Cao Cao had many children in his lifetime, only in the history of Zhengshi, there were 25 sons and 6 daughters, and there were also 3 adopted sons He Yan, Qin Lang, and Cao Zhen, which can be described as many children and many blessings. So, what kind of life did Cao Cao's sons have? How did they end up?
1. Cao Ang (?) –197) zi zi 脩, cao cao's eldest son, birth mother Liu shi, liu clan died early, raised by the Zhengmu Ding clan. At the age of 20, he was promoted to filial piety; in the second year of Jian'an (197), he accompanied Cao Cao on a campaign against Zhang Xiu, zhang Xiu surrendered and rebelled, and Cao Ang was killed to save Cao Cao, for which Ding broke with Cao Cao; in the second year of The Yellow Dynasty (221), he was posthumously honored as the Duke of Feng mourning; in the fifth year of the Huang Dynasty (224), he was posthumously honored as the King of Feng mourning; and in the third year of Taihe (229), he was renamed the King of Fengcheng.
2. Cao Pi (187-226) Zi Huan, founding emperor of Cao Wei, reigned from 220 to 226. Cao Cao's second son, his biological mother was Lady Bian. Since his childhood, Cao Pi has been full of literature and martial arts, has read and passed on the scriptures, and is familiar with the hundred schools of thought of the sons. In the twenty-second year of Jian'an (217), Cao Pi defeated his brother Cao Zhi and was made the Prince of Wei; in the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an (220), Cao Cao died, and Cao Pi succeeded him as The Prince of Wei; in the same year, he forced Emperor Xian of Han to abdicate, ascended the throne, and established the state of Wei. In the first year of the Huang Dynasty (220), the Jiupin Zhongzheng system was formulated, which became the main system of electing officials during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, pacifying the separatist forces around Qingzhou and Xuzhou, and finally completing the unification of the north.
The outside world calmed down the border troubles, repelled the Xianbei, and repaired with the Xiongnu, The Qiang, and other foreign yi, and resumed the establishment in the western region. In the seventh year of the Huang Dynasty (226), Cao Pi died of illness in Luoyang at the age of forty. Emperor Wen of the Imperial Household,Gaozu (高祖) was buried in the Shouyang Mausoleum. Cao Pi has achievements in poetry, fu, literature and other aspects, especially good at five-character poetry, and together with his father Cao Cao and brother Cao Zhi, and called "Jian'an Three Cao", the two volumes of the Wei Wen Emperor's Collection are now preserved. In addition, Cao Pi is the author of the Treatise on Classics, the first systematic treatise on literary criticism in the history of Chinese literature.
3. Cao Zhang (189-223) ziwen, born mother of Lady Bian. Cao Zhang's martial arts skills were excellent, and when Cao Cao asked his sons about their ambitions, Cao Zhang said to himself that he was "a good general", so he was praised by Cao Cao, and because his beard was yellow, he was called "Yellow Beard" by Cao Cao. Cao Zhang's weak crown was strong before, he liked to fight fiercely, and he was not good at articles. In the twenty-first year of Jian'an (216), he was given the title of Marquis of Yanling, and in the twenty-third year of Jian'an (218), he was made the general of Northern Zhonglang and the general of Xingxiao, led an army to conquer Wuhuan, and surrendered to the Xianbei lord of Liaodong. After Cao Pi ascended the throne, Cao Zhang and the princes took the throne. In the second year of the Huang Dynasty (221), he was made the Duke of Yanling, and the following year he was made the Prince of Rencheng. In the fourth year of the Huang Dynasty (223), Cao Zhang died of illness, and his posthumous title was Wei, and he was known as the King of Renchengwei.
4. Cao Zhi (192-232) zi jian, born mother of Lady Bian. Cao Zhi was a famous writer of the Three Kingdoms period, and as one of the representative figures and masters of Jian'an literature, he was promoted to the status of a model of articles during the Two Jin Dynasties and the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Together with his father Cao Cao and his brother Cao Pi the Emperor wen of Wei, he became the "Three Caos of Jian'an". Cao Zhi was intelligent since childhood, exported into chapters, and in his early years, he was deeply respected by Cao Cao and once wanted to become a son of the world. In the eleventh year of Jian'an (206), the 15-year-old Cao Zhi first accompanied his father on the Eastern Crusade to guan cheng; in the twelfth year of Jian'an (207), he followed his father to the north to conquer Liucheng; in the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208), he accompanied his father to conquer Liu Biao in the south, and then followed his father to fight with Sun Quan in Chibi; in the fourteenth year of Jian'an (209), Cao Zhi returned to his hometown of Bozhou for the first time with his father.
