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Cao Zhen
Military general of Cao Wei
Born 185
Died 231
Names
Simplified Chinese 曹真
Traditional Chinese 曹真
Pinyin Cáo Zhēn
Wade-Giles Ts'ao Chen
Courtesy name Zidan (子丹)
Posthumous name Marquis Yuan (元侯)

Cao Zhen (曹真，185 – 231) was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao and the succeeding rulers of Cao Wei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. Cao Wei ( was one of the empires that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period Events By place Roman Empire Pertinax quells the mutiny of the British Roman legions Perennis his family Events By Places Roman Empire Accompanied by his mother Julia Mamaea, Severus Alexander campaigns against the Persians Personal Names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use Wade-Giles (ˌweɪdˈʤaɪlz) sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization system (phonetic notation and Transcription) for the Mandarin A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name ( zì) is a given name to be used later in life A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty nobles and sometimes others in some cultures after the person's death Events By place Roman Empire Pertinax quells the mutiny of the British Roman legions Perennis his family Events By Places Roman Empire Accompanied by his mother Julia Mamaea, Severus Alexander campaigns against the Persians Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the Cao Wei ( was one of the empires that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. The Three Kingdoms period ( is a period in the History of China, part of an era of disunity called the Six Dynasties following immediately the loss of China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National He was also a distant nephew of Cao Cao, though the latter treated him like a son. Cao Zhen participated in many campaigns against the forces of Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Liu Bei (161– June 21 223) styled Xuándé (玄徳 was a general warlord and later the founding emperor of Shu Han during the Sun Quan ( (182 - 252 son of Sun Jian, courtesy name Zhòngmóu (仲謀 formally Emperor Da of (Eastern Wu was the founder of Eastern Wu From 227 onwards, he was very much involved with resisting the Northern Expeditions led by Zhuge Liang. Events By Place Europe Ireland — The rule of High King Cormac mac Airt begins (approximate Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions (諸葛亮北伐 were a series of five military campaigns launched by the state of Shu against the northern state of Wei from A Zhuge Liang (181–234 was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China

Cao Zhen was well known for his bravery. The Records of Three Kingdoms recorded a hunting trip during which the young Cao Zhen was chased by a tiger. The Records of Three Kingdoms ( is the official and authoritative historical text on the period of Three Kingdoms covering from 189 to 280, Turning around, he fired an arrow and felled the beast with one shot.

Cao Zhen was also respected among his subjects and troops for his humility and generosity. During the excursions, Cao Zhen would share the labor of his men. When the treasury ran short of the wages due, he would always make it up with his own wealth.

Contents

Life

According to the Records of Three Kingdoms, Cao Zhen was a distant nephew of Cao Cao. In 190, when Cao Cao was raising an army to join the coalition against Dong Zhuo, the tyrannical warlord who held Emperor Xian hostage, Cao Zhen's father Cao Shao heeded the call but was killed before he could join Cao Cao. Events By Place Roman Empire A part of Rome burns and Emperor Commodus orders the city to be rebuilt under the name The Campaign against Dong Zhuo (董卓討伐戰 in 190 was initiated by a coalition of regional officials hoping to end Chancellor Dong Zhuo 's influence Dong Zhuo (died May 22, 192) was a powerful warlord during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. Emperor Xian of Han ( Traditional 漢獻帝 Simplified 汉献帝 Pinyin Hàn Xiàn dì, Wade-Giles Han Hsien-ti;

The Brief History of Wei (魏略) by Yu Huan, however, says Cao Zhen was originally surnamed Qin (秦). Yu Huan (fl 3rd century) was a Chinese Scholar and Author from the Cao Wei. Cao Zhen's father Qin Bonan had long been friends with Cao Cao. In 195, as Cao Cao was fleeing from rebels, he hid in the Qin's. Events By Place Roman Empire Emperor Septimius Severus has the Senate deify Commodus in an attempt to gain favor with When rebels asked for the whereabouts of Cao Cao, whom they did not recognize by face, Qin Bonan claimed to be the man and was slain.

