Cao Cao: the story on HearLore

Cao Cao

In the winter of 189, a young man named Cao Cao laughed in the face of a jade seal. Yuan Shao, the most powerful warlord in northern China, had invited Cao Cao to sit beside him and presented the jade seal as a symbol of imperial ambition. Yuan Shao was asking Cao Cao to support his bid for the throne. Cao Cao laughed at the proposal, calling it despicable, and refused to join the conspiracy. This moment of moral clarity in a sea of treachery defined the early character of a man who would later be remembered as both a brilliant statesman and a ruthless tyrant. Cao Cao was born in 155 in Qiao County, present-day Bozhou, Anhui, into a family that had risen to power through the eunuch faction of the Han court. His father, Cao Song, was a foster son of Cao Teng, a powerful eunuch who served as the Empress's Chamberlain. This connection allowed Cao Song to buy his way into high government office, though he served less than half a year before retiring. Cao Cao's early life was marked by a reputation for being perceptive and manipulative, yet he was not highly regarded by his more studious peers. He spent his youth hunting, roaming freely, and playing vigilante, behaviors that led to his dismissal from office in 178 when he was implicated in a political scandal involving the Song family. Despite these early setbacks, Cao Cao's talents were recognized by officials like Qiao Xuan and He Yong, who saw potential in him. When he visited the famous commentator Xu Shao, Xu Shao assessed him as "a treacherous villain in times of peace, and a hero in times of chaos." This dual nature would become the defining theme of Cao Cao's life, as he navigated the collapse of the Han dynasty and the rise of the Three Kingdoms period.

The Man Who Burned The Capital

When the warlord Dong Zhuo marched into Luoyang in 189, he did not just seize power; he burned the imperial capital to the ground. Dong Zhuo ordered the forced relocation of Luoyang's residents to Chang'an and set fire to the city, leaving nothing for the coalition that had formed to oppose him. Cao Cao, who had just escaped from Luoyang after adopting a fake identity, returned to his home in Chenliu Commandery and spent his family fortune raising an army to eliminate Dong Zhuo. In the winter of 189, Cao Cao assembled his forces in Jiwu County and declared war on Dong Zhuo. The coalition scored some initial victories, but when Dong Zhuo retreated to Chang'an, Cao Cao led his own army to pursue the enemy, only to be defeated by Xu Rong, a general under Dong Zhuo, at the Battle of Xingyang. This was the first military action Cao Cao commanded, and he barely escaped alive, with help from his cousin Cao Hong. The coalition members, including Yuan Shao, were making merry instead of thinking about how to make progress. Cao Cao presented his plan on how to continue the war against Dong Zhuo and chided them for their lackluster attitudes, but they ignored him. After the Battle of Xingyang, Cao Cao traveled to Yang Province with Xiahou Dun to recruit soldiers. Chen Wen, the Inspector of Yang Province, and Zhou Xin, the Administrator of Danyang Commandery, gave him over 4,000 troops. On the way back, when they passed by Longkang County, many soldiers started a mutiny and set fire to Cao Cao's tent at night, but he was able to escape. When Cao Cao reached Zhi and Jianping counties, he managed to regroup over 1,000 soldiers and lead them to a garrison in Henei Commandery. Yuan Shao and Han Fu thought of installing Liu Yu, the Governor of You Province, on the throne to replace Emperor Xian. When they sought Cao Cao's opinion, Cao Cao refused to support them and reaffirmed his allegiance to Emperor Xian. Yuan Shao's plan turned out to be unsuccessful because Liu Yu himself did not want to be emperor. Yuan Shao once invited Cao Cao to sit beside him and showed him a jade seal, indicating his imperial ambition, and a tacit request for Cao Cao's support. Finding this despicable, Cao Cao laughed at him. This early refusal to compromise his principles, even in the face of overwhelming odds, set the stage for his future rise to power.

When was Cao Cao born and where was he born?

Cao Cao was born in 155 in Qiao County, present-day Bozhou, Anhui. He was born into a family that had risen to power through the eunuch faction of the Han court.

What happened when Yuan Shao offered Cao Cao a jade seal in 189?

In the winter of 189, Yuan Shao offered Cao Cao a jade seal as a symbol of imperial ambition and asked for his support. Cao Cao laughed at the proposal, called it despicable, and refused to join the conspiracy.

How did Cao Cao receive Emperor Xian in 196?

In July or August 196, Cao Cao led his forces to the ruins of Luoyang and received Emperor Xian. He then escorted the emperor to Xuchang, which became the new imperial capital in October or early November 196.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Guandu in 200?

In the winter of 200, Cao Cao destroyed Yuan Shao's supply depot at Wuchao and defeated Yuan Shao's army. This battle marked the beginning of Cao Cao's dominance over northern China.

