The original text, Cao Man Wang Mang 曹瞞王莽, are two very powerful ministers in ancient China. Cao Man 曹瞞 (155-220), also more commonly referred to as Cao Cao 曹操 (with Man being his childhood name), was the prime minister and ruler de facto in the late Eastern Han dynasty. Aman 阿瞞 was his nickname, so Cao Cao is also referred to as Cao Man. His strategy of “ Controlling the emperor to command the nobles in his name” 挟天子以令诸侯 was famous. Though Cao Cao swore allegiance to Emperor Xian of Han 漢獻帝, the last emperor of Eastern Han dynasty, throughout his life, his son forced Emperor Xian of Han to abdicate the throne and established the regime of Wei 魏 after Cao’s death.
Wang Mang 王莽 (45 BC-23) was appointed as the Minister of War by his aunt Regent Emperess Dowager Wang Zhengjun 王政君 during the reign of Emperor Ping of Han 漢平帝. Shortly after the death of Emperor Ping of Han, Liu Ying 劉嬰, who was still an infant, was chosen by Wang Mang to be the crown prince for easier controlling. And Wang Zhengjun, who was promoted as Grand Emperess Dowager 太皇太后 [the title for the grandmother or foster grandmother of the emperor], appointed Wang Mang as “Jia Huangdi” 假皇帝 [the Acting Emperor]. He overthrew the Han regime and established the short-lived Xin dynasty 新朝 very soon, before Liu Ying could succeed the throne.
