Preface
Cao Cao, a famous general during the Three Kingdoms period, his life deeds have been widely praised in history books. However, the development of history often changes dramatically due to some fortuitous events.
The tragedy of Cao Cao's loss of his eldest son, Cao Ang, due to his lust for beauty, makes people wonder: If Cao Ang had not died young, what would have been the fate of Cao Pi? Will he still have a chance to become a generation of emperors? Let us explore this hypothesis that may change the course of the history of the Three Kingdoms.
1. In the battle of Wancheng, Cao Ang died
In the second year of Jian'an (197 AD), Cao Cao was fighting in the south and the north, crusading against Zhang Xiu in Wancheng. Zhang Xiu surrendered with interest, and Cao Cao settled down in Wancheng. However, the victory made Cao Cao fluttering, and he couldn't help but make that old mistake again - lustful.
Cao Cao forcibly robbed Zhang Xiu's widowed sister-in-law, which was insulting the Zhang family's style. What's worse is that he also tried to encircle the fierce general Hu Che'er next to Zhang Xiu, which was undoubtedly digging into Zhang Xiu's corner. Zhang Xiu suspected that Cao Cao wanted to kill him, so he attacked Cao Cao's camp at night.
This raid caught Cao Cao off guard. If it weren't for Dian Wei and his subordinates desperately protecting each other, Cao Cao would probably have died in Huangquan. Cao Cao fled for his life on his beloved horse "Absolute Shadow", but was shot and wounded halfway, and the horse was also killed by an arrow. At the critical juncture, Cao Cao's eldest son, Cao Ang, stepped forward and gave his mount to his father, but he died in the chaos.
Cao Ang's heroic sacrifice made Cao Cao grief-stricken. As the eldest son, Cao Ang had a special position in Cao Cao's heart, and his untimely death was a heavy blow. Although Cao Cao has repeatedly performed miraculous feats on the battlefield, he is also an ordinary person after all, and he is inevitably sad in the face of the death of his own son.
Second, the eldest son died, and Cao Cao was heartbroken
(1) Lady Ding broke with Cao Cao
In this battle, Cao Cao suffered heavy losses. In addition to his eldest son Cao Ang, his general Dian Wei and nephew Cao Anmin were also killed. Back at home, Cao Cao only held a grand commemoration for Dian Wei, but did not have any special expression for Cao Ang's death.
This deeply stung Cao Ang's adoptive mother, Mrs. Ding, who had worked hard to bring Cao Ang up, and now that her son had sacrificed his life for his father, Cao Cao was indifferent, how could she not be angry? Mrs. Ding and Cao Cao had a fierce conflict, and Cao Cao had no choice but to send her back to her parents' home.
He thought that after a while, Mrs. Ding would calm down, and they were still a husband and wife. However, Mrs. Ding did not want to come back. Cao Cao went to pick her up in person, but Mrs. Ding turned a blind eye, and just like that, their relationship broke down completely.
Cao Cao's snub to Madame Ding was another disservice to Cao Ang. As Cao Ang's adoptive mother, Mrs. Ding's cultivation and love for him can be imagined. Now that his son is sacrificing his life for his father, Cao Cao has not even expressed any special expression, which is a great insult to Mrs. Ding. The break between the two also became Cao Cao's lifelong heart disease.
(2) Cao Cao's guilt and regret
Cao Cao once sighed before he died: "I have never been negative in my heart. If there is a spirit in death, if Zixiu asks, 'Where is my mother?', what will I say?" It can be seen that even at the last moment of his life, Cao Cao could not let go of his debt to Cao Ang.
Although he has made great achievements in foreign wars, deep down, he has never been able to get rid of the guilt and regret for Cao Ang. The reason why Cao Cao has such feelings stems from his snub to Mrs. Ding.
As Cao Ang's adoptive mother, Mrs. Ding gave too much in Cao Ang's upbringing, and now Cao Ang sacrificed his life for his father, but Cao Cao was indifferent, which made him deeply tormented in his heart. He was worried that if he saw Cao Ang after his death, how would he explain to him the whereabouts of Madame Ding. This kind of guilt and regret has undoubtedly become a knot in Cao Cao's life.
Third, the battle for the heir, Cao Pi was unexpected
(1) Cao Cao's heir is difficult to choose
Cao Ang's death undoubtedly added many difficulties to the question of Cao Cao's heir. It stands to reason that Cao Ang, as the eldest son, inherited Cao Cao's country as a matter of course. However, fate was always merciless, and Cao Ang died young, and Cao Cao had to choose another among his other sons.
At first, Cao Cao took a fancy to the smart and clever Cao Chong. Unfortunately, Cao Chong died at the age of 13. When Cao Pi went to comfort Cao Cao, who had lost his beloved son, Cao Cao actually said cruel words: "This is my misfortune, and you are also lucky." "Meaning, only when Cao Chong dies will others have a chance to compete for the throne of the heir.
Cao Cao's choice of an heir can be described as difficult. Cao Chong's untimely death made him once optimistic about the talented Cao Zhi. However, Cao Zhi's performance in military affairs was not outstanding, and he was finally suppressed by Cao Pi in an orderly manner by virtue of his eldest and youngest. It can be seen that even though Cao Cao was not optimistic about Cao Pi, under the political pattern at that time, Cao Pi still became Cao Cao's heir.
(2) Cao Pi knew that it was difficult to take on a big responsibility
In fact, Cao Pi himself knew that if one of Cao Ang and Cao Chong was alive, he would not have a chance to ascend the throne as emperor. He once said: "My brother is filial and honest, and he has his own share." If I make Cangshu here, I will have no world. The "brother filial piety" here refers to Cao Ang, and "Cangshu" is Cao Chong's word.
Cao Pi admitted that as long as one of Cao Ang or Cao Chong survived, he could not inherit Cao Cao's throne. In Cao Cao's eyes, Cao Pi's ability is really limited, and his position has always been unstable. Even if Cao Pi became the eldest son, Cao Chong and Cao Zhi, the two juniors, once threatened his heir status.
It can be seen that if Cao Ang is alive, with Cao Pi's ability, it will be difficult to win the inheritance right from the eldest son. Cao Pi himself knows this, so he has such feelings.
The key to Cao Pi's eventual ascension to the throne as emperor was the successive deaths of Cao Ang and Cao Chong. If one of these two people is alive, Cao Pi may not be able to reach the throne. It can be said that Cao Ang's untimely death paved the way for Cao Pi's ascension to the throne.
epilogue
History is like a butterfly's wings, and small changes can set off earth-shattering changes. If Cao Ang had not died young, Cao Wei's prospects would have been different. Cao Pi, the "master of the accident," may not have a chance to ascend the throne at all, and in whose hands will Cao Cao's country fall? This leaves history with infinite possibilities.
However, we must also admit that it is precisely because of Cao Pi's succession that there is a pattern of three kingdoms, and Chinese history has therefore moved towards a new trajectory. Therefore, perhaps Cao Ang's death is also a helpless inevitability.
After all, the development of history is often a complex process, and a small change can trigger a huge chain reaction. We can only regretfully imagine what Cao Wei's future would have been like if Cao Ang had not died young?