Cao Cao (魏武) | 24 Histories

Overview

Cao Cao was an Eastern Han warlord, chancellor, poet, and foundational ruler of Cao Wei.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Cao	操	Cao
Temple name	dynastic founder	太祖

Life and dates

Death

AD 220 二十五年春正月庚子
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 267
AD 220 建安二十五年
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 50
AD 220 漢建安二十五年
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 35, passage 41
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 159

Attested activity

AD 200 to AD 220 narrative
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 127, passage 96
AD 208 to AD 214 Rival north of Jingzhou; took Jingzhou
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 52
AD 209 to AD 211 主公之在公安也
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 199
AD 216 二十一年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 237
AD 216 二十一年夏四月甲午
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 234
AD 218 二十三年春正月甲子
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 241

Show 71 more source-backed claims

AD 220 二十五年春正月庚子
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 267
AD 219 二十四年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 215
AD 215 二十年秋七月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 233
AD 217 to AD 219 先主與曹公爭
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 233
AD 192 初平三年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passages 53, 59
AD 191 初平二年后
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 113, passages 137, 139
AD 208 十三年八月壬子
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 211
AD 208 十三年冬十月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 214
AD 208 十三年癸巳
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 208
AD 208 十三年秋七月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 209
AD 214 十九年冬十月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 228
AD 214 十九年十一月丁卯
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 229
AD 211 十六年秋九月庚戌
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 265
AD 220 及曹氏之亡
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 62, passage 159
AD 196 to AD 208 司空曹操
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passage 308
AD 180 to AD 220 君清平之奸賊亂世之英雄
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 75, passage 342
AD 190 to AD 220 崔琰之譏魏武
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 295
AD 198 建安三年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 177
AD 204 建安九年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 190
AD 220 建安二十五年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 50
AD 215 建安二十年秋
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 113, passage 161
AD 200 建安五年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passages 277-278, 284
AD 200 建安五年十一月
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 113, passage 145
AD 200 建安五年至小沛
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passages 228, 248
AD 196 建安元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passages 160-161, 166
AD 206 建安十一年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 198
AD 208 建安十三年
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 30, passage 325; Records of the Three Kingdoms 34, passage 6
AD 207 建安十二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 202
AD 211 建安十六年
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 31, passages 71, 98
AD 205 建安十年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 11, passage 194
AD 196 to AD 208 操殺邊讓
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 75, passage 171
AD 200 昔魏武以弊卒一萬破袁紹
Strongly inferred · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passages 112, 115
AD 188 是時置西園八校尉
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 76, passages 110, 118
AD 197 書中典故
Directly stated · Book of Liang 20, passage 176
AD 184 to AD 220 曹、馬之勢
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 60, passage 73
AD 190 to AD 220 曹
Directly stated · Book of Liang 14, passage 67
AD 208 曹公之破荊州
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 104
AD 208 曹公平荊州
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 114, passage 312
AD 208 曹公徵荊州
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 39, passage 40
AD 208 曹公敗於烏林
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 39, passage 43
AD 200 曹公破袁紹處
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 122, passage 22
AD 200 曹操、袁紹戰於官渡
Directly stated · History of Song 359, passage 175
AD 215 曹操一舉而降張魯
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 206
AD 200 to AD 208 曹操之招孫權
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 71-72
c. AD 207 曹操嘗駐軍於此
Strongly inferred · History of Liao 40, passage 86
AD 190 to AD 220 曹操太祖
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 196
AD 208 曹操定荊州
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 76, passage 88
AD 190 to AD 220 曹操專政
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 25
AD 180 to AD 189 曹操微時
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passage 265
AD 196 to AD 220 曹操父子
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 170
AD 196 to AD 220 曹操父子逼主篡位
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 41, passage 218
AD 196 to AD 220 曹操闻而召佗（无纪年）
Derived from the source · Book of Later Han 93, passages 157, 176
AD 200 曹魏之際
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 28, passage 89
AD 190 to AD 220 東漢末
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 110
AD 211 to AD 214 松於荊州見曹公…欲遣將征張魯
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passages 125, 129
AD 220 漢建安二十五年
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 35, passage 41
AD 199 漢張繡歸曹公
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 60
AD 197 to AD 199 漢末
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 214
AD 207 漢末
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 39, passages 5-6
AD 190 to AD 193 献帝初平中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 118, passages 62, 64
AD 213 to AD 216 荀彧止魏武求九錫
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 45
AD 200 袁紹與曹操相拒於官度
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 40, passage 243
AD 208 赤壁
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 31, passage 79
AD 196 to AD 220 魏武、晉文輔政故事
Strongly inferred · Book of Jin 109, passage 59
AD 190 to AD 220 魏武
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 23, passage 154
AD 196 to AD 220 魏武
Directly stated · Book of Chen 2, passage 214; Book of Southern Qi 16, passage 299
AD 219 魏武不知於于禁
Directly stated · Book of Chen 2, passage 109
AD 200 魏武之雄
Directly stated · History of Song 359, passage 45
AD 216 to AD 220 魏武分其眾為五部
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 101, passage 60
AD 190 魏武初起義兵
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 2, passage 168
AD 196 to AD 220 魏武造幍
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 75, passage 31

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Cao Pi (魏文)
son 子
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Later Han 11, passage 268; Book of Later Han 30, passage 325; Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 26; Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 105; Records of the Three Kingdoms 41, passage 218

Key source chapters

Career and standing

marshal colonel of the Western Garden 典軍校尉
AD 188 是時置西園八校尉 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 76, passage 118
Chancellor 丞相
AD 208 十三年癸巳 · Assumed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 208
Shepherd of Ji Province 冀州牧
AD 204 建安九年八月戊寅 · Assumed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 190
Acting General of Chariots and Cavalry 行車騎將軍事
AD 196 建安元年十一月丙戌 · Assumed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 166
Minister of Works 司空
AD 196 建安元年十一月丙戌 · Assumed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 166
Colonel Director of Retainers 司隸校尉
AD 196 建安元年辛亥 · Assumed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 160

