Xiahou Mao (Zixiu)
夏侯楙 (子休)
Historical Comprehensive Biography
Authored by Prof. Jia Yanjiu (賈琰玖)
Based on a series of essays by historians Zhen Gaoxiao (甄高霄) and Huang Yan (黃延) published by the Changsha Educated Press (Changsha Jiaoyu Chubanshe), 2005.
English Trans. Dr. Robert D. Mawhinney
Lifespan: AD 200–?
Titles: Marquis of the Imperial Domain, Imperial Son-In-Law, Supreme Commander
Relatives: Father: Xiahou Dun; Wife: Princess Qinghe; Father-in-Law: Cao Cao
Xiahou Mao was born in AD 200 , the son of Xiahou Dun. At the time of his birth, several portents were recorded. A serpentine dragon was seen rising from a well to the sky in Luoyang, while sheaves of corn from the harvest in Yingchuan were found to have pieces of gold instead of kernels of corn inside. Astrologers remarked that these were signs that the child was destined for greatness.
As Xiahou Mao grew up, he was taught the military arts from a young age. He excelled at all aspects, from strategy to the martial arts. One time, when he was eight years old, he went to see his father off as Cao Cao’s forces were marching south. As they hugged, Yue Jin made a mocking remark to Xiahou Dun, saying “Good thing your son was born with both eyes, O Blind Xiahou!.” Xiahou Dun blushed with shame at the taunt, but Xiahou Mao glared back at Yue Jin and retorted “Tell me, is your son a midget too?” Yue Jin was flustered by the boy’s jab and backed off promptly. Onlookers were pleased by Xiahou Mao’s bravery in standing up to Yue Jin, for what Yue Jin lacked in size he made up for in his reputation for ferocity.
As Xiahou Mao matured, Cao Cao became quite fond of him. When Cao Cao’s favourite son, Cao Chong, died a very young age, he looked to Xiahou Mao as a replacement to bestow affection on. This closeness to Cao Cao granted Xiahou Mao more insight into the affairs of state, and here he began to offer his input. Cao Cao grew even more impressed with Xiahou Mao, and arranged a marriage between Mao and his daughter, Cao Qinghe. Xiahou Mao was thus shown the honour of being taken into Cao Cao’s close family.
When word came that Guan Yu was striking out at Fan Castle, and it seemed as though Cao Ren would not be able to hold him off, a court minister sought out Xiahou Mao. That minister was Sima Yi of Henei. Sima Yi talked of the dire situation with Xiahou Mao, and asked the young man what he would do were he in Cao Cao’s place. Xiahou Mao replied as follows: “I would send a trusted minister to Wu to secure their aid. Wu has long sought to acquire Jingzhou, and this is the chance to turn them against Shu. Forcing them to quarrel would benefit our state greatly.” Sima Yi was pleased by his words, and thanked him, before promptly heading to Cao Cao and relating the advice as if it were his own. Cao Cao was impressed with Sima Yi’s suggestion and promoted him. When he heard, Xiahou Mao grew angry inside, but he did not go forward and accuse Sima Yi. He deemed such an act as petty, and what truly mattered was that Wei persevere against Guan Yu. The strategy succeeded, with Lü Meng taking Jingzhou and Guan Yu being slain, yet no one knew whose brainchild it really was.
Sadly, Cao Cao died soon after, and Cao Pi came to the throne. Cao Pi was a headstrong lord, declaring himself Emperor and keeping his own counsel. After several failed campaigns, he too died, leaving the land of Wei to his young son Cao Rui. When Cao Pi died, the ambitious Sima Yi saw it as his chance, and began to gather followers to prepare a revolt. He sent a letter to Xiahou Mao to try to enlist his aid, but the loyal Xiahou Mao would have none of it, taking the letter to Cao Rui and exposing the plan. Cao Rui ordered Sima Yi stripped of his position and demoted him to a mere commoner. Though his crime certainly merited execution, the young Cao Rui was scared of the thought of having blood on his hands, thus the lenient sentence.
