Xu Jie (徐玠) (868-943),[1] courtesy name Yungui (蘊圭), formally the Prince of Gaoping (高平王), was a Chinese military general and politician.
At some point, he became an officer under the general Cui Hong (崔洪),[1] who was, as of 899, serving as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Fengguo Circuit (奉國, headquartered in modern Zhumadian, Henan).
They coerced Cui Hong into abandoning Fengguo's capital Cai Prefecture (蔡州) and fleeing to the domain of another major warlord, Yang Xingmi the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu).
However, the governance of the Hongnong state was actually in the hands of Xu Wen, who had along with Zhang Hao, assassinated Yang Wo and become regent.
Several of Yang Xingmi's old generals — Liu Wei (劉威) the military governor of Zhennan, Tao Ya (陶雅) the governor of She Prefecture (歙州, in modern Huangshan, Anhui), Li Yu (李遇) the governor of Xuan Prefecture (宣州, in modern Xuancheng, Anhui), and Li Jian (李簡) the prefect of Chang Prefecture (常州, in modern Changzhou, Jiangsu) — were dissatisfied with the situation and were particularly not respectful of Xu Wen.
In 912, when Xu Jie, then serving as the director of travel pavilions (館驛使, Guanyishi), was on a diplomatic mission to Hongnong's southeastern neighbor Wuyue, Xu Wen had him visit Li Yu at Xuan to try to persuade Li Yu to go to the capital Guangling (廣陵) to pay homage to Yang Longyan.
[4] Li Yu's son had married one of Yang Xingmi's daughters, who was spared from execution because she was the prince's sister.
When, subsequently, many officials were submitting petitions to Xu Zhigao asking to change place names containing "Yang" or "Wu" as part of the name, it was Xu Jie who spoke against such petitions, stating, "Your Imperial Majesty accepted the throne in accordance with the will of heaven and man, without seizing it by improper means.
[9] Xu Jie was subsequently made the military governor of Ningguo Circuit (寧國, headquartered at Xuan Prefecture).
It was said that when this was announced, his wife Lady Yang, remembering what had happened with her first husband and his family, died due to her distress and anger.
He was later recalled to the Southern Tang imperial government to serve as chancellor with the titles of Situ (司徒) and You Chengxiang (右丞相), but was not given real responsibility.
He was also involved in alchemy, but often bought discount cinnabar of lower grades in his alchemist exercises, leading to derision.