Cao Pi

Historical Record

Cao Pi, styled Zihuan, was born in the winter of the fourth year of Zhongping (187) at Qiao County ^c:2060. From childhood he displayed extraordinary talent; at eight he could compose writing, read widely in the classics, commentaries, and works of the various schools of antiquity, and was skilled in mounted archery and swordsmanship ^c:2060. In the sixteenth year of Jian'an (211), Cao Pi was appointed General of the Household for All Purposes, concurrently serving as deputy to the Chancellor ^c:5503. During Cao Cao's campaigns, he often exchanged views with advisors such as Xun You and Liang Mao. When Xun You was gravely ill, Cao Pi went to visit him and even performed the bow of respect at the foot of his bed, showing his deep regard for worthy men ^c:2064.

In the twenty-second year of Jian'an (217), Cao Pi was made Heir Apparent of Wei ^c:5504. After Cao Cao died, Cao Pi succeeded him, becoming Chancellor and King of Wei, and honored Cao Cao's queen Lady Bian as Queen Dowager ^c:2060. In the first year of Yankang (220), Cao Pi changed the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an to the first year of Yankang ^c:2060. That same year, he ordered the various officials to fulfill their duties and remonstrate, the commanders to set forth military law, and the governors to make clear administrative affairs, so as to broadly gather counsel ^c:11092. He also expressed mourning for the soldiers who had died in battle, ordering the commanderies and kingdoms to provide them coffins and send them home, with the authorities holding sacrifices ^c:11093.

In the first year of Huangchu (220), Cao Pi formally proclaimed himself emperor and changed the era to Huangchu ^c:5510. He posthumously honored his mother Lady Zhen as Empress Wenzhao ^c:2061. However, Lady Zhen, after Cao Pi ascended the throne of King in the first month of the first year of Yankang (220), having lost favor and voiced resentment, was ordered to take her own life in the sixth month of the second year of Huangchu (221) and was buried at Ye ^c:2063. Cao Pi also once discussed with his ministers whether to retain or abolish corporal punishment; he held that corporal punishment was the law of the sage kings, but in the end let the matter drop because of the opposition of ministers such as Wang Lang and the impact of warfare ^c:11062.

In the third year of Huangchu (222), Cao Pi issued an edict to select talent without regard to age, stressing that those Confucians versed in the classics and those clerks proficient in statutes and law could all be tried in office ^c:11099. In the second month of the same year, the Western Regions states of Shanshan, Qiuci, Khotan, and others sent envoys to pay tribute; Cao Pi dispatched envoys to comfort them, opening the way to the Western Regions, and established the post of Wuji Colonel ^c:11100. In his warfare with Sun Quan, Cao Pi once accurately predicted Liu Bei's military dispositions, judging that he "did not understand warfare" and foretelling that he would surely be defeated; seven days later this indeed came to pass ^c:11089. In the fourth year of Huangchu (223), Cao Pi issued an edict forbidding women from meddling in government, stipulating that ministers were not to memorialize affairs to the Empress Dowager, that the families of empresses were not to assist in governance or receive enfeoffment, and that this edict was to be handed down to later generations ^c:11095. That same year, he chose his own tomb site of Shouling and devised a detailed system of frugal burial, stressing using the mountain as the body, with no mound and no trees, hiding no gold, silver, or treasures, with earthenware as grave goods, so as to guard against later grave-robbing ^c:11096.

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms begins its depiction of Cao Pi in his youth, reinforcing the notion of his "imperial aura" ^c:2079. In the novel, after breaking Jizhou, Cao Pi, disregarding the prohibition, was the first to barge into the residence of Yuan Shao, intending to kill Yuan Shao's wives and concubines, but was moved by the beauty of Lady Zhen and took her for himself ^c:2079, ^c:2080, ^c:11007. This episode has no clear basis in the histories and is more a romanticized treatment of literary creation.

