In 220, Cao Cao died of illness in Luoyang, and Cao Pi first inherited the title of King of Wei. In the same year, Cao Pi forced the Han Emperor Liu Xie to abdicate, thus officially ending the history of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Although Cao Pi claimed the title of empress dowager, he tried to unify the world, and for this reason attacked Eastern Wu several times. However, Cao Pi's various efforts still failed to change the pattern of the Three Kingdoms. Moreover, Cao Pi died relatively early, and it can even be said that he died young.
In the first month of the seventh year of the Huang Dynasty (226), Cao Pi returned to his palace in Luoyang. On May 28, Cao Pi became seriously ill and ordered the Zhenjun general Chen Qun, the Chinese general Cao Zhen, the General Cao Xiu of the Zhendong Army, and the Fujun General Sima Yi to receive the edict and jointly assist the crown prince Cao Rui. Let the harem Shuyuan and Zhaoyi all return to their homes.
On the seventeenth day of the same month (June 29), Cao Pi died at the age of forty. Emperor Wen of the Imperial Household, Gaozu of the Temple (Zizhi Tongjian as the ancestor of the world). According to his posthumous proclamation, there is no tree or grave, and he is buried in Shouyang Mausoleum (Yanshi City, Henan Province). Because Cao Rui was relatively young, and Cao Pi was also in a hurry to establish the crown prince, he designated Chen Qun, Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, and Sima Yi, the four orphan ministers. So, the question is, what is the end of them?
1. Chen Qun
Chen Qun(?) – February 7, 237), long text. A native of Xuchang County, Yingchuan County (present-day Xuchangdong, Henan). During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Wei was a major founder of the Wei and Jin Dynasties' official selection system "Nine Pins zhongzheng System" and the Cao Wei Law "Wei Law". He was the grandson of Chen Yi (陈寔) the chief of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the son of Chen Ji (陈紀) of the Great Hong Dynasty. Chen Qun was born from the famous Yingchuan Chen clan, and was promoted by Liu Bei to Yuzhou in his early years. When Cao Cao entered Xuzhou, he was made a subordinate of Sikong Xicao. When Cao Cao was enfeoffed as duke of Wei, he served as the Imperial Historian of the State of Wei and the Marquis of Wuting of Chang. After the establishment of Cao Wei, he successively served as Shang Shu Ling, General of the Zhen Army, Zhonghu Army, and Lu Shang Shushi.
In 226, after Cao Rui ascended the throne, Chen Qun, as a chancellor of the Tuoguo, was enthroned as Sikong and Lu Shang Shushi, and was given the title of Marquis of Yingyin. As we all know, Sikong and Situ and Taiwei were called the Three Dukes, that is, Chen Qun at this time, was almost an extremely popular subject. However, Chen Qun was not Cao Rui's confidant after all, and unlike Sima Yi, Cao Zhen, and Cao Xiu, who led the army to fight, which led to a relatively low sense of existence after Cao Rui took the throne. In December of the fourth year of the Qinglong Dynasty (February 237), Chen Qun died of illness and was nicknamed "Jing". In the first four years (243), he was entitled to the temple court of Cao Cao.
2. Sima Yi
Sima Yi (司馬懿) (179 – September 7, 251), courtesy name Zhongda, was a native of Xiaojingli, Wen County, Hanoi (present-day Wen County, Jiaozuo City, Henan). Sima Yi has been intelligent and erudite since childhood. Because the Han Dynasty was controlled by Cao Cao, Sima Yi briefly refused to be granted an official position by Cao Cao, but in the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208), after Cao Cao was appointed chancellor, he forcibly removed Sima Yi as a literary official. Because Sima Yi had supported Cao Cao as emperor, he gradually won Cao Cao's trust. After Cao Cao created the Prince of Wei, sima Yi was made the crown prince to assist Cao Pi and help Cao Pi win the battle for the throne.
In 226, Sima Yi, as Cao Pi's appointed chancellor, began to assist The Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui. During Cao Rui's reign, Sima Yi repeatedly transferred important official positions such as general, general, and lieutenant of the Fu Army, and seized cao Wei's military power in the process of resisting the Northern Expedition of the Shu Han Dynasty. Before Cao Cao and Cao Pi died, Sima Yi had never been able to get involved in military power. Therefore, although Cao Cao was jealous of Sima Yi before his death, he never chose to get rid of him. However, because of Cao Rui's heavy use, Sima Yi had laid a good foundation for launching the Gaopingling Rebellion.
