Family background

There are two accounts of Cao Zhen's origins. The first, from the Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi) and Wei Shu (魏书; by Wang Chen), claimed that Cao Zhen was a distant younger relative of Cao Cao, a warlord who rose to power in the late Eastern Han dynasty and controlled the Han central government. Cao Zhen's father, Cao Shao (曹邵), was a close aide to Cao Cao and was known for his intelligence and loyalty. Around 190, when Cao Cao was raising an army to join the Guandong Coalition, he sent Cao Shao to recruit soldiers from the various commanderies. Huang Wan (黄琬), the Inspector of Yu Province at the time, plotted to assassinate Cao Cao. Cao Shao sacrificed his life to save Cao Cao.

The second account, from the Weilue, mentioned that Cao Zhen's original family name was Qin (秦), and that he was adopted into the Cao family. In this account, Cao Zhen's father was one Qin Bonan (秦伯南), who was a close friend of Cao Cao. Around 195, when Cao Cao was being attacked by soldiers under a rival warlord Yuan Shu, he took shelter in Qin Bonan's house. When the soldiers showed up and asked him where Cao Cao was, Qin Bonan claimed that he was Cao Cao and was killed by the soldiers. Out of gratitude to Qin Bonan for saving his life, Cao Cao adopted his children and allowed them to bear his family name.

Service under Cao Cao

In any case, Cao Cao took pity on Cao Zhen, adopted him and allowed him to live with one of his own sons, Cao Pi. One day, while Cao Zhen was out hunting, he encountered a ferocious tiger which started chasing him. Cao Zhen turned back and killed the tiger with a single arrow shot. Cao Cao was so impressed with Cao Zhen's bravery that he appointed his adopted son as an officer in the elite "Tiger and Leopard Cavalry" (虎豹骑) of his army. Cao Zhen scored his first victory in battle when he defeated bandits in Lingqiu County (灵丘县; east of present-day Lingqiu County, Shanxi). In recognition of his achievement, the Han imperial court enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Lingshou Village (灵寿亭侯).

Hanzhong Campaign

Between 217 and 219, Cao Zhen fought in Hanzhong Commandery against Cao Cao's rival Liu Bei, who had launched a campaign to seize control of Hanzhong Commandery from Cao Cao. When Liu Bei sent Wu Lan (吴兰), one of his officers, to lead troops to garrison at Xiabian County (下辩县; northwest of present-day Cheng County, Gansu), Cao Cao ordered his cousin Cao Hong to lead an army to attack the enemy. Along with Cao Xiu and Cao Hong, Cao Zhen fought at Xiabian County and defeated Wu Lan. He was promoted to Central Resolute General (中坚将军) for his achievement.

When Cao Zhen returned to Chang'an, Cao Cao appointed him as Commandant of the Central Army (中领军). At the time, as his general Xiahou Yuan had been killed in action against Liu Bei's forces at the Battle of Mount Dingjun, Cao Cao was worried that Liu Bei would press on the attack at Yangping Pass (阳平关; in present-day Ningqiang County, Shaanxi). He commissioned Cao Zhen as Army Protector Who Attacks Shu (征蜀护军) and ordered him and Xu Huang to lead troops to attack Gao Xiang, an officer under Liu Bei, at Yangping Pass. Cao Zhen and Xu Huang defeated Gao Xiang and drove him back. In 219, after a prolonged war against Liu Bei, Cao Cao eventually decided to give up defending Hanzhong Commandery so he withdrew all his forces. During the retreat, he sent Cao Zhen to Wudu Commandery (武都郡; around present-day Cheng County, Gansu) to meet up with Cao Hong and relay his order for them to retreat to Chencang (陈仓; east of present-day Baoji, Shaanxi).