In the nineteenth year of Jian'an (214), Cao Cao invaded Sun Quan in the east, causing Cao Zhi to stay in Yicheng; however, Cao Zhiwen's popularity and talent were too strong, and he often acted willfully, did not pay attention to grooming and restraining himself, and drank wine without moderation, so he gradually fell out of favor; Cao Pi declared himself empress, and Cao Zhi became an important target; in the second year of Huang Chu (221), Cao Zhi moved to the Marquis of Anxiang; in July of that year, he changed the title of Marquis of Juancheng; in the third year of Huang Chu (222), he was named the King of Juancheng, written as the famous "Luoshenfu"; the fourth year of Huang Chu (223), In the seventh year of the Huang Dynasty (226), Cao Pi died of illness and was succeeded by the Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui, cao Zhi repeatedly wrote to ask for political appointments, but in the end he was not reused; in the third year of Taihe (229), he was enfeoffed with Dong'a, and in the sixth year of Taihe (232), he was renamed King Of Chen, and died that year, at the age of 41, with the posthumous title of Si, and was later known as King Si of Chen.
5. Cao Xiong, year of birth and death unknown, character Wei, birth mother was Lady Bian, died at an early age. In the second year of the Huang Dynasty (221), he was posthumously awarded the title of Duke of Xiao Huai, and in the third year of Taihe (229), he was posthumously awarded the title of Prince of Dongping,courtesy name Xiao Huaiwang(萧怀王).
6. Cao Shuo, year of birth and death unknown, birth mother is Lady Liu, Lady Liu died early, Cao Shuo was raised by Lady Bian from childhood, and was deeply loved by Cao Cao. But Heaven was jealous of the talents, Jian'an Chu, Cao Shuo died of illness early. In the third year of Taihe (229), he was posthumously honored as the King of Xiang dynasty.
7. Cao Chong (196-208) Zi Cangshu, birth mother is Lady Huan. Cao Chong was intelligent and benevolent from an early age, different, and deeply loved by Cao Cao, leaving an allusion to "Cao Chong is called an elephant". Cao Cao boasted of him several times, with the intention of having him succeed him; Jian'an died in the thirteenth year (208) at the age of 13; Jian'an died in the twenty-second year (217), posthumously honored as The Marquis of Deng; in the second year of the Huang Dynasty (221), he posthumously honored him as the Marquis of Deng and later as the Duke of Deng; and in the fifth year of Taihe (232), he was posthumously honored as the Prince of Deng.
8. Cao Zhao, the year of birth and death is unknown, and the birth mother is Lady Huan. In the sixteenth year of Jian'an (211), he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Fanyang; in the twenty-second year of Jian'an (217), he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wan; in the second year of the Huang Dynasty (221), he was enfeoffed as the Duke of Wan; in the third year of the Huang Dynasty (222), he was enfeoffed as the King of Zhangling; in the same year, he was enfeoffed as the King of Yiyang; after that, Cao Pi was from the south, Lady Huan was a native of Pengcheng, and he was also enfeoffed as the King of Jiyin; in the fifth year of the Huang Dynasty (224), he was renamed the King of Dingtao; in the sixth year of Taihe (232), he was renamed back to the King of Pengcheng; in the first year of the First Century, Sima Shi deposed Cao Fang. Preparing to establish Cao Zhao, the king of Pengcheng, and Cao Zhao was the uncle of The Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui, li Cao Zhao meant that Emperor Wei Ming cut off his sons and grandchildren, Yu Li did not understand, and Empress Guo's status was very embarrassing. Therefore, Sima Shi listened to Empress Guo's advice and established Cao Xian, the Duke of Guixiang.