It was at this time, with Wei still mourning the loss of Cao Pi and trying to find a replacement for Sima Yi, that the ever-scheming Zhuge Liang launched his first northern campaign. The young Cao Rui panicked and sent out a bulletin to Wei officers to seek volunteers to oppose him, but it went unanswered. No one wanted to fight the fearful Zhuge Liang. Guo Huai of Chang’an feigned illness and locked himself in his house, Zhang He resigned from the army, and Cao Hong, Commander of the Royal Guard, cut his own throat when he heard Cao Rui was considering appointing him. With no one else willing, Xiahou Mao paid a visit to the court to offer his services. Cao Rui was greatly relieved, but the elder minister Wang Lang voiced his objections. Wang Lang had been one of the men aligned with Sima Yi, and was still angry that the plan had failed due to Xiahou Mao. As such, he denounced the young man’s offer and accused him of being unworthy, too young to take a position of command. Xiahou Mao didn’t bat a lash, instead saying “Ever since I was a boy, I have studied strategy, and I am well acquainted with army matters. Why do you despise my youth? Unless I capture this Zhuge Liang, I pledge myself never again to see the Emperor’s face.” Cao Rui was delighted and handed Xiahou Mao the seal granting control of the entire army.
Xiahou Mao headed straight to Chang’an to muster the army there. It was then that he realised the problems he could be in. All of Wei’s other worthy generals had done everything they could to avoid having to fight Zhuge Liang. The only officers left to help Xiahou Mao were Cheng Wu, the mentally challenged strategist, and the warrior Han De, who was there only because he couldn’t smuggle all fifty two of his sons out of town in time before Xiahou Mao arrived. Still, even with such mediocre aid, Xiahou Mao had faith in his skills and prepared the troops for battle.
When Zhuge Liang learned that Xiahou Mao was in Chang’an preparing the army, he coughed up blood and fainted. He was quickly spirited to his tent to recover, but even after he had, he refused to leave, saying that “All my work has come to naught, thanks to this prodigy before me.” Wei Yan came forward and volunteered for battle, saying that he could take five thousand men through Ziwu Gorge and take Chang’an in a surprise attack. Zhuge Liang, who had long hated Wei Yan, was tempted to allow this plan which would result in his certain death, but he knew that in order to triumph against Xiahou Mao, he would need Wei Yan alive. He refused Wei Yan’s plan, proposing his own. By moving west through Qishan, the Shu army could bypass Chang’an, take the northwest, and then move down the Yellow River towards Luo Yang. That way, they might avoid Xiahou Mao completely. Pleased with his plan, Zhuge Liang began to regain his healthy complexion, and ordered the army to mobilize.
On hearing that Zhuge Liang was going to avoid meeting him directly, Xiahou Mao ordered his army forth from Chang’an to meet him directly, before he could reach the weak northwest cities. As Xiahou Mao’s army approached, Zhuge Liang again hid himself in his command tent, refusing to come out. As officers made inquiries as to what to do from outside, all they heard from within was “Send Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun always works.” So, the call was put out for Zhao Yun to lead the vanguard.
Zhao Yun was truly one of the heroes of his time. His feats at Chang Ban Slope shall certainly go down in legend. But, by this point Zhao Yun was around sixty years old, and unlike Huang Zhong, he had not aged gracefully. While his combat skills were intact, many of his mental faculties had left him, and indeed he had some trouble seeing and hearing things. His warrior instincts were still with him, though, and thus when he received the call to fight, he immediately took his men and galloped off in search of the enemy. Deng Zhi had to ride up quickly to catch him, to inform him that he’d gone the wrong way. From that point on, Deng Zhi stayed with Zhao Yun to guide him.
As Zhao Yun approached, Xiahou Mao sent Han De out to meet him. Han De, however, insisted on taking all of his children with him, hoping they could shield him with sheer numbers. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line he’d forgotten to teach them how to fight, and Zhao Yun tore a bloody swath through them on his way to striking down Han De. Xiahou Mao shook his head as he watched the carnage unfold, knowing that if he wanted the job done right, he’d have to do it himself. He made certain arrangements with his army, and then the next day, Xiahou Mao himself rode out to issue the challenge. The Shu army quaked before him, but Zhao Yun misheard him and thought he was Xiahou Yuan. Knowing that Xiahou Yuan was already dead, Zhao Yun rode out to accept the challenge, as defeating a dead guy couldn’t be very hard.
