Cao Bao

Historical Record

Cao Bao's life and deeds are little recorded in the standard histories, appearing mainly in the turbulent situation during the period when Liu Bei held Xu Province. According to the Biography of the First Lord in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, in the first year of Jian'an (196), Liu Bei was locked in a standoff with Yuan Shu in Xu Province for more than a month. At this point Lü Bu exploited the opening and attacked Xiapi. It was against this background that Xiapi's defending general Cao Bao "revolted," secretly going over to Lü Bu, so that Lü Bu successfully occupied Xiapi. Lü Bu then captured Liu Bei's wife and children, forcing Liu Bei to move his army to Haixi. This event is supplemented in greater detail in the Record of Heroes, which states that Liu Bei at the time had left Zhang Fei to guard Xiapi while he himself led troops to fight Yuan Shu at Shiting in Huaiyin. Tao Qian's former general Cao Bao was then in Xiapi; Zhang Fei wished to kill him, but Cao Bao's followers held fast to their camp and sent men to summon Lü Bu. Lü Bu was thereby able to take Xiapi, and Zhang Fei was defeated and fled. When Liu Bei heard the news, he led troops back, but by the time he reached Xiapi his army had scattered. He gathered up the scattered soldiers and went east to take Guangling, but fought Yuan Shu again and was defeated. Afterward, Liu Bei sued for peace with Lü Bu, and Lü Bu returned his wife and children; Liu Bei then sent Guan Yu to guard Xiapi. ^c:5637 Cao Bao's record in the standard histories is limited to this; his specific identity, past experiences, and standing within Tao Qian's group are all without clear explanation—it is known only that he was a former general of Tao Qian who turned to Lü Bu at a critical moment.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Bao is given more detail and drama, especially highlighted in his conflict with Zhang Fei. He first appears when Cao Cao campaigned against Xu Province to avenge his father. At that time, with Cao Cao's great army bearing down, Tao Qian faced him, and Cao Bao volunteered, declaring his willingness to help Tao Qian break the enemy. ^c:5640 In a clash with Xiahou Dun, Cao Bao faced off against Xiahou Dun, but because a violent wind arose and threw both armies into confusion, they each withdrew without deciding the outcome. ^c:5640

Cao Bao's best-known event in the novel is his quarrel with Zhang Fei. When Liu Bei went on campaign against Yuan Shu, he left Zhang Fei to guard Xiapi. Zhang Fei was fond of drink, and one day held a banquet for the officials. When the wine reached Cao Bao, Cao Bao declined on the grounds that he "followed Heaven's caution and did not drink." Zhang Fei forced him to drink, and Cao Bao had no choice but to drink one cup. However, when the drunken Zhang Fei again pressed wine on him and Cao Bao repeatedly refused, Zhang Fei was enraged. Zhang Fei angrily rebuked him for defying his commander's order and was about to give him a hundred strokes. Chen Yuanlong tried to dissuade him, but Zhang Fei would not listen. In desperation, Cao Bao invoked his son-in-law Lü Bu, trying to intimidate Zhang Fei, saying, "For the sake of my son-in-law's face, pray forgive me." ^c:2349 These words not only failed to work but completely enraged Zhang Fei, who shouted in fury: "I did not mean to beat you; you bring up Lü Bu to frighten me, so I will beat you all the more! Beating you is the same as beating Lü Bu!" ^c:2349 In the end, Cao Bao was whipped fifty times, and only after everyone earnestly begged did it stop. This event directly caused Cao Bao to harbor resentment and ultimately to lead Lü Bu in a surprise attack on Xiapi, echoing the historical record that "Cao Bao revolted and secretly received Lü Bu," but the novel gives it more specific motive and process. ^c:12125 In addition, the novel mentions that while Lü Bu was at Xiaopei, he had taken Cao Bao's daughter as his secondary wife, but Lady Cao died early without issue ^c:2350, further reinforcing the marital tie between Cao Bao and Lü Bu and providing a deeper background for Cao Bao leading Lü Bu into Xu Province.

Key Relationships

* Tao Qian's Faction (serves): Cao Bao was a subordinate general of Tao Qian, serving him while Tao Qian was Governor of Xu Province. When Cao Cao attacked Xu Province, Cao Bao volunteered to help Tao Qian resist the Cao army. ^c:5640
* Lü Bu's faction (defected_to): During Liu Bei's war with Yuan Shu, Cao Bao betrayed Liu Bei and secretly received Lü Bu, causing Lü Bu to take Xiapi successfully. ^c:5637
* Lü Bu (kin_of): The novel clearly states that Lü Bu took Cao Bao's daughter as his secondary wife, so Cao Bao was Lü Bu's father-in-law (novel only). ^c:2350 This marital tie provides the motivational groundwork for Cao Bao going over to Lü Bu.
* Zhang Fei (antagonist): In the novel, Cao Bao and Zhang Fei came into conflict over drinking and Cao Bao was whipped by Zhang Fei; this event directly impelled Cao Bao to lead Lü Bu into Xu Province (novel only). ^c:2349

Signature Scenes

* First battle against Cao Cao's army before Xu Province: When Cao Cao attacked Xu Province to avenge his father, Cao Bao, as a general of Tao Qian, went out to meet Xiahou Dun, but because a violent wind arose, they could not decide the outcome (novel only). ^c:5640
* Humiliated at the banquet and inviting disaster: While Zhang Fei guarded Xiapi, at a banquet he forced Cao Bao to drink and, because Cao Bao invoked Lü Bu's name, whipped him fifty times. Cao Bao therefore harbored resentment and finally led Lü Bu in a surprise attack on Xiapi, causing Liu Bei to lose his base (novel only). ^c:2349
* Turning to Lü Bu atop Xiapi's walls: While Liu Bei was locked in a standoff with Yuan Shu, Xiapi's defending general Cao Bao revolted and secretly received Lü Bu, enabling Lü Bu to exploit the opening, capture Xiapi, and seize Liu Bei's wife and children. ^c:5637 This event directly changed the political landscape of Xu Province and had a profound effect on Liu Bei's early development.