Some people once commented that Cao Cao was "a capable minister who governs the world and a tyrant in a chaotic world." "He was brave and resourceful, and was a famous politician and military figure during the Three Kingdoms period. What does such a person with great talent have to do with Cai Wenji, a weak woman who was captured and had a hard time returning home? Why did Cao Cao spend a lot of money to take Cai Wenji back from the Southern Xiongnu? This has to be said from the following aspects.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="2" >, caring about old feelings, can't bear to let the daughter of a deceased friend go to exile</h1>
Speaking of which, Cao Cao and Cai Wenji actually had nothing to do with each other, and their acquaintance was limited to the fact that Cao Cao and Cai Wenji's father, Cai Yong, were colleagues, and at that time, they were both working as errands under Emperor Hanling. Cao Cao and the late Han general Qiao Xuan had a very good personal relationship, and Qiao Xuan's personal relationship with Cai Yong was also very good, through Qiao Xuan's acquaintance, Cao Cao admired Cai Yong's talent, and because they were colleagues, the two became close friends.
Cai Yong was a famous courtier in the Eastern Han Dynasty, a famous writer and calligrapher, when the Han Ling Emperor liked word endowment, summoned Cai Yong to become an official, Cai Yong refused not to go, and later entered the official field, the official Bai Langzhong, participated in the continuation of the "Dongguan Han Record", which is a chronicle of the Eastern Han Dynasty Guangwu Emperor to the Han Ling Emperor period.
Cai Yong also recommended Cao Cao. Cao Cao was twenty-two years younger than Cai Yong, and when Cai Yong was an official in the dynasty, Cao Cao entered the army through filial piety, and the two met through Qiao Xuan, had a personal relationship, and admired each other, and with Cai Yong's status and influence at that time, it was not surprising that Cao Cao had been introduced.
Later, Cai Yong was falsely accused and exiled, so he had to take his daughter Cai Wenji away from home to avoid disaster. In 189 AD, the Han Ling Emperor died, Dong Zhuo served as Sikong, controlled the government, heard of Cai Yong's fame, wanted to summon Cai Yong to his side and serve him, Cai Yong shirked that he was ill and could not serve him. Dong Zhuo was very angry after hearing this, so he said in a threatening tone: "I have the right to exterminate the three tribes, what can Cai Yong do if he is famous?" So he urgently summoned Cai Yong to the palace, and Cai Yong had no way, for the sake of his family, he had to go. After going, Dong Zhuo did not treat him well, but instead respected Cai Yong very much, and appointed Cai Yong as the acting priest and stayed in the waiter.
In 190 AD, Cai Yong was given the title of General of Zuo Zhonglang and moved the capital to Chang'an with Emperor Xian of Han. Dong Zhuo's subordinates and disciples, in order to please Dong Zhuo, compared Dong Zhuo with the taigong Jiang Ziya, thinking that he could be called Shang Father, Dong Zhuo felt good about himself, but still went to Cai Yong for advice, Cai Yong felt that Dong Zhuo's prestige was there, but his political achievements were far inferior to that of Taigong, so he advised Dong Zhuo to suspend this matter, and after Guanzhong was settled, he waited for His Majesty to return and discuss it. Dong Zhuo had great respect for Cai Yong and listened to Cai Yong's words.
In 192 AD, Dong Zhuo went to the palace to attend a banquet and was killed by his righteous son Lü Bu. As the mastermind of the plan to kill Dong Zhuo, Wang Yun gradually came to power and was supported by many people, and gradually, Wang Yun began to become arrogant and did not take others seriously. Cai Yong, as an old vassal of Dong Zhuo, was promoted by Dong Zhuo, and when he heard the news that Dong Zhuo had been killed, he was shocked and sighed about it. At this time, Cai Yong and Wang Yun were together, Wang Yun was furious when he heard Cai Yong's sigh, Wang Yun thought that Dong Zhuo was a sinner of the state, almost subverting the country, unforgivable, and Cai Yong, as a subject, did not start from the overall situation, but thought about private feelings, is this not with Dong Zhuo?
Wang Yun did not wait for Cai Yong to explain and ordered someone to arrest Cai Yong for questioning, Cai Yong had no way, asked himself to be punished, wanted to continue to complete the Book of Han, for a while, there were also many scholars and doctors interceding for Cai Yong, but Wang Yun did not listen to the requests of the scholars, or killed Cai Yong. In this way, as soon as Cai Yong died, the Cai family gradually fell.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="8" > second, appreciate Cai Wenji's talent</h1>
Cai Wenji's father Cai Yong was a famous writer and calligrapher in the Eastern Han Dynasty, a quite talented person, Cao Cao also loved literature and calligraphy, often communicated with Cai Yong in this regard, the two appreciated each other, so how could Cao Cao not know Cai Wenji, for Cai Wenji, he was just out of appreciation.
