Xiahou Shang (died May or June 226),[1] courtesy name Boren, was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
In 211,[6] after Cao Pi was appointed General of the Household for All Purposes (五官中郎將) in the Han imperial court, Xiahou Shang served as a wenxue (文學; an officer of writings) under him.
During this time, Xiahou Shang served as an army adviser (參軍) under Cao Zhang and assisted him in defeating the Wuchendi.
As a reward for Xiahou Shang's contributions, Cao Pi also enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Pingling Village (平陵亭侯).
Xiahou Shang was also appointed as General Who Attacks the South (征南將軍) and Inspector (刺史) of Jing Province, and put in charge of supervising military affairs in the southern frontiers of Wei.
He ordered Xiahou Shang, Cao Zhen and others to lead troops to attack Jiangling (江陵; present-day Jiangling County, Hubei), which was defended by the Wu general Zhu Ran, while he was stationed at Wan (宛; in present-day Nanyang, Henan) to provide backup.
That night, Xiahou Shang ordered some 10,000 troops to split up and board smaller boats to cross the river and launch a stealth attack on Zhuge Jin on both land and water.
As a reward for Xiahou Shang's contributions during the campaign, Cao Pi awarded him an additional 600 taxable households in his marquisate, bringing the total number up to 1,900.
[20] When Xiahou Shang assumed governorship of (northern) Jing Province, the lands were barren and infrastructure was in ruins after years of war.
Besides, there were various non-Han Chinese tribes living around Jing Province who occasionally started uprisings and caused trouble for the regional government.
After conquering Shangyong Commandery (上庸郡; around present-day Zhushan County, Hubei) in 221, Xiahou Shang used it as a bridge to establish contact with the non-Han Chinese tribes living in the lands 700 li to the west and succeeded in pacifying them and gaining their support.
[25] In 225, when Xiahou Shang became critically ill, he had to be sent back to the Wei imperial capital, Luoyang, from his post in Jing Province.
Cao Pi honoured him with the posthumous title "Marquis Dao" (悼侯)[26] and wrote an official eulogy for him: "(Xiahou) Shang had been a close companion to me since my childhood.
"[27] Xiahou Shang married Cao Zhen's younger sister, whose personal name is unknown; she was referred to as the Lady of Deyang District (德陽鄉主).