Originally an outlaw, Xu Kan was made the Administrator of Taishan by Jin in 318 after driving out the position's initial candidate.
21 Facts About Xu Kan
1.
2.
Xu Kan had an unusual execution; he was ordered to be stuffed into a bag and thrown off a tall tower to his death before having his body cannibalized.
3.
Xu Kan was from Taishan Commandery and was described as a brave individual.
4.
Xu Kan began a life of banditry by robbing and plundering the local populace, and it was said that he committed his crimes "like a storm".
5.
Xu Kan was unable to because Taishan was threatened by Xu Kan.
6.
That same year, Xu Kan was made Administrator of Taishan.
7.
Xu Kan submitted to Shi Le and declared himself Inspector of Yanzhou as well as General Who Stabilizes the North.
8.
Xu Kan raided the Ji and Dai regions before eventually breaching into Dongguan Commandery.
9.
Xu Kan panicked as he realized he was being attacked from both his north and south.
10.
Xu Kan quickly surrendered back to Jin to avoid total defeat.
11.
Relations between Shi Le and Xu Kan broke down further due to Wang Fudu's attitude.
12.
Wang displayed an arrogant demeanour toward Xu Kan, refusing to treat him as his equal and violating his wife.
13.
Xu Kan was furious and began to doubt his alignment with Shi Le.
14.
Zhang Jing then moved his army to Dongping and Xu Kan suspected he was about to be attacked.
15.
Xu Kan killed Wang Fudu and 300 of his men before attempting to re-submit to Jin.
16.
Xu Kan had grown irritated with his actions and believed that he would rebel again in the near future.
17.
Shi Le was angered when he heard that Xu Kan had killed Wang Fudu.
18.
Xu Kan pleaded with Shi Le to accept his surrender, and so Shi Le did.
19.
Xu Kan attacked Cai Bao's supply lines in Tanqiu and killed his generals Lu Dang and Liu Chong.
20.
Xu Kan's defections had caused Shi Le to despise him greatly.
21.
Shi Le then ordered the wives and children of Wang Fudu and the Zhao soldiers that Xu Kan had killed to carve up his body for them to consume.