1. Cao Zhang, courtesy name Ziwen, nickname "The Yellow Goatee", was a prince of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
22 Facts About Cao Zhang
1. 2.
Cao Zhang was a son of Cao Cao, a warlord who rose to power towards the end of the Han dynasty and laid the foundation of Wei.
3.
Cao Zhang was said to have wrestled and killed wild animals with his bare hands.
4.
Cao Zhang served as a general under his father, having led his troops to significant victories against Wuhuan incursions on the northern frontier.
5.
The second of Cao Cao's four sons by Lady Bian, Cao Zhang was said to excel and obsessed in archery and armed combat in his youth so much so that he would fight fierce beasts with his bare hands.
6.
Once, his father sent him to the imperial university to study, but Cao Zhang lamented to his aides, saying a real man should command the army to make a name for himself instead of becoming a Academician.
7.
Outnumbered by the enemy, Cao Zhang took up a passive stance and defended the vital passes and routes.
8.
Cao Zhang then led his force out in pursuit, displaying great valour in the ensuing battles.
9.
Cao Zhang personally fought against the enemy soldiers at close quarters and shot down many enemy horsemen with arrows.
10.
One of his staff came out and reminded him that Cao Cao's order was that the army could not cross the jurisdiction of Dai, and further pursuit was straightly prohibited, but Cao Zhang argued that a good general did not follow dull orders, and threatened if anyone did not join the pursuit would be penalised with death sentence; thus, they performed a 24-hour dash to catch up with the Wuhuan cavalry, and dealt the latter a major blow which caused a few thousands casualties.
11.
Cao Zhang then hurried west to take part in the Hanzhong Campaign against Liu Bei.
12.
Cao Zhang Cao Zhang then promoted his son to General of the Elite Cavalry and left him to defend Chang'an against probable advances of Liu Bei.
13.
In 222, Cao Zhang was enfeoffed as the Prince of Rencheng.
14.
Cao Zhang received the posthumous title "Prince Wei", literally meaning awe-inspiring prince.
15.
The most famous of these legends is that Cao Zhang was poisoned by Cao Pi.
16.
Cao Pi knew that Cao Zhang was their mother's favourite son, so in order to get away with it, he had to make Cao Zhang's death seem natural.
17.
Cao Zhang Pi made sure he ate the unmarked ones that were not poisonous and make sure his brother ate the other ones.
18.
When Cao Zhang realised that he had been poisoned, he screamed for help.
19.
However, news came that Cao Zhang, leading a 100,000-strong army from Chang'an, was approaching the capital.
20.
Cao Zhang Pi was gripped by fear that his brother would contest the heirship with the military power he held.
21.
Jia Kui then went out of the city to meet Cao Zhang and ask him if he came as a mourner or a rival claimant to the throne.
22.
Cao Zhang then passed the command of his force to Cao Pi and returned to his own fiefdom.