Cao Shuang (died 9 February 249), courtesy name Zhaobo , was a Chinese military general and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the eldest son of Cao Zhen , a prominent general of Cao Wei. He initially held great power in Cao Wei as General-in-Chief but later lost his power to Sima Yi in the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs and was executed on charges of treason.
75-608: Around 239, when the Wei emperor Cao Rui became critically ill, he resolved to pass the throne to his adopted son, Cao Fang . He initially wanted to entrust Cao Fang to his uncle Cao Yu , to serve as the lead regent, along with Xiahou Xian (夏侯獻), Cao Shuang, Cao Zhao (曹肇) and Qin Lang . However, his trusted officials Liu Fang (劉放) and Sun Zi (孫資), who were unfriendly with Xiahou Xian and Cao Zhao, became apprehensive upon hearing that Cao Rui wanted to appoint them as regents. They managed to persuade
150-505: A coup d'état and take command of the military forces stationed in Luoyang. Sima Yi first sent his supporters to take control of the positions held by Cao Shuang and his brothers: Gao Rou replaced Cao Shuang as Minister over the Masses (司徒); Wang Guan (王觀) replaced Cao Xi as Minister Coachman (太僕). Sima Yi then went to see Empress Dowager Guo and coerce her into issuing an imperial order for
225-500: A coup d'état ; taking control of the capital city of Luoyang and issuing a memorial which listed out the various crimes Cao Shuang had committed. Cao Shuang surrendered and gave up his powers after further receiving reassurance that he and his family would be spared, thinking that he could still live a life in luxury. Shortly thereafter, Cao Shuang, his brothers, and his supporters were charged with treason and executed along with their families on 9 February. The coup d'état increased
300-459: A daughter of an aristocrat, Lady Yu, as his wife and princess. He apparently had a cordial relationship with Lady Guo, who was created empress (in October 222), and as she was sonless, his status as heir apparent was not seriously challenged. It is said that any thoughts that Cao Pi had at not making him heir was dissipated by a hunt; during that hunt, Cao Pi and Cao Rui had encountered a mother deer and
375-542: A fatal mistake for his clan, as Cao Shuang monopolised power and governed incompetently, eventually drawing a violent reaction from Sima Yi, who overthrew him in a coup d'état ( Incident at the Gaoping Tombs ). Sima Yi became in control of the Wei government from February 249, eventually allowing his grandson Sima Yan to usurp the throne in February 266. After his death, Cao Rui was posthumously honoured as "Emperor Ming" with
450-431: A marquis and live in luxury and comfort." Huan Fan could only sigh and thump his chest in frustration. Cao Shuang then let Cao Fang read Sima Yi's memorial and agreed to surrender and relinquish his powers. After returning to Luoyang, on 9 February 249 Cao Shuang was charged with plotting treason with the palace eunuch Zhang Dang (張當) and his associates He Yan, Ding Mi, Deng Yang, Bi Gui and Li Sheng. They were executed on
525-452: A new low after his defeat. At the same time, Sima Yi's popularity and influence further increased due to his opposition to the campaign from the start. Potentially to deceive Cao Shuang into letting down his guard, Sima Yi stopped engaging in any political activity in May 247 and retired on the grounds of illness. He went on further to pretend to be ill and senile. In the same year, Cao Shuang followed
600-455: A number of his attendants whom he suspected of leaking the news to Empress Mao, and, inexplicably, ordered Empress Mao to commit suicide, even though she was still buried with honors due an empress, and her family remained honored. On 31 December 238, Cao Rui grew ill. He created Consort Guo empress on 16 January 239 in preparation of allowing her to become empress dowager after his death. He initially wanted to entrust his adopted son, Cao Fang
675-471: A semi-coordinated effort with Shu Han, launched an attack against Cao Wei simultaneously with Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions . At the time, many frontline officials were on vacation visiting families, so Man Chong requested Cao Rui to call them back to fight Sun Quan. Cao Rui refused to cancel his subordinates' vacation, and ordered Man to focus on the defense. Cao Rui then personally led the royal army as reinforcement, and acted as an effective coordinator of
