Son of Cao Song. In the third year of Xiping (174), Cao Cao was promoted to filial piety and began to be an official in Beijing. In the first year of Zhong Ping (184), he served as a captain on horseback and took part in suppressing the yellow turban insurrectionary. When Dong Zhuo was in power, he returned to Liu Chen, and "dissipated all his wealth and joined the militia", calling on the world to crusade against Dong Zhuo. In the first year of Jian 'an (196), he welcomed the Han Emperor and moved the capital to Xuchang, and began to "rely on the Emperor to make princes". In 200 AD (the fifth year of Jian 'an), he led the army to defeat Yuan Shao in Guandu, which laid the foundation for the reunification of the North in the future. In the thirteenth year of Jian 'an (208), he served as prime minister and held this position for life; In the same year, he was defeated by Sun Quan and Liu Bei in Battle of Red Cliffs. After that, he continued to fight with warlords such as Liu Bei and Sun Quan. In April of the 21st year of Jian 'an (2 16), Xian Di canonized him as Wang Wei. After his son Cao Pi proclaimed himself emperor in the Han Dynasty, he was honored as Emperor Wu, with the temple name Taizu. He has written poems such as Looking at the Sea and Walking in the Vast Miles.