In 239, on the verge of death, Cao Rui entrusted Cao Fang to Sima Yi and Cao Shuang. Therefore, in the history of Cao Wei, Sima Yi should be the only minister who was entrusted with isolation twice. However, after Cao Fang ascended the throne, Sima Yi was ostracized by Cao Shuang and promoted to Taifu without real power. In the first ten years (249), Sima Yi took advantage of Cao Shuang's accompaniment to accompany Cao Fang from Luoyang to Gaopingling and raised an army to control the capital Luoyang.
Since then, cao wei's power has fallen into the hands of Sima Shi, known as the Gaopingling Incident. Sima Yi was good at strategizing and making many expeditions, leading his army to capture Meng Da, and twice leading a large army to successfully resist Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition and expedition to pacify Liaodong. It has made important contributions to the development of agriculture such as tuntian and water conservancy.
In the third year of Jiaping (251), Sima Yi died of illness at the age of seventy-three, resigned from the gonghe and special ceremony, and was buried in Shouyang Mountain, with the posthumous name Xuanwen. The second son, Sima Zhao, posthumously honored Sima Yi as King Xuan, and his grandson Sima Yan was posthumously honored as Emperor Xuan, with the temple name Gaozu.
In this regard, in the author's opinion, Cao Pi entrusted Sima Yi alone, in fact, there is not much of a problem, after all, Cao Rui is not as young as Cao Fang. Moreover, Sima Yi at that time was also underfunct. However, when Cao Rui was dying, he still chose to entrust himself to Sima Yi, and even let Cao Shuang, who was very talented, take control of the military power, which was obviously not prudent enough, that is, Cao Shuang was not Sima Yi's opponent at all.
3. Cao Xiu
Cao Xiu(?) –8 November 228), courtesy name Wenlie, was a native of Peiguo County (沛国谯县, in modern Bozhou, Anhui), a general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, and a son of Cao Cao (whose father was Cao Cao's consort). As Emperor Of Cao Wei, Cao Xiu went to defect when Cao Cao raised an army against Dong Zhuo and was known as the "Thousand Mile Colt". Cao Cao treated him like a parent, and made him lead the tiger and leopard to ride the guard. During the Battle of Hanzhong, Cao Xiu saw through Zhang Fei's plan and defeated Wu Lan. After the establishment of Cao Wei, Cao Xiu defended the eastern line of Cao Wei and oversaw Yangzhou, repeatedly breaking the Wu army and inducing the Wu generals.
Cao Pi died, and Cao Xiu became the minister of entrustment, which was undoubtedly a natural thing. After all, compared to Sima Yi and Chen Qun, Cao Xiu's clan status was obviously more trustworthy. After Cao Rui ascended the throne, Cao Xiu became the Grand Sima and became the head of Cao Wei's military generals and even the hundred officials, and was given the title of Marquis of Changping. However, it is a great pity that in the second year of Taihe (228), Cao Xiu was defeated at the Battle of Wei Wu Shiting, and soon died of a poisonous sore on his back.
4. Cao Zhen
Cao Zhen (?) ~231), courtesy name Qin Zhen (秦真), courtesy name Zidan (字子丹), was a native of Peiguo County (沛国谯县, in modern Bozhou, Anhui Province), and a famous general of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. Although Cao Zhen was also the Cao Wei Sect, cao zhen and Cao Xiu were obviously different in blood. Cao Zhen's original name was Qin Zhen, and his father, Qin Shao, was a subordinate of Cao Cao. After Qin Shao's death, Cao Cao adopted Qin Zhen and renamed him Cao Zhen, meaning that Cao Zhen was actually Cao Cao's adopted son.
Cao Zhenli was brave and brave, and taught the tiger and leopard to ride. Because of his crusade against the thieves of Lingqiu, he was given the title of Marquis of Lingshouting. He successively served as a partial general, a leader in the middle, and a defender of the Shu Army, and participated in the Battle of Hanzhong. After Cao Pi succeeded to the throne, Bai was made the general of Zhenxi and the governor of Yongliang, responsible for guarding the northwestern border of the town and entering the Marquis of Dongxiang. After Cao Rui ascended the throne, Cao Zhen continued to command the terracotta army in the western front of Cao Wei, and after Cao Xiu's death, Cao Zhen was given the title of Grand Sima (大司馬). However, in 231 AD, Cao Zhen died of illness. With the successive deaths of Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen, Sima Yi became more and more valued by Cao Rui, and even accumulated sufficient prestige and seniority among Cao Wei's generals.