Service under Cao Pi

Following Cao Cao's death in March 220, his son Cao Pi succeeded him as the (vassal) King of Wei (魏王) and Imperial Chancellor (丞相) of the Eastern Han dynasty. Cao Pi appointed Cao Zhen as General Who Guards the West (镇西将军) and ordered him to supervise military operations in Yong and Liang provinces in western China. He also elevated Cao Zhen from the status of a village marquis to a district marquis under the title "Marquis of Dong District" (东乡侯). During Cao Zhen's tenure, when one Zhang Jin (张进) started a rebellion in Jiuquan Commandery, Cao Zhen ordered his subordinate Fei Yao to lead troops to quell the rebellion. Fei Yao succeeded in his mission and killed Zhang Jin.

In late 220, Cao Pi usurped the throne from Emperor Xian, ended the Eastern Han dynasty, and established the state of Cao Wei with himself as the new emperor. Two years later, Cao Pi summoned Cao Zhen to the Wei imperial capital, Luoyang, where he reassigned Cao Zhen to be Senior General of the Upper Army (上军大将军), awarded him a ceremonial axe, and put him in charge of supervising military affairs throughout Wei.

Battle of Jiangling

In 223, Cao Pi ordered Cao Zhen, Xiahou Shang, Zhang He and others to lead Wei forces to attack Wei's rival state, Eastern Wu, while he personally stationed at Wan (宛; in present-day Nanyang, Henan) to provide backup. The Wei forces attacked and besieged Jiangling (江陵; present-day Jiangling County, Hubei), which was defended by the Wu general Zhu Ran and some 5,000 soldiers. The Wei forces managed to defeat Wu reinforcements led by Sun Sheng (孙盛), Pan Zhang and Yang Can (杨粲), who were trying to help Zhu Ran. During the siege, Cao Zhen ordered his troops to dig tunnels, pile up earth to form small mounds, and build watchtowers to rain arrows on the defenders in Jiangling. Zhu Ran and his men managed to hold their ground and even found a small opportunity to counterattack and destroy two Wei camps. After some six months of siege, the Wei forces could not breach Jiangling's walls so they retreated.

During the campaign, Cao Zhen and Xiahou Shang managed to destroy a Wu garrison at Niuzhu (牛渚; northwest of present-day Dangtu County, Anhui). After he returned from the campaign, Cao Zhen was reassigned to be Senior General of the Central Army (中军大将军) and given an additional appointment as an Official Who Concurrently Serves in the Palace (给事中).

Incident with Wu Zhi

In 224, Cao Pi ordered Wu Zhi to host a banquet in his residence to celebrate Cao Zhen's return from a campaign. In Cao Pi's imperial edict, all officers holding the rank of Senior General (上将军) with "Specially Advanced" (特进) status and below had to attend. During the banquet, Wu Zhi instructed actors to put up a skit to make fun of Cao Zhen and Zhu Shuo (朱铄), who were fat and thin respectively. Cao Zhen turned furious and he shouted at Wu Zhi, "Are you and your men seeking a fight with me and my men?" Cao Hong and Wang Zhong egged Wu Zhi on by saying, "If you want to make the General (Cao Zhen) admit that he is fat, you have to show that you're thin." Cao Zhen drew his sword, glared at them and said, "I'll kill whoever dares to mock me." Wu Zhi also drew his sword and insulted Cao Zhen by saying, "Cao Zidan, you're not meat under a butcher's cleaver. My throat won't tremble when I swallow you and my teeth won't chatter when I chew on you. How dare you behave so rudely!" Zhu Shuo stood up and tried to reduce tensions by telling Wu Zhi, "His Majesty ordered you to host entertainment for everyone. Do you have to do this?" Wu Zhi then shouted at Zhu Shuo, "Zhu Shuo, how dare you leave your seat!" Everyone then returned to their seats. Zhu Shuo felt outraged but did not say anything, and returned to his seat and used his sword to hit the ground.

Service under Cao Rui

In 226, when Cao Pi became critically ill, he ordered Cao Zhen, Chen Qun, Sima Yi and others to assist his son, Cao Rui, who later succeeded him as the second emperor of Wei. After his coronation, Cao Rui elevated Cao Zhen from the status of a district marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Shaoling" (邵陵侯), and promoted him to the position of General-in-Chief (大将军) in January or February 227.

