Cao Xiu



Cao Xiu is the general of Wei and nephew of Cao Cao in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Bio
Cao Xiu's father, before he turned twenty, broke out when the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out. He fled with his mother south over the Yellow River. When Cao Cao joined the coalition against Dong Zhuo and set up his army, Cao Xiu entered his service. Cao Cao was very fond of supporting this distant family branch and treated Cao Xiu as his own son. Cao Xiu later participated in many campaigns against the Shu Han, especially at the Battle of Wulan. He was a good counselor and was later appointed commander of the Imperial Guard. After Cao Cao's death, Cao Xiu enjoyed a good relationship with the heir Cao Pi. He made Cao Xiu a general guarding the south and sent him to the front to fight Sun Quan's armies.

Cao Pi personally led an offensive against Sun Quan. Cao Xiu was appointed General, who conquered the East. He overseen more than twenty armies from various regions and defeated Sun Quan's forces under Lu Fan at Dongpu. After Cao Pi's death, Cao Xiu served the second Wei Emperor Cao Rui. He was appointed Supreme Commander of the Defensive Forces and retained his command of the defense of the Yang Province. However, Cao Rui led another offensive against Sun Quan. Cao Xiu led his force to Xunyang. He followed the advice of seemingly defected Wu officer Zhou Fang and led his army deep into impassable lands where he was attacked and beaten at the Battle of Shiting. In a memorandum, Cao Xiu confessed his misjudgment, but Cao Rui forgave him.