In Cao Cao's choice of an heir, the novel emphasizes the fierce rivalry between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi. In the novel, Cao Pi, through Jia Xu's scheme, presented before Cao Cao an image of being "sincere, generous, and respectful," while Cao Zhi lost favor for being "showy with little sincerity, and given to drink and abandon" ^c:2081, ^c:2084. Cao Pi even used the stratagem of having Wu Zhi smuggled into the residence hidden in a large hamper, then falsely accused Yang Xiu, finally leading to Yang Xiu's execution and clearing the obstacles for himself ^c:2082, ^c:2083. These episodes greatly enrich Cao Pi's image, making him appear more scheming and calculating.

After Cao Cao died, Cao Pi's succession in the novel is likewise full of drama. Hua Xin coerced and cajoled before Emperor Xian of Han to obtain the imperial decree, prompting Cao Pi to ascend the throne swiftly ^c:5508. Then, through Jia Kui's persuasion, Cao Pi successfully defused the crisis of Cao Zhang's contest for the throne ^c:2085. In handling Yu Jin, Cao Pi had the scene of Guan Yu flooding the Seven Armies and capturing Yu Jin painted on the plastered wall of the tomb chamber, so as to humiliate Yu Jin, finally driving Yu Jin to die of indignation ^c:2086. This episode highlights Cao Pi's harshness and ruthlessness.

After Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor, the episode of his accepting the abdication in the novel is also rather ironic. Faced with Emperor Xian of Han's abdication, Cao Pi feigned refusal, and finally, on Jia Xu's advice, built an "Abdication Platform," having Emperor Xian of Han personally present the seal and cords, so as "to dispel the doubts of the multitude and silence all dissent" ^c:11019, ^c:5510. In foreign warfare, in the novel Cao Pi judged that Liu Bei would surely be defeated because of his linked camps stretching seven hundred li, and foretold that he would be defeated at the hands of Lu Xun, displaying his military insight ^c:5511. However, in his campaign against Wu, he would not heed the remonstrances of Jia Xu and Liu Ye, and in the end all three columns of his army were defeated ^c:11036, ^c:11040. In the stratagem of the Five-Route Invasion of Shu, Sima Yi offered Cao Pi the plan of uniting four routes of troops—the Xianbei, the Southern Man, Sun Quan, and Meng Da—plus one route under Cao Zhen, for a total of five hundred thousand troops to attack Shu Han ^c:2090. In the end, after the failure of his campaign against Wu, Cao Pi once again would not heed Xin Pi's remonstrance, personally campaigning against Wu, only to be deceived by Xu Sheng's "phantom city" stratagem and finally return without success ^c:5512, ^c:11044, ^c:11048.

