Gongjin's Campaign Memorials
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Gongjin's Campaign Memorials

Cao Cao 曹操 was a warlord in China whose conquests united most of the land north of the Yangzi river, nominally for the Han dynasty. His domestic and military abilities laid the foundations for his son, Cao Pi, to establish Wei. Aside from being a warlord, Cao Cao was also an author of many war journals and was skilled in poetry.

Biography[]

Early years[]

Cao Cao was born the son of Cao Song, the adopted son of eunuch Cao Teng, the ‘Great Prolonger of Autumn’ and Regular Palace Attendant. Cao Cao claimed descent from Cao Can, former Han Chancellor of the State.[1] Cao Cao was from a noble family and engaged himself in gentry pursuits like the flying of hawks and running of dogs.[2] However, Cao Cao by nature was clever and ingenious and could adapt himself to any situation. However, he often took the law into his own hand or acted casual and frivolous.[1] The famous anecdote of Cao Cao pretending to suffer a stroke is an example. Cao Cao's uncle often tried to restrain Cao Cao's behavior, so the resentful Cao Cao pretended to suffer a stroke, contorting his face to fit one of a victim, when he met the uncle on a road. As Cao Song rushed over after being reported by the uncle, Cao Cao resumed his normal facial expression. A confused Cao Song asked, "Your uncle told me you had a stroke. Was he mistaken?" Cao Cao only replied, "I had no stroke earlier, but I lost the love of my uncle, who accordingly lied. That's all." Cao Song would never believe the uncle afterwards, while Cao Cao continued his usual behavior.[2]

There were few people at time who saw anything remarkable about Cao Cao, and only Grand Commandant Qiao Xuan and He Yong of Nanyang thought him unusual. When He Yong saw Cao Cao, he sighed and said, "The House of Han is falling, yet this is the man who will give peace to the empire." When Qiao Xuan met Cao Cao, he said to him, "The realm under heaven will be thrust into chaos. Without a talented ruler of a generation, there cannot be any aid. But the one who can soothe them is you, sir!"[1] Qiao Xuan then told Cao Cao, "I have seen a many renowned scholars under heaven, yet none can compare to you, sir! You are good at being self-composed. I am old, hence I entrust my wife and children to you." As Qiao Xuan was a famous scholar, Cao Cao was taken more seriously by some.[3] Qiao Xuan also advised Cao Cao to meet Xu Shao, stating, "Sir, you have not yet made a name for yourself. You should contact Xu Zijiang."[4] Xu Shao was fond of assessing people and had an eye for others' qualities. When Cao Cao went to see Xu Shao and asked him: "What type of man am I?" At first, Xu Shao refused to give Cao Cao, but Cao Cao pressed him, so he replied, "Sir, in times of stability, you are a capable minister; in times of turmoil, you are a crafty hero." Cao Cao laughed loudly and left feeling very pleased.[5]

Yellow Turban Rebellion And After[]

Main article: Yellow Turban Rebellion

In 184 A.D. Cao Cao was summoned to reinforce the Han forces. As Chief Commandant of Cavalry, Cao Cao reinforced Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun in the fifth month. Cao Cao combined his force with Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun and the three officers returned to the attack. They completely defeated the rebels and cut off heads by the tens of thousands.

In the eigth month of the year 188 A.D., Cao Cao, who was Gentleman-Consultant at that time, became Colonel Who Arranges the Army.

In 189 A.D. the Regular Palace Attendants' influence in the Imperial Court was planned to be halted by He Jin and Yuan Shao. Cao Cao, however, predicted that their armed means of ending the eunuch influence would surely fail saying:

"There has always been a need for eunuchs, but the rulers of our time should never have granted them such authority and favour as to cause this trouble. To solve the problem, they need only punish the ringleaders; just one jailer would be enough for that. Why such a fuss, calling in soldiers from outside? If he plans to kill them all, the affair will certainly leak out. I can already foresee his failure."

He Jin ended up being beheaded by eunuch ally Qu Mu, but his forces slaughtered the eunuchs and ended up as victorious.

Campaign against Dong Zhuo[]

Main article: Campaign against Dong Zhuo

Despite protest, He Jin had summoned Dong Zhuo to aid him in subduing the eunuchs. After the eunuch massacre Dong Zhuo took power in the Imperial Court and set Emperor Xian on the throne, using him as his puppet.

