Cao Zhang(?) - August 1, 223), Ziziwen. Peiguo County (Bozhou, Anhui) people. During the Three Kingdoms period, he was a general of the Cao Wei clan, the second son born to Emperor Cao Cao of Wei and Empress Wuxuan Bian, the younger brother of Cao Pi of Emperor Wen of Wei, and the brother of Cao Zhi, King of Chen.

Cao Zhang's martial arts are outstanding, and when Cao Cao asked his sons about their ambitions, he said that he was "good as a general", so he was appreciated by Cao Cao. His beard is yellow, and he is called "Yellow Beard" by Cao Cao. Before the weak crown, he likes to fight tigers, his arm strength is outstanding, and he is not good at writing. In the twenty-first year of Jian'an (216), he was named the Marquis of Yanling. In the twenty-third year of Jian'an (218), Cao Zhang was appointed as the general of Beizhong Lang and the general of Xingxiaocai, led the army to conquer Wuhuan, and surrendered to the Xianbei Lord Kebineng in Liaodong. After Cao Pi ascended the throne, Cao Zhang and the princes took the throne. In the second year of Huang Chu (221), he became a duke. The following year, he was named the king of Rencheng.

In the fourth year of the early Huang dynasty (223), Cao Zhang went to Luoyang to see him and died of illness in the mansion. After his death, he was nicknamed "Wei", so he was also called King Ren Chengwei.

Cao Zhang has been good at archery and driving since he was a child, and his arm strength is outstanding, and he can fight with fierce beasts with his bare hands, and he is not afraid of danger and difficulties. He followed Cao Cao on several expeditions and was generous and high-spirited. Cao Cao once criticized him and said: "You don't yearn to study and learn the way of sages, but you are good at riding horses and fencing, which can only deal with one person, how can it be precious!" Urge him to study the Book of Songs and the Book of Songs. Cao Zhang said to the people around him: "The eldest husband should follow the example of generals like Wei Qing and Huo Quai, lead 100,000 people to gallop on the desert, expel Rong Di, and make meritorious contributions, how can he be a doctor?" "Cao Cao once asked several of his sons about their hobbies, and asked them to tell each of them their aspirations. Cao Zhang said: "I am willing to be a general." Cao Cao said, "What are you doing as a general?" Cao Zhang replied: "Wear strong armor, hold sharp weapons, ignore yourself in the face of danger, take the lead, merit will be rewarded, and guilt will be punished." Cao Cao laughed.

In the twenty-first year of Jian'an (216), Cao Zhang was named the Marquis of Yanling.

In April of the twenty-third year of Jian'an (218), on behalf of the Northern Wuhuan Wuchen Di (Nengchen Di) and others rebelled, Cao Cao appointed Cao Zhang as the general of Beizhong Lang, exercising the duties of a cavalry general. Before leaving, Cao Cao warned Cao Zhang: "We are father and son at home, and if we accept the order, we are kings and ministers, and we must act according to the king's law in every move, and you must take it as an example!" "Cao Zhang's northern expedition entered the territory of Zhuo County, and the rebellious Karasuma tribe was attacked by thousands of cavalry, and Cao Zhang's soldiers and horses had not yet been assembled, only 1,000 infantry, and tens of thousands of war horses. Cao Zhang used Tian Yu's strategy to hold the key point of the position. The enemy was routed and fled, Cao Zhang pursued, fought the enemy in person, shot the enemy cavalry with arrows, and fell in a series of front and back. After fighting for a long time, Cao Zhang's armor was hit by a few arrows, and his momentum became even more majestic, and he pursued it until the Sanggan River, which was more than 200 miles away from Daijun. The army commander and the generals all believed that the troops were coming from afar, the men and horses were tired, and there were orders not to cross the county and not to go deep into the enemy's territory, and to disobey the order to underestimate the enemy. Cao Zhang said: "Leading the army to the expedition is just to win, why should it be restricted? The enemy hasn't gone far yet, and catching up with them will crush them. Obeying orders to let the enemy go is by no means a good general. Then he mounted his horse and ordered his troops: "Those who lag behind are killed!" "In a day and a night, they caught up with the enemy, won a great victory in the sortie, beheaded and captured thousands of people. Cao Zhang rewarded the soldiers several times more than usual, and the whole army was not unhappy. At that time, the leader of the Xianbei tribe, Kebineng, led tens of thousands of horses to watch the strength of the two sides, and saw that Cao Zhang was struggling to kill and was invincible, so he asked for submission. In this way, the north is easy to pacify. At that time, Cao Cao was in Chang'an and summoned Cao Zhang to his camp. Cao Chang passed through Ye County from Dai County, and the prince said to Cao Zhang: "You have just made a meritorious service, now go to the west to meet the lord, be careful not to be arrogant and boastful, and answer questions with humility." "Cao Zhang arrived in Chang'an, and according to what the prince said, he gave all the credit to the generals. Cao Cao was very happy, stroked Cao Zhang's beard and said, "Huang Xu'er is actually not simple!" ”