Show 16 more source-backed claims

Concurrent Director of the Secretariat 錄尚書事
AD 196 建安元年辛亥 · Assumed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 160
Administrator of Dong commandery 東郡太守
AD 192 初平三年 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passages 53, 59
General Who Guards the East 鎮東將軍
AD 196 建安元年 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 160
minister of works 司空
AD 208 建安十三年 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 30, passage 325
gentleman consultant 議郎
AD 188 是時置西園八校尉 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 76, passage 118
Chancellor 丞相
Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 113, passage 139
Minister of Works 司空
Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passage 308
Nine Bestowments 九錫
Sought
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 45
King of Wei 魏王
AD 216 二十一年夏四月甲午 · Assumed
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 234
King of Wei 魏王
AD 220 二十五年春正月庚子 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 267
Held
Obscure
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passage 265
Executed
AD 216 二十一年 · With Liu Xi, King of Langye (琅邪王熙)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 237
Executed
AD 208 十三年八月壬子 · With Kong Rong (孔融)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 211
Executed
AD 214 十九年十一月丁卯 · With Empress Fu (伏皇后)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 229
Killed
Executioner · With Bian Rang (邊讓)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passage 171
had Hua Tuo investigated, learned that his wife's illness was feigned, arrested him and handed him to the jailors
AD 196 to AD 220 曹操闻而召佗（无纪年） · Ordered arrest and interrogation · Object Person Id Hua Tuo (华佗)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passage 174

Places and affiliations

Later Han 後漢
Relation Active in
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 113, passage 139
Polity Cao domain 曹 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 125
Polity Cao Wei 曹魏 · Relation Affiliated with
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 34, passage 6
Polity Cao Wei 曹魏 · Relation Founded
Strongly inferred · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 295
Polity Cao Wei 曹魏 · Relation Led
Strongly inferred · Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 228
Polity Cao Wei 曹魏 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 234

Show 17 more source-backed claims

Polity Cao Wei 魏 · Relation Founded
Strongly inferred · Book of Chen 2, passage 214; Records of the Three Kingdoms 33, passage 25
Polity Cao Wei 魏 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Chen 2, passage 109; Book of Southern Qi 16, passage 299; Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 220
Polity Cao Wei 魏 · Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · History of Ming 135, passage 71
Polity Cao Wei · Relation Served
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 52
Polity Eastern Han 东汉 · Relation Lived under
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 93, passage 308
Polity Eastern Han 東漢 · Relation Acted in
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 75, passage 171
Polity Eastern Han 東漢 · Relation Active in
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 319, passage 110
Polity Eastern Han 東漢 · Relation Active under
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 40, passage 243
Polity Eastern Han 東漢 · Relation Lived under
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 75, passage 265
Polity Eastern Han 東漢 · Relation Lived under
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 75, passage 342; Book of Later Han 76, passage 88
Polity Eastern Han 東漢 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 11, passage 46
Polity Eastern Han 東漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 208; Book of Later Han 30, passage 325
Polity Eastern Han 漢 · Relation Served
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 114, passage 312
Polity Han 漢 · Relation Active in
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 214
Polity Later Han 後漢 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 160
Polity Wei 魏 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passage 31
At Caowang Mountain 曹王山 · Relation Encamped at
Directly stated · History of Liao 40, passage 86

Works and attributed material

AD 219 二十四年
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Dated from the passage context · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 215
AD 208 曹公敗於烏林
Speech · Speaker · With Liu Ba (劉巴) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 39, passage 45
Memorial · Author · With Zhao Wen (趙溫) · Mode quotation Speaker Cao Cao (魏武)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 30, passage 325
Speech · Speaker · Quote true
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passages 308, 312, 315, 317, 325

Events and relationships

Assisted government
Political · Cited precedent
Directly stated · Book of Jin 109, passage 59
Attacked by water
AD 208 十三年冬十月 · Military · Commander · With Sun Quan (孫權) · At Wulin and Chibi 烏林、赤壁
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 214
Campaigned across empire
Military · Commander · Duration nearly thirty years
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 113, passage 139
Campaigned against Jing
AD 208 曹公徵荊州 · Military · Commander · At Jing Province 荊州
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 39, passage 40
Campaigned against Jingzhou
Military · Commander · With Liu Cong (刘琮)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 113, passage 154
Captured Gao Gan
AD 206 建安十一年三月 · Military · Commander · With Gao Gan (高幹) · At Bing province 幷州
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 198

