Cao Cao Becomes Duke of Wei

In 212 Dong Zhao and others argued that Cao Cao should be raised to a duke and given the Nine Bestowments in recognition of his achievements, and consulted Xun Yu about it in private.

Xun Yu opposed Cao Cao receiving the title of Duke of Wei, saying the move conflicted with the cause of supporting the Han court.

The biography says Cao Cao was displeased by Xun Yu’s objection. When he marched against Sun Quan, he asked that Xun Yu be sent to Qiao to inspect the troops and then kept him with the army as an adviser on the Chancellor’s affairs.

Xun Yu fell ill and died at Shouchun at age fifty; Chen Shou’s biography says he died from worry.

An annotation citing Wei Shi Chunqiu says Cao Cao sent an empty food container and Xun Yu then took poison; this is not the biography’s account.

Cao Cao was invested as Duke of Wei while still serving under the Han emperor.

The investiture edict made ten commanderies of Ji province the Duchy of Wei and named Cao Cao its duke.

The edict added the Nine Bestowments, a set of ceremonial honors that included carriages, robes, music, a guard of three hundred men, axes and bows.

The edict let the Duchy of Wei appoint its own chancellor, ministers and officials, on the model of the vassal kings of the early Han.

Cao Cao governed as Chancellor and held extensive military and civil authority across the north.

The Han court later advanced Cao Cao to King of Wei, a major step in the political order that preceded the Cao Wei dynasty.

Cao Cao died at Luoyang in 220. His son Cao Pi later received the imperial abdication and founded Wei; that came after Cao Cao’s death.

Cao Cao died before the Han abdication; only later did Cao Pi replace the Han and establish Wei.