Cao Jiao was a declining nobleman, and when the State of Qi sent troops to attack the State of Lu, he resolutely stepped forward to offer advice to the Duke of Luzhuang.
Cao Jie's compatriots asked him what he was doing, and Cao Jie said that he would like to see the monarch Lu Zhuanggong resisting the army of the State of Qi. Fellow villagers said that these military and national affairs are considered by meat-eaters, what are you doing with that idleness? Cao Jiao said very reasonably that the guys who ate meat were short-sighted and could not think deeply from the long term. So Duke Lu Zhuang received Cao Jiao.
When Cao Jie met with Duke Lu Zhuang, he asked a very powerful question--why fight? Why fight a war? This is a critical issue. To this day, no matter whether any country is fighting a war, we must first ask ourselves why we are fighting? Whether it depends on strong economic strength, or on a strong army, or on the determination to fight from top to bottom, and so on.
This has left an eternal topic in the history of war throughout the ages, what does war rely on? Lu Zhuanggong replied very easily, good food, good food and good clothes I dare not enjoy alone, must be distributed to the people around me to enjoy together. Cao Jie said that this kind of small favor cannot be spread to the people is useless.
Lu Zhuanggong then replied that the tributes of sacrifices were truthfully reported to the gods, and they did not dare to exaggerate. Cao Jie said that such a small honest person would also not be protected by the gods. Lu Zhuanggong also said that although cases large and small cannot be fully investigated, they must be a reasonable ruling.
Cao Jie said that this is a practice of being responsible to the people and can win the trust of the people to fight this battle. I ask to go with you. So Cao Jie went out with Duke Lu Zhuang.
The Lu army defeated the attacking Qi army in one fell swoop, and the Qi army collapsed. When Duke Lu Zhuang was preparing to give the order to pursue, Cao Jie hurriedly stopped it, then climbed onto the horizontal wood in front of the chariot to look at the retreating Qi army, and then got out of the car to carefully observe the wheel prints of the Qi army. Then said it was time to chase.
The Lu army pursued the Qi army and won a great victory. After Lu Zhuang returned, he asked Cao Jiao why he did not pursue immediately when the Qi army collapsed? Cao Jie said that the State of Qi was a big country and unpredictable, and I was worried that their retreat was a plan to lure the enemy deeper, so I ascended to the heights and overlooked the army of the State of Qi, and then got out of the car to check the wheel prints of the Army of the State of Qi.
I found that the banner of the Qi army had fallen, and the wheel prints were staggered and messy, indicating that it was really defeated, not a conspiracy. That's why I asked you to order a chase.
This incident shows that Cao Jie's military ability is very good, and he can analyze the overall situation of the country before the war and find the moral basis that supports the war -- to win the trust of the people, not to win the trust of God or to win the trust of relatives.
In the war, Cao Jie pointed out that the war should be a drumbeat and cannot be delayed, otherwise it will be difficult to win if the sharpness is lost. After the initial victory, Cao Jie did not get carried away, but carefully observed the enemy situation, and finally made the decision to pursue.
All this shows that Cao Jiao is indeed far-sighted, not only can take into account the moral basis of the country to carry out war, but also accurately grasp the best time to win the battle, but also take into account the enemy's possible strategy of enticing the enemy.
However, Cao Jie was a person whose birth and death date was not accurately recorded, and regarding his origins, there were rumors that Cao Jie was a descendant of Cao Shu Zhenduo, the sixth son of King Jichang of Zhouwen, although it was uncertain whether it was or not, Cao Jie was certainly not an ordinary commoner.
It is believed that after this battle, Cao Jie will be reused by the Duchy of Luzhuang. During the Spring and Autumn period of the warlords' wars, Cao Jie's outstanding military talent could make him shine. The "Zuo Biography" does not explain the final ending of Cao Jiao, but it is recorded that Cao Jie was with The Duke of Luzhuang for thirteen years, and the ending should not be bad.