Since a novel is a kind of creation, it must go beyond my past, no matter in terms of subject matter or writing style.Without this, I definitely lack the enthusiasm to write. I like to write about politics, about big scenes, and I often write about high-level people. This has been shown in my past works, but it is often not vivid and hearty, and I am subject to various restrictions. Everyone understands the reasons.But it is much better to write about historical figures, such as Cao Cao. In the book, I freely wrote about his political and military wisdom, various strategies, and at the same time wrote a lot of space about his love with Bai Shao.Such a way of writing is obviously impossible for contemporary high-level figures.

Cao Cao and his story excited me, the challenge involved in writing this novel, and the literary experiment I might embark on.Its dense plot, ups and downs rhythm, vast scenes, political and military struggles, complex human nature, as well as vast traditional culture, ancient love and sex, including the story structure intertwined by many characters and multiple clues, make a story. The complexity of the layout is a challenge. I remember a netizen left a message after reading the novel, expecting me to write Zhuge Liang again.Zhuge Liang is also a character I like very much.But I think writing about Cao Cao can better demonstrate my ability to express politics, military affairs, and characters.This work is about war, court, strategy, and powerful characters like Cao Cao, all of which can better show my strengths.

Whether I want to reverse the case for Cao Cao is a question that many readers have asked.Cao Cao is a well-known historical figure. In the drama, he is a traitor with a white face, but that is not the real Cao Cao.The Cao Cao in the book is the Cao Cao I understand and create, and there will be a certain distance from the real Cao Cao.I am not writing history, my mission is to write novels, I have no motive to reverse the verdict, I just write Cao Cao in my mind. As early as more than ten years ago, I had the idea of ​​writing Cao Cao. One of the reasons why I have not started to write is that the whole concept is not comprehensive.A person like Cao Cao must have his emotional world. You can see how emotional his poem "Qingqing Zijin, caresses my heart. But for the sake of the king, I have pondered it so far".Of course, love cannot be absent in his story.

Bai Shao, who was adhering to the mission of killing Cao Cao, saw a completely different Cao Cao. She admired this Cao Cao from the bottom of her heart no matter how she handled state affairs or treated people.In all kinds of entanglements, the two explored, understood each other, and finally got to know each other deeply.With such an idea, the story is complete and I can start writing.What I'm writing about in this book is a different kind of love, the love of a mature, powerful man. Cao Cao, Han Xiandi and Bai Shao are a metaphorical triangle relationship.Bai Shao rejected the emperor's call and chose Cao Mansion.And because Bai Shao is the granddaughter of Zheng Kangcheng who resolutely opposed Cao, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty had always had illusions about her "killing Cao" besides envious of her "beauty".Cao Cao and Han Xiandi's "competition" for Baishao is not only a political competition, but also a sexual competition.

I am relieved that in the feedback from the readers, they are very impressed with the description of love in the book.A reader said that although the word "love" is not used in the whole book, from Cao Cao's unique appreciation of Bai Shao, we can see Cao Cao's other side of being a big man at a deeper level-the appearance is strong but the inner tenderness, longing for women understand and appreciate.This is probably also the commonality of many outstanding men. Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty and Empress Fu shared common political interests, but they also had conflicts. For example, Empress Fu ordered Concubine Dong to poison Fu Rongmei, and Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was furious. The powerful ones became the head of the country and the uncle of the country because of their power, and they both became queens and concubines. "Your Majesty has to let us live. If we can't survive, we won't play this life-threatening business with Your Majesty."

Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty and Cao Cao were able to work together for more than 20 years. First of all, they must need each other and at the same time restrict each other.In working together, the two advance and retreat, compete with each other, and compromise with each other.Of course, it may also be related to their respective personalities, strategies, and tolerance.This is a very tense relationship, and as long as one party cannot tolerate the other, the balance will collapse in an instant.As a novel, my description of the unique balance of these two people may be richer than the historical truth.

Dong Chengfeng's imperial edict to punish Cao is the original story of "Three Kingdoms", and I rewrote it entirely.The imperial doctor Ji Ping I described was a man of noble character and superb medical skills. In order to lure him into the group, Dong Cheng and others set up the "Mother Zeng's plan to throw a pole over the wall".Ji Ping originally had a deep impression of Cao Cao's administration, but was repeatedly "brainwashed" by Dong Cheng and others, and finally made up his mind to punish Cao.I never want to superficially use the past to satirize the present when I write, but there are indeed too many such "brainwashing" at the moment.

I wrote many big scenes in the book, such as the Xuzhou class teacher celebration, many court battles, field hunting competitions, Cao Mansion Hongmen Banquet and so on.Cao Cao fought on the battlefield and fought in the court.When writing about Cao Cao, the big scene is not only unavoidable, but it is a major feature of this subject.I chose this subject matter, and to put it mildly, after the completion of the book, I believe that I did not make a mistake in my choice in terms of this point alone. I started writing in 1980, influenced by the literary trend at that time, and tried various methods.To describe my writing this time, I think the four words "back to basics" are the most appropriate: to write good-looking stories, to write vivid characters, and to write a strong cultural atmosphere.Both mine and "The Year of the Dragon Files" have been adapted into TV series, and the ratings are not bad.A friend suggested that I adapt it, and I might try it.

The relationship between Cao Cao and Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, on the surface, seems to be the relationship between a weak top leader and a strong second leader, an orthodox emperor and a minister with real power.So, why did Han Xiandi repeatedly try to kill Cao and even write a blood edict but failed; while Cao Cao knew everything and still supported Han Xiandi?There are many factors of power and politics here.I have written about the rich and complex relationship between these two men in the political landscape, and some places may surprise readers. Power is the concentration point of various social interests and the first goal of competition for various forces.The struggle for power can fully demonstrate human nature and society, which is one of the reasons why I write about officialdom.I have done a lot of research on traditional culture, which is the legacy left to us by our ancestors.The current craze for traditional culture is inevitable. When a society develops rapidly, different people will stop from time to time, look back at history, and get what they need from it.