Cao Ren

Historical Record

Cao Ren, courtesy name Zixiao, was a younger cousin of Cao Cao. In his early years his conduct was unrestrained by minor proprieties, but after becoming a general he became known for his strict discipline and adherence to the law, keeping statutes at his side and acting in accordance with them ^c:5516. In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 CE), when Cao Cao campaigned in Jing Province and the main army withdrew, Cao Ren remained behind as General Who Conquers the South to garrison Jiangling and resist the attack of the Wu general Zhou Yu ^c:2099. At that time Zhou Yu led tens of thousands of troops to attack, and when several thousand of his vanguard had just arrived, Cao Ren ascended the wall to observe, recruited three hundred men, and dispatched his subordinate commander Niu Jin to engage them. When Niu Jin was surrounded, all those on the wall turned pale, but Cao Ren alone was roused to action. Disregarding the dissuasion of his Chief Clerk Chen Jiao and others, he personally donned armor, mounted his horse, and led several dozen riders to charge into the enemy formation, rescuing Niu Jin. He then charged in again and rescued the remaining surrounded soldiers. This act left every man of the three armies in admiration of his valor, and Chen Jiao marveled, "The general is truly a man from heaven!" ^c:2099

Thereafter Cao Ren's military career was marked by repeated achievements. When Cao Cao campaigned against Ma Chao, Cao Ren, acting as General Who Pacifies the West, commanded the generals in defending Tong Pass and successfully defeated Ma Chao south of the Wei River ^c:2100. He also, acting as General of Valiant Cavalry, commanded seven armies to suppress the rebellions of Su Bo, Tian Yin, and others, defeating them ^c:2100. Cao Ren was again appointed General Who Conquers the South, granted the staff of authority, and stationed at Fancheng, responsible for the defense of Jing Province. When Hou Yin rebelled at Wancheng, Cao Ren led troops to break the city and slew Hou Yin. When Guan Yu besieged Fancheng, the Han River flooded, the seven armies under Yu Jin and others were submerged, and Yu Jin surrendered. Fancheng was besieged, with only a few boards' height of wall remaining above the water, provisions nearly exhausted, and no relief in sight. Cao Ren rallied his soldiers and showed his resolve to fight to the death, and his men were all moved to admiration. In the end Xu Huang arrived with reinforcements, the floodwaters gradually receded, Xu Huang repelled Guan Yu from outside, and Cao Ren was able to break out ^c:2100.

In the first year of Huangchu (220 CE), after Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor, he appointed Cao Ren General of Chariots and Cavalry, commander of military affairs in Jing, Yang, and Yi Provinces, advanced him to Marquis of Chen, and increased his fief by two thousand households, for a combined total of three thousand five hundred households. His father Cao Chi was posthumously titled Marquis Mu of Chen. Cao Ren was later recalled to garrison Wancheng. When Sun Quan sent his general Chen Shao to seize Xiangyang, Cao Ren, by decree, joined Xu Huang to break Chen Shao, recovered Xiangyang, and relocated the people of southern Han to north of the Han River. Emperor Wen then appointed Cao Ren Grand General. He was later ordered to move his garrison to Linying, promoted to Grand Marshal, again commanded the armies in holding the Wu River, and finally returned to garrison Hefei. In the fourth year of Huangchu (223 CE), Cao Ren died at the age of fifty-six, with the posthumous title of Marquis Zhong ^c:5516.

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Cao Ren is further shaped into a valiant, battle-hardened, and loyal great general of Cao Wei, though at times he appears somewhat rash and stubborn. He first appears in Chapter 5, leading troops together with Cao Hong to aid Cao Cao in the campaign against Dong Zhuo, described as "skilled in commanding cavalry and infantry and accomplished in the martial arts" ^c:2102. In the early stage of the campaign against Dong Zhuo, when Cao Cao was enraged that the lords held their troops back, Cao Ren, along with Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, and others, followed Cao Cao in a night pursuit of Dong Zhuo ^c:2103.

In the novel, Cao Ren repeatedly plays an important role in key battles. When Cao Cao contested Yanzhou with Lü Bu, Cao Ren suffered repeated defeats and sent urgent appeals to Cao Cao, forcing Cao Cao to turn his army back to relieve him ^c:2104. During the Battle of Guandu, Cao Ren commanded the main army stationed at Guandu, responsible for crucial defensive duties ^c:5522.

Departing from the historical record, the novel adds episodes of Cao Ren clashing with Liu Bei on several occasions. For example, in Chapter 35, Cao Ren and Li Dian were ordered to garrison Fancheng and keep watch over Jing and Xiang. Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang volunteered to attack Liu Bei but were defeated by him. Cao Ren ignored Li Dian's advice to "hold the troops and report to the Chancellor," insisting on avenging the two generals and even wishing to behead Li Dian, displaying his self-willed obstinacy ^c:11126. He personally led troops to attack Xinye but fell into Zhuge Liang's fire-attack stratagem and suffered heavy losses ^c:5525. After the Battle of Changban, when Cao Cao was defeated on Huarong Road, he finally rejoined Cao Ren's army at the valley mouth and was at last at ease ^c:2106.

