夏侯玄
Some years later, Xiahou Xuan was promoted to General Who Attacks the West () and was tasked with overseeing military affairs in Yong and Liang provinces. He selected his friend Li Sheng to be his Chief Clerk (). Following Li Sheng's advice, Xiahou Xuan and Cao Shuang launched a military campaign against Wei's rival state, Shu Han. However, they ended up suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Shu forces at the Battle of Xingshi when their supply lines became disrupted. Xiahou Xuan and Cao Shuang also suffered great damage to their personal reputations for deciding to launch this disastrous campaign in the first place.