[ Served Wei. One of Cao Cao’s cousins and a vital element of his army.
Officer Details
Wade-Giles: Ts‘ao Hung (Tzŭ-lien)
Simplified Chinese: 曹洪 (子廉)
Pronunciation: Cao2 Hong2 (Zi3lian3) 
Cantonese (Yale): Chou Hung (Ji-lim)
Cantonese (Jyutpin): Cou Hung (Zi-lim)
Birthplace: Qiao County, Pei County
(Presently Bo Zhou City in An Hui Province)
Rank and Titles
Soaring Eagle Colonel; General of the Interior who Manifests Firmness; Imperial Courtier; General of Fierce Keenness; Marquis of Guoming Commune; General who Protects the Capital; General of the Guards; General of the Agile Cavalry; Marquis of Yewang; Marquis of Duyang; General of the Rear; Marquis of Lecheng; General of the Agile Cavalry
Family and Relationships
Cao Fu (Son); one married to Xun Can (Daughter); Cao Yu, Cao Ding (Uncle); Cao Cao (Cousin); Xun Can (Relative in-law)
Fact vs. Fiction
Differences Between Fact and Common Fiction
- Cao Hong did not kill He Man. [ZZTJ: 62]
Literary Appearances
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 17, 22, 24, 26, 30-33, 40, 41, 50, 51, 56-59, 61, 69, 71, 78, 80
Popular Quotation
Sanguozhi: Wei 9
Sacrificing himself for Cao Cao, Cao Hong said, “The world can do without Cao Hong, but not without you, my lord!”
Biography
Younger cousin to Cao Cao, at Xingyang he would say “The world can do without Cao Hong, but not without you!” when giving up his horse so Cao Cao could escape Xu Rong’s pursuit. Gathering several thousand troops at Yangzhou, Cao Hong would seize the cities of Dongping and Fan from Zhang Miao and gain valuable supplies in a time of famine. Cao Hong seized ten prefectures in that campaign and gained merit in those many battles.
Cao Hong fought in many battles under Cao Cao including a campaign against Liu Biao, defeating generals at Wuyang, Yinye, Duyang, and Bowang. Cao Hong’s family was wealthy but Cao Hong was stingy, refusing to loan a young Cao Pi money so when Cao Pi became Emperor, Cao Hong was thrown in jail on a pretext and nearly executed but instead was dismissed and stripped of his fief. Cao Rui would later reinstate Cao Hong as General of the Agile Cavalry.