In 197, because of a peach-colored incident, Cao Cao's eldest son Cao Ang was killed by Zhang Xiu. 11 years later, the prodigy Cao Chong also unfortunately died of illness. The old father was sad and bitter, and cried for days. But when the second son, Cao Pi, came forward to comfort him, Cao Cao said in a strange way: "Although this is my misfortune, it has cheapened you!" The "you" in his mouth refers to Cao Pi and Cao Zhi.
Realistically speaking, Cao Pi is still very good, he learned archery at the age of six, learned to ride a horse at the age of eight, and followed his father to the battlefield from the age of ten. Not only can martial arts, Cao Pi poetry is also very good, especially good at five-word poetry. His work "Classic Treatise• Treatise" is also known as the first literary criticism monograph in the history of Chinese literature, and its influence is far-reaching!
However, even though Cao Pi was so good and older than other sons, Cao Cao still couldn't make up his mind to make him the heir, because Cao Zhi's literary achievements were really dazzling!
In 210 AD, the Tongquetai in Yicheng was completed, Cao Cao called a group of literati to take the stage to do the endowment, cao zhi, who was only 18 years old, thought a little, and did a "stage endowment", the momentum was magnificent, the rhythm was ups and downs, the rhetoric was very gorgeous, and the old father was surprised.
Since then, Cao Zhi's weight in his father's heart has become heavier and heavier, and he is very much likely to become a successor. However, Cao Zhi's talents in Wen Tao's martial arts and governing the country did not seem to be very prominent, so Cao Cao wanted to observe and observe again. As a result, as soon as he hesitated, the second son began to be a demon.
Soon, two small groups were formed in the DPRK and China, one supporting Cao Pi, represented by Jia Xu, Cui Yan, Sima Yi, Chen Qun, and Wu Qian. A group of supporters Cao Zhi took Ding Yi, Ding Xi, Yang Xiu, Kong Gui, Yang Jun, Jia Kui, and Handan Chun as the backbone. They made a big fuss, fought with each other, dug pits for each other, and fought happily.
Even so, Cao Zhi's advantages are still very large, after all, his father is eccentric, and he also has the heart to let him make some contributions and accumulate some political capital. Cao Zhi is indeed not an ordinary person, with his own strength, he has to lose the opportunity!
In 217, Cao Cao had something to do, Cao Zhi drank a few cups, and suddenly became wild and uninhibited! Riding a chariot and horse, he rode freely on the palace tracks, and opened the Sima Gate without authorization. Along the way, Cao Zijian had long sleeves, was radiant, sang and walked, and was not happy, but he forgot all the rules of the court! When Cao Cao returned, he was furious, and in a fit of rage, he executed the bus order and made Cao Pi the Prince of Wei, but he was not completely disappointed with Cao Zhi.
Two years later, Cao Zhi had another chance to turn the tables. At that time, Guan Erye flooded the Seventh Army and besieged Fancheng, and Cao Ren became the turtle in the urn. Cao Cao specially appointed Cao Zhi as a general of the Conquest and asked him to lead his troops south to relieve the siege, which was obviously deliberately to create opportunities for him to make meritorious contributions. However, on the eve of his departure, Cao Zhi was drunk with his own tincture and could not go out at all. Cao Cao regretted it so much that he did not dare to reuse him.
In addition, the dog-headed military divisions under Cao Zhi were also very problematic, especially Yang Xiu. During the scorching stage of the conquest, Cao Pi often used bamboo baskets to transport Wu to fuzhong to discuss countermeasures. Unexpectedly, this matter was discovered by Yang Xiu, and he also reported it to Cao Cao. Cao Pi was very anxious and asked Wu Qian what to do, but The question said, "What are you afraid of, it will be good to count the plan!" ”
The next day, as if a bamboo basket had been sent into Cao Pi's mansion, Yang Xiu went to make a small report, but when Cao Cao sent someone to see it, it was filled with Ayara silk! Cao Cao then distrusted Yang Xiu, and suspected that he and Cao Zhi had framed Cao Pi together.
Yang Xiu also often used his identity as the master of the book to leak Cao Cao's carefully prepared examination questions to Cao Zhi in advance. But what kind of IQ is Cao Cao, and such an obvious flaw he can't see? Since then, he has become more and more disgusted with Yang Xiu's little cleverness, and later found a reason to get rid of him.
Relatively speaking, the strategy adopted by Cao Pi is much more pragmatic, he knows that his article cannot write Cao Zhi, so he did not waste time in this area, but moved people with emotion.
For example, once, Cao Cao led an army to go out, and Cao Pi and Cao Zhi both went to send them off. Cao Zhi made a gift, singing praises and praises for his father, and the viewers all applauded. However, Cao Pi followed Wu Qian's instructions, cried in public, and made a look of reluctance to his father, which made Cao Cao very moved.
After several years of observation, Cao Cao felt that since Cao Pi was so filial and pragmatic, and Wen Tao's martial strategy was also OK, he gradually gave up the idea of establishing Cao Zhi. After all, the crown prince to be elected is not the chairman of the Writers Association, or it is better not to be so vain.
In 220, Cao Cao died, and Cao Pi successfully succeeded to the throne, and in the same year completed the last step of deposing the Han Dynasty and establishing himself. Cao Zhi's situation plummeted, and in the endless toss and exclusion, he spent the second half of his frustrated life...