9. Cao Yu (?) –278) was born to Lady Huan. In the sixteenth year of Jian'an (221), he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Fengdu Township; in the twenty-second year of Jian'an (218), he was renamed marquis of Luyang; in the second year of Huang Chu (221), he was made the Duke of Luyang; in the third year of Huang Chu (222), he was enfeoffed as the Prince of Xia pi; in the fifth year of the Huang Dynasty (224), he was renamed the Single Father King; Cao Yu was gentle and gentle in temperament, and was deeply favored by the Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui; in the sixth year of Taihe (232), he was renamed the Prince of Yan; and in the third year of Qinglong (235), Cao Yu was enlisted as a court official. In the second year of the Jing Dynasty (238), Cao Rui fell seriously ill, worshiped Cao Yu as a general, and jointly assisted Xiahou Xian, Cao Shuang, Cao Zhao, and Qin Lang in the aftermath; soon after being separated by Liu Fang and Sun Zi, he was deposed; in the third year of the Jing Dynasty (239), Cao Yu returned to the fiefdom of Yicheng; in the first year of the Tai Dynasty (265), Sima Yan dai Wei, established the Jin Dynasty, and demoted Cao Yu to the Duke of Yan; in the fourth year of Xianning (278), Cao Yu died.
10. Cao Lin (?) –256), also known as Cao Bao, year of birth unknown, born to Lady Du, was Qin Lang's half-brother. In the sixteenth year of Jian'an (221), he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Raoyang; in the twenty-second year of Jian'an (218), he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Chen; in the second year of the Huang Dynasty (221), he was enfeoffed as the Duke of Qi; in the third year of the Huang Dynasty (222), he was made the Prince of Qi; in the fifth year of the Huang Dynasty (226), he was renamed the Marquis of Chenxian; in the seventh year of the Huang Dynasty (228), he was enfeoffed as the King of Juancheng; in the sixth year of Taihe (232), he was renamed the Prince of Pei; and in the first year of Ganlu (256), he died, and his name was Mu.
11. Cao Gun (?) –235) Birth year unknown, born to Lady Du. Cao Gong was studious when he was young and could write articles as a teenager. His subordinates were often afraid that he would get sick due to damage to his energy, and he was repeatedly discouraged, but he liked to read in temperament and could not be stopped. He advocated frugality and urged his wives and concubines to spin threads and weave supplements, which became a daily affair for the family. In the twenty-first year of Jian'an (216), he was first enfeoffed as the Marquis of Pingxiang; in the twenty-second year of Jian'an (217), he was made the Marquis of Dongxiang, and in the same year he was given the title of Marquis of Zan; in the second year of the Huang Dynasty (221), he was enfeoffed as the Duke of Zan; in the third year of the Huang Dynasty (222), he was enfeoffed as the King of Beihai; in the fourth year of the Huang Dynasty (223), he was renamed the King of Zan; in the seventh year of the Huang Dynasty (226), he was renamed the King of Puyang; in the sixth year of Taihe (232), he was renamed the King of Zhongshan; and in the third year of qinglong (235), Cao Gong died of illness and was given the title of King Gong.
12. Cao Ying, year of birth and death unknown, birth mother is Lady Qin. Early death. In the sixteenth year of Jian'an (211), he was posthumously awarded the title of Marquis of Xixiang; in the second year of the Huang Dynasty (221), he was posthumously awarded the Title of Marquis of Jiyang; in the fourth year of the Huang Dynasty, he was posthumously awarded the Title of Duke of Jiyang; in the fourth year of Taihe, he was posthumously awarded the title of Duke of Huai; in the sixth year of Taihe, he was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Xixiang.
13. Cao Jun (?) –259) was born to Lady Qin. In the twenty-first year of Jian'an (216), he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Guo; in the twenty-second year of Jian'an (217), he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Xiangyi; in the second year of the Huang Dynasty (221), he was made the Duke of Xiangyi; in the third year of the Huang Dynasty (222), he was enfeoffed as the Prince of Chenliu; in the fifth year of the Huang Dynasty (224), he was renamed Xiangyi County; in the sixth year of Taihe (232), he was renamed the Prince of Chenliu; and in the fourth year of Ganlu (259), he died with the title Gong.
14. Cao Zhi, year of birth and death unknown, birth mother is Lady Yin. Early death. In the 22nd year of Jian'an (217), Cao Min, the son of Cao Jun, the Duke of Fan'an, was made the Marquis of Jin; in the third year of the Huang Dynasty (222), he was posthumously honored as the Duke of Fanyang Min; in the fifth year of the Huang Dynasty (224), he was renamed the Prince of Cao Min Fanyang; in the seventh year of the Huang Dynasty (226), he was enfeoffed as the King of Juyang, and in the sixth year of Taihe (232), he posthumously honored the title of Fanyang Min Wang and renamed Cao Minlang the Evil King.
