Heroes of Wei

Cao Cao (154): Prime Minister
Favorite Quote: I would rather betray the world than have the world betray me."

Cao Pi (185): Emperor of Wei

Cao Cao was the progenitor of the Wei dynasty. His greatest warriors and administrators were typically members of his own family or men who wanted to serve the Prime Minister of China. He was originally a magistrate, and when the Yellow Scarves began agitating he was made a minor general. After the conflict he was given a high rank and became one of Imperial Guardian He Jin's confidantes, even though he had no political power. When Dong Zhuo declared himself Prime Minister, Cao Cao tried to assassinate him using Wang Yun's jewelled sword, but Lu Bu's unexpected arrival forced him to give the sword as a gift instead. He fled and was declared a brigand. He went to his old home, and he mistakenly killed his friend's family while his friend was away. When the friend returned Cao Cao killed him too, citing the above quote. He recruited his relatives and summoned the great lords to fight Dong Zhuo. After Lu Bu killed Dong Zhuo and Ma Teng drove off his partisans, Cao Cao moved into Loyang and rebuilt it, and the Emperor made him Prime Minister. Cao Cao found himself fighting Lu Bu and Yuan Shu, and eventually Liu Bei as well. He conquered the east from Liu Bei, the north from Yuan Shao, and then took the northwest from Ma Chao. However, he dismally failed to defeat Liu Bei in the west nor Sun Qan in the south. His navy suffered a humiliating defeat at the Red Hills. Cao Cao died in 220 A.D. of old age. He is the man who created the kingdom of Wei.

Cao Pi succeeded his father and immediately deposed the Emperor. After declaring himself Emperor, he began to rely heavily on Sima Yi to defend against Zhuge Liang, particularly since many of the great veterans were dying. Cao Pi gave him military rank, something that Cao Cao never did because he knew of Sima Yi's ambition. Cao Pi did a good job administrating Wei but he was not the equal of his father. He only ruled for seven years before dying, and the Crown was handed to his son Cao Rui. Cao Rui and his successors were not strong rulers and they allowed the power to shift to Sima Yi and his sons.

Dian Wei (159): First Tiger Guard Commander

Dian Wei joined Cao Cao early after his initial summons for warriors. He was the greatest warrior Cao Cao ever had, so he was placed in command of the Tiger Guard: the elite warriors. As Cao Cao's champion he fought many great warriors, and he even helped recruit Xu Zhu. Dian Wei served as Cao Cao's bodyguard, and one night Cao Cao was having an affair with another lord's wife during the war against Lu Bu in the East. This lord, Zhang Xiu tricked Dian Wei into getting drunk and then he raided Cao Cao's camp, killing Cao Cao's first-born son and many of his relatives. Dian Wei killed many even in his drunkeness, but he eventually died of many arrow wounds.

Xu Zhu (169): Second Tiger Guard Commander

Xu Zhu was a swashbuckler who fought Yellow Scarves until he faced Tiger Guard Commander Dian Wei. They were evenly matched, and then Xu Zhu offered to join Cao Cao's army. Cao Cao made him the second Tiger Guard Commander, and after Dian Wei's death he assumed full command of the Tiger Guard. He fought both Zhang Fei and Ma Chao at different points. He also killed many great champions of the various warlords. Cao Cao kept him near the capital to lead the Tiger Guard and he often served as Cao Cao's bodyguard. He saved Cao Cao's life on more than one occasion, and not without the expense of fellow soldiers' lives. He died of old age in the rule of Cao Pi.

Xiahou Dun (156): Regent Marshal of Wei, brother of Cao Cao

Xiahou Dun was the first great general to join Cao Cao, probably because they were half-brothers. He was a great warrior and general, and he and his brother Xiahou Yuan were very loyal to Cao Cao. However, he did not emphasize discipline among his men and they were known to plunder the common people. Xiahou Dun once worked with Liu Bei to defeat Lu Bu, and in battle his eye was shot with an arrow. Later, Xiahou Dun participated in many campaigns against Liu Bei, including the invasion of Xu Zhou province and later Jing Zhou. He failed to defeat Liu Bei in any decisive battle, and later Cao Cao made him Regent Marshal and kept him near Loyang. He died shortly after Cao Cao of old age.

Xiahou Yuan (157): brother of Cao Cao

Xiahou Yuan was the second general to join Cao Cao. He was almost as good a warrior-general as his brother Xiahou Dun. He was smart in battle, and Cao Cao appointed him to defend against Ma Teng's incursions. Cao Cao later sent him to conquer Han Zhou and to hold it from Liu Bei. Zhuge Liang sent Huang Zhong to defeat Xiahou Yuan, and through a ruse Huang Zhong tricked him to fight single combat, where Xiahou Yuan was killed. He was succeeded by his four sons, and one of them, Xiahou Ba joined Jiang Wei after Sima Yi purged Cao Cao's family from the government.

Zhang Liao (163): Cao Cao's greatest warrior-general

When Lu Bu was driven from Changan by Dong Zhuo's partisans, Zhang Liao was one of the warriors who joined him. He was known to be honorable, which is why Guan Yu once spared his life in battle. He was initially very loyal to Lu Bu, but after they were finally captured, Lu Bu begged for his life. In disgust, Zhang Liao renounced him and prepared to be executed. However, Guan Yu interceded and recommended him to Cao Cao. Zhang Liao lived a long time, and he was most famous for leading the counter-attack on Wu after the defeat at the Red Hills. He defeated many generals, including Lu Meng at Xiakou. Zhang Liao died in combat from an arrow in the groin late in his life (ouch!).

Sima Yi (179): Grand Commander of Wei, Founder of the Jin dynasty

Sima Yi joined Cao Cao's secretarial staff in Loyang when he was young, and few imagined what an impact he would have in Chinese history. He did comparatively nothing in Cao Cao's rule, but he often gave good advice. After Cao Cao's death, the rulers of Wei took his advice much more seriously, particularly that which dealt with repulsing the cunning Zhuge Liang. Cao Pi gave him a military commission and he rose in rank rapidly. Sima Yi had the tremendous ability to see through many of Zhuge Liang's ruses. He was the only strategist whom Zhuge Liang feared. Sima Yi eventually became the only person who could stop the Sleeping-Dragon. Prime Minister of Wei Cao Shuang realized that Sima Yi was becoming too important, so he exiled the strategist back to his hometown. Sima Yi knew it was simply a matter of time before they recalled him to fight Zhuge Liang, and after he returned to Loyang he successfully purged the government of the Cao family, leaving only a puppet emperor in his place. Thus the Wei dynasty was toppled by Jin. Sima Yi played a waiting game with Zhuge Liang, knowing that the Sleeping-Dragon was getting old and close to death. Sima Yi fought his successor Jiang Wei until he died of old age in 251 A.D. He was succeeded by his sons Sima Zhao and Sima Shi who continued the fight with Jiang Wei. His grandson, Sima Yan eventually conquered Shu and Wu and declared himself the first emperor of the Jin dynasty.

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