Cao Pi declined, in a fateful choice that most historians believe doomed his empire to ruling only the northern and central China — and this chance would not come again.

Emperor Xian did so, and Cao Pi formally declined three times ( a model that would be followed by future usurpers in Chinese history ), and then finally accepted, ending the Han Dynasty and starting a new Wei Dynasty.

When Cao Cao became chancellor later, he wanted Ma Chao to serve in the capital city but Ma declined.

However, Cao Rui probably still considered him a threat to the throne and declined all the offers.

Cao Fang, under coercion by Sima's supporters, offered Sima the nine bestowments, but Sima declined.

In 258, under pressure from Sima, Cao issued an edict granting Sima the nine bestowments, but Sima declined.

In 260, Cao was again forced to issue an edict granting Sima Zhao the nine bestowments, which Sima declined again.

In spring 317, his officials requested that he take the throne, and after he declined initially, he took the title " Prince of Jin " -- a title previously used by Sima Zhao while regent of Cao Wei — rather than emperor.

Cao Cao, one of the eighteen coalition leaders, poured Guan Yu a cup of hot wine but the latter declined, claiming he would soon return.

In 260, Sima Zhao again forced Cao Mao to issue an edict granting Sima Zhao the Nine Bestowments, which Sima Zhao declined again, but which drew Cao Mao's ire.

Cao Cao then poured Guan Yu a cup of hot wine but the latter declined, claiming he would soon return.

Cao claimed that he declined Khiêm's invitation, mildly mocking him by asking " You're part of the ' Troika ' now ... won't you be overthrowing yourself?

In chapter 33 of Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yuan Tan was said to have sent Xin Ping as an emissary to Cao Cao while besieged in Nanpi to seek surrender but was declined.

This was an extremely important move for Cao Cao following the suggestion from his primary advisor, Xun Yu, commenting that by supporting the authentic emperor, Cao Cao would have the formal legal authority to control the other warlords and force them to comply in order to restore the Han Dynasty.

At Liu Bei's suggestion, Cao Cao had Lü Bu hanged.

It was also at Xun Yu's suggestion that Cao Cao chose to escort Emperor Xian of Han, who was then living in the ruins of Luoyang, to his own base at Xu ( present-day Xuchang, Henan ) in 196, taking on the role of protecting the emperor.

Cao Fang, apprehensive, did not act on the suggestion, but the plot was still discovered, and Sima Zhao assisted his brother in deposing the emperor and replacing him with Cao Mao.

Cao Cao heeded Pang's suggestion and his decision proved to be a fatal mistake later on.

During 4th battle on Hefei of 234, Man Chong was responsible of the defense of the grand castle of Hefei ( however, Man Chong was not physically there ), though his suggestion to reinforce general Zhang Ying ( who was commanding troops inside Hefei Castle ) was rejected by Cao Rui, he managed to burn down the rams Wu forces assembled to seize the city.

When Cheng heard the news, he rushed to Cao and protested: " It's arguable you turned down our suggestion to kill Liu earlier, but it's a certainty that he will betray you if lent a force.

Historian Carl Leban attributes Cao Cao's victory to one single strategic decision — the defender's choice of location.

* ( mid-18th century ): The Dream of the Red Chamber ( authorship attributed to Cao Xueqin ), one of the most famous Chinese novels

By 196, when he was received by Cao Cao, most of the smaller contenders for power had either been absorbed by larger ones or destroyed.

Cao Cao took over most of Jing Province, and appeared set on finally unifying the empire.

At the end of the Han Dynasty, most of Hebei came under the control of warlords Gongsun Zan in the north and Yuan Shao further south ; Yuan Shao emerged victorious of the two, but he was soon defeated by rival Cao Cao ( based further south, in modern-day Henan ) in the Battle of Guandu in 200.

Thiệu was part of a group of younger officers called the Young Turks — the most prominent apart from himself included commander of the Vietnam Air Force, Air Marshal Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, commander of I Corps General Nguyễn Chánh Thi and Admiral Chung Tấn Cang, the head of the Republic of Vietnam Navy.

The text was reduced from 900, 000 to 750, 000 characters ; significant editing was done for narrative flow ; use of third party poems was reduced and shifted from conventional verse to finer pieces ; and most passages praising Cao Cao's advisers and generals were removed.

One of the most famous attack of this kind was the battle of Cao Bang.

Two of the most prominent of these groups are International Institute of the Juche Idea in Japan and the Korean Friendship Association, an international organisation presided over by Spanish national Alejandro Cao de Benos de Les y Pérez.

As one of Cao Cao's most trusted generals, Xiahou Dun aided the warlord in his campaigns against Liu Bei, Sun Quan, and Lü Bu.

But he was surely the most trusted general of Cao Cao, as he was said to often ride in the same carriage as his master, a privilege not even extended to Cao's personal bodyguards Dian Wei and Xu Chu.

Of all his brothers, Cao Pi was the most shrewd.

Cao Cao controlled most of the lands south of the Yellow River and had the Emperor Xian with him in the new capital city of Xu.

By then, most of northern China was unified under Cao Cao's control, and Cao Cao could begin to turn his attention to the south.

The most complete collection of Cao Zhi's poems and other literary works is Chen Si Wang Ji ( 陳思王集, Collection of Works by King Si of Chen ), compiled during the Ming Dynasty.

One of Cao Zhi's most celebrated poems is On the White Horse.

Cao Zhi's most famous poem was the Seven Steps Verse, often translated as The Quatrain of Seven Steps.

However, many Chinese historians extend the starting point of this period back to various years during the collapse of the Han dynasty, such as to the Yellow Turban Rebellion in 184 ; the year after the beginning of the rebellion, 185 ; Dong Zhuo deposing and murdering Emperor Shao of Han and establishing Emperor Xian of Han in 189 ; Dong Zhuo sacking Luoyang and moving the capital to Chang ' an in 190 ; or Cao Cao placing the emperor under his control in Xuchang in 196.

To further distinguish these states from other historical Chinese states of the same name, historians add a relevant character: Wei is also known as Cao Wei ( 曹魏 ), Shu is also known as Shu Han ( 蜀漢 ), and Wu is also known as Eastern Wu ( 東吳 ).

Though he was outwitted and defeated by Cao Cao, Yuan Shao's decisions might not have been so foolish as numerous traditional historians and commentators have said.

Its name came from 213, when Cao Cao's feudal holdings were given the name Wei ; historians often add the prefix Cao ( 曹, from Cao Cao's family name ) to distinguish it from the other states in Chinese history also known as Wei, such as the earlier Wei state during the Warring States Period, and the later Northern Wei state.