As King of Wei
Cao Cao died in the spring of 220, while he was at Luoyang. Even though Cao Pi had been crown prince for several years, there was initially some confusion as to what would happen next. The apprehension was particularly heightened when, after Cao Cao's death, the Qing Province (青州, modern central and eastern Shandong) troops under the powerful general, Zang Ba, suddenly deserted, leaving Luoyang and returning home. Further, the well-known military general Cao Zhang arrived in Luoyang in a hurry, creating the apprehension that he was intending to seize power from his brother. Upon hearing this news at Cao Cao's headquarters at Yecheng, Cao Pi hastily declared himself the new Prince of Wei and issuing an edict in the name of his mother, Princess Bian, before receiving an official confirmation from Emperor Xian of Han, of whom he was still technically a subject. After Cao Pi's self-declaration, neither Cao Zhang nor any other individual took action against him. He then ordered his brothers, including Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi, back to their fiefs. With the help of Jiang Ji, the political situation soon stabilized.
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