15. Cao Gan (216-261), also known as Cao Liang, was a biological mother, Concubine Chen, and adoptive mother Wang Zhaoyi. In the twenty-first year of Jian'an (216), Chen gave birth to Cao Gan, who was given the title of Marquis of Gaopingting; in the twenty-third year of Jian'an (218), his mother Concubine Chen died, and Cao Gan was raised by Wang Zhaoyi, and was given the title of Marquis of Laiting, and then renamed Marquis of Hongnong; in the second year of Huang Chu (221), he was enfeoffed as the Duke of Yan; in the third year of Huang Chu (222), he was enfeoffed as the King of Hejian; in the fifth year of the Huang Dynasty (224), he was renamed Lecheng County; in the seventh year of the Huang Dynasty (226), he was enfeoffed as the Giant Deer; and in the sixth year of Taihe (232), he was renamed the King of Zhao Jingyuan died in the second year (261) at the age of 46.
16. Cao Shang, year of birth and death unknown, birth mother was Sun Ji, died early. Sun Ji had three sons for Cao Cao, namely Cao Zishang, Cao Biao, and Cao Ziqin. In the fifth year of Taihe (231), he was posthumously awarded the title of Duke of Linyi (臨邑公).
17. Cao Biao (195-251) was zhu hu, and his biological mother was Sun Ji. In the twenty-first year of Jian'an (216), he was given the title of Marquis of Shouchun; in the second year of the Huang Dynasty (221), he was promoted to a knighthood and was given the title of Duke of Ruyang; in the third year of the Huang Dynasty (222), he was made the Prince of Yiyang, who moved the fief in that year and was given the title of King of Wu; in the fifth year of the Huang Dynasty (224), he was renamed Shouchun County; in the seventh year of the Huang Chu (226), the relocation fief was Baima; and in the sixth year of Taihe (232), he was renamed the King of Chu. In the first year of Jiaping (249), Yanzhou's assassin Shi Linghu Yu and Taiwei Wang Ling plotted to set up Cao Biao and build a capital at Xuchang. In the third year of Jiaping (251 AD), Wang Huan rebelled and committed suicide shortly afterwards; soon After Cao Biao was given death at the age of 57.
18. Cao Qin, year of birth and death unknown, birth mother was Sun Ji, died early. Sun Ji had three sons for Cao Cao, namely Cao Shang, Cao Biao, and Cao Qin. In the fifth year of Taihe (231), he was posthumously awarded the title of Duke of Gang (刚公).
19. Cao Cheng, year of birth and death unknown, brother of Cao Zhen and Cao Jing, born mother li ji, died early. In the fifth year of Taihe (231), he was posthumously awarded the title of Duke of Gucheng (谷城公), and his posthumous title was martyred.
20. Cao Zhen (?) –218) birth year unknown, born to Li Ji. In the eighth year of Jian'an (203), when Yuan Tan and Cao Cao were negotiating peace, they intended to marry their daughter to Cao Quan, and the following year Yuan Tan rebelled against Cao Cao and could not get married; in the twenty-second year of Jian'an (217), Cao Quan was given the title of Marquis of Guo; died the following year; in the second year of The First Huang Dynasty, he was posthumously promoted to the title of Duke Dai.
21. Cao Jing, year of birth and death unknown, brother of Cao Cheng and Cao Zhen, born mother li ji, died early. In the fifth year of Taihe (231), he was posthumously honored as linggong (靈公) and was posthumously honored as a martyr.
22. Cao Jun(?-219) is unknown, and his birth mother is Zhou Ji. In his early years, he was ordered to succeed his uncle Cao Bin (曹彬), the Duke of Jigong. In the twenty-second year of Jian'an (217), he was created Marquis of Fan; in the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an (219), Cao Jun died; in the second year of the Huang Dynasty (221), he was posthumously promoted to duke and given the title of Duke of An.
23. Cao Zhi, year of birth and death unknown, birth mother liu ji, died early. In the fifth year of Taihe (231), he was posthumously honored as the Duke of Guangzong( Guangzong).
24. Cao Hui (?) –243) was born to Song Ji (宋姬). In the 20th year of Jian'an (215), he was given the title of Marquis of Dongping; in the first year of Huang Chu (220), Cao Cao died of illness and Cao Hui failed to see the last side of his father; in the fourth year of the Huang Dynasty (223), he was enfeoffed as king of Shouzhang; in the fifth year of the Huang Dynasty (224), he was renamed Shouzhang County; in the third year of Taihe (229), he was made the Duke of Dongping; the following year, Cao Hui's biological mother Song Ji died, and Cao Hui sent song Ji's spiritual seat to Yicheng to be buried with Cao Cao. In the sixth year of Taihe (232), he was created the Prince of Dongping, and posthumously honored his mother Song Ji as Empress Wang and queen mother of Dongping. He died in 243.
