Early life

Cao Bin's father Cao Yun (曹芸) was a military commander of Chengde Commandery (成德军; centered in modern Zhengding County, Hebei) under the Later Han. Before the age of 20, Cao Bin served under his father as a minor general, and Wu Xingde (武行德), the military governor of Chengde Commandery, was reportedly very impressed by him. At that time his maternal aunt Lady Zhang was married to Guo Wei, another military governor. In 950, she was killed by Later Han emperor Liu Chengyou as Guo rebelled. Guo eventually overthrew Later Han to found the Later Zhou.

Career under Later Zhou

He was known for instilling discipline in his army, and for his disregard for anything material. Once, a messenger refused to believe he was the general, saying "how could the emperor's relative dress in modest clothing and sleep on a commoner's bed?" In 958, he was sent to Wuyue Kingdom as a convoy and adamantly refused all bribes from Wuyue.

After Later Zhou was overthrown by the Song Dynasty, Cao Bin was part of Song's conquest of Later Shu. After victories, some of the Song generals suggested massacre to show Song's power but Cao Bin prevented it. When the other generals robbed the territory of its wealth, Cao Bin was only interested in books and the traditional clothing. Returning to the capital, Cao Bin reported the other generals, and was named jiedushi.

In 974 Cao Bin commanded the army that conquered Southern Tang, and after a few other battles against Northern Han and Liao Dynasty, he was given control over the entire Song Dynasty's army.

His granddaughter was Empress Cao, married to Emperor Renzong of Song.

Notes and references

Sources

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生平

曹彬是后周太祖郭威张贵妃的外甥，张同芝外孙。后周显德三年（956年），改潼关监军，迁西上阁门使。五年（958年），奉诏出使吴越，奉诏赐吴越国王铠甲、弓弩、枪剑，及中吴军节度使钱文奉国信。六年（959年），判四方馆事，出为晋州兵马都监，转引进使；严于治军，尤重军纪。宋太祖建隆二年（961年），转客省使，与王全斌、郭进领步骑万馀人攻乐平县，降北汉将王超、侯霸荣等一千八百人，获千馀人。太祖乾德初，改左神武将军，充内省客使。乾德二年（964年）率军灭后蜀，以不滥杀著称，王仁赡曰：「清谦畏谨，不负陛下任使者，惟曹彬一人耳。」升宣徽南院使、义成军节度使。六年，遣李继勋、党进率师征太原，命为前军都监，战洞涡河，斩二千馀级，俘获甚众。开宝二年，议亲征太原，复命为前军都监，率兵先往，次团柏谷，降贼将陈廷山。又战城南，薄于濠桥，夺马千馀。及太祖至，则已分砦四面，而自主其北。六年，进检校太傅。

开宝七年（974年）率水陆军10万攻灭南唐，次年克金陵，又决策伐北汉和攻辽，以功擢枢密使、检校太尉、忠武军节度使。及宋太宗即位(976年)，加同中书门下平章事。太平兴国三年，进检校太师，从征太原，加兼侍中。八年正月，因遭镇州驻泊都监、酒坊使弥德超诬陷，罢枢密使，为天平军节度使兼侍中，六月王显任枢密使。。但十多天后，太宗就醒悟过来，进封曹彬为鲁国公。雍熙三年（986年），宋分兵三路攻契丹，他为东路军主将，因孤军冒进、兵疲粮乏撤军，至岐沟关（今涿州西南）被契丹军击败，致宋军全线溃退，降右骁卫上将军（环卫官，从二品）。四年复起为侍中、武宁军节度使（使相：节度使兼侍中），淳化五年，徙平卢军节度使。真宗即位后复为检校太师、同中书门下平章事。数月，召拜枢密使。咸平二年六月卒，年六十九，赠中书令，追封济阳郡王，諡武惠；且赠其妻高氏为韩国夫人；官其亲族、门客、亲校十馀人。八月，诏彬与赵普配飨太祖庙庭。

曹彬先后被追封为济阳郡王（真宗朝）、鲁王（真宗朝）、冀王（仁宗朝）、唐王（神宗朝）、周王(高宗朝)。

他的女儿为宋真宗的曹贤妃，孙女即是宋仁宗的曹皇后，被誉为圣后。外曾孙女高太后，即宋英宗皇后。曹皇后有一兄弟曹佾，即八仙中的曹国舅原型。相传曹彬还有一个后代成了女神仙，便是道家《灵源大道歌》的作者曹文逸真人。

注释

参考书目

• 《续资治通鉴》卷第五

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