Preface:
In the era of the Three Kingdoms, the world was in chaos, the heroes were divided, and heroes emerged. In such turbulent times, military strength and personnel can become the key to determining the success or failure of a regime. Cao Cao stood out in this historical process, chasing the world and eventually establishing the Wei state. Zhang Liao and Zhang Hao were both fierce generals under Cao Cao, and they were both one of the five sons of Liang.
However, when the two surrendered to Cao Cao, they received very different appreciation and treatment. This reveals Cao Cao's political wisdom of the way of employing people, and also reflects his strict discussion of merit and reward, which is of great historical significance.
First, the different origins of the two fierce generals
During the Three Kingdoms era, the world was in chaos. Cao Cao led an army and proclaimed himself the King of Wei, intending to dominate the world. Against this background, many famous generals saw that the momentum was not good, and came to surrender Cao Cao and join the ranks of Cao Cao's domination of the world. Zhang Liao and Zhang Hao were exactly these two famous generals who surrendered to Cao Cao's camp.
Zhang Liao and Zhang Hao were both one of the five good generals of Cao Wei, and both were famous for their brave crowns. However, the background of their birth is very different.
Zhang Liao was born in a lower-class family in Mayi County, Yanmen County, and his ancestors participated in the Mayi conspiracy, but after the Ma Yi conspiracy failed, he changed his surname to Zhang to avoid disaster. Zhang Liao grew up in the border since he was a child, with a tough and heroic personality, and he was full of the breath of border life. He served as a county official, and later joined the army, following Dong Zhuo and others. Zhang Liao was originally good at fighting, and this series of experiences made him well-informed and made him grow into an excellent fierce general.
Unlike Zhang Liao, Zhang Yi was born in a scholarly family. Zhang Hao showed extraordinary talent when he was a teenager, he was well-read and knew the art of war and strategy well.
Zhang Hao was proficient in the art of war and politically savvy, and was a typical Confucian general. Zhang Hao later also joined the army, and with his excellent talents, he gradually rose to prominence in the Hebei region, and was known as the "Four Court Pillars of Hebei" together with Yan Liang, Wen Qiu, and Gao Yan, and was a confidant general under the powerful Yuan Shao at that time.
Although both of them possessed extraordinary skills and were both well-known in the military circle, they were not able to stand alone in the end, but both fell under the command of others. Zhang Liao, who was unlucky, successively defected to He Jin, Dong Zhuo and other powerful people, and finally followed Lü Bu, who was famous at that time. Zhang Hao successively defected to Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shao, seeing his outstanding talents, accepted him as a confidant and appointed him an important general.
It can be seen that the birth environment and growth process of the two are completely different, which also affects the difference in their personalities. Zhang Liao is resolute and fierce, Zhang Hao is steady and restrained, and the two have their own characteristics.
However, neither their talents nor ambitions were able to get enough stage, and they both eventually had to surrender to the more powerful Cao Cao, which became a turning point in the fate of the two.
Second, Lü Bu was defeated, and Zhang Liao returned to Cao Cao
In 197 AD, Cao Cao marched against Lü Bu and finally captured Lü Busheng outside Xiaping City. Cao Cao decisively executed Lü Bu, and Lü Bu's clique collapsed. At this time, Zhang Liao was serving as the prime minister of Lu Guoguo, an important post under Lü Bu. Seeing that the Cao army was destroying Lü Bu like a broken bamboo, Zhang Liao also felt that the general trend had passed, and decided to save his future.
After much deliberation, Zhang Liao chose to lead the tribe and came to return to Cao Cao. Cao Cao treated talents well, Zhang Liao was a fierce general, and the surrender was undoubtedly good news for Cao Cao. However, Cao Cao did not directly confront Zhang Liao because of this, but according to Zhang Liao's actual situation, worshipped him as a Zhonglang general and made him the Marquis of Guannei, which can be said to be a strict "reward for meritorious deeds".
As an important official under Lü Bu, Zhang Liao was supposed to go all out to defend the Duke of Lord, but in the end he chose to surrender. Therefore, he also bears some responsibility for Lü Bu's failure. Although he led his troops back, it had little impact on the overall battle situation, so Cao Cao's reward for him was not high.
