Three Kingdoms: The Guan Family's Rebellious Son, Long Blessing Jing Xiang

When a person is about to die.

Everything you have experienced in your life will appear before your eyes like a picture.

It is just like a revolving flower, allowing the dying self to take one last look at his or her life.

And these scenes in Cao Cao's eyes...

We thought... these were all things we knew, and were topics that had been discussed, debated, and even talked about countless times by later generations.

But only Cao Cao himself knew...

Now, no one in the world knows what he saw. That was another Cao Cao. Only he himself remembered it.

The picture begins in the first year of Yongshou, which was 155 AD.

Many important things happened this year:

There was famine in Sili and Jizhou, and the people were cannibalizing their own children;

Zhang Huan, one of the Three Great Masters of Liang Province, defeated the Southern Xiongnu;

Zhang Daoling, the 122-year-old founder of Tianshi Dao, knew that his end was near, so he summoned the chief priests to instruct on matters concerning his afterlife.

In addition to these, there is another biggest event, that is, Cao Cao was born in this year——

From the moment he was born, his grandfather Cao Teng repeatedly gave instructions to his adopted son Cao Song.

——"Our parents are our previous lives, and our ancestors are our previous lives, so we must respect them!"

——"Children are our next life, and grandchildren are our next life, so we must cherish them especially!"

It was these words that started the inter-generational affection unique to the Cao family.

The next scene is when Cao Cao was six years old...

The wintersweet flowers that just opened in the cold weather are fragrant, and the sunset glows in the west and overlooks the imperial capital.

Cao Cao, who was dressed awkwardly, had been waiting under the crooked old locust tree at the street corner. When he saw his grandfather Cao Teng returning, he insisted on riding on his shoulders as usual.

When entering the door...Cao Teng was only concerned about whether Cao Cao on his shoulder would be hit by the door frame, but forgot the threshold under his feet.

The grandfather and grandson rushed forward together, but... even at the moment when they were about to fall to the ground, Cao Teng pushed the ground with his elbows, propped up his arms backwards, and with a "click" his right arm protected his grandson Cao Cao, but broke his own arm.

This fall... was destined to cause the Han Dynasty to lose one of its most loyal eunuchs, and also destined to cause the loss of the Grand Chamberlain, who was infinitely respected by the scholars and officials.

The conflict between scholars and eunuchs is destined to be irreconcilable at this moment.

Of course, Cao Cao didn't know this. He just thought his grandfather was asleep.

After barely surviving the New Year, Cao Teng left two last words to Cao Song the night before his death.

Article 1: The old house in Jinwu Lane in Luoyang City must be preserved;

The second rule is to educate my grandson Cao Cao into a talented person and let him study in the Imperial Academy!
Spirit flags fluttered, paper horses stood upright, the Cao family held a funeral—

Seeing that the three-year mourning period was over, in order to fulfill his father's last wish and allow Cao Cao to study at the Imperial College, Cao Song thought again and again, and finally worked late into the night to write "On Defense", and asked someone to present it to the court.

For this article, Cao Song racked his brains. He could not speak the truth, could not tell lies, could not say anything that the people above him did not want to hear, and could not say anything that could not be mentioned in front of the emperor and the eunuchs.

I can only say nice things, things that will please everyone, and cleverly point out the essence of the problem...

Add honey water to the herbs so they won’t taste bitter!
really…

This "On Defense" caused an uproar in the imperial court. Cao Song was re-employed as he wished, and he and Cao Cao moved back to their old house in Jinwu Lane in Luoyang.

In fact, there are village schools in counties, and county schools in local vassal states with a population of more than 100,000. Liu Biao's father established Lu State University in Lu State, and Cao Cao's hometown also has Pei State University. There are also village schools in counties. The lowest level and the most free is private school...

In order to allow Cao Cao to study at the Imperial Academy...

Cao Song went to great lengths to return to the imperial court from his hometown.

Who would have thought that the nine-year-old Cao Cao had a conflict with Yuan Shu on the first day of school, and then fought alone against three people, Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao and Yuan Ji, in front of the Fire God Temple.

Cao Cao bit Yuan Shu desperately, just like an old turtle, and refused to let go, allowing himself to be beaten...

He caught Yuan Shu and bit him.

