Cao Rui

Also known as Zi Yuanzhong · Weiming Di

Cao Rui, courtesy name Yuanzhong, was the son of Cao Pi and Empress Zhen, who was forced to kill herself in 221; in 222 he became Prince of Pingyuan. Named heir as his father lay dying in 226, he reigned under the era names Taihe, Qinglong and Jingchu. When Zhuge Liang first invaded in 228 he went to Chang'an in person while Zhang He defeated Ma Su at Jieting, and in 234 he led a fleet east against Sun Quan, who withdrew from Hefei. In 238 he sent Sima Yi to destroy Gongsun Yuan in Liaodong. From 235 he rebuilt the Luoyang palaces despite protests from Chen Qun and Gaotang Long. He died in the first month of 239, leaving Cao Shuang and Sima Yi as regents for his adopted son Cao Fang, and is known as Emperor Ming. A record quoted in Li Shan's commentary on the Wenxuan says he renamed Cao Zhi's rhapsody to Lady Zhen as the Goddess of the Luo, a story widely doubted.