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Hu Mao 狐毛 was a nobleman in the state of Jin 晉 during the Spring and Autumn period 春秋 (770-5th cent. BCE). He was a son of grand master (dafu 大夫) Hu Tu 狐突, who was the father-in-law of Prince Chong'er 重耳, the eventual Duke Wen of Jin 晉文公 (r. 636-628).
Hu Mao accompanied Prince Chong'er during his nineteen years of exile in different states of the Zhou empire 周 (11th cent.-221 BCE), and helped him to mount the throne after long years of succession struggle. At that time Prince Chong'er lived in the state of Qin 秦 and was supported by Duke Mu of Qin 秦穆公 (r. 659-621).
According to one source, Hu Mao and Xian Zhen 先軫 received order of Duke Huai of Jin 晉懷公 (r. 637) to impede the Qin contingent escorting Prince Chong'er to enter the territory of Jin, yet Hu refused to fight against his brother-in-law. In 633 he was therefore recommended to the Duke by his brother Hu Yan 狐偃 and was appointed general of the Upper Army (shangjun 上軍). He took part in the successful battle of Chengpu 城濮 against Chu 楚, where he feigned a retreat to attack Chu from the flank.