Cai Mao

Cai Mao (birth and death years unknown) was of the gentry of the Jing province during the late Han Dynasty of Chinese history. He was from a local influential clan of Nan Commandery (南郡) and served the Jing province governor Liu Biao, who took Cai Mao's sister as his second wife.

While Liu Biao lay dying, Cai Mao prevented Liu Biao's eldest son Liu Qi from seeing him because Cai Mao and his sister favoured Liu Biao's other son Liu Cong. Liu Cong succeeded his father when he died, but soon surrendered to the invading army of Cao Cao.

As a childhood friend of Cao Cao, Cai Mao received numerous ranks and positions after Jing province was conquered by Cao Cao.

In fiction
In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cai Mao was cast to be a capable naval commander.

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.

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)