Tianshui revolts

In the spring of 228, Zhuge Liang, the Imperial Chancellor (丞相) of Wei's rival state Shu Han, launched the first of a series of military campaigns against Wei and led the Shu forces to attack Mount Qi (祁山; the mountainous regions around present-day Li County, Gansu). At the same time, he also ordered Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi to lead a detachment of troops to Ji Valley (箕谷) and pretend to be preparing to attack Mei County (郿县; southeast of present-day Fufeng County, Shaanxi), so as to draw the Wei forces' attention away from Mount Qi. Three Wei-controlled commanderies – Nan'an (南安; around present-day Longxi County, Gansu), Tianshui and Anding (安定; around present-day Zhenyuan County, Gansu) – responded to the Shu invasion by defecting to the Shu side.

When the Wei imperial court received news of the invasion, Cao Rui ordered Cao Zhen to lead Wei forces to resist the invaders. At Ji Valley, Cao Zhen easily defeated Zhao Yun and Deng Zhi, who had been given command of the weaker soldiers in the Shu army. (Zhuge Liang had reserved the better soldiers for his own army to attack Mount Qi.) In the meantime, the Wei general Zhang He attacked and defeated the Shu general Ma Su at the Battle of Jieting. Around the time, one Yang Tiao (杨条) from Anding Commandery had rallied some followers, taken the commandery officials hostage and captured the revenue office. When Cao Zhen and his troops besieged Anding Commandery, Yang Tiao tied himself up and surrendered. Zhuge Liang and the Shu forces retreated upon learning of Ma Su』s defeat. The Wei forces under Cao Zhen and Zhang He then used the opportunity to quell the rebellions in the three commanderies and restore peace.

Siege of Chencang

After repelling the first Shu invasion, Cao Zhen observed that if Shu were to invade Wei again, they would attack via Chencang (陈仓; east of present-day Baoji, Shaanxi). He then put Hao Zhao and Wang Sheng (王生) in charge of defending Chencang and ordered them to strengthen the fortress's defences. As Cao Zhen foresaw, Zhuge Liang indeed led Shu forces to attack Chencang in the spring of 229. However, as Hao Zhao and the Wei defenders were well-prepared, they managed to hold their ground against the second Shu invasion. Zhuge Liang ordered a retreat after failing to breach Chencang's walls. As a reward for Cao Zhen's contributions, Cao Rui increased the number of taxable households in his marquisate, bringing it up to a total of 2,900.

Aborted campaign against Shu

In 230, Cao Rui summoned Cao Zhen to the imperial capital Luoyang, where he promoted him to Grand Marshal (大司马) and awarded him the ceremonial privileges of carrying a sword and wearing shoes into the imperial court, as well as not having to walk in briskly during imperial court sessions.

During this meeting with Cao Rui, Cao Zhen proposed launching a large-scale invasion of Shu from multiple directions to eliminate the threat once and for all. Cao Rui approved his proposal and personally saw him off from Luoyang. In September 230, Cao Zhen led an army from Chang'an to attack Shu via the Ziwu Valley (子午谷). At the same time, another Wei army led by Sima Yi, acting on Cao Rui's order, advanced towards Shu from Jing Province by sailing along the Han River. The rendezvous point for Cao Zhen and Sima Yi's armies was at Nanzheng County (南郑县; in present-day Hanzhong, Shaanxi). Other Wei armies also prepared to attack Shu from the Xie Valley (斜谷) or Wuwei Commandery. However, the campaign eventually had to be aborted in October 230 because the gallery roads leading into Shu were too damaged for the troops to pass through, and also because of rainy weather lasting more than 30 days.

Death

Cao Zhen fell sick on the journey back to Luoyang and became bedridden in the subsequent months. During this time, Cao Rui personally visited Cao Zhen to check on his condition. Cao Zhen eventually died of illness in April or May 231. Cao Rui honoured him with the posthumous title "Marquis Yuan" (元侯).

