生平

輔助庾翼

毛穆之果敢堅毅，有父親毛寶之風。被安西將軍庾翼任用為參軍。毛寶於咸康五年（339年）戰死後，　毛穆之承襲州陵侯爵位。建元二年（344年），晉康帝與庾冰相繼逝世，庾翼回鎮夏口並接管庾冰的部眾，留長子庾方之為建武將軍，代其守襄陽。因庾方之年輕，庾翼要選可信賴的將領輔助他，如此就選了毛穆之為建武司馬。永和元年（345年）庾翼死後，將領幹瓚及戴羲等作亂，毛穆之與江虨及朱燾聯手平定。同年朝廷以桓溫接任荊州刺史，毛穆之又任其參軍。

參與北伐

永和三年（347年），桓溫攻滅成漢，毛穆之亦有隨軍。不久遷任揚武將軍、穎川太守。永和十二年（356年），隨桓溫北伐，再次收復洛陽。同年桓溫表謝尚為都督司州諸軍事，駐鎮洛陽，不久班師回荊州，留毛穆之等人留守守衞洛陽並等待謝尚。昇平初年遷督寧州諸軍事、揚威將軍、寧州刺史。昇平四年，桓溫被封為南郡公，因毛穆之受封的州陵縣在南郡，故此改封為建安侯，並再任桓溫的參軍，加冠軍將軍。

太和四年（369年），桓溫再度北伐，進攻前燕，毛穆之監察鑿開河道的工程，成功引水令桓溫水軍進入黃河。同年桓溫撤退，留毛穆之以本官督東燕四郡軍事，領東燕太守。同年豫州刺史袁真以壽春叛歸前燕，毛穆之以冠軍將軍領淮南郡太守，守歷陽。太和六年（371年），桓溫攻陷壽春，袁真餘眾潰散，毛穆之則督揚州之江西軍事，領陳郡太守以作安撫。及後改督揚州之義成、荊州五郡、雍州之京兆軍事、襄陽、義成、河南三郡太守。不久進領梁州刺史。但不久就因病解職，以冠軍將軍身份徵還。

助守國境

寧康元年（373年），前秦進攻蜀地，梁州刺史楊亮及益州刺史周仲孫都不能抵抗前秦的攻勢，各自都棄州退走，周仲孫亦因益州失守而被免官。桓沖於是讓毛穆之假節督梁州之三郡軍事、右將軍、西蠻校尉、益州刺史、領建平太守，戍守巴郡。毛穆之隨後便與兒子毛球領兵攻伐前秦，但到巴西郡時就因缺糧而退屯巴東郡。太元二年（377年）獲桓豁表監沔北軍事。

太元三年（378年），前秦將領彭超進攻彭城，毛穆之假節監江北軍事，鎮守廣陵，及後即遷宣城內史，鎮守姑孰，領五萬兵在當地抵禦前秦軍。太元四年（379年），兗州刺史謝玄率兵救援彭城，成功令留守彭城的沛郡太守戴逯安全撤出彭城，然而彭城還是被前秦奪去。毛穆之在謝玄出兵後受詔改受荊州刺史桓沖節度，桓沖於是命毛穆之遊軍沔中，支援被困於襄陽的朱序。但同月襄陽陷落，朱序被俘。毛穆之又領三萬兵進攻巴郡，派趙福、袁虞率水軍沿江西上，以圖救援被圍於魏興的吉挹，但趙福等人被前秦擊敗，毛穆之退屯巴東郡，而魏興後亦被前秦所攻陷。

毛穆之及後病死，朝廷追贈中軍將軍，諡號為烈。

子女

• 毛珍，毛穆之子，官至天門太守。

• 毛璩，毛穆之子，毛穆之諸子中最為知名，官至益州刺史，後被譙縱所殺。

• 毛球，毛穆之子，梓潼太守。

• 毛璠，毛穆之子。

• 毛瑾，毛穆之子，官至梁秦二州刺史，後被譙縱所殺。

• 毛瑗，毛穆之子，官至寧州刺史，後被譙縱所殺。

註釋

Service under Yu Yi and Huan Wen

Mao Muzhi's father was Mao Bao, a distinguished general. His given name underwent many changes in his later years. First, he changed his given name to his style name Xianzu (憲祖) in 361 due to taboo as Emperor Ai of Jin's wife, was named Wang Muzhi. As Huan Wen rose to power and slowly took control of the state, Mao went through another name change due to taboo again, as Huan Wen's mother's given name was 'Xian (憲)'. This time, he used his childhood name, 'Husheng (虎生)'

Mao Muzhi first served in the staff of Yu Yi, who at the time was busy preparing invasions against Cheng Han and Later Zhao. His brother Yu Bing died in 344, and with no one else in the Yu clan to handle home affairs, Yu Yi chose his son Yu Fangzhi (庾方之) to guard Xiangyang. However, Fangzhi was too young, so Yu Yi entrusted Muzhi, to be Fangzhi's marshal. Yu Yi died the following year in 345 from an ulcer, which led to many among his staff led by Gan Zan (干瓚) to mutiny. Mao Muzhi, Yuan Zhen, Jiang Bin (江虨) and Zhu Dao (朱燾) joined forces and put down Gan Zan's rebellion.

After the death of Yu Yi, Mao Muzhi went to serve Huan Wen, who in 345 became Inspector of Jingzhou. Mao Muzhi participated in Huan's second northern expedition in 356 serving as Administrator of Yingchuan. After Huan Wen captured Luoyang, Mao Muzhi was left to guard Luoyang while they wait for Xie Shang's arrival.

In 369, Mao Muzhi, now Mao Husheng, was involved in Huan Wen's third northern expedition to destroy Former Yan. Husheng was serving as Huan Wen's Champion General and was tasked in building a canal at Juye to allow water to flow from the Wen River to the Qing River. After Huan Wen was badly defeated at Fangtou, Husheng was appointed Chief Controller of four commandaries, and as Administrator of Eastern Yan. He was further made Administrator of Huainan to defend Liyang when Yuan Zhen's Rebellion broke out shortly after the defeat at Fangtou.

After Huan Wen deposed Emperor Fei in 371, Mao Husheng was made Chief Controller in Jingzhou north of the Mian River and in Yizheng in Yangzhou. His brother, Mao Anzhi (毛安之) also played an important role in Huan Wen's government, tasked in defending the palace with his guards.

Defense against Former Qin

Huan Wen died in 373, leaving behind a state dominated by his family but also one that was facing a serious threat from Former Qin. Mao Husheng was made the new Inspector of Yizhou in 373 after the province fell to Former Qin forces. Mao Husheng and his son Mao Qiu (毛球) campaigned against Qin but did not have enough supply and had to abandon the campaign after reaching Baxi (巴西; around present-day Langzhong).

In 378, the Jin general Peng Chao attacked Pengcheng. Mao Husheng camped at Gushu (姑孰; present-day Dangtu County, Anhui) to oppose a potential attack, although the situation was relieved the following year as Xie Xuan drove out Peng Chao. Mao Husheng's last military activity was in 379, attacking Bazhong to save Weixing (魏興; around present-day Ankang, Shaanxi). However, he had to retreat to Badong as forces led by his ally Zhao Fu (趙福) were badly defeated by Qin. There was an attempt by the Shu native Li Wu (李烏) to help Husheng by attacking Chengdu, but he too was defeated.

Mao Husheng died not long after this from illness. For his long service, Husheng was posthumously named 'Lie' and appointed as General of the Central Army.