During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao, a man of great talent, was not only famous on the battlefield, but also praised for his political wisdom. Today, we might as well turn our attention to his private residence and explore why his seven flowery daughters are all committed to the same person, and what kind of charm is this man who is favored by Cao Cao to win Cao Cao's high expectations?
This "good son-in-law" selected by Cao Cao is none other than Liu Xie, the Emperor of Han Xian, who was on the dragon chair at that time. Although Liu Xie, as a puppet emperor, has lost real power, in feudal society, the emperor's name still symbolizes supreme authority. Why Cao Cao decided to marry all seven daughters to Liu Xie is quite complicated.
The first reason is that this is a classic marriage of power. Cao Cao, as a minister with power in the government and the opposition, wanted to stabilize his position in the imperial court, and urgently needed to find a more solid support. Marrying his daughter to the emperor meant that Cao Cao became a relative of the emperor, and his status was naturally higher than that of ordinary officials. In addition, Cao Cao's daughters were all very good-looking, and their addition would undoubtedly add luster to the royal family and further consolidate Cao Cao's influence in the court. If one of these daughters is fortunate enough to be favored by the emperor and even ascend to the throne of the empress, the status of the Cao Cao family will be even more prosperous.
Faced with this question, you may question: Isn't Cao Cao worried that Liu Xie doesn't have a good impression of his daughter? However, Cao Cao has already planned it far-sightedly. He adopted a strategy of "casting a wide net" and launched seven princesses at once, aiming to ensure that at least one of them would win Liu Xie's favor. In this way, Cao Cao's daughters can occupy a place in the harem and fight for more voice for Cao Cao's family in the court. At the same time, Liu Xie's harem is almost "monopolized" by the Cao Cao family, and the attempts of other ministers to get a piece of the pie through marriage will also come to naught. Cao Cao's move can be described as killing two birds with one stone, not only consolidating his own power, but also blocking the path of others' ambitions.
However, Cao Cao's calculations did not stop there. He married his daughters to Liu Xie, and he had a more far-reaching intention - surveillance. The daughters are by the emperor's side, just like having "eyes and ears" planted next to Liu Xie. Cao Cao could use this to grasp the emperor's dynamics in real time, and even manipulate Liu Xie to a certain extent to achieve strict control over the government.
You may think that Cao Cao's move is too ruthless. However, we must be aware of the low status of women in ancient societies, and marriage was often reduced to a political transaction between families, and personal feelings were often neglected. Although Cao Cao's approach may seem ruthless, it is largely in line with the social customs of the time. Moreover, Cao Cao is not completely unaffectionate towards his daughter. It is rumored that after his second daughter Cao Jie became the queen, Cao Cao favored her, which shows that he still retained a love for his family while pursuing political interests.
To sum up, Cao Cao's marriage of his seventh daughter to Liu Xie was actually a well-designed political marriage. This not only reflects Cao Cao's extreme desire for power, but also shows his thoughtful consideration of the interests of his family. Although Liu Xie was the nominal emperor, he had actually become a pawn in Cao Cao's hands. This historical story reveals the cold nature of ancient political struggles, while also evoking deep sympathy for the fate of women in that era. Although Cao Cao's decision may have seemed wise at the time, from a modern perspective, we may be judged differently. The wheels of history are rolling forward, but these historical fragments are still worthy of our repeated taste and in-depth reflection.