The previous article introduced the six famous generals in the early days of the Cao Wei Group. On the whole, these six famous players have a common characteristic, they are all a generation of tough generals who gallop on the battlefield and wear sharp and sharp, but none of them have the talent of commanders. In contrast, the famous generals of the middle and late Cao Wei period are more comprehensive. Not only were they able to defeat the enemy on the front line of the war, but most of them had the talent of commanders, and they had commanded thousands of armies and horses. Coincidentally, their main opponents were All Zhuge Liang. According to historical records, this article makes a brief introduction to the four famous generals of Henan in the middle and late period of Cao Wei.
First place: Chen Tai. Chen Tai (陈泰), courtesy name Xuanbo, was a native of Xuchang County, Yingchuan County, in present-day Xuchang, Henan Province. Chen Tai was born in a famous and prestigious family at the end of the Han Dynasty, and his ancestor Chen Yi was a famous scholar of the Eastern Han Dynasty and was respected by the people of the times for his noble moral character; Chen Tai's grandfather Chen Ji was famous for his moral integrity and once held the position of Dahong qi; Chen Tai's father, Chen Qun, was the founding father of the Cao Wei Empire, who went through three dynasties and was the founder of the "Nine Pins zhongzheng system" in the Wei and Jin dynasties.
However, Chen Tai's experience is very different from that of his father, Chen Qun. Chen Qun held a civilian position in the dprk throughout his life, and Chen Tai was famous for his martial courage. Chen Tai served as a loose horseman in his early years, and later served as a guerrilla general, a history of thorns in Hezhou, and a history of thorns in Yongzhou, and became a member of the Cao Wei Empire on the northwest battlefield. During Chen Tai's tenure in the northwest, it coincided with the Northern Expedition launched by the Shu Han general Jiang Wei. In the face of Jiang Wei's many offensives, Chen Tai led the Northwest Cao Army to calmly respond to the battle, repeatedly repelled Jiang Wei's attacks, and became Jiang Wei's nemesis.
Second place: Sima Yi. Sima Yi (司馬懿), courtesy name Zhongda, was a native of Wen County, Hanoi County, in present-day Wen County, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province. Sima Yi was born into a famous family, his father Sima Fang served in the imperial court at the end of the Han Dynasty, and his eldest brother Sima Lang was also an important minister of the Cao Wei clique. After Sima Yi joined the Cao Wei clique, he gained Cao Pi's trust and respect for assisting Cao Pi in the battle for the heirs. After Cao Pi established the state of Wei, he appointed Sima Yi as Shangshu, and later promoted him to the posts of Overseer, Yushi Zhongcheng (御史中丞), Shizhong (侍中), Shangshu Right Servant (尚書右仆射), and Fujun (福軍大將軍), and became one of Cao Pi's trusted and important subjects.
Sima Yi not only defeated Eastern Wu's attacks many times during the period of defending Jingzhou, but also fought with Zhuge Liang for many years in the northwest battlefield, making Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition fruitless. Sima Yi also traveled thousands of miles to attack the three eastern counties, beheading Meng Da, and annihilating Gongsun Yuan in the Battle of Liaodong. Not only that, Sima Yi also quelled the Huainan Rebellion launched by Wang Ling, and can be called an outstanding military figure in the Three Kingdoms period.
In addition to his outstanding military achievements, Sima Yi was also a politician and the founder of the Western Jin Empire. Sima Yi won a great victory in the Gaopingling Rebellion and killed Cao Shuang, laying the foundation for the establishment of the Western Jin Empire.
Third place: Zhong Hui. Zhong Hui (钟会), also spelled Shiji, was a native of Changshe County, Yingchuan County, in present-day Changge City, Henan Province. Zhong Hui was born into a famous family, and his father Zhong Xuan was the founding father of the Cao Wei Empire. Zhong Hui was intelligent in his early years and was known as a "prodigy".
Zhong Hui entered the army at an early age and was deeply valued by Sima Shi. During Sima Shi's personal conquest of Huainan, Zhong Hui followed him around and repeatedly offered strange strategies to ensure the victory of the war. During Sima Zhao's reign, Zhong Hui accompanied the army to quell Zhuge Zhao's rebellion, and was appreciated by Sima Zhao, who honored him as Zhang Liang. Since then, Zhong Hui has had a smooth career path, successively serving as a lieutenant colonel and a general in Zhenxi.
In the fourth year of Cao Wei Jingyuan (263 AD), Sima Zhao launched the Battle of Shu, and Zhong Hui invaded Yizhou as the commander of a large army, during which he defeated Jiang Wei several times and cooperated with Deng Ai to destroy Shu Han. However, after the fall of the Shu Han Dynasty, Zhong Hui rebelled and conspired with Jiang Wei to establish himself in Yizhou, and was eventually killed.
Fourth place: Deng Ai. Deng Ai (Deng Ai), courtesy name Shizai, was a native of Zhiyang County, Yiyang County, in present-day Xinye County, Nanyang, Henan Province. Unlike the above-mentioned famous generals such as Chen Tai, Sima Yi, and Zhong Hui, Deng Ai came from a grassroots family and worked as a cattle herder because of his family's poverty in childhood. However, Deng Ai studied hard since childhood and was recommended as a lieutenant of the Diannong School with his talents.
After that, Deng Ai was appreciated by Sima Yi and tun tian in the Lianghuai area, which made the agricultural, water conservancy, and economic development in the Jianghuai area reach its peak, and Deng Ai also became a new star in the political arena of Cao Wei.
In the fourth year of Cao Wei's reign (243 CE), Deng Ai was appointed to participate in the Western Army, and soon after he was transferred to Nan'an Taishou (南安太守), becoming a general in cao Wei's northwestern battlefield. During this period, Deng Ai and Jiang Wei had many battles, smashing Jiang Wei's Northern Expedition many times, and was promoted to the posts of Yanzhou Assassin, Lieutenant of Changshui, General anxi, and General of Zhenxi for his military achievements.
In the fourth year of Cao Wei Jingyuan (263 AD), the Battle of Shu broke out. When the war was in a stalemate, Deng Ai led thousands of soldiers and horses through the Yinping Trail into Hanzhong, creating a miracle in the military history of the Three Kingdoms. Subsequently, Deng Ai beheaded Zhuge Liang's son Zhuge Zhan at the Battle of Mianzhu, captured Luo County, and approached Chengdu. When the later lord Liu Chan learned of this news, he panicked, and soon after Kaesong surrendered, and the Shu Han Empire was destroyed.
After the battle of Shu, Deng Aiju was proud of his achievements, and there was a difference of opinion with Sima Zhao, coupled with the trap of Zhong Hui, Wei Wan, and others, and was eventually killed, and it was not until Sima Yan established the Western Jin Empire that he was rehabilitated.
Reference Books: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Romance of the Three Kingdoms