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Li Sheng 李勝

Jul 13, 2013 © Ulrich Theobald

Li Sheng 李勝 (died 249 CE), courtesy name Zhaogong 昭公, was a high official of the empire of Wei 曹魏 (220-265), one of the Three Kingdoms 三國 (220-280).

He was a son of the court gentleman for consultation (yilang 議郎) Li Xiu 李休 and was befriended with Prince Cao Shuang 曹爽 who was regent for the child emperor Cao Fang 曹芳 (r. 239-254).

The Prince made Li Sheng magistrate (ling 令) of Luoyang 洛陽 and later aide 長史 of Xiahou Xuan 夏侯玄 who was General Conquering the West (zhengxi jiangjun 征西將軍). As a very trusted person, Li Sheng was later promoted to governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Xingyang 滎陽, the metropolitan magistrate (yin 尹) of Henan 河南, and then regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Jingzhou 荊州.

During these years Cao Shuang's position was challenged by general Sima Yi 司馬懿 who tactically planned to get rid of his rival. Feigning sickness and senility Sima Yi was able to deceive Li Sheng who had been entrusted to check out the general's condition. Yet in 249, when Cao Shuang was out of the capital, Sima Yi invaded Luoyang and killed Cao Shuang and his followers. Li Sheng was executed, and his family extinguished. Sima Yi's grandson Sima Yan 炎 (Emperor Wu of the Jin 晉武帝, r. 265-289) would eventually overthrow the Wei and found the Jin dynasty 晉 (265-420).

Source:
Zhang Shunhui 張舜徽, ed. (1992). Sanguozhi cidian 三國志辭典 (Jinan: Shandong jiaoyu chubanshe), 179.