Cao Biao

Cao Biao (195 – July 251), courtesy name Zhuhu, was an imperial prince of the Cao Wei state in the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Cao Biao
曹彪
Prince of Chu (楚王)
Tenure232–251
Prince of Boma (白馬王)
Tenure226–231
Prince of Wu (吳王)
Tenure222–226
Prince of Yiyang (弋陽王)
Tenure222
Duke of Ruyang (汝陽公)
Tenure221–222
Born195
DiedJuly 251 (aged 56)
Shou County, Anhui
IssueCao Jia
Names
Family name: Cao (曹)
Given name: Biao (彪)
Courtesy name: Zhuhu (朱虎)
HouseHouse of Cao
FatherCao Cao
MotherConsort Sun
In this Chinese name, the family name is Cao.

Life

Cao Biao was a son of Cao Cao, a warlord who rose to power in the late Eastern Han dynasty and laid the foundation for the Cao Wei state in the Three Kingdoms period. His mother was Consort Sun (孫姬), a concubine of Cao Cao. He had two full brothers: Cao Zishang and Cao Ziqin.[1]

In 216, Cao Biao was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Shouchun (壽春侯) by Emperor Xian, the figurehead last emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty.[2] During this time, he attended a banquet hosted by his half-brother Cao Pi. One of the guests was Zhu Jianping (朱建平), a notable fortune teller. Zhu Jianping told Cao Biao, "You'll become the lord of a vassal state. When you're 57,[lower-alpha 1] you'll get into a military-related disaster. You'll do well to be careful."[3]

In 221, a year after his half-brother Cao Pi usurped the throne from Emperor Xian and replaced the Eastern Han dynasty with the Cao Wei state, Cao Biao was enfeoffed as the Duke of Ruyang (汝陽公). In the following year, he was elevated to the status of a prince under the title "Prince of Yiyang" (弋陽王), which was later changed to "Prince of Wu" (吳王) within the same year. In 226, Cao Pi changed Cao Biao's title to "Prince of Boma" (白馬王).[4]

In the winter of 231, Cao Rui (Cao Pi's successor) summoned Cao Biao to the imperial capital, Luoyang, to pay his respects. In the following year, Cao Rui changed Cao Biao's title to "Prince of Chu" (楚王); Cao Biao's princedom, known as the Chu State (楚國), was centred around present-day Shou County, Anhui. In 233, an official reported to Cao Rui that Cao Biao did not follow imperial protocol when he visited Luoyang in 231. As a punishment, three counties were removed from Cao Biao's princedom, bringing the total number of taxable households in his princedom down to 1,500. In 234, Cao Biao regained the three counties after Cao Rui ordered a general amnesty. In 239, 500 taxable households were added to Cao Biao's princedom, bringing the total number up to 3,000.[5]

In 249, the Grand Commandant Wang Ling plotted with his maternal nephew Linghu Yu (令狐愚), the Inspector of Yan Province, to overthrow the Wei emperor Cao Fang (Cao Rui's successor) and replace him with Cao Biao, whom they perceive to be intelligent and courageous.[6] They also planned to establish the new imperial capital in Xuchang. In late September or October 249, Linghu Yu sent his subordinate Zhang Shi (張式) to contact Cao Biao and tell him that there were two popular sayings circulating in Dong Commandery (東郡; around present-day Puyang County, Henan):

"A magical horse emerges from the White Horse River. It neighs as it passes by government offices through the night. All other horses respond to its call. The following day, its tracks are seen to be as large as one hu and stretching over some li before leading back to the river."[7]

"A white horse gallops towards the southwest. Only 'red tiger'[lower-alpha 2] can control and ride it."[8]

Both sayings hinted that Cao Biao should become the emperor. Zhang Shi also told Cao Biao, "His Excellency (Linghu Yu) sends Your Highness his greetings. There is great uncertainty in this world. We hope that Your Highness will love yourself." Cao Biao caught the hint and replied, "I thank His Excellency for his generosity and support."[9] In December 249 or January 250, Linghu Yu sent Zhang Shi to remind Cao Biao again, but he died of illness before Zhang Shi returned.[10][11][12]

On 7 June 251, the Wei imperial court received news that Wang Ling was plotting a rebellion in Shouchun (壽春; present-day Shou County, Anhui) aimed at overthrowing the emperor Cao Fang and replacing him with Cao Biao. The Grand Tutor Sima Yi then led imperial forces from Luoyang to Shouchun to preempt Wang Ling before he could effectively carry out his plans. Zhang Shi and others involved in the plot surrendered themselves and confessed everything.[13] As Wang Ling did not expect Sima Yi to show up so quickly, he was caught off guard and had no choice but to surrender. He committed suicide on 15 June while being escorted as a prisoner to Luoyang for trial.[14]

Sima Yi and officials from the Imperial Censorate went to Cao Biao's princedom, conducted an investigation and arrested everyone involved in the plot. The Minister of Justice urged the imperial court to punish Cao Biao for treason, so in July 251, the imperial court sent an emissary to reprimand Cao Biao for his conduct and force him to commit suicide.[15][16][17] Several of Cao Biao's subordinates, who knew of his involvement in the plot but did not report him, were implicated and executed along with their families.[18] Cao Biao's family members were spared, but reduced to commoner status and relocated to Pingyuan Commandery (平原郡). His princedom was converted to a commandery and renamed Huainan Commandery (淮南郡), with the commandery capital at present-day Shou County, Anhui.[19]

