Xu Rong was from
Xiangping County (襄平縣),
Liaodong Commandery (遼東郡), which is around present-day
Liaoyang,
Liaoning, but another account claimed that he was from
Xuantu Commandery, which is around present-day
Shenyang, Liaoning. Very little is known about his early life. He started his career as a subordinate of the warlord
Dong Zhuo, who controlled the Han central government and the figurehead
Emperor Xian from 189 to 192. He held the position of a General of the Household (中郎將). During this time, he recommended
Gongsun Du, who was from the same commandery as him, to serve as the Administrator of Liaodong Commandery. In 190, Xu Rong fought on Dong Zhuo's side against
a coalition of warlords from the east of
Hangu Pass. He defeated
Cao Cao, who joined the coalition under
Zhang Miao's banner, at the
Battle of Xingyang. Later that year, he defeated
Sun Jian, who joined the coalition under
Yuan Shu's banner, at the Battle of Liangdong (梁東). He also captured Li Min (李旻), the Administrator of
Yingchuan Commandery, and killed him via boiling. In May 192, after Dong Zhuo was assassinated in
Chang'an, Xu Rong switched allegiance to the new central government led by
Wang Yun. Wang Yun ordered him to lead troops to attack Dong Zhuo's former followers led by
Li Jue and
Guo Si. Xu Rong was killed in action at Xinfeng County (新豐縣; south of present-day
Weinan,
Shaanxi). ==In
Romance of the Three Kingdoms==