Zhang Liao himself was also deeply ashamed, and after he was granted the title of Marquis of Guan, he said to Cao Cao: "Born as a Hanchen, he should have devoted himself to retribution, but he had no choice but to mistakenly surrender to Lü Bu and share the same crime with him." Now, with His Majesty's grace, he has been able to rehabilitate. Zhang Liaoding kept on the horse and made battle merits to thank His Majesty for his grace. ”
Cao Cao was very pleased when he heard this, and seeing that Zhang Liao was loyal, he ordered him to serve as a vanguard and be responsible for leading the army to open the way. Zhang Liao made great achievements under Cao Cao from then on, and eventually became the head of the five sons.
Third, the Battle of Guandu, Zhang Hao surrendered
Unlike Zhang Liao, Zhang surrendered on the eve of the Battle of Guandu between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. At that time, at the critical moment of the Battle of Guandu, Zhang Hao saw that Cao's army was strong, and took the initiative to lead thousands of soldiers and horses to surrender. Cao Cao was even more pleased with Zhang Hao's surrender, and directly made him a partial general and gave him the title of Marquis of Duting. The generous treatment that Zhang Hao received was a world away from Zhang Liao's situation at that time.
In fact, Zhang Hao had a disagreement with Yuan Shao before. He believes that Yuan Shao only uses traitorous villains such as Guo Tu and does not adopt his own opinions. In the Battle of Wuchao on the eve of the Battle of Guandu, Zhang Hao had serious disagreements with Guo Tu. This made Zhang Hao feel angry with Yuan Shao. When the two sides were facing off, Zhang seized the opportunity and led his troops to defect and express his dissatisfaction by surrendering to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao was well versed in people's hearts, he understood the true motives for Zhang Hao's surrender, and he also saw Zhang Hao's strength and influence. Zhang Hao had many soldiers and horses, and surrender had a great impact on the battle situation. So Cao Cao gave him a high standard of acceptance. This kind of differential treatment not only stabilized Zhang Hao's heart, but also brought a huge impact to other enemy forces on the watch. It can be said that it is the right use of people, and it kills many birds with one stone.
Afterwards, Zhang Hao really obeyed Cao Cao. Seeing that he was loyal, Cao Cao put him in charge of guarding the northwest against the Shu Han, and Zhang Hao did resist the attack of the Shu army. As a result, the northwestern border defense of Cao Wei was stable for a long time.
Fourth, the employment of people is meritocratic, and it is excusable to meet Zhang Yi
Zhang Liao and Zhang Hao later made great achievements under Cao Cao. Zhang Liao led the Cao army to repeatedly break through Eastern Wu, and his prestige was unique. Zhang Hao led troops to defend the northwest against the attack of the Shu Han army. The talents of the two famous generals were fully displayed in Cao Wei.
In the Three Kingdoms era, outstanding talents emerged. Cao Cao was able to recruit talents and employ talents on the basis of merit, eventually establishing the foundation of the Wei state. It was precisely because of the joining of fierce generals such as Zhang Liao and Zhang Hao that Cao Cao was able to swallow mountains and rivers and claim the emperor to establish a state. The giant wheel of history rolls forward, and the era of the Three Kingdoms, where heroes emerged, has also passed away in the ruthless years. What is left to future generations is not only legendary stories, but also the wisdom of people governing the country.
Cao Cao's style of strictly discussing merit and rewarding people is still worth learning from. The timing of Zhang Hao's surrender was better, and it also directly affected the direction of the Battle of Guandu.
Therefore, Cao Cao gave him a higher standard of generous treatment, which is also reasonable and not wrong. It was precisely because Cao Cao employed people on merit and did not neglect the old people that many heroes and heroes were willing to submit to Cao Cao's command and give Cao Cao the power to eventually unify the north.
Epilogue:
To sum up, Cao Cao's different treatment of Zhang Liao and Zhang Hao was not based on personal prejudice, but a decision made based on the specific situation at that time and the merits of the two. This reflects Cao Cao's political skills of mastering the way of employing people and strictly discussing merit and reward.
It was precisely because of Cao Cao's meritocratic use that many heroes and heroes were willing to submit to Cao Cao's command, which eventually provided a strong boost for Cao Cao to unify the north. Cao Cao's wisdom in employing people was an important pillar for stabilizing political power in the chaotic times of the Three Kingdoms period, and also left valuable historical wisdom for future generations, which is worth pondering and learning.