In September of the same year, Cao Cao fought a fierce battle with the Shu army in Hanzhong, and Liu Bei's army was on the top of the mountain and ordered Liu Feng to go down the mountain to challenge. Cao Cao scolded: "You boy who sells straw sandals, you actually sent your righteous son to lead troops to resist me, ah! Look at me calling my (biological) yellow beard. So he ordered Cao Zhang to be summoned to help in the war. Cao Zhang then doubled day and night, but by the time he reached Chang'an, Cao Cao had already returned from Hanzhong. After Cao Cao returned to the east, he used Cao Zhangxing to cross the cavalry general and stayed in Chang'an.

In the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an (220), after Cao Cao arrived in Luoyang, he fell seriously ill and sent a stagecoach to summon Cao Zhang. But Cao Zhang did not arrive, and Cao Cao had already died. Cao Pi is the throne, Cao Zhang and the princes each went to their own feudal country, Cao Pi issued an edict saying: "The way of the ancient emperor, with meritorious deeds to make relatives harmonious, and divide the mother and brother, establish a state to inherit the family business, so it can defend the great sect, resist aggression, and prevent disasters." Cao Zhang was previously ordered to go on a northern expedition to pacify the land of Shuofang, and his feats were great, adding 5,000 households to him, including a total of 10,000 households. ”

In the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an (220), after Cao Cao arrived in Luoyang, he fell seriously ill and sent a stagecoach to summon Cao Zhang. But Cao Zhang did not arrive, and Cao Cao had already died. Cao Pi is the throne, Cao Zhang and the princes each went to their own feudal country, Cao Pi issued an edict saying: "The way of the ancient emperor, with meritorious deeds to make relatives harmonious, and divide the mother and brother, establish a state to inherit the family business, so it can defend the great sect, resist aggression, and prevent disasters." Cao Zhang was previously ordered to go on a northern expedition to pacify the land of Shuofang, and his feats were great, adding 5,000 households to him, including a total of 10,000 households. ”

In the second year of the early Huang dynasty (221), Cao Zhangjin became the duke.

In the third year of the early Huang dynasty (222), Cao Zhang was named the king of Rencheng.

In the fourth year of the Huang dynasty (223), Cao Chang made a pilgrimage to Beijing, during which he fell ill and died violently in his mansion on June 17 (August 1), posthumously admonishing King Wei at the age of Chinese New Year's Eve. At the time of his burial, the imperial court gave him a hundred warriors with the Luan Dragon Banner and the Tiger Ben, following the old example of Liu Cang, the king of Dongping in the Han Dynasty[9]. His son Cao Kai inherited the title.

Cao Zhi (192 - December 27, 232), Zijian, Pei Guoqian (now Bozhou City, Anhui Province), born in Dongyang Wu, is the third son born to Cao Cao and Empress Wu Xuanbian, was King Chen during his lifetime, and was nicknamed "Si" after his death, so he was also called Chen Siwang.

Cao Zhi was a famous writer of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period and a representative of Jian'an literature. His representative works include "Luo Shen Fu", "White Horse Chapter", "Seven Mourning Poems" and so on. Later generations called him, Cao Cao, and Cao Pi together as the "Three Caos" because of his literary attainments.

