Wang Hou 王垕

In Chapter 17 of the Romance, Yuan Shu, hearing that Cao Cao, Lü Bu, Liu Bei and Sun Ce are coming from all sides to attack Shouchun, follows the advice of Yang Dajiang, divides 100,000 troops among the four men Li Feng, Yue Jiu, Liang Gang and Chen Ji to hold Shouchun fast, and crosses the Huai River. Cao Cao's 170,000 troops consume an enormous amount of grain every day, but the commanderies, hit by famine and drought, cannot supply it, and Li Feng and the others shut the gates and do not come out. After a standoff of more than a month the grain is almost gone, and Cao Cao writes to Sun Ce and borrows 100,000 hu of rice, but it is not enough to hand out. Romance, Ch. 17 §24–26

When Wang Hou, the granary officer under the grain officer Ren Jun, comes in and asks what is to be done since the soldiers are many and the grain is little, Cao Cao tells him to hand out rations with a small measure to get through the emergency for the time being. When Wang Hou asks what to do if the soldiers complain, Cao Cao says that he has a plan of his own, and Wang Hou, following his orders, hands out rations with a small measure. When Cao Cao secretly has men listen in on each camp, there is no one who does not complain, and all say that the Chancellor is cheating the troops. Romance, Ch. 17 §26–27

Cao Cao secretly calls Wang Hou in and tells him that he wants to borrow something from him to quiet the troops' feelings, and that he must not begrudge it; when Wang Hou asks what it is, he answers that he means to borrow his head to show the troops. When Wang Hou, greatly alarmed, says that he truly is innocent, Cao Cao says that he too knows he is innocent, but that if he does not kill him the troops will surely mutiny, and tells him not to worry, for after his death he himself will look after his wife and children. Romance, Ch. 17 §27–28

As Wang Hou is about to speak again, Cao Cao has already called the executioners, who drag him out of the gate and behead him with a single stroke; his head is hung on a tall pole and a notice is posted announcing that, because Wang Hou deliberately used a small measure to steal the government's grain, he has been dealt with according to military law. At this the troops' resentment at last subsides, and the next day Cao Cao issues an order that if the city is not broken within three days, all will be beheaded, and at last takes the city of Shouchun. Romance, Ch. 17 §28–30