Background and service under Qian Liu

Cao Hongda was born in 882, during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang. His father Cao Gui (曹圭) was a general under Qian Liu, who would eventually control the region (modern Zhejiang) that became the territory of Wuyue. Cao Hongda was born at Linping (臨平, in modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang). After he grew older, Cao Gui wanted to train him physically, so Cao Gui had him eat with servants and not be given warm clothing even when it was in the winter. Cao Gui also had him lift bricks daily.

After Cao Hongda grew yet older, he became a guard at the headquarters for one of the circuits Qian controlled, Zhendong Circuit (鎮東, headquartered in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang). At that time, his father Cao Gui served as the prefect of Su Prefecture (蘇州, in modern Suzhou, Jiangsu), and wanted to enter into a marital alliance with a fellow general under Qian, Chen Xun (陳詢) the prefect of Mu Prefecture (睦州, in modern Hangzhou) — by having Cao Hongda marry one of Chen's daughters. He thus sent Cao Hongda on a mission to Mu, intending to have him marry Chen's daughter there. However, a fortuneteller informed Cao Hongda and/or Cao Gui, "The Chens are not appropriate for your marital relationship. You should marry with another family to bring glory and honor on you." When he went through the Qiantang (錢塘, in modern Hangzhou), the capital of Qian's main circuit, Zhenhai Circuit (鎮海), Qian was impressed by Cao Hongda's appearance, and therefore gave him a younger sister in marriage. Cao Hongda thereafter successively served as the prefect of Tai Prefecture (台州, in modern Taizhou, Zhejiang), then of Chu Prefecture (處州, in modern Lishui, Zhejiang).

Service under Qian Yuanguan

Qian Liu, who then carried the title of King of Wuyue, died in 932, and was succeeded by his son Qian Yuanguan. Qian Yuanguan, who did not take the title of king but only that of military governor (Jiedushi) of Zhenhai and Zhendong initially (as a vassal to Later Tang), put Cao Hongda in charge of the affairs of the state — effectively, to be chancellor, although not with that title as Qian Yuanguan was not claiming, at that point, statehood. When Qian Yuanguan claimed the title of king in 937 (then as a vassal of Later Tang's successor state Later Jin), he commissioned Cao, along with Shen Song and Pi Guangye, chancellors. (It was probably at this time that he changed his name to Cao Zhongda, as the name change was said to be to observe naming taboo for Qian Yuanguan's heir apparent Qian Hongzun, and it was at the time that Qian Yuanguan claimed the king title that he made Qian Hongzun his heir apparent.) He was said to be kind and honest, often donating food to the needy (implicitly, referring probably to Buddhist monks). Qian Yuanguan honored him greatly and referred to him only as "the Chancellor" rather than by name.

Service under Qian Hongzuo

Qian Yuanguan died in 941 and was succeeded as king by his son (Qian Hongzun's younger brother) Qian Hongzuo — as Qian Hongzun had died earlier. During Qian Hongzuo's mourning period, Cao Zhongda served as regent. When there was subsequently a disturbance among the army ranks where the soldiers claimed that there was unfairness in the rewards given to them, Cao personally met the soldiers to comfort them. He died in 943.

Notes and references

• Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 86.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 277, 281, 282.

背景和效力錢鏐

父曹圭，是後來建立吳越國的錢鏐的部將。唐僖宗中和二年（882年），曹弘達生于臨平。其母分娩時，室內有紫光，家人都以為異。長大後，曹圭想鍛煉他的身體，讓他和僕人們吃同樣的飯，即使嚴冬也不給他足夠保暖的衣物。曹圭還每天命他搬磚，以磨鍊筋骨。

不久，曹弘達在錢鏐治下的鎮東軍為押牙。時曹圭為蘇州刺史，請求與睦州刺史陳詢結親，由曹弘達娶陳詢的女兒。于是他派曹弘達去睦州，想讓他在睦州親自迎親成婚。但有占卜者說：「陳氏不是合適的結親對象，應該和其他家族結親以致榮顯。」曹弘達行經錢鏐主要領地鎮海軍軍部錢塘，錢鏐奇其貌，把二妹嫁給了他。歷任台州、處州刺史。

效力錢元瓘

寶正七年（932年）三月，時為吳越國王的錢鏐去世。子錢元瓘繼位。錢元瓘起初不稱國王，僅作為後唐封臣稱鎮海軍、鎮東軍節度使。他命曹弘達權知政事，為實際上的宰相，僅因錢元瓘未稱王而沒有宰相名義。天福二年（937年）四月，時為取代後唐的後晉封臣的錢元瓘稱國王，任曹弘達、沈崧、皮光業為丞相。同時他立錢弘僔為世子，曹弘達大約此時為避諱改名曹仲達。曹仲達性仁厚，喜歡布施食物。錢元瓘很器重他，經常呼為丞相而不呼其名。

效力錢弘佐

天福六年（941年）九月，錢元瓘去世，因錢弘僔已先卒，由錢弘僔的弟弟錢弘佐繼位。錢弘佐居喪期間，曹仲達攝行軍府事。當時軍隊大受賞賜，因認為賞賜不均而譁然拒絕受賜，諸將不能制止。曹仲達親自出去告諭，言辭流暢，士兵放下武器作罷。八年（943年），曹仲達去世，謚安成。

注釋及參考文獻