Zi Zhi Tong Jian

Chapter 23 The Han Dynasty: The Banquet of the Hongmen (11)
【Translation】

The second year of Jianning, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty (AD 169)
On the way to escape, Zhang Jian was in dire straits, and whenever he saw a place with a door, he would go to seek shelter.There is no master who does not take him in at the risk of ruining his family because he admires his reputation and virtue.Afterwards, he wandered to Donglai County several times, and temporarily took refuge in Li Du's house.Mao Qin, the county magistrate of Waihuang County, came to Li Du's gate with a weapon in his hand. Li Du led Mao Qin to his seat and said, "Zhang Jian is a fugitive who has committed a serious crime. How dare I harbor him! If he is really here with me, this man He is a celebrity in our country, don't you just want to arrest him and bring him to justice?" Mao Qin then stood up, stroked Li Du's shoulder and said, "Qu Boyu is ashamed to enjoy the good reputation of a gentleman alone, now you Why do you want to monopolize benevolence and righteousness?" Li Du replied, "I am going to share it with you now, and you have already obtained half of it." So Mao Qin left with a sigh.Li Du immediately led Zhang Jian to the home of actor Ran in Beihai County, and then went to Yuyang County, where he fled beyond the Great Wall.Since Zhang Jian fled, more than a dozen people who went to the families along the road were killed by the government for harboring and taking him in. Almost all the people who were implicated and arrested and interrogated were all over the world. The clans of these people were also wiped out. Disasters have even made some counties dilapidated and depressed.

Zhang Jian was an old friend with Kong Bao, a native of Lu. When he went to join Kong Bao, Kong Bao was not at home. Kong Bao's younger brother Kong Rong was only 16 years old at the time, so he hid Zhang Jian at home on his own initiative.Later, the matter was revealed and Zhang Jian was able to escape, so the Prime Minister of the State of Lu arrested Kong Bao and Kong Rong, and threw them into prison. They did not know who should be sentenced to prison.Kong Rong said, "It was I, Kong Rong, who accepted Zhang Jian and hid him in my house, so I should be imprisoned." Kong Bao said, "Zhang Jian came here for me, and it was not my brother's fault. "The official in charge of the case went to ask their mothers for their opinions. The mother said: "The elders are responsible for the housework of a family, so I should be blamed for this crime." Jian's death caused the county and county officials to hesitate to make a ruling, so they reported it to the court.Emperor Ling issued an edict to kill Kong Bao as atonement.After the party ban was lifted, Zhang Jian was able to return to his hometown, and was later named Wei Wei by the court. When he died, he was 84 years old.

At first, when Xia Fu heard the news of Zhang Jian’s escape, he sighed, “I should be responsible for the evil I have done, but I have to implicate those kind-hearted people out of thin air. One person flees for his life, but thousands of families suffer disasters, and there is no one else.” What is the need to live!" So he shaved off his beard, changed his appearance, and fled to Linlu Mountain, where he concealed his identity and worked as a servant for someone who smelted metal. After two or three years, no one knew who he was.Xia Fu's younger brother, Xia Jing, was carrying silk and wanted to give it to him as a gift.But Xia Fu resolutely refused to accept it, and said to Xia Jing: "Brother, why did you bring me disaster?" He died before the party ban was lifted.

[Comment and Analysis]

During the reign of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling of the Eastern Han Dynasty, eunuchs dominated the government and were very rampant.Some officials and literati with a sense of justice joined forces to create momentum and attack the eunuch group.These people were called "party members" by the eunuch group, and they were persecuted greatly. Many high-ranking officials and celebrities were executed, which was called "the disaster of the party's imprisonment" in history.Zhang Jian was a key criminal wanted by the imperial court. He was forced to hide in Tibet and begged to be taken in.The world respects Zhang Jian's reputation and virtue, and protects him even at the risk of family ruin.

Traitor Cao Cao
[Original text]

The First Year of Zhongping, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty

Cao's father, Song, was the adopted son of Cao Teng, who served Zhongchang, and he could not judge his birth and origin, or the son of Yun Xiahou's family.Cao is less alert and has power, while Ren Xia is dissolute and dies in the industry.The world is not surprised, but Taiwei Qiaoxuan and Nanyang He Yong are different.Xuan said to Cao Cao: "The world will be in chaos. If you are not a talented person, you will not be able to save it. The one who can make peace depends on the king!" Seeing Cao, he sighed and said: "The Han family will perish, and the one who will bring peace to the world must be this person." "Xuan Zhicao said: "If you are not well-known, you can hand it over to Xu Zijiang." The son-in-law is trained by Zi Shaoye, who is good at human relations and is appreciated by many. He and his elder brother Jing are both well-known, and they are easy to discuss with each other. Township party figures change their titles every month, so there is a custom in Runan to comment on the first day of the month.Tasted as a meritorious Cao of the county, the mansion heard about it, and they all changed their behavior.Cao Cao went to Zao Shao and asked, "How am I like a human being?" Shao despised him as a human being and did not answer.Cao Cao was robbed, and Shao said: "My son, a capable minister who governs the world, and a traitor in troubled times." Cao Cao left happily.

