Product Code Database
Cao Fang () (232–274According to the Wei Shi Pu, Cao Fang was 43 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died in the 10th year of the Taishi era during the reign of Emperor Wu of Jin. By calculation, his birth year should be 232. (年四十三，泰始十年薨) Wei Shi Pu annotation in Sanguozhi, vol. 04. The year corresponds to 25 Jan 274 to 12 Feb 275 in the Julian calendar.), courtesy name Lanqing, was the third emperor of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was an adopted son of Cao Rui, the second ruler of Wei. Cao Fang ruled from January 239 to October 254 as a nominal emperor before he was deposed by the regent Sima Shi, after which he became known as the "Prince of Qi". After the fall of Wei in February 266, Cao Fang was conferred the title of "Duke of Shaoling" by Emperor Wu of the Jin dynasty. When he died in 274, he was granted the posthumous name "Li", so his full posthumous title became "Duke Li of Shaoling".(晋受禅，封齐王为邵陵县公...泰始十年薨，謚曰厲公) Wei Shi Pu annotation in Sanguozhi, vol. 04.
In early January 239, when Cao Rui became ill, he resolved to pass the throne to Cao Fang. Initially, he wanted to entrust Cao Fang to his uncle Cao Yu (曹宇), who would serve as a regent along with Xiahou Xian (夏侯獻), Cao Shuang, Cao Zhao (曹肇), and Qin Lang (秦朗). However, Cao Rui's trusted officials Liu Fang (劉放) and Sun Zi (孫資) were not on good terms with Xiahou Xian and Cao Zhao, and were apprehensive about them becoming regents. Eventually, Cao Rui was persuaded to appoint Cao Shuang and Sima Yi. Cao Yu, Cao Zhao and Qin Lang were excluded from the regency.
Half a month later, when Cao Rui was on his deathbed, Sima Yi arrived at Luoyang. Cao Rui held onto Sima's hand and summoned Cao Fang and Cao Xun (another adopted son of Cao Rui) to his bedside. He pointed out Cao Fang and told the boy to hug Sima, as he would hug his father.(乃召齐、秦二王以示宣王，别指齐王谓宣王曰：“此是也，君谛视之，勿误也！”又教齐王令前抱宣王颈。) Weilüe annotation in Sanguozhi, vol. 03 Cao Rui then instated Cao Fang as crown prince and died on the same day (22 January 239).
On 29 May 243,According to Cao Fang's biography in Sanguozhi, Lady Zhen was made empress on the yimao day of the 4th month of the 4th year of the Zhengshi era of Cao Fang's reign. This corresponds to 29 May 243 in the Julian calendar.(正始四年)夏四月乙卯，立皇后甄氏 Sanguozhi vol. 4. Cao Fang married Empress Zhen, a granddaughter of his grandmother Lady Zhen's brother Zhen Yan (甄儼).
In 244, Cao Shuang led an attack on Shu Han's border city of Hanzhong, without careful planning, hoping that he would gain a reputation in the military. The battles were inconclusive and Cao was forced to withdraw with great losses when their food supplies ran out (Battle of Xingshi). Despite this failure, Cao continued to hold on to state power firmly. In 247, Sima Yi retired from government service, claiming that he was ill.
In February 249, Sima launched a coup to seize power from Cao Shuang. While Cao Fang and Cao Shuang left the capital Luoyang to visit Cao Rui's tomb, Sima rallied a group of anti-Cao Shuang officials and closed all gates of Luoyang. He sent an edict to Cao Fang in the name of Empress Dowager Guo, accusing Cao Shuang of dominating and corrupting the government, and demanding that Cao Shuang and his brothers be removed from power. Cao Shuang eventually decided to surrender his authority, against the advice of Huan Fan. Sima promised Cao Shuang that he could still retain his titles. However, a few days later, Sima had Cao Shuang and his family and associates executed on charges of treason. By then, Sima Yi was in complete control of the government.
In 249, Wang Ling, the general in charge of the southeastern city of Shouchun, plotted a rebellion against Sima Yi, in association with Cao Biao (曹彪), the Prince of Chu. In 251, when Wang was ready to carry out his plan, his subordinates Huang Hua (黃華) and Yang Hong (楊弘) betrayed him to Sima. Sima led an army to Shouchun before Wang could take action, and promised to pardon Wang for rebelling. Wang surrendered and was forced to commit suicide together with Cao Biao later. Wang's clan and followers were also slaughtered. Sima Yi died later in September that year and was succeeded by his son Sima Shi as regent, who continued wielding state power.
In 254, Sima made a violent move to consolidate power at the expense of Cao Fang. Cao Fang had endeared himself to the minister Li Feng, and Sima suspected that they were plotting against him. Sima summoned and interrogated Li, who refused to disclose his conversations with the emperor. Sima beat Li to death with a sword handle and accused Li and his associates Xiahou Xuan and Zhang Ji (張緝) of treason, and had them and their clans exterminated. Cao Fang was forced to depose Empress Zhang (Zhang Ji's daughter) and replace her with Empress Wang.
Cao Fang was angry with Sima Shi about the deaths of Li Feng and Zhang Ji. Later in 254, his supporters proposed a plan for him to seize power from Sima Shi: when Sima Shi's brother Sima Zhao arrived at the palace for an official visit before heading to Chang'an, Cao Fang would kill Sima Zhao and take control of his troops, and use those troops to attack Sima Shi. Cao Fang was apprehensive and hesitated in implementing the plan. Sima Shi heard about the plot and removed Cao Fang from the throne. Cao's life was spared and he was demoted to his previous title of Prince of Qi.
|
|
