Cao Zhao 曹肇
| Occupation | RGeneral · Colonel of Garrison Cavalry | Faction | Wei |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears | R | Biography in | |
| Born | Native place | Pei Commandery Qiao County Unverified | |
| Existence | Historical | Mentions | R7 |
Profile
Cao Zhao was the son of Cao Xiu, Grand Marshal of Wei, and succeeded him when his father died. Possessing talent and capacity outstanding in his day, he became Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Colonel of Garrison Cavalry. Records, Wei 9 §58–60
When Emperor Ming fell ill in the 2nd year of Jingchu (238), Cao Zhao was named, together with Cao Yu, Prince of Yan, and others, among those who were to assist in the government. But the emperor changed his mind and summoned only Cao Shuang to receive the edict, and Cao Zhao was dismissed from office and returned to his residence as a marquis. He died in the Zhengshi era and was posthumously made General of the Guards. Records, Wei 14 §150–151 · 153Records, Wei 9 §60
In the Records a short account of him is attached to the end of Cao Xiu's biography in the Biographies of the Xiahou and Cao Families, Records of Wei 9, and the events at Emperor Ming's deathbed are recorded in the biography of Liu Fang in volume 14. He does not appear in the Romance. Records, Wei 9 §59–60Records, Wei 14 §151–153
In the Records
Cao Xiu, a clan nephew of Taizu, rose to Grand Marshal. In the 2nd year of Taihe (228), when Emperor Ming attacked Wu along two routes, he led the armies toward Xunyang; when an enemy general feigned surrender he advanced deep into enemy territory, and as the battle went badly he withdrew to Shiting. Because of this Cao Xiu developed an abscess on his back and died, and his son Cao Zhao succeeded him. Records, Wei 9 §54 · 58–59
Cao Zhao, possessing talent and capacity outstanding in his day, became Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Colonel of Garrison Cavalry. Earlier, Emperor Wen had divided off 300 of Cao Xiu's households to enfeoff Cao Zhao's younger brother Cao Zuan as a full marquis; Cao Zuan later became General Who Exterminates Wu and after his death was posthumously made General of the Front. Records, Wei 9 §60
In the 2nd year of Jingchu (238), the year Liaodong was pacified, Emperor Ming fell ill and intended to make Cao Yu, Prince of Yan, General-in-Chief and have him assist in the government together with Xiahou Xian, General Who Commands the Army; Cao Shuang, General of the Martial Guard; Cao Zhao, Colonel of Garrison Cavalry; and Qin Lang, General of Valiant Cavalry. When Cao Yu sincerely and firmly declined, the emperor summoned Liu Fang and Sun Zi into his bedchamber and asked whether the Prince of Yan really meant it, and the two answered that it was because the Prince of Yan knew he could not bear so great a responsibility. Records, Wei 14 §150–151
When the emperor asked whether Cao Shuang could take Cao Yu's place, Liu Fang and Sun Zi agreed and earnestly urged that the Grand Commandant Sima Xuanwang be summoned at once to hold together the imperial house. The emperor had Liu Fang write the edict, but after the two had left he changed his mind again and ordered that Xuanwang not come. Soon, meeting the two again, the emperor said, 'I meant to summon the Grand Commandant myself, but Cao Zhao and the others made me stop him instead, and my affairs were nearly ruined.' Records, Wei 14 §152
The emperor had the edict written again, summoned Cao Shuang alone to receive the command together with Liu Fang and Sun Zi, and then dismissed Cao Yu, Xiahou Xian, Cao Zhao and Qin Lang from office. The Grand Commandant also arrived and mounted the couch to receive the edict, and after that the emperor died. Cao Xiu's biography records this as the emperor soon changing his mind and sending Cao Zhao home to his residence as a marquis by edict. Records, Wei 14 §153Records, Wei 9 §60
Cao Zhao died in the Zhengshi era and was posthumously made General of the Guards, and his son Cao Xing (曹興) succeeded him. Chen Shou's main text does not record the year of his death. Records, Wei 9 §60
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
This person does not appear in the Romance, so only the Records score (Chen Shou’s main text) is given.
- LEA40
- STR38
- INT42
- POL40
- CHA40
- VIR40
- ADP30
- SCH38
- DIP40
- DIS40
Evidence by ability
RNo direct record — estimated from his being named among the regents as Colonel of Garrison CavalryWei 14 §151
RNo direct record — estimated from his being named among the regents as Colonel of Garrison CavalryWei 14 §151
RGot Emperor Ming to call off the summoning of Sima XuanwangWei 14 §152
RNo direct record — estimated from his being named among the regents as Colonel of Garrison CavalryWei 14 §151
RNo direct record — estimated from his being named among the regents as Colonel of Garrison CavalryWei 14 §151
RNo direct record — estimated from his being named among the regents as Colonel of Garrison CavalryWei 14 §151
ROutmaneuvered by Liu Fang and Sun Zi and dismissed from office by edictWei 14 §152Wei 14 §153
RNo direct record — estimated from his being named among the regents as Colonel of Garrison CavalryWei 14 §151
RNo direct record — estimated from his being named among the regents as Colonel of Garrison CavalryWei 14 §151
RNo direct record — estimated from his being named among the regents as Colonel of Garrison CavalryWei 14 §151
Records 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.