750-414: A series of five northern campaigns. During these campaigns, Cao Rui's response generally was to head to the metropolitan Chang'an —a politically important city that Wei could not afford to lose—and then commission generals to the frontlines to ward off Zhuge's attacks. This strategy had the effect of boosting the morale of the troops and shortening the communication line. Being fairly quickly updated as to
825-411: A threat to him and started to lower his guard against the latter. On 5 February 249, Cao Shuang and his two brothers, Cao Xi (曹羲) and Cao Xun (曹訓), left the imperial capital Luoyang to accompany the emperor Cao Fang to pay respects to his ancestors at the Gaoping Tombs (高平陵). After that, they proceeded to go on a hunting expedition outside Luoyang. Sima Yi and his sons seized the opportunity to launch
SECTION 10
#1733094466686900-429: A young deer. Cao Pi killed the mother deer with an arrow, and then ordered Cao Rui to kill the young deer. Cao Rui wept and said, "Your imperial majesty had already killed the mother, and I do not have the heart to kill the son as well." Cao Pi dropped his bow and arrows and became mournful. In June 226, when Cao Pi became ill, he finally created Cao Rui crown prince. He died soon thereafter, and Cao Rui became emperor at
975-592: Is Jing Province." Sima Yi replied, "I'm so old and weak that I can't even hear you. So now you're going back to your home province. It's time for you to make some glorious achievements!" Li Sheng returned to Cao Shuang and told him, "Sima Yi is dying soon and no longer of sound mind. There's nothing for you to worry about." Later, he said, "It's sad to see that the Grand Tutor is no longer in a good state of health to serve." Cao Shuang lowered his guard against Sima Yi. On 5 February 249, Cao Shuang and his brothers accompanied
1050-410: Is planning to commit treason. You should come with me!" Si Fan followed Huan Fan but could not keep up so he gave up and retreated. After the coup d'état , Si Fan surrendered himself to Sima Yi and told him what happened earlier. Sima Yi asked, "What's the punishment for falsely accusing someone of treason?" "According to the law, the one who makes the false accusation shall be punished for treason," came
1125-610: The nine bestowments , he refused to accept again. In February or March 250, Cao Fang had an ancestral shrine built for the Sima family in Luoyang, increased the size of Sima Yi's personal staff, promoted some of Sima Yi's personal staff, and enfeoffed Sima Yi's sons Sima Rong (司馬肜) and Sima Lun as village marquises. In 251, Wang Ling and his nephew Linghu Yu (令狐愚) plotted a rebellion in Shouchun aimed at overthrowing Sima Yi and replacing Cao Fang with Cao Biao . Sima Yi knew that Wang Ling
1200-605: The temple name "Liezu". When Cao Rui was born (likely in 205), his grandfather Cao Cao was the paramount warlord of the Han dynasty , who had rendered Emperor Xian of Han a mere figurehead. His father Cao Pi was Cao Cao's oldest surviving son and the heir apparent. His mother Lady Zhen had been the wife of Yuan Shao 's son Yuan Xi , but when she was seized by Cao Cao's army in September or October 204, Cao Pi forced her to marry him, and she gave birth to Cao Rui only eight months after
1275-636: The Duke of Lelang. (Part of the Eastern Wu troops were able to escape and eventually returned home with the assistance of Goguryeo , a rival of the Gongsuns.) In 237, Cao Rui once again considered attacking Liaodong, angered by reports that Gongsun had repeatedly defamed him. He commissioned Guanqiu Jian to prepare for an attack, and then ordered Gongsun to come to Luoyang for an official visit. Gongsun refused and instead declared independence. Guanqiu attacked him, but
1350-503: The Eastern Wu general Zhou Fang tricked Cao Rui's distant cousin and regional governor Cao Xiu into believing that he was ready to surrender his troops to Cao Wei, while instead laying a trap for Cao Xiu. Instead of realizing that it was indeed a trap, Cao Rui enthusiastically approved Cao Xiu's plan, and this led to a major military disaster, but Cao Xiu's forces were saved by Jia Kui from total annihilation. Another serious crisis posed by Eastern Wu occurred in 234, when Eastern Wu, in
