Cao Xiu

In the early stages of the Hanzhong Campaign of 217–219, he outwitted Zhang Fei and defeated his subordinate officer Wu Lan (吳蘭).

Cao Xiu and his mother crossed the Yangtze to southern China and settled down in Wu Commandery (around present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu).

[10] Liu Bei later sent his generals Ma Chao and Zhang Fei to lead troops to Gushan (固山)[9] and station there in an attempt to cut off Cao Hong's retreat route.

As Cao Xiu foresaw, Ma Chao and Zhang Fei pulled back their troops from Gushan after hearing of Wu Lan's defeat.

[13] After his coronation, he promoted Cao Xiu to General Who Attacks the East (征東將軍) and appointed him as the Inspector (刺史) of Yang Province.

He excused Cao Xiu from wearing mourning garments and gave him permission to consume meat and alcohol.

Cao Xiu settled the funeral arrangements and had his mother properly buried within one day, after which he wanted to return to his post.

[18] In October 222,[13] Cao Pi launched the first of a series of invasions against Eastern Wu, the state founded by his rival, Sun Quan.

He promoted Cao Xiu to Senior General Who Attacks the East (征東大將軍), granted him the yellow axe (a ceremonial axe given to newly appointed high-ranking generals), and ordered him, Zhang Liao and others to lead 20 armies to attack Dongkou (洞口; in present-day southern Jiangsu), where they dealt heavy losses to Wu forces led by Lü Fan before having to retreat.

Two other Wu officers, Han Zong and Zhai Dan (翟丹), brought along their troops and surrendered to Cao Xiu.

[22] In 228,[23] as Cao Rui planned to launch an invasion on Wei's rival state Wu, he ordered Sima Yi to lead Wei forces from Jing Province and sail down the Han River to Xunyang County (尋陽縣; southwest of present-day Huangmei County, Hubei) and supervise the invasion.

Cao Xiu managed to retreat to Shiting (石亭; or Shi Village, in present-day Qianshan County, Anhui), but his soldiers started panicking at night and many of them deserted and left behind their weapons, armour and equipment.

He served under the Jin dynasty (266–420) after the fall of the Cao Wei state in February 266 and gained quite a reputation during his tenure as the Prefect of Luoyang.

When Sima Jiong was regent for Emperor Hui, Cao Shu and Zuo Si served as his subordinates.

Cao Shu later rose through the ranks from a Palace Gentleman (中郎) to the positions of Administrator of Xiangyang (襄陽太守) and Marshal Who Attacks the South (征南司馬).

A bronze seal, about the size of a coin and engraved with Cao Xiu's name, revealed the tomb owner's identity.

Ling Tong fell from the horse's back and would have been killed by Yue Jin if Gan Ning had not intervened and saved him.