Either way, Cao Cao took in the young Cao Zhen, whom he raised as his own son. He had Cao Zhen reside with his future successor Cao Pi and another distant nephew Cao Xiu. Cao Pi (曹丕 187 - June 29, 226) formally Emperor Wen of (Cao Wei (曹魏文帝 Courtesy name Zihuan (子桓 was Cao Xiu (174 &ndash 228 was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao and succeeding rulers of the Kingdom of Wei during the late Eastern Han Impressed with Cao Zhen's bravery, Cao Cao also gave him a commanding post in the elite Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.

Henceforth Cao Zhen participated in campaigns against rebels and Liu Bei. In 215, after the veteran Wei general Xiahou Yuan was defeated and killed in the Battle of Mount Dingjun, Cao Zhen was charged with overseeing the retake of Yangping Pass (阳平关) by forces led by Xu Huang. Events By Place Roman Empire Caracalla 's troops massacre the population of Alexandria Egypt. Xiahou Yuan (? &ndash 219 was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of The Battle of Mount Dingjun (定軍山之戰 took place in year 219 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of China. Xu Huang (169 &ndash 227 was a prominent military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao and his successor Cao Pi during the late Eastern Han Dynasty

After Cao Pi succeeded Cao Cao in 220, Cao Zhen was made General who Guards the West (镇西将军) and charged with the defense of Yongzhou (雍州) and Liangzhou (凉州). Events By Place Roman Empire The Goths invade Asia Minor and the Balkans. He was recalled to the capital Luoyang in 222 and promoted to Supreme General of the Forward Army (上军大将军) and given command of all domestic and foreign military affairs. Luoyang ( is a Prefecture-level city in western Henan province, People's Republic of China. Events By Place Roman Empire March 11 — Elagabalus is assassinated along with his mother Julia Soemias by legionnaires during In the same year, Cao Zhen, together with Xiahou Shang, personally led a force against Sun Quan at Jiangling. Xiahou Shang (185? - 225 was a nephew of the Wei officer Xiahou Yuan during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient After an initial victory, the force had to withdraw due to an epidemic outbreak.

In 227, Cao Rui succeeded the throne of Cao Wei and Cao Zhen was further promoted to Supreme General (大将军). Cao Rui ( 205 - 22 January 239) was the son of Cao Pi and the second emperor of the Cao Wei. Within months, Zhuge Liang, Chancellor of Shu Han, launched the first of his Northern Expeditions against Cao Wei. Shu Han ( Traditional Chinese: 蜀漢 Pinyin: Shǔ Hàn sometimes known as the Kingdom of Shu (蜀 shǔ was one of the Three Kingdoms competing Cao Zhen placed his defenses at Mei (郿), near Chang'an, and Chencang (陈仓). Chang'an ( is an ancient Capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history. He successfully fended off invasions for the next three years.

In 230, Cao Zhen headed for Luoyang for an audience with the emperor, during which he was made the Minister of Defense. Events By Place Roman Empire Taxes are increased in order to maintain the unity and defense of the Empire He then proposed a shift from defensive to offensive stance, with a multi-pronged plan to attack Hanzhong, primary base of Zhuge Liang's intrusions. Hanzhong ( is a city in Shaanxi province in central China. Population (2004 approx His proposal was accepted and in the same year, Cao Zhen led a force towards Hanzhong taking a route south of the Ziwu Trail (子午道), while Sima Yi led another force west along the Han River. Sima Yi (179 - 251 was a strategist general and politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of China. The Han River ( in China was often referred to as Hànshǔi (漢水 "Han water" in antiquity The two forces were slated to converge at Nanzheng (南郑), southwest of Hanzhong.

The plan was thwarted by heavy rainfall, however, which lasted for more than a month and rendered the mountainous paths untraversable. Cao Zhen subsequently fell sick and returned to Luoyang, where he died in 231. He was given the posthumous title of Marquis Yuan (元侯), literally meaning the first marquis.

Cao Zhen in Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a historical novel by Luo Guanzhong, was a romanticization of the events that occurred before and during the Three Kingdoms era. Romance of the Three Kingdoms ( written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese Historical novel based upon events in Luo Guanzhong ( c 1330?-1400? born Luo Ben (罗本 was a Chinese author attributed with writing Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义 In it Cao Zhen made a late appearance in Chapter 84, where he accompanied the first emperor of the Kingdom of Wei Cao Pi on a campaign against the Kingdom of Wu. Eastern Wu ( Chinese: 東吳 Pinyin: Dōng Wú also known as Sun Wu ( Traditional Chinese: 孫吳 pinyin Sūn Wú refers to a

Cao Zhen's importance rose since Chapter 91 as Zhuge Liang, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Shu, launched his Northern Expeditions against Wei. However, his contributions towards the series of battles and manoeuvres for the next eight chapters were largely played down by the author in an effort to accentuate the resourcefulness of Sima Yi, a Wei advisor. Luo Guanzhong even attributed Cao Zhen's death to his failure to heed Sima Yi's forewarning of a Shu offensive.

