Cao Pi



Cao Pi is Cao Cao's second son and successor in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Bio
Upon the death of his half brother Cao Ang, he became the heir of Cao Cao. He accompanied his father during the invasion of the province of Ji and when he was named king of the Wei, he also waged a war of succession with his brother Cao Zhi. Cao Pi, astute man, ended up succeeding his father proclaiming himself prime minister of the Han, king of the Wei and Imperial Protector of the province of Ji. Shortly after his succession, Cao Pi formed the Wei kingdom dethroning Emperor Xian and becoming the first Wei emperor. In 221, Cao Pi gave Sun Quan the title of king of the Wu whose kingdom he would later order invasion, shortly before ordering the invasion of the Shu kingdom. He failed in both invasions.

In 223, he suspected that his brother Cao Zhang wanted to usurp the throne and made him poison when they played the Weiqi.After his failures of conquest, Cao Pi persisted in returning to assault the Wu and personally participated in the invasion, but it was again defeated. After reigning for seven years, he became ill and summoned Sima Yi, Chen Qun, Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu to his bedside, to whom he requested support for his heir Cao Rui. Cao Pi died at the age of 40, leaving an important imprint in history as a poet despite his famous military failures.