Li Sheng

Historical Record

Historical records of Li Sheng (styled Gongzhao) are extremely scarce; the official histories contain almost no detailed description of his life or deeds. As a result, we cannot construct his specific experiences, offices, or personal traits from the historical sources. In the official histories such as the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Li Sheng left no verifiable independent biography or notable record, leaving his true historical countenance blurred and unclear. ^c:2475

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Li Sheng (styled Gongzhao), as an important member of Cao Shuang's faction, is given a rather vivid image. On his first appearance, he is listed as one of the five hundred retainers under Cao Shuang, named together with He Yan, Deng Yang, Ding Mi, Bi Gui, and others as men who "esteemed flashy vanity" ^c:2475. This marks him in the novel as a literatus attached to the powerful and pursuing empty fame.

In the novel, Li Sheng's most crucial role comes when the power struggle between Cao Shuang and Sima Yi reached its height. Cao Shuang paid no heed to the way he wielded great power and indulged in outings and hunts, and even the remonstrances of his younger brother Cao Xi and the Minister of Agriculture Huan Fan had no effect. At this point, to probe Sima Yi's true state, Cao Shuang specially appointed Li Sheng as Inspector of Jing Province and sent him to Sima Yi's residence to take his leave—in fact to spy out the military situation ^c:12325.

Li Sheng went by command to Sima Yi's residence and saw Sima Yi, who lay bedridden feigning illness. To deceive Cao Shuang, Sima Yi deliberately put on the appearance of being gravely ill, deaf, and addled in mind. With his hair loose and clutching his quilt, supported by maidservants, he answered Li Sheng's greetings at cross purposes, even hearing "Jing Province" as "Bing Province" and mishearing "Qing Province" as somewhere else. Noticing that Sima Yi was deaf, Li Sheng asked for paper and brush to write down his words of farewell. Even after reading them, Sima Yi still feigned bewilderment, pointing to his mouth in gesture; when drinking broth, the liquid spilled all over his garments, and choking, he entrusted Li Sheng with the care of his two sons, then, having spoken, fell back onto the bed, his voice hoarse and his breath gasping ^c:12325.

When Li Sheng returned to Cao Shuang, he reported in detail the state of Sima Yi's grave and dying illness, which made Cao Shuang overjoyed, thinking "if this old man dies, I shall have nothing to worry about!" ^c:12325 Cao Shuang thereupon relaxed his guard, laying the groundwork for Sima Yi to launch the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs. In the novel, Li Sheng's act, though done by command, indirectly brought about the downfall of Cao Shuang's faction, and also highlighted his lack of insight, as a confidant of Cao Shuang, into Sima Yi's disguise.

Key Relationships

* Member of Cao Shuang's faction: Li Sheng was one of Cao Shuang's five hundred retainers, in the company of men who "esteemed flashy vanity" such as He Yan and Deng Yang, and an important part of Cao Shuang's faction ^c:2475. (novel only)
* Cao Shuang's confidant and subordinate: Li Sheng took orders directly from Cao Shuang and was entrusted by him with the important task of probing Sima Yi's true state. His report to Cao Shuang on Sima Yi's "illness" directly influenced Cao Shuang's judgment ^c:12325. (novel only)
* Sima Yi's adversary: Although Li Sheng acted by command, as Cao Shuang's representative he stood in political opposition to Sima Yi. He was deceived by Sima Yi's feigned illness and became one link in Sima Yi's scheme ^c:12325. (novel only)

Iconic Scenes

* Visiting the ailing Sima Yi: By Cao Shuang's command, Li Sheng went to Sima Yi's residence to inquire after his "illness." In this scene, Sima Yi, by performing the part of a man deaf, mute, and addled in mind, successfully deceived Li Sheng into believing he was at death's door. Li Sheng carried this false impression back to Cao Shuang, directly causing Cao Shuang to relax his guard against Sima Yi and laying the groundwork for the later Incident at the Gaoping Tombs. This scene fully displays Sima Yi's deep cunning and Li Sheng's relative simplicity, and is one of the most dramatically charged moments in Romance of the Three Kingdoms ^c:12325. (novel only)