Cao Cao's Nine-Nine Strategies for Dominating the World

Author: / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-01-01
Features:
1. Unconventional and rebellious—taking the path of defying the family. In terms of life, one cannot choose their birth, but they can choose their path to success. For successful individuals, some inherit the family legacy and achieve greatness, while others betray their family to forge their own path and make a mark. Cao Cao followed the path of defying the family to reach the path of being a hegemon. He was born into an eunuch family but chose to oppose eunuch autocracy. Cao Jie, Cao Cao's great-grandfather, styled Yuanwei, was a citizen of Qiao County, known for his kindness and good reputation. Cao Teng, Cao Jie's fourth son, styled Jixing, entered the capital as a eunuch in his early years and served five emperors of the Eastern Han Dynasty for over thirty years. During Emperor An's reign, he was a Huangmen assistant; when Emperor Shun ascended the throne, he became a Xiaohuangmen, later promoted to Zhongchangshi. After Emperor Zhi's death and Emperor Huan's ascension, he was enfeoffed as Feiting Marquis for his role in plotting the coup and promoted to Dachenqiu, with the title of Tejin. Over the decades, Cao Teng accumulated immense wealth and was extremely greedy as an official, earning the reputation of "a treacherous eunuch who misled the state," indicating his poor reputation. Cao Song, Cao Cao's father, styled Jugaogao, was an adopted son of Cao Teng and known as "the son of Xiahou." Thanks to Cao Teng's powerful influence, Cao Song had a successful career. During Emperor Huan's reign, he served as Sili Xiaowei; during Emperor Ling's reign, he spent a fortune to bribe powerful eunuchs and successively obtained the positions of Da Sicong and Da Honglu, both among the nine ministers. When Emperor Ling opened the Western Garden to sell official positions, Cao Song spent 100 million to become Taishi, only to be dismissed the following year. Cao Teng's death, Cao Song inherited the title of Feiting Marquis. Clearly, the "rise of the Cao family" was very dirty. Cao Teng's younger brother, Cao Bao (grandfather of Cao Ren), became the governor of Yingchuan; Cao Chi (father of Cao Ren) became a Shizhong and Changshui Xiaowei; and Cao Ding (uncle of Cao Hong), Cao Teng's nephew, became the Minister of Personnel. Cao Cao was born into a family of great prestige but with an undignified background of eunuchs. Added to the chaos of the times, it is unclear what impact this had on him. From Cao Cao's later reflections, the influence of his family, especially in upbringing and emotions, was indeed profound. He lamented his humble origins. During the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling of the Eastern Han, eunuch autocracy slaughtered the Confucian scholars, imprisoning and executing thousands of upright officials, showing that the Eastern Han Dynasty had lost its vitality. In response to such shocking reversals, the newly entered Cao Cao loudly called for justice for the victims, demonstrating that he broke free from the influence of his eunuch family and stood firm in righteousness, impressing the world. Soon after taking office as the magistrate of Duntou, Cao Cao was summoned to the court and appointed as an Yilang. An Yilang was a type of Lang official under the Guanglu Xun, usually appointed from virtuous and honest individuals, responsible for advising the emperor and earning a salary of 600 stones. Cao Cao's proximity to the emperor helped expand his influence, but as an Yilang was an honorary position with no fixed duties, he had more leisure time. The following year, in the first year of Guanghe (178 AD), Cao Cao was implicated in the execution of his cousin-in-law, Song Qi of Chuoqiang, by the eunuchs and dismissed from office. After his dismissal, Cao Cao had nothing to do in Luoyang and returned to his hometown, Qiao County, to live in seclusion. In the third year of Guanghe (180 AD), when the court needed officials, Emperor Ling recalled Cao Cao to his position as Yilang. This time, he served for a longer period and dared to criticize the eunuchs, submitting memorialss to defend and seek justice for Dou Wu and Chen Fan. Dou Wu, styled Youping, was from Pingling, Fufeng. In the eighth year of Yanxi (165 AD), his eldest daughter was selected to enter the palace and became a concubine, and Dou Wu was appointed as a Langzhong. That winter, the concubine was enfeoffed as Empress, and Dou Wu was promoted to Yueqi Xiaowei and enfeoffed as Huaili. The following winter, he was transferred to Chengmen Xiaowei. Dou Wu used his position to recruit many famous scholars. He was honest, hated injustice, refused bribes, and ensured his family's basic needs. All his