The Tragic Struggle For The Throne And The Most Painful Retribution For Cao Cao

Welcome back to Chinese History Unraveled. Replacing the eldest heir has always been a taboo for any monarch. It has caused empires to fall and triggered brutal internal power struggles. Cao Cao, the brilliant strategist and warlord, was wise throughout his life. Yet, after his passing, tragic succession struggles began to unfold. It seems he partially anticipated it, yet accepted the reality that his sons would fight until one destroyed the other. Cao Cao's Family Dynamics Cao Cao had many wives and concubines during his lifetime. He fathered 25 sons in total. Faced with the chance to inherit their father's glorious legacy, his sons naturally harbored great ambition. Recognizing this, and amidst the chaotic era, stability was paramount. Thus, Cao Cao made a highly pragmatic decision. He abandoned primogeniture, choosing whoever proved most capable. Through this selection process, his sons competed fiercely, striving to win his favor through merit and achievement. Cao Cao used this to gauge their strengths and weaknesses for further training. By disregarding the eldest son tradition, he aimed to find the most worthy heir. This required time to teach, observe, and evaluate each son. Consequently, he only announced a successor near the end of his life. Ensuring his choice was based on a comprehensive assessment. Furthermore, he prioritized stability within his regime regarding the succession. He sought to prevent internal chaos, even though defying tradition was inherently risky and prone to inciting conflict. With Cao Cao's capability, he could easily crush any opposition, paving the way for his chosen successor, but that only scratched the surface. He demanded that his heir prove their talent and virtue to win the court's support. Only then could his successor maintain power after he was gone. By adopting this progressive method, Cao Cao allowed his sons to compete fairly and improve themselves, while quietly containing internal strife to maintain overall stability. This strategy allowed him to implement his progressive ideals while ensuring the final outcome remained beyond dispute. That was Cao Cao's brilliance, the ultimate beneficiary of his own clan's power struggle. Perhaps inheriting this ideology, early Qing emperors like Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong also chose to let their princes compete and prove their merits before making a selection. That is why Yongzheng, only the fourth son, Qianlong the fifth, and even Jiaqing, the 15th, could still be chosen to ascend the throne. Yet, whether Cao Cao was surprised or had foreseen it, he knew this power struggle would inevitably be ruthless. What he perhaps didn't expect was that this competition would lose all moral sense, driving them to such extremes that they were willing to kill one another. Starting with the mysterious death of Cao Chong. Of Cao Cao's 25 sons, he valued these five the most. Starting with his eldest, Cao An, regarded as a capable talent. By 20, he was already honored as a filial son and accompanied his father on campaigns, earning Cao Cao's deep respect. Regrettably, in 197 AD, Cao An died suddenly during Cao Cao's campaign against Zhang Xiao. According to Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it was due to Cao Cao's own indiscretion. The second most highly regarded was Cao Chong, a legendary Three Kingdoms prodigy. I will explain later why he ranked second only to Cao An. The third son was the valiant Cao Zhong, younger brother to Cao Pi and older to Cao Xi, though a top contender for the throne with many military achievements in the WuHuan campaign. He lacked interest in study and his carefree nature was ill-suited for the treacherous imperial court. Despite not choosing him, Cao Cao still held great affection for Cao Zhong. In fact, Cao Cao's love for him was as simple and sincere as the son's own character. It was pure affection, entirely unburdened by thoughts of succession. The fourth in Cao Cao's heart was the well-known Cao Xi. His literary talent was legendary for its time. Historical records suggest he was no slouch in martial arts either. He once held YeQing for his father while Cao Cao campaigned against Sun Quan. He accompanied his father on famous campaigns like WuHuan and against Lu Biao. And even during the Battle of Red Cliffs. And the last one, surprisingly, is someone we all know. The successor to Cao Cao, the eldest son Cao Pi. The reasons behind this bias and the process of how Cao Pi ascended to the throne are complex and beyond the scope of today's video. I will cover that in a separate video. Now, let's return to the second-ranked son, Cao Chong. Born in 196 AD, he was the son of Cao Cao and his fourth concubine, Lady Huan. From childhood, this seventh son was famous for his brilliance and kindness, deeply favored by Cao Cao. To this day, the Chinese still recount the story of Cao Chong weighing the elephant, similar to folk tales in Vietnam. Where he used a boat and stones, placing the elephant on the boat to mark the waterline. He then replaced the elephant with stones until the boat reached the same mark, calculating the weight accordingly. One story is enough to showcase this prodigy's brilliance, explaining Cao Cao's deep affection. He brought Cao Chong everywhere to boast before officials and political rivals alike. Yet fate has a cruel way of intervening. In 208 AD, Cao Chong died suddenly and mysteriously. Cao Cao was inconsolable upon the death of his brilliant son. Most chillingly, when the eldest son Cao Pai tried to comfort him, he stated bluntly, This is my sorrow, but your good fortune. This reveals that the Cao patriarch truly had considered making Cao Chong his successor. However, these words carry deep implications that have left many Three Kingdoms historians deeply suspicious. Did Cao Chong die of natural illness as the records claim? Or was he a victim of the brutal war for the throne? Some even accused Cao Pai of poisoning his own brother. Ultimately, these remain mere theories. Having died too young to prove his military or political capability, Cao Chong is ranked