Cao Cao (155-220) was a regional warlord who rose to become the self-appointed Imperial Secretariat under Han Xian Di and the de facto ruler of Northern China during the last years of Eastern Han Dynasty. He laid down foundations for what was to become the Kingdom of Wei under his son Cao Pi. Although generally remembered as a cruel and suspicious character. Cao Cao was also a brilliant ruler, strategist and poet.

Historical interpretation of Cao Cao was that he was the son of a court official of the Han Dynasty. He held positions at this court until an attempted coup by general Dong Zhuo brought down the dynasty. Dong Zhuo was not able to consolidate his hold on the empire and China fell into civil war and anarchy. Cao Cao was part of the Alliance against the Dong Zhuo-controlled Han Dynasty. He quickly gained fame by wining several battles against the Han which earned him the name, the “Hero of Chaos”.

In the resulting chaos Cao Cao emerged as the Cao Cao Unification of the North, winning a critical battle (the Battle of Guandu) at the Huang He (Yellow River). He assumed effective rule of Northern China and assumed the title of Imperial Secretariat. The last Han emperor would remain a figurehead until the abdication in 220. Cao Cao extended his control northward, past the Great Wall of China, into northern Korea, and southward to the Han River. His attempt to extend his domination south of the Yangtze River was dashed as his forces were defeated by the coalition of Liu Bei (who later founded the Kingdom of Shu in southwestern China) and Sun Quan (who later founded the Kingdom of Wu in southeastern China) at the naval Battle of Red Cliff in 208.

In 213, he was titled Wei Gong (duke of Wei) and given ten cities as his domain. This area was named the “State of Wei”. In 216, Cao Cao was promoted to King of Wei.

Cao Cao died some time after the defeat and the death of the general Guan Yu of Shu. Cao Cao’s death was possibly the result of a brain tumor, as he had complained often of painful headaches. A number of his most loyal followers, including his cousin and general Xiahou Dun as well as wei who served as his bodyguard Xu Chu, died soon after as well, as if following their master into the afterlife. He was posthumously given the title of Wei Wudi (Martial Emperor of Wei). His eldest surviving son Cao Pi inherited his position as Imperial Secretariat and the title Wei Wang (king of Wei). Within one year Cao Pi seized the imperial throne and proclaimed himself to be the first Emperor of the Wei Dynasty- usually referred as the Kingdom of Wei.