Cáo Hóng appellation Zǐlián was Tàizǔ’s younger cousin. (1) Tàizǔ raised righteous troops to suppress Dǒng Zhuó, reached Xíngyáng, was by Zhuó’s officer Xú Róng defeated. Tàizǔ lost horse, the bandits pursued extremely rapidly, Hòng dismounted, to give his horse to Tàizǔ, Tàizǔ declined, Hóng said: “Under Heaven can be without Hóng, it cannot be without you.” Therefore he on foot followed arriving at Biàn river, the river was deep and could not be crossed, Hóng followed the river and obtained boat, with Tàizǔ together crossed, returned escaping to Qiáo.

Yáng Province Inspector Chén Wēn previously with Hóng was friendly, Hóng commanded household troops of over a thousand men, joined Wēn in recruiting troops, obtaining Lújiāng superior armored two thousand men, east arrived at Dānyáng and again obtained several thousand men, with Tàizǔ met at Lóngkàng. Tàizǔ campaigned against Xú Province, Zhāng Miǎo raised Yǎn Province to rebel and welcome Lǚ Bù. At the time there was great famine, Hóng commanded troops at the front, first occupied Dōngpíng and Fàn, gathering provisions and grain to supply the army. Tàizǔ suppressed [Zhāng] Miǎo and [Lǚ] Bù at Púyáng, [Lǚ] Bù was defeated and fled. Therefore [Cáo Hóng] occupied Dōng’ē, turned to strike Jǐyīn, Shānyáng, Zhōngmù, Yángwǔ, Jīng, Mì over ten counties, and captured them all. For his beginning to end achievements he was appointed Falcon Raising Colonel, promoted Raising Warfare Internal Cadet General.

Heaven’s Son set capital at Xǔ, appointed Hóng as Critical Consultant Grandee. He separately campaigned against Liú Biǎo, defeated [Liú] Biǎo’s separate officers at Wǔyáng, Yīnyè, Dǔyáng, Bówàng, had achievements, promoted Severe Edge General, fief as Guómíng precinct Marquis. Continuously followed campaigns, appointed Regional Protector General. Emperor Wén succeeded the throne, appointed him General of the Guard, promoted General of Elite Cavalry, advanced in fief to Yěwáng Marquis, increased fief by 1000 households, adding to the previous to 2100 households, rank as Specially Advanced; later transferred fief to Dūyáng Marquis.

曹洪字子廉，太祖從弟也。〔一〕太祖起義兵討董卓，至滎陽，為卓將徐榮所敗。太祖失馬，賊追甚急，洪下，以馬授太祖，太祖辭讓，洪曰：「天下可無洪，不可無君。」遂步從到汴水，水深不得渡，洪循水得船，與太祖俱濟，還奔譙。揚州刺史陳溫素與洪善，洪將家兵千餘人，就溫募兵，得廬江上甲二千人，東到丹楊復得數千人，與太祖會龍亢。太祖征徐州，張邈舉兗州叛迎呂布。時大饑荒，洪將兵在前，先據東平、范，聚糧穀以繼軍。太祖討邈、布於濮陽，布破走，遂據東阿，轉擊濟陰、山陽、中牟、陽武、京、密十餘縣，皆拔之。以前後功拜鷹揚校尉，遷揚武中郎將。天子都許，拜洪諫議大夫。別征劉表，破表別將於舞陽、陰葉、堵陽、博望，有功，遷厲鋒將軍，封國明亭侯。累從征伐，拜都護將軍。文帝即位，為衛將軍，遷驃騎將軍，進封野王侯，益邑千戶，并前二千一百戶，位特進；後徙封都陽侯。

• (1) Wèishū states: Hóng’s father’s older brother Dǐng was Secretariat Documents Director, appointed Hóng as Qíchūn Chief.

〔一〕　魏書曰：洪伯父鼎為尚書令，任洪為蘄春長。

Originally, Hóng’s family was wealthy but his nature was miserly, Emperor Wén when young asked to borrow but was not accepted, always resented this, and therefore because his household retainers that violated law, sent him down to prison and was about to execute. The various ministers together pleaded but none were able to obtain it. Dowager Empress Biàn said to Empress Guō: “If Cáo Hóng today dies, I tomorrow will order the Emperor to depose you the Empress.” Therefore she shed tears and repeatedly pleaded. Thus he obtained dismissal from office and removal of nobility territory. (1) Hóng was the late Emperor’s meritorious minister, and of the time’s people many were disappointed.

