Cao Cao - The Life of a Tyrant

Author: Yang Fan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: This book is one of the "Chinese Sage Life Series." Cao Cao, also known as Emperor Wu of Wei, styled Mengde. Born in Qiao County, Pei State (now Bo County, Anhui), he was a renowned statesman, military strategist, and literary figure during the Three Kingdoms period. At the age of twenty, he was selected as a filial and incorruptible official and served as a runner, later holding positions such as the Northern Commandant of Luoyang and Governor of Jinan. Cao Cao gradually expanded his military forces while suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion. In the third year of the initial peace (192 AD), Cao seized Yan Province and recruited and converted part of the Yellow Turban army from Qingzhou, forming the "Qingzhou Army." In the first year of Jian'an (196 AD), he escorted Emperor Xian to the capital Xu (now Xuchang, Henan in the east). Later, he used his name to issue decrees, successively eliminating separatist forces such as Lü Bu. After decisively defeating Yuan Shao in the Battle of Guandu, he gradually unified northern China. In the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 AD), he was promoted to the position of Prime Minister and led over two hundred thousand troops southward, initiating the famous Battle of Red Cliffs, where he was defeated by the alliance of Sun Quan and Liu Bei. In the twenty-first year of Jian'an (216 AD), he was enfeoffed as King of Wei. After his death, his son Cao Pi became emperor and posthumously honored him as Emperor Wu of Wei. During his lifetime, Cao Cao implemented land reclamation in the northern regions, improved water conservancy, and resolved issues of military grain shortages, contributing to the recovery of agricultural production. He selected officials based on talent, breaking through conventional class barriers, recruiting lower-ranking figures from the landlord class, suppressing the powerful, and strengthening central authority. Under his rule, the economy and society in the regions he governed recovered and developed. Cao Cao was also skilled in military strategy and wrote works such as A Brief Explanation of Sun Tzu's Art of War and Essentials of Military Strategy. Cao Cao demonstrated outstanding talent not only in politics, economics, and military affairs but also in literature. Along with his sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, he was a leading figure in the literary scene of his time. Under their influence, the creative works of this period became a brilliant chapter in the history of Chinese literature—what is commonly known as the "Jian'an Literature." Cao Cao's poetry survives in over twenty pieces, with more than forty complete prose works. His poems adopted ancient titles from the Yuefu genre, inheriting the fine traditions of Han Dynasty Yuefu folk songs while also innovating, exerting a positive influence on the development of five-character poetry. Works such as The Ballad of Hao Li and Viewing the Sea are grand in scope, heroic yet melancholic, and have been celebrated by later generations. His prose is clear, concise, and well-structured. He excelled at expressing his thoughts directly in plain yet vigorous language, free from the flaws of excessive elegance or superficiality. Lu Xun called him the "forefather of literary reform." Representative prose works include Order of Resigning from the Post of Prime Minister and others. His posthumous collection Collected Works of Emperor Wu of Wei is lost, though there exists a compiled edition by Ming Dynasty scholars.