Cai Yong is so talented, how can Cai Wenji, who grew up next to Cai Yong, be an ordinary person? Cai Wenji has been intelligent since she was a child, good at poetry and giving her a rhythm, under the teaching of Cai Yong, Cai Wenji gradually grew up and became a well-known talented woman.
When Cai Wenji grew up, Cai Yong married her to Wei Zhongdao of the Wei clan of Hedong, but soon after the marriage, Wei Zhongdao died of illness, and the two had no heirs, plus the husband's family may not want to see Cai Wenji, so she returned to her mother's house.
Shortly thereafter, his father Cai Yong was wrongfully killed and the Cai family fell. At this time, Cai Wenji was exiled to the people because of the death of her father Cai Yong. Outside the war was continuous, the Southern Xiongnu took advantage of the internal strife in Guanzhong to begin to take advantage of the fire, Cai Wenji was also taken captive in this Southern Xiongnu rebellion, and later was dedicated to the Southern Xiongnu Zuoxian King, this is twelve years, and also gave birth to two children.
Later, Cao Cao relied on his talent to gain a firm foothold in the chaotic world, remembering that his former friend Cai Yong was brutally killed, and his flesh and blood relatives were exiled to other places, so he still decided to take back Cai Wenji.
After Cai Yong's death, Cai Wenji's whereabouts were unknown, so Cao Cao sent someone to investigate, knowing that Cai Wenji was in the Southern Xiongnu, had become the princess of Zuo Xian, and had two children. But she was a woman, alone in a foreign country, if she could return to her hometown, Cai Wenji would definitely be willing.
In the eleventh year of Jian'an (207 AD), Cao Cao sent emissaries to the Southern Xiongnu with heavy gold to prepare to bring Cai Wenji back, but the Southern Xiongnu hindered Cao Cao's power and did not dare to say that they would not let people go, so in this way, Cai Wenji, who was more than thirty years old, finally embarked on the road back to his hometown.
After Cai Wenji returned to her hometown, everything seemed to be human, she was now alone, Cao Cao could not bear it, so he took the initiative to marry her to one of his subordinates, Dong Qi. After getting married, the two did not have a good life, Dong Qi married Cai Wenji, who was in his thirties, and he was a little unwilling in his heart, but he had no choice. The two lived a conjugal life that was not like husband and wife, and later, Dong Qi committed a capital crime and was sentenced to beheading. Cai Wenji had no choice but to ask Cao Cao, hoping that Cao Cao would spare Dong Qi's life. In the main hall, Cai Wenji was covered with loose hair and barefoot, prostrating her head and pleading guilty, and the guests looked at this talented woman with a bumpy life, and they were all moved. In the end, Cao Cao pardoned Dong Qi.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="7" > third, buy people's hearts and minds, and plan for their next step</h1>
Cao Cao's reputation in the hearts of the people at that time was not very good. When he took back his deceased friend's daughter Cai Wenji after careful consideration, he also pointed out a marriage to her. In the eyes of outsiders, Cao Cao has already taken care of Cai Wenji many times, not only fulfilling his love for his old friend, but also gaining a good reputation. In any case, this was a good thing for Cao Cao.
As a famous literary scholar in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cai Yong must have had many disciples or students, and after he was killed, these people were scattered everywhere. Cao Cao took back Cai Wenji and settled her in, to a certain extent, and could also get the support of these people. In times of chaos, one more person supports it, one more force. Therefore, why Cao Cao wanted to take Cai Wenji back, in addition to a love for his former friend, was also to buy people's hearts.
Cao Cao is a person who cherishes talent, he said in the "Short Song Line" that one of his great wishes is "Zhou Gong spits and feeds, the world returns to the heart", Cai Wenji is also a famous talented woman in the world, Cao Cao naturally hopes to be able to express his reputation for valuing talents by recruiting her.
This is the same as the ancients who bought horse bones for thousands of dollars, ostensibly spending a lot of money to buy seemingly useless horse bones, but in fact, this also shows their desire to recruit talents in disguise: You see, I am even willing to spend thousands of dollars to buy horse bones, and if a talented person like you is willing to be loyal to me, then I will definitely hire you with a lot of money.
Text/Qingcheng
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