Cao Zhang was Cao Pi's half-brother, fierce and strong, and had coveted the throne of the Crown Prince many times. Not surprisingly, three years after Cao Cao's death (223), Cao Zhang, in his prime, was only thirty-five years old.
Whether at that time or in later generations, historians blamed Cao Pi for Cao Zhang's death, and there are relevant records in the "Wei Shi Chunqiu" and the "New Language of the World", which can be seen that it is not empty.
In fact, Cao Zhang's death, the disaster of Emperor Wen, is indeed beyond doubt. Chen Shou wrote a lot in the "Biography of the King of Rencheng" and could not be hidden.
As Cao Pi's half-brothers, Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi both have the heart to win the wife. The difference is that Cao Zhi is not known for his military merits, while Cao Zhang, who is not only famous in battle, but also once mastered Cao Wei's army. This easily attracted Cao Pi's suspicions.
In addition, Cao Zhang," who "did not read and admire the Tao of Worship", did not understand the lessons of the rise and fall of the previous generation, could not objectively look at the political environment at that time, and continued to indulge and restrain after Cao Cao's death; it also laid the groundwork for his tragic fate.
This article wants to explore the tragic roots of Cao Zhang on the existing historical materials.
This article totals 5200 words and takes 10 minutes to read
Cao Zhang's military prowess and prestige
Cao Zhang possessed extremely outstanding military prowess and was the best brother of his generation. This is the reason why Cao Zhang was favored by Cao Cao, and it was also the reason why Cao Zhang was jealous of Cao Pi.
According to the "Biography of the King of Rencheng", Cao Zhang's "little good at shooting the emperor, with superior strength, fierce beasts in his hands, not avoiding dangers and obstacles", is almost Lü Bu and Ma Chao's Lun, fierce and brave.
Ren Chengwei Wang Zhang, ziwen. Less good at shooting, with superior strength, hand-held beasts, and does not avoid dangers and obstacles. --Book of Wei Biography of King Renchengwei
At the same time, Cao Zhang not only has excellent physical fitness and fighting skills, but also "counts from the conquest, and is generous in his intentions", accumulating valuable experience in the battlefield.
(Cao Zhang) counted from the conquest, and was generous in his intentions. --Book of Wei Biography of King Renchengwei
Although during his lifetime, Cao Cao repeatedly took his sons (including Cao Ang, Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, and Cao Zhang) with him on expeditions, but in terms of military talent, none of them were as good as Cao Zhang.
In the twenty-third year of Jian'an (218), When Daigun Rebelled, Cao Cao sent Cao Zhang to lead an army to negotiate. Accompanying them were Xiahou Shang, who "rode from conquest", and Tian Yu, who was known for his "power plot". Both accompanied them as adjutants.
Dai Commandery rebelled against Hu and sent Marquis (Cao) of Yanling to requisition it, and (Xiahou) shang participated in the military. --Book of Wei, Biography of Xiahou Shang
Marquis (曹) of Yanling (曹) Zhangzheng Dai Commandery (鄢陵侯) (曹) Zhangzheng Dai Commandery (田) 豫( --"Wei Shu Tian Yu Biography"
In this battle, Cao Zhang's brilliance was brilliant, he fought on his own, and the strings were not vain, "a few arrows in the armor, the spirit is strong, taking advantage of the victory to chase the north, as for Sangqian, go to the generation of more than two hundred miles." World War I made a name for itself and shocked it at the time.
(Cao Zhang) fights with himself, shoots hu and rides, and falls back and forth in response to the strings. Halfway through the battle, several arrows were shot in the armor, and his spirit was stronger. --Book of Wei Biography of King Renchengwei
Cao Zhang's body fought himself, and he counted several arrows in his armor, and his spirit became stronger
Cao Zhang was not only bold in the battle, but also "gave soldiers a great gift" after the war, and knew the truth of enveloping soldiers. After the Karasuma Rebellion was settled, the Xianbei Lord Kebi was able to hear Cao Zhangwei's name, "It is please serve", so the north was determined.
