Anyone who has read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms knows that there are three absolutes in the book: Guan Yu of Righteousness, Zhuge Liang of Wisdom, and Cao Cao.
For the first two, they are all words of praise, but for Cao Cao, it is scolded to the extreme.
Cao Cao, a legendary figure who has been debated by the world for a thousand years. In him, we see two diametrically opposed evaluations, and we see a perfect blend of sincerity and hypocrisy, loyalty and treachery.
Historically, there have been many people who have praised his exploits.
Historian Chen Shou praised him: "Extraordinary man, supernatural masterpiece." ”
Lu Ji praised him: "Jianyuan is credited to Kyushu, so it is recommended by the world." ”
More voices in history have cursed him than they have been praised. "Miscellaneous Sayings" scolded him as "the adulterous male of the chaotic world", "The New Language of the World" criticized him for "killing people in good dreams", and Tang Taizong Li Shimin was even more dismissive, lightly saying: "This person, the level is limited."
However, no matter what the world thinks of him, one thing is undeniable:
He is indeed a hero, and he is a hero who has lived his true colors.
01
Know how to fight for life, gradually into a better situation
As we all know, Cao Cao's grandfather for three generations was a powerful figure in the imperial court. Therefore, from birth, Cao Cao lived a life of a clumsy disciple with fine clothes and jade food.
However, the origin of the eunuch family also had great drawbacks, and although the Cao family did not lack money and power, it lacked a good reputation. When the disciples of the warrior clan all over the world did not agree, they would point at your nose and scold: "Ru, after the eunuch, there is no virtue left behind." ”
Just as the so-called "gains must be lost", although the family provided Cao Cao with a strong material foundation, the reputation needed Cao Cao to strive for through the personal efforts of the day after tomorrow.
For the sake of fame, Cao Cao changed his playful attitude of flying eagles and lackeys in the past, and began to study seriously, and actively contacted the celebrities of the shi clan, and Taiwei Qiaoxuan was the first celebrity he came into contact with in his life.
Qiao Xuan had long heard that Cao Cao was a prodigal prince who did not do his job, so as soon as they met, he asked in the tone of an elder, "Stinky boy, what do you usually learn at home?" ”
When Cao Cao heard this, he thought in his heart, "It turns out that he was going to take the exam for me, and I have to deal with it well." Thinking of this, Cao Cao responded: "All the sons and hundreds of families have been involved, but they like sun tzu's art of war the most." ”
Qiao Xuan then asked, "The old man who talks about soldiers on paper can see a lot, you can read it, but will it be used?" At that time, Sun Bin could make King Hui of Wei demote to meet him, and if you could make the old man leave the seat, even if you had the ability. ”
Cao Cao frowned, counted his heart, turned around and walked outside the door. Qiao Xuan smiled: "Meng De walks slowly, the old man will not send it!" ”
When Cao Cao walked to the threshold, he suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground. Qiao Xuan was horrified, and quickly got up to help, only to see Cao Cao jump up from the ground, touch his red and swollen forehead, and smile: "Gong Jin left his seat!" ”
Qiao Xuan was stunned, and immediately looked at Cao Cao and laughed.
After this incident, Qiao Xuan saw Cao Cao's potential, and he not only regarded him as a "talent of destiny", but also recommended him to other celebrities.
Since then, Cao Cao, relying on the opportunity he won, successfully entered the celebrity circle of the time, transformed from "after the eunuch" to a "Qingliu celebrity", and began his magnificent legendary life.
Although the starting point of life is predestined by Heaven, the journey of life is in your own hands.
Some people lament that life is not timely, some people lament that heroes are useless, and some people are silent, they are just silently fighting for opportunities, trying to rely on their own efforts, to get the key to open the door to success in life.
Knowing how to fight is like eating sugar cane upside down, although the taste is very poor at the beginning, but it can gradually get better.
02
A life with dreams, although there is no regret
Cao Cao, who turned 20 years old, made his official debut in the C position after having the label of "famous scholar" and embarked on the road to becoming an official.
It is easy to be an official, but it is difficult to be a good official. Cao Cao, who was full of ideals of saving the country and the people, during his tenure, with the thunderous wrist of not being afraid of being strong and acting according to law, supported the stormy edifice and saved this decadent dynasty with "single strength".
When Cao Cao first entered the Gate of the Northern Lieutenant of Luoyang, he asked the craftsmen to make dozens of five-colored sticks (similar to the killing sticks of later generations), and all those who violated the prohibition, regardless of their status, would be treated with "big sticks to serve".
In the eyes of many people, Cao Cao's actions are just a show, and no one thinks that he will really dare to act according to law.
