Cao Cao’s eldest son, born to Liu, but his mother died early, so he was raised by his wife Ding. He was selected as a filial and honest official at the age of 20. In the second year of Jian’an (197), he followed Cao Cao to fight Zhang Xiu. Zhang Xiu surrendered and rebelled again. Cao Ang was killed to save Cao Cao. In the second year of Huangchu (221) of Emperor Wen of Wei, he was posthumously named Fengdao Gong. In the fifth year of Huangchu (224), he was further posthumously named Fengdao Wang. In the third year of Taihe (229), his posthumous title was changed to Fengmin Wang.
Sacrificing a horse to save his father
Cao Ang, courtesy name Zixiu. Cao Cao’s eldest son, from Qiao County, Pei State. Born to his concubine Liu, but because his mother died early, he was raised by his wife Ding. He was selected as a filial and honest official at the age of 20.
In the second year of Jian’an (197), Cao Ang followed Cao Cao to fight Zhang Xiu. Zhang Xiu surrendered, and Cao Cao married Zhang Ji’s widow, Lady Zou, who made Zhang Xiu hate Cao Cao. Cao Cao heard that Zhang Xiu was unhappy, so he secretly prepared to kill Zhang Xiu.
As a result, the plan was leaked, Zhang Xiu attacked Cao Cao, Cao Cao was defeated, and Cao Cao’s horse Jueying was killed in Wancheng because of the ambush of Zhang Xiu’s army. Cao Ang gave Cao Cao the chance to survive, and took the initiative to give his own horse to his father Cao Cao to escape, and walked to protect his father from Wancheng. The close guard Dian Wei was responsible for blocking the rear to stop the enemy in order to block the gate of the village to let Cao Cao escape. In the end, Cao Ang, Dian Wei and Cao Anmin died in Wancheng together.
After death
When his foster mother, Mrs. Ding, learned that Cao Ang had died in the battle, she cried bitterly, so she scolded Cao Cao: “You killed my son, and I have nothing to miss from now on!” Mrs. Ding then returned to her hometown in anger. Later, Cao Cao personally went back to Mrs. Ding’s hometown to find Mrs. Ding, stroked Mrs. Ding’s back and said, let’s take a car home together, okay. But Madam Ding remained silent. Cao Cao walked to the door and asked, “Can you come back with me?” Madam Ding remained silent, and the relationship between the two was severed from then on.
Later, Cao Cao was seriously ill and thought that he had not much time left. He sighed and said, “I have done nothing in my life, and I have no regrets. If there is still a spirit after death, if Zixiu asks me where his mother is, how will I answer!”
And because Madam Bian became the principal wife, Cao Pi, the eldest son born by Madam Bian, became the eldest son, and eventually inherited Cao Cao’s throne of Wei, and forced Emperor Xian of Han Liu Xie to abdicate the throne and establish Cao Wei in place of the Han Dynasty. It is recorded that after Cao Pi ascended the throne and became emperor, he often said in front of the court officials: “My elder brother, Xiaolian, should naturally inherit this position. If Cang Shu was still alive, I would not be able to be emperor.”
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In the second year of Huangchu (221), Cao Pi mourned Cao Ang and posthumously named him Fengdaogong.
In the third year of Huangchu (222), Cao Wan, the son of Cao Jun, the Duke of Fan’an, who was Cao Cao’s deceased concubine’s son, succeeded Cao Ang.
In the fifth year of Huangchu (224), Cao Ang was further posthumously named King Fengdao. After his nephew, Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Rui, succeeded to the throne, he changed his posthumous title to King Fengmin in the third year of Taihe (229).
Family members
Parents
Father: Cao Cao
Mother: Madam Liu
Adoptive mother: Madam Ding
Brothers and sisters
Brothers: Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi, Cao Chong, Cao Gun, Cao Biao, Cao Ju, Cao Yu, Cao Lin, Cao Gan, Cao Zheng, Cao Ju, Cao Shang, Cao Qin, Cao Cheng, Cao Jing, Cao Jun, Cao Ji, Cao Mao, Cao Hui, Cao Shuo, Cao Jun, Cao Xiong
Sisters: Princess Qinghe, Cao Xian, Cao Jie, Cao Hua, Princess Anyang, Princess Jinxiang
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Adopted son
Cao Wan, whose biological father was Cao Jun, was honored as Queen Ang.
Historical Evaluation
Cao Pi: “My brother is filial and honest, which is his duty.”
Records of the Three Kingdoms: “The princes of the Wei family only have the name of the country, but not the real country. They are also restricted and blocked, just like being imprisoned; their titles are not fixed, and they change from year to year; the kindness between flesh and blood is lost, and the righteousness of the constant harvest is abolished. Has the law been so corrupted!”