Shōnai Betsuko gave the soldiers, and the soldiers were all pleased. When the Humble Lord Kebi can ride tens of thousands of horses to see the strength and weakness, see the strength of the battle, all directions are broken, but please obey. --Book of Wei Biography of King Renchengwei
In view of this, the following year (219), when Cao Cao went to Hanzhong to attack Liu Bei, he took Cao Zhang with him on a campaign. Liu Bei sent his adopted son Liu Feng to challenge him, and Cao Cao said, "Wait for me to come to Huang Su", which shows how important Cao Zhang was in Cao Cao's heart at that time.
Taizu scolded: "Sell the house, and make the fake son refuse to be rude!" Wait for me to come to the yellow whiskers, and order them to strike. --Wei Liu
It is more noteworthy that Cao Zhang's title. When he conquered Karasuma, he was the "General of the Northern Nakaro General".
Twenty-three years later, Daigun Karasuma rebelled, with Akira as the general of the Northern Middle Lang and the general of the Horse Riders. --Book of Wei Biography of King Renchengwei
Among them, the temporary nature of the "Northern Zhonglang General" is stronger, and in the past (184) Lu Zhi's crusade against the Yellow Turban was to lead the army as the Northern Zhonglang General. This position was not available to the Changzhong Lang generals (left, right, and five senses) under Guanglu Xun, and should have been temporarily set up by Cao Cao in order to fight karasuma.
Emperor Ling sent Lu Zhi to negotiate Zhang Jiao, Zuo Zhonglang to ask Huang Fusong, and Right Zhonglang to ask Zhu Juan for the Yellow Turban of Yingchuan. --Book of the Later Han Dynasty, Chronicle of the Ling Emperor
The Xiao Cavalry General was unique to Cao Wei and belonged to the Chinese army system, that is, the general of the Forbidden Army. Cao Wei's Chinese military system was different from that of the two Han Dynasties, with the Zhongling (leading general) leading the army and controlling the three battalions of Zhonglei, Zhongjian, and Wuwei and the five lieutenant battalions; the Zhonghu Army (escort general) was elected as a military attaché; the general Xiao Qi led the camp, and the high meritorious person ranked among them.
Note: The military system of Cao Wei, see Huang Huixian's "Traces of the Origin of Cao Wei's Chinese Army".
Among them, the "line" of "Xingxiao Riding General" has the meaning of temporary agent, which shows that Cao Zhang should officially take up his post in Cao Wei's army, and indeed led the forbidden army; it was only because the Northern Expedition to Dai County, far away from Duqi, could not take into account the duties of the canon and protect the Chinese army, which was renamed "Xingxiao Riding General".
In the early days, Cao Wei's military attachés were mainly appointed by the Sons of Xiahou Cao and Pei Pei, and Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, Xiahou Shang, Xiahou Shu, Xu Chu, and Huan Fan all had records of serving in the Chinese army.
According to this inference, Cao Zhang should have indeed served as a general of the Xiao Cavalry, and he also had a certain degree of popularity and influence in the Forbidden Army.
North of Cao Zhang, Zhonglang will be a general on horseback and woo Karasuma
To sum up, Cao Zhang was not only tough and good at fighting, but also deeply popular among the Chinese army and the border army, and even did not lose to Tian Yu and Xiahou Shang, who had been fighting for a long time, in terms of performance against the enemy.
More importantly, Cao Zhang was also deeply loved by Cao Cao. After the Battle of Hanzhong (219), Cao Cao returned to Luoyang, while Cao Zhang was stationed in Chang'an. Chang'an was the imperial capital of the Western Han Dynasty and one of the five capitals of Cao Wei (Luoyang, Chang'an, Yixian, Xuxian, and Chenxian), and its status was self-evident.