【Translation】

The first year of Zhongping, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty (184 A.D.)
Cao Cao's father, Cao Song, was the adopted son of Cao Teng, the Zhongchang servant. His original surname has not been studied, but it is said to be Xiahou's.Cao Cao has been very alert since he was a child, very strategic, proficient in power tactics, and likes to be chivalrous, his behavior is extremely dissolute, and he is not good at running the family business.So at that time, no one thought he had anything special, except Taiwei Qiaoxuan and He Yong from Nanyang who looked at him differently.Qiao Xuan once said to him: "The world is about to fall into chaos. If it is not for the extraordinary talents, the world cannot be saved. I am afraid that you are the one who can quell the chaos." He Yong also sighed after seeing Cao Cao: " The world of the Han Dynasty is about to fall, and the one who can bring peace to the world in the future must be this person.” Qiao Xuan therefore suggested to Cao Cao: “You are not well-known in the world now, so you can befriend Xu Zijiang.” Xu Zijiang is Xu Zijiang. Xun's nephew Xu Shao, Xu Shao likes to socialize, is good at identifying a person's character and ability, and his cousin Xu Jing has a high reputation.The two like to judge local famous people together, and refer to what these people have done, revise the comments and ranking order month by month.Therefore, people in Runan call it "Yuedan Ping".Xu Shao used to be a great person in charge of personnel management in the county mansion. The officials in the mansion heard of his reputation and did not embellish their conduct indiscreetly in order to get a good comment.Cao Cao then went to visit Xu Shao and asked him what he thought of himself, saying, "What do you think of me?" Xu Shao always despised Cao Cao, so he kept silent.After being threatened by Cao Cao, Xu Shao reluctantly said: "You can be a capable minister in a peaceful and prosperous age, but you can become a generation of traitors in a troubled world." After Cao Cao heard this, he left very happy.

[Original text]

The first year of Xingping, Emperor Xiaoxian of the Han Dynasty.Lü Buyoubie stationed in the west of Puyang, Cao Cao attacked and broke it at night, but failed to return it.Will spread to, fight by oneself, from day to day, tens of times, the stalemate is very urgent.The recruiters were trapped in Chen, and Sima Chen Liu Dianwei took the recruiters into the trap, and spread the bows and crossbows randomly, and the arrows rained like rain.Wei didn't see it, saying that the others said: "The captive comes ten steps away, and he will be white." The others said: "Ten steps away." He also said: "Five steps will be white." The others were afraid, and said quickly, "The captive is here!" Wei Chi's halberd rose with a loud cry, and all those who arrived were knocked down, and the crowd retreated.When the sun goes down, you have to lead it away.Captain Baiwei ordered hundreds of generals to surround the big tent with hundreds of soldiers.

The Tian family in Puyang was a rebellion, so they entered the city and burned its east gate, showing no resentment.And in the battle, the army was defeated, and the cloth cavalry got Cao Cao but didn't know it. He asked, "Where is Cao Cao?"

【Translation】

The first year of Xingping, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty (AD 194).One of Lu Bu's troops stationed in the west of Puyang, Cao Cao took advantage of the night to attack and break it.This army had not had time to evacuate in the future, just in time for Lu Bu to come to rescue.Lu Bu personally went into battle and fought for dozens of rounds from early morning to sunset. The two armies were deadlocked, and the situation was very urgent.Cao Cao then recruited warriors to fight against the enemy. Sima and Chen Liuren Dianwei led the recruited warriors to resist the attack of Lu Bu's army in front of the formation.Thousands of arrows were fired from Lu Bu's army, and the arrows fell like rain.Dian Wei turned a blind eye to the enemy, and said to the strong men, "Wait until the enemy is only ten steps away from us, and then tell me." The strong men said, "It's only ten steps away." Dian Wei said again: "Tell me when the distance is only five steps away." Seeing that the enemy army has arrived, those strong men were terrified, and hurriedly shouted: "The enemy has arrived!" Dian Wei held the iron halberd, shouted, and charged Entering the enemy's formation, the enemy on the opposite side fell head-on, and Lu Bu's army retreated again and again.Just when it was getting late, Cao Cao was able to lead his troops to retreat.After returning to the camp, Cao Cao immediately promoted Dian Wei to be the captain, and asked him to lead hundreds of soldiers on weekdays to be responsible for guarding around his big tent.