1425-575: The Gaoping Tombs was a coup d'état that took place on 5 February 249 in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period (220–280) of China. The parties involved were Sima Yi and Cao Shuang , who were both regents for the Cao Wei emperor Cao Fang , who was then about 17 years old. On that day, while Cao Shuang and his brothers accompanied the emperor on a visit to the Gaoping tombs, Sima Yi staged
1500-629: The Gaoping Tombs. When Jiang Ji , the Grand Commandant (太尉), told Sima Yi that the "bag of wisdom" (Huan Fan's nickname) was gone, Sima Yi replied that they did not need to worry because he knew that Cao Shuang would not heed Huan Fan's advice. Sima Yi then granted imperial authority to Gao Rou , the Minister over the Masses (司徒), appointed him as acting General-in-Chief (大將軍), ordered him to take command of Cao Shuang's troops. He also told Gao Rou, "You're now like Zhou Bo ." He also appointed Wang Guan ,
1575-406: The Gongsuns while there was dissension within, Cao Rui instead gave Gongsun Yuan an official commission as governor of Liaodong Commandery . In 232, Gongsun Yuan's repeated communicated with and sales of horses to Eastern Wu angered Cao Rui, who ordered his generals Tian Yu and Wang Xiong ( 王雄 ) to attack Liaodong against Jiang Ji ( 蔣濟 )'s advice; the attacks were not successful, although Tian
SECTION 20
#17330944666861650-581: The Minister Coachman (太僕), as acting Commandant of the Central Army (中領軍) and ordered him to seize command of the troops under Cao Shuang's brother Cao Xi (曹羲). Sima Yi, along with Jiang Ji and others, led troops out of Luoyang to the floating bridge above the Luo River , where he sent a memorial to the emperor Cao Fang, listing out Cao Shuang's crimes (e.g. not fulfilling his duty as regent, corrupting
1725-519: The Prince of Qi, to his uncle Cao Yu , to serve as the lead regent, along with Xiahou Xian ( 夏侯獻 ), Cao Shuang , Cao Zhao ( 曹肇 ), and Qin Lang ( 秦朗 ). However, his trusted officials Liu Fang ( 劉放 ) and Sun Zi ( 孫資 ) were unfriendly with Xiahou and Cao Zhao and were apprehensive about their becoming regents, and managed to persuade him to make Cao Shuang (with whom they were friendly) and Sima Yi regents instead. Cao Yu, Cao Zhao, and Qin were excluded from
1800-515: The Prince of Yan and granted him the nine bestowments , which were typically reserved for officials so powerful that the bestowments were typically viewed as a sign that the emperor was about to abdicate to them. However, Gongsun realized later that Eastern Wu would be of little help in an expedition against him. He betrayed Eastern Wu, slaughtered Sun's ambassadors as they arrived in Liaodong, and seized their troops. In response, Cao Rui created Gongsun
1875-426: The Sima family's influence and paved the way for the eventual replacement of the Cao Wei regime by the Sima family's Jin dynasty in February 266. In January 239, the Cao Wei emperor Cao Rui died and was succeeded by his seven-year-old adopted son, Cao Fang . Before his death, Cao Rui named General-in-Chief Cao Shuang and Grand Commandant Sima Yi as the regents to assist Cao Fang. Cao Shuang wanted to dominate
1950-454: The Wei government and eliminate any form of political opposition. The Cao family's influence in Wei weakened over time as the Sima family's became stronger. In February 266, Sima Zhao's son, Sima Yan , usurped the throne from Cao Huan and replaced the Cao Wei state with the Jin dynasty , with himself as the new emperor. In the seventh installment of Koei 's Dynasty Warriors video game series,
2025-416: The Wei government so he used a series of political manoeuvres to consolidate and concentrate power in the hands of himself, his brothers Cao Xi (曹羲) and Cao Xun (曹訓), and their supporters. He heeded the advice of He Yan , Deng Yang and Ding Mi (丁謐), and relocated Empress Dowager Guo (Cao Rui's widow) to Yongning Palace (永寧宮) so that she could not interfere in politics. He also put his brothers in command of
2100-694: The advice of Li Sheng , Deng Yang and Ding Mi in order to maintain his power. In the winter of 248, Cao Shuang's protégé, Li Sheng , was appointed as the Inspector of Jing Province by the Wei imperial court. Before he left Luoyang to assume office in Jing Province, Cao Shuang sent him to check on Sima Yi. Cao Shuang and his followers overjoyed when Li Sheng reported that Sima Yi was indeed ill and that he could not even hear what Li Sheng said. According to Li Sheng, Sima Yi misheard "Jing Province" as " Bing Province ". Cao Shuang sensed that Sima Yi no longer posed
