Hou Cheng

Hou Cheng 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 by Sima Biao, Hou Cheng once sent a man to graze a band of fifteen horses outside the city. But the man drove the horse towards Xiaopei, 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.