Wu Zhi was born in a poor family in
Jiyin Commandery (), which is around present-day
Dingtao County,
Shandong. He became a close aide of
Cao Pi, the eldest surviving son of the warlord
Cao Cao, who controlled the Han central government and the figurehead
Emperor Xian in the late
Eastern Han dynasty. During this time, he served as the Chief () of Zhaoge County () and Prefect () of Yuancheng County (). Wu Zhi helped Cao Pi in his rivalry against his brother, Cao Zhi, for the right to succeed their father. In 214, Cao Cao was departing on campaign, and Cao Zhi made a splendid speech, full of praise for his father’s achievements and virtues. Everyone admired him, and Cao Pi felt quite at a loss, but his friend Wu Zhi whispered, “As the king is about to leave, weep,” Cao Pi followed his advice, shedding tears as he bowed in farewell, and all in attendance wept in sympathy. Some now felt that though Cao Zhi was a fine orator, he lacked true feeling. In 215, after Wu Zhi had taken up a post in Henei, Cao Pi turned to him again for support and advice, and Wu Zhi returned to see him at Ye city, hidden in a basket in a cart. This was quite against regulations, and Yang Xiu found out and reported the offence to Cao Cao. Though Cao Cao did not investigate immediately, Cao Pi was seriously worried. Wu Zhi reassured him, however, and on the follow- ing day he had another load sent in, this time with a basket of silk. The guards inspected it but found nothing untoward, so Cao Pi was cleared and Cao Cao began to have doubts about Yang Xiu. In 220, following Cao Cao's death, Cao Pi usurped the throne from Emperor Xian, ended the Eastern Han dynasty and established the state of
Cao Wei with himself as the emperor. Cao Pi then appointed Wu Zhi as North General of the Household () and granted him imperial authority to supervise military affairs in
You and
Bing provinces. Later, Wu Zhi was promoted to General Who Inspires Might () and put in charge of overseeing military affairs in the
Hebei region. In 230, during the reign of Cao Pi's successor
Cao Rui, Wu Zhi was reassigned to be a Palace Attendant (). He died in the summer of that year. After his death, some officials suggested to Cao Rui to give him a negative-sounding
posthumous title, "Marquis Chou" (醜侯; "ugly marquis"), because Wu Zhi used his close friendship with Cao Pi to gain power and status. Although Cao Rui initially agreed, he later changed Wu Zhi's posthumous title to "Marquis Wei" () after Wu Zhi's son, Wu Ying (), convinced him that the posthumous title did not befit his father. ==Anecdotes==