怳惚，旣葬埋妾，不勝思見，復出視之。文帝聞而恚之曰：「杜襲之輕薄尚，良有以也。」然以舊臣，恩寵不衰。) Sanguozhi vol. 9.
Family Du Xi's grandfather was Du Gen (杜根; 100-155), son of Du An (杜安).(曾祖父安，祖父根，著名前世。) Sanguozhi, vol.23
See also Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms Notes
References
Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi). Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotated Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).