At one point, Dong Zhuo tried to keep several warlords at peace, by giving them ranks and titles. Yuan Shao was promptly appointed as Grand Administrator of Bohai, with enfeoffment as Marquis of Kang District, Yuan Shu was appointed as General of the Rear. Yuan Shu was afraid of Dong Zhuo and fled east, to Nanyang.

Cao Cao was appointed as Colonel of Resolute Cavalry. However, he too fled to the east following a minor road, in disguise and under a false name. At one point he passed through Zhongmou and the local chief became suspicious of him. He arrested Cao Cao and brought him to the prefect. Fortunately a local recognised him and pleaded on his behalf, as a result o this, Cao Cao was released. When Cao Cao reached Chenliu, he sold all his family property and with the money he enlisted righteous troops, preparing to campaign against Dong Zhuo. This was in the twelfth month at Yiwu.

In the first month of the year 190 A.D., a coalition was formed to oppose Dong Zhuo. This coalition was named the Guandong Coalition and Yuan Shao was appointed as its leader. The members of the coalition spread themselves over several locations east of the passages. Cao Cao, along with Liu Dai, Bao Xin, Yuan Yi, Zhang Miao, Zhang Chao and Qiao Mao, was sent to camp at Suanzao, a location at the south bank of the Yellow River and directly east of the capital.[6]

The Battle of Xingyang[]

When Dong Zhuo heard of the coalition, in the second month, he coerced the Son of Heaven to transfer the capital to Chang’an. He himself remained in Luoyang and razed the palaces and offices of state. At that time Yuan Shao garrisoned Henei; Zhang Miao, Liu Dai, Qiao Mao and Yuan Yi garrisoned Suanzao; Yuan Shu garrisoned Nanyang; Kong Zhou garrisoned Yingchuan and Han Fu was at Ye. Dong Zhuo’s troops were strong, so Yuan Shao and the others dared not approach.[7]

Cao Cao said:

"You have raised loyal troops to destroy oppression and disorder, and a great army is already collected. Why do you hesitate?

At the beginning, if Dong Zhuo had relied on the imperial house, occupied the old capital [Luoyang] and turned east to take the offensive against the rest of the empire, then even though he was acting as a criminal it would still have made things difficult. But now he is burning palaces and houses, and he has kidnapped the Son of Heaven and sent him away. All within the seas is in disorder and no-one knows where to turn. This is the time he is condemned by heaven. One battle and the empire is settled."

Cao Cao then led his army west to occupy Chenggao. Zhang Miao send his general Wei Zi with a division to aid Cao Cao. They advanced to the Bian River at Rongyang where they met Dong Zhuo's officer Xu Rong at Xuantu. Cao Cao's force was badly defeated and Cao Cao himself was struck by an arrow. His horse was wounded under him. Cao Cao's cousin Cao Hong than offered his own horse to Cao Cao, who first refused to accept, but when Cao Hong said: "The empire can do without me, but it cannot do without you.", Cao Cao accepted the horse and Cao Hong followed him on foot. Seeing that Suanzao would be hard to take, Xu Rong withdrew.

Appraisal[]

CaoCao2

Ming dynasty portrait of Cao Cao.

Chen Shou wrote this about Cao Cao. "During the end of the Han, the realm under heaven erupted into anarchy. The heroic and the influential both rose to power. Yuan Shao was like a tiger gazing over four provinces, and his power and prosperity was unmatched. Cao Cao devised cunning plans to control the world, with his authority being modeled by Shen Buhai and Shang Yang's legalism, and he having Han Xin and Bai Qi's stratagems. Officials were given faith, each unique in their abilities. Cao Cao became more strong in his power from his use of strategies, and he would not remember past grievances. In the end, his command was like the Emperor's; he would triumph against the stronger, and his intelligence and wit was most extreme. It may be said he was no ordinary man, but a hero beget by the world."[8]

Family[]

