Chapter 2 Preface True Temperament, True Cao Cao

Say Cao Cao is a good person, some people will not agree, because they think Cao Cao is not that good; say Cao Cao is a bad person, most people will not agree, because they think Cao Cao is not that bad. Some people say he is a hero, some say he is a traitor; some say he is capable, some say he is a traitor; some say he is the most authentic and straightforward person, some say he is the most hypocritical and cunning person... … But no one objected. In the era of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao was the most important person. So, I opened my posture and prepared to write about Cao Cao. Netizens gave solemn advice after hearing the news: don't write Cao Cao too well, don't write Cao Cao too badly, don't defend Cao Cao, don't hide Cao Cao's crimes...

Netizens have already prepared a bunch of bricks, ready to smash them down when I don't listen to my advice. In my opinion, Cao Cao has many reputations and reputations, which not only shows that he is an extremely complicated person, but also shows that he is a person with great personality and charm. Cao Cao has become a cultural symbol, a symbol of some kind of collective consciousness.Everyone is talking about Cao Cao, commenting on Cao Cao, and often commenting on him out of the truth.Under the confusing and contradictory arguments, many far-reaching conclusions were drawn. Those who say Cao Cao is good may not know what is good about him, and those who say Cao Cao is bad may not know how bad he is.

Only by restoring the truth of history can a vivid Cao Cao be presented.During this process, those major historical events are certainly attractive, but after all, they are fleeting, and only some details and vivid fragments around Cao Cao remain in the depths of people's memory... After winning a major battle, Cao Cao was very excited. He blew and sang on the horse, patted the saddle for a while, touched the horse's head for a while, and waving his hands while singing, completely ignoring the image of the leader. Another time, in front of the murderous two armies, Cao Cao casually chatted with the opposing commander, clapping hands and laughing from time to time.The soldiers in the enemy camp had heard Cao Cao's name for a long time, and they crowded forward to see what he looked like, so Cao Cao urged his horse to walk forward again, so that everyone could take a closer look.He smiled and said, "Everyone see clearly? I don't have four eyes and two mouths!"

The free and easy Cao Cao reflected in these clips may be the real Cao Cao.Before he died, Cao Cao issued a will. In this important and highly anticipated document, Cao Cao first started with "I felt uncomfortable in the middle of the night, and I started sweating when I drank porridge in the morning, and I drank a bowl of angelica soup".Regarding the important funeral arrangement, he said very simply, he only said where he would be buried, and asked the heads of all units and departments not to leave their posts without authorization after his death, and said a few words.What he explained in more pen and ink was other things:

This is the allusion of "distributing incense and selling shoes".Some people say that Cao Cao was hypocritical all his life, and he remained until his death; However, if you carefully read this last order and the "Zi Ming Ben Zhi Ling" written by him before, it is not difficult to find that these may be his innermost thoughts, the expression of his true inner thoughts.Su Dongpo has always regarded Cao Cao as a traitor, but even he said that Cao Cao "is a traitor all his life, and the truth will be seen when he dies." Cao Cao just said a few words of his heart like an ordinary person before his death, but he was suspected by the world. This is the sorrow of Cao Cao and the sorrow of future generations.

What kind of person is Cao Cao?No one can sum it up in one word, which may be the reason why Cao Cao has enduring charm.When I approached him step by step through historical records, I found more and more that he was a real person, a free and easy person, a person who dared to reveal his true feelings, and also a lovely person. Let us approach him, know him, understand him, and restore the real him. South Gate Prefect September 2009 in Beijing