Later, Yuan Feng and his son Yuan Shu went to Cao's house to ask for an explanation. Cao Song bowed and apologized, but Yuan Shu just kept rubbing the bitten body and sucking the honey.

Who would have thought... Even when Cao Cao was a child, he couldn't stand seeing such a villain succeed. He took out a kitchen knife from the kitchen, pointed at Yuan Shu and said, "I want to kill him——"

At that time…

Of course he did not succeed, but it is never too late for a gentleman to take revenge, even after ten or twenty years.

In the end, Yuan Shu... was defeated by Cao Cao, and he didn't even get to drink the last sip of honey before he died.

After that came the Party and Faction Persecution. Cao Cao, who was a student at the Imperial College at the time...as expected, stepped forward and took the lead in supporting the party members.

He was even thrown into jail several times.

But he was fearless. Every time Cao Song went to rescue him, he would mingle with the people in the prison and pat his chest to threaten, "My father is Cao Song, the Inspector of the Imperial Guards. I guarantee that they will let me go in less than three days. When that happens, I want my father to take you with him..." Huh? Dad? Why are you here?

And every time, Cao Song would respond with a cold and stern "Follow me" -

Cao Cao when he was young almost pissed him off to death...

He was the Inspector of the Imperial Capital, in charge of the Luoyang patrol. He was a figure similar to the "Uncle in the Hat" in later generations. Logically, he was ordered to arrest the party members, but who would have thought... his son was the first one to secretly help the party members escape.

Cao Song was so angry that he almost fumed. He slapped Cao Cao many times, but the more Cao Cao slapped him, the more determined he became to stand with the party members.

later…

He inexplicably joined some kind of "running friends" and even participated in the "Luo Jian Xing" operation with Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Zhang Miao, Xu You, Hu Wuban and other Taixue classmates... as well as Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan who were studying martial arts at Qishi Mountain, secretly protecting important party members and escorting them out of Kyoto.

Later, he became more and more enthusiastic...

After working hard until he graduated from the Imperial College, Cao Song, then the Minister of Agriculture, asked his good friend Sima Fang, the Inspector of the Imperial Capital, to recommend him, and he got Cao Cao the title of the Inspector of Luoyang North, in charge of the public security of the northern part of Luoyang... But, as soon as he took office, the five-color sticks and beatings of the powerful happened!
He beat the uncle of the popular eunuch Jian Shuo to death.

Later, he also participated in the action of the running friend, sneaked into Zhang Rang's mansion at night, and stole the confidential letter, but the noise was a bit loud, and Cao Cao was left alone to cover the rear, exposing his identity.

Fortunately... Cao Cao came from a powerful family, and Cao Song was the Minister of Agriculture and the Grand Herald, so after his family cleaned up the mess for him, Zhang Rang didn't do anything... so the matter was resolved from a big one to a small one.

Later, when Cao Cao was still a young man, he got married. In the process of marrying Ding Hui, the eldest daughter of the Ding family, he was unexpectedly attracted to Ding Hui's sister Ding Xiang... This was a big deal, he liked her so much, but... Ding Xiang had already been betrothed to his good brother and life-long friend Xiahou Yuan.

No matter how reckless Cao Cao was, he could not steal his good brother's woman.

Unable to obtain love, Cao Cao's mentality changed...

That is a desire buried deep in the heart for "someone else's wife"... such a "thief mentality".

It was at this moment that the term "Cao thief" that would later become famous was officially born from here! It took root and sprouted! It grew vigorously!
Then came the wedding night. Cao Cao went to the right room but entered the wrong bridal chamber. He actually slept with Ding Hui's maid Liu who came with her as a dowry... It didn't matter that he slept with her, but he unexpectedly gave birth to Cao Ang, Cao Suo, and Princess Qinghe.

Perhaps, this is also the reason why Mrs. Ding and Cao Cao were destined to break up completely after the Battle of Wancheng.

to here…

Those things that outsiders didn't know seemed to have been recalled and told.

oh…

Not even close.

These are the principles he learned in the Imperial Academy, and the significance of his outlook on life that he established after the end of the campaign against Dong Zhuo, when he completely turned evil... and before he became completely disappointed with the world.

That is the entrance to the Imperial College, that huge piece of stone that has stood on Mount Hua for nearly two hundred years, and on it are written eight characters by Dongfang Shuo that are thick, unrestrained, and dignified.

——The emperor’s assistant and the country’s pillar!