In Chapter 100, Sima Yi warned that Shu troops would come within ten days for Mount Qi (祁山), a strategic point which would allow further incursions into the heart of Cao Wei, but Cao Zhen did not believe his words. The two then held a bet. Each leading a half of the army, they guarded the valleys to the east and west of the mountain.

Cao Zhen was only half-hearted in preparing for an assault. Seven days later, however, scouts spotted a small number of Shu soldiers approaching the valley. Cao Zhen then sent his aide Qin Liang (秦良) with 5,000 troops to survey the situation. As Qin Liang was drawn deeper into the valley, his force was ambushed and eradicated by the Shu force. Taking the clothings and armors of the Wei soldiers, Zhuge Liang then had his men disguised and infiltrated into the enemy camp.

Meanwhile, Sima Yi had encountered and defeated a subdivision of the Shu force under Wei Yan but reports from Cao Zhen claimed that no enemies were sighted on the other side. Wei Yan (?&ndash234 was a military general of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of China. Fearing for the worse, Sima Yi drew a force and came for Cao Zhen's camp. True enough, the Shu troops and the infiltrators had launched a surprise attack, sandwiching Cao Zhen's men. Sima Yi arrived in time to ward off the attack, but Cao Zhen felt so insulted by the defeat that he fell ill.

Zhuge Liang then wrote Cao Zhen a letter full of insulting remarks, upon reading which the latter was so filled with rage that he died that very night in camp. Sima Yi then had Cao Zhen's body sent back to the capital Luoyang for burial.

The Cao clan

Direct descendants

Extended family

¹ For a complete list of Cao Cao's sons, see Cao Cao. Cao Shuang (died 249 was the son of Cao Zhen, a famous commander of the Kingdom of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the Cao Pi (曹丕 187 - June 29, 226) formally Emperor Wen of (Cao Wei (曹魏文帝 Courtesy name Zihuan (子桓 was Cao Rui ( 205 - 22 January 239) was the son of Cao Pi and the second emperor of the Cao Wei. For the singer see Cao Fang (singer. Cao Fang, ch 曹芳, py. Cao Mao (242-260 courtesy name Yanshi (彥士 wg yen-shih was an emperor of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. Cao Huan, ch 曹奐, py. cáo hùan, Wg. Ts'ao-Huan (246-303 was a grandson of Cao Cao and last emperor Cao Zhang (189 &ndash 223 was the son of the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of China Cao Zhi (曹植 192 &ndash 232 was a Chinese Poet during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period Cao Xiong was the son of the powerful Warlord Cao Cao, by his second wife Princess Bian, and lived during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Cao Ang (175 &ndash 197 was the eldest son of the powerful Warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period Cao Chong (196 &ndash 208 was a son of the powerful 3rd century Chinese Chancellor Cao Cao. Cao Ren (168 &ndash 223 was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Cao Chun (170 &ndash 210 was a Cavalry general under the powerful Warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Cao Hong (? - 233 was a general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of China. Cao Xiu (174 &ndash 228 was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao and succeeding rulers of the Kingdom of Wei during the late Eastern Han Cao Anmin (? - 197 was the nephew of the powerful Ancient Chinese Warlord Cao Cao. Cáo Cāo ( 曹[[wikt 操|操]] 155 &ndash March 15, 220) was a regional Warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the

References

See also

The Three Kingdoms period ( is a period in the History of China, part of an era of disunity called the Six Dynasties following immediately the loss of The following is a list of personages significant to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions (諸葛亮北伐 were a series of five military campaigns launched by the state of Shu against the northern state of Wei from A The Records of Three Kingdoms ( is the official and authoritative historical text on the period of Three Kingdoms covering from 189 to 280, Romance of the Three Kingdoms ( written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese Historical novel based upon events in
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