The novel also emphasizes Cao Ren's clash with Zhou Yu at Nan Commandery. In Chapter 51, Cao Ren sent Niu Jin out to fight, and Niu Jin was surrounded. Heedless of danger, Cao Ren personally donned armor and mounted his horse, leading several hundred valiant men to charge into the Wu formation, rescuing Niu Jin, then charging in again to rescue the trapped soldiers, finally repelling the Wu army. This episode closely matches the historical record of the Battle of Jiangling and further dramatizes his valor ^c:2107. However, through Zhou Yu's stratagem, Cao Ren was ultimately forced to abandon Nan Commandery and flee; yet during the pursuit Zhou Yu was struck by an arrow from Cao Ren's ambush, vomited blood, and fell from his horse ^c:2108, ^c:11142.

In Cao Cao's Battle of Tong Pass against Ma Chao, Cao Ren advised first setting up stockades before attacking the pass, but Cao Cao did not fully adopt his counsel. Later Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan held the left and right camps, jointly resisting the Xiliang Army ^c:11144. The novel also depicts a scene in which, when Cao Ren sought an audience with Cao Cao at Xu, he was blocked by Xu Chu, prompting Cao Cao to praise Xu Chu as "a truly loyal subject," which indirectly reflects Cao Ren's standing as a kinsman general ^c:11145.

Key Relationships

* Cao Wei: Cao Ren was a pillar minister of the Cao Wei regime, long serving Cao Cao and his son Cao Pi, rising to Grand Marshal, loyal and devoted, with distinguished military merit ^c:5516.
* Cao Cao: Cao Ren was a younger cousin of Cao Cao, deeply trusted and valued by him. Cao Cao once praised him, "The general is truly a man from heaven!" ^c:2099 In the novel, Cao Cao repeatedly entrusted him with important duties, such as garrisoning Xu and Fancheng ^c:5520, ^c:5523.
* Zhou Yu: Cao Ren and Zhou Yu fought several fierce engagements at Jiangling (Nan Commandery). In history, Cao Ren successfully resisted Zhou Yu's attack, displaying his exceptional courage and valor ^c:2099. In the novel, Zhou Yu once devised a plan to deal Cao Ren a severe blow, but Cao Ren also set an ambush and wounded Zhou Yu with an arrow ^c:2108, ^c:11142.
* Zheng Gan: Cao Ren was once ordered to suppress the rebel Zheng Gan, and slew him ^c:5515.
* Liu Bei: In the novel, Cao Ren repeatedly fought Liu Bei, as at the Battle of Xinye, where Cao Ren ignored Li Dian's advice, recklessly attacked Liu Bei, and was badly defeated by Zhuge Liang's fire attack ^c:11126, ^c:5525 (novel-only).
* Guan Yu: Cao Ren was besieged by Guan Yu at Fancheng and the seven armies were flooded, but he held firm without surrendering, finally awaiting reinforcements to break out ^c:2100. In the novel, Guan Yu once defeated Cao Ren and forced him to fall back to defend Fancheng ^c:2111.
* Li Dian: In the novel, Li Dian repeatedly served as Cao Ren's deputy, often offering prudent advice, but Cao Ren sometimes ignored it, leading to defeats ^c:11126, ^c:11130, ^c:11132 (novel-only).
* Niu Jin: Cao Ren's subordinate commander, surrounded at the Battle of Jiangling, whom Cao Ren personally charged into the enemy formation to rescue ^c:2099. The novel also recreates this scene ^c:2107.

Iconic Scenes

* Breaking the Siege at Jiangling to Rescue Niu Jin: When Cao Ren was besieged by Zhou Yu at Jiangling, his subordinate general Niu Jin was surrounded by several thousand Wu troops. Disregarding all dissuasion, Cao Ren personally donned armor and mounted his horse, leading several dozen riders to charge into the enemy formation; charging through twice, he successfully rescued Niu Jin and his men, leaving the three armies in awe of his valor, and was praised as "truly a man from heaven" ^c:2099. The novel also depicts this scene in detail, further dramatizing his fearless heroism ^c:2107.
* Holding Fancheng: When Guan Yu besieged Fancheng and flooded the seven armies, Yu Jin surrendered. Most of Fancheng's wall was submerged, provisions nearly exhausted, and no relief in sight. Cao Ren rallied his soldiers, showed his resolve to fight to the death, held firm without retreating, and finally awaited Xu Huang's reinforcements to successfully break the siege ^c:2100. This event fully displayed Cao Ren's indomitable will and outstanding ability to hold a fortress.
* Crushing Defeat by Fire at Xinye: In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Cao Ren ignored Li Dian's advice and insisted on attacking Xinye, which Liu Bei garrisoned. As a result he fell into Zhuge Liang's fire-attack stratagem, suffered heavy losses, and fled in disarray ^c:5525, ^c:11135, ^c:11136 (novel-only). This scene highlights Cao Ren's sometimes rash character and refusal to heed counsel, while also setting off Zhuge Liang's masterful schemes.
* Struck by an Arrow at Nan Commandery: In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, when Cao Ren fought Zhou Yu at Nan Commandery, he set an ambush; during the pursuit Zhou Yu was struck in the left flank by an arrow from Cao Ren's ambush, vomited blood, and fell from his horse, plunging the Wu army into difficulty for a time ^c:2108, ^c:11142 (novel-only). This episode displays Cao Ren's cunning and foreshadows Zhou Yu's death by illness.