Cao Zhen

Cao Zhen (onyomi: Sō Shin) was an officer under the Wei army. He was also a distant nephew of Cao Cao, and was adopted into the Cao clan. Cao Cao treated Cao Zhen as if he was his own son.

Role in Games
For his first appearance in Dynasty Warriors 3, Cao Zhen only appears at Jie Ting against Zhuge Liang on his Northern expedition.

Voice Actors

 * Yoshiyuki Kōno - Romance of the Three Kingdoms drama CD series

Historical Information
Cao Zhen was the son of Cao Shao. After Cao Shao was killed by Huang Wan, Cao Cao took Cao Zhen and raised him with his own sons. At Hanzhong, Cao Zhen defeated the Shu general Gao Xiang and later went to Wudu in order to welcome the returning Cao Hong. When Cao Pi ascended the throne, Cao Zhen was made General who Suppresses the West and given authority over Yong and Liang Provinces. In 222 he suppressed the rebellion of Zhang Jin and later defeated Sun Quan with Xiahou Shang at Niuzhu. When Cao Pi died in 226, he ordered Cao Zhen, Sima Yi, Chen Qun and others to aid Cao Rui in the affairs of the State. In 228, the Shu Prime Minister Zhuge Liang started his northern Campaigns and conquered Mt. Qi, causing the commanderies of Tianshui, Anding and Nan'an to rebel against Wei. Cao Zhen dispatched Zhang He to deal with Shu's forces, defeating the enemy general Ma Su at Jieting. Cao Zhen personally led the Wei forces to recapture the three commanderies. Having beaten Zhuge Liang, Cao Zhen expected him to attack Chencang next, so he sent Hao Zhao and Wang Shuang to guard it. Zhuge Liang did indeed attack, but was unable to breach the defenses. Cao Zhen was promoted to Grand Minister of War in 230 and led an expedition against Shu. Together with Sima Yi, he aimed to conquer Hanzhong and advanced via Ziwu, with Sima Yi leading the troops via the Han river. However, one month of continuous rain forced Cao Zhen to abandon the plan and retreat. He fell ill and died one year later in Luoyang and was posthumously made Marquis Yuan. Cao Zhen was known to always toil with his men during campaigns and when official rewards were not sufficient, he rewarded his men with his own money. Cao Zhen's oldest son Cao Shuang inherited his father's title and would later become co-regent together with Sima Yi, to whom he would eventually lose all of his power and by whom he would be executed along with his brothers Cao Xi and Cao Xun.