Cao Wei
People grouped by the state they served. Contenders are not a court: Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, Lü Bu, and others who never founded one of the three kingdoms.
Cao Cao
The effective ruler at the end of the Han and the founder of Cao Wei’s power. He held the emperor at Xu, broke Yuan Shao at Guandu, and lost at Red Cliffs. He never took the imperial title. The novel’s villain is not Chen Shou’s verdict.
179–251BothSima Yi
The minister who made Western Jin possible. He was Zhuge Liang’s opponent in the later northern expeditions and the winner of the Gaopingling coup. The empty-fort rival is a novel figure.
unknown–197RecordsDian Wei
Cao Cao’s household guard. At Wancheng in 197 he died holding the gate so Cao Cao could escape. The paired halberds are in the history. Later retellings enlarge him.
dates unfixedRecordsXu Chu
Cao Cao’s guard, called Tiger Fool in the army. He shielded Cao Cao at Tong Pass. The bare-chested duel with Ma Chao is the novel.
170–207RecordsGuo Jia
A young counselor Cao Cao trusted before and after Guandu. He died of illness on the Wuhuan campaign in 207, at thirty-eight. The essay of ten victories and ten defeats is a later set piece.
163–212RecordsXun Yu
Cao Cao’s senior counselor. He backed bringing the emperor to Xu and holding on at Guandu. In 212 he opposed Cao Cao becoming Duke of Wei and died. He understood himself as a Han minister.
187–226RecordsCao Pi
Cao Cao’s son. In 220 he accepted the Han abdication and founded Wei. He died in 226. The pressure of abdication is historical. The seven-step poem is not a reliable contemporary record.
197–264RecordsDeng Ai
In 263 he crossed the Yinping mountains and reached Chengdu. Liu Shan surrendered. Zhong Hui then accused him, and he was killed at Mianzhu with his son. The stammer and the night march are both in the histories.
225–264RecordsZhong Hui
Youngest son of Zhong Yao. He led the main invasion of Shu, accused Deng Ai, then tried to hold Shu himself and was killed by his own troops. Jiang Wei tried to use him and failed.
unknown–219BothPang De
From Nan’an. He followed Ma Teng and Ma Chao, then joined Cao Cao. At Fan he fought Guan Yu from boats, was captured when his boat overturned, refused to submit, and was killed.
169–222BothZhang Liao
From Mayi in Yanmen. He served Ding Yuan, Dong Zhuo, and Lü Bu, then Cao Cao. In 215, with about eight hundred men, he struck Sun Quan’s army outside Hefei. He died of illness at Jiangdu in 222.
unknown–227BothXu Huang
From Hedong. He served Yang Feng, then Cao Cao. At Guandu he burned Yuan supply trains. At Fan he broke through Guan Yu’s lines. He died of illness in 227.
unknown–231BothZhang He
From Hejian. He served Yuan Shao and joined Cao Cao after Guandu. At Jieting he defeated Ma Su. In 231, pursuing a Shu retreat, he was struck by a flying arrow and died at Mumen.
unknown–218BothYue Jin
From Yangping. An early Cao Cao general, short in stature and fierce in battle. One of the commanders holding Hefei. He died of illness in 218.
unknown–221BothYu Jin
From Taishan. Among Cao Cao’s generals he was known for strict discipline. In 219 he surrendered to Guan Yu at Fan. Sent on to Wu, he returned to Wei in 221. Cao Pi had him view a mural of his own surrender. He sickened from shame and died.
dates unknownBothLi Dian
From Shanyang. He came from a clan force that joined Cao Cao early. He preferred study and did not compete with the other generals for credit. At Hefei he went out with Zhang Liao against Sun Quan. The biography says he died at thirty-six and does not fix the year.
unknown–220BothXiahou Dun
From Qiao in Pei, a clansman general of Cao Cao. Fighting Lü Bu he was struck in the left eye by a stray arrow. He rose to be a senior general. After Cao Pi became emperor he was named grand general and died of illness within months.
unknown–219BothXiahou Yuan
A younger clansman of Xiahou Dun. Cao Cao used him in the northwest, where he moved fast. In 219 Liu Bei’s army killed him at Dingjun Mountain in Hanzhong. Huang Zhong’s biography names Huang Zhong as the man who cut him down.
168–223BothCao Ren
A younger cousin of Cao Cao. He held Nanjun against Zhou Yu and Fan against Guan Yu. Under Cao Pi he was grand general and grand marshal. He died of illness in 223, at fifty-six.
unknown–232BothCao Hong
A younger cousin of Cao Cao. After the defeat at Xingyang he gave Cao Cao his horse and went on foot. He later fought mostly in the west. He was rich and stingy. Cao Pi once moved to punish him; Empress Dowager Bian stopped it. He died of illness in 232.
unknown–231BothCao Zhen
A younger clansman of Cao Cao. A chief general under Cao Pi and Cao Rui, he commanded the armies facing Zhuge Liang. He died of illness in 231. His son Cao Shuang later contended with Sima Yi and was exterminated with his clan.
208–255BothSima Shi
Sima Yi’s eldest son. After his father he held the Wei government, deposed Cao Fang, and enthroned Cao Mao. In 255 he suppressed Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin, his eye disease flared, and he died at Xuchang, at forty-eight. Jin titled him Emperor Jing.
211–265BothSima Zhao
Sima Yi’s second son. After Sima Shi he ruled Wei. In 260 Cao Mao led an attack on him and was killed. In 263 Shu fell. Sima Zhao died in 265, and his son Sima Yan replaced Wei. Jin titled him Emperor Wen.
147–223BothJia Xu
From Wuwei. He advised Li Jue and Guo Si to attack Chang’an, later planned for Zhang Xiu, then joined Cao Cao. Around Guandu he argued for patience. He backed Cao Pi in the succession. He died of illness in 223, at seventy-seven.
141–220BothCheng Yu
From Dong commandery. His original name was Cheng Li; Cao Cao renamed him Yu. When Yan Province rebelled he held Juancheng and two other cities with a small force. He later joined military planning. He died of illness in 220, at eighty.
unknown–234RecordsLiu Ye
From Chengde in Huainan, a Han imperial kinsman. He advised Cao Cao, Cao Pi, and Cao Rui. He urged the attack on Zhang Lu and warned against letting Sun Quan grow. He died of illness near the end of the Taihe reign.
204–239BothCao Rui
Son of Cao Pi, Emperor Ming of Wei. He came to the throne in 226 and reigned thirteen years. He used Sima Yi against Zhuge Liang and spent heavily on palaces. He died of illness in 239, leaving the adopted heir Cao Fang to Cao Shuang and Sima Yi.
157–214BothXun You
Xun Yu’s nephew. Military counselor to Cao Cao. Around Guandu he offered unexpected plans; Cao Cao spoke of twelve of them. In 214, on campaign against Sun Quan, he fell ill and died on the road, at fifty-eight.