Cao Cao Emperor Wu of Wei

Cao Cao – Chancellor of Eastern Han Dynasty

(Cao Cao as he was portrayed in the video-game “Dynasty Warriors 6“)

Check out the poems written by Cao Cao – “Though the Tortoise Lives Long” and “Short song style”.

Cao Cao (pronounced T’sao T’sao) was the penultimate chancellor of Eastern Han Dynasty. He is considered the founder of the Wei dynasty, one of the Three Kingdoms of China. He has been praised for his genial military tactics and his love for his subordonates, but has been also portrayed as a cruel tyrant who led the Han Dynasty to chaos. He has also wrote poems, practiced martial arts and wrote war journals.

Cao Cao was born in Qiao (now – Bozhou, Anhui) in 155. At the age of 20, he was recommended to a district captain of Luoyang. When the Yellow Turban Rebellion (also known as Yellow Scarfs Rebellion) attacked in 184, Cao Cao was recalled to Luoyang and promoted to “Captain of the Cavalry” and was sent to Yingchuan to stop them. Cao Cao was succesful in surpressing the rebels and was promoted to “Governor of Dong Commandery“.  In 189, the Emperor Ling died and was succeded by his son – Prince of Hongnong – . Through many small wars, Cao Cao increased his reputation and power. The Warlord Dong Zhuo deposed the Emperor Han Shao (the Prince of Hongong), and put Emperor Xian of Han on the throne who was, practically, a puppet emperor, meaning that Dong Zhuo was in control of the entire Empire. He then poisoned Emperor Han Shao (who could barely stand a few months on the throne of the Han Dynasty) in 190. After rejecting Dong’s appointment, Cao Cao left Luoyang for Chenliu (present – southeast of Kaifeng, Henan) and built his own army. In 191, the regional warlords formed an military alliance against Dong Zhuo. Cao Cao joined this cause. China was in civil war and chaos when Dong Zhuo was killed in 192 by his foster son Lu Bu.