Show 59 more source-backed claims

Conquered hanzhong
AD 215 二十年秋七月 · Military · Commander · With Zhang Lu (張魯) · At Hanzhong 漢中
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 233
Contended with
Military · Opponent · With Liu Bei (劉備)
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 233
Created zhao cap
Institutional · Innovator
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passage 31
Crushed Yuan Shang
AD 204 建安九年八月戊寅 · Military · Commander · With Yuan Shang (袁尚)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 190
Defeated Yuan Shao
AD 200 破袁紹 · Military · Commander · At Wuchao 烏巣 · With Yuan Shao (袁紹)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 122, passage 22
Defeated and accepted surrender
AD 192 初平三年 · Military · Commander · At Shouzhang 壽張
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passages 53, 59
Defeated and executed Lu Bu
AD 198 建安三年十二月癸酉 · Military · Commander · With Lu Bu (呂布) · At Xu province 徐州
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 177
Defeated at Wulin and withdrew north
AD 208 曹公敗於烏林 · Military · Defeated commander · At Wulin 烏林
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 39, passage 43
Defeated Wuhuan killed Tadun
AD 207 建安十二年八月 · Military · Commander · With Tadun (蹋頓) · At Liucheng 柳城
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 202
Defeated Yuan Shao at Guandu
AD 200 建安五年 · Military · Commander · With Yuan Shao (袁紹) · At Guandu 官度
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 284
Defeated
AD 208 赤壁 · Military · Commander · At Red Cliffs 赤壁
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 31, passage 79
Defeated
Military · Commander · With Yuan Shao (袁紹)
Directly stated · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance 138, passage 112
Defeated
Military · Victor · With Yuan Shao (袁紹)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 113, passage 145
Destroyed Yuan Tan
AD 205 建安十年正月 · Military · Commander · With Yuan Tan (袁譚) · At Qing province 青州
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 194
Divided Xiongnu into five sections
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Book of Jin 101, passage 60
Encamped
Military · Commander · At Caowang Mountain 曹王山
Directly stated · History of Liao 40, passage 86
Executed and exterminated clan
AD 208 十三年八月壬子 · Legal · Authority · With Kong Rong (孔融)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 211
Executed courtiers
AD 196 建安元年 · Legal · Authority · With Tai Chong (臺崇)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 161
Executed Dong Cheng faction
AD 200 建安五年壬午 · Legal · Authority · With Dong Cheng (董承)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 278
Failed to know
Political · Ruler · With Yu Jin (于禁) · Mode quoted-document Speaker Emperor Wu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 2, passage 109
Fought at weinan
AD 211 十六年秋九月庚戌 · Military · Commander · With Han Sui (韓遂) · At Weinan 渭南
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 265
Fought at weinan
AD 211 十六年秋九月庚戌 · Military · Commander · With Ma Chao (馬超) · At Weinan 渭南
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 265
Invoked as model of usurping ministerial power
Allusion · Comparand · With Wang Chao (王超)
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 60, passage 73
Killed empress and clan
AD 214 十九年十一月丁卯 · Legal · Authority · With Empress Fu (伏皇后)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 229
Left pleased
Personal · Addressee
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passage 268
Marched south against
AD 208 十三年秋七月 · Military · Commander · With Liu Biao (劉表)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 209
Memorialized against Zhao Wen
AD 208 建安十三年 · Political · Impeacher · With Zhao Wen (趙溫)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 30, passage 325
Northern campaign
AD 207 漢末 · Military · Commander · At Songmo 松漠 · Outcome Over 100,000 surrendered and removed to Songmo
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 39, passage 6
Pacified Jingzhou
Military · Conqueror · At Jingzhou 荊州
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 312
Plot to kill leaked
AD 200 建安五年正月 · Political · Target
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 277
Received character verdict
Political · Addressee · With Xu Shao (許劭)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passage 342
Received surrender of jing
AD 208 十三年八月 · Military · Commander · With Liu Cong (劉琮)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 212
Recruited
AD 200 to AD 208 曹操之招孫權 · Diplomatic · Sender · With Sun Quan (孫權)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 71
Rejected Xun Yu's plea that Hua Tuo be pardoned and in the end had him killed
AD 196 to AD 220 曹操闻而召佗（无纪年） · Legal · Authority · With Xun Yu (荀彧)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passages 175-176
Repeatedly wrote summoning Hua Tuo and ordered the commanderies and counties to send him back
AD 196 to AD 220 曹操闻而召佗（无纪年） · Administrative · Patron · With Hua Tuo (华佗) · Outcome Hua Tuo refused to come
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passage 173
Rose from common officer to power
Political · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 118, passage 64
Sent general against
AD 214 十九年冬十月 · Military · Authority · With Xiahou Yuan (夏侯淵)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 228
Sent provincial generals to oversee troops
Military administrative · Dispatcher · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id He (何) Source Work Song Treatise 宋志
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 16, passage 299
Settled
AD 208 曹操定荊州 · Military · Commander · At Jingzhou 荊州
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 76, passage 88
Sought character label with gifts then coerced
Personal · Petitioner · With Xu Shao (許劭)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passages 265, 267
Sought Nine Bestowments
AD 213 to AD 216 荀彧止魏武求九錫 · Political · Would be recipient · With Xun Yu (荀彧)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 84, passage 45
Subdued
Military · Commander · With Zhang Lu (張魯) · At Hanzhong 漢中
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 206
Summoned Hua Tuo, kept him constantly at his side and was relieved of his headaches as soon as the needle was applied
AD 196 to AD 220 曹操闻而召佗（无纪年） · Medical · Patient · With Hua Tuo (华佗)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passage 157
Survived coup attempt
AD 218 二十三年春正月甲子 · Political · Target · With Geng Ji (耿紀)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 241
Took Jingzhou, separating Pang Lin from his wife
AD 208 曹公之破荊州 · Military · Conqueror · At Jingzhou 荊州
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 104
Took Jizhou
Military · Conqueror
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 113, passage 146
Tried to seize and kill Zuo Ci then tested him among sheep
Pursuit · Pursuer
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passages 322, 325
Was reproached
Political · Addressee · With Cui Yan (崔琰)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 295
Welcomed emperor to Xu
Political · Escort · With Emperor Xian (献帝)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 113, passage 142
Relation Appointing authority of · Person Liu Ba (劉巴)
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 39, passage 42
Relation Predecessor linked to · Person Cao Pi (魏文)
Strongly inferred · Book of Later Han 113, passage 150
Relation Misjudged · Person Yu Jin (于禁) · Mode quoted-document Speaker Emperor Wu (高祖)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 2, passage 109
Relation Rival of · Person Yuan Shao (袁紹)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 60
Relation Rebuked by · Person Cui Yan (崔琰)
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 34, passage 295
Relation Patron of · Person Dongguo Yannian (东郭延年)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passage 353
Relation Patron of · Person Zuo Ci (左慈)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passage 353
Relation Patron of · Person Gan Shi (甘始)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passage 353
Relation Appointing authority of · Person Li Li (李立)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 114, passage 312
Relation Superior of · Person Xiahou Yuan (夏侯淵)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 11, passage 228

Assessments and attributes

a capable minister in an age of good order, a treacherous hero in an age of chaos 治世之能臣，亂世之奸雄
Assessment capable minister in an age of good order, a treacherous hero in an age of chaos · Mode named-source-report Source Person Id Pei Songzhi (裴松之) Source Work Shishuo xinyu 世說
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passage 343
Assessment Liu Bei must have been coached · With Liu Bei (劉備) · Mode named-speech Speaker Cao Cao (魏武)
Directly stated · Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 215
Assessment not magnanimous · Mode named-speech Speaker Chen Yuankang (陳元康)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 23, passage 154
Assessment villain in peace, hero in chaos · Mode quotation Speaker Xu Shao (許劭)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passage 267
villain under a clear and peaceful reign, a hero in a time of chaos 清平之奸賊亂世之英雄
Assessment villain under a clear and peaceful reign, a hero in a time of chaos · Mode quoted Speaker Xu Shao (許劭)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passage 342
long suffered from splitting headaches with dizziness (头风眩)
Illness · Source Text 操积苦头风眩
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 93, passage 157

Source notes

He and Xu date the office to Cao Cao; the chapter dates it to Feng She under Emperor Shun of Han
Field origin-of-inspector-military-overseeership · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Southern Qi 16, passage 299
Hou Hanshu wording versus Shishuo wording cited in Pei's Wei zhi commentary
Field character-verdict-wording · Witness Person Id Pei Songzhi (裴松之)
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 75, passages 342-343
Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 23, passage 154; Book of Northern Qi 28, passage 1; Book of Later Han 40, passage 187; Book of Later Han 75, passages 171, 342; Book of Later Han 76, passage 88; Book of Later Han 114, passage 312; Book of Jin 109, passage 59; Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passages 50, 214; Draft History of Qing 319, passage 110; Records of the Three Kingdoms 37, passage 199; Records of the Three Kingdoms 39, passage 40; New History of the Five Dynasties 43, passage 60
Value historical
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 71
Held the Son of Heaven and commanded the feudal lords; great ambition and did not settle private scores
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 18, passage 214

References in the histories

Search passages

History

133 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 23Volume 23 Biographies 15: Wei Langen; Cui Ling · 1 passage

Open chapter

元康曰：「嘗讀《崔琰傳》，追恨魏武不弘。 Yuankang said, "I once read the biography of Cui Yan and regretted that Wei Wu was not magnanimous.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 28Volume 28 Biographies 20: Yuan Tan (Eastern Wei); Yuan Bin; Yuan Xiaoyou; Yuan Huiye; Yuan Bi; Yuan Shao (Eastern Wei) · 1 passage

Open chapter

對曰：「數尋伊、霍之傳，不讀曹、馬之書。」 He replied, "I pore over the lives of Yi Yin and Huo Guang — not the chronicles of Cao Cao and the Sima clan."

