RAt Nanpi urged an immediate attack and defeated Yuan TanWei 9 §45
NHad Cao Hong lure out the enemy but was routed in the endCh. 51 §15Ch. 51 §20
Cao Chun 曹純
| Occupation | RGeneral · Gentleman Consultant | Faction | Wei |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | RN | Biography in | Book of Wei |
| Born | R? Unverified | Native place | Pei Commandery Qiao County Unverified |
| Died | R210 Unverified | Place of death | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R5 |
Profile
Cao Chun was the younger brother of Cao Ren. In the Records he has a short biography following that of his elder brother Cao Ren in the Biographies of the Xiahou and Cao Families in Records of Wei 9. He first took part in the military affairs of the Minister of Works Cao Cao as a Gentleman Consultant, and, commanding the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, followed the siege of Nanpi. Records, Wei 9 §45
At Nanpi, when Cao Cao wished to slacken the attack, he urged him to attack at once, and Yuan Tan was defeated; a horseman under his command cut off Yuan Tan's head. In the northern campaign against the three commanderies, horsemen of his unit captured the chanyu Tadun, and for his successive merits he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoling Village. In the campaign against Jing Province he captured Liu Bei's two daughters and his baggage train at Changban. He died in the 15th year of Jian'an (210). Records, Wei 9 §45–46
Cao Chun's name is not included in Chen Shou's assessment. In the Romance he appears only in Chapter 51, in a single chapter, as Cao Ren's younger brother, and his name is not in the chapter title. At Nan Commandery he helps Cao Ren fight Zhou Yu's army, and when he goes to relieve Yiling he is defeated and flees, abandoning his horse. Records, Wei 9 §132Romance, Ch. 51 §14 · 20
In the Records
Cao Ren's younger brother Cao Chun first took part in the military affairs of the Minister of Works as a Gentleman Consultant, and, commanding the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, followed the siege of Nanpi. Records, Wei 9 §45
When Yuan Tan came out to fight and many soldiers died, Cao Cao wished to slacken the attack. Cao Chun said that they had now come a thousand li to tread on enemy ground; if they could not advance and win and instead withdrew, they would surely lose their prestige; an army operating far from home that had penetrated deep would find it hard to hold out long; and since the enemy were arrogant in victory while they themselves were fearful in defeat, using their fear against the enemy's arrogance they could surely win. Cao Cao approved of his words and attacked at once, and Yuan Tan was defeated. A horseman under Cao Chun's command cut off Yuan Tan's head. The Annals of Emperor Wu date the beheading of Yuan Tan to the 1st month of spring in the 10th year of Jian'an (205). Records, Wei 9 §45–46Records, Wei 1 §87–88
In the 12th year of Jian'an (207), on the northern campaign against the Wuhuan of the three commanderies, horsemen of Cao Chun's unit captured the chanyu Tadun. The Annals of Emperor Wu record that in this battle Cao Cao made Zhang Liao the vanguard and beheaded Tadun and the famous kings and those below them. For his successive merits Cao Chun was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoling Village, with a fief of 300 households. Records, Wei 9 §46Records, Wei 1 §97–100
In the 13th year of Jian'an (208) he followed the campaign against Jing Province, pursued Liu Bei at Changban, captured his two daughters and his baggage train, and gathered up his scattered soldiers. The Biography of Wen Pin also records that Cao Cao gave troops to Wen Pin, who had come over in surrender, and had him pursue and attack Liu Bei at Changban together with Cao Chun. Cao Chun went on to bring about the surrender of Jiangling and followed Cao Cao back to Qiao. Records, Wei 9 §46Records, Wei 18 §35Records, Wei 1 §103–104
Cao Chun died in the 15th year of Jian'an (210). When Emperor Wen ascended the throne he was posthumously named Marquis Wei. His son Cao Yan succeeded him, rose in office to General Who Leads the Army and in the Zhengyuan era was promoted in fief to Marquis of Pingle District; when Cao Yan died, his son Cao Liang succeeded him. Records, Wei 9 §46
