After the death of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, the Central Plains fell into unprecedented turmoil. The princes were divided, the war raged, the people were displaced, and the social order was seriously chaotic. In such troubled times, Cao Cao, with his cunning and suspicious and eloquent character, gradually rose from an ordinary cloth identity to a generation of overlords, and his process was full of wisdom and conspiracy.
Cao Cao's rise was first and foremost due to his keen political insight and extraordinary military talent. He knew that in troubled times, only the strong could gain a foothold, so he continued to strengthen his military strength, gradually expanding his sphere of influence through a series of well-planned battles. Cao Cao's military talent is not only reflected in tactical flexibility, but also in strategic foresight. He was able to adjust his strategic deployment in a timely manner according to the changes in the situation, and achieved the greatest results at the minimum cost.
Secondly, Cao Cao's emphasis on talent is also an important reason for his rise. He knew that talent was the capital of the troubled times, so during his reign, he vigorously recruited and used talents. Cao Cao is good at discovering and using talents, he can not only identify the strengths of talents, but also put them in the most appropriate position according to the characteristics of talents. Under his command, a group of talented strategists and brave generals were gathered, such as Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, etc., and the addition of these people greatly enhanced Cao Cao's strength.
Cao Cao also has his own unique way of using talents. He is eclectic, does not ask about his origin, only looks at his talents. In his eyes, whether it is a child of a family or an ordinary person, as long as he has talent, he can be reused. This way of employing people made Cao Cao's forces full of talents, providing a solid foundation for the establishment of his hegemony.
In addition to attaching importance to talents, Cao Cao also attached great importance to the rule of law and the construction of internal affairs. He is well aware that a stable regime must have a sound legal system and an effective administrative system. Therefore, during his reign, he implemented a series of reform measures, strengthened local control, and improved the administrative efficiency of the government. These measures not only stabilized the social order, but also laid a solid foundation for Cao Cao's rule.
Cao Cao's cunning and suspiciousness were also an important factor in his ability to gain a foothold in troubled times. In complex political struggles, Cao Cao was always able to discern the intentions of his opponents and prepare in advance. His suspiciousness makes him always able to remain vigilant in the face of the enemy to avoid being deceived by the enemy. This personality trait, although sometimes it makes him miss some opportunities, but more often, it can ensure his survival and development.
In general, Cao Cao's rise in the troubled times after the death of Emperor Ling of Han was the result of a combination of factors. His military prowess, his way of employing people, the construction of the rule of law, and his cunning and suspicious personality were all important factors in his success. However, Cao Cao's rise to prominence was not all smooth sailing, and the challenges and difficulties he faced were unimaginable to ordinary people. In the following pages, we will explore in detail how Cao Cao grew from strength to strength in troubled times and eventually became a generation of overlords.
Lü Bu, whose name is Fengxian, was an outstanding general in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, known for his extraordinary martial arts and bravery. His life was full of legends, but in the end it ended in tragedy and became an eternal jealousy in Cao Cao's heart.
Lü Bu initially served in Bingzhou, and was appreciated by Ding Yuan for his bravery, and was appointed as the chief secretary. However, Lü Bu's ambition and thirst for power made him gradually dissatisfied with the status quo. When Dong Zhuo took control of the government and implemented tyranny, causing the dissatisfaction of the princes of the world, Lu Bu saw an opportunity. He conspired with Wang Yun and others and participated in the plan to murder Dong Zhuo. Although this operation was successful, it did not bring him long-term peace. After Dong Zhuo's death, Lu Bu lost his backer and began his wandering career.
Lü Bu's martial arts were strong, allowing him to survive in the troubled times, but at the same time, it also attracted the jealousy of many princes. He once took refuge in Yuan Shu, but left due to personality incompatibility. Subsequently, Lü Bu took refuge in Liu Bei, but soon betrayed Liu Bei because of Cao Cao's divisive tactics and occupied Xuzhou. Lu Bu's behavior made him and Cao Cao form an indissoluble bond.
Cao Cao, a prominent statesman and military strategist in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, was deeply concerned about Lü Bu's threat. He knew that Lu Bu's martial arts were extraordinary, and if he could subdue Lu Bu, he would greatly enhance his strength. However, Lü Bu's capriciousness and ambition made Cao Cao dare not trust him easily. Under these circumstances, Cao Cao adopted a series of tactics in an attempt to weaken Lü Bu's power.