Book of Chen, Chapter 2Volume 2: Emperor Wu 2 · 2 passages

Open chapter

雖復知人則哲，惟帝其難，光武有蔽於龐萌，魏武不知於于禁，但令朝廷無我負人。 Even the wise err in judging men—only an emperor finds it hardest. Guangwu was deceived by Pang Meng; Cao Cao misread Yu Jin. Let the court never say We wronged Our servants.

陳吏部尚書姚察曰：高祖英略大度，應變無方，蓋漢高、魏武之亞矣。 Yao Cha, Chen Director of the Ministry of Personnel, said: The Founder's genius was vast and his bearing magnanimous; he met every turn without a set plan—he was next only to Han Gaozu and Cao Cao.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 11Volume 9: Annals of Emperor Xiaoxian · 26 passages

Open chapter

東郡太守曹操大破黃巾於壽張，降之。 Cao Cao, governor of Dong commandery, shattered the Yellow Turbans at Shouzhang and took their surrender.

辛亥，鎮東將軍曹操自領司隸校尉，錄尚書事。 On xinhai Cao Cao, general who guards the east, added metropolitan commandant and control of the secretariat.

曹操殺侍中臺崇、尚書馮碩等。 Cao Cao executed Tai Chong, Feng Shuo, and other courtiers.

己巳，幸曹操營。 On jisi the emperor lodged in Cao Cao’s encampment.

冬十一月丙戌，曹操自為司空，行車騎將軍事，百官總己以聽。 On bingxu Cao Cao took the ministry of works and exercised the powers of general of chariots and cavalry; the bureaucracy answered only to him.

十二月癸酉，曹操擊呂布於徐州，斬之。 On guiyou in the twelfth month Cao Cao defeated Lu Bu in Xu province and executed him.

五年春正月，車騎將軍董承、偏將軍王服、越騎校尉种輯受密詔誅曹操，事洩。 In the first month of the fifth year Dong Cheng, Wang Fu, and Zhong Ji received a secret order to kill Cao Cao, but the plot leaked.

壬午，曹操殺董承等，夷三族。 On renwu Cao Cao executed Dong Cheng and his co-conspirators and wiped out their kin to the third degree.

曹操與袁紹戰於官度，紹敗走。 Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao at Guandu and drove him into flight.

九年秋八月戊寅，曹操大破袁尚，平冀州，自領冀州牧。 On wuyin in the eighth month Cao Cao crushed Yuan Shang, subdued Ji province, and added the title shepherd of Ji.

十年春正月，曹操破袁譚於青州，斬之。 In the first month of the tenth year Cao Cao destroyed Yuan Tan in Qing province and took his head.

三月，曹操破高幹於幷州，獲之。 In the third month Cao Cao took Gao Gan in Bing province alive.

十二年秋八月，曹操大破烏桓於柳城，斬其蹋頓。 In the eighth month of the twelfth year Cao Cao shattered the Wuhuan at Liucheng and killed their chieftain Tadun.

癸巳，曹操自為丞相。 On guisi Cao Cao took the title of chancellor.

秋七月，曹操南征劉表。 In the seventh month Cao Cao marched south against Liu Biao.

壬子，曹操殺太中大夫孔融，夷其族。 On renzi Cao Cao executed Kong Rong, the grand counselor, and wiped out his family.

是月，劉表卒，少子琮立，琮以荊州降操。 That same month Liu Biao died; his younger son Liu Cong succeeded and handed the Jing province to Cao Cao.

曹操以舟師伐孫權，權將周瑜敗之於烏林、赤壁。 Cao Cao attacked Sun Quan by water; Zhou Yu broke the northern fleet at Wulin and Chibi.

十六年秋九月庚戌，曹操與韓遂、馬超戰於渭南，遂等大敗，關西平。 In the sixteenth year, in autumn, on gengxu in the ninth month, Cao Cao fought Han Sui and Ma Chao at Weinan; Sui and his allies were badly defeated, and the lands west of the passes were pacified.

冬十月，曹操遣將夏侯淵討宋建於枹罕，獲之。 In the tenth month Cao Cao dispatched Xiahou Yuan against Song Jian at Fuhan and took him captive.

十一月丁卯，曹操殺皇后伏氏，滅其族及二皇子。 On dingmao in the eleventh month Cao Cao executed Empress Fu, her entire clan, and her two young sons.

秋七月，曹操破漢中，張魯降。 In the seventh month Cao Cao conquered Hanzhong and Zhang Lu submitted.

二十一年夏四月甲午，曹操自進號魏王。 On jiawu in the fourth month of the twenty-first year Cao Cao took the title king of Wei.

是歲，曹操殺琅邪王熙，國除。 That year Cao Cao executed Liu Xi, king of Langye, and abolished the kingdom.

二十三年春正月甲子，少府耿紀、丞相司直韋晃起兵誅曹操，不克，夷三族。 On jiazi Geng Ji and Wei Huang attempted a coup against Cao Cao and failed; both men’s kin to the third degree were slaughtered.

二十五年春正月庚子，魏王曹操薨。 In the twenty-fifth year, in spring, on gengzi in the first month, Cao Cao, King of Wei, died.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 30Volume 27: Biographies of Xuan, Zang, Two Wangs, Du, Guo, Wu, Cheng, Zheng, Zhao · 1 passage

Open chapter

建安十三年，以辟司空曹操子丕為掾，操怒，奏溫辟臣子弟，選舉不實，免官。 In Jian'an 13 he recruited Cao Pi as a clerk in the ministry of works; Cao Cao, furious, impeached him for nepotism in appointments and stripped him of office.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 40Volume 35: Biographies of Zhang, Cao, Zheng · 1 passage

Open chapter

時袁紹與曹操相拒於官度，令其子譚遣使逼玄隨軍，不得已，載病到元城縣，疾篤不進，其年六月卒，年七十四。 While Yuan Shao and Cao Cao faced off at Guandu, Yuan Tan sent men to drag him to camp; he yielded, rode sick to Yuancheng, could go no farther, and died there that sixth month at seventy-four.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 75Volume 68: Biographies of Guo, Fu, Xu · 6 passages

Open chapter

魏武造幍，其巾乃廢。 After Cao Cao of Wei introduced the formal zhao cap, the old headcloth went out of fashion.