That was Qiao Xuan, who was wearing a black and purple long-sleeved robe with a waist, a doctoral hat on his head, and a beautiful beard reaching his chest. Cao Cao would never forget the questions he asked the president of the Imperial Academy when he first met him in the Imperial Academy.

"Hey, Aman, how much did your father spend to get you here?"

Cao Cao wanted to tell the truth, but when he saw Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu coming, he immediately became a dandy, curled his lips, raised his thumb, and pointed his finger backwards, "Do I need to pay to go to the Imperial College? Who is my father? Who am I?"

Of course, this statement was inevitably met with sarcasm from Yuan Shao.

"Don't brag, you Cao Man. With your character, recruiting you will only hold our entire class back—"

Cao Cao also could not forget the first class he taught Qiao Xuan.

Qiao Xuan then raised a question: Why do people live?

Cao Cao is thinking...

Qiao Xuan has already expressed what he has realized at his age.

"At 30, you should be able to stand on your own feet. In the first 30 years of your life, you should experience a wide range of things. Don't be afraid of failure, because a meaningful life is always full of challenges. -"

"There is birth and there is death. Don't ask for a good reputation in the future, because that has nothing to do with you as a living person. The fact that you can come to the Imperial College is already a miracle of life. Standing at the top of the academic world and occupying more resources, you should seek welfare for more people. Live like a human being in these few short decades you have-"

This was the first time Cao Cao was excited. He was so excited that he blinked repeatedly, as if Qiao Xuan's words brought salty hot tears to his restless soul.

In the Imperial Academy, he learned that... having the talent to govern the country and the ability to save the world are the foundations of being an advisor to the emperor and a pillar of the country.

In the Imperial College, he learned that…there were six occupations in the state, and all craftsmen were involved in one of them.

In the Imperial Academy, he learned the art of war from the great Han war god Duan Xing. In the first lesson, Duan Xing asked them to throw away their cushions, tables, and mats...

Let everyone bring a stool!

He told Cao Cao that from now on he should call himself general, and let Cao Cao make a choice whether to be a counselor or a military general!
The books Duan Xing listed in class included Guiguzi, Sima Fa, Wei Liaozi, Wu Zi Bingfa, and Sun Zi Bingfa...

As well as the war preparation chapter in "Mozi", "Six Strategies" and "Three Strategies", Cao Cao has read these countless times.

It’s also strange…

Being naturally active, he could only calm down when reading the Art of War, as if he were in a whole new world. It can be said that Duan Yu laid the foundation for Cao Cao's military theory.

The person who turned this theory into practice was another war god of the Han Dynasty, Huangfu Song, who was an expert in war but a layman in officialdom. Of course, this is a story for later.

It can be said that… in the Imperial Academy, everything from siege warfare, strategic warfare, and survival in the wild;
From carpentry, house building, forging...

Even as small as hooping barrels, chiseling stones, smashing copper basins, chiseling pots, grinding mirrors, forging iron... there are even medical skills, pharmacology, music theory, musical instruments...

In the Imperial Academy, Cao Cao learned so much, so much, so much.

He even met the great master of Han classics, Zheng Xuan, in the Imperial Academy.

The senior teacher and teacher he knew who was both his mentor and friend was also his superior when he later served as a counselor - Cai Yong!
He Yong gave his Imperial College graduation remarks...

Too much too much…

In addition to those known to the world, there are so many, so many things that are rarely mentioned -

finally…

The pictures become more and more concrete.

The white silk was around Cao Cao's neck, and the suffocating feeling seemed to bring him back to the harsh winter.

What a glorious journey of life this is. Cao Cao is suffocating, his eyes are bloodshot, he is looking at the cold light of the cold moon shining in through the window, the crackling flames in the brazier. In such a long night, he has plenty of time to search his memory.

The snow on the way back home with my grandfather's coffin -

Purple paulownia flowers blooming all over Qiao County——

Running in the streets and alleys of Luoyang under the sun, the ignorant years of playing cats and fighting dogs——

The sacrificial ceremony on the day of university entrance is held——

Learning to drive a horse-drawn carriage, both the driver and the carriage fell into the water -

Climb the wall, fall heavily down -

Various mistakes in the "Hundred Skills" class -

During the graduation performance, the wheels suddenly moved.