The magnates of Luoyang naturally did not take a small northern lieutenant in their eyes, they still went their own way and committed adultery, until the moment when Cao Cao's big stick smashed down Xiao Huangmen's uncle, the magnates finally realized a terrible fact: it turned out that this boy was playing with real character!
This move of Cao Cao dealt a heavy blow to the arrogance of the eunuch forces, and at the same time won the respect and praise of the world.
Suddenly, when the famous Jingshi mentioned the "eunuch hero Cao Mengde", the people would give a thumbs up and praise: "Good man! ”
Although Cao Cao's momentary arrogance won the hearts and minds of the people, he couldn't help but sweat in hindsight, because what he offended was not a small person, but the entire eunuch group.
Sure enough, it didn't take long for the revenge to come. Under the oppression of the powerful nobles, Cao Cao's career eventually ended with the dismissal of officials.
Although he was hit by evil forces one after another, Cao Cao did not lose his original intention to join the army, and when the country needed him, he still stood up without hesitation and contributed to the elimination of the Yellow Turban and the crusade against Dong Zhuo.
Only those who have dreams in their hearts can move forward with their dreams, and only those who go forward with dreams can see the brilliant rainbow in the sky.
A person can have no power and wealth, but he cannot do without dreams. Dreams are not only a light that guides you forward, but also a warning line that allows you to stick to your principles.
Chase for dreams, succeed, glorify a lifetime; fail, no regrets.
03
Dare to fight for life, unlimited possibilities
To be a man is to spare your life, but you must also dare to play with your life. At the right time, opening up and fighting will often have unexpected effects.
From beginning to end, Cao Cao was a person who dared to fight and fight.
He dared to assassinate Dong Zhuo alone with one knife and one knife;
He dared to take food from the mouth of a tiger and blackmail the princes of the Heavenly Son;
He dared to abandon the grain and grass and go deep into the enemy's nest alone;
He dared to use the weak enemy to fight directly with Yuan Shao!
Yuan Shao was the largest warlord in the north at that time and Cao Cao's number one enemy.
He has a superior family background: "four generations and three dukes", protégés and former officials all over the world; has an incomparably powerful military force: sitting in four states, with a million armor; and has a strong appeal, good personal qualities.
However, in the face of such a powerful enemy, Cao Cao chose to "fight hard". It was precisely because of this determination to "fight a hand" that Cao Cao risked the total annihilation of the army and successfully sneaked into Wuchao, yuan Shao's grain tun place, and completely won the "Battle of Guandu".
Completely different from Zhuge Liang's "stability", Cao Cao's life is almost always fighting, sometimes with life and the world.
The secret of this "fight" was played to the extreme in him. Life is like a big gamble, and "beat" is the accelerator of this big gamble, he can make you fall into the abyss, but also let you go straight up.
"Fighting", although dangerous, also has a chance of success. Although "beating" may not be successful, it will not be successful without beating.
Only by daring to fight, life has unlimited possibilities.
04
Incomplete life, brilliant and brilliant
The reunification of the north made Cao Cao see the hope of the unity of the world. Therefore, he decided to strike iron while it was hot, and with the power of Guandu victory, he went south to Jingzhou and thus unified the world.
In 208 AD, Cao Cao raised a large army and slaughtered Ben Jingzhou in a mighty way. In his eyes, he seems to have seen a beautiful scene of the unification of the world and the harmony of the people, but it is a pity that "the sky does not fulfill people's wishes."
"Folding the sand iron is not sold, and the self-grinding and washing recognizes the front dynasty." The East Wind does not go with Zhou Lang, and the Copper Bird Spring Deep Lock Er Qiao". Perhaps the heavens deliberately made a joke with him, in this "folding sand" Chibi, Cao Cao's dream of dominating the world was completely shattered by Sun Liu's combined forces.
From then on, Cao Cao's forces never advanced further to the south, and the defeat of the "Battle of Chibi" made Cao Cao's life no longer complete, but it could not hide the brilliance contained in his life.
In his later years, Cao Cao still retained the feelings of Han Chen in his heart, and in the face of sima Yi and Sun Quan's persuasion, Cao Cao adhered to the last bottom line of being a Han chen- never to be called emperor.
On his deathbed, the heroic Cao Cao also highlighted his children's affection, and after arranging the military affairs, he began to slowly say goodbye to his wives.
A generation of heroes can not escape the blade of time, and the achievements of thousands of years are finally buried in the dust of history.
Perhaps, we all think of Cao Cao too complicated. He is also a person, and he also has his own true disposition.
Perhaps, he is just a jianghu hero who wields a double halberd to assassinate a traitor; perhaps, he is just an ordinary father who cannot release his hands and often teaches his sons to study well; perhaps, this is the hero's true color of Cao Mengde.