2175-467: The age of 21. Cao Rui's reign was a paradoxical one in many ways. He was clearly intelligent and capable, and yet never fulfilled his potential in his governance of the country or in his military campaigns. He showed great compassion at times, and yet was capable of great cruelty. He carried out many acts that were beneficial for the empire and yet at least as many that were hurtful. Despite his uncle Cao Zhi 's successive petitions, however, he continued
2250-529: The arrest of Cao Shuang and his brothers under charges of treason. Huan Fan , one of Cao Shuang's advisers, managed to escape from Luoyang with the official seal of General-in-Chief and bring it to Cao Shuang. As his family members were being held hostage in Luoyang, Cao Shuang entered a dilemma on whether he should surrender to Sima Yi or not. However, after Sima Yi promised him that he and his family would not be harmed, Cao Shuang surrendered and relinquished his power to Sima Yi. On 9 February 249, Cao Shuang's fate
2325-492: The death of Shu Han's founding emperor, Liu Bei , initially taken a passive posture militarily with regards to the Shu Han-Cao Wei border, while re-establishing an alliance with Sun Quan's Eastern Wu , in order to rest the people and the troops. In 227, he, under the theory that Shu Han was naturally a weaker state than Cao Wei and, if it had just sat and done nothing, would eventually be swallowed up by Cao Wei anyway, started
Cao Shuang - Misplaced Pages Continue
2400-436: The dying emperor to appoint Cao Shuang (with whom they were friendly) and Sima Yi (who was then with his troops at Ji County (汲縣; in present-day Xinxiang, Henan ) as the regents instead. Cao Yu, Cao Zhao and Qin Lang were excluded from the regency. As a result, Cao Shuang came to power in the final days of Cao Rui's reign. However, Cao Shuang was clearly inadequate for the important task assigned to him. When Cao Rui asked if he
2475-412: The emperor Cao Fang on a visit to the Gaoping Tombs (高平陵) to pay respect to the late emperor and Cao Fang's father, Cao Rui . On that day, Sima Yi seized the opportunity to stage a coup d'état against his co-regent. He went to Yongning Palace to meet Empress Dowager Guo and ask her to remove Cao Shuang and his brothers from power. In the meantime, he ordered his eldest son Sima Shi to lead his troops to
2550-676: The emperor to Xuchang , denounce Sima Yi as a traitor, and call on all military forces throughout Wei to attack Sima Yi. Cao Shuang refused to listen to Huan Fan, and that night he sent Xu Yun (許允) and Chen Tai to meet Sima Yi. Sima Yi explained to them he only wanted Cao Shuang to surrender and give up his powers. He also sent Yin Damu (尹大目), whom Cao Shuang highly trusted, to further persuade Cao Shuang to surrender. When Cao Shuang wanted to agree, Huan Fan attempted to stop him but Cao Shuang ultimately did not heed his advice. Cao Shuang said, "Sima Yi only wants to take away my powers. I can still return home as
2625-429: The events at the frontlines, Cao Rui could also keep the central empire under his watch. Ultimately, Zhuge's campaigns were futile; after his death in 234, his plan was largely abandoned by his successors Jiang Wan and Fei Yi . However, that did not mean that there was peace on the borders with Shu Han, as nearly every year, there would be battles between the two states. However, there would be no major confrontations on
2700-776: The exact parentage is not clear.) In June or July 237, Cao Rui took the unprecedented (and unrepeated in Chinese history) action of setting his own temple name of Liezu , while setting the temple names of Cao Cao and Cao Pi. He also ordered that the temples of Cao Cao, Cao Pi and himself were not to be torn down in the future. (Based on Confucian regulations, except for the founder of the dynasty, rulers' temples would be destroyed after six generations.) He carried out these actions apparently in apprehension that he would be given an unflattering temple name (or none at all) and that his temple would eventually be destroyed, due to his lack of biological issue and unclear origin. By 237, Cao Rui's favorite
2775-521: The first ruler of Wei. Based on conflicting accounts of his age, Pei Songzhi calculated that, in order to be Cao Pi's son, Cao Rui could not have been 36 (by East Asian age reckoning ) when he died as recorded, so the recorded age was in error; late-Qing scholars Lu Bi (卢弼) and Mao Guangsheng (冒广生) argued instead that Cao Rui was Yuan Xi 's son. Cao Rui's reign was viewed in many different ways throughout Chinese history. He devoted many resources into building palaces and ancestral temples, and his reign saw