讓以輕侮曹操，操殺之。 Bian Rang insulted Cao Cao and paid with his life.

曹操微時，常卑辭厚禮，求爲己目。 In his obscure days Cao Cao flattered Xu Shao with gifts, begging for a character appraisal.

劭鄙其人而不肯對，操乃伺隙脅劭，劭不得已，曰：「君清平之姦賊，亂世之英雄。」 Xu Shao refused until Cao cornered him; at last he said: "Under good government you would be a rogue; in chaos you are a hero."

操大恱而去。 Cao Cao left well pleased.

二二三四頁一三行君清平之奸賊亂世之英雄。 Collation: p. 2234, line 13, Xu Shao's verdict on Cao Cao.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 76Volume 69: Biographies of Dou, He · 2 passages

Open chapter

會表卒，曹操定荊州，輔與宗人徙居於鄴，辟丞相府。 Liu Biao died before the matter was closed; after Cao Cao took Jingzhou, Dou Fu and his kinsmen moved to Ye, where he received an appointment in the chancellor's bureau.

是時置西園八校尉，以小黃門蹇碩為上軍校尉，虎賁中郎將袁紹為中軍校尉，屯騎都尉鮑鴻為下軍校尉，議郎曹操為典軍校尉，趙融為助軍校尉，淳于瓊為佐軍校尉，又有左右校尉。 The court created eight Western Garden colonelcies: the eunuch Jian Shuo as senior colonel, Yuan Shao of the tiger guard as middle colonel, Bao Hong as junior colonel, Cao Cao as marshal colonel, with Zhao Rong and Chunyu Qiong as assistant and deputy colonels, plus left and right colonels.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 93Volume 82b: Biographies of Alchemists 2 · 19 passages

Open chapter

曹操闻而召佗，常在左右，操积苦头风眩，佗针，随手而差。 Cao Cao heard of him and kept him close. Plagued by blinding migraines, Cao found instant relief the moment Tuo set needle to skin.

为人性恶，难得意，且耻以医见业，又去家思归，乃就操求还取方，因托妻疾，数期不反。 Proud and restless, he scorned life as a mere doctor, longed for home, begged Cao for leave to fetch recipes, pleaded his wife's sickness, and overstayed every promised return.

操累书呼之，又敕郡县发遣，佗恃能厌事，独不肯至。 Cao wrote again and again and ordered local officials to escort him; Tuo, confident in his gift, sneered at bureaucratic errands and stayed away.

操大怒，使人廉之，知妻诈疾，乃收付狱讯，考验首服。 Cao boiled over, sent agents, learned the wife sham sick, jailed Tuo, and tortured a confession.

操不从，竟杀之。 Cao refused and executed him.

尝在司空曹操坐，操从容顾众宾曰：“今日高会，珍羞略备，所少吴松江鲈鱼耳。” Once at a banquet hosted by Minister Cao Cao, Cao surveyed his guests and said, "We have every delicacy—only the perch of the Wu-Song is missing."

操大拊掌笑，会者皆惊。 Cao roared with laughter and slapped his thighs; every guest gaped.

操曰：“一鱼不周坐席，可更得乎？” Cao said, "One fish will not feed the table—can you fetch more?"

操使目前鱠之，周浃会者。 Cao had the fish sliced on the spot and passed the platters until every guest was served.

操又谓曰：“既已得鱼，恨无蜀中生姜耳。” Cao added, "We have the fish, but no Sichuan ginger to season it."

操恐其近即所取，因曰：“吾前遣人到蜀买锦，可过敕使者，增市二端。” Fearing he would conjure the root from thin air, Cao said, "I lately sent a man to Shu for brocade—tell that envoy to add two extra bolts to his order."

语顷，即得姜还，并获操使报命。 A moment later he produced the ginger along with Cao's courier, clutching the receipt.

后操使蜀反，验问增锦之状及时日早晚，若符契焉。 When the real envoy returned from Shu, his report of the extra brocade matched Zuo's tale to the hour.

后操出近郊，士大夫从者百许人，慈乃为赍酒一升，脯一斤，手自斟酌，百官莫不醉饱。 Once Cao rode to the suburbs with a hundred officials; Zuo produced a pint of wine and a pound of jerky, poured for each man himself, and left every guest drunk and stuffed.

操怪之，使寻其故，行视诸垆，悉亡其酒脯矣。 Cao sent runners to trace the miracle—every tavern in town was missing the same wine and meat.

操怀不喜，因坐上收，欲杀之，慈乃却入壁中，霍然不知所在。 Suspicious and angry, Cao ordered his arrest at table; Zuo stepped backward into the plaster and vanished.

操知不可得，乃令就羊中告之曰：“不复相杀，本试君术耳。” Cao saw capture was futile and shouted into the flock, "No more killing—I was only testing your skill."

甘始、元放、延年皆为操所录，问其术而行之。 Cao Cao retained Gan Shi, Zuo Ci, and Yannian, questioned their regimens, and tried them himself.

曹操使领诸方士焉。 Cao Cao put him in charge of the court's roster of adepts.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 113Volume 102: Astronomy Part Three · 7 passages

Open chapter

其后丞相曹公征讨天下且三十年。 Thereafter Chancellor Cao waged war across the empire for nearly three decades.

是时上在长安，后二年东迁，明年七月，至雒阳，其八月，曹公迎上都许。 The emperor was still at Chang’an; two years later he traveled east, reached Luoyang the following seventh month, and that eighth month Cao Cao escorted him to Xu.

其年十一月，绍军为曹公所破。 In the eleventh month Cao Cao shattered Yuan Shao’s host.

七年夏，绍死，后曹公遂取冀州。 Shao died the next summer, and Cao Cao soon seized Jizhou.

曹公将伐荆州，琮惧，举军诣公降。 When Cao Cao marched on Jingzhou, Liu Cong capitulated in fear with his entire army.

明年冬，曹公遣偏将击凉州。 The next winter Cao Cao dispatched a column against Liangzhou.

二十年秋，曹公攻汉中，鲁降。 In the autumn of Jian’an 20 Cao Cao invaded Hanzhong and Zhang Lu surrendered.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 114Volume 103: Five Elements Part One · 1 passage

Open chapter

後無幾，曹公平荊州，以涿郡李立，字建賢，為荊州刺史。」 Soon Cao Cao pacified Jingzhou and made Li Li of Zhuo, styled Jianxian, provincial inspector."

