Records of the Three Kingdoms
Qiao Zhou, courtesy name Yunnan, was from Xichongguo in Baxi. He was tall and physically weak, known for learning. In Shu he served in education and rose to household counselor. His Essay on the Rival State puts two speakers in a dialogue to argue that a small state should not fight a large one every year. It answers the northern-campaign talk of the time.
In 263 Deng Ai crossed Yinping, Zhuge Zhan died at Mianzhu, and Chengdu wavered. Qiao Zhou urged Liu Shan to surrender. Flight into the south or east to Wu, he said, was no way out. Wei could annex Shu, and Wu would be annexed later. Liu Shan followed him. Under Jin, Qiao Zhou held court office and died of illness in the Taishi reign. Chen Shou had studied with him, and the biography is specific about the learning. The advice to surrender splits later judgment: some say he saved a city of people, some say he dissolved Shu’s will.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The novel makes Qiao Zhou a reader of stars and omens. He watches the sky over Chengdu and says the mandate is finished and the city should surrender. While Liu Shan hesitates, Qiao Zhou argues it again.
Jiang Wei in the book still hopes to restore the state. Qiao Zhou’s case for surrender is the other choice inside Chengdu. Astrology is the trade the novel adds to him.
Reference: Wikipedia · Qiao Zhou