The surname Tian in Puyang County carried out countermeasures for Lv Bu, pretending to be Cao Cao's internal support.After allowing Cao Cao to easily enter Puyang City, he set fire to the east gate he passed through, indicating that he would not retreat again.After the battle with Lu Bu, Cao's army was defeated. After Lu Bu's cavalry captured Cao Cao, they didn't recognize him, and asked, "Where is Cao Cao?" Cao Cao replied, "The man who escaped on the yellow horse is Cao Cao." Lu Bu The knights under him let go of Cao Cao and went to chase the man on the yellow horse.

[Comment and Analysis]

"A capable minister in governing the world, a traitor in troubled times", this is the best evaluation of Cao Cao.The white-faced treacherous Cao Cao on the stage is no longer a historical prototype, especially after the exaggeration in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", it fully demonstrated Cao Cao's treacherous and cunning side.In fact, Cao Cao in history was not only a far-sighted politician, but also a strategist who used soldiers like a god, and a writer with brilliant literary talents.He was at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty when the warlords were fighting. He "took the emperor to order the princes", led the army to pacify several warlords, stabilized the north, and then continued to attack Soochow to the south and Xishu to the west.However, due to the alliance between Wu and Shu, Cao Cao's plan did not succeed, and he could only end in depression in the end.

Battle of Guandu
[Original text]

Emperor Xiaoxian of the Han Dynasty lived in Jian'an for five years.Cao Cao returned to Guandu, and Shao Nai proposed to attack Xu.

Shao transported thousands of grain carts to Guandu.Xun You said to Cao Cao: "Shao Yun's chariot arrived at dusk, and his general Han Meng sharpened and underestimated the enemy. Hit, you can break it!" Cao Cao said: "Who can send an emissary?" You said: "Xu Huang can." He sent the partial general Hedong Xu Huang and Shi Huan attacked fiercely, smashed them away, and burned their belongings.

In winter, in October, Shao Fu sent chariots to transport the valley, so that he sent Chunyu Qiong and other generals with more than ten thousand soldiers to stay forty miles north of Shaoying.Jushou said to Shao: "You can send Jiang Qibie as a support army to the table, so as to reject Cao Cao's banknotes." Shao refused.Xu You said: "Cao Cao's troops are few and his troops reject me. If he leaves the rest to guard, he will be weak. If he dispatches a light army to cover up the attack, he will be allowed to pull it out. Xu Ba will flatter the emperor to ask for it, and he will become a chicken. Hey. If it is not broken, you can make the head and tail run for their lives, and it will be broken." Shao refused, saying: "I will take the lead first." Huiyou's family violated the law, and the trial and dispatch took him in, and you were angry, so he ran to fight.

【Translation】

The fifth year of Jian'an, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty (200 A.D.)
Cao Cao returned to Guandu to garrison, and Yuan Shao negotiated with his subordinates to attack Xudu.Thousands of Yuan Shao's troops arrived at Guandu in carts transporting grain and grass.Xun You said to Cao Cao, "Yuan Shao's convoy transporting supplies will arrive soon. The general Han Meng in the escort team is brave but underestimates the enemy. If you attack, you can defeat him!" Cao Cao asked, "Who is the most suitable to send?" Xun You said: "Xu Huang can." So Cao Cao sent general Xu Huang from Hedong and Shi Huan to intercept Han Meng on the way, then repelled Han Meng and burned the luggage.

In winter and October, Yuan Shao sent a large number of vehicles to transport grain and grass. This time, General Chun Yuqiong and others led more than 1 soldiers to escort them, and they stayed forty miles north of Yuan Shao's camp.Jushou persuaded Yuan Shao: "You can send Jiang Qi to lead another army to patrol the periphery of the grain transport team to prevent Cao Cao from sending troops to attack." Yuan Shao didn't listen at all.Xu You also said: "Cao Cao's troops are few and far between, and now they are concentrating all their strength to resist our army. Xudu will be guarded by the rest of the people, and the defense must be empty. If we send another army to advance lightly and attack overnight, we can capture Xudu in one fell swoop. If Xudu is captured, you can flatter the emperor to attack Cao Cao, and then Cao Cao will definitely be captured. Even if he can’t be defeated immediately, but he can’t care about each other, he will be exhausted, and he will definitely be defeated in the end.” Yuan Shao still did not obey. His opinion was very firm and he said: "I must capture Cao Cao first." At this time, someone in Xu You's family broke the law, and the judge who stayed in Yecheng arrested his family. Xu You learned the news Afterwards, he became furious and defected to Cao Cao in a fit of anger.