In his assessment for Volume 9, Chen Shou said that the Xiahou and Cao families had intermarried for generations, so that Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Cao Xiu, Xiahou Shang, Cao Zhen and others, as close kin and old friends, assisted in the great enterprise at the ruler's side. Cao Chun's name is not among them. Records, Wei 9 §132
In the Romance
In Chapter 51 of the Romance, Cao Ren, holding Nan Commandery, rides out of the city himself to rescue Niu Jin when Niu Jin is surrounded by Ding Feng, and Cao Ren and Niu Jin scatter Jiang Qin, who blocks their way. At this point Cao Ren's younger brother Cao Chun also leads troops in support and joins the confused fighting, and the Wu troops are defeated and flee. Romance, Ch. 51 §12–14
When Gan Ning comes to attack Yiling, Cao Ren, after consulting Chen Jiao, has Cao Chun and Niu Jin secretly lead troops to relieve Cao Hong. Cao Chun first sends a man to tell Cao Hong to go out of the city and lure the enemy, but Cao Hong is defeated and flees, and Gan Ning seizes Yiling. At dusk the troops of Cao Chun and Niu Jin arrive, join Cao Hong and surround Yiling. Romance, Ch. 51 §14–16
When Zhou Yu's main army arrives, Cao Hong, Cao Chun and Niu Jin send word to Cao Ren at Nan Commandery while dividing their troops to meet the enemy. But when Gan Ning and Zhou Tai strike out along two routes, they are thrown into great confusion, and as the three flee along a byroad, they find it blocked by trees cut and piled there according to Lü Meng's plan, and all abandon their horses and flee. The Wu troops gain more than 500 horses. Romance, Ch. 51 §18–20
When Cao Ren, believing the false report that Zhou Yu has died of his arrow wound, leaves only Chen Jiao to hold the city and sets out by night to raid Zhou Yu's main camp, Cao Chun takes charge of the rear army together with Cao Hong. Finding the camp empty, they realize they have fallen into a trap and pull back, but Wu commanders attack from all sides and all three columns are scattered. Cao Chun does not appear in the Romance after this. Romance, Ch. 51 §33–37
Where the Romance differs
Nanpi and Yuan Tan: In Chapter 33 of the Romance, Cao Hong runs into Yuan Tan in the midst of battle and cuts him down with his blade. In the Records, Cao Chun urged Cao Cao, who wished to slacken the attack, to attack at once and Yuan Tan was defeated, and a horseman under Cao Chun's command cut off Yuan Tan's head. Romance, Ch. 33 §19Records, Wei 9 §45–46
Tadun: In Chapter 33 of the Romance, Zhang Liao cuts down Tadun at White Wolf Mountain and sends him tumbling from his horse. The Biography of Cao Chun in the Records says that horsemen of Cao Chun's unit captured the chanyu Tadun, while the Annals of Emperor Wu say that Cao Cao made Zhang Liao the vanguard and beheaded Tadun. Romance, Ch. 33 §36–37Records, Wei 9 §46Records, Wei 1 §100
Changban: Cao Chun does not appear in the pursuit at Changban in Chapters 41 and 42 of the Romance. In the Records, Cao Chun pursued Liu Bei at Changban and captured his two daughters and baggage train, and the Biography of Wen Pin also records that Wen Pin pursued Liu Bei together with Cao Chun. Romance, Ch. 41 §35Romance, Ch. 42 §6Records, Wei 9 §46Records, Wei 18 §35
Nan Commandery and Yiling: In Chapter 51 of the Romance, Cao Chun helps Cao Ren fight Zhou Yu at Nan Commandery and is defeated after going to relieve Yiling. The Biography of Cao Chun in the Records says that after bringing about the surrender of Jiangling he followed Cao Cao back to Qiao. In the account of the fighting at Nan Commandery in the Biographies of Zhou Yu and Gan Ning, those who surrounded Gan Ning at Yiling were five or six thousand troops detached by Cao Ren, and Cao Chun's name does not appear. Romance, Ch. 51 §15–16Records, Wei 9 §46Records, Wu 9 §17Records, Wu 10 §58
Offices and merits: The Romance introduces Cao Chun only as Cao Ren's younger brother and does not record that he took part in the military affairs of the Minister of Works as a Gentleman Consultant, commanded the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, or was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoling Village. Romance, Ch. 51 §14Records, Wei 9 §45–46
Death: Cao Chun's death does not appear in the Romance. In the Records he died in the 15th year of Jian'an (210), and after Emperor Wen ascended the throne he received the posthumous name Marquis Wei. Romance, Ch. 51 §36Records, Wei 9 §46
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.
