1. Cao Ren, courtesy name Zixiao, was a military general serving during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China under the warlord Cao Cao, who was his older second cousin.
45 Facts About Cao Ren
1. 2.
Cao Ren played a significant part in assisting Cao Cao in the civil wars leading to the end of the Han dynasty.
3.
Cao Ren was appointed as the Grand Marshal when Cao Pi ascended the throne, and was credited by the latter for the establishment of Wei.
4.
However, Cao Ren was once derided as a mediocre commander by Zhu Huan, a general from Wei's rival state Eastern Wu.
5.
When chaos broke out in China towards the end of the Han dynasty, Cao Ren rallied a militia of over 1,000 men and they wandered around the region near the Huai and Si rivers.
6.
Cao Ren held the rank of a Major of Separate Command under Cao Cao but he was actually an acting Sharp Edge Colonel.
7.
Cao Ren made great contributions in the campaign against Yuan Shu between 197 and 199.
8.
Cao Ren defeated Tao Qian's general Lu You and led his force to rendezvous with Cao Cao's main army at Pengcheng, where they scored a major victory over Tao Qian's forces.
9.
Cao Ren was appointed as the Administrator of Guangyang Commandery for his achievements.
10.
However, Cao Ren never exercised governorship over his jurisdiction because Cao Cao appreciated his military skills and kept him by his side in Xu.
11.
Cao Ren was still in charge of the cavalry even though he held the position of a civil official as a Consultant.
12.
Cao Ren Cao Ren was defeated and he retreated after his forces succeeded in repelling further attacks by Zhang Xiu.
13.
However, as they were withdrawing, Zhang Xiu attacked again and Cao Ren Cao Ren's men were unable to drive the enemy away.
14.
The morale of Cao Cao's army started falling but Cao Ren helped to raise the soldiers' spirits by encouraging and inspiring them.
15.
Cao Cao became worried about such developments in the territories under his control, so he sent Cao Ren to suppress the uprisings.
16.
Cao Ren observed that the rebels dared to create trouble because they had Liu Bei's support, but the men under Liu were newly recruited and inexperienced, so it was not difficult to defeat them.
17.
Cao Ren targeted the rebel chief Liu Pi and killed him in battle, and subsequently defeated Liu Bei as well.
18.
Cao Ren responded to the threat by defeating Han Meng at Jiluo Hill.
19.
However, after several days of siege, Cao Ren Cao Ren's forces were unable to capture the city.
20.
Cao Ren was serving as acting General Who Attacks the South then.
21.
Cao Ren was aware that his army's morale was low, since they were recently defeated at Red Cliffs, so he ordered his subordinate Niu Jin to lead 300 volunteer soldiers into battle, in the hope that they would display bravery and boost his men's morale.
22.
Cao Ren experienced a surge of fury and courage after watching how Niu Jin with so little men could make the entire Wu army three times the strength get so tired battling just 300 of his own men, so he ordered every troop in the city to be prepared to go into battle.
23.
Chen Jiao and the others attempted to dissuade him from braving danger, but Cao Ren ignored them and every soldiers in his command was ordered to charged into the enemy formation.
24.
Cao Ren successfully rescued Niu Jin and his surviving men and even turned back to save his remaining soldiers who were still trapped in the enemy formation.
25.
Around 211, Cao Ren participated in Cao Cao's campaigns against a coalition of northwestern warlords led by Ma Chao and Han Sui, which led to the Battle of Tong Pass.
26.
Cao Ren held the appointment of acting General Who Stabilises the West and commanded the defence at Tong Pass before Cao Cao reached the frontline.
27.
When Su Bo and Tian Yin rebelled in 212, Cao Ren was appointed acting General of Valiant Cavalry and he led seven armies to attack the rebels and defeated them.
28.
Cao Ren was reappointed acting General Who Attacks the South was ordered to garrison at Fan and oversee Cao Cao's forces in Jing Province.
29.
Cao Ren suppressed a rebellion led by Hou Yin before massacring the population of Wan between late 218 and early 219, he was then officially commissioned as General Who Attacks the South and he continued to garrison at Fan.
30.
Cao Ren Cao Ren sent the general Yu Jin to lead seven armies to resist Guan Yu, but the armies were destroyed in a flood when the Han River overflowed due to heavy rains.
31.
Cao Ren was left with a few thousand troops to defend Fan.
32.
Cao Ren encouraged his men to fight to the death and they were very inspired by his words.
33.
Cao Ren was appointed as General of Chariots and Cavalry and was placed in charge of military affairs in Jing, Yang and Yi provinces.
34.
Cao Ren received the title "Marquis of Chen" and was given 2,000 more taxable households in his marquisate, making it a total of 3,500 households.
35.
Cao Ren moved to Wan in northern Jing Province and garrisoned there.
36.
Cao Ren had the general Gao Qian oversee the relocation of civilians from the southern bank of the Han River to the north.
37.
Later, Emperor Wen ordered Cao Ren to move to Linying and promoted him to Grand Marshal.
38.
Cao Ren was placed in charge of the armies along the Wu River and he garrisoned at Hefei.
39.
In 222, Cao Ren led several tens of thousands men to assail Sun Quan's garrison at Ruxu, where the defending general, Zhu Huan, had only 5,000 troops remaining inside the city walls.
40.
However, Cao Ren was deemed only as an inferior commander by Zhu Huan and his colleagues, so the defenders put up a staunch defence.
41.
Cao Ren was posthumously granted the title "Marquis Zhong", which literally means "loyal marquis".
42.
Cao Ren was best remembered for his bravery and courage, which placed him above Zhang Liao among all of Cao Cao's generals.
43.
Cao Ren's younger brother Cao Chun was a general under Cao Cao.
44.
Cao Ren's titles were inherited by his son Cao Tai, who served as General Who Guards the East and later had his marquis title changed to "Marquis of Ningling".
45.
Cao Ren is featured as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series.