[Original text]

When Cao Wenyou came, he went out to meet him, stroked his palms and smiled and said, "Ziqing is coming from afar, and I can help you!" After taking his seat, he said to Cao Cao, "Why do you treat Yuan's army well? How much food do you have now?" Cao said: "You can still support one year old." You said: "Nothing, let's say it!" And said: "It can support half a year old." You said: "Do you want to break Yuan's evil with one step? How can you say that it is not true? Yes!" Cao said, "to the ear of the play. In fact, it can be a month, so what can I do?" You said, "Gong's army is alone, there is no rescue outside, and the food and grain are exhausted. This is a critical day. Yuan's luggage is heavy. There are more than ten thousand troops in Gushi and Wuchao, and the garrisons are not well-prepared. If they attack them with light soldiers, they will come unexpectedly, and their accumulation will be burnt. In three days, the Yuan family will be defeated."

Cao Cao was overjoyed, so he left Cao Hong and Xun You to guard the camp. He would ride 5000 men on foot, all with Yuan Jun's flag, tied to the horse's mouth, and came out from the gap at night. Yuan Gong was afraid that Cao Cao would use his money to attack the rear army, so he sent troops to prepare for it." Those who heard it believed it, and they were all at ease.As soon as it arrived, the camp was surrounded and set on fire, causing confusion in the camp.Huiming, when Qiong and others saw that there were few soldiers in Cao Cao, he went out of Chen's gate and attacked Cao Cao quickly. Qiong withdrew from the security camp and Cao Cao attacked them.

Shaowen Cao attacked Qiong, saying that his son Tan said: "Just Cao Cao will break Qiong, and I will pull out his camp, and he will have nothing to return to!" So he ordered Gao Lan, Zhang Yun and others to attack Cao Cao's camp.He said: "Grand Cao's elite troops go, and they will destroy Qiong and others. When Qiong is defeated, the matter will be gone. Please go and rescue them first." Guo Tugu asked to attack Cao's camp.He said: "Mr. Cao's camp is solid, and if you attack it, you will not be able to pull it out. If Qiong and others see the birds, all of my subordinates will be captured." Shao Dan sent light cavalry to rescue Qiong, but attacked Cao's camp with heavy troops, and could not go down.

【Translation】

When Cao Cao heard that Xu You had come to join him, he was so happy that he didn't bother to put on his shoes. He ran out barefoot to meet him, and clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Xu Ziqing, you have come from a long way, so that my great event can be successful!" After sitting down , Xu You asked Cao Cao: "Yuan Jun has enough food, what do you use to deal with him? How much food and grass do you have now?" Cao Cao said, "It can last for another year." Xu You said: "It is impossible to have so much, please Say it again." Cao Cao said again: "It can last for half a year." Xu You said: "Don't you want to defeat Yuan Shao? Why didn't you tell the truth?" Cao Cao said: "Just now I was just joking with you, but in fact it can only last One month, what should we do?" Xu You said: "You are alone, there are no troops outside to rescue, and now the food and grass are running out, this is a critical moment of life and death. Yuan Shao has 1 baggage vehicles Many vehicles were stationed in Gushi and Wuchao, where the defense is not tight. If light soldiers are sent to sneak attack, they will catch the opponent by surprise and burn their food, grass and military supplies. Within three days, Yuan Shao's The army will be defeated by itself."

Cao Cao was overjoyed after hearing this, so he left Cao Hong and Xun You to guard the camp, and then personally led [-] infantry and cavalry to attack.The army all carried the banner of Yuan Jun, and asked the soldiers to hold small wooden sticks in their mouths and tie up the horses' mouths to prevent any noise.If a passer-by interrogated him, he replied: "Grand Yuan was afraid that Cao Cao would attack the rear luggage, so he sent troops to strengthen the defense." Everyone who heard it believed it and was completely defenseless.After Cao Jun arrived at Wuchao, he surrounded Yuan Jun's luggage from all sides and started setting fire, causing chaos in Yuan Jun's camp.At this time, it was already dawn, and Chunyu Qiong and others saw that Cao Jun had few soldiers, so they opened up outside the camp. Cao Cao led the army to clash violently.

(End of this chapter)