What happened to Cao Cao after the Battle of Red Cliffs?

After his defeat at Red Cliffs, Cao Cao led his remaining forces through Huarong Trail near present-day Jianli County, Hubei. He ordered weaker soldiers to carry straw and hay to lay out the path so his horsemen could proceed, resulting in many soldiers being trampled to death.

When did Cao Cao die and who succeeded him?

Cao Cao died in Luoyang in March 220 and was succeeded by his son Cao Pi. Cao Pi accepted the abdication of Emperor Xian in November 220 AD and established the state of Cao Wei to replace the Eastern Han dynasty.

The General Who Built An Army From Rubble

In 196, Cao Cao received Emperor Xian, the figurehead Han sovereign who had been held hostage by other warlords such as Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, and Guo Si. The emperor had escaped from Chang'an and returned to the ruins of Luoyang, which Dong Zhuo had ordered to be destroyed by fire in 190. In Luoyang, Emperor Xian came under the protection of Dong Cheng, former bandit Yang Feng, and other petty strongmen who have been characterized as "ragtag gangsters." The emperor sought refuge under Yuan Shao, but was rebuffed. In February or March 196, acting on the advice of Xun Yu and Cheng Yu, Cao Cao sent Cao Hong west to fetch Emperor Xian but was blocked by Dong Cheng and Yuan Shu's subordinate Chang Nu. Between March and April 196, Cao Cao defeated Yellow Turban remnants in Runan and Yingchuan commanderies and was appointed General Who Establishes Virtue. In July or August 196, Cao Cao was promoted to General Who Garrisons the East and enfeoffed as the Marquis of Fei Village, the peerage previously held by his adoptive grandfather Cao Teng. Sometime between August and September 196, Cao Cao led his forces to the ruins of Luoyang and received Emperor Xian. The emperor granted Cao Cao a ceremonial axe and appointed him Manager of the Affairs of the Imperial Secretariat and Colonel-Director of Retainers. As Luoyang was in bad shape, Dong Zhao and others advised Cao Cao to move the imperial capital to Xu, present-day Xuchang, Henan. So, in October or early November 196, Cao Cao and his forces escorted Emperor Xian to Xuchang, which became the new imperial capital. Cao Cao had himself appointed General-in-Chief and promoted from a village marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Wuping," later characterized as ten thousand households. Since Dong Zhuo moved the capital from Luoyang to Chang'an in 190, the imperial court had been in a state of disorder. However, after Cao Cao received Emperor Xian and established the new imperial capital in Xuchang, order was restored, although Cao Cao did have the emperor's confidante Zhao Yan killed for secretively keeping the emperor updated on the great affairs of state. Cao Cao sent an imperial decree to Yuan Shao in Emperor Xian's name to appoint him as Grand Commandant. Yuan Shao was unhappy because Grand Commandant ranked below Cao Cao's position, General-in-Chief, so he rejected the appointment. When Cao Cao heard about it, he gave up his position as General-in-Chief and offered it to Yuan Shao. Emperor Xian reappointed Cao Cao as Minister of Works and acting General of Chariots and Cavalry. Struck by the difficulties Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu had faced in supplying their armies, as well as his own struggles with food supply in recent years, Cao Cao followed Zao Zhi and Han Hao's suggestion to implement the tuntian system of agriculture to produce a sustainable supply of grain for his growing army. The tuntian agricultural colonies gave Cao Cao an advantage over his adversaries, allowing him to resettle internally displaced refugees, redevelop abandoned arable lands, shorten his supply lines, reduce the amount of defensive assets tasked to defend farms and granaries, and increase the area and productivity of lands held directly by the state.