Abilities
The Records score (Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms, main text) is the baseline. Each ability compares how the Romance redrew the same person, and the evidence from both sources explains the difference.
Records total498 / 1000Rank 256 of 996 · Top 26%Romance total403 / 1000Rank 500 of 1,113 · Top 45%
Romance adaptation index−95Romance total − Records total
- LEA7250−22
- STR5045−5
- INT6642−24
- POL4035−5
- CHA5040−10
- VIR5550−5
- ADP5042−8
- SCH3531−4
- DIP4033−7
- DIS4035−5
Abilities shaped by the Romance — where it differs from the Records Differences of 10 or more
RCommanded the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, captured Tadun, and pursued Liu Bei at ChangbanWei 9 §45Wei 9 §46Wei 18 §35
NSurrounded Yiling but was defeated by Zhou Yu's army and fled, abandoning his horseCh. 51 §16Ch. 51 §20
RNo direct record — estimated as a cavalry commanderWei 9 §45
NNo direct record — estimated as Cao Ren's younger brother and a commanderCh. 51 §14
7 similar abilities — show evidence
RNo direct record — a horseman under his command beheaded Yuan TanWei 9 §46
NNo direct record — estimated as Cao Ren's younger brother and a commanderCh. 51 §14
RNo direct record — estimated as a cavalry commanderWei 9 §45
NNo direct record — estimated as Cao Ren's younger brother and a commanderCh. 51 §14
RNo direct record — estimated as a cavalry commanderWei 9 §45
NNo direct record — estimated as Cao Ren's younger brother and a commanderCh. 51 §14
RNo direct record — estimated as a cavalry commanderWei 9 §45
NNo direct record — estimated as Cao Ren's younger brother and a commanderCh. 51 §14
RNo direct record — estimated as a cavalry commanderWei 9 §45
NNo direct record — estimated as Cao Ren's younger brother and a commanderCh. 51 §14
RNo direct record — estimated as a cavalry commanderWei 9 §45
NNo direct record — estimated as Cao Ren's younger brother and a commanderCh. 51 §14
RNo direct record — estimated as a cavalry commanderWei 9 §45
NNo direct record — estimated as Cao Ren's younger brother and a commanderCh. 51 §14
Records Romance Unverified No direct record; scored from their actions (evidence grade C)
3KDEX scoring — the Records use the main text of Chen Shou’s Records of the Three Kingdoms; the Romance uses the 120-chapter Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Click a source tag to open that passage in the reader.
Romance chapters (1)
AppearsNot present Chapter list →
Allegiance history
- Wei · Records · Records vol. 9 「從太祖到襄邑募兵，遂常從征戰」
Family
| Siblings | Cao Ren Novel & History |
|---|
Based on Wikidata items for the historical and Romance figures. Relations without the Unverified badge were also confirmed in the Records.
Related events (4)
- Battle of Nanpi 205 · Command
- Battle of White Wolf Mountain 207 · Command
- Battle of Changban 208 · Command
- Cao Ren Battles the Wu Army 208~209 · Appears (Romance scene)
Includes automatic matching from Wikipedia infoboxes and source keywords (unverified).