2850-410: The funeral rites used be those for an adult woman and that court officials were to don mourning clothing; Chen Qun wrote a formal submission to advise the emperor. Cao Rui ignored the advice. Afterwards, besides bestowing upon Cao Shu the posthumous title of "Princess Yi of Pingyuan", Cao Rui ordered that a temple be raised for her. A deceased grandson of his mother Lady Zhen's brother, Zhen Huang (甄黄),
2925-505: The government, conspiring against the throne) and requesting the emperor to remove Cao Shuang and his brothers from their positions of power. Cao Shuang blocked the memorial from reaching Cao Fang and left the emperor at the south of the Yi River while ordering his men to cut down trees to build anti-cavalry blockades and station about 1,000 troops nearby to guard against Sima Yi's advances. During this time, Huan Fan advised Cao Shuang to bring
3000-487: The imperial capital." In April or May 248, Zhang Dang (張當), a palace eunuch , illegally transferred 11 women out of the imperial harem and presented them to Cao Shuang to be his concubines. Cao Shuang and his close aides thought that Sima Yi was seriously ill and could no longer do anything, so they plotted with Zhang Dang to overthrow the emperor Cao Fang and put Cao Shuang on the throne. However, they were still wary of Sima Yi and did not lower their guard against him. At
3075-481: The military, promoted his close aides to higher positions in the imperial court, and made changes to the political structure to benefit himself and his clique. Sima Yi tried to stop Cao Shuang but failed to do so. Cao Shuang became increasingly distrustful and wary of Sima Yi. In June or July 247, Sima Yi claimed that he was ill and withdrew from the political scene. At the time, there was a saying in Luoyang which went: "He (Yan), Deng (Yang) and Ding (Mi) create turmoil in
Cao Shuang - Misplaced Pages Continue
3150-416: The most beautiful among them would become his concubines. Despite some officials' (including Zhang Mao's) protestations, this decree was apparently carried out, much to the distress of his people. When Cao Rui became emperor, it was commonly expected that his wife, Princess Yu, would be created empress, but she was not. Rather, he created a favorite concubine, Consort Mao , empress in late 227. Princess Yu
3225-510: The new zheng month (and thus the start of a new year). This calendar change took effect after 11 April 237 in the Julian calendar, along with the change in era name from Qing'long to Jing'chu . After Cao Rui's death, his successor Cao Fang reverted the changes, and the jian'yin month (the 1st month) once again became the zheng month, and thus the start of a new year. Consorts and Issue: Incident at Gaoping Tombs The Incident at
3300-558: The officials' behest, the projects would restart after brief breaks. He not only built palaces in Luoyang, but also built a palace in Xuchang . In 237, he further moved many of the magnificent statues and monuments that were commissioned by Emperor Wu of Han from Chang'an to Luoyang, costing great expenses and lives. He further built gigantic bronze statues of his own and placed them on a man-made hill inside his palace, surrounded by rare trees and plants and populated by rare animals. Cao Rui
3375-473: The only eunuch in Chinese officialdom to have this honor. When Cao Rui's daughter Cao Shu (曹淑) died in infancy (less than one month old) on 15 February 232, Cao Rui insisted in joining the funeral procession. Yang Fu noted that he did not do so during the funerals of Cao Pi and Empress Dowager Bian , and advised him not to join in the funeral procession. Cao Rui ignored Yang's advice. Cao Rui also insisted that
3450-502: The palace gates . After meeting the empress dowager, Sima Yi went to the camp where Cao Shuang's troops were based. Yan Shi (嚴世), one of Cao Shuang's subordinates, prepared to fire an arrow at Sima Yi but his colleague Sun Qian (孫謙) stopped him and said, "We wouldn't know what will happen." This process repeated three times. Huan Fan , the Minister of Finance (大司農) and one of Cao Shuang's supporters, managed to escape from Luoyang and head to