The Northern Commander of Luoyang, sitting on that three-legged chair, made him fall on his back;
The Yellow River burst its banks in Dunqiu, and the people howled in despair to the sky;

He, Cao Cao, and hundreds of villagers were blocking the breaching waves;

Digging pits on the battlefield to bury countless innocent people who were killed;

Eight characters carved on the stone beside the single-plank bridge of the Imperial College;
What Qiao Xuan said to him on the single-plank bridge;

When Zheng Xuan came to the Imperial College, all the teachers and students knelt down;
Cai Yong plays the zither——

Duan Yu stood on the top of the city wall directing the performance;

Xu Shao's Yuedan Review——

He Yong wrote a comment on his graduation certificate:

In Jinan, temples of living people were torn down one after another, and the people applauded.

The people of Jibei sent his boat dozens of miles along the south bank of the Yellow River.

Crushing against the Yellow Turbans, heavy snow fell on the way back from Jizhou.

Sharing music with the people in the city of Dongyu under the moonlight——

Kneeling down to Huangfu Song several times——

My father cried when he told me about his experience of being forced to take bribes.

When the emperor was rewarding his troops, he held his hands, which were covered with chilblains and blood, and made him feel warm...

Since then…

Cao Cao spent his youth years of being "loyal to the Han Dynasty".

This... was his original intention.

This was his original intention and mission for him to have "Tomb of General Cao Cao of the Han Dynasty's Western Expedition" engraved on his tombstone.

But after all, the world was not created by him alone, nor could it develop in the way he wanted. He used his youth, adolescence, and the first half of his prime to try to be a "loyal man of the Han Dynasty" and a capable minister in governing the country.

But... he was trapped in a vicious circle of being repeatedly dismissed, having no official position to hold, and having no hope of being saved, and he fell into greater despair each time.

All he can do... is inherit, no matter good, bad, unfair, unreasonable... It seems that he can only inherit?

Do not…

There is another way, that is to "break"!
Break the chaotic old order and establish a completely new social system the way he wants.

But the bad thing is that he has to face a chaotic era where the country is no longer a country and the family is no longer a family.

Fortunately, he saved the Han Empire by establishing the Wei Dynasty, eliminating the bad, fighting the bad, and establishing a fair and ideal Datong society...

Looking at the world, looking at the next five hundred years? Who else has such an opportunity?
See from here, think from here...

His life was worth it!
Worth it!
The only regret is that he used a dark way to carry out his original intention.

--"I…"

A hoarse voice came from the white silk.

The following words are even more hoarse...

——"I wish to devote my whole life to...success..."

This is the last whisper under suffocation.

It is a parting message from King Wei.

——"The assistant of Emperor Cheng, the pillar of the country!"

Don’t forget your original intention…

Cao Cao's death fulfilled his original intention, was the mission of his first half of life, and was also the end of his life.

——I wish to devote my entire life to becoming the emperor’s assistant and a pillar of the country!
If he lives his life...

How nice would it be if there was only the first half of life?

If he had only used the first half of his life to practice, then... maybe there wouldn't be so many keyboard historians in the future who would chatter and argue endlessly...

There wouldn't be so many people praising, criticizing, mourning, regretting, and denouncing his merits and demerits.

...

...

Under the dim solitary lamp——

The Art of War is on the left, and the Zuo Zhuan is in my hand...

Guan Yu suddenly shuddered.

This feeling is very strange, as if suddenly... I lost something, no, I lost something precious.

The tranquility of the moon casts a white light through the window——

"Father…"

Guan Ping was seen rushing in.

Guan Yu saw his frightened expression and couldn't help asking, "What's the matter?"

"It's Cao Cao..." Guan Ping chanted, then quickly stepped forward and whispered something in Guan Yu's ear.

Guan Yu's originally narrowed eyes suddenly widened, almost popping out.

His unchanging expressionless face, at this moment... began to tremble stiffly, and the trembling became more and more severe——

His heart was beating wildly at this moment.

boom--

boom--

boom--

Finally, after a long silence, Guan Yu's rare hoarse voice was heard, enunciating each word.

"Cao Cao? Is Cao Cao really dead?"

"died?"

Guan Yu's whole body trembled, his legs staggered, and he fell to one side.

Guan Ping quickly held on to...

But Guan Yu was still a little dazed.

"Cao Cao? Is he really...really dead?"

...

…(End of chapter)