15 Facts About Cheng Xia

Cheng Xia was a Chinese minister of Later Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.

Cheng Xia's sister, Consort Cheng, was a concubine of Shi Le, founding emperor of Later Zhao and the mother to the Crown Prince Shi Hong.

Cheng Xia was strong opposition to Shi Le's powerful nephew, Shi Hu, who he feared would usurp the throne once Shi Le passes.

Cheng Xia joined Shi Le while the latter was raising an army in modern Hebei.

Cheng Xia's sister was Consort Cheng who married Shi Le and gave birth to Shi Le's soon-to-be heir, Shi Hong.

Cheng Xia's first known positions in Shi Le's administration was the Prefect of Changle and Marshal of the Right.

In 319, Cheng Xia was one of many who urged Shi Le to claim the imperial title, although this was rejected.

Cheng Xia replaced him as the new Chief Clerk of the Right.

Cheng Xia advised Shi Le in 326 to garrison troops in the palaces in Ye.

Cheng Xia violently retaliated by having his soldiers dressed up as bandits to raid Cheng Xia's household, where they violated the women inside and stole their clothes.

Appointments were handed out, with Cheng Xia becoming Supervisor of the Right and acting Supervisor of the Masters of Writing.

Cheng Xia's advice was backed by the general Yao Yizhong, and Shi Le eventually agreed.

Cheng Xia invited Zu Yue and his family to a banquet where Shi Le had them arrested and later executed.

However, Shi Le dismissed these concerns as Cheng Xia being worried about not having sole control over Hong.

An emotional Cheng Xia attempted to rebuke Shi Le's presumptions of him but was once more ignored.