Hou Cheng

Three Kingdoms infobox
Name=Hou Cheng


imagesize=
Caption=
Title=Cavarly commander
Kingdom=Lü Bu
Born=
Died=
Simp=侯成
Trad=侯成
Pinyin=Hóu Chéng
WG=Hou Ch'eng
Zi=
Other=

Hou Cheng (侯成) was a cavalry commander under the minor warlord Lü Bu during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era in ancient China. He eventually defected to rival warlord Cao Cao during the Battle of Xiapi.

According to the "Spring and Autumn Annals of the Nine Provinces" (九州春秋) by Sima Biao (司馬彪), Hou Cheng once sent a man to graze a band of fifteen horses outside the city. But the man drove the horse towards Xiaopei (小沛, present day Pei County, Jiangsu), intending to defect to Liu Bei. Hou Cheng personally led a pursuit and reclaimed the horses. His colleagues then gathered to celebrate. Before the feast ensued, Hou Cheng brought some wine to pay respect to Lü Bu, but the latter was enraged as he had enforced a ban on liquor. The fearful Hou Cheng then discarded all his wine and called off the celebration.

When Cao Cao laid siege on Lü Bu in Xiapi in 198, Hou Cheng, together with Song Xian and Wei Xu, captured Lü Bu's chief advisor Chen Gong and surrendered. Lü Bu was defeated and executed shortly afterwards. However, Hou Cheng's fate after the defection was not known.

Hou Cheng in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In Chapter 19 of the 14th century historical novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" by Luo Guanzhong, Hou Cheng was said to have been spanked fifty times at the order of Lü Bu for breaking the liquor ban. This sowed the seed of discord between Lü Bu and his officers, who were already dissatisfied over Lü Bu valuing his wives more than his men.

Hou Cheng then plotted with fellow colleagues Song Xian and Wei Xu to betray Lü Bu to Cao Cao. That very night, he stole the Red Hare, Lü Bu's powerful steed, and headed for Cao Cao's camp outside the city. The next morning, Cao Cao's army launched an all-out attack on the city. Without his favorite ride, Lü Bu was ultimately bound by Song Xian and Wei Xu and handed to the enemy.

References

*cite book|author=Chen Shou|title=San Guo Zhi|publisher=Yue Lu Shu She|year=2002|id=ISBN 7-80665-198-5
*cite book|author=Luo Guanzhong|title=San Guo Yan Yi|publisher=Yue Lu Shu She|year=1986|id=ISBN 7-80520-013-0
*cite book|author=Lo Kuan-chung; tr. C.H. Brewitt-Taylor|title=Romance of the Three Kingdoms|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|year=2002|id=ISBN 0-8048-3467-9

ee also

*Three Kingdoms
*Personages of the Three Kingdoms
*"Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms"
*"Romance of the Three Kingdoms"