Key Relationships

* Cao Cao (parent_of): Cao Pi was Cao Cao's eldest son and his eventual heir. In his lifetime Cao Cao much examined Cao Pi's talent and character, finally making him Heir Apparent of Wei ^c:2060. In the novel, though Cao Cao had once favored Cao Zhi, in the end he recognized Cao Pi's being "sincere, generous, and respectful," judging that he "could continue my enterprise" ^c:2084.
* Cao Rui (parent_of): Cao Rui was Cao Pi's son, later Emperor Ming of Wei. From childhood Cao Rui was favored by Cao Cao, often kept at his side, displaying an outstanding bearing ^c:2061.
* Empress Zhen (betrayed_by): Lady Zhen was Cao Pi's wife, but having lost favor and voiced resentment, she was finally ordered by Cao Pi to take her own life ^c:2063. In the novel, after breaking Jizhou, Cao Pi was drawn by the beauty of Lady Zhen and took her for himself ^c:11007 (unique to the novel).
* Cao Wei (serves): Cao Pi was the founder and first emperor of the Cao Wei regime; he inherited Cao Cao's enterprise and finally established the state of Wei ^c:5510.
* Cao Zhi (brother): Cao Pi and Cao Zhi were brothers and also rivals for the throne. In the novel, Cao Pi both admired and feared Cao Zhi's talent, once using the trials of "composing a poem in seven paces" and "boiling beans by burning beanstalks" to humiliate and suppress Cao Zhi ^c:11010, ^c:11014 (unique to the novel).
* Jia Xu (advisor): Jia Xu was an important advisor of Cao Pi. In the novel, Jia Xu devised plans for Cao Pi, helping him win Cao Cao's trust and succeed smoothly ^c:2081. When Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor, Jia Xu also proposed building the "Abdication Platform" ^c:11019 (unique to the novel).
* Hua Xin (official): Hua Xin was an important minister of Cao Pi. At Cao Pi's accession, Hua Xin actively brought about the abdication, and in the novel played the key role of extracting the imperial decree from Emperor Xian of Han ^c:5508 (unique to the novel).
* Liu Ye (advisor): Liu Ye was Cao Pi's Palace Attendant. In the novel, Liu Ye remonstrated with Cao Pi several times, especially on the question of campaigning against Wu, where he tried to dissuade Cao Pi, but was not heeded ^c:11036.
* Sima Yi (official): Sima Yi was an important advisor of Cao Pi. In the novel, Sima Yi offered Cao Pi the stratagem of the "Five-Route Invasion of Shu" ^c:2090 (unique to the novel).

Iconic Scenes

* Being made Heir Apparent: In the twenty-second year of Jian'an (217), Cao Pi was made Heir Apparent of Wei by Cao Cao, formally establishing his position as heir ^c:5504. This event marked an important turning point in his political career.
* Proclaiming himself emperor and founding Wei: In the first year of Yankang (220), Cao Pi replaced the Han and proclaimed himself emperor, founding the state of Wei and changing the era to Huangchu ^c:5510. This act ended the rule of the Han dynasty and opened the tripartite balance of the Three Kingdoms.
* The frugal-burial testamentary edict: In the fourth year of Huangchu (223), Cao Pi devised for himself a detailed system of frugal burial, stressing using the mountain as the body, with no mound and no trees, hiding no gold, silver, or treasures, with earthenware as grave goods, so as to guard against later grave-robbing ^c:11096. This reflects his distinctive view of matters after death.
* Composing a poem in seven paces (unique to the novel): In the novel, to corner Cao Zhi, Cao Pi ordered him to compose a poem within seven paces, on pain of death. Cao Zhi finally, with the verse of "boiling beans by burning beanstalks," expressed the grief of brothers harming one another, moving Cao Pi to tears ^c:11010, ^c:11014, ^c:11016. This scene became a classic depiction of the strife between the brothers Cao Pi and Cao Zhi.
* Humiliating Yu Jin (unique to the novel): In the novel, Cao Pi had the scene of Guan Yu flooding the Seven Armies and capturing Yu Jin painted on the plastered wall of the tomb chamber, so as to humiliate Yu Jin, finally driving Yu Jin to die of indignation ^c:2086. This episode displays Cao Pi's harsh and ungracious side.
* The Five-Route Invasion of Shu (unique to the novel): In the novel, after Liu Bei died, Cao Pi adopted Sima Yi's advice and launched the military action of the "Five-Route Invasion of Shu," attempting to seize the moment of Shu Han's new ruler's accession to wipe out Shu in one stroke ^c:2090. Although it ultimately failed, this stratagem displayed Cao Pi's ambition to unify the realm.
* The phantom city at Guangling (unique to the novel): In the novel, Cao Pi personally campaigned against Wu and at Guangling encountered Xu Sheng's "phantom city" stratagem. Xu Sheng bound reeds into human figures, dressed them in green, gave them banners, and set them atop a false city, so that the Wei army mistakenly believed the Wu defenses were tight, and in the end Cao Pi returned without success ^c:11044, ^c:11048. This scene highlights Cao Pi's military missteps.