Appreciation of Cao Cao's character?

Cao Cao (155-220) was born in Guo Peiqiao County (now Bozhou, Anhui Province). Guanjue to Wang Wei, prime minister and Jizhou shepherd. The founder and founder of Wei State. Great statesman, strategist, writer, poet and Han nationality of the Chinese nation. Politically and militarily, Cao Cao eliminated many separatist forces in the north, unified most of northern China, and implemented a series of policies to restore economic production and social order, which laid the foundation for the founding of Cao Wei. In literature, under the impetus of Cao Cao and his son, Jian 'an literature represented by three Cao Cao (Cao Cao, Cao Pi and Cao Zhi) was formed, which was called Jian 'an style in history and left a glorious stroke in the history of literature. After Cao Pi replaced the Han Dynasty, Cao Cao was honored as "Wei Wu the Great" and his temple name was "Wei Taizu".

Great China, a long river. Great men, the sun and the moon shine together. They can do anything, waving whips and cutting off the water. Cao Cao, Wei Wudi about 1800 years ago, was such a great statesman and strategist in the history of China and even the world. Cao Cao was great because he opened a brand-new era-the Three Kingdoms, the Jin Dynasty and the Southern and Northern Dynasties. This 400-year-old era is a period of great division of feudal society and great ethnic integration in China. It is an important transitional period, connecting Qin and Han Dynasties and creating a prosperous Sui and Tang Dynasties.

Cao Cao's influence on this period is undoubtedly enormous. First of all, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, when the warlords became independent and the people were in dire straits, they called for someone who could turn the tide and unify China. Cao Cao complied with the call of the times and unified two-thirds of China with his extraordinary political and military abilities, which laid a solid foundation for the unification of the Western Jin Dynasty in the future. Secondly, in order to reverse the decadent atmosphere of the literati class since the Party Lock Rebellion in the Eastern Han Dynasty, he took the lead in putting forward the employment strategy of "appointing people on merit", which was not adopted by most rulers in this period, but indirectly affected the future reform of the official selection system-the transition from the imperial examination system to the imperial examination system; Thirdly, he created Jian 'an literary world, making it one of the most brilliant times in the history of China literature.

Generally speaking, Cao Cao has six great achievements: First, he decided to build the capital and defend the Han Dynasty; Second, develop farmland and develop economy; Third, gallop the Central Plains and subdue Hexi; Fourth, we should go to Guandu to unify North China. Fifth, assess the situation and explore the virtual country; Sixth, break through the secular, meritocratic.

Cao Cao made such great achievements because he promulgated three measures:

First, "serve the son of heaven and make him disobedient." Although the Han Dynasty existed in name only, it still had spiritual authority. Cao Cao knows this very well. He "started his military career" and used the political situation to win the initiative to defeat his political enemies in the future.

Second, "cultivate and plant and store military assets." Due to the destruction of war and natural disasters, a large number of farmers have been displaced, and a large area of cultivated land has been deserted, resulting in unprecedented destruction of production. According to historical records, even great warlords like Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, who crossed the state or even the county, relied on looting to maintain their rations, but they just lacked food. In Cao Cao's poem, he said, "Bones are exposed in the wild, and there is no cock crow for thousands of miles. There are hundreds of people left behind, and their thoughts are broken. " It is a true portrayal of this situation. Therefore, since he decided to make the capital, he nationalized the barren farmland and organized a wasteland organization to recruit refugees and let them engage in food production. The "Three Kingdoms" said: "Within a few years, all the millet and granaries were full."

Third, "meritocracy is the best way", and three orders are to seek talents. Regardless of his family background, wealth and personal enmity, he took the court as a call to recruit talents from all over the world, so that the wise and brave people at that time returned to the water and became the ruling capital.

However, gold alone is not enough, and no one is perfect. Although Cao Cao has such outstanding talents and made such great achievements, he has two shortcomings after all: he promotes talents at all costs, sometimes goes to extremes, and even ignores the minimum courtesy and shame in order to get talents for governing the country. It is true that in the special historical era of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, it is of positive significance to formulate such rules, and with Cao Cao's skill, it will not cause serious consequences. However, this has not fundamentally reversed the decadent spirit, but has intensified. It makes people pursue fame and wealth, regardless of shame. Ethics is the dam of spirit. Once this dam is breached, it will cause a cross-flow of the world. Later, in the period of Emperor Wu of Jin Dynasty, from the emperor to the scholar-officials, it was even more extravagant.

The second hidden danger caused by Cao Cao is the treatment of ethnic groups that move inward. In the 12th year of Jian 'an, Cao Cao broke Wuhuan in the north and moved the East Lake minority to Hebei. For the Xiongnu in the north, it was placed in Bingzhou and ruled by five departments. This will undoubtedly play a positive role in promoting national integration. However, these ethnic groups still retain their aggressive customs and learn the political and military strategies of the Han people. Once the Central Plains changes, they will whip south, posing a direct threat to the capital.

But Cao Cao has made great achievements after all. Although he caused the above consequences, his starting point is positive, so we can't blame Cao Cao for these mistakes.