(Splendid Beach original works, reproduction is strictly prohibited)
Sima Yi's success in launching the Gaopingling Incident was due to three main reasons. The first is Sima Yi's far-sightedness, the second is Cao Shuang's incompetence, and the third is the support of some of Cao Wei's elders for Sima Yi. Today, I want to introduce one of these Cao Wei elders.
His name is Gao Rou.
Gao Rou (高柔), courtesy name Wenhui (文惠), was a member of the Yanzhou Chenliu County( Yanzhou) clan. In the last years of the Later Han Dynasty, the world was in chaos. Gao Rou's father, Gao Jing, went to Shu County to take up a post, leaving only the young Gao Rou with his relatives in ChenLiu.
At that time, the situation in Yanzhou, to which Chen Liu belonged, was complicated. Cao Cao was supported by Chen Liutai to enter Yanzhou with the support of Zhang Mi and others, and soon defeated the Yellow Turban Army in Yanzhou, making the situation in Yanzhou initially stable. However, Gao Rou, who was only 20 years old, advised his clan and villagers to leave Yanzhou as soon as possible.
Gao Rou believed that although Cao Cao and Zhang Mi were bound to clash with Zhang Mi at present, Chen Liu would definitely become a battlefield. However, some relatives and friends felt that Gao Rou was young and did not take his words seriously. In desperation, Gao Rou could only lead his people to leave Chen Liu and defect to Gao Gan, a close relative who served under Yuan Shao.
Within a few years, Gao Rou's prediction came true. The contradictions between Zhang Mi and Cao Cao became increasingly acute, and finally they turned against each other, and there was an armed conflict that lasted for more than a year, and Chen Liu also became a battlefield as Gao Rou expected. However, in the end, Gao Rou was still unable to avoid Cao Cao. After the Battle of Guandu, he surrendered to Cao Cao along with Gao Gan, thus beginning his career in the Cao Wei Empire for nearly 60 years.
Gao Rou had just arrived at Cao Ying, and although he performed well, he was not greeted by Cao Cao's approval, but by Cao Cao's murderous heart, and he almost slaughtered Gao Rou. Here's how it happened.
In the tenth year of Emperor Jian'an (205 AD), Gao Gan rebelled against Cao Cao in Hezhou, and although Gao Rou did not participate, Cao Cao became suspicious and suspicious of Gao Rou due to his relationship with Gao Gan. I want to find a stubble to kill Gao Rou.
However, his men did not find any excuses, so Cao Cao personally went out on horseback and traveled late at night to find Gao Rou. As a result, I saw Gao Rou wearing a single coat and falling asleep on her knees and holding the paperwork. Cao Cao was very touched, and put the fur on his body on Gao Rou's body before leaving. Doubts naturally dissipate.
During the Cao Cao period, Gao Rou successively served as the county magistrate of Suga County, the assassin Ling Shi, the Cao Genus of Xiang Cang, the Shang Shu Lang, the Cheng Xiang Li Cao Tuan, the Yingchuan Taishou, and the Fa Cao Tuan, showing his good official qualities. During the reign of Emperor Cao Pi of Wei, he again held the post of court lieutenant and was in charge of punishment. During the reign of Emperor Cao Rui of Wei, he also served as Taichang and Situ, and could be said to be an important vassal of the Cao Wei Empire.
However, with the intensification of the contradictions between Sima Yi and Cao Shuang during Cao Fang's period, the Cao Wei Empire faced a great change. Gao Rou once again exerted his accurate judgment ability when he was weak, once again chose the victorious side, and played an important role in this struggle, being likened by Sima Yi to Zhou Bo in the early Han Dynasty. As a result, Gao Rou was also enfeoffed as the Marquis of Banzai Township, and later as the Marquis of Anguo and Taiwei, and finally died at the age of ninety.