The two warriors engaged in a titanic struggle, which proved that Zhao Yun’s skill had not left him. Xiahou Mao was hard-pressed to fight any advantage. As they fought, Xiahou Mao remembered what his father-in-law had done at Chang Ban Slope. Cao Cao had so prized Zhao Yun’s ability that he ordered archers to hold their fire and avoid killing him, so that he could be taken alive. Now, it was time for Xiahou Mao to finish the job Cao Cao had started.
After a masterful parry that left Zhao Yun open for what could be a fatal strike, Xiahou Mao did not deliver it, instead turning to flee. Zhao Yun, his blood boiling from the battle, immediately set off in pursuit. Deng Zhi and the army were hot on his heels. Xiahou Mao’s army melted back in the wake of their charge, offering no resistance, as they entered a valley. When Zhao Yun and his men followed behind, the ambush was launched. Wei troops spilled out from all sides, quickly surrounding and isolating Zhao Yun. Deng Zhi and his men fought their way out and ran for their lives, knowing that it had been foolish to oppose Xiahou Mao, even with Zhao Yun leading them. Zhao Yun, meanwhile, continued to fight like a demon, but the Wei forces were merely harassing him, waiting for him to tire out. Then, they would take him alive.
Zhao Yun fought on through the day and into the evening before he began to tire. Xiahou Mao watched the ongoing battle from a ridge at the edge of the valley. At that point, however, two young Shu officers arrived on the scene, Zhang Bao and Guan Xing. They tried to fight their way in, but had no luck. Seeing that Xiahou Mao’s forces were too strong, they fell back and formulated a plan. Guan Xing led a small force off, while Zhang Bao stood up in his stirrups and waved, shouting to get everyone’s attention. “Hey everyone! Look at me! I’m Zhang Bao!” And with that, he spurred his horse on and jumped off a cliff to his death. Xiahou Mao, and indeed all the Wei forces, simply gaped in shock at the suicidal strategy. Zhao Yun himself panicked on hearing the name ‘Zhang Bao’, fearing that the Yellow Turbans had returned to life to ambush him, and thus when Guan Xing snuck through the confused Wei forces to rescue him, Zhao Yun happily joined in the escape.
Reforming their troops after the defeat of Zhao Yun and the loss of Zhang Bao, Zhuge Liang steadfastly refused to enter more combat, knowing that the rest of his forces would be mere fodder before Zhao Yun. Instead, he started to work on the treacherous plans that he’d made his entire career on. He first contacted Sima Yi in Wei via letter, offering him the chance to reclaim his position if he would perform certain tasks. Sima Yi was eager to accept, having no problems with sabotaging Xiahou Mao’s plans and thus hurting Wei as a whole, for the only thing he cared about was himself.
Zhuge Liang then asked locals of the region who the most self-serving, greedy officer in the northwest area was. They all responded without hesitation “Jiang Wei.” Though Jiang Wei was the son of a Wei general, he was a man with no patriotism whatsoever, a man who would sell his mother for a cattie of gold (and according to some reports, had done so a few times). Zhuge Liang wrote secretly to Jiang Wei as well, his flowery words inciting Jiang Wei’s treasonous heart. Jiang Wei rose in rebellion in Tian Shui, ousting the legitimate Wei government there, and forcing Xiahou Mao to act. Leaving Cheng Wu in charge of the army, Xiahou Mao marched to put down Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei came forth from the city gates to meet him, but they exchanged only a few bouts before Jiang Wei realized he was outmatched and fled into the city. He closed the gates behind him, leaving Xiahou Mao to prepare a siege to reduce the city.
