In Chinese history, Cao Cao is undoubtedly one of the most controversial historical figures. Some people see him as a ruthless villain, while others believe he is a talented hero. However, how many people know the true side of Cao Cao? In this article, we will unveil the mysterious veil of Cao Cao and present an extraordinary Cao Cao to everyone.
1、 Cao Cao, is he a hero or a villain?
In numerous historical dramas and novels, Cao Cao is often portrayed as a cunning and treacherous villain. However, in history, Cao Cao had a completely different image. He was once known as a monarch who was “generous, open-minded, and cheerful”, and was also a commander with great military talent. So, is Cao Cao a hero or a villain?
Firstly, we cannot deny that Cao Cao did have some ‘extraordinary means’. For example, in the third year of Jian’an (198 AD), Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao. In order to quickly stabilize the regime, he ordered the execution of male members of the Yuan family, which undoubtedly caused strong public outrage.
However, we cannot ignore that Cao Cao adopted many benevolent policies when unifying the north. In that era of war and conflict, he strictly governed the army, prohibited soldiers from plundering the people, and vigorously promoted the system of farming to ensure the livelihood of the people. That’s why his regime was able to stabilize in a short period of time.
2、 Cao Cao, a leader with both civil and military talents
On the battlefield, Cao Cao was undoubtedly a highly talented commander. From the Battle of Guandu to the Battle of Red Cliffs, he repeatedly achieved victories and became one of the most outstanding military strategists during the Three Kingdoms period. However, what many people do not know is that Cao Cao also had extraordinary talents in literature.
He was a famous literati in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, skilled in poetry, songs, and prose, and is known as the founder of “Jian’an Literature”. His poems such as “Observing the Sea” and “Short Song Journey” are still sung by the world today. It can be said that Cao Cao not only demonstrated astonishing intelligence in war, but also left a rich legacy for future generations in the field of literature.
3、 Cao Cao’s Family: A Kind Father, Loyal Husband
When it comes to Cao Cao’s family life, people may think of the various contradictions and disputes described in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms about his family. However, in real life, Cao Cao was a very loving and devoted husband to his children and wife.
According to historical records, Cao Cao treated his family members with great care, and his children received excellent education. The most famous of these was Cao Cao’s eldest son, Cao Ang, who participated in many battles together and ultimately sacrificed himself heroically. Cao Cao held a grand funeral for him and personally wrote a eulogy. These details are sufficient to prove that Cao Cao was a very caring father for his children in family life.
In addition, Cao Cao was also a husband who was loyal to his wife. Cao Cao’s wife, Lady Bian, was always by his side. Despite having many concubines around him, he always respected Lady Bian’s status and their relationship was deep. It is worth mentioning that after the death of Cao Cao, Lady Bian refused the proposal of Emperor Cao Pi to confer the title of Empress Dowager in accordance with Cao Cao’s will, which also reflects the deep affection of Cao Cao’s family.
4、 Cao Cao’s character: sincere in treating people, generous and unpretentious
Although Cao Cao was known for his cunning on the battlefield, he was a very sincere person in his private life. He is able to communicate equally with his subordinate generals, is willing to listen to opinions, and cares about the lives of the soldiers. Therefore, in the military, he has extremely high prestige.
In addition, Cao Cao was also very generous and good at making friends with heroes and heroines. He has established deep friendships with Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others. These friendships have become admirable stories in the long river of history.
In summary, Cao Cao is a controversial historical figure, but in this regard, we cannot ignore his true side. He is a leader with both literary and military talents, demonstrating exceptional intelligence and bravery in war, while leaving a precious legacy in literature. In family life, he is a loving father and loyal husband, caring for his children and respecting his wife. In dealing with people and affairs, he is sincere, generous and unpretentious, willing to make friends with heroes and heroes, and has won the admiration and friendship of many people.
Of course, we cannot ignore some of the radical measures taken by Cao Cao in politics and war, which is also an important reason for his controversial image. However, history is diverse, and when evaluating Cao Cao as a historical figure, we need to examine him from multiple perspectives to avoid completely denying his life due to local phenomena.
In this era full of war and turmoil, Cao Cao, with his wisdom and courage, stabilized the situation in the north and brought a certain degree of peace to the people of the Central Plains. Although he ultimately failed to accomplish the great cause of unification, we should still give him the respect and recognition he deserves. r a villain