The Five Sons of Liang refers to the five generals of the Cao Wei forces during the Three Kingdoms period, namely Zhang Liao, Le Jin, Yu Ban, Zhang Guo, and Xu Huang. When Chen Shou, the author of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, wrote the Seventeenth Volume of the Book of Wei, he passed on the five people together, so modern people call them "Five Sons of Liangjun" or "Five Sons of Wei". In the process of the establishment of Cao Wei, Zhang Liao, Le Jin, Yu Ban, Zhang Gao, and Xu Huang undoubtedly made great military achievements and received official titles and knighthoods. So, the question is, Cao Wei's five sons are good generals, who has the highest official position? Who has the highest title?
Ranked: high to low
I. Zhang Gao (General of the Zhengxi Che Rider)
Zhang Gao (?) –231), courtesy name Juanqi (儁乂), was a native of Juan County, Hejian Commandery (河間郡, in modern Renqiu, Hebei). A famous general of the State of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period at the end of the Han Dynasty. In the third year of Taihe (229), Zhuge Liang once again went out of Qishan and launched a fierce attack on Chen Cang. Cao Rui sent a stagecoach to summon Zhang Gao to Jingshi, and also personally went to the county seat of Henan to set up a banquet to send Zhang Gao off.
Cao Rui sent 30,000 soldiers and warriors from the two battalions of Wu Wei and Hu Ben to guard Zhang Guo, and asked Zhang Gao: "When the general reaches the front, will Zhuge Liang already occupy Chen Cang?" Zhang Gao knew that Zhuge Liang's lone army was deep, would not carry too much grain and grass, and could not attack for a long time, so he replied: "It is estimated that Zhuge Liang has already withdrawn before he reaches the front line." According to the calculations of the chancellor, Zhuge Liang's grain and grass could not support ten days. Zhang Hao marched day and night to reach Southern Zheng, and Zhuge Liang did retreat. Cao Rui ordered Zhang Guo to return to the capital and appointed him as the general of the Zhenxi Che Riding Army.
For the Cheqi general served by Zhang Gao, in the Three Kingdoms period, second only to the Great Sima (大司馬), the Great General (大將軍), and the Hussar general (骠骠軍), his status was already close to that of the Three Dukes, for example, in 221 AD, when Liu Bei ascended the throne as emperor, Zhang Fei was given the title of Cheqi General. Moreover, if he had not been killed in battle in 231 AD, Zhang Gao's official position would have been further advanced.
II. Zhang Liao (Former General)
Zhang Liao (169–222), courtesy name Wenyuan, was a native of Mayi, Yanmen (present-day Shuozhou, Shanxi). A famous general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period at the end of the Han Dynasty, a descendant of Nie Yi. In the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an (220), Cao Cao died, Cao Pi took the throne, and Zhang Liao was crowned as a former general. Cao Pi also enfeoffed his brother Zhang Xun (or "Zhang Fan") and a son of Marquis Li. At the same time, Cao Pi gave Zhang Liao as many as a thousand horses and as many as ten thousand valleys.
For the former generals held by Zhang Liao, they belonged to the official positions of the Sifang generals. According to the military general system in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the status of the Sifang generals was lower than that of the Great Sima (大司馬), the Great General, the General of the Hun Horse, the General of the Charioteer, and the General of the Guard, that is, this was also a higher-status official position. For example, Guan Yu, the head of the Five Tiger Generals of the Shu Han Dynasty, held the highest official position in his lifetime, and was also a former general.
III. Le Jin (Right General)
Lejin (?) –218), courtesy name Wenqian, was a native of the Marquis of Wei (衛侯国) (present-day Qingfeng, Henan) in Yangping County. In the twenty-first year of Jian'an (216), Cao Cao was crowned King of Wei. Later, Cao Cao granted a final reward to Lejin: because Lejin had made military merits in several battles, he was given five hundred households to one of Lejin's sons as marquises; Lejin himself was promoted to right general. (At that time, the right was respected.)
Although the ranks of the four generals are the same, the ranking of these four generals is still different, that is, the order is the former general, the right general, the left general, and the rear general.
IV. Xu Huang (Right General)
Xu Huang (?) ~227), courtesy name Gongming, was a native of Yang County, Hedong County (present-day Hongdong County, Shanxi). A famous general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. In the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an (220), Cao Cao died, and Cao Pi took the throne, making Xu Huang a right general. As a result, although Xu Huang and Le Jin, the highest official positions in their lifetime were all right generals. However, LeJin obtained this official position significantly earlier than Xu Huang.
V. Yu Ban (General Left)
Yu Ban (?) –221), courtesy name Wenze, was a native of Juping County, Taishan County (present-day Xitaiping Village, Ciyao Town, AnningYang County, Shandong). A famous general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period at the end of the Han Dynasty. In the twenty-first year of Jian'an (216), Cao Cao was crowned King of Wei, and the appointment and dismissal of his subordinates was even more solemn. In August of the same year, Cao Cao made Zhong Xuan the Prince of Xiangguo. Yu Ban was also later moved to the position of General of the Left, false jieyu.
Rank sorting: high to low
I. Xu Huang (Marquis of Yangping), Zhang Gao (Marquis of Yan), Zhang Liao (Marquis of Jinyang)
For Xu Huang, Zhang Gao, and Zhang Liao, they all received the title of county marquis. During the Three Kingdoms period at the end of the Han Dynasty, marquises were mainly divided into four grades: county marquis, township marquis, Tinghou hou, and Guannei marquis, that is, the highest title that the county marquis could obtain. After all, dukes were relatively rare at that time, and even had the meaning of trespassing, such as Cao Cao's title of Duke of Wei, and even met with Xun Yu's opposition.
2. Le Jin (Marquis of Guangchang pavilion), Yu Ban (Marquis of Yishou Pavilion)
Finally, for Lejin and Yu Ban, it was the title of Marquis of Ting, which was significantly lower than the other three in terms of titles. In summary, among the five sons of Cao Wei, Zhang Guo, who died last, achieved a lead in both knighthood and official position. On the other hand, Lejin died earlier and Yu Ban surrendered to Guan Yu, which led to their failure to obtain higher official positions and titles.