Appraisal

Cao Zhen was known for being generous with his personal wealth. In his younger days, he served under his foster father Cao Cao along with Cao Zun (曹遵), a distant relative of his, and Zhu Zan (朱赞), who was from the same hometown as him. Both Cao Zun and Zhu Zan died early. Cao Zhen took pity on their families so he requested permission from Cao Rui to give away parts of his marquisate to Cao Zun and Zhu Zan's sons. Cao Rui issued an imperial decree to praise Cao Zhen for his kindness, and award secondary marquis titles to Cao Zun and Zhu Zan's sons and give them each 100 taxable households.

Cao Zhen was also known for sharing weal and woe with his troops whenever he led them into battle. Every time after a battle, if there were insufficient rewards to be given out to all his men, he would use his personal wealth to make up for the difference. His men gladly accepted his kindness.

Family

Cao Zhen had a younger brother, Cao Bin (曹彬), who received a marquis title and a marquisate of 200 taxable households by Cao Pi's decree. He also had a younger sister who married Xiahou Shang and bore Xiahou Xuan and Xiahou Hui; her personal name is unknown and she was referred to as the Lady of Deyang District (德阳乡主).

Cao Zhen had six sons: Cao Shuang, Cao Xi (曹羲), Cao Xun (曹训), Cao Ze (曹则), Cao Yan (曹彦) and Cao Ai (曹皑). Among them, Cao Shuang inherited his father's peerage and marquisate as the Marquis of Shaoling (邵陵侯), while the other five also had their own marquis titles and marquisates. In 239, before Cao Rui died, he appointed Cao Shuang and Sima Yi as regents for his underage adopted son, Cao Fang, who succeeded him as the third emperor of Wei. In 249, Sima Yi staged a coup d'état against Cao Shuang and successfully seized power from him. After the coup d'état, Cao Shuang and his brothers were convicted of treason and executed along with their entire families.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Cao Zhen appears as a character in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which romanticises the historical figures and events before and during the Three Kingdoms period. He makes a late first appearance in Chapter 84 when he accompanies Cao Pi on a campaign against Eastern Wu.

Cao Zhen starts to play a more important role from Chapter 91 onwards when the Shu regent Zhuge Liang launches the Northern Expeditions against Wei. His contributions in the series of battles against Shu are largely downplayed because the author, Luo Guanzhong, wanted to accentuate Sima Yi's resourcefulness and effectively portray him as Zhuge Liang's nemesis. Luo Guanzhong even attributed Cao Zhen's death to his failure to heed Sima Yi's forewarning of a Shu offensive.

In Chapter 100, Sima Yi warns Cao Zhen that Shu forces will, within the next ten days, launch an attack on Mount Qi (祁山; the mountainous regions around present-day Li County, Gansu), a strategic location which would allow further incursions into the Wei heartland. After Cao Zhen refuses to believe Sima Yi, the two make a bet and each of them leads half of the Wei army to guard the valleys to the east and west of Mount Qi. Cao Zhen prepares for battle halfheartedly as he thinks that he is right. Seven days later, when his scouts report that a small number of Shu soldiers are approaching the valley, Cao Zhen sends his subordinate Qin Liang (秦良) to lead 5,000 men to survey the terrain. As Qin Liang and his men travel deeper into the valley, they fall into an ambush by Shu forces led by Liao Hua and Guan Xing and are completely destroyed. The Shu forces then disguise themselves by wearing the Wei soldiers' armour and uniform and infiltrate Cao Zhen's camp. In the meantime, Sima Yi encounters and defeats Shu forces led by Wei Yan. When he learns that no enemy forces have been spotted at Cao Zhen's side, he immediately leads his troops to Cao Zhen's camp. By then, the Shu infiltrators have launched a surprise attack within Cao Zhen's camp. Sima Yi shows up in time, drives back the Shu forces, and saves Cao Zhen. Cao Zhen feels so ashamed of himself that he falls sick. Zhuge Liang writes a letter to Cao Zhen to taunt and insult him. Cao Zhen becomes so angry after reading the letter that he coughs blood and dies that night in his camp. Sima Yi sends his dead body back to Luoyang, where he receives a proper burial.