only second among Cao Cao's most favored sons. Ending in tragedy, the brothers were forced into conflict. With Cao Ang and Cao Chong dead, and Cao Zhong sidelined by their father, the race for succession narrowed to Cao Zhi and Cao Pai, both born to Lady Bian. During the power struggle, Cao Zhi's impulsive, artistic nature often alienated Cao Cao. Conversely, Cao Pai's caution and alliance-building with key advisors helped him win their father's favor. Thus, as history records, Cao Pai was chosen to succeed Cao Cao. Yet even as successor, his brothers remained a threat to his throne. Cao Pai did not hesitate to turn against them. According to the records of the Three Kingdoms, when Cao Zhong arrived with his army, Cao Pai was anxious. My brother is a fierce warrior. Bringing his troops here, he surely aims for the throne. What shall I do? Fortunately, his advisor Jia Kuei stood firm, reminding him of the laws of succession and imperial order. Cao Zhong may have harbored ambitions, but thinking of family ties and the stability of the state, he eventually withdrew his intentions. Cao Zhong went to mourn their father, and the brothers wept together in an embrace. When Cao Pai suggested he return his troops to the frontier, Cao Zhong complied. Thus, the most volatile threat, Cao Zhong, was neutralized. Now, he had to confront the most dangerous rival who had long opposed him. Even today, scholars debate what truly led to the famous confrontation where Cao Xi had to compose a poem. Some records suggest Cao Xi was arrogant, drunk, and neglected his duties. Others claim Cao Xi, defiant of his older brother, drank and insulted Cao Pai. Regardless, Cao Pai sent men to bring Cao Xi to Yi for questioning. Empress Dowager Bian, panicked and fearful, rushed to plead for Cao Xi's life. She begged Cao Pai to spare his brother, born of the same parents, out of kinship. She reminded him that their younger brother, Cao Xiong, had already been driven to suicide. If he killed Cao Xi as well, where was the sense of brotherly morality? Reluctantly yielding to his mother, Cao Pai decided on a different way to test him. He summoned Cao Xi and declared, Though we are brothers by blood, we are ruler and subject by law. Were it not for the Empress, I would not spare you. You boast of your talent, now, to redeem yourself, compose a poem in the seven steps it takes to reach me, or die. You must not mention the words brother or the situation at hand. Can you do it? Cao Xi knelt, accepted the challenge, and stepped back. Empress Bian and the court watched in terror. Cao Xi began to walk. One step, two, three, still, he said nothing. The onlookers, especially the Empress, held their breath. Suddenly, Cao Xi raised his head and recited a verse with every step, from the fourth to the seventh, completing the poem exactly as Cao Pai demanded. Boiling beans by burning stalks, the beans cry out within the pot. Born from the very same root, why must you hound me so? The verse laments how brothers, sharing a single origin, are forced to destroy one another in such a cruel manner. The poem moved Cao Pai to tears of regret, and the three of them, mother and sons, wept together. Despite this, Cao Pai stripped Cao Xi of his titles, demoted him, and exiled him far from the capital. The final years of Cao Xi remained shrouded in mystery. Local legends tell of how he sought to improve the lives of the people, earning his reputation as a protector. He chose to remain and oversee administrative duties, while repeatedly petitioning the capital for resources and labor to build irrigation systems. But receiving no response, he remained there until his death. Official records state that during his final decade, following the seven-step poem incident, he was relocated six times, living in obscurity in the Xuyang region. In the sixth year of the Taihe era, on the 27th day of the 12th lunar month, Cao Xi passed away in Huaiyang, Hunan, at the age of 40. But the tragedy did not end there. In 223, Cao Xiang received a summons from Cao Pai to the capital, Wuyang. He dutifully set out for the capital. In June of that year, Cao Xiang died suddenly at his residence. This sudden passing has caused historians throughout the ages to raise many suspicions. The annals of Wei suggest that upon arriving in Wuyang, Cao Xiang was denied an audience with Cao Pai. After some time, he fell into despair, grew ill, and died. The Shershua Sinyu claims that while playing chess with Cao Pai, in the presence of Empress Bian, Cao Pai fed him poison dates. A servant brought water for Cao Xiang, but Cao Pai smashed the vessel. Empress Bian ran barefoot to the well to draw water for her son, but could not find the bucket. Thus, Cao Xiang died of poison. In a lament written later by his brother Cao Xi, there are verses that are interpreted as follows. Bonded as mother and son, parted like the stars, using gentleness to overcome force. Why the haste, as fate is fickle, brothers swallow tears, officials grieve in silence. Historians cite using gentleness to overcome force to suggest Cao Xiang's life held hidden strife. Brother swallow tears refers to the sorrow of other princes in similar positions. Specifically, it means Cao Xi had to swallow his tears, daring not to speak out due to Cao Pai's oppression. Yet, these remain mere historical speculations. Although Cao Pai treated his brothers poorly, one cannot definitively conclude he murdered Cao Xiang. Even Cao Xi, famously the most suppressed by Cao Pai, was still granted a title despite being repeatedly relocated. There is no denying that by abandoning primogeniture, Cao Cao created a competitive environment for his sons to display their talents, helping him select a future successor. Yet this decision also became a double-edged sword. In such a brutal competition, Cao Cao's sons did not hesitate to turn against each other, fueled by mysteries surrounding the deaths of Cao Chong and Cao Xiong, and how Cao Pai cornered Cao Xiong and Cao Xi, leaving one to despair and another narrowly escaping death. Ultimately, this sufficed to end the power struggle, securing the final victory for Cao Pai. Perhaps it is from such historical lessons,