Cai Mao

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Cai.

Cai Mao
General of Cao Cao
Names
Simplified Chinese	蔡瑁
Traditional Chinese	蔡瑁
Pinyin	Cài Mào
Wade-Giles	Ts'ai Mao
Style name	Degui (德珪)

Cai Mao was a military general specializing in naval warfare during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history. He was from Xiangyang in Jing Province and originally served the warlord Liu Biao before joining Cao Cao's forces. He gained his status when his sister married Liu Biao.

Cai Mao initially suffered several defeats against the warlord Sun Jian. Liu Biao's advisor Kuai Liang insisted that Cai Mao be put to death for his failures, but Liu Biao refused.

When Liu Biao named his oldest son Liu Qi as his heir on his deathbed, Cai Mao and his nephew Zhang Yun wrote a forged will choosing Liu Biao's second son Liu Cong, because Liu Cong was married to Cai Mao's niece. Cai Mao then sent Liu Qi back to Jiangxia.

When Cao Cao marched on their territory with a huge army, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun surrendered and became Cao Cao's chief naval commanders against Sun Quan.

In fiction

In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun's forces suffered early defeats against Zhou Yu's forces. Zhou forged letters from Cai and Zhang and had Jiang Gan return them to Cao Cao. Cai and Zhang were then executed by Cao.

Appointments and titles held

• Assistant Officer of the Household (從事中郎)
• Major (司馬)
• Colonel of Chang River Regiment (長水校尉)
• Marquis of Hanyang (漢陽亭侯)

See also

• List of people of the Three Kingdoms

References

• Chen Shou (2002). Records of Three Kingdoms. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80665-198-5. 
• Luo Guanzhong (1986). Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80520-013-0. 
• Lo Kuan-chung; tr. C.H. Brewitt-Taylor (2002). Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-3467-9.