3525-464: The regency. On 22 January 239, Cao Rui created the seven-year-old Cao Fang crown prince, and died that same day. Cao Fang succeeded him as emperor. On 17 February, Cao Rui was buried at Gaoping Tombs. Even before his setting of his own temple name, Cao Rui was recorded to be involved in odd behaviour in events regarding the traditions and customs of his day. On 3 August 229, Cao Teng was posthumously honoured as "Emperor Gao of Wei" ( 魏高帝 ), becoming
3600-408: The reply. Huan Fan was then executed along with the rest of his family. Cao Shuang, his family, and his supporters were executed. In March 249, Cao Fang appointed Sima Yi as Imperial Chancellor (丞相), increased the size of Sima Yi's marquisate and awarded him additional privileges. However, Sima Yi declined the appointment of Imperial Chancellor. In January or February 250, when Cao Fang granted him
3675-401: The same day along with the rest of their families and relatives. Jiang Ji had attempted to persuade Sima Yi to spare Cao Shuang and his brothers in consideration of the meritorious service rendered by their father Cao Zhen , but Sima Yi refused. Lu Zhi (魯芝) and Yang Zong (楊綜), two of Cao Shuang's subordinates, had previously tried to stop Cao Shuang from surrendering to Sima Yi. After Cao Shuang
3750-551: The scale of Zhuge's campaigns for the rest of Cao Rui's reign. During Cao Rui's reign, there were also many battles waged against the other rival empire, Eastern Wu. The very first came only two months after Cao Rui had become emperor in June 226. It was during that campaign that Cao Rui showed his acumen for judging a situation correctly—believing that by the time that reinforcements could be sent, Eastern Wu's monarch Sun Quan would have already withdrawn, and therefore sending reinforcements
3825-655: The severe prohibitions against princes' holding of offices that his father Cao Pi had put in place, and this was commonly viewed by traditional historians as an eventual factor in the downfall of Cao Wei, as the Simas took power after Cao Rui's death without the imperial princes having any real ability to oppose them. Cao Rui, a young adult when he became emperor, quickly showed a knack for finding capable officials to empower while maintaining steady control over them. His father had appointed three regents for him—his distant cousin Cao Zhen ,
SECTION 50
#17330944666863900-402: The stalemate between his empire, Shu Han , and Eastern Wu become more entrenched. His building projects and his desire to have many concubines (who numbered in the thousands) greatly exhausted the imperial treasury. On his deathbed, he had no biological son. He passed the throne to his adopted son Cao Fang and entrusted him to the regency of Cao Shuang and Sima Yi . This would prove to be
3975-423: The steady administrator Chen Qun , and the shrewd strategist Sima Yi . Once Cao Rui became emperor, however, he, while knowing the value of the advice of these senior officials, chose perhaps the best path to deal with them: honoring them and making them regional governors with full authority in the provinces they governed. By doing this, he showed that he was his own man while at the same time continued to receive
4050-455: The throne, he started out large scale palace and temple-building projects. Part of it was to be expected—the Luoyang palaces had been remnants of the ones not destroyed by Dong Zhuo , and the temples were needed for the cults of his ancestors. However, he went beyond the minimally required, and continued to build temples and palaces throughout the rest of his reign, severely draining the imperial treasury. While he occasionally halted projects at
4125-576: The time, Li Sheng , one of Cao Shuang's supporters, had been recently reassigned to be the Inspector of Jing Province . Cao Shuang secretly instructed him to check if Sima Yi was as ill as he claimed, so Li Sheng visited Sima Yi before leaving for Jing Province. Sima Yi knew the true purpose of Li Sheng's visit, so he pretended to be frail and feeble. Li Sheng saw that Sima Yi could not move around and wear clothes without help from his servants, and could not even consume congee without soiling his clothes. He then told Sima Yi, "Everyone thought that your illness
4200-552: The various forces that Cao Wei had on Eastern Wu's borders, and Eastern Wu was unable to make substantial gains. The only real military gain for Cao Wei during Cao Rui's reign was the end of the Gongsun clan's hold on Liaodong (modern central and eastern Liaoning ), which was started by Gongsun Du in 190. In 228, Gongsun Du's grandson Gongsun Yuan deposed his uncle Gongsun Gong in a coup and asked for an official commission from Cao Rui. Acting against Liu Ye ( 劉曄 )'s advice to attack