Emperor Míng succeeded the throne, appointed him General of the Rear, again gave fief as Lèchéng marquis, fief of 1000 households, ranked Specially Advanced, again appointed General of Elite Cavalry. Tàihé Sixth Year [232] died, posthumous name Gōng-hóu “Respectful Marquis.” His son Fù succeeded the marquisate. Previously, Tàizǔ divided Hóng’s households to give fief to his son Zhèn as a ranked marquis. Hóng’s distant cousin’s father Yú, was cultivated and careful sincere and respectful, office reached General of the Guard, fief as ranked Marquis.

始，洪家富而性吝嗇，文帝少時假求不稱，常恨之，遂以舍客犯法，下獄當死。群臣並救莫能得。卞太后謂郭后曰：「令曹洪今日死，吾明日敕帝廢后矣。」於是泣涕屢請，乃得免官削爵土。〔一〕洪先帝功臣，時人多為觖望。明帝即位，拜後將軍，更封樂城侯，邑千戶，位特進，復拜驃騎將軍。太和六年薨，諡曰恭侯。子馥，嗣侯。初，太祖分洪戶封子震列侯。洪族父瑜，脩慎篤敬，官至衛將軍，封列侯。

• (1) Wèilüè states: Emperor Wén arrested Hóng, at the time Cáo Zhēn was at the left and right, and pleaded for him saying: “Now to execute Hóng, Hóng will certainly believe it was due to Zhēn’s slander.” The Emperor said: “I personally punish him, what is your involvement?” It happened that Dowager Empress Biàn reproached angrily the Emperor, saying: “Between Liáng and Pèi, if not for Zǐlián there would be no today.” Imperial Order therefore released him. Yet it still confiscated his wealth and estate. The Dowager Empress again for this spoke, and later then it was returned to him. Previously, when Tàizǔ was Excellency of Works, to personally lead subordinates, every year had audits, having his home county measure assets. At the time Qiáo Magistrate measured Hóng’s assets on the Excellency’s family’s level, Tàizǔ said: “How can my family assets compare to Zǐlián’s?” Emperor Wén at the East Palace, once from Hóng borrowed silk fabric of a hundred pǐ, Hóng would not agree. When Hóng violated law, he himself judged he would certainly die, when he obtained pardon, he was pleased, and sent up letter apologizing: “I your servant from youth was not understanding, mistaken in human relationships, when grown did not act [grown up], but then graciously obtained forgiveness. By nature I am without restraint to know to be content with a share, and instead have a ravenous wolf’s insatiable character, old age and senility increases greediness, stirring and breaking the state’s nets, criminal persecutions three thousand, without pardon or forgiveness, and should meet with execution, and discarded in the various markets, yet immersed in heavenly favor, bone and flesh again lives. I your servant in looking up at heaven’s sun, am burdened in shame to the spirits, in looking down to ponder transgressions and faults, am humiliated and shame and in terror shaking, not able to hang myself to self cut apart, solemnly dirtying face at the watchtower gates, I bow and present memorial to explain feelings.”

〔一〕　魏略曰：文帝收洪，時曹真在左右，請之曰：「今誅洪，洪必以真為譖也。」帝曰：「我自治之，卿何豫也？」會卞太后責怒帝，言「梁、沛之間，非子廉無有今日」。詔乃釋之。猶尚沒入其財產。太后又以為言，後乃還之。初，太祖為司空時，以己率下，每歲發調，使本縣平貲。于時譙令平洪貲財與公家等，太祖曰：「我家貲那得如子廉耶！」文帝在東宮，嘗從洪貸絹百匹，洪不稱意。及洪犯法，自分必死，既得原，喜，上書謝曰：「臣少不由道，過在人倫，長竊非任，遂蒙含貸。性無檢度知足之分，而有豺狼無厭之質，老惛倍貪，觸突國網，罪迫三千，不在赦宥，當就辜誅，棄諸市朝，猶蒙天恩，骨肉更生。臣仰視天日，愧負靈神，俯惟愆闕，慚愧怖悸，不能雉經以自裁割，謹塗顏闕門，拜章陳情。」