Taizu Dong also remained in Chang'an to show the general of the Yue Horse. --Book of Wei Biography of King Renchengwei
However, a prince who is not a prince (or the heir of the actual ruler), once he has excellent military ability, will often attract the suspicion of the heir.
Li Shimin in the early Tang Dynasty, Zhu Gaoxu in the early Ming Dynasty, and Yin Yu in the middle of the Qing Dynasty were all troubled by this. Li Shimin can get away with it; but most historical figures do not have Li Shimin's strength and luck, and Cao Zhang is the same.
Cao Pi's attitude towards Cao Zhang changed
Although Cao Zhang was brave and fierce, he "did not read and worship the Sacred Tao" and lacked the ability to engage in politics, so he was not regarded as a competitor by Cao Pi for a long time.
Taizu tasted and said, "Ru does not read and admire the Sacred Dao, but is good at fencing on a sweat horse, and the use of this husband is he zuguiye!" "--Book of Wei, Biography of King Wei of Rencheng"
For Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, who "sees differences with talent", is his number one enemy. As for Cao Zhang, he was just a hero of Pifu and did not have enough to worry about.
(Cao) Zhi is different from talent, and Ding Yi, Ding Xi, Yang Xiu, etc. are wings. Taizu fox doubted, a few for the prince of the number of people. --The Book of Wei and the Biography of King Chen Si
During Cao Cao's lifetime, Cao Pi not only did not show hostility toward Cao Zhang, but even repeatedly drew him over.
For example, in the twenty-third year of Jian'an (218), Cao Zhang's crusade against karasuma banshi, Cao Pi took the initiative to suggest that Cao Zhang "give credit to the generals" to show his heart. Cao Zhang, from his words, was praised by Cao Cao.
Zhangzi passed on behalf of Yi, and the crown prince (Cao Pi) said of Zhangyue: "Qing Xin has meritorious service, and now that he is in the west, it is advisable not to cut himself down, and to deal with those who are often insufficient." "Manifested, as the prince said, to the generals." Taizu hi. --Book of Wei Biography of King Renchengwei
The twenty-third year of Jian'an (218) is a special time node, because the previous year (217) coincided with the same year that Cao Pi was made crown prince of Wei. When Cao Pizhi is satisfied, it is not difficult to understand that he makes some gestures and shows his brothers and brothers.
In 22 years, he was made the Prince of Wei. --Book of Wei, Chronicle of Emperor Wen
However, Cao Pi ultimately underestimated Cao Zhang's political ambitions. Cao Zhang's performance after Cao Cao's death also doomed him to a tragic end.
In the first month of the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an (220), Cao Cao fell ill and died in Luoyang. Cao Pi remained in the Wei capital of Ye County at that time; Cao Zhang was in Chang'an, each on one side, and the situation was uncertain.
Before Cao Pi could leave, Cao Zhang arrived in Luoyang first and tried to threaten Jia Kui, who was presiding over the funeral, to hand over the Wei king XiShou. This record is found in the "Biography of Jia Kui" and the "Spring and Autumn of the Wei Dynasty", which can be known to be true.
Taizu began to Luoyang, and Kuidian mourned. Marquis Zhang of Yanling came from Chang'an and asked where The Seal of Kuixian was. --The Biography of Wei Shu and Jia Kui
In the beginning, zhang asked the seal, there will be different aspirations. --"Wei's Spring and Autumn"
Cao Zhang, from Chang'an, went to mourning and asked where the former king Xi Shuo was
In addition, the "Biography of Chen Jiao" also records that after Cao Cao's death, the master advised Cao Pi to take the throne early, on the grounds that Luoyang had "(the former king)'s beloved son on the side, and they changed each other, then the society was in danger."