4275-551: The wedding—leading to theories that Cao Rui was actually biologically Yuan Xi's son and not Cao Pi's. However, Cao Cao was fond of this grandson, and frequently ordered Rui to be at his side. Cao Cao even said, "It is because of you (Cao Rui) that my achievements can last three generations." Cao Pi, after his father's death in March 220, forced Emperor Xian to yield the throne to him and established Cao Wei in December of that year. Lady Zhen
4350-508: The wisdom of their advice. Throughout Cao Rui's reign, he showed great diligence in seeking out advice from multiple officials, rather than concentrating on listening to several, before making important decisions. He was generally cautious and not willing to take risks, but at the same time was, therefore, able to avoid major disasters for his empire. One immediate threat that Cao Rui had to deal with after he became emperor were attacks from Shu Han 's chancellor, Zhuge Liang . Zhuge had, after
4425-541: Was a minor one; alas, who expected you to be in such poor health?" Sima Yi pretended to cough and pant as he replied, "I'm old and sick and I'm going to die soon. When you go to Bing Province , you should be careful because it is near barbarian territory. We might not see each other again, so I entrust my sons Shi and Zhao to your care." Li Sheng said, "I'm returning to my home province, not Bing Province." Sima Yi pretended to mishear and he said, "You're going to Bing Province, aren't you?" Li Sheng then said, "My home province
4500-433: Was able to intercept the Eastern Wu horse-buying fleet and destroy it. After the incident, although Gongsun formally maintained vassalage to Cao Wei, the relationship was damaged. The next year saw that relationship would be somewhat improved. Gongsun, apprehensive of another attack from Cao Wei, sent ambassadors to Eastern Wu to formally submit to its emperor Sun Quan. Sun was so pleased that he immediately created Gongsun
4575-442: Was also buried with Cao Shu and was posthumously made a marquis. A male relative of Empress Mingyuan, Guo De (郭德), was declared to be the deceased couple's child; his surname was changed to "Zhen" and he was made Marquis of Pingyuan, inheriting the princess's title. In c. February 237, after receiving reports of auspicious signs, Cao Rui agreed to make changes to the calendar, such that the jian'chou month (the 12th month) became
SECTION 60
#17330944666864650-416: Was also increasing his collection of women, as his concubines and ladies in waiting numbered thousands. His palace-building projects might have been with intent to house them. The contemporary historian Yu Huan recorded that in 237, Cao Rui even ordered that beautiful married women all be formally seized unless their husbands were able to ransom them, and that they would be married to soldiers instead—but that
4725-412: Was also initially halted by torrential rains as Guanqiu's was, Sima waited out the rains and eventually surrounded Gongsun's capital of Xiangping (襄平, in modern Liaoyang , Liaoning ), starving Gongsun's troops. After nearly three months of siege, Xiangping fell, and Gongsun fled, but was captured and executed by Sima. Liaodong became part of Cao Wei's domain. Almost immediately after Cao Rui ascended
4800-569: Was arrested, Lu Zhi and Yang Zong were also implicated and arrested as well. However, Sima Yi pardoned and released them. Earlier on, when Huan Fan escaped from Luoyang to join Cao Shuang at the Gaoping Tombs, he met Si Fan (司蕃), who was guarding the Changping Gate. As Si Fan used to serve under Huan Fan, he trusted Huan Fan and allowed him to pass through. Once he was out of Luoyang, Huan Fan turned back and told Si Fan, "The Imperial Tutor (Sima Yi)
4875-474: Was cheered as being able to scare away the enemy numbering over 100,000 without a fight and thus secured the border and saved Shouchun from certain attack. Cao Shuang, feeling insecure over Sima Yi's triumph, managed to persuade the emperor Cao Fang to promote Sima Yi to the position of Grand Tutor (太傅). While it was ostensibly a promotion for Sima Yi, the position of Grand Tutor was in fact an honorary one without any real authority over military affairs. Cao Shuang