rewards were used to help the students of the Imperial Academy and often provided grain to the poor. At the time, eunuchs held power, and Li Ying and Du Mi were arrested and tortured. Dou Wu specially submitted a memorial in the first year of Yongkang (167 AD) demanding the punishment of eunuchs and the release of the party members, which greatly contributed to their release. That winter, Emperor Huan died, and Empress Dou became Empress Dowager and ruled in his place. She and Dou Wu plotted to welcome Liu Hong (Emperor Ling) as the new emperor, and Dou Wu was appointed as Grand General and enfeoffed as Wuxi, becoming the leader of the foreign relations faction. Chen Fan, styled Zhongju, was from Pingyu, Runan. A famous party member, equally renowned as Li Ying and Wang Chang. The students of the Imperial Academy often said: "Liu Yuanli (Ying) is the model of the world, Chen Zhongju is fearless of the powerful, and Wang Shumao (Chang) is the outstanding talent of the world." Together with Dou Wu and Liu Shu, he was known as "the three masters," meaning they were respected and emulated by generations. During Emperor Huan's reign, he held various positions, including governor, Minister of Personnel, Da Honglu, Guanglu Xun, and Grand Tutor. He was upright and fearless of the powerful. When the Grand General Liang Ji sought favors, he sent a letter, but Chen Fan refused to meet him. When the messenger used tricks to meet Chen Fan, he angrily killed him. Li Ying and other party members were framed by the eunuchs, and Chen Fan repeatedly defended them with passionate words, earning the hatred of the eunuchs, who wanted to kill him but ultimately dared not due to his fame, settling for dismissing him instead. After Empress Dou took the throne, Chen Fan was reinstated to power. Initially, Emperor Huan planned to appoint Tian as Empress, but Chen Fan argued that the Tian family was of humble origin and the Dou family of good standing, strongly advocating for the Dou family. Eventually, Emperor Huan had to comply. Empress Dou was deeply grateful and appointed Chen Fan as Grand Tutor, sharing power with Dou Wu in the court. Dou Wu and Chen Fan both planned to eliminate the eunuchs and quickly agreed. They installed their trusted allies, reactivated Li Ying and Du Mi, and conspired to rise up, but their plans were repeatedly thwarted by Cao Jie and Wang Fang, who deceived Empress Dou and gained her trust. In the first year of Jianning (168 AD), in August, Dou Wu sent a memorial to arrest Cao Jie and others. Cao Jie and Wang Fang struck first, seizing Emperor Ling and kidnapping Empress Dou, issuing a false edict to arrest Dou Wu and others. Dou Wu refused the edict, shot the messenger, and mobilized thousands of soldiers to resist. Cao Jie and Wang Fang deployed troops to face Dou Wu, who was eventually defeated and committed suicide, along with his relatives and guests. Chen Fan personally led over 80 of his subordinates to respond to Dou Wu, but was surrounded and captured by Wang Fang, later executed in prison, with his family, disciples, and former subordinates dismissed and imprisoned. Although Dou Wu was the leader of the foreign relations faction, he was also a famous party member. He, like Chen Fan, could to some extent uphold integrity and oppose the eunuchs' excesses, and his actions against the eunuchs naturally won the support and admiration of the party members and scholars. Cao Cao, influenced by these thoughts, submitted memorials to defend Dou Wu and Chen Fan. He affirmed the integrity of Dou Wu and others while condemning the eunuchs' usurpation, striking at the core of the issue with sharp words, once again demonstrating his opposition to eunuch autocracy and his spirit of reforming politics. However, as his target was not only the eunuchs but also subtly pointed at Emperor Ling, and as he was not only revisiting past grievances but also addressing current issues, his suggestions were not adopted by Emperor Ling. After Dou Wu's death, his entire family was implicated, with only a two-year-old grandson, Dou Fu, escaping. Cao Jie and others learned of this and launched a fierce search. With the help of Dou Wu's disciples, such as Hu Teng, Dou Fu fled to the borders of Lingling. Hu Teng pretended Dou Fu was dead and raised him as his own son, changing his surname to Hu. Later, Dou Fu was recommended as a filial and incorrupt official in Guiyang. During the Jian'an period, he was appointed as a runner by Liu Biao, the governor of Jing Province. After Cao Cao seized Jing Province, he moved Dou Fu and his family to Ye City and placed him in the Prime Minister's Office. Dou Fu later died in battle against Ma Chao, shot in the chest. Cao Cao also submitted a memorial condemning the improper nominations of the officials.