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'Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → made the laws,

'Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → made the laws,

Straight as a drawn line.

Cao Shen succeeded him,

Cao Shen succeeded him,

Preserving without loss.

Preserving without loss.

Preserving without loss.

In his pure tranquility,

Zhu, Marquis of Pingyang, during the Gaohou period served as Censor. When Emperor Wen assumed the throne, he was removed from office and became an ordinary marquis. He died twenty-nine years later, his posthumous title Marquis Jing. His son Qi succeeded, and died seven years later, posthumously titled Marquis Jian. Qi's son Shi succeeded to the title. Shi married the Princess of Pingyang, who bore him a son, Xiang. Shi died after twenty-three years as marquis, posthumously titled Marquis Yi. His son Xiang succeeded. Xiang married the Princess of Wei, who bore him a son, Zong. He died after sixteen years, posthumously titled Marquis Gong. His son Zong succeeded. During the second year of Zhenghe, Zong was implicated in the Prince's death, and the title was abolished. The Grand Historian remarked: The reason Cao Shen, Chancellor of Han, accumulated so many victories in attacking cities and fighting in the wilds was that he fought alongside the Marquis of Huaiyin. Once Han XinHan XinHere's the translation of "The General Who Won Three Empires" into English: **The General Who Conquered Three Empires** Alternatively, if you want a more literal translation: **The General Who Won Three Empires** Both are correct, but "conquered" might sound more natural in English depending on the context.From begging for meals at strangers' tables and enduring humiliation in the marketplace, to commanding a million troops—the greatest military genius of the early Han Dynasty, ultimately undone by his own emperor.View profile → was destroyed, among the generals who achieved success, only Shen retained his fame. As Chancellor of Han, his pure stillness and extreme plainness aligned with the Way. Yet after the people had endured the cruelty of Qin, Shen's governance offered rest and non-action—so all under heaven praised his virtue. Cao Shen rose from humble beginnings as a powerful official in Pei. From palace attendant, he first captured strategic positions. As Lord of Jade and Lord of White Silk, he took cities and seized lands. Once Yanshi was conquered, Kunyang was lost. North he captured Xia Yue, east he defeated Tian Hai. Enfeoffed with hereditary privileges, his merit unmatched. In markets and prisons he brought no disturbance, pure and unassuming. Married to the Princess of Pingyang, his descendants enjoyed his blessings.

THE VERSE: A postscript in rhymed verse summarizing Cao Shen's career and legacy.

When Cao Shen heard of this, he told his steward to quickly prepare his luggage, saying, 'I am about to enter court to become Chancellor.' Not long after, a messenger indeed summoned Cao Shen. Before leaving, Cao Shen instructed his successor as Chancellor of Qi: 'Take the prisons and markets of Qi as a trust, and be careful not to disturb them.' The successor Chancellor asked, 'Is there no greater matter in governing than this?' Cao Shen replied, 'Not so. Prisons and markets are what embrace and contain all. If you now disturb them, where will the outlaws find refuge? That is why I put this first.' In his early days of humble station, Cao Shen was on good terms with Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile →; but later, when they became generals and ministers, a rift developed between them.

When Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → was near death, the only worthy he recommended was Cao Shen. Cao Shen replaced Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → as Chancellor of Han, and in handling affairs he made no changes, following exactly the regulations left by Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile →. He selected from the commanderies and kingdoms those officials who were inarticulate in speech and writing, and of a serious, generous disposition, and appointed them as clerks of the Chancellor. Those officials whose speech and writing were caustic and deep-probing, and who sought fame and reputation, he would invariably dismiss and send away. Day and night he drank strong wine. Ministers, grand masters, and subordinate officials, as well as guests, seeing that Cao Shen was not attending to state affairs, all came wishing to remonstrate with him.

Whenever visitors came, Cao Can would entertain them with fine, mellow wine. When they became merry, if they wished to speak, Cao Can would press more wine on them until they left drunk; he never let them broach any subject, and this became a regular practice. The rear garden of the Chancellor's residence was close to the clerks' quarters, where the clerks daily drank, sang, and shouted. The attendants disliked this but were powerless to stop it, so they asked Cao Can to stroll in the garden. Hearing the clerks singing and shouting in their drunkenness, the attendants hoped the Chancellor would summon and punish them. Instead, Cao Can had wine brought, set out seats, sat down and drank, and joined in singing and shouting with them. Whenever he saw someone commit a minor fault, Cao Can made a point of covering it up and concealing it, so that the Chancellor's mansion was free of trouble. Cao Can's son, Cao Zhu, was a Palace Grandee. Emperor Hui wondered why the Chancellor ignored state affairs, thinking, "Does he hold me in contempt?"

