Attempted Coup Against Sima Zhao and Death
In 260, Cao was again forced to issue an edict granting Sima Zhao the nine bestowments, which Sima declined again. Cao gathered his associates and led a last effort against Sima Zhao to regain his power. Of his three generals, two defected to Sima Zhao, informing him of Cao Mao's approach. Armed with a sword, Cao Mao appeared at Sima Zhao's home, where Sima Zhou attempted to put up a defense before fleeing, publicly shamed for opposing the emperor. When Jia Chong and Cheng Ji arrived to protect Sima Zhao, Cheng Ji accepted an order from Jia Chong to protect Sima at all cost, and speared Cao Mao at the entrance, killing him.
Sima Zhao forced the Empress Dowager Guo to posthumously stripped Cao Mao of rank, but permitted her to reinstate him as a duke after his uncle Sima Fu advised him to do so; Cao Mao was then re-eneoffed as a prince and buried with the honours accorded to such a title. Jia Chong's death was called for on account of regicide, but it was Cheng Ji himself who was executed for the crime 19 days after the emperor's death. Cao Huang (later renamed to Cao Huan), the Duke of Changdao, was instated as emperor as a result, the last puppet emperor before Sima Yan would usurp the imperial throne.
Read more about this topic: Cao Mao
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