Xuantu Commandery
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. 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.