Succession

In 254, the Wei emperor Cao Mao issued an imperial decree to pardon Cao Biao's family members and restore them to noble status. He enfeoffed Cao Biao's son and former heir apparent, Cao Jia (曹嘉), as the Prince of Changshan Zhending (常山真定王). In 260, during the reign of Cao Huan, the number of taxable households in Cao Jia's princedom increased until it reached 2,500.[20]

See also

Notes
  1. This age was based on East Asian age reckoning.
  2. Cao Biao's courtesy name, Zhuhu (朱虎), literally means "red tiger".

References
  1. (武皇帝二十五男： ... 孫姬生臨邑殤公子上、楚王彪、剛殤公子勤， ...) Sanguozhi vol. 20.
  2. (楚王彪字朱虎。建安二十一年，封壽春侯。) Sanguozhi vol. 20.
  3. (文帝為五官將，坐上會客三十餘人，文帝問己年壽，又令徧相衆賔。 ... 謂曹彪曰：「君據藩國，至五十七當厄於兵，宜善防之。」) Sanguozhi vol. 29.
  4. (黃初二年，進爵，徙封汝陽公。三年，封弋陽王。其年徙封吳王。五年，改封壽春縣。七年，徙封白馬。) Sanguozhi vol. 20.
  5. (太和五年冬，朝京都。六年，改封楚。初，彪來朝，犯禁，青龍元年，為有司所奏，詔削縣三，戶千五百。二年，大赦，復所削縣。景初三年，增戶五百，并前三千戶。) Sanguozhi vol. 20.
  6. (魏畧曰：愚聞楚王彪有智勇。) Weilue annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 28.
  7. (初東郡有譌言云：「白馬河出妖馬，夜過官牧邊鳴呼，衆馬皆應，明日見其迹，大如斛，行數里，還入河中。」) Weilue annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 28.
  8. (又有謠言：「白馬素羈西南馳，其誰乘者朱虎騎。」) Weilue annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 28.
  9. (楚王小字朱虎，故愚與王淩陰謀立楚王。乃先使人通意於王，言「使君謝王，天下事不可知，願王自愛」！彪亦陰知其意，荅言「謝使君，知厚意也。」) Weilue annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 28.
  10. ([王]淩、愚密協計，謂齊王不任天位，楚王彪長而才，欲迎立彪都許昌。嘉平元年九月，愚遣將張式至白馬，與彪相問往來。 ... 其十一月，愚復遣式詣彪，未還，會愚病死。) Sanguozhi vol. 28.
  11. (漢晉春秋曰：淩、愚謀，以帝幼制於彊臣，不堪為主，楚王彪長而才，欲迎立之，以興曹氏。) Han Jin Chunqiu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 28.
  12. (嘉平元年，兖州刺史令狐愚與太尉王淩謀迎彪都許昌。) Sanguozhi vol. 20.
  13. (宣王遂至壽春。張式等皆自首，乃窮治其事。) Sanguozhi vol. 28.
  14. ([嘉平三年四月]丙午，聞太尉王淩謀廢帝，立楚王彪，太傅司馬宣王東征淩。五月甲寅，淩自殺。) Sanguozhi vol. 20.
  15. (孔衍漢魏春秋載璽書曰：「夫先王行賞不遺仇讎，用戮不違親戚，至公之義也。故周公流涕而決二叔之罪，孝武傷懷而斷昭平之獄，古今常典也。惟王，國之至親，作藩于外，不能祗奉王度，表率宗室，而謀於姧邪，乃與太尉王淩、兖州刺史令狐愚構通逆謀，圖危社稷，有悖忒之心，無忠孝之意。宗廟有靈，王其何面目以見先帝？朕深痛王自陷罪辜，旣得王情，深用憮然。有司奏王當就大理，朕惟公族甸師之義，不忍肆王市朝，故遣使者賜書。王自作孽，匪由於他，燕剌之事，宜足以觀。王其自圖之！」) Han Wei Chunqiu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 20.
  16. (六月，彪賜死。) Sanguozhi vol. 4.
  17. (乃遣[太]傅及侍御史就國案驗，收治諸相連及者。廷尉請徵彪治罪。於是依漢燕王旦故事，使兼廷尉大鴻臚持節賜彪璽書切責之，使自圖焉。) Sanguozhi vol. 20.
  18. (彪賜死，諸相連者悉夷三族。) Sanguozhi vol. 28.
  19. (彪乃自殺。妃及諸子皆免為庶人，徙平原。彪之官屬以下及監國謁者，坐知情無輔導之義，皆伏誅。國除為淮南郡。) Sanguozhi vol. 20.
  20. (正元元年詔曰：「故楚王彪，背國附姧，身死嗣替，雖自取之，猶哀矜焉。夫含垢藏疾，親親之道也，其封彪世子嘉為常山真定王。」景元元年，增邑，并前二千五百戶。) Sanguozhi vol. 20.
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