(Chen) Jiao: "Wang (referring to Cao Cao) was outside (referring to Luoyang), and the whole world was afraid. The crown prince (referring to Cao Pi) should take the throne in order to be distant and near. And if the beloved son is on the side, and they change with each other, the society is in danger. "--Wei Shu, Chen Jiao's Biography"
The Wei Luo also records that after Cao Zhang's arrival in Luoyang (220), he encouraged Cao Zhi, who was also in Luoyang, to take the throne, but Cao Zhi remained sober, rejected Cao Zhang's proposal, and laid the foundation for his future good end.
Zhangzhi said, "The one who summoned me before the king wanted to establish Ruye." Zhi Yue: "No." I don't see the Yuan brothers! --Wei Liu
In this context, after Cao Pi arrived in Luoyang, he immediately seized Cao Zhang's military power, forced the other side to return to the fiefdom, and changed Cao Zhang's fiefdom from Yanling to Zhongmu.
Emperor Wen was the throne, and Zhang and the princes were on the throne. --Book of Wei Biography of King Renchengwei
And (Wen) Emperor was enthroned as the King of Zhongmu. - "Wei Luo"
Yanling County is in Yingchuan County, which belongs to YuZhou, and Zhongmu County is in Henan County, which belongs to Sizhou. Cao Pi then moved the capital from Yi County to Luoyang, and Zhongmu and Luoyang belonged to Henan and were very close.
In the past (189) Dong Zhuo entered the capital, Cao Cao went out of the Guandong, it was arrested in Zhongmu County, it can be seen that Cao Pi changed Cao Zhang's fiefdom, in fact, to arrange the other party under the eyes and control it.
Taizu is changing his name and returning to the east. Out of the customs, through the Middle Mou, suspected by the pavilion chief, the county. --Book of Wei, Chronicle of Emperor Wu
Unfortunately, after being beaten, Cao Zhang did not reform himself, but instead intensified his tyranny, which eventually led to his tragic end.
Death of Cao Zhang
After Cao Pi succeeded to the throne, he specially set up a kind of cool official to deal with the princes, called "overseers of the state", who looked forward to the wind and accepted the will, and were more vicious than the ministers of state of the two Han Dynasties.
For example, in the year after Cao Pi's succession (221), Cao Zhi drank too much wine in the fiefdom and spoke in a slightly intemperate manner, and was fiercely impeached by the overseers of the state. After Cao Pi reprimanded him, he "gave up without being cursed."
In the second year of the Huang Dynasty, the overseer of the state, Guan Junxi (adhering to Cao Pi's will), played "(Cao) Planted Drunkenness and Slowness, Robbing messengers". There is a priest who asks for punishment. --The Book of Wei and the Biography of King Chen Si
Ue, the half-brother of Shuzhi. Nothing is tolerated in the world, and the situation is planted? Flesh and blood relatives, giving up but not condemning, they are resealed. --Wang Shen, Book of Wei
From the description of "giving up and not condemning", it is not difficult to see that Cao Zhi's original agreed crime was the death penalty, which is evident in the nature of the overseers.
In the fourth year of the Huang Dynasty (223), Cao Zhi went to Luoyang to pay homage to Cao Pi, and when he returned to the feudal state, he wanted to return to the east with his brother Cao Biao, the King of White Horse, but the overseers of the state "did not listen" and the matter was stopped. Cao Zhi "meant poison and hatred" and wrote the famous article "Gift to the White Horse Wang Biao", and the poem has been handed down to this day.
It is time to treat the laws of the nations. Rencheng King Tyrannosaurus. The kings were in pain with their friends. Zhi and the White Horse King Biao returned to the country, wanting to return to the east with the same road, in order to think about the separation, but the emissaries of the prison did not listen. --"Wei's Spring and Autumn"
Considering that Cao Zhi's henchmen Yang Xiu, Ding Yi, and others had long been cut off, he did not need to be so closely monitored. In other words, Cao Pi's original intention in setting up the Overseer of the State was probably not against Cao Zhi, but against Cao Zhang.