生平

抚孤之痛

《三国志》裴注引魏略记载，曹真本姓秦，为曹操所收养。或有一说是其父「秦伯南」为曹操挚友。兴平末年（195年），袁术部曲追击曹操，曹操逃到秦伯南那里，秦伯南开门接收曹操。袁术追兵问秦伯南曹操在哪，秦伯南回答：「我就是。」然后被杀。因此，曹操思秦伯南之功而收养曹真，才转姓曹，亦将其父改为曹伯南，不过此说法与陈寿正文矛盾。

虎豹突击

曹操起兵时，曹真之父曹伯南为曹操招募兵马，后为豫州刺史黄琬所害，曹操于是收养丧父的曹真。有一次出外狩猎时，老虎跟在其后，曹真回马一箭，老虎应声而倒，曹操称赞他力大勇猛，并以他使将虎豹骑，讨伐灵丘贼后受封灵寿亭侯。

后为左将军，破刘备别将于下辨，拜中坚将军，至长安后领中领军，不久夏侯渊战死，曹操以曹真为征蜀护军，督徐晃等人于阳平打败刘备的别将高翔，后曹操至汉中，便使曹真与曹洪等转屯陈仓。

至黄初元年（220年）曹丕即帝位后，以曹真为镇西将军，假节，并都督雍州及凉州诸军事，进封东乡侯。后遣费曜到酒泉讨平并斩杀叛乱的张进。后于黄初三年（222年)回洛阳，升至上军大将军，假节钺，与夏侯尚等征伐孙权，并打败在牛渚的驻兵。又转为中军大将军。文帝死后，曹真与陈群和司马懿受遗诏辅政，曹睿即位后，封召陵侯，官至大将军。

执节平敌

太和二年（228年），蜀汉丞相诸葛亮北伐，南安、天水和安定三郡皆降蜀汉，明帝于是亲征至长安，遣曹真督军于郿县，命张合攻马谡，大破蜀汉军，并逼使其退却。安定的百姓杨条等人在掳了一止官吏和百姓在月支城防守，曹真便进军围攻。杨条向手下众人说：「大将军亲自来到，我愿意早些投降。」便将自己缚起出城投降。自此三郡又复归魏。曹真认为诸葛亮此次于祁山战败，及后必攻陈仓，于是命将军郝昭、王生守陈仓，并加强防守。翌年春天诸葛亮果然攻打陈仓，郝昭早已有备而战，诸葛亮不能攻克，同时蜀汉军队兵粮不足，致使诸葛亮无功而还。

及后曹真获增邑至二千九百户，于太和四年二年癸巳日（230年3月16日），曹真官至大司马，获赐可带剑穿鞋拜见皇帝（剑履上殿），入朝不用小步快走（入朝不趋）。曹真表认为蜀汉多次犯境，建议攻伐蜀汉，分几路进攻，可以大胜。明帝接纳，并亲自送别曹真，曹真于是从长安出兵，从子午道入；司马懿经汉水进军，另外有部分于斜谷入，从多路进攻蜀汉，但因天雨而罢兵。后曹真得病，回洛阳，次年（231年）三月逝世，諡元侯。

人物特徵

体态

曹真力大勇猛，有一次出外狩猎时，老虎跟在其后，曹真回马一箭，老虎应声而倒，曹操称赞他力大勇猛，于是便将虎豹骑的统领权交给他。（注：曹魏的虎豹骑并非单独一人持有统领权）

曹真体态肥胖，曾发生文帝宠臣吴质于筵席命人模仿取笑，导致两人几乎于席间拔剑相向的事件。

性格

《三国志》记载曹真体恤将士，若军赏不足，命以自己私财赠予兵士。

另外曹真亦因为可怜宗人曹遵和同乡朱赞的儿子年少丧父，曾把自己的食邑分给他们。

曹真碑

清道光二十三年（1843年）发现于陕西省西安市南郊，发现时碑已残断，只存中间部分。碑阳存字20行，231字，记曹真生平业绩；碑阴存字30行，每行10至20字，刻立碑者姓名、官职、籍贯。两侧刻蟠龙。