4950-429: Was competent enough, Cao Shuang was so nervous that he was unable to speak, so Liu Fang stepped on his foot and whispered into his ear, urging him to say: "I will serve the dynasty to my death." Despite his inability, Cao Shuang and his brothers, Cao Xi (曹羲) and Cao Xun (曹訓), wielded great power in Wei. He was also often at odds with his co-regent Sima Yi , who had greater influence and support. In 243, Sima Yi's position
5025-453: Was desperate for a victory to boost his own fame so he selected Shu Han , Wei's other rival state, as his target. Leading an army numbering over 100,000 troops, Cao Shuang invaded Shu territory in March 244. However, two months later, he lost to Shu forces led by Wang Ping and Fei Yi at the Battle of Xingshi and barely escaped back to Chang'an . Cao Shuang's popularity and influence dropped to
5100-459: Was exiled back to their original palace. He loved Empress Mao dearly, and a number of her relatives, including her father and brother, became honored officials (but without actual powers). Despite his collection of women, however, Cao Rui was without any son who survived infancy. He adopted two sons to be his own— Cao Fang and Cao Xun , whom he created princes on 23 September 235. (It is usually accepted that they were sons of his cousins, although
5175-615: Was further strengthened by another successful deployment: Zhuge Ke , a general of Wei's rival state, Eastern Wu , was constantly sending agents to Shouchun (壽春; around present-day Shou County , Anhui ) to prepare an invasion, so Sima Yi led Wei forces to Shu County (舒縣), Lujiang Commandery (盧江郡) near the Wei–Wu border. Upon hearing the news, the Wu emperor Sun Quan immediately ordered Zhuge Ke to withdraw to Chaisang (柴桑), Yuzhang Commandery (豫章郡). Sima Yi's popularity and influence instantly multiplied as he
5250-418: Was no longer Empress Mao, but Consort Guo . In September that year, when Cao Rui was attending a feast hosted by Consort Guo, Consort Guo requested that Empress Mao be invited to join as well, but Cao Rui refused and further ordered that no news about the feast is to be given to Empress Mao. However, the news leaked, and Empress Mao talked about the feast with him anyway. He became exceedingly angry, and killed
5325-468: Was not allowed to accompany him to the new capital Luoyang ; in August 221, he forced her to commit suicide. Because of what happened to Lady Zhen and Cao Rui's unclear origin, even though Cao Rui was the oldest of Cao Pi's sons, he was not created crown prince early in his father's reign, but was only created the Prince of Pingyuan in March 222. Sometime during his years as the Prince of Pingyuan, he married
5400-411: Was plotting a rebellion and showed up near Wang Ling's base before Wang Ling could do anything. Wang Ling surrendered and committed suicide later while he was being escorted as a prisoner to Luoyang. Sima Yi had Wang Ling's co-conspirators, including Cao Biao, arrested and executed along with their families. After Sima Yi's death on 7 September 251, his sons Sima Shi and Sima Zhao continued to control
5475-458: Was pointless. Throughout his reign, he would generally take a similar stance during campaigns against Eastern Wu as he did with Shu Han—head east personally to be close to the theater of the war, while remaining some distance away from the frontlines, which also proved to be effective. He also entrusted the southeastern border to the capable Man Chong , and Man's stewardship averted many disasters. Cao Rui's greatest military loss came in 228, when
5550-449: Was sealed. After gaining power, Sima Yi broke his promise, had Cao Shuang and his family arrested and put to death on charges of treason. Cao Rui Cao Rui ( pronunciation ) (204 or 205 – 22 January 239), courtesy name Yuanzhong , was the second emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. His parentage is in dispute: his mother, Lady Zhen , was Yuan Xi 's wife, but she later remarried Cao Pi ,
5625-499: Was stopped by torrential rains. Gongsun then declared himself the Prince of Yan and entered into alliances with the Xianbei tribes to harass Cao Wei's borders. The following year, Cao Rui sent Sima Yi with 40,000 men to attack Liaodong. Upon hearing this, Gongsun again requested aid from Eastern Wu. Sun, angry at Gongsun's previous betrayal, pretended to agree, but did not send Gongsun any actual help. Although Sima's expeditionary force
#685314