25. Cao Mao, year of birth and death unknown, birth mother is Zhao Ji. Cao Mao was arrogant, uncultured, and very unfavored, so during Cao Cao's lifetime and Cao Pi's reign as emperor, Cao Mao never crowned the king. In the 22nd year of Jian'an (215), he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wanzaiting; in the following year, he was renamed the Marquis of Pingyu; in the third year of the Huang Dynasty (222), he was enfeoffed as the Duke of Chengshi; in the seventh year of the Huang Dynasty (226), he was enfeoffed as the Duke of Zhongqiu; in the first year of Taihe, he was enfeoffed as the Duke of Liaocheng, who was enfeoffed as the King of Liaocheng; in the sixth year of Taihe (232), he was renamed the King of Quyang; in the third year of the first year (243), Cao Hui, the King of Dongping, died, and Cao Mao said that he had a sore throat, refused to mourn, and came and went freely, and was punished with the title of King of Quyang. In the fifth year of the first year (245), he sealed the Leling Tomb and restored the punishment.
1. He Yan (?) –249) born unknown, Zi Pingshu, grandson of the Eastern Han general He Jin. He Yan's biological father died early, and Cao Cao took his mother Yin Shi as a concubine, so he was adopted as an adopted son and favored by Cao Cao. When he was a teenager, he was famous for his talent show, liked the learning of Lao Zhuang, and married Princess Jinxiang, the daughter of Cao Cao. During Cao Pi's reign, He Yan had no scruples, was disgusted by Cao Pi, and was not granted an official position. The Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui considered He Yan to be vain and untrue, and only gave him the post of redundant official. When Cao Shuang was in power, He Yan worked with him and was promoted to the rank of servant and official Shangshu, canonical election, and marquis. In the first year of the reign (249), after the gaopingling rebellion, he and Cao Shuangtong were killed by Sima Yi and exterminated by the three tribes.
2. Qin Lang (秦朗), date of birth and death unknown, character Yuanming, small character asu (or a maw), was the son of Lü Bu's general Qin Yilu and Du Shi. In the third year of Jian'an (198), Cao Cao besieged Lü Bu in Xia Pi, and after the city was destroyed, Cao Cao took the Du clan for himself, and Qin Lang became Cao Cao's stepson and lived with his mother in Cao Province. Qin Lang acted low-key and was deeply favored by Cao Cao. When Qin Lang grew up, he traveled around and never served as an official through the era of Cao Cao and Cao Pi. In the first year of Taihe (227), after Cao Rui ascended the throne, Qin Lang was summoned as a general of the Xiao Cavalry and given the task, and often accompanied Cao Rui on his travels, leading troops against the rebels of Xianbei Kebineng and Budugen. In the second year of the Jing Dynasty (238), he was appointed to the post of Assistant Tou, but was soon deposed by Liu Fang and Sun Zi.
3. Cao Zhen (?) -231) birth year unknown, original name Qin Zhen, zi dan. When Cao Cao raised an army against Dong Zhuo, Cao Zhen's father Qin Shao recruited soldiers and horses for Cao Cao, and was later killed by Mu Huanghuan of Yuzhou, and Cao Zhen was adopted by Cao Cao as his adopted son. In his early years, he participated in the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion and 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. In the first year of Yankang (220), Cao Pi succeeded to the throne as the King of Wei, and was appointed as the general of Zhenxi and the governor of Yongliang, responsible for guarding the northwestern border of Zhen and entering the Marquis of Dongxiang.
The envoys of Zhijie and Shangjun were all oversaw the chinese and foreign militaries, and became one of the supreme commanders of Cao Wei's army. The Great Destruction of the Qianghu Coalition Army, pacifying the Hexi region. He led an army to surround Jiangling, defeated the Wu general Sun Sheng, and moved the general of the Chinese army to the matter. When Cao Pi became seriously ill, he accepted the edict and became one of the auxiliary ministers. After the Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui ascended the throne, he paid homage to the general and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Shaoling. Led an army to resist the attack of Zhuge Liang of the Shu state and moved Sima Da. In the fifth year of Taihe (231), he died of illness, with the courtesy name Yuan, and was entitled to the temple court of Cao Cao.