Cai Mao

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cai Mao (蔡瑁) was a military official, specializing in naval operations, during the Three Kingdoms era of China. He was a capable naval commander who originally served under the warlord Liu Biao. Cai Mao's gained his status when his sister married Liu Biao.

In early battles with the warlord Sun Jian, Cai Mao suffered several defeats. Liu Biao's advisor, Kuai Liang, insisted that Cai Mao be put to death for his failures, but Liu Biao was reluctant to do so.

Liu Biao was growing older but had yet to choose an heir. He had two choices in mind: One was the elder son, Liu Qi, and the other was the younger, Liu Zong. Liu Qi was considered because he was the eldest, and traditionally the heir is the eldest son. Liu Zong was considered because Cai Mao and his clan insisted that he was more capable. This was because Cai Mao's sister had bore Liu Zong, and so the Cai clan would have much to gain.

At Liu Biao's death bed, he named Liu Qi as his heir. Cai Mao, and another officer of Liu Biao's, Zhang Yun, wrote a forged testimony naming Liu Zong as the heir. Cai Mao sent Liu Qi back to Jiangxia.

Cao Cao, Prime Minister of the Han, had amassed a huge army. When word reached Liu Zong and his officers that Cao Cao was marching on their territory, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun advocated surrender. They would both be guaranteed high rank if they succeeded.

The surrender eventually went through and Cai Mao, along with Zhang Yun, became Cao Cao's chief naval commander against Sun Jian's second son, Sun Quan. Both had experience with naval combat because they had lived in Jingzhou, as opposed to most Northern officers.

While fighting against Sun Quan, Cao Cao's forces suffered early defeats under Cai Mao and Zhang Yun. Due to Zhou Yu's plot, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun were executed by Cao Cao. Cao later realized his mistake but never admitted.