Zhuge Xu (250 – 260s) was a Chinese general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
Life Zhuge Xu was from Yangdu County (), Langya Commandery (), which is in present-day Yinan County, Shandong. He was probably a distant relative of other famous Zhuges in the Three Kingdoms period, such as Zhuge Jin, Zhuge Liang and Zhuge Dan, since he shared the same ancestral home as them. He served in the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period.
In 255, when the Wei generals Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin started a rebellion in Shouchun (壽春; present-day Shou County, Anhui), Zhuge Xu was then serving as the Administrator () of Taishan Commandery (泰山郡; around present-day Tai'an, Shandong). Under the command of Deng Ai, he led troops from Taishan Commandery to assist other Wei imperial forces led by the regent Sima Shi to suppress the rebellion.Sanguozhi, vol.28 (biography of Deng Ai)
Zhuge Xu was later promoted to the position of Inspector () of Yong Province in an unknown year. In 263, he participated in the campaign against one of Wei's rival states, Shu. His mission was to lead 30,000 troops to block the Shu general Jiang Wei at a bridge in Yinping () and stop him from reinforcing Yang'an Pass (). When Jiang Wei heard about it, he pretended to launch an attack on Yong Province via Konghan Valley (). Zhuge Xu fell for the ruse, thought that Jiang Wei wanted to attack his base, so he ordered his troops to retreat from Yinping by 30 li. Jiang Wei then seized the opportunity to cross the bridge at Yinping. When Zhuge Xu found out and tried to stop Jiang Wei, he was already one day behind time. Later, the Wei general Zhong Hui advanced south from Yang'an Pass and reached Baishui (). At the time, another Wei general Deng Ai wanted to link up with Zhuge Xu and attack the enemy position at Jiangyou () together, but Zhuge Xu refused and moved to Baishui to join Zhong Hui instead. At Baishui, Zhong Hui accused Zhuge Xu of cowardice, seized command of his troops and sent him as a prisoner back to Yong Province.Sanguozhi, vol.28 (biographies of Deng Ai and Zhong Hui)
Zhuge Xu later served in the Western Jin dynasty, which replaced the Cao Wei state in February 266 after the regent Sima Yan usurped the throne from the last Wei emperor Cao Huan. He served as Minister of Ceremonies () under the Jin government and then Minister of the Guards () under Empress Dowager Wang Yuanji.(〈按《百官名》：绪入晋为太常崇礼卫尉。子冲，廷尉。) Bai Guan Ming annotation in Sanguozhi, vol.28. It is likely that "Chongli" was an erroneous record as Empress Dowager Wang resided in Chonghua Palace.(武帝受禅，尊为皇太后，宫曰崇化。初置宫卿，重选其职，以太常诸葛绪为卫尉...) Jin Shu, vol.31
Children and descendants Zhuge Xu had at least two sons: Zhuge Chong (諸葛冲), courtesy name Zhangmao (长茂) or Maozhang (茂长), and Zhuge Hong (諸葛厷).(厷字茂远，琅邪人，魏雍州刺史绪之子。) Jin Shu (by Wang Yin) annotation in Shishuo Xinyu, vol.04
Zhuge Chong's daughter Zhuge Wan was selected to enter Sima Yan's harem in the spring of 273.(婉以泰始九年春入宫，...) Jin Shu, vol.31. The 1st to 3rd months of the year correspond to 5 Feb to 3 May 273 in the Julian calendar. Zhuge Wan's brother Zhuge Mei later married a younger sister of Zhou Mu (周穆); their common brother-in-law was Sima Xia (司馬遐), son of Emperor Wu and Lady Chen and father of Sima Tan.Jin Shu, vol.64 In February or March 307,(永嘉元年春正月....以太傅、东海王越辅政，杀御史中丞诸葛玫。) Jin Shu, vol.05; the month corresponds to 19 Feb to 19 Mar 307 in the Julian calendar. Zhuge Mei and Zhou Mu both advised Sima Yue, regent of Emperor Huai of Jin, to install Sima Tan to the throne, but Yue, angered by their suggestion, had them executed.(吏部郎周穆，清河王覃舅，越之姑子也，與其妹夫諸葛玫共說越曰：「主上之為太弟，張方意也。清河王本太子，為群凶所廢。先帝暴崩，多疑東宮。公盍思伊、霍之舉，以寧社稷乎？」言未卒，越曰：「此豈宜言邪！」遂叱左右斬之。) Jin Shu, vol.59([永嘉元年]春，正月，....吏部郎周穆，太傅越之姑子也，与其妹夫御史中丞诸葛玫说越曰：“主上之为太弟，张方意也。清河王本太子，公宜立之。”越不许。重言之，越怒，斩之。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86
Zhuge Chong had another daughter, Zhuge Nanzi (诸葛男姊), who married Shi Xian, the second son of Shi Jian (石鉴).
Zhuge Wan's elder brother Zhuge Quan was killed on 5 May 311, together with Wang Yan and many other Jin officials and princes, by Shi Le, in the aftermath of Sima Yue's death in April that year.([永嘉五年]四月戊子，石勒追东海王越丧...将军钱端战死，军溃，太尉王衍、吏部尚书刘望、廷尉诸葛铨、尚书郑豫、武陵王澹等皆遇害，王公已下死者十馀万人。东海世子毗及宗室四十八王寻又没于石勒.) Jin Shu, vol.05. Vol.87 of Zizhi Tongjian dated the event to the 4th month of that year, and did not record a specific day.
See also Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms
Notes
References
Sources Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi). Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). Book of Jin (Jin Shu). Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotated Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu). Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian.