Campaigners › Strategists
Cao Gui
Spring and Autumn strategist of Lu who guided Duke Zhuang to victory over Qi at Changshao with his theory of morale.
Inside a tent at dusk, a low table holds a board of faint map-like lines with scattered black and white stones beside a feather fan, a lit lantern, an iron teapot and rolled bamboo slips, while one person sits with their back turned at the open flap, facing a river valley at sunset.
Also known as Cao Mo (by one account) · Cao Hui
- Roles
- Strategists
Cao Gui was a commoner of Lu in the Spring and Autumn period. When Qi invaded in 684 BCE he sought out Duke Zhuang, asked what the duke relied on to fight, and judged that fair handling of lawsuits showed enough devotion to the people to risk battle. At Changshao he held back until Qi had drummed three times, then attacked, and pursued only after seeing their tracks in disorder and banners drooping, routing the Qi army. In 671 BCE he remonstrated against the duke's visit to Qi. By one account he is the Cao Mo who held Duke Huan of Qi at swordpoint at Ke. He is the central figure of 'Cao Gui on Warfare' from the Zuo zhuan.
Life and times
Dates Dates unknown; active c. 684–671 BCE
- 684 BCELu Defeats Qi at Changshao