Chapter 30 Chapter two
Cao Cao left three mysteries in total after his death: one is the mystery of life experience, the other is the mystery of evaluation, and the third is the mystery of tombs.
Cao Cao's grandfather Cao Teng was a eunuch.Eunuch is a unique deformed "product" of ancient Chinese feudal society. After a normal man was castrated, he served the emperor and his family members in the court, and was given a certain official position. "It's called eunuch, also known as eunuch.Eunuchs have no sexual life and fertility, so where will they have any offspring?Perhaps in order to allow these "domestic slaves" to better drive and "serve" the royal family, the Eastern Han Dynasty stipulated that eunuchs could marry concubines and adopted sons, and adopted sons and parents were treated equally, and enjoyed the right to inherit the title.Of course, the married concubine could not have a normal "husband and wife relationship", and could only be regarded as the deaf ear - a decoration; and the adopted son had no blood relationship, and could only be in name.The eunuchs obtained a kind of illusory emotional comfort and psychological satisfaction in this so-called "family" and "family affection".
Cao Teng entered the palace as an eunuch in his early years and served five emperors in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was a "veteran" eunuch with considerable qualifications.Although Cao Teng was an eunuch, he was powerful and powerful, and he was able to adopt him as an adopted son. This must be a great blessing for many children from poor families or families with little "background".Therefore, after Cao Song, Cao Cao's father, was adopted as an adopted son by Cao Teng, he immediately "became worth a hundred times as soon as he ascended the dragon's gate".After Cao Teng died, he inherited Fei Tinghou according to the law.
In the Eastern Han Dynasty, the eunuchs exercised power and arrogated themselves, causing great public resentment; and because of their shameful physical defects, they were often despised by people.Cao Cao was born in such a special family. Although he has received many benefits, his life experience is not so glorious, especially compared with Liu Biao, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu's prominent royal, aristocratic, and famous families, it pales in comparison. .
If we use the tradition of "climbing the dragon and attaching the phoenix" of the Chinese people to test the distant ancestors of Cao Cao, there are also three theories: the descendants of the Yellow Emperor, the descendants of Ji, and the descendants of Yu Shun.However, no matter how high it is raised, it is not the real ancestor of Cao Cao who has a blood relationship, but the distant ancestor of his "Great Lord" Cao Teng.Now that he is Cao Teng's adopted son, his father naturally has to change his old name and even abandon his original surname.As a result, Cao Cao's true distant ancestor has no way to test; even if he can figure out why, it may be difficult to enter the annals of history in an open manner.Therefore, regarding Cao Cao's life experience, there is a saying that "it is impossible to judge the whole story of his birth".As a result, as soon as Cao Cao got out of his mother's stomach, he was blamed for his unknown life experience. In an ancient country that pays attention to ancestor worship, it may be regarded as a crime of "big treason".This "black pot" hangs heavily over Cao Cao's head. Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu once called him "a superfluous eunuch and ugly ugly" in his article against Cao Cao. His embarrassing background has cast a thick layer deep in his heart The shadow of his life has also prompted him to make efforts to break the "black pot" all his life, in order to show his grand plans and feel proud.Therefore, he sometimes had to show off his ambitions in order to win the support of the family group, and use all means to achieve the goal of becoming one of them. The relationship between "name" and "realness" has tortured him for almost his whole life, and he finally failed to completely break through the entanglement between the two, so he could only go back to the west as a "quasi-emperor" similar to King Wen of Zhou.
The formation of Cao Cao's character should be said to be closely related to this unclear life experience and special family environment.In a poem called "Good Deeds" (Part 2), he recalled his childhood life education and other situations:
Cao Cao was born in a family of eunuchs who could be called rich and powerful, but in his poems he believed that he had a humble background. It can be seen that he has a "deep hatred" for his own life experience. The criticism and contempt for the eunuch group are very consistent. It is the best proof that he later betrayed his family and went to the opposite side of the eunuch group.In the poem, he lamented that he had neither been cared by a loving mother nor reprimanded by a strict father since he was a child.Therefore, he received little traditional Confucian education, and correspondingly he was not bound by the tedious and boring ritual concepts of Confucianism. His subsequent free and easy behavior and eclecticism were all related to his early education.
He enjoys the benefits of a family of officials but is dissatisfied with his background. He always thinks that one day he will be able to gain fame and rise to the top in order to change his inherent humble and humiliating social status.Lofty ambitions, a free family environment, and a relaxed educational content cultivated Cao Cao's childhood personality, which was accompanied by tenacity, intelligence, resourcefulness, strategy, and fighting against inequality. Cunning, these complex character traits almost determine and affect his entire life.