His poems are known for their strong pen power and thrush, and there are 30 volumes of collections, which have been lost, and now the "Cao Zi Jian Ji" is compiled by the Song people. Cao Zhi's prose also has the characteristics of "affection and resentment, body and literary quality", coupled with the richness and variety of its variety, so that he has also made outstanding achievements in this regard. Xie Lingyun, a writer in the Southern Song Dynasty, has the evaluation that "there is only one stone in the world, and Cao Zijian monopolizes eight buckets". Zhong Rong, the author of "Poems", also praised Cao Zhi for "having a high backbone, colorful words, love and elegance, body and literary quality, overflowing with the present and the ancient, and outstanding." Wang Shizhen tasted the poets who can be called "immortal talents" in the 2,000 years since the Han and Wei dynasties, Cao Zhi, Li Bai, and Su Shi.

In the third year of Chuping (192), Cao Zhi was born in Dongwuyang. Cao Zhi was the third son born to Cao Cao and Lady Bian (Lady Bian gave birth to four sons to Cao Cao: Pi, Zhang, Zhi, and Xiong). At that time, Cao Cao had not yet gained a firm foothold in the north, lacked a fixed base area, and his family often followed the army, so the young Cao Zhi, like many brothers, spent his life in Rong Ma. This kind of military life did not change until the ninth year of Jian'an (204), when Cao Cao defeated his rival Yuan Shao group and conquered Yecheng (now Linzhang, Hebei), which he had operated for many years.

Cao Zhi was very intelligent since he was a child, and when he was only in his early teens, he was able to recite the Book of Songs, the Analects, and the pre-Qin and Han Dynasty dictionaries, and he was also widely involved in the hundreds of schools of thought. He thinks quickly, talks sharply, and often responds to questions when he meets Cao Cao, blurting out a chapter. Cao Cao once read the article written by Cao Zhi and asked him in surprise: "Did you ask someone to write it for you?" Cao Zhi replied: "Words are theories, and the next pen becomes an article, as long as you take the exam in person, you can know it, why ask someone to do it on your behalf!" ”

In addition, he has a frank and natural temperament, does not pay attention to solemn appearance, carriage and horse costumes, and does not pursue gorgeous and rich, which is naturally very suitable for Cao Cao's taste. Gradually, Cao Cao began to transfer his love to Cao Zhi.

In August of the 11th year of Jian'an (206), the 15-year-old Cao Zhi arrived in Chunyu (northeast of present-day Anqiu) for the first time with his father's eastward expedition to the pirate Guan Cheng.

In January of the twelfth year of Jian'an (207), he returned to Yecheng, and he said in the "Self-Test Form" that "the east is bordering the sea" refers to this matter. In September, 16-year-old Cao Zhi accompanied his father to the north to Liucheng (now Chaoyang, Liaoning), and he said in the "Seeking Self-Test Table" that "going north out of Xuansai" refers to this trip, and "White Horse Chapter" is a portrayal of Cao Zhi's war with his father during this period.

In July of the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208), 17-year-old Cao Zhi followed his father to Liu Biao to Xinye, and then followed his father to fight with Sun Quan in Chibi.

In the fourteenth year of Jian'an (209), Cao Zhi returned to his hometown Bozhou for the first time with his father's campaign.

In the fifteenth year of Jian'an (210), Cao Cao's Tongque Terrace built in Yecheng was completed, and a group of scribes were summoned to "take the stage for Fu", and Cao Zhi was among them. Among the crowds, Cao Zhi was the only one who put pen to paper and thought a little, waved it, and was the first to hand in the volume, and his text was called "Stage Fu". From then on, Cao Cao had high hopes for Cao Zhi, thinking that he was the person who could achieve great things.

In the autumn of the sixteenth year of Jian'an (211), Cao Zhi, who had just performed the crown ceremony, temporarily bid farewell to the excellent travel life of feasting, drinking, recreation, and poetry in Yecheng. Along the way, trekking through mountains and rivers, Xiaoxing overnight. When the army of the Western Expedition arrived in Luoyang, the imperial capital, Cao Zhi was stunned by the scene in front of him: he was sacked by the war, and the prosperity of Luoyang City in the past disappeared without a trace, and there were ruins everywhere, thorns, and the former majestic palace had become a ruin, submerged in the weeds, and pieces of yellow leaves danced all over the city. Cao Zhi, who was full of enthusiasm, left Luoyang with the Western Expeditionary Army and continued to march westward. After more than a year of annexation wars, the western region finally ended its scattered chaos and ushered in its stability and tranquility. The triumphant Cao Zhi was soon named Marquis of Linzi.

