Meet the Person #
The “Annals of Emperor Wu” record his beginnings as a Han official, participation in the campaign against Dong Zhuo, and later reception of Emperor Xian and management of military and civil affairs. Guandu against Yuan Shao and the subsequent northern wars were important stages in his expansion.
His southern campaign met defeat at Chibi and did not achieve reunification. In his later years he was enfeoffed as King of Wei and died in Luoyang. “Emperor Wu” is a posthumous honorific, not evidence that he became emperor during his lifetime.
Approximate sequence, not a timeline drawn to scale.
Limits of the Evidence #
Novel dialogue is not Cao Cao's verbatim speech. The main text and differing accounts in Pei Songzhi's annotations should be cited separately.
People and Relationships #
- Zhang HeZhang He → Cao Cao: subordinate generalSanguozhi, Volume 17, Zhang–Yue–Yu–Zhang–Xu Biographies ↗
Related Deeds and Periods
After changing allegiance at Guandu: joined Cao Cao and became Pian Jiangjun (Assistant General); accounts differ on the order of the army's collapse and surrender.
- Guan YuGuan Yu → Cao Cao: former subordinate generalSanguozhi, Volume 36, Guan–Zhang–Ma–Huang–Zhao Biographies ↗
Related Deeds and Periods
Treated generously after capture; Guan Yu eventually returned to Liu Bei.
- Zhang LiaoZhang Liao → Cao Cao: subordinate generalSanguozhi, Volume 17, Zhang–Yue–Yu–Zhang–Xu Biographies ↗
Related Deeds and Periods
After Lü Bu's defeat at Xiapi: Zhang Liao led his followers to join Cao Cao, was appointed Zhonglang Jiang (General of the Household), and later accompanied him on many campaigns.
- Zhang LuZhang Lu — Cao Cao: related by marriageSanguozhi, Volume 8, Biography of Zhang Lu ↗
Related Deeds and Periods
The main text of Zhang Lu's biography records that Cao Cao arranged for his son Pengzu to marry Zhang Lu's daughter, making the two men parents-in-law through their children. Zhang Lu's submission, enfeoffment, and treatment as a guest belong separately to his biography; a military campaign is not being labeled as their personal relationship.
- Chen GongChen Gong → Cao Cao: former subordinate generalSanguozhi, Volume 7, Lü Bu and Zang Hong Biographies ↗
Related Deeds and Periods
Volume 7's main text calls Chen Gong a general of Taizu. He was ordered to lead troops stationed in Dong Commandery, and later joined Zhang Miao and others in welcoming Lü Bu.
- Zhang MiaoZhang Miao — Cao Cao: friends (early years)Sanguozhi, Volume 7, Lü Bu and Zang Hong Biographies ↗
Related Deeds and Periods
The main text explicitly calls them friends and records Cao Cao's refusal of Yuan Shao's demand to kill Zhang Miao. Zhang Miao later welcomed Lü Bu and broke with Cao Cao, so “friends” cannot be treated as a lifelong status.
Related Historical Events (Not Personal Relationships) #
- Liu BeiOnce received by Cao Cao, with whom he jointly besieged Lü Bu; they later split and fought in campaigns including Xuzhou and Chibi.Sanguozhi, Volume 32, Biography of the Former Lord ↗
- Yuan ShaoGuandu: the armies confronted each other, and Cao Cao later defeated Yuan Shao; this line represents military confrontation.Sanguozhi, Volume 32, Biography of the Former Lord ↗
- Huang GaiChibi: Huang Gai proposed a fire attack against Cao Cao's army.Sanguozhi, Volume 55, Cheng–Huang–Han–Jiang–Zhou–Chen–Dong–Gan–Ling–Xu–Pan–Ding Biographies ↗
- Cheng PuWulin: jointly commanded troops with Zhou Yu and defeated Cao Cao's army.Sanguozhi, Volume 55, Cheng–Huang–Han–Jiang–Zhou–Chen–Dong–Gan–Ling–Xu–Pan–Ding Biographies ↗
- Ma ChaoTong Pass and the Yellow–Wei River campaigns: Ma Chao and Han Sui joined forces against Cao Cao, then retreated after defeat.Sanguozhi, Volume 36, Guan–Zhang–Ma–Huang–Zhao Biographies ↗
- Zhou YuChibi: Zhou Yu commanded troops against Cao Cao's army; Huang Gai proposed the fire attack.Sanguozhi, Volume 54, Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and Lü Meng Biographies ↗
- Lü MengRuxu: Lü Meng commanded troops holding a fortified position against Cao Cao's attack.Sanguozhi, Volume 54, Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and Lü Meng Biographies ↗
- Xu ShuDuring Cao Cao's southern campaign: after his mother was captured, Xu Shu left Liu Bei and went to Cao Cao.Sanguozhi, Volume 35, Biography of Zhuge Liang ↗
In This Book #
Specific chapters in which each figure appears will be cross-checked after QA of Shiji Sanguo's final manuscript; they are not filled in ahead of time.
Cite This Page
Shiji Sanguo website, “Cao Cao,” data version 2026-09-29.13, updated 2026-09-29.
https://shijisanguo.com/ai/people/cao-cao/
When citing a specific claim, also identify its original source, whether it comes from the main text or a quoted annotation, and your access date. The # beside each section heading links to that passage. This site's synthesis is not the original text of an ancient work.