Cao Cao's advisers were like clouds, the most famous of which were Xun Yu, Xun You, and Jia Xu. In fact, cao cao also had a capable person under him, but due to the large number of talents and other reasons, he was often ignored by later generations, and this person was Dong Zhao. Cao Pi compared him to Chen Ping and Zhang Liang. Historian Hu Sansheng also believes that Dong Zhao's strategy is comparable to Xun Yu and Xun You, "his strategy is wonderful, no less than two Xuns." So what kind of person is Dong Zhao?
Dong Zhao was a Native of Jiyin Dingtao, who was promoted to filial piety in his youth, and successively served as the chief of the Tao Dynasty and the Commander of the Bai People, and was later appointed by Yuan Shao to join the army. Under Yuan Shao, Dong Zhao showed a high degree of strategy, and he successively quelled the turmoil in Julu County and Wei County, which was praised by Yuan Shao. However, because Dong Zhao's younger brother served Zhang Mi, Yuan Shao had a conflict with Zhang Mi. Therefore, some people said bad things about Dong Zhao in front of Yuan Shao, and Dong Zhao left Yuan Shao and was left by Zhang Yang.
However, Dong Zhao did not want to serve Zhang Yang, and the one he wanted to defect to most was Cao Cao! Although Dong Zhao was still under Zhang Yang's command at this time, he had already begun to serve Cao Cao indirectly, and he persuaded Zhang Yang to make friends with Cao Cao and not to hinder Cao Cao's emissaries from going to Chang'an. Later, Dong Zhao also wrote a letter to Yang Feng in the name of Cao Cao, fooling him into joining forces with Cao Cao. After that, Dong Zhao urged Cao Cao to "only move the lucky Xu Er." It was under Dong Zhao's plan that Cao Cao welcomed Emperor Xian of Han to Xuchang.
In 198, Zhang Yang was killed by his generals, and his men planned to defect to Yuan Shao. When Cao Cao heard the news, he immediately sent Dong Zhao, who was then serving as Yin of Henan, to persuade him. Dong Zhao entered the city alone, and on the same day persuaded Zhang Yang's men to submit to Kaicheng. Cao Cao then appointed Dong Zhao as the pastor of Jizhou. In 199, Cao Cao sent Liu Bei to intercept and kill Yuan Shu, and Dong Zhao said to Cao Cao: "Be brave and ambitious, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are yu Ji, and the fear of being prepared cannot be discussed!"
As a result, Liu Bei occupied Xuzhou against Cao Cao, leading to Cao Cao's Eastern Expedition. After Xuzhou was pacified, Cao Cao appointed Dong Zhao as the pastor of Xuzhou. After that, Dong Zhao followed Cao Cao to pacify the north and made a lot of merit. In 219, Sun Quan planned to sneak up on Guan Yu and sent emissaries to Cao Cao's side, hoping that Cao Cao would keep it secret. Cao Cao asked everyone's opinion, and everyone felt that the matter should be kept secret, but only Dong Zhao believed that "the secret is not revealed, so that the power can be determined, not above the plan."
However, Dong Zhao saw through Guan Yu's personality and believed that even if Guan Yu received the news, he would not easily withdraw his troops, "Yu is a strong man, and he believes that the two cities are solid, and he will not retreat quickly." The outcome of this war was exactly the same as Dong Zhao had speculated. After Cao Pi ascended the throne, Dong Zhao also made many suggestions, especially the Battle of Jiangling, which is a classic. At that time, Xiahou Shang planned to build a pontoon bridge from Jiangxinzhou and then capture Jiangling. Dong Zhao, however, suggested that the troops be withdrawn immediately, "the matter will be in danger, but His Majesty will observe it."
Cao Pi adopted Dong Zhao's suggestion, and ten days after the withdrawal of troops, the river water soared, and if the troops were not withdrawn, the army would be in danger! In this regard, Cao Pi praised: "On this matter, how to judge it!" Zhang and Chen deserve it, why should they be repeated. Later, Dong Zhao also served as a situ until he died of illness during the reign of Emperor Ming of Wei, at the age of 81. Since Dong Zhao is so powerful, why is his reputation not high? It turned out that Dong Zhao had a problem with his integrity.
The reason why Cao Cao entered the Duke of Wei and was later known as the King of Wei was that Dong Zhao was the mastermind, "Taizu was created by the Duke of Wei and the King of Wei." In other words, Dong Zhao and Xun Yu were completely different, and he strongly supported Cao Cao in capturing the Han Dynasty. It is precisely because of this that Dong Zhao has been criticized by the world. At that time, Su Ze and Dong Zhao were officials in the same dynasty, and once, Dong Zhao wanted to rest on Su Ze's knees once, and Su Was very angry, pushed Dong Zhao down, and said: "Su Ze's knee, not the pillow of the Yu people." ”
References: 1. Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms; 2. Zizhi Tongjian