CIVILIZATION DOSSIER
Cao Zhen曹真
Wei general, went out from Nanjun.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 19
- RELATION RECORDS
- 23
- SOURCE WORKS
- 2
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Cao Zhen, 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
2 figures · 3 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Cao Cao—Cao Zhenadopted son
Cao ZhenisCao Shuang’s father
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
11 figures · 14 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Cao Pi→Cao Zhenappoint
Sima Yi→Cao Zhencommand
Cao Rui→Cao Zhenaccept advice
Cao Zhen—Guo Huaideputy general
Zhang He—Cao Zhensubordinate general
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
6 figures · 6 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Cao Zhen→Zhuge Liangattack
Jiang Wei→Cao Zhenfeign surrender
Zhao Yun→Cao Zhendefend
Lu Xun→Cao Zhendefeat
Zhu Ran—Cao Zhenbattle
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
A member of the Cao Wei imperial clan, he was entrusted with assisting the government by the late emperor's edict.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Wei general, went out from Nanjun; Wei general, led troops to attack Yangping Pass; Wei general, as the vanguard, attacked Yangping Pass but failed.
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 / legend12 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
15 relations23 verified quotations- Cao Pi→ appoint →Cao Zhen
- Cao Zhen→ yield seal →Sima Yi
- Sima Yi→ command →Cao Zhen
- Cao Rui→ accept advice →Cao Zhen
Verified original text · 23
命大将军曹真为大都督
appoint · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 85
令曹真为前部
任命前部 · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 86
21 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history15 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
9 relations11 verified quotations- Cao Cao→ adopted son →Cao Zhen
- Cao Zhen→ clan nephew →Cao Cao
- Cao Zhen→ attack →Zhuge Liang
- Cao Zhen→ assist governance →Cao Pi
Verified original text · 11
召中军大将军曹真
adopted son · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·文帝纪
曹真字子丹，太祖族子也。
clan nephew · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·诸夏侯曹传
9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
History vs. fiction
In official history, he was a Grand Marshal of Wei who skillfully commanded troops and repeatedly defeated Shu forces, but in the novel he is reduced to a foil who is infuriated to death.
The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Cao Zhen records that Cao Zhen predicted Zhuge Liang would definitely attack Chencang, and sent Hao Zhao to build defenses, successfully resisting Zhuge Liang's second Northern Expedition. (Original text: 「三郡皆平。真以亮惩于祁山，后出必从陈仓，乃使将军郝昭、王生守陈仓，治其城。明年春，亮果围陈仓，已有备而不能克。」——Source: data/raw/sanguozhi/魏书·诸夏侯曹传.txt)
According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Biography of Cao Zhen, Cao Zhen repeatedly repelled the Shu army and achieved many military exploits; in the novel, his death from anger after receiving a letter from Zhuge Liang is pure fiction, as Cao Zhen actually died of illness in Luoyang. (Original text: 「曹真看毕，恨气填胸，至晚死于军中。司马懿用兵车装载，差人送赴洛阳安葬。魏主闻知曹真已死，即下诏催司马懿出战。懿提大军来与孔明交锋，隔日先下战书。」——Source: data/raw/sanguo-yanyi/Chapter 100.txt)
Relationship network
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
曹真字子丹，太祖族子也。
- attackCao Zhen → Zhuge LianghistRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·刘彭廖李刘魏杨传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·后主传
Original text (2)
以曹真欲三道向汉川，亮命严将二万人赴汉中。
曹真由斜谷
Original relation: fight · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·后主传
- appoint← Cao Pi → Cao ZhenlitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 85Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 86Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 91Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 99
Original text (3)
命大将军曹真为大都督
令曹真为前部
Original relation: 任命前部 · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 86
丕唤曹叡至，指谓曹真等曰
Original relation: orphan entrust · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 91
Original text (1)
召中军大将军曹真、镇军大将军陈群、征东大将军曹休、抚军大将军司马宣王，并受遗诏辅嗣主
- yield sealCao Zhen → Sima YilitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 98Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 99
Original text (2)
见真再三让印
与司马懿同领大军，迳入汉中
Original relation: colleague · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 99
- command← Sima Yi → Cao ZhenlitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 95Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 100
Original text (1)
- accept advice← Cao Rui → Cao Zhenhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·明帝纪Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·锺繇华歆王朗传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 91Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 93Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 98
Original text (6)
唤曹叡至，指谓曹真等曰
Original relation: orphan entrust · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 91
可仿汉高伪游云梦之计
遂拜曹真为大都督
Original relation: appoint general · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 93
降诏，令曹真坚守
Original relation: ruler-subject · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 98
中军大将军曹真
Original relation: ruler-subject · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·明帝纪
遣曹真从子午道伐蜀
Original relation: dispatch · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·锺繇华歆王朗传
Original text (1)
罪将姜维百拜，呈书大都督曹麾下
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
被陆逊伏兵于内，诸葛瑾伏兵于外，内外夹攻，因此大败
- deputy generalCao Zhen → Guo HuailitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 93Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 98
Original text (2)
命郭淮为副都督
退与郭淮、孙礼计议
Original relation: subordinate general · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 98
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
真薨，谥曰元侯。子爽嗣。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
真等起土山，凿地道，立楼橹临城
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
即令孙礼引兵依计而行
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
- guarantee vanguardCao Zhen → Wang ShuanglitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 97Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 98
Original text (2)
臣保此人为先锋
又遣人教王双引兵
Original relation: subordinate general · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 98
Original text (1)