方若在清末著作《校碑随笔》记载，有关诸葛亮及其被刻为「蜀贼」的字眼在出土前被凿去。

现存放于故宫博物院。

家庭

父亲

• 曹邵，初平年间随曹操募兵起事，但是被豫州刺史黄琬杀死。

兄弟

• 曹彬，曹真之弟，文帝时获封列侯。

姐妹

• 德阳乡主，嫁夏侯尚，生夏侯玄、夏侯徽

儿子

由于司马懿发动高平陵之变后，曹爽投降，族诛三族，曹爽兄弟子嗣均被诛连灭族，因此曹真绝嗣。

嘉平中年间，缅怀曹真的功勋，让曹真族孙曹熙（没有血缘关系）袭新昌亭侯。

• 曹爽，曹真长子。魏明帝曹睿临死时，遗诏与司马懿共同辅助曹芳，官至大将军，录尚书事，后又加侍中，权倾朝野。司马懿发动高平陵之变后，曹爽投降，不久被诛杀。

• 曹羲，曹爽之弟。封列侯，曹爽专政时任中领军，后随曹爽投降，曹羲被诛杀。

• 曹训，封列侯，任武卫将军，后被司马懿诛杀。

• 曹则，封列侯。

• 曹彦，封列侯，曹爽专政时任散骑常侍侍讲，后被司马懿诛杀。

• 曹皑，封列侯。

孙子

• 曹熙，曹真族孙，曹爽兄弟被诛杀后，曹真一脉已断，在嘉平年间获封为新昌亭侯，作为曹真的后嗣。

评价

• 曹睿：「大司马有叔向抚孤之仁，晏平久要之分。」「大司马蹈履忠节，佐命二祖，内不恃亲戚之宠，外不骄白屋之士，可谓能持盈守位，劳谦其德者也。」（《三国志·魏书九》）

• 曹植：「知虑深奥，渊然难测。执节平敌，中表维藩。恭以奉上，爱以接下。纳言左右，为帝喉舌。曹大将军也。」（《曹子建文集》）

• 桓范：「曹子丹佳人！」（《三国志·魏书九》）

• 蒋济：「曹真之勋，不可以不祀。」（《晋书·帝纪一》）

• 陈寿：「夏侯、曹氏，世为婚姻。故敦、渊、仁、洪、休、尚、真等并以亲旧肺腑，贵重于时，左右勋业，咸有效劳。」（《三国志·魏书九》）

• 《曹真碑》：「施陆议于严霜、奋朱然于雷霆。」

• 李贽：「是孔明已知后主之必亡也，而又欲速战以幸其不亡，何哉？岂谓病虽进不得药，而药终不可不进，以故犹欲侥幸于一逞乎？吾恐司马懿、曹真诸人尚在，未可以侥幸也。」（《焚书·卷五读史》）

艺术形象

三国演义

形象非常矛盾，一方面是被敌军连败，掩饰过失的败将；另一方面也识破过诸葛亮放出司马懿谋反的离间计。卧病时顾全大局地主动将都督印让与司马懿，但最后却在征蜀失败后，因一封诸葛亮寄给他的书信导致激愤而死。历史上曹真的功绩，全部都转到司马懿身上。

影视

• 中国中央电视台电视剧《三国演义》（1994年）：郑强

• 香港电视剧《医神华佗》（2000年）：蔡国庆

• 中国电视剧《三国》（2010年）：赵晋

• 电影《铜雀台》（2012年）：王羽铮

• 电视剧《新洛神》（2013年）：孙昊宸

• 电视剧《大军师司马懿之军师联盟》/《大军师司马懿之虎啸龙吟》（2017年）：章贺

漫画形象

• 《火凤燎原》（陈某）: