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Cao Hong 曹洪 (d. 232 CE), courtesy name Zilian 子廉, was a military leader of the early Three Kingdoms period 三國 (220-280).
He hailed from Qiao 譙 in the princedom of Pei 沛國 (modern Boxian 亳縣, Anhui) and was a paternal cousin of the warlord Cao Cao 曹操. During the battle of Xingyang 滎陽 against the tyrant Dong Zhuo 董卓 he prevented the defeat of Cao Cao's commander Xu Rong 徐榮. Afterwards he successfully battled against Zhang Miao 張邈 and Lü Bu 呂布, and was therefore granted the title of commander of the soaring-hawk guard (yingyang xiaowei 鷹揚校尉), and shortly later appointed martial leader of the court gentlemen (yangwu zhonglang jiang 揚武中郎將).
When Cao Cao transferred the imperial capital to his own seat in Xu 許, Cao Hong was made Grand Master of Remonstrance (jianyi dafu 諫議大夫). The victory over the warlord Liu Biao 劉表 earned him the title of *Fiercly rushing general (lirui jiangjun 厲鋒將軍), and the given the title of neighbourhood marquis (tinghou 亭侯) of Guoming 國明. Further military successes were crowned with the title of *protector-general (duhu jiangjun 都護將軍).
The accession to the throne of Cao Cao's son Cao Pi 曹丕 (Emperor Wen of Wei 魏文帝, r. 220-226) first led to higher promotions (general of the guards, wei jiangjun 衛將軍, cavalry general, piaoji jiangjun 驃騎將軍, Marquis of Weyang 野王侯 and Marquis of Duyang 都陽侯), but a social offense ended with the emperor's decision to strip him off all titles and to confiscate his land.
Only when Emperor Ming 魏明帝 (r. 226－239 CE) mounted the throne, Cao Hong was reinstated his honours, granted the title of *General to the Rear (hou jiangjun 後將軍), and given the title of Marquis of Lecheng 樂城. His posthumous title is Marquis Gong 樂城恭侯.