After Cao Zhang lost his military power, he did not feel at ease to be an idle rich man, and he was not even willing to be controlled by the prisoners of state. During his tenure in Zhongmu, Henan, he showed extreme untamedness.
For example, when Cao Pi replaced Cao Zhang's fiefdom and sent the other party to the country, Cao Zhang was "very displeased and did not wait to be dispatched", which was tantamount to great disrespect.
The crown prince is established, buried, and sent to the kingdom of Zhang. In the beginning, Zhangzi saw the merits of the previous king... I was very unhappy and did not wait to be sent away. - "Wei Luo"
Emperor Wen and Cao Zhangyi were very displeased and did not wait to be sent away
In the Zhongmu fiefdom, Cao Zhang was also notorious. When Cao Pi moved to Xuchang, he summoned the sons of Emperor Tongzong to the court, and as a result, the princes of the Cao clan "feared the severity of Zhangzhi; every time they passed zhongmu, they did not dare to be unhurried." The ferocity and violence reached this point, which showed that even Zhongmu's overseers could not control Cao Zhang.
It was the hou da who was fortunate to be Xu Chang, and the princes of the Northern Prefecture were all afraid of Zhangzhi's rigidity; every time he passed zhongmu, he did not dare to be unhurried. - "Wei Luo"
Cao Pi also tried to enlist Cao Zhang, increasing the number of other parties' food from 5,000 to 10,000 households, hoping that the other party would rest assured. Compared with Cao Zhi's 2,500 households, Cao Zhang's ten thousand households cannot be described as honorable.
(Emperor Wen) edicted: "The way of the first king, the yongxun pro-kin... Zeng (Cao Zhang) Yi 5,000, and the first 10,000 households. "--Book of Wei, Biography of King Wei of Rencheng"
(Huang Chu) three years, Li (Cao Zhi) as the king of Juancheng, Yi 2,500 households. --The Book of Wei and the Biography of King Chen Si
However, Cao Zhang always hoped that he could be "approved", that is, re-enabled. According to Cao Zhang's ability traits, he should be able to regain military power. Of course, this could not have been agreed by Cao Pi.
In the beginning, Zhangzi saw that the previous king had meritorious service, and he hoped to see the appointment and use it. - "Wei Luo"
After a series of bribery policies did not achieve the expected results, Cao Pi finally made up his mind to cut off hidden dangers.
In the third year of the Huang Dynasty (222), Cao Zhang was renamed to Rencheng in Yanzhou, and in the fourth year (223) he was summoned to Luoyang, and the princes of the Cao clan were also recruited (see The Biography of King Si of Chen).
After Cao Zhang arrived at the Luoyang pavilion, he "died without warning" without warning. He was only thirty-five years old.
For three years, he was made the King of Rencheng. Four years, towards Kyoto, sick in the mansion. --Book of Wei Biography of King Renchengwei
After Cao Zhang's violent death (223), Cao Zhi, who had also gone to Luoyang, was frightened and took the initiative to write a humble and flattering word to Cao Pi, hoping to avoid disaster.
For four years, he was enfeoffed as the King of Yongqiu. Its year, towards Kyoto. (Cao Zhi) Shang Shu Yue: "The subjects themselves are holding their own quarrels and returning to the domain, carving their muscles and bones, remembering their sins, eating during the day, and sleeping at night..." --Book of Wei, Biography of King Chen Si
Cao Zhi's writings are found in the Biography of King Si of Chen, which has a thousand words up and down, which is longer than Zhuge Liang's "Table of Teachers". It is full of contemptuous and humble words such as "orders from the dangerous body, contentment and avoidance", "late worship of the holy face, such as thirst and hunger", and the respect for Cao Pi is beyond repetition, reflecting the special historical background on the side.
Regarding the specific process of Cao Zhang's murder, Chen Shou, out of consideration for His Holiness, is not mentioned in the "Biography of King Wei of Wei", and the rest of the historians have different opinions.
