"The world speaks Newspeak?" Literature records the story of "Seven-step Poetry". This story makes people know that Cao Zhi has the same mother and brother Cao Pi, so some people take it for granted that Cao Zhi ranks second. For example, Ding Yan clearly wrote in "Comment on Cao Jiquan" in "Annotation" (published by Literature Ancient Books Publishing House): "Cao Zhi, the word Zijian, is the second son of Cao Cao. "
But, open the "reflection"? As can be seen from Biography of Wu, Queen Bian gave birth to four sons, besides Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, there is Zhang Wang. Because Cao Zhang is Cao Zhi's brother, Cao Zhi's ranking is at least the third. This statement is the most popular, and some large reference books also say that Cao Zhi is the third son of Cao Cao.
However, before Bian Hou, Cao Cao had Mrs. Ding and Mrs. Liu, and Mrs. Liu gave birth to Cao Ang and Cao Shuo. Because Mrs. Liu died early, Cao Ang was raised by Mrs. Ding. In the second year of Jian 'an (197), Zhang Xiu surrendered and rebelled, and Cao Cao fought against it and suffered a heavy defeat. Cao Cao was captured by Liu Ya, and "the eldest son Ang and his disciples were killed". Reflection? It is clearly recorded in the Ji of Emperor Wudi that Cao Ang is the eldest son of Cao Cao. Cao Pi in Dian Lun? The preface also said: "At the beginning of Jian 'an, ... said that he fell. Ten days later, he turned against him and killed his brother, his son Xiu and his brother. "Zi Xiu, the word Cao Ang, since xelloss called it brother, as the eldest son of Cao Cao, before's, there were at least three people, Cao Ang, xelloss and Cao Zhang. Therefore, Guo Moruo said in On Cao Zhi: "Cao Zhi, the fourth son of Cao Cao. "
According to the Biography of Wu Qunchen, Cao Ang was a "weak filial piety", so he was at least twenty-one years old when he was killed, while Cao Zhi was six years old, a difference of fifteen years. Cao Shuo, born to Cao Ang's mother, is not much different from Cao Ang's age, and may be older than Cao Zhi, because his mother, Mrs. Liu, died earlier. In this way, Cao Zhi's ranking should be relegated to the fifth place.