Book of Later Han, Chapter 118Volume 107: Five Elements Part Five · 1 passage

Open chapter

其后曹公由庶士起。 Cao Cao, a man of humble rank, would soon rise to command the realm.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 122Volume 111: Commanderies and States Part Three · 1 passage

Open chapter

〖酸枣〗左傳鄭太叔至於廩延，杜預曰縣北有延津。襄五年會城棣，杜預曰縣西南有棣城。東有地烏巣，曹公破袁紹處。陳留志曰：「城内有韓王故宮闕。」 Suanzao: in the Zuo Tradition, Taishu of Zheng reached Linyan; Du Yu places Yanjin north of the county. In Duke Xiang 5, a meeting was held at Chengdi; Du Yu places Di city southwest of the county. East of the county was Wuchao, where Lord Cao defeated Yuan Shao. The Chenliu zhi says, “Inside the city were the old palace gates of the Han kings.”

Book of Jin, Chapter 101Volume 101 Records 1: Liu Yuanhai and Liu Xuan · 2 passages

Open chapter

魏武分其眾為五部，以豹為左部帥，其餘部帥皆以劉氏為之。 Cao Cao split the horde into five sections with Liu Bao heading the left; every other section chief was also a Liu.

黃巾海沸於九州，群閹毒流于四海，董卓因之肆其猖勃，曹操父子凶逆相尋。 Yellow Turbans boiled across the nine regions, eunuchs poisoned every quarter, Dong Zhuo ran wild, and the Caos seized power in turn.

Book of Jin, Chapter 109Volume 109 Records 9: Murong Huang · 1 passage

Open chapter

以其妻段氏為王后，世子俊為太子，皆如魏武、晉文輔政故事。 He made Lady Duan queen and Murong Jun crown prince, citing Cao Cao and Sima Zhao as precedents.

Book of Jin, Chapter 127Volume 12 Records 27: Murong De · 1 passage

Open chapter

思曰：「昔關羽見重曹公，猶不忘先主之恩。 Zhao Si said: “Formerly Guan Yu was esteemed by Cao Cao, yet still did not forget his former lord’s kindness.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 18Volume 18 Book of Later Liang 18: Biographies 8: Zhang Wenyu, Xue Yiju, Zhang Ce, Du Xiao, Jing Xiang, Li Zhen · 2 passages

Open chapter

策時在父旁，徐言曰：「建安二十五年，曹公薨，改年為延康，其年十月，文帝受漢禪，始號黃初，則是黃初元年無二月明矣。 Standing beside his father, Ce said quietly, "In Jian'an 25 Cao Cao died and the era became Yan'kang; in the tenth month of that year Emperor Wen accepted Han's abdication and first used Huangchu—so Huangchu year 1 plainly had no second month.

漢末，繡屢與曹公立敵，豈德之耶，及袁紹遣使招繡，賈詡曰：『袁家父子自不相容，何能主天下英士，曹公挾天子令諸侯，其志大，不以私仇為意，不宜疑之。』 At the end of Han, Xiu had often fought Lord Cao—would Cao have treated that as a kindness? When Yuan Shao sent envoys to recruit Xiu, Jia Xu said: 'The Yuan father and son cannot abide each other—how could they lead the realm's heroes? Lord Cao holds the Son of Heaven and commands the feudal lords; his aim is great and he does not settle private scores—you should not doubt him.'

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 60Volume 60 Book of Later Tang 36: Biographies 12: Li Xiji, Wang Jian, Li Jingyi, Lu Rubi, Li Dexiu, Su Xun · 1 passage

Open chapter

〈（《北夢瑣言》：唐末，鳳翔判官王超，推奉李茂貞，挾曹、馬之勢，箋奏文檄，恣意翱翔。 (Northern Dreams, Trivial Tales: Late in Tang, Fengxiang aide Wang Chao backed Li Maozhen and wielded power like Cao Cao and Sima Yi; his memorials and battle letters ranged freely wherever he chose.

Book of Liang, Chapter 14Volume 14: Jiang Yan; Ren Fang · 1 passage

Open chapter

淹對曰：「昔項強而劉弱，袁衆而曹寡，羽號令諸侯，卒受一劍之辱，紹跨躡四州，終爲奔北之虜。 Yan answered, "Once Xiang Yu was strong and Liu Bang weak, Yuan Shao had numbers and Cao Cao few; Yu ruled the lords yet died by one sword, Yuan held four provinces yet fled north in defeat.

Book of Liang, Chapter 20Volume 20: Liu Lijian; Chen Bozhi · 1 passage

Open chapter

朱鮪涉血於友于，張繡倳刃於愛子，漢主不以爲疑，魏君待之若舊。 Zhu Wei bloodied brotherhood; Zhang Xiu turned steel on his own son—yet the Han emperor did not doubt them, and the Wei ruler welcomed them as before.

History of Liao, Chapter 39Volume 39 Treatises 9: Geography 3 · 1 passage

Open chapter

魏武北征，縱兵大戰，降者一十餘萬，去之松漠。 On his northern campaign Cao Cao fought a major engagement; over one hundred thousand men surrendered and were removed to Songmo.

History of Liao, Chapter 40Volume 40 Treatises 10: Geography 4 · 1 passage

Open chapter

曹王山，曹操嘗駐軍於此，黍谷山，鄒衍吹律之地，南有齊長城。 Caowang Mountain, where Cao Cao once camped; Taigu Valley, where Zou Yan tested pitch pipes; to the south runs Qi's Long Wall.

History of Ming, Chapter 135Volume 135 Biographies 23: Chen Yu, Ye Dui, Fan Chang, Song Siyan, Guo Jingxiang, Yang Yuangao, Ruan Hongdao, Kong Keren · 2 passages

Open chapter

今聞察罕妄自尊大，致書明公，如曹操之招孫權。 I hear that Chaghan has grown arrogant and sent Your Excellency a letter like Cao Cao's invitation to Sun Quan.

竊以元運將終，人心不屬，而察罕欲效操所為，事勢不侔。 I believe the Yuan mandate is near its end and the people's hearts are no longer with it, yet Chaghan wishes to play Cao Cao's part—the situation does not match.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 2Volume 2 Annals 2: Emperor Gao of Southern Qi 2 · 1 passage

Open chapter

魏武初起義兵，所期「征西」之墓； Cao Cao, when he first took up arms, aimed no higher than the grave that read "Campaign West";

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 16Volume 16 Treatises 8: Official Posts · 1 passage

Open chapter

魏、晉世州牧隆重，刺史任重者爲使持節都督，輕者爲持節督，起漢從帝時，御史中丞馮赦討九江賊，督揚、徐二州軍事，而何、徐《宋志》云起魏武遣諸州將督軍，王珪之《職儀》云起光武，竝非也。 Under Wei and Jin, provincial governors were honored posts; inspectors with heavy responsibility became commissioners bearing the staff of authority and military overseers, lighter ones commissioners bearing the staff and supervisors. The office began under Emperor Shun of Han, when Censor-in-chief Feng She campaigned against Jiujiang bandits and directed Yang and Xu military affairs; but He and Xu's Song Treatise dates it to Cao Cao's dispatch of provincial generals to oversee troops, and Wang Guizhi's Protocol of Offices dates it to Emperor Guangwu—all are mistaken.