Cao Cao first encircled and suppressed Lü Bu by uniting other princes. During the battle of Yanzhou, Cao Cao used his resourcefulness and military talent to successfully trap Lü Bu in Yanzhou. Although Lü Bu was brave, under Cao Cao's careful planning, his army gradually fell into trouble. Cao Cao's army was not only numerically superior, but also more tactically flexible.
In the battle of Yanzhou, although Lü Bu showed his bravery many times, he was ultimately unable to resist Cao Cao's offensive. His army was surrounded by Cao Cao's army, cut off from food and grass, and demoralized. Under these circumstances, Lü Bu's subordinates began to waver, and some even betrayed him. Lu Bu's situation is getting more and more difficult, and his legendary life seems to be coming to an end.
Eventually, under Cao Cao's tactics and military pressure, Lü Bu was forced to surrender. Although Cao Cao admired Lü Bu's martial arts, he also knew that Lü Bu's ambition and capricious personality posed a great threat to his rule. After weighing the pros and cons, Cao Cao decided to execute Lü Bu to prevent future troubles.
Lu Bu's death marked the end of his legendary life. Although his martial arts and bravery left a deep mark in the troubled times, his ambition and capriciousness also made him Cao Cao's most feared opponent. The story of Lu Bu has become an embarrassing legend in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. And Cao Cao, by executing Lü Bu, not only eliminated a huge threat, but also further consolidated his position and laid a solid foundation for the future unification of the north.
Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, as two outstanding generals of Shu Han, became the most praised heroes of the Three Kingdoms period with their extraordinary martial arts and military talents. Their deeds not only left a deep mark on the battlefield, but also were widely praised in later literary and artistic works.
Zhang Fei, whose name is Yide, is known for his heroic character and amazing force. In the battle of Changbanpo, Zhang Fei's heroic performance was particularly prominent. At that time, Liu Bei's army was pursued by Cao Cao, and the situation was precarious. Zhang Fei was sent to the rear of the Changsaka slope to cover the retreat of the main force. In the face of Cao Cao's army, Zhang Fei was not afraid, he stood at the head of the bridge, holding a snake spear, and roared angrily, which shook the four fields. This roar not only shows Zhang Fei's bravery, but also reflects his resourcefulness. He used his prestige and momentum to intimidate the enemy army, so that Cao Cao's army did not dare to attack easily, thus gaining valuable time for Liu Bei's main force to retreat. This feat became a legend in Zhang Fei's military career, and it also made Cao Cao jealous of this fierce general.
Guan Yu, known for his loyalty, is also first-class in martial arts and resourcefulness. Guan Yu's plan to flood the Seventh Army was an outstanding performance in his military affairs. At that time, Guan Yu was guarding Jingzhou, and in the face of Cao Cao's seven-way army, the situation was very critical. Guan Yu judged the situation and decided to take advantage of the terrain and weather conditions to launch a water attack. He ordered his soldiers to build a dam along the river and store water for repatriation. When Cao Cao's army entered the low-lying area, Guan Yu ordered the dam to be opened and the water was released, and the flood was overwhelming, and Cao Cao's seven-way army was washed to pieces and suffered heavy losses. This strategy not only shows Guan Yu's resourcefulness, but also reflects his courage and determination. Guan Yu's feat also made Cao Cao jealous of him.
These deeds of Zhang Fei and Guan Yu not only achieved remarkable results on the battlefield, but also caused great psychological pressure on Cao Cao. Cao Cao knew that the existence of these two fierce generals posed a huge threat to his rule. Their martial arts and resourcefulness made Cao Cao have to be on guard at all times and not dare to act rashly.
However, the bravery of Zhang Fei and Guan Yu was not without a price. Their loyalty and bravery, although they won Shu Han a moment of glory, also attracted the envy and hatred of many enemies. In the Three Kingdoms, an era full of power and struggle, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu's simplicity and straightforwardness also put them at a disadvantage in the political struggle. Although their heroic deeds have left a glorious chapter on the battlefield, they have failed to win their due status and respect in the political struggle.
In general, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, as the fierce generals of Shu Han, not only achieved brilliant achievements on the battlefield with their martial arts and wisdom, but also posed a huge threat to Cao Cao psychologically. Their deeds have become the most praised legends in the Three Kingdoms period. However, in troubled times, the fate of heroes is often full of tragedy. The story of Zhang Fei and Guan Yu is admirable, but it is also full of emotion. In the following pages, we will further explore the heroic deeds of Zhang Fei and Guan Yu during the troubled times of the Three Kingdoms, and how their fates were affected by the times and circumstances.