In Cao Wei's magnificent historical picture, Cao Chao is like a bright meteor, short but dazzling. His life is like a tragic play, especially his decision to end his life in a suicidal crusade, which is still shocking and puzzling.
So, what is the reason why Cao Chao did not choose the more direct and seemingly more effective assassination of Sima Zhao, but walked towards the road of no return full of determination and tragedy?
Cao Chao, the young Emperor of Cao Wei, was in the whirlpool of power from the moment he succeeded to the throne. The contest between him and Sima Zhao has long gone beyond the simple relationship between monarchs and ministers, and has become a life-and-death struggle between the imperial power and the ministers.
Cao Chao has repeatedly tried to secure his throne through political means and regain power that has been eroded by Sima Zhao. However, Sima Zhao's cunning and profundity made every counterattack of Cao Zhao like hitting cotton, weak and ineffective.
In this context, Cao Chao chose the extreme method of suicidal crusade. It wasn't a spur of the moment, it was a deliberate decision. He hoped that through this open and fierce way, he could arouse the sympathy and support of the government and the opposition, and expose Sima Zhao's ambitions and atrocities. This is not only his last insistence on imperial power as an emperor, but also his deep desire for justice and freedom.
However, this crusade eventually turned into a personal tragedy for Cao Chao. Although his death failed to change the course of history, it left an indelible impression in people's hearts. His sacrifice made people deeply understand the cruelty of the struggle between the imperial power and the ministers, and inspired later generations to reflect deeply on power.
So, why didn't Cao Chao choose a more direct assassination method? The reasons for this are complex and profound.
First of all, the difficulty and risk of assassination operations are extremely high. As a scheming minister, Sima Zhao is extremely defensive, and he is protected by many strong martial arts guards around him. If Cao Chao were to carry out the assassination, the chances of success were slim.
Second, Cao Chao wanted to express his protests and grievances in a more open and fierce way. He hopes to arouse people's awareness and support through the suicide crusade, so that people can see Sima Zhao's true face. The impact of this method is far more far-reaching and widespread than that of assassination.
The political environment in the later period of Cao Wei was like a huge melting pot, pushing Cao Chao to the crossroads of history. His choice is both the epitome of personal tragedy and the inevitable result of the political struggles of that era.