Sheng Xian - Biography

Biography

Sheng was at one point the Administrator of Wu Commandery (吳郡, roughly modern Suzhou, Jiangsu), when he recommended Gao Dai (高岱) for government service. Around 193, when Xu Gong took over Wu Commandery by force, Gao took Sheng and hid him at the home of a military officer, Xu Zhao (許昭). To dissuade Xu Gong from further prosecution, Gao Dai went to Xu Province to seek the help of Tao Qian. Tao showed nominal support for their cause, and Xu Gong did not pursue them any further.

When Sun Ce was conquering the commanderies near the region later in 199, Cheng Pu suggested attacking Xu Zhao, but Sun, citing Xu Zhao's giving sanctuary to Sheng and Yan Baihu as indication of Xu Zhao's faithfulness, did not do so. Nonetheless, Sun Ce saw Sheng's reputation as a threat to his own authority, and Sheng's life was in jeopardy. Around 202, Sheng's close friend Kong Rong persuaded Cao Cao to give Sheng some imperial position as protection. Cao Cao gave Sheng the rank of Commandants of Cavalry (騎都尉), but before the commission arrived, Sheng was killed by Sun Ce's successor, Sun Quan.

As a result of Sheng's execution, two of his followers, Dai Yuan (戴員) and Gui Lan (媯覽), fled Sun Quan's court and killed Sun Yi and Sun He (孫河), members of Sun Quan's clan. They planned to defect to Cao Cao by summoning Liu Fu. However, Sun Yi's widow devised a plan to trap the two, and the rebels were subsequently killed.

Sheng was survived by a son, Sheng Kuang (盛匡); he fled to Cao Cao and was given a junior military office there.

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