1. Cao Hong, courtesy name Zilian, was a Chinese military general of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
42 Facts About Cao Hong
1. 2.
Cao Hong started his career in the late Eastern Han dynasty under the warlord Cao Cao, who was his older second cousin.
3.
Around 190, the warlord Cao Cao, an older second cousin of Cao Hong, raised an army to participate in the campaign against the tyrannical warlord Dong Zhuo, who controlled the Han central government.
4.
Cao Hong joined Cao Cao around this time and served as an officer in his army.
5.
Cao Cao engaged Dong Zhuo's general Xu Rong at the Battle of Xingyang, but was defeated and forced to retreat.
6.
At the time, Cao Hong had about 1,000 men from his own militia.
7.
Cao Hong asked for troops from Chen Wen, who provided him with 2,000 of his best soldiers.
8.
Cao Hong then went to Danyang Commandery and managed to recruit about another 1,000 men with help from the commandery's Administrator, Zhou Xin.
9.
Cao Hong brought along his 4,000 troops to meet Cao Cao at Longkang and became one of Cao Cao's most loyal followers since then.
10.
In 194, when Cao Hong Cao Hong was away on a campaign in Xu Province, his subordinates Zhang Miao and Chen Gong started a rebellion in his base, Yan Province, and defected to a rival warlord, Lu Bu.
11.
Cao Hong led a vanguard force to retake Dongping and Fan counties from Lu Bu and stockpile grain to feed the troops.
12.
Cao Cao subsequently attacked and retook Dong'e, Jiyin, Shanyang, Zhongmu, Yangwu, Jing, Mi and other counties from Lu Bu.
14.
Cao Hong then brought up the issue to Cao Cao, who summoned the official who was overall in charge to come and see him.
15.
In 197, Cao Hong Cao Hong lost the Battle of Wancheng against a rival warlord Zhang Xiu and retreated to Wuyin County.
16.
When both sides were locked in a stalemate around winter, Cao Hong Cao Hong heeded the advice of Xu You, a defector from Yuan Shao's side, and personally led 5,000 riders to raid Yuan's supply depot at Wuchao, which was guarded by Chunyu Qiong.
17.
Cao Hong was ordered to remain behind to guard Cao Cao's main camp during the raid.
18.
Cao Hong Cao Hong succeeded in destroying Yuan Shao's supplies in the raid and killed Chunyu Qiong in battle.
19.
Cao Hong was initially suspicious about Zhang He and Gao Lan, but Xun You managed to convince him to accept their surrender.
20.
Cao Hong participated in the campaign against the warlord Liu Biao in Jing Province and defeated Liu's subordinates in battles at Wuyang, Yinye, Duyang and Bowang.
21.
Cao Hong heeded Cao Xiu's advice and defeated Wu Lan in the spring of 218 and killed Wu's deputy, Ren Kui.
22.
Cao Hong then threw a party to celebrate his victory.
23.
Cao Hong ordered some prostitutes to dress scantily and dance on drums to entertain everyone.
24.
Cao Hong immediately called off the performance and invited Yang Fu to return to his seat.
25.
Later that year, his son and successor Cao Hong Pi ended the Eastern Han dynasty and established the state of Cao Hong Wei with himself as the emperor.
26.
Cao Hong made Cao Hong the Marquis of Yewang and gave him an additional 1,000 taxable households for his marquisate, making it 2,100 households in total.
27.
Cao Hong was wealthy but was known for being stingy with his wealth.
28.
When Cao Hong Cao Hong was still the Minister of Works, he set an example by getting the county offices to keep records of the accounts of officials, including his.
29.
Later, when Cao Pi was Cao Cao's heir apparent, he once asked Cao Hong to donate 100 rolls of silk but Cao Hong refused.
30.
In one incident, when Cao Hong's retainers committed crimes, Cao Pi used the incident as an excuse to accuse Cao Hong of negligence and had him imprisoned to await execution.
31.
Apparently, Cao Hong had previously offended Cao Zhen, another relative of Cao Cao who served as a general in Wei.
32.
Cao Pi finally agreed to spare Cao Hong, but stripped him of his appointments and titles and confiscated his properties.
33.
Cao Rui rehabilitated Cao Hong by appointing him as General of the Rear and enfeoffing him as the Marquis of Lecheng with 1,000 taxable households as his marquisate.
34.
Cao Hong died in 232 and was given the posthumous title "Marquis Gong", which means "humble marquis".
35.
Cao Zhen, another son of Cao Hong, had already previously been enfeoffed as a marquis.
36.
Cao Yu, an older relative of Cao Hong, was known for being conscientious and respectful, and had served as General of the Guards and been enfeoffed as a marquis as well.
37.
Cao Hong died a few years after their marriage, and Xun Can was so grieved by her death that he died a few years later.
38.
Cao Hong appears as a minor character in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticises the events before and during the Three Kingdoms period.
39.
In chapter 58, Cao Hong had a rather prominent role at the Battle of Tong Pass between Cao Cao and a coalition of northwestern warlords led by Ma Chao and Han Sui.
40.
However, after hearing taunts from the enemy for nine days, Cao Hong finally gave in to his anger and led his troops out of the pass to engage the enemy.
41.
Later on, Cao Hong redeemed himself by risking his life to save Cao Cao, who was fleeing from the battlefield after being defeated by Ma Chao.
42.
Cao Hong blocked Ma Chao from chasing Cao Cao and duelled with him for about 100 rounds until Ma gave up and retreated.