CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Hou Cheng侯成
A general under Lü Bu, who rebelled after being punished and stole horses to offer to Cao Cao.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 2
- RELATION RECORDS
- 4
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Hou Cheng, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
1 figure · 1 record＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Lu Bu—Hou Chengsubordinate general
02CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
2 figures · 3 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Hou Cheng→Lu Bubetray
Dian Wei→Hou Chengdefeat
3 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
A general under Lü Bu, later defected to Cao Cao; punished for drinking, then defected to Cao Cao.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
A general under Lü Bu, went out to fight Cao Cao, and supported Gao Shun. Later rebelled after being punished and stole horses to offer to Cao Cao.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend4 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
2 relations2 verified quotations- Hou Cheng→ betray →Lu Bu
- Dian Wei→ defeat →Hou Cheng
Verified original text · 2
侯成暗至马院，盗了那匹赤免马，飞奔东门来。
betray · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 19
操即使典韦出马，直取侯成。侯成抵敌不过，回马望城中走。
defeat · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 12
- Official history2 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
3 relations3 verified quotations- Hou Cheng→ betray →Lu Bu
- Lu Bu→ punish →Hou Cheng
- Lu Bu→ subordinate general →Hou Cheng
Verified original text · 3
由是自疑，会太祖围下邳，成遂领众降
rebel leave · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布臧洪传
布禁酒，卿酿酒
punish · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布臧洪传
1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
The novel fictionalizes the episode of Hou Cheng stealing Lü Bu's Red Hare horse, which is not mentioned in the official history.
In Chapter 19 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is described that when Hou Cheng rebelled against Lü Bu, "that night Hou Cheng secretly went to the stable, stole the Red Hare horse, and galloped to the East Gate," presenting the Red Hare horse to Cao Cao. However, in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Lü Bu, Zhang Miao, and Zang Hong, it is only recorded that "his generals Hou Cheng, Song Xian, and Wei Xu bound Chen Gong and led their troops to surrender," with no mention of the theft of the Red Hare horse.
Relationship network
- betrayHou Cheng → Lu Buhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布臧洪传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 19
Original text (2)
侯成暗至马院，盗了那匹赤免马，飞奔东门来。
由是自疑，会太祖围下邳，成遂领众降
Original relation: rebel leave · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·吕布臧洪传
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
操即使典韦出马，直取侯成。侯成抵敌不过，回马望城中走。