Cao Wenzhao

Cao Wenzhao (?–1635) was a Ming dynasty military general during the Transition from Ming to Qing period. He was active in the suppression of the Late Ming peasant rebellions until his death at the hand of the rebels.

Early career Cao Wenzhao was a native of Datong city in Shanxi. In his youth, he served in the Liaodong military, successively serving as a sergeant under the military governors Xiong Tingbi (1569–1625) and Sun Chengzong (1563–1638). He later served under General Ma Shilong and was promoted to lieutenant general for his meritorious service.

Peasant rebels suppression

In 1631, the Late Ming peasant rebels broke again. This time, it was estimated that the rebels were composed to roughly 200,000 men which separated into 36 groups. In April; You Shilu, Cao Wenzhao, and Wei Yunshen, led three armies to attack the rebels army led by at Hequ. In this campaign, Cao Wenzhao did not dare to pursue Wang's defeated army, as he instead immediately departed to Daizhou (present-day Daixian) and Xinzhou (present-day Xin County). Taiyuan was surrounded by peasant armies. Cao Wenzhao intended to defend Taiyuan from the north. However, large numbers of peasant armies were also active in Dai and Xin, engaging Cao Wenzhao's forces in another numerous battles. His forces killed more than 1,500 rebels, The assassin was reportedly sent by Cao Wenzhao. He planted Wang Jiayin's brother-in-law Zhang Liwei as a spy. Zhang Liwei colluded with Wang Jiayin's wife Zhang and his general Wang Guozhong, and got Wang Jiayin drunk and assassinated him in June of the fourth year of Chongzhen. After the deaths of Wang Jiayin, the rebels elected Wang Ziyi as their new leader.

Guanzhong suppression In 1632, Cao Wenzhao and Yang Jiamo followed and defeated the rebels again. Soon after, Cao Wenzhao, Yang Jiamo, and Yang Qi, the General of Guyuan, and He Huchen, the General of Ningxia, defeated the rebels at Husi'ao in Ganquan. Cao Wenzhao subsequently defeated the rebels army in Taigu, Fancun, and Yushe, virtually wiping out the Taiyuan peasant army. Due to Cao Wenzhao's extraordinary contributions to the pacification campaign, the emperor issued a special decree to all parts of Shanxi, urging them to store up food and fodder to supply Cao Wenzhao wherever he passed through. Upon learning that some areas not only withheld food and fodder from Cao Wenzhao's troops but also somewhat deliberately used artillery to injure Cao Wenzhao's soldiers, he issued a strict order directing the Imperial censors to investigate and impose severe penalties.

In 1634 Cao Wenzhao, together with Hong Chengchou, and He Renlong (:zh:賀人龍), fought against rebel leader Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong. In July, the Qing dynasty army entered the Great Wall to march westward to Chahar. On their return, they casually entered Datong and captured Desheng Fort. Lieutenant General Li Quan committed suicide, leading to the siege of Huairen County, Jingping Fort, Yingzhou, and other areas. Cao Wenzhao and Governor-General Zhang Zongheng initially stationed in Huairen to defend the city. In August, after the siege was lifted, they moved their troops to Zhencheng in order to resist Qing army. However, they were defeated in Datong, followed by Lingqiu and most other forts where troops were stationed fell, and the Qing army returned victorious. In November, the court convicting Cao Wenzhao, Zhang Zongheng, and Governor Hu Zan'en of exile to a border garrison for their failure. Immediately after the order was issued, Shanxi Governor Wu Shengsheng submitted a letter recommending Wenzhao's military expertise and requested that he be transferred to Shanxi. The court then appointed him commander-in-chief of the supporting and suppressing forces, allowing him to atone for his sins through meritorious service. The emperor agreed with the Ministry of War's opinion and ordered Cao Wenzhao to lead his troops to Henan to suppress the bandits. Wu Shengsheng again protested and wrote a letter to Cao Wenzhao, requesting that Cao Wenzhao first pacify the peasant army in Shanxi and then march into Henan. Zhu Youjian did not agree. However, Cao Wenzhao finally took the route to Taiyuan first as gratitude for Wu Shengsheng.

In 1635, he fought against Li Zicheng at Zhengning County. Cao Wenzhao eventually returned to Shanxi and participated in further rebels pacification campaign. Cao Wenzhao's Shanxi troops arrived in Runing on the third day of the third lunar month. Hong Chengchou then ordered his deputy general Liu Chenggong to divide his forces into 2,000 to attack Ciyang. Cao Wenzhao led 3,000 troops, joined by Deng Wei's army, and pursued them towards Zao and Sui. Zhang Xianzhong and his men, frustrated by their resistance, heard that Gao Yingxiang's army had entered the pass, so they joined forces with Lao Hui with over ten battalions and marched towards Zhechuan and Shangnan, all the way to Shangzhou. In April Zhang Yingchang, and others were assigned to defend the key routes north and south of the Han River. They also requested an imperial decree to the emperor to defend the northern part of the river. Hong Chengchou personally led He Renlong, Cao Wenzhao, and Liu Chenggong into Shaanxi to fight.

Cao Wenzhao and Zuo Liangyu took the opportunity to tighten the encirclement. In May, Cao Wenzhao defeated the rebels in Qinshui and Liaocheng. In response to Cao Wenzhao's fierce advance, the rebels sought refuge and moved to northern Henan to join forces. Gao Yingxiang, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, Cao Cao, and others arrived and defeated Deng Bi's army in Lin County, which had led Sichuan troops and Shizhu Tusi troops to the northern Henan front. Tusi Ma Fengyi was killed in the battle. Upon learning of this, Emperor Chongzhen immediately ordered Cao Wenzhao to move his troops to the northern Henan battlefield. In July, Cao Wenzhao led five battalions of troops to launch a surprise attack at night, killed the rebel leader. Cao Wenzhao fought heard to break through the encirclement, personally slaughtering dozens of peasant soldiers and run from his pursuers for several miles, until he became exhausted, he drew his sword and committed suicide. The rebels celebrated his death.

Qianlong Emperor praised Cao Wenzhao as a courageous man who was well-versed in military.