While serving as chancellor, Cao Shen sought the help of Confucian scholars in governing Qi but was not impressed by their ideas.
After discussing with a scholar called Gai Gong, Cao Shen was influenced by the Huang-Lao (黃老) school of thought, which used a mix of persuasion and coercion.
Cao Shen followed Gai Gong's advice to implement policies to restore social stability and frequently consulted Gai Gong on how to govern Qi.

In 196 BC, he commanded the Qi forces that assisted the emperor in suppressing Chen Xi's rebellion in Dai (present-day northern Shanxi and northwestern Hebei).

In 193 BC, the chancellor Xiao He died and was succeeded by Cao Shen.
Cao Shen spent his time drinking and feasting, and maintained well Xiao He's system of governance but did not implement any new changes.
When Emperor Hui asked him why he did not change the system, Cao Shen replied that he was not as good as Xiao He and did not want to make changes for fear of negatively affecting the system left behind by Xiao.
This became the origin of a Chinese idiom, Xiao Gui Cao Sui (萧规曹随; lit. "
Cao following Xiao's rules"), which is used to describe the continuation of the work of one's predecessor.
While serving as chancellor, Cao Shen sought the help of Confucian scholars in governing Qi but was not impressed by their ideas. After discussing with a scholar called Gai Gong, Cao Shen was influenced by the Huang-Lao (黃老) school of thought, which used a mix of persuasion and coercion. Cao Shen followed Gai Gong's advice to implement policies to restore social stability and frequently consulted Gai Gong on how to govern Qi.
In 196 BC, he commanded the Qi forces that assisted the emperor in suppressing Chen Xi's rebellion in Dai (present-day northern Shanxi and northwestern Hebei).
In 193 BC, the chancellor Xiao He died and was succeeded by Cao Shen. Cao Shen spent his time drinking and feasting, and maintained well Xiao He's system of governance but did not implement any new changes. When Emperor Hui asked him why he did not change the system, Cao Shen replied that he was not as good as Xiao He and did not want to make changes for fear of negatively affecting the system left behind by Xiao. This became the origin of a Chinese idiom, Xiao Gui Cao Sui (萧规曹随; lit. "Cao following Xiao's rules"), which is used to describe the continuation of the work of one's predecessor.
Cao Shen