  • Grandparents
    • Cao Teng - grandfather
  • Parents
  • Wives/Relationships
    • Lady Bian
    • Lady Liu
    • Lady Huan
    • Lady Du
    • Lady Qin
    • Lady Yin
  • Sons with Lady Bian
  • Sons with Lady Liu
  • Sons with Lady Huan
    • Cao Chong
    • Cao Ju
    • Cao Yu
  • Sons with Lady Du
    • Cao Lin
    • Cao Gun
  • Sons with Lady Qin
    • Cao Xuan
    • Cao Jun
  • Son with Lady Yin
    • Cao Ju
  • Sons with other consorts
    • Cao Gan
    • Cao Shan
    • Cao Biao
    • Cao Qin
    • Cao Cheng
    • Cao Zheng
    • Cao Jing
    • Cao Jun
    • Cao Ji
    • Cao Hui
    • Cao Mao
  • Brother
    • Cao De
  • Cousins
  • Nephews
    • Cao Anmin
    • Cao Xiu - distant nephew
    • Cao Zheng - distant nephew

Art gallery preview[]

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Notes[]

Fact vs. Fiction[]
  • Historically, Cao Cao never offered the Seven Star Prescious Sword to Dong Zhuo.
    read about this fictional event here.
  • Historically, Cao Cao was not arrested and released by Chen Gong after failing to assassinate Dong Zhuo.
    read about this fictional event here.
  • Historically, Cao Cao was, indirectly, responsible for Wen Chou's death. Wen Chou was not slain by Guan Yu.
    read about this fictional event here.
  • Historically, Cao Cao had 25 sons, not 5 as mentioned in the novel.
  • There are no historical sources saying Cao Cao is a nephew of the Xiahou's.
Sources[]
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 太祖少機警,有權數,而任俠放蕩,不治行業,故世人未之奇也;惟梁國橋玄、南陽何顒異焉。玄謂太祖曰:「天下將亂,非命世之才不能濟也,能安之者,其在君乎!」年二十,舉孝廉為郎,除洛陽北部尉,遷頓丘令,徵拜議郎。Chen Shou. "Annals of Cao Cao" in the Records of the Three Kingdoms
  2. 2.0 2.1 《曹瞞傳》云:太祖少好飛鷹走狗,遊蕩無度,其叔父數言之於嵩。太祖患之,後逢叔父於路,乃陽敗面喎口;叔父怪而問其故,太祖曰:「卒中惡風。」叔父以告嵩。嵩驚愕,呼太祖,太祖口貌如故。嵩問曰:「叔父言汝中風,已差乎?」太祖曰:「初不中風,但失愛於叔父,故見罔耳。」嵩乃疑焉。自後叔父有所告,嵩終不復信,太祖於是益得肆意矣。Chen Shou, Pei Songzhi. "Annals of Cao Cao" in the Annotations to the Records of the Three Kingdoms
  3. 《魏書》曰:太尉橋玄,世名知人,覩太祖而異之,曰:「吾見天下名士多矣,未有若君者也!君善自持。吾老矣!願以妻子為託。」由是聲名益重。Chen Shou, Pei Songzhi. "Annals of Cao Cao" in the Annotations to the Records of the Three Kingdoms
  4. 《世語》曰:玄謂太祖曰:「君未有名,可交許子將。」太祖乃造子將,子將納焉,由是知名。Chen Shou, Pei Songzhi. "Annals of Cao Cao" in the Annotations to the Records of the Three Kingdoms
  5. 孫盛《異同雜語》云:太祖甞私入中常侍張讓室,讓覺之;乃舞手戟於庭,踰垣而出。才武絕人,莫之能害。博覽群書,特好兵法,抄集諸家兵法,名曰接要,又注孫武十三篇,皆傳於世。甞問許子將:「我何如人?」子將不荅。固問之,子將曰:「子治世之能臣,亂世之姦雄。」太祖大笑。Chen Shou, Pei Songzhi. "Annals of Cao Cao" in the Annotations to the Records of the Three Kingdoms
  6. check the article about the Guandong Coalition for info and sources.
  7. Jack Yuan from KMA.
  8. SGZ: Biography of Cao Cao 『評曰:漢末,天下大亂,雄豪並起,而袁紹虎眎四州,彊盛莫敵。太祖運籌演謀,鞭撻宇內,擥申、商之法術,該韓、白之奇策,官方授材,各因其器,矯情任筭,不念舊惡,終能總御皇機,克成洪業者,惟其明略最優也。抑可謂非常之人,超世之傑矣。』
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