During the Yecheng period, there was one thing that was very important to Cao Zhi and affected his life, and that was the dispute between the sons of the world.

In the nineteenth year of Jian'an (214), Cao Zhi was renamed the Marquis of Linzi. In this year, Cao Cao went east to conquer Sun Quan, ordered Cao Zhi to stay in Yecheng, and warned him: "I was twenty-three years old when I served as the commander of Dunqiu, and I have never regretted what I did at that time. Now that you are also twenty-three years old, how can you not work hard! "Cao Zhi was favored because of his talent, and Ding Yi, Ding Hui, Yang Xiu and others all came to assist him. Cao Cao was a little hesitant, and almost made Cao Zhi the crown prince several times. However, Cao Zhiwen's popularity and talent are too strong, and he often acts willfully, does not pay attention to grooming and restraining himself, drinks without moderation, and does a few things that make Cao Cao very disappointed.

Especially in the twenty-second year of Jian'an (217), when Cao Cao was out, he took advantage of wine to sit on the royal family's carriage and horse, opened the palace gate Sima Gate, and galloped on the forbidden road that only the emperor could walk on when the ceremony was held, and had fun until the Golden Gate, and he had already forgotten Cao Cao's decree to the clouds. Cao Cao was furious and executed the bus order, who was in charge of the royal family's chariots and horses. Since then, the legal ban on the princes has been increased, and Cao Zhi has gradually lost Cao Cao's trust and favor because of this incident. In October, Cao Cao summoned Cao Pi as his son. Since then, Cao Zhi has bid farewell to the high-spirited life stage and fallen into an inextricable depression and deep sorrow.

In the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an (219), Cao Ren was besieged by Guan Yu, and Cao Cao made Cao Zhi serve as the general of Nanzhong Lang, marched to capture the general, and led troops to rescue Cao Ren. After the order was issued, Cao Zhi was too drunk to accept the order, so Cao Cao regretted it and stopped using him.

In the fourth year of the early Huang dynasty (223), the 32-year-old Cao Zhixi was crowned the king of Yongqiu.

In the sixth year of the early Huang dynasty (225 AD), Cao Pi returned from his southern expedition, passed by Yongqiu, met with Cao Zhi, and increased his household by 500.

In the seventh year of the early Huang dynasty (226), Cao Pi died of illness and was succeeded by Cao Rong, who was Emperor Ming of Wei. The strong-hearted Cao Zhi was eager to display his talents, and he wrote impassionedly to Cao Rong many times, asking for political appointments, and his heart could move a hard-hearted person. But Cao Rong, who is too calm and rational, is like an ancient well, and he can't afford to be slight, and he only gives verbal praise to Cao Zhi's various confessions and requirements. Cao Rong still strictly guarded and restricted him, and his situation did not fundamentally improve. During the 12 years of the Wen and Ming dynasties, Cao Zhi was relocated many times, and the last fief was in Chen County.

In the third year of Taihe (229), the 38-year-old Cao Zhixi was sealed as Dong'a, during which he devoted himself to writing and studying Confucian classics.

In the sixth year of Taihe (232), Cao Zhi changed the title of King Chen, and in November Cao Zhi died of depression at the age of 41, and according to his wishes, he was buried in Dong'a Yushan. Later generations called it "Chen Wang" or "Chen Siwang".

Cao Xiong, the word Ziwei. Cao Cao's son, who was born to the Bian family along with Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi, died a few years ago. In the second year of Emperor Huang Chu of Wei (221), he was posthumously named the Duke of Xiao Huai, and in the third year of Emperor Taihe of Wei Ming (229), he was posthumously named the King of Cambodia, saying "King Xiao Huai". In the second year of Qinglong, his son Cao Bing inherited and died in the sixth year.