In the eyes of ordinary people, Cao Cao's personality defects such as causing trouble in his early years, not studying hard, and not paying attention to personal moral cultivation, are at most just the mischievous performance of a child who has little future.However, his extraordinary talents are valued by many famous people. Some think that he will become a great weapon in the future, and some say that he is a talent who can stabilize the world and help the world. The most famous evaluation It came from the mouth of Xu Shao, an authority in the Qing Dynasty, that he was "a capable minister in governing the world, and a traitor in troubled times." Cao Cao didn't take it to heart when he heard this, but felt very happy, and he couldn't help laughing.What he never thought of was that this comment not only covered his whole life, but also almost became his final conclusion.
Cao Cao's talent is indeed very outstanding. His keen observation, quick-wittedness, adaptability, ability and courage are beyond the reach of ordinary people. This potential huge wealth later became an inexhaustible source for him to govern the country in Anbang; He does not want to specialize in Confucianism and be a Confucian scholar with a poor head and poor classics, but he is very fond of books on various schools of thought, especially books on the art of war. The earliest, the best, and the most distinctive, of great value; his all-encompassing and above-all expansiveness, and his uninhibited, free-spirited, almost-handy adeptness, captivated and united him in later years. A large number of capable civil and military ministers also enabled him to rise up and stand upright again after he stumbled and fell, and after a burst of laughter, he returned to his previous chic and easygoing...
When Cao Cao was 20 years old, he was elected as Xiaolian by the village, and was soon appointed as Lang by the court.From then on, he embarked on a career as an official and a politician.As long as he restrains his past deeds a little bit, with his ingenuity and tenacity, he will surely have a prosperous career.The fact is exactly the same. When he was recommended as Luoyang North Captain and took office, the first thing he did was to hang more than a dozen five-color sticks on the left and right sides of the gate of the official office, affirming that anyone who violates the law and order, no matter the common people They are still powerful and powerful, and they will all be killed.The northern lieutenant has a small official position and is mainly responsible for managing public security in the northern area of Luoyang.However, Luoyang is at the foot of the "Son of Heaven", and there are so many powerful people, it is really difficult to govern, and mistakes will occur if you are not careful.A few months later, the uncle of the eunuch Jian Shuo, who was favored by the emperor, took advantage of the power to violate the prohibition of night travel. Cao Cao defied the powerful and strictly enforced the law, and beat him to death with a bludgeon.His severe measures of "surgery" against the eunuch's relatives had the effect of killing everyone.Cao Cao's move is undoubtedly a "political declaration". At the first stop of his official career, he dared to break with the eunuch group that had been favored by him, and won a reputation for integrity and courage among literati and bureaucrats and the public.Later, he conspired to kill the eunuchs, and completely went against the opposite side of betraying the eunuch group, somewhat washing away the "stain" of his unclear background.
Later, Cao Cao was promoted to Dunqiu Ling and Yilang of the imperial court.Cao Cao might have been promoted if there hadn't been a decadent and corrupt government at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the large-scale Yellow Turban peasant uprising that could not bear the resistance.However, no matter how talented he is, in a corrupt officialdom that follows the rules and is lifeless and only measures everything by Confucian standards, Cao Cao will not have much promise, and it is difficult for his extraordinary talents to be fully utilized.That is to say, in terms of his early life education and conduct and morality that are not commendable in the eyes of Confucianism, he would not have been recognized by Qing Yi if it hadn’t been for the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty when Confucian classics were declining and people’s understanding and values tended to be diverse. With the praise of celebrities, he will not be promoted by the village as a filial and honest official.Times make heroes, it is the times that choose and create Cao Cao!
In February of the first year of Zhongping (AD 184), the Yellow Turban Uprising broke out.Cao Cao, who has always been a "leisure job", was reused. He was promoted from Yilang of six hundred stones to captain of cavalry of two thousand stones. military.
"Dealing" with the army was the beginning of Cao Cao's real political career.
Since then, a series of major events on the land of the Central Plains were carried out both urgently and slowly on the premise of force: the Eastern Han Dynasty suppressed the Yellow Turban Uprising, Yuan Shao punished the eunuchs, Dong Zhuo led his troops into Beijing and abolished the establishment without authorization, Cao Cao and Chen Liu raised volunteer soldiers The crusade against Dong Zhuo, the Kwantung generals waited and watched the conflicts intensified, and the separatists killed each other and the wars were raging... In this series of complicated and frequent events, although Cao Cao's will and strategy have been tempered, however, he did not gain much from it. "Oil and water" and benefits.There is no "base area" to stand on, no powerful army, and the power is too weak to compete with the princes from all walks of life.
Therefore, he adopted Bao Xin's suggestion, took the initiative to avoid the edge, moved to the south of the Yellow River to develop his forces, and pointed the spearhead at the Yellow Turban Army.After a fierce and desperate battle, Cao Cao fought a beautiful ambush with his extraordinary resourcefulness, and defeated the Yellow Turban Army in Qingzhou. For the Qingzhou Army".He regards the backbone of Chen Liu who has been following the left and right when he started his army as his trusted family soldiers, and the reorganized Qingzhou soldiers have become a brave and combative elite army under him.At the same time, he also got a vast land and led Yanzhou pasture.With a fixed territory, a powerful army, and a large number of advisers and generals, Cao Cao became a great warlord in the north, occupying the Central Plains with Yuan Shao of Jizhou and Tao Qian of Xuzhou.
