Cai Mao is a supporting antagonist in the fourteenth-Century Chinese classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms and it's multiple adaptations being a major antagonist during Liu Bei's time in Jing and during the Battle of Red Cliffs. He is a general serving under warlords Liu Biao and Cao Cao and an enemy of both Liu Bei and Sun Quan.
Biography[]
Cai Mao was the younger brother of Lady Cai, second wife of Jing's ruler Liu Biao. That relationship increased his influence and soon he became one of Jing's top generals having control over it's naval forces. His power in the army was so big that people feared him and viewed him more of a ruler than Liu Biao himself who was weak willed and old. In 191 AD Cai Mao convinced his lord, Liu Biao to eliminate their long rival Sun Jian after receiving an order from their ally Yuan Shao.
Even though Liu Biao was initially reluctant he agreed and the Jing troops ambushed Sun Jian killing him. Cai Mao then proposed to go after his two sons, Sun Ce and Sun Quan in order to eliminate the Sun family, who has been a thorn in their side for years, once and for all. When the 9 year-old Sun Quan entered their camp in order to ask for his dead father's body, Cai Mao once again advised Liu Biao to kill the kid but he refused. Cai Mao thus became one of Sun family's mortal enemies.
Years later following Yuan Shao's defeat at Guandu, Liu Bei was a guest of his cousin Liu Biao. Cai Mao and his sister wanted her son Liu Cong to succeed Liu Biao and viewed Liu Bei as a threat, as he favored Liu Biao's other son Liu Qi. They both then started to plan his assassination with Cai Mao personally leading his men and even trying to kill Liu Bei during a banquet. His attempts failed and soon Liu Bei was stationed at the city of Xinye. At the same time Cai Mao didn't allow Liu Qi to see his father who was fatally ill, as he feared that Liu Biao might appoint him as hair instead of Liu Cong.
After Liu Biao died, Cai Mao suggested to his nephew Liu Cong and new ruler of Jing to surrender to Cao Cao who had already started to attack Jing. Liu Cong agreed and they soon became vassals of Cao Cao. Cai Mao was appointed by him as commander of his forces despite his advisers warning him that he is an opportunist and he is not to be trusted. Cao Cao told them that they needed his skills in naval warfare for their upcoming invasion of Wu. Soon Cai Mao begun to train his soldiers for the upcoming battle.
Wu's Grand Commander Zhou Yu believed that Cai Mao should be eliminated in order for Cao Cao's navy to remain without a skilled Commander so he devised a plan to have him killed. When a messenger of Cao Cao and old friend of Zhou Yu named Jiang Gan visited the Wu camp in order to convince him to surrender he discovered a letter from Cai Mao in which he was telling that he will take Cao Cao's head and ally with Sun Quan. Jiang Gan presented it to Cao Cao who quickly ordered Cai Mao and his second in command Zhang Yun to report. When he asked them why aren't they attacking the enemy, Cai Mao answered that the troops are not ready yet. Cao Cao who was already upset by the letter, viewed them as traitors and ordered them to be beheaded.
He quickly realised that it was all planned by Zhou Yu. Cai Mao's brothers then tried to surrender to Zhou Yu and act as spies for Cao Cao, in order to avenge their brother but when Zhou Yu no longer needed them he had them executed.
Other Media[]
Video Games[]
Cai Mao appears as a playable character and an enemy in the Dynasty Warriors video-game series.
TV Shows[]
Cai Mao is a supporting antagonist in the 2010 TV show adaptation Three Kingdoms, serving as the secondary antagonist of Episodes 30-31 and as a major antagonist in episodes 7, 36-37, 39-40. He was portrayed by Liu Dan. He also appeared as a supporting antagonist in the 1992 anime-series Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi.
Films[]
Cai Mao is a supporting antagonist in the 2008 film Red Cliff portrayed by Yi Zhen.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- Lady Cai
- Zhang Yun
- Liu Cong
- Liu Biao
- Cao Cao
- Yuan Shao
Enemies[]
- Sun Jian
- Sun Ce
- Sun Quan
- Zhou Yu
- Liu Qi
- Liu Bei
- Zhao Yun
- Guan Yu
- Zhang Fei
- Sun Qian
- Zhuge Liang
- Jiang Gan
[]
 Villains
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Wei Empire Wu Empire Shu Empire Jin Empire Other Villains Lu Bu's Army Nanman Tribe Yellow Turbans Yuan Shao's Army Zhong Dynasty Others | ||