CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Cao Hong曹洪
Cao Cao's cousin, a general of Cao Wei, with distinguished military achievements.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 8
- RELATION RECORDS
- 11
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Cao Hong, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
1 figure · 2 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Cao Cao—Cao Hongbrothers
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
5 figures · 6 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Cao Cao—Cao Hongruler-subject
Cao HongisZhang He’s ruler
Cao Ren—Cao Hongsubordinate general
Guo Huai→Cao Hongremonstrate
Read the original source
行军司马郭淮谏曰：“‘三军易得，一将难求’。张郃虽然有罪，乃魏王所深爱者也，不可便诛
Cao Hong→Yang Fufear
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
3 figures · 3 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Cao Hong→Yuan Tanslay
Man Chong→Cao Hongtake in guests
Cao Hong→Wu Landefeat
9 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
Cao Cao's cousin; his guests broke the law and were killed by Yang Pei. He was Tejin, and his wet nurse committed an offense. He was a general of Wei, serving together with Xu Huang.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Cao Hong was Cao Cao's cousin, and in early years he led troops to assist. At the Battle of Xingyang, Cao Cao was besieged by the enemy, and Cao Hong dismounted to rescue him. Thereafter he repeatedly served as vanguard and garrison commander, participating in the battles of Guandu and Ye, and beheading enemy generals Yuan Tan, He Man, and Ren Kui. After the Battle of Red Cliffs, he defended Yiling but was defeated and fled. During the Hanzhong campaign, he angrily rebuked Zhang He for losing the pass. When Cao Cao was dying, he entrusted his orphan to Cao Hong. When Cao Pi ascended the throne, Cao Hong once drew his sword and forced Emperor Xian to leave the hall.
Across source works
How this figure changes across texts
Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.
- Literature / legend25 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
7 relations10 verified quotations- Cao Hong→ save master →Cao Cao
- Cao Cao→ brothers →Cao Hong
- Cao Cao→ ruler-subject →Cao Hong
- Cao Ren→ subordinate general →Cao Hong
Verified original text · 10
下马救起曹操。
save master · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 6
先差曹洪领三万铁甲马军
subordinate general · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 61
8 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history15 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
5 relations5 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ brothers →Cao Hong
- Cao Hong→ cousin →Cao Cao
- Man Chong→ take in guests →Cao Hong
- Cao Hong→ fear →Yang Fu
Verified original text · 5
从弟洪以马与太祖
cousin · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪
曹洪字子廉，太祖从弟也。
cousin · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·诸夏侯曹传
3 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
Cao Hong: Whether he once brought a sword to force Emperor Xian of Han to abdicate
In Chapter 80 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Cao Pi usurped the Han, Cao Hong and Cao Xiu 'entered with swords, requesting the Emperor to leave the hall', and even 'drew their swords and shouted loudly', intimidating Emperor Xian to abdicate. However, there is no such record in official history. In Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biographies of the Xiahou and Cao Families, it only focuses on Cao Hong's military achievements such as 'giving his horse to Emperor Wu' (Cao Cao), and does not mention his participation in forcing the emperor to abdicate.
Relationship network
- save masterCao Hong → Cao CaolitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 6Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 61Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 78
Original text (3)
下马救起曹操。
先差曹洪领三万铁甲马军
Original relation: subordinate general · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 61
曹洪等涕泣领命而出
Original relation: ruler-subject · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 78
- brothers← Cao Cao → Cao Honghist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 5
Original text (2)
曹氏兄弟曹仁，曹洪
从弟洪以马与太祖
Original relation: cousin · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·武帝纪
- ruler-subject← Cao Cao → Cao HonglitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 6Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 32Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 57
Original text (2)
遂自引兵万馀，领夏侯惇，夏侯渊，曹仁，曹洪，李典，乐进
Original relation: lord-minister · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 6
遂令曹洪先进兵攻邺
Original text (1)
曹洪字子廉，太祖从弟也。
Original text (1)
曹仁在南郡，分付曹洪守彝陵
Original text (1)
行军司马郭淮谏曰：“‘三军易得，一将难求’。张郃虽然有罪，乃魏王所深爱者也，不可便诛
Original text (1)
洪大怒曰：“汝不听吾言，强要进兵，失了紧要隘口，却又来求救！”
Original text (1)
谭竟被曹洪杀于阵中。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
洪立罢女乐，请阜还坐，肃然惮焉
Original text (1)