If the incorporation of the Qingzhou Army was Cao Cao's first great success in his life and career, it gave Cao Cao the "capital" to compete with the princes from all walks of life; princes".
Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, Liu Xie, has been a puppet in name only since his first day on the throne. He has never been a supreme emperor who held real power, gave orders, and was often manipulated by his subordinates. .Although he is a "trash" of little use, he is the symbol of the country's highest power after all. In a country that pays attention to "if the name is not correct, the words will not go well", he is favored by people in real power, and everyone wants him. Control him, use him, order crusades in his name, regulate and restrain others to do what you want.In this fierce "battle for the emperor", it was Cao Cao, who did not have much reputation, who won in the end.
After Cao Cao occupied Yanzhou, he immediately sent his envoy to Chang'an to serve Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, achieving the effect of killing two birds with one stone. Dedicating the emperor and taking over the government created conditions.Later, he never let go of any opportunity to express his loyalty to the emperor, in order to gain the deep trust of Emperor Xian.Soon, Emperor Xian was extremely dissatisfied with a group of ministers around him who were arbitrarily arbitrarily powerful, so he naturally thought of the "loyal" Cao Cao, and secretly called him to Beijing.Cao Cao, who couldn't wish for it, hurried to Luoyang with his troops to take on the important task of defending the capital and offering the emperor.Emperor Xian bestowed on Cao Cao Jieyue, recorded the affairs of the minister, and served as the captain of Sili, integrating military and political power in one person.After Cao Cao took over the government, in order to truly achieve the goal of "following the emperor without making ministers", he decided to move Emperor Xian to Xu County, his headquarters.He was worried that the relocation would cause criticism and turmoil, so he played a very clever trick. He said that Luoyang had no food, and wanted to temporarily move Emperor Xian to Luyang, which was very close to Xu County and where it was more convenient to transport food.In this way, without arousing too much suspicion and opposition from others, the result was a smooth and smooth transfer of Emperor Xian to Xu County, where he made his capital.
As soon as Emperor Xian arrived in Xudu, Cao Cao received a lot of benefits. In order to maintain orthodoxy, the separatist forces in the Guanzhong area surrendered one after another. He won a large area of territory south of the Yellow River in the name of Emperor Xian without bloodshed.It is indeed Cao Cao's "proud work" to welcome the emperor to Xu County. Of course, many criticisms of him also came from this.From a strategic point of view, he firmly controlled Emperor Xian in his own hands, thus occupying a justifiable and active position. He became the supreme minister under one person and above ten thousand people. He could issue orders and appoint and dismiss the government in the name of Emperor Xian. Officials also used the military to fight the so-called "rebels".From the perspective of Emperor Han Xian, he has been in an embarrassing state of embarrassment and exile. Everyone wants to coerce him to use him, and no matter who falls into the hands of him, he will not really take charge of the government and can only be a puppet. .Since he was "protected" by Cao Cao, he has lived a stable life, avoiding the danger of being deposed and killed.Although Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty did not have strong personal strength, he was after all a symbol of the country's supreme power and orthodox status. positive effects.
In fact, long before Cao Cao attacked, Jushou, Yuan Shao's counselor, suggested that he welcome Emperor Xian to Yecheng to hold the emperor to command the princes, and gather men and horses to fight rebellion.After several twists and turns, Yuan Shao finally did not accept it.Yuan Shao regretted it when Cao Cao reaped great benefits from welcoming Emperor Xian, but he also lost a good opportunity to gain orthodox status forever.This was also a turning point in Yuan Shao's career. Although he was far ahead of Cao Cao in power at this time, he lost the "protection" of the emperor and began to decline.
The third great success in Cao Cao's life and career was the Battle of Guandu, which became famous in history because he won more with less.
Regardless of the number of troops or weapons and equipment, Cao Jun is far inferior to Yuan Jun.However, Cao Cao's soldiers are proficient, and he is good at making strange plans and using strange soldiers, retreating to advance, avoiding the real and attacking the false, rushing to Wuchao, burning the enemy's food, flexible, witty, and decisive, and he has always grasped the initiative in the war, so he won a big victory. .Later, when Cao Cao's opponent Zhuge Liang talked about this war to Liu Bei in "Longzhong Dui", he pointed out sharply: "Compared to Yuan Shao, Cao Cao has a small name and few people, but Cao Cao can overcome Shao. To be strong is not only due to the timing of the heavens, but also to be determined by others."
The Battle of Guandu not only wiped out Yuan Shao's main force, but also shocked the entire north. Counties in Jizhou turned against each other and surrendered to Cao Cao.Taking the Battle of Guandu as a turning point, Cao Cao wiped out all the heroes to unify the north one by one, and established the foundation of Wei State.