The Spring and Autumn of the Wei Dynasty states that Cao Zhang was treated coldly by Cao Pi and was therefore "angry and violent"; the "New Language of the World" says that Cao Pi summoned Cao Zhang to drink alcohol, secretly poisoned the jujube in the wine, and secretly executed the other party.
(Cao Zhang) comes to the dynasty and does not see it. Show anger and rage. --"Wei's Spring and Autumn"
Emperor Wen of Wei was jealous of his brother Xiao Zhuang the Prince of Rencheng, because he was in Empress Bian's court to play Go and eat dates. Emperor Wen poisoned the jujube and chose the ones to eat. Wang (referring to Cao Zhang) Fu Wu and mixed in. - "The World Speaks a New Language"
Cao Pi poisoned zhu judi, and Cao Zhangzhi ate it, Xue
After Cao Zhang's violent death, Empress Bian angrily rebuked Cao Pi, saying, "Ru has killed me rencheng and must not kill me again." Ren Cheng refers to Cao Zhang, and Dong Ah refers to Cao Zhi, which shows that this matter is by no means empty.
The empress dowager said, "Ru has already killed me Rencheng, and he must not kill me again." --"The World Speaks a New Language"
Regardless of the specific cause of Cao Zhang's death, judging from his physical fitness, the time of death, and the reactions of Cao Zhi and others who were also in Luoyang, there is no doubt that he encountered Cao Pi's poisonous hands. It's just that the matter involves secrecy, and historians have to avoid it.
brief summary
A large part of Cao Zhang's life tragedy stems from his "not reading and worshipping the Tao". If Cao Zhang paid a little attention to the history of books, he could at least learn the lessons of the rise and fall of the previous princes, and would not be delusional about the position of King of Wei.
In fact, from Cao Pi's initiative to overture in the twenty-third year of Jian'an (218), it can be seen that Cao Pi had a lot of support for this rough and warlike brother, at least not particularly; even after Cao Zhang's conspiracy to seize the throne, Cao Pi's way of dealing with it was only to repatriate the feudal state and strictly monitor it.
It was not until Cao Zhang was stubborn and did not change his teachings, that Cao Pi finally killed the killer, and deliberately gathered the princes and kings in Kyoto to show his heavenly might and set an example.
It is time to treat the laws of the nations. King Rencheng (Cao Zhang) was violent. The kings were in pain with their friends. - "Wei Luo"
In addition, Cao Zhang's strength was superior and his prestige in the military was very high; this further deepened Cao Pi's suspicion of him.
If Cao Zhang only has ambition and no strength, he can actually avoid a tragic end. For example, Cao Zhang's son Cao Kai (曹楷), in the third year of the Qinglong Dynasty (235), privately contacted the Shangfang Bureau to manufacture royal utensils, but after the incident, he was only stripped of his food and was not executed.
In the third year of Qinglong, (Cao) Kai sat in the private dispatch of the official Shangfang as a forbidden object, cutting 2,000 households in the county. --Book of Wei Biography of King Renchengwei
Cao Zhang, ambitious and powerful, lacked political wisdom, and after Cao Cao's death, he still prided himself on his work and did not know how to restrain himself; he also miscalculated the situation at that time because he did not read poetry and did not know historical events, which eventually led to a tragic end.
From the perspective of latecomers, even Cao Zhi, Cao Pi's sworn enemy, was able to save his life in the early Huang Dynasty (220-226) and live until the ming emperor's time, while Cao Zhang, a brother who had been deliberately wooed by Cao Pi, eventually died at the hands of his brother. It's a shame.
I am Fat Mi, the original author of the history of the headline number. Talk about historical anecdotes and focus on the history of the Three Kingdoms. From the clues in Shi Hai's sinking hook and the Yoshimitsu katayu, to analyze the hidden meaning behind the unfolding.
Thanks for reading.