The Commander Who Burned Letters

In the winter of 200, following the advice of Xu You, a defector from Yuan Shao's side, Cao Cao left Cao Hong behind to defend his main camp at Guandu while he personally led 5,000 riders to raid Yuan Shao's supply depot at Wuchao, which was guarded by Chunyu Qiong. Cao Cao succeeded in destroying Yuan Shao's supplies. When Yuan Shao heard that Wuchao was under attack, he sent Zhang He and Gao Lan to attack Cao Cao's main camp in the hope of diverting Cao Cao's attention away from Wuchao. However, Zhang He and Gao Lan, already frustrated with Yuan Shao, destroyed their own camps and led their troops to defect to Cao Cao's side. The morale of Yuan Shao's army fell drastically and they were utterly defeated by Cao Cao's forces, after which Yuan Shao hastily crossed the Yellow River and retreated back to northern China. Much of his supplies and many of his soldiers were captured by Cao Cao. Cao Cao also obtained several letters written by spies from his side to Yuan Shao, but he refused to conduct an investigation to find out who the spies were, and instead ordered all the letters to be burnt. Many commanderies in Ji Province surrendered to Cao Cao. This act of burning the letters was a masterstroke of political strategy. By refusing to investigate the spies, Cao Cao demonstrated his trust in his own men and his ability to forgive past mistakes. This decision helped to secure the loyalty of his subordinates and prevented the spread of fear and suspicion within his ranks. The Battle of Guandu was a turning point in Cao Cao's career, as it marked the beginning of his dominance over northern China. In the summer of 201, Cao Cao led his forces across the Yellow River and attacked Yuan Shao again, inflicting another crushing defeat on him at the Battle of Cangting and pacifying the territories in the area. In autumn, Cao Cao returned to Xuchang and sent Cai Yang to attack Liu Bei, who had left Yuan Shao and allied with another rebel chief, Gong Du, in Runan Commandery. Liu Bei defeated and killed Cai Yang in battle. Cao Cao personally led his forces to attack Liu Bei, who fled south upon learning Cao Cao himself was in command. He took shelter under governor Liu Biao in Jing Province. The following spring, while in his hometown, Cao Cao issued a proclamation characterizing his military actions as a righteous uprising. This campaign against Yuan Shao and his heirs was a testament to Cao Cao's strategic genius and his ability to adapt to changing circumstances. He defeated Yuan Shao's heirs and the Wuhuan tribes and unified northern China under his control.

The Poet Who Laughed At Death

After his defeat at Red Cliffs, Cao Cao led his remaining forces through Huarong Trail, near present-day Jianli County, Hubei, as they were retreating. The area was very muddy and inaccessible and there were strong winds. Cao Cao ordered his weaker soldiers to carry straw and hay to lay out the path ahead so that his horsemen could proceed. The weaker soldiers ended up being stuck in the mud and many were trampled to death by the riders. Cao Cao expressed joy after he and his surviving men managed to get out of Huarong Trail safely, albeit suffering much losses. His generals were puzzled so they asked him why. Cao Cao remarked: "Liu Bei, my friend, doesn't think fast enough. If he had set fire earlier, we wouldn't have been able to get out alive." Liu Bei did think of setting fire but it was too late as Cao Cao had already escaped. This moment of levity in the face of disaster was characteristic of Cao Cao's personality. He was known for his wit and his ability to find humor even in the most dire situations. Cao Cao was also a celebrated poet, and his poems often reflected his personal experiences and emotions. One of his most famous poems, "Short Song Style," was written during the Red Cliffs campaign and expressed his longing for the past and his fear of the future. Cao Cao's poetry was highly regarded in his time and continues to be studied today. He was known for his ability to express complex emotions in a concise and powerful manner. His poems often dealt with themes of mortality, the passage of time, and the impermanence of human achievements. Cao Cao's poetry was a reflection of his own personality, as he was a man who was both a ruthless warlord and a sensitive poet. He was known for his ability to switch between these two roles, and his poetry was a testament to his versatility and his depth of character. Cao Cao's poetry was also a reflection of his political ambitions, as he used his poetry to express his vision for the future of China. He was a man who was both a product of his time and a visionary who looked beyond it.

The King Who Died In Luoyang

In 216, Cao Cao was elevated to the status of a vassal king under the title "King of Wei" and awarded numerous ceremonial privileges, of which some used to be reserved exclusively for emperors. Cao Cao died in Luoyang in March 220 and was succeeded by his son Cao Pi who accepted the abdication of Emperor Xian in November 220 AD and established the state of Cao Wei to replace the Eastern Han dynasty, an event commonly seen as an usurpation. This marked the transition from the Eastern Han dynasty to the Six Dynasties period. After taking the throne, Cao Pi granted his father the posthumous title "Emperor Wu" ("Martial Emperor") and the temple name "Taizu" ("Grand Ancestor"). Cao Cao's death was the end of an era, but it was also the beginning of a new chapter in Chinese history. The state of Cao Wei, established by his son and successor Cao Pi, would go on to become one of the three kingdoms that would dominate China for the next six decades. Cao Cao's legacy was a complex one, as he was both lauded as a brilliant political and military leader and condemned for his cruelty, cunning, and allegedly traitorous ways. Opinions of him have remained divided from as early as the Jin dynasty (266, 420 AD) that came immediately after the Three Kingdoms period. There were some who praised him for his achievements in poetry and his career, but there were also others who condemned him for his cruelty, cunning, and allegedly traitorous ways. In traditional Chinese culture, Cao Cao is stereotypically portrayed as a sly, power-hungry, and treacherous tyrant who serves as a nemesis to Liu Bei, often depicted in contraposition as a hero trying to revive the declining Han dynasty. Cao Cao's life was a testament to the complexity of human nature, as he was both a ruthless warlord and a sensitive poet. He was a man who was both a product of his time and a visionary who looked beyond it. His legacy continues to be studied and debated today, as he remains one of the most fascinating figures in Chinese history.