| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 夏侯楙, 夏侯楙, Xiàhóu Máo |
| Other name | Hạ Hầu Mậu |
| Courtesy name | 子林, 子林, Zǐlín, Zi Lin, tự Tử Lâm |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Qiao County, Pei Commandery (沛国谯县; huyện Tiêu, quận Bái) |
| FAMILY | |
| Father | |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Cao Wei |
| Battles | Shu's First Northern Expedition |
Biography & Historical Record
Xiahou Mao (courtesy name Zilin) was an officer, politician, and nobleman who served the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was the second son of the legendary grand general Xiahou Dun. Inheriting his father’s noble prestige, Xiahou Mao was married to Princess Qinghe, a daughter of Cao Cao, which made him an influential imperial son-in-law (Fuma) and a close personal friend of Emperor Cao Pi from a young age.
Despite his prominent military titles—including General Who Guards the West and Commander of Guanzhong Defenses—Xiahou Mao possessed virtually no military aptitude or tactical skill. He was widely known among contemporaries for being timid, greedy, and focused primarily on operating personal businesses and accumulating wealth rather than managing military garrisons. When Zhuge Liang launched Shu Han’s First Northern Expedition in 228 AD, the strategist Wei Yan famously proposed his Ziwu Valley route, correctly noting that Xiahou Mao was young, timid, incompetent, and would abandon Chang’an in panic as soon as Shu forces arrived.
Historically, Xiahou Mao was relieved of his western military command after Zhuge Liang’s invasion caused immense turmoil across Guanzhong. Later in Luoyang, Xiahou Mao had a severe personal falling out with his wife, Princess Qinghe, as well as his younger brothers Xiahou Zang and Xiahou Jiang over family inheritances. His brothers and wife framed Xiahou Mao for treason, leading Emperor Cao Rui to order his arrest and execution. However, senior minister Duan Mo intervened, pointing out that the accusation stemmed from a domestic feud, saving Xiahou Mao’s life. He was stripped of major power and spent the rest of his life as a minor court noble.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xiahou Mao is prominently featured in Chapters 91 through 93 as an arrogant yet deeply incompetent supreme commander. Following Cao Zhen’s early defensive setbacks, Xiahou Mao boasts to Emperor Cao Rui that he will capture Zhuge Liang alive and march to Chengdu. Appointed Grand Commander of Western Armies, Xiahou Mao marches with a vast force to Fengming Mountain. However, he suffers an embarrassing defeat when the 70-year-old Zhao Yun slays his vanguard general Han De and all four of Han De’s sons in a single day. Trapped in Cheng Wu’s tactical ring, Xiahou Mao barely escapes Zhao Yun’s spear. Shortly after, Zhuge Liang uses psychological warfare, release of captured prisoners, and fake raids to outwit Xiahou Mao, causing him to falsely brand his loyal officer Jiang Wei as a traitor. Xiahou Mao flees in disgrace into the western Qiang territory with Ma Zun, never returning to the capital.
Xiahou Mao (夏侯楙) — Literary Timeline
Appointed Commander of the Western Frontier
Boasts to Emperor Cao Rui of his tactical capability; appointed Grand Commander of Western Armies to repel Zhuge Liang’s First Northern Expedition despite warnings from court officials regarding his incompetence.
Disaster at Fengming Mountain
Engages Shu forces at Fengming Mountain; loses vanguard general Han De and Han De’s four sons to Zhao Yun in rapid succession, fleeing into Jicheng in utter terror.
Duped by Zhuge Liang and Exile
Falls completely for Zhuge Liang’s counter-intelligence plot; falsely accuses Jiang Wei of defection and shuts the gates of Tianshui against him, driving Jiang Wei to join Shu Han before fleeing into Qiang territory.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Xiahou Mao on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Xiahou Dun (夏侯惇, Hạ Hầu Đôn) — Father and prominent founding general of the Cao Wei state.
- Princess Qinghe (清河公主, Thanh Hà Công chúa) — Wife and daughter of Cao Cao; she later conspired with his brothers to frame him for treason.
- Xiahou Zang (夏侯子臧, Hạ Hầu Tử Tang) — Younger brother who participated in a domestic plot against Xiahou Mao regarding family inheritance.
- Xiahou Jiang (夏侯子江, Hạ Hầu Tử Giang) — Younger brother who conspired with his sibling and Princess Qinghe to accuse Xiahou Mao of treason.
Friends
- Cao Pi (曹丕, Tào Phi) — Second Emperor of Cao Wei and a close personal friend of Xiahou Mao since their youth.
- Cheng Wu (程武, Trình Võ) — Advisor who served under Xiahou Mao and attempted to assist him during the defense against Zhao Yun at Fengming Mountain in 228 AD.
- Han De (韩德, Hàn Đức) — General who served as Xiahou Mao’s vanguard; he and his four sons were killed by Zhao Yun during the 228 AD campaign.
- Ma Zun (马遵, Mã Tuân) — Grand Administrator of Tianshui who retreated alongside Xiahou Mao into the Qiang territories following the collapse of the western defenses.
Enemies
- Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮, Gia Cát Lượng) — Prime Minister of Shu Han whose psychological warfare and tactical maneuvers in 228 AD led to the total collapse of Xiahou Mao’s military reputation.
- Zhao Yun (赵云, Triệu Vân) — Veteran Shu general who inflicted a crushing defeat on Xiahou Mao’s forces at Fengming Mountain in 228 AD.
- Jiang Wei (姜维, Khương Duy) — A Wei officer whom Xiahou Mao falsely accused of treason in 228 AD, causing him to defect to Shu Han.
- Wei Yan (魏延, Ngụy Diên) — Shu general who identified Xiahou Mao’s incompetence and cowardice as the primary justification for his proposed Ziwu Valley raid.
Other
- Cao Rui (曹叡, Tào Duệ) — Third Emperor of Cao Wei who appointed Xiahou Mao to command the western defenses and later ordered his arrest before being persuaded to spare him.
- Duan Mo (段默, Đoạn Mặc) — Senior minister whose intervention saved Xiahou Mao from execution after he was framed by his family.
In Novel
Chapter 39
- Xiahou Mao (夏侯楙, Hạ Hầu Mậu): Xiahou Mao is appointed to command the Wei forces in Jingzhou and becomes an important target of Zhuge Liang's planning. He lacks the battlefield ability of his father Xiahou Dun and relies heavily on advisers and defensive positions.
Chapter 40
- Xiahou Mao (夏侯楙, Hạ Hầu Mậu): Xiahou Mao faces the Shu advance and is repeatedly manipulated by Zhuge Liang's stratagems. His inability to understand the situation causes Wei's position to deteriorate, and he eventually abandons the area and flees.
In History
Summary
- Xiahou Mao (夏侯楙, Hạ Hầu Mậu), courtesy name Zihui (子休), was a member of the Xiahou clan and the son of Xiahou Dun.
- He was also connected to the imperial Cao family through marriage and held important military and administrative appointments.
Period I — Wei Service
- Xiahou Mao succeeded to his father's position and became associated with the defense of Chang'an and the western territories.
- His historical reputation was that of a court-connected official rather than a battlefield commander of exceptional ability.
Historical Record
- Xiahou Mao was a historical figure. The novel's portrayal of him as a cowardly commander who loses Chang'an to Zhuge Liang should not be treated as a straightforward historical account.
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