This was what Zhuge Liang had waited for. With Xiahou Mao absent, he struck out at cheng Wu’s camp. Cheng Wu was no match for Zhuge Liang, and was heavily defeated. Xiahou Mao, on hearing of the attack, rushed to reinforce him, and Jiang Wei took advantage of that to sally from Tian Shui and defeat the remaining siege forces while Xiahou Mao was gone. Zhuge Liang had discovered Xiahou Mao’s weakness: He was only one man, and had no able help. Thus, by harassing him on multiple fronts while avoiding direct engagement, Zhuge Liang was able to gain the advantage.
Meanwhile, back at the Wei court, Sima Yi had his agents spreading word of Xiahou Mao’s losses. On Sima Yi’s advice, Wang Lang raised the valid point that Xiahou Mao should be recalled to the capital and given a stronger supporting cast. Cao Rui thought that sound advice, and had Wang Lang go to recall officers from the southern border, while he wrote an edict summoning Xiahou Mao home. On receiving the edict, Xiahou Mao wept, knowing that he had been undone. He had sworn not to return to the capital until he had achieved victory, which he had yet to do. Now, either he goes back to the capital and breaks his word, or he disobeys the edict and is branded a traitor. Sima Yi would be waiting to jump on either situation. As such, Xiahou Mao gathered his forces and had them sent home, while he himself retired into seclusion.
On hearing of the return of the army without its leader, Cao Rui realized his mistake and grew very afraid. He sent men to find Xiahou Mao and apologize to him, to restore him to his former position, but they could not find where he had gone. Desperate, Cao Rui began to worry for the future of Chang’an, when Wang Lang returned with a man to lead the army. That man, of course, was Sima Yi. With no other choice, Cao Rui reappointed Sima Yi as commander and sent him to oppose Zhuge Liang, who was now supported by the turncoat Jiang Wei. The rest of their encounters are ably described elsewhere, but what of our hero, Xiahou Mao?
Hinting that he had fled to the Qiang lands to the west, Xiahou Mao instead went to Jingzhou to settle down and lead an anonymous life. The locals didn’t know what to make of him, for he was obviously an able man, but very reclusive. Xiahou Mao kept an eye out for promising men, and on finding one, he took him into his care and taught him in the ways of strategy. After ten years of instruction, he had learned all that Xiahou Mao had to teach. At that point, Xiahou Mao had him sent to the Wei court, with orders to finish what Mao had started. That man was Deng Ai, styled Shizai, from Yiyang.
Xiahou Mao kept close track of Deng Ai’s later campaigns against Shu, eventually heading into Shu himself to offer advice and secret scouting. It was Xiahou Mao who heard that the western defenses were weak, and Deng Ai could sneak through with a surprise attack on the capital. The attack was a success, and Liu Shan surrendered, marking the fall of Shu. Soon after, though, the traitorous Jiang Wei struck once again, aligning with Zhong Hui. Together, they arrested and assassinated Deng Ai, before looking to build their own corrupt dynasty. This plan was thwarted when Xiahou Mao revealed himself and led the army in revolt against them. Cornered in the palace, Zhong Hui was hacked apart by the loyal Wei troops, while Xiahou Mao cornered Jiang Wei and stabbed him through the heart, avenging Jiang Wei’s betrayals. With the two rebels dead, the troops turned to Xiahou Mao for leadership, but he turned them down. He knew that the time of Wei was at an end, that it was only a matter of time before the Sima clan overthrew it. Had Deng Ai still been alive, together they might have been able to oppose the upcoming Jin Dynasty, but with him dead the heavens had made their will known. Xiahou Mao left once again, retiring to his home in Jingzhou, and disappearing into the annals of history…
Copyright © 2005 Professor Jia Yanjiu (賈琰玖)
Translation Copyright © 2006 Dr. Robert D. Mawhinney
Sources: Essays by Professor Zhen Gaoxiao (甄高霄) and Professor Huang Yan (黃延) published by the Changsha Educated Press (Changsha Jiaoyu Chubanshe). (Issues: 214 Mar. 05, 215 Apr. 05, 220 Sep. 05) (2005 Changsha)