Book of Southern Qi, Chapter 34Volume 34 Biographies 15: Yu Wanzhi, Liu Xiu, Shen Chong, Yu Gaozhi, Wang Chen · 1 passage

Open chapter

是以崔琰之譏魏武，謝安之論京師。 That is why Cui Yan reproached Cao Cao, and Xie An argued over the capital.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 319Volume 319 Biographies 106: Yu Minzhong, He Shen Son: Feng Shenyinde, Younger Brother: He Lin, Su Linga · 1 passage

Open chapter

諸劾和珅者比於操、莽。 Those who impeached He Shen compared him to Cao Cao and Wang Mang.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 31Volume 31: Book of Shu 1: Biographies of the Two Governor Lius · 9 passages

Open chapter

璋聞曹公徵荊州，已定漢中，遣河內陰溥致敬於曹公。 When Liu Zhang learned that Cao Cao was moving on Jingzhou and had already taken Hanzhong, he sent Yin Pu of Henei with gifts to court Cao’s favor.

璋復遣別駕從事蜀郡張肅送叟兵三百人並雜御物於曹公，曹公拜肅為廣漢太守。 Liu Zhang next dispatched chief clerk Zhang Su of Shu with three hundred veteran troops and assorted tribute. Cao Cao rewarded him with the grand administrator’s seal of Guanghan.

璋復遣別駕張松詣曹公，曹公時已定荊州，走先主，不復存錄松，松以此怨。 He then sent chief clerk Zhang Song. By then Cao Cao had overrun Jingzhou and routed Liu Bei; he treated Zhang Song with cold neglect, and Song nursed a grudge.

會曹公軍不利於赤壁，兼以疫死。 Then came Cao Cao’s defeat at Red Cliffs and the epidemic that decimated his army.

松還，疵毀曹公，勸璋自絕， Zhang Song returned to paint Cao Cao in the worst colors and urge Liu Zhang to break with the north,

〈《漢書春秋》曰：張松見曹公，曹公方自矜伐，不存錄松。〈The Springs and Autumns of the Han Book records: Zhang Song found Cao Cao swollen with pride over his victories and dismissive of him.

松歸，乃勸璋自絕。 On his return he pressed Liu Zhang to cut ties with Cao Cao.

習鑿齒曰：昔齊桓一矜其功而叛者九國，曹操暫自驕伐而天下三分，皆勤之於數十年之內而棄之於俯仰之頃，豈不惜乎！ Xi Zuochi comments: Duke Huan’s single burst of vanity cost him nine allies; Cao Cao’s moment of swagger cost him the unity of the empire. Decades of toil undone in an instant—could anything be more wasteful?

君子是以知曹操之不能遂兼天下者也。〉 From this the gentleman sees why Cao Cao could never finish the conquest of the realm.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 33Volume 33: Book of Shu 3: Biography of the Later Lord · 3 passages

Open chapter

《魏略》曰：初備在小沛，不意曹公卒至，遑遽棄家屬，後奔荊州。 The Brief Account of Wei records that Bei was at Xiaopei when Lord Cao suddenly appeared; he fled in haste, abandoning his family, and later escaped to Jing Province.

曹操階禍，竊執天衡，殘剝海內，懷無君之心。 Cao Cao climbed in on the chaos, seized the levers of state, ravaged the realm, and nursed treason against his sovereign.

我太祖承運龍興，弘濟八極，是用應天順民，撫有區夏。 Our dynastic founder caught heaven's mandate like a rising dragon, brought peace to the farthest corner, answered both heaven and the people, and took the Central States in hand.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 34Volume 34: Book of Shu 4: Biographies of Concubines and Sons of the Two Lords · 1 passage

Open chapter

值曹公軍至，追及先主於當陽長阪，於時困偪，棄後及後主，賴趙雲保護，得免於難。 When Cao Cao’s host caught Liu Bei at Changban in Dangyang, the retreat was so desperate that he abandoned Lady Gan and the boy; only Zhao Yun’s shielding brought them through alive.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 37Volume 37: Book of Shu 7: Biographies of Pang Tong and Fa Zheng · 14 passages

Open chapter

〈《九州春秋》曰：統說備曰：「荊州荒殘，人物殫盡，東有吳孫，北有曹氏，鼎足之計，難以得志。〈The Annals of the Nine Provinces records Tong urging Liu Bei: “Jingzhou is ruined and depopulated; Sun Quan bars you east and Cao Cao presses north—the three-way balance will be hard to achieve.

備曰：「今指與吾為水火者，曹操也，操以急，吾以寬； Liu Bei replied, “My nemesis is Cao Cao: he drives men hard; I treat them gently;

操以暴，吾以仁； he is cruel; I am humane;

操以譎，吾以忠； he is treacherous; I am sincere;

每與操反，事乃可成耳。 I set myself against him in every way—that is how success is won.

曹公之破荊州，林婦與林分隔，守養弱女十有餘年，後林隨黃權降魏，始復集聚。 After Cao Cao seized Jingzhou, Lin’s wife lived apart from him for over a decade, raising their young daughter alone; once Lin crossed to Wei with Huang Quan, husband and wife were finally reunited.

松於荊州見曹公還，勸璋絕曹公而自結先主。 After Song returned from meeting Cao Cao in Jingzhou, he urged Liu Zhang to renounce Cao and ally with Liu Bei.

後因璋聞曹公欲遣將征張魯之有懼心也，松遂說璋宜迎先主，使之討魯，復令正銜命。 When Liu Zhang heard Cao Cao might march on Zhang Lu and began to panic, Song argued for inviting Liu Bei to attack Zhang Lu and sent Fa Zheng once more with the summons.

亮答曰：「主公之在公安也，北畏曹公之強，東憚孫權之逼，近則懼孫夫人生變於肘腋之下； Zhuge Liang answered: “When our lord sheltered at Gong’an he dreaded Cao Cao north, Sun Quan east, and Lady Sun plotting beside him;

二十二年，正說先主曰：「曹操一舉而降張魯，定漢中，不因此勢以圖巴、蜀，而留夏侯淵、張郃屯守，身遽北還，此非其智不逮而力不足也，必將內有憂偪故耳。 In 217 Fa Zheng told Liu Bei: “Cao Cao crushed Zhang Lu and took Hanzhong but did not push into Ba–Shu—only Yuan and He remain while he races north; either crisis grips his rear or he lacks nerve.