So he said to Cao Zhu: "When you go home, try privately and calmly asking your father: 'The late Emperor has just abandoned his ministers and passed away, the present Emperor is still young. As Chancellor, you drink every day and attend to no business. How do you show concern for the realm?' But do not let on that I told you to ask this." After his regular bathing leave, Cao Zhu returned home, waited for a quiet moment while attending his father, and ventured to remonstrate as suggested. Enraged, Cao Can gave him two hundred strokes of the lash, saying: "Go quickly and attend in the palace. The affairs of the realm are not for you to discuss." When court was held, Emperor Hui reproached Cao Can, saying:

"Why did you punish Cao Zhu? It was I who sent him to remonstrate with you." Cao Can removed his hat, apologized, and said: "Your Majesty, please examine for yourself: in sageliness and might, how do you compare with Emperor Gaozu?" The emperor said: "How would I presume to compare with the late emperor?" Cao Can said: "In Your Majesty's view, how does my ability compare with Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile →'s worth?" The emperor said: "You seem to fall short." Cao Can said: "Your Majesty speaks truly. Moreover, when Emperor Gaozu and Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → settled the realm, the laws and decrees were made clear. Now Your Majesty merely folds your hands and rules, while I and the other officials keep to our duties, following what has been established without error. Is that not acceptable?" Emperor Hui said: "Good. You may rest!"

Cao Can served as Chancellor of Han for a total of three years. He died and received the posthumous title of Marquis Yi. His son Cao Zhu succeeded to the marquisate. The people sang: "Xiao HeXiao HeHan Dynasty Prime MinisterThe man who managed an empire while Liu Bang won battles — and saved the Shiji by memorizing it before burning palaces could destroy it.View profile → made the laws, plain and uniform. Cao Can succeeded him, kept them without fail. He maintained purity and calm, so the people enjoyed peace and unity." The Marquis of Pingyang, Cao Zhu, served as Imperial Counsellor during the time of Empress Dowager Lü. When Emperor Wen of Han assumed the throne, Cao Zhu was removed from office and reduced to the rank of an ordinary marquis. He died twenty-nine years after becoming marquis and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Jing. His son Cao Qi succeeded to the marquisate and died seven years into his tenure with the posthumous title of Marquis Jian. Cao Qi's son Cao Shi succeeded. Cao Shi married Princess Pingyang and fathered a son, Cao Xiang. Later, Cao Shi contracted a virulent disease and returned to his fief.

He died after twenty-three years as marquis and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Yi. His son Cao Xiang succeeded. Cao Xiang married Princess Wei the Elder and fathered a son, Cao Zong. Cao Xiang died after sixteen years and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Gong. His son Cao Zong succeeded. In the second year of the Zhenghe era, Cao Zong was implicated in the Crown Prince's affair and his fief was abolished. The Grand Historian says: The reason Chancellor Cao Can achieved so many merits in storming cities and fighting in the field was that he served together with the Marquis of Huaiyin, Han XinHan XinHere's the translation of "The General Who Won Three Empires" into English: **The General Who Conquered Three Empires** Alternatively, if you want a more literal translation: **The General Who Won Three Empires** Both are correct, but "conquered" might sound more natural in English depending on the context.From begging for meals at strangers' tables and enduring humiliation in the marketplace, to commanding a million troops—the greatest military genius of the early Han Dynasty, ultimately undone by his own emperor.View profile →. After Han XinHan XinHere's the translation of "The General Who Won Three Empires" into English: **The General Who Conquered Three Empires** Alternatively, if you want a more literal translation: **The General Who Won Three Empires** Both are correct, but "conquered" might sound more natural in English depending on the context.From begging for meals at strangers' tables and enduring humiliation in the marketplace, to commanding a million troops—the greatest military genius of the early Han Dynasty, ultimately undone by his own emperor.View profile → had been destroyed, when the accomplishments of the various marquises were assessed, it was Cao Can alone who gained lasting renown.

Cao Can served as chancellor of Han, earnestly advocating pure stillness and non-action, fully in accord with the Daoist art of statecraft. When the people had barely escaped the cruelty of Qin, Can allowed them to rest and recover, governing through non-interference. Hence the whole realm praised his virtue. Cao Can first rose as a local strongman and petty official in Pei. Beginning as a palace attendant, he first surrounded Shanzhi. Bearing jade tablets and silken cordons of rank, he stormed cities and seized territory. After Yan Shi was executed, Kunyang fell. In the north he captured Xia Shuo; in the east he attacked Tian Gai. He received the tallied charter and his fixed fief; his merit was matchless. He kept the markets and prisons free from oppression, pure and still, without meddlesome activity. He married the Princess of Pingyang, and for generations the family enjoyed the fruits of the fief.