In 223, Cao Pi sent Zhang He, Xu Huang, Cao Zhen, Xiahou Shang and others to lead armies to attack Nan commandery (南郡; around present-day Jingzhou, Hubei) with the objective of capturing Jiangling (江陵; present-day Jiangling County, Jingzhou, Hubei), which was defended by Zhu Ran.
Cao Zhen (died 231), style name Zidan, military general under Cao Cao
Cao Cao | Cao Wei | Pierre Cao | Peng Zhen | Cao Zhen | Cao Rui | Cao Đài | Văn Cao | Nguyen Cao Ky | Joseph Cao | Cao Xiu | Cao Gangchuan | Cao Bằng Province | Yuan Zhen | Wang Zhen | Cao Yunding | Cao Ying | Cao Xueqin | Cao Pi | Cao Hamburger | Cao Fang | Zhen (disambiguation) | Zhen | Zhang Zhen Huan | Terence Cao | Nguyễn Cao Kỳ | Nam Cao | Madame Nguyen Cao Ky | Lý Cao Tông | Huynh Van Cao |
His father had appointed three regents for him—his distant cousin Cao Zhen, the steady administrator Chen Qun, and the shrewd strategist Sima Yi.
In 226, as Cao Pi laid on his deathbed, he entrusted his successor Cao Rui to the care of Sima Yi, Cao Zhen, and Chen Qun.
Cao Zhen called for his subordinates to help, and Wang Lang decided to try and persuade him to surrender (even though Guo Huai was skeptical about it) and engaged Zhuge Liang in a battle of words, but was soundly defeated, with Zhuge Liang scolding him as a dog and a traitor and other nasty words and from the shock of this, he fell off his horse, and died on the spot.