之克克之之日，廣農積谷，觀釁伺隙，上可以傾覆寇敵，尊獎王室，中可以蠶食雍、涼，廣拓境土，下可以固守要害，為持久之計。 Once Hanzhong falls, farm it, fill granaries, watch for gaps—best case you topple Cao and uphold the Han; mid case you bite into Yong and Liang; worst case you lock the choke points for a long defense.

曹公西征，聞正之策，曰：「吾故知玄德不辦有此，必為人所教也。」 Hearing the plan, Cao Cao sneered, “I knew Liu Bei could not think this up alone—some adviser fed him.”

魏武以為人所教，亦豈劣哉！ Even if someone else had advised him, as Emperor Wu of Wei believed, would that make him any less capable?

〈先主與曹公爭，勢有不便，宜退，而先主大怒不肯退，無敢諫者。〈Once, opposing Cao Cao, Liu Bei ought to have retreated but raged and stayed—no one dared speak.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 39Volume 39: Book of Shu 9: Biographies of Dong, Liu, Ma, Chen, Dong, and Lü · 6 passages

Open chapter

表卒，曹公徵荊州。 After Liu Biao’s death, Cao Cao marched on Jing Province.

先主奔江南，荊、楚群士從之如雲，而巴北詣曹公。 While Liu Bei withdrew south of the Yangzi with a host of Jing literati at his heels, Liu Ba traveled north to submit to Cao Cao.

曹公闢為掾，使招納長沙、零陵、桂陽。 Cao Cao enrolled him on staff and sent him to win over Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang.

〈零陵先賢傳曰：曹公敗於烏林，還北時，欲遣桓階，階辭不如巴。〈The Traditions of Former Worthies of Lingling records that after Cao Cao’s defeat at Wulin, as he withdrew north, he meant to send Huan Jie on the mission, but Huan Jie demurred and recommended Liu Ba instead.

巴謂曹公曰：「劉備據荊州，不可也。」 Liu Ba warned Cao Cao: "We cannot allow Liu Bei to hold Jing Province."

公曰：「備如相圖，孤以六軍繼之也。」〉 Cao Cao replied: "If he moves against me, I’ll bring six armies down on him."〉

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 62Volume 62: Book of Wu 17: Biographies of Shi Yi and Hu Zong · 7 passages

Open chapter

臣質志薄，處時無方，繫於土壤，不能翻飛，遂為曹氏執事戎役。 I, Wu Zhi, am a man of small ambition, pinned to the north with no way to fly free, and so I serve the Cao house in arms.

臣昔為曹氏所見交接，外托群臣，內如骨肉，恩義綢繆，有合無離，遂受偏方之任，總河北之軍。 I was once taken in by the Cao house—outwardly a minister, inwardly treated like kin; our bond was close and unbroken, and I received a frontier command over the Hebei armies.

當此之時，志望高大，永與曹氏同死懼生。 In those days my ambition was high; I meant to live and die with the Cao house.

及曹氏之亡，後嗣繼位，幼沖統政，讒言彌興。 After Cao Cao's death the heir took the throne—a child in power—and slander multiplied.

且臣質又以曹氏之嗣，非天命所在，政弱刑亂，柄奪於臣，諸將專威於外，各自為政，莫或同心，士卒衰耗，帑藏空虛，綱紀毀廢，上下並昏，想前後數得降叛，具聞此問，兼弱攻昧，宜應天時，此實陛下進取之秋。 I also judge the Cao heir not Heaven's choice—weak rule, chaotic law, power held by ministers; generals rule their own domains abroad without unity; troops waste away and coffers stand empty; order is broken and court and country are blind. Your Majesty has heard this from many deserters: strike the weak while fortune favors you—this is your moment to advance.

其三曰：“昔遠子捨袁就曹，規畫計較，應見納受，遂破袁軍，以定曹業。 The third reads: "When Xu You left Yuan Shao for Cao Cao, his counsel was heeded, Yuan's host was broken, and Cao's power was secured.

向使曹氏不信子遠，懷疑猶豫，不決於心，則今天下袁氏有也。 Had Cao Cao doubted Xu You and hesitated, the realm would belong to the Yuans today.

History of Song, Chapter 359Volume 359 Biographies 118: Li Gang 2 · 2 passages

Open chapter

故以魏武之雄，苻堅、石勒之眾，宇文、拓拔之盛，卒不能窺江表。 Thus even the prowess of Cao Cao, the vast hosts of Fu Jian and Shi Le, and the power of the Yuwen and Tuoba clans could not in the end threaten the lands south of the Yangzi.

曹操、袁紹戰於官渡，操雖兵弱糧乏，荀彧止其退避； When Cao Cao and Yuan Shao fought at Guandu, though Cao's army was weak and supplies short, Xun Yu dissuaded him from retreat.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 84Volume 84 Biographies 9: Li, Mi · 1 passage

Open chapter

玄感問密，密曰：「昔張耳諫陳勝自王，荀彧止魏武求九錫，皆見疑外。 Xuangan asked Mi for his view. Mi said, "In the past Zhang Er admonished Chen Sheng against proclaiming himself king, and Xun Yu stopped Cao Cao from seeking the Nine Bestowments—both were viewed with suspicion from without.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 35Volume 35 Biographies 15: Zhan Wenyu, Yang She, Zhang Ce, Zhao Guangfeng, Xue Yiju, Su Xun · 1 passage

Open chapter

同以為奇，策時年十三，居同側，啟曰：「漢建安二十五年，曹公薨，改元延康。 Tong thought it marvelous; Ce, thirteen, at his side said, “In Han’s twenty-fifth Jian’an year Lord Cao died and the era became Yankang.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 43Volume 43 Miscellaneous Biographies 23: Shi Shucong, Li Yanwei, Li Zhen, Pei Di, Wei Zhen, Kong Xun, Sun Dezhao, Wang Jingrao, Jiang Yin · 1 passage

Open chapter

繡與曹公為敵，然不歸袁紹而歸曹公者，知其志大，不以私讎殺人也。 Xiu fought Cao Cao yet chose Cao over Yuan Shao—because he knew Cao’s mind was large and would not murder over old scores.

Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Chapter 138Volume 138 Qi Records 4 · 2 passages

Open chapter

昔魏武以弊卒一萬破袁紹，謝玄以步兵三千摧苻秦，勝負之變，決於須臾，不在眾寡也。」 In the past Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao with ten thousand exhausted troops, and Xie Xuan crushed the army of Former Qin with three thousand infantry—the outcome turns in a moment, not on numbers alone."

魏武之勝，蓋由仗順，苻氏之敗，亦由失政； Cao Cao won because he had justice on his side, and the Fu clan fell because it lost the way of governance;