| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 曹泰, 曹泰, Cáo Tài |
| Nickname | General Who Pacifies the East (镇东将军) |
| Other name | Tào Thái |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Qiao County, Pei State (沛国谯县; Bái Quốc Tiêu huyện) |
| Death Reason | Unknown (natural causes presumed) |
| FAMILY | |
| Father | |
| Children | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Cao Wei (曹魏, Tào Ngụy) |
| Battles |
|
Biography & Historical Record
Cao Tai (曹泰, Tào Thái) was the eldest son and successor of Grand General Cao Ren (曹仁, Tào Nhân), styled Zixiao (子孝, Tử Hiếu), one of Cao Cao’s most trusted field commanders. Cao Tai inherited the Marquisate of Ningling (宁陵侯) and served as General Who Pacifies the East (镇东将军). In 223 AD, during Emperor Cao Pi (曹丕, Tào Phi)‘s three-route invasion of Eastern Wu, Cao Tai commanded shock troops besieging the fortress of Ruxu (濡须), engaging Wu General Zhu Huan (朱桓, Chu Hoán), styled Xiumu (休穆, Hưu Mục), before withdrawing when the wider campaign stalled.
His son Cao Kai (曹楷, Tào Giai) continued the Ningling line; brothers Cao Kai and Cao Fan (曹范) appear in sibling lists — the Cao Ren martial tradition passing through heirs rather than Cao Ren’s own late-career caution at Fancheng.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
General: Cao Tai does not appear in the novel. His father Cao Ren (曹仁, Tào Nhân) is a major Wei commander from the earliest campaigns through Guan Yu’s siege and Jiangling; the 223 AD Ruxu operation belongs to post-novel Wei–Wu warfare attested in Sanguozhi.
Cao Tai (曹泰) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Heir of Cao Ren
Eldest son of Cao Cao’s cousin-general Cao Ren.
Ningling marquis
Inherits Marquisate of Ningling; holds General Who Pacifies the East.
Siege of Ruxu
Leads elite infantry against Zhu Huan at Ruxu during Cao Pi’s Wu offensive.
For detailed historical records, explore Cao Ren on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Cao Ren (曹仁, Tào Nhân): Father — Grand General, defender of Jiangling and Fancheng.
- Cao Kai (曹楷, Tào Giai): Son — heir who continued the Ningling marquis line (distinct from Prince Cao Kai, son of Cao Zhang).
- Cao Fan (曹范, Tào Phạm): Brother — attested among Cao Ren’s sons.
Friends
- Wei eastern-front commanders who served under Cao Pi’s 223 AD three-pronged Wu campaign alongside Cao Tai’s Ruxu column.
Enemies
- Zhu Huan (朱桓, Chu Hoán): Wu defender at Ruxu who held against Cao Tai’s assault in 223 AD.
Other
- Cao Pi (曹丕, Tào Phi): Emperor who ordered the 223 AD southern offensive.
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo): Grand-uncle lord of the Cao clan martial tradition Cao Tai inherited.
In Novel
General
- Cao Tai (曹泰, Tào Thái): Not a speaking character in Luo Guanzhong's Romance. His father Cao Ren (曹仁, Tào Nhân) appears from the opening campaigns through Guan Yu's siege; Cao Tai is attested in Sanguozhi as Ningling marquis and General Who Pacifies the East who besieged Ruxu against Zhu Huan in 223 AD during Cao Pi's invasion of Wu.
In History
Summary
- Cao Tai (曹泰, Tào Thái), eldest son of Cao Ren, inherited Ningling marquisate, served as General Who Pacifies the East, and commanded at Ruxu against Zhu Huan in 223 AD.
Year: 223 AD
- During Cao Pi's three-route Wu invasion, Cao Tai leads shock troops at Ruxu, engages Zhu Huan, then withdraws.
Historical Record
- Sanguozhi, Book of Wei — Cao Ren biography and enfeoffment succession; Wu annals on Zhu Huan at Ruxu (223).
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