The Complete Biography of Cao Cao
Chapter 5 Ruling the Army by Law: Strict Military Discipline Competing in the Central Plains
Chapter 5 Ruling the Army by Law: Strict Military Discipline Competing in the Central Plains
[-]. Strict law enforcement, clear rewards and punishments
Although Cao Cao himself was treacherous and suspicious, he had lofty prestige and authority, which made the generals trust him deeply.This is also the result of his strict discipline and strict order in the army.
As an incomparable military strategist and statesman, Cao Cao is well aware of the role and power of the legal system.When he first took charge of the public security affairs in the north of Luoyang City, he enforced the law like a mountain and dared to face difficulties.In order to expand his influence, he also took the uncle of the eunuch Jian Shuo, a celebrity around the emperor, to operate, and finally eliminated the public security problem in Luoyang.When he served as the prime minister of Jinan, he severely punished the local officials and bullies who had misbehaved. The government of Jinan was clear for a while, and the people praised it.
Through political practice in different positions, Cao Cao fully realized the importance of the rule of law.Therefore, after Cao Cao raised his army, he combined the rule of law with the strict military discipline of military strategists to form a military rule of strict law enforcement and clear rewards and punishments.During the more than 25 years from Chen Liu's army to his death in the 220th year of Jian'an (30 AD), Cao Cao formulated and promulgated a series of military regulations.This is an important factor why he can defeat the strong with the weak and is not afraid of strong enemies.So even Cao Cao's enemies had to admire Cao Cao's ability to govern the army while gnashing their teeth at Cao Cao.
Cao Cao's military orders were strict, and he led his troops to fight by relying on his wisdom in governing the army. He left Cao Wei with a strict management system, so Wei Guo did not rely on the rule of man like the Shu Han to maintain it.From this point of view, Cao Cao deserves to be a real politician.
Cao Cao has a legal concept that surpasses his contemporaries.He personally formulated various military orders and decrees, and took the lead in strictly implementing them.Among them, the specific regulations for marching operations include the "Warship Order", "Military Order", and "Infantry Battle Order", etc.
In the "Warship Order", it is stipulated that before boarding the warship, the first drum is beaten to start preparations; after the second drum is beaten, the Shizhang and Wuchang will board the boat first, arrange the slotted oars, and then the soldiers will board the boat with weapons and take their positions. ; beat the third drum, and the large and small warships set off in turn. They are not allowed to cross at will, and those who violate the order will be beheaded.
The "Military Order" stipulates that soldiers can open and debug during the march, but they are not allowed to take arrows, and in the barracks, they are not allowed to draw their bows;After the drum beats and walks three miles, the spears and halberds can be pulled obliquely, the flags can be rolled up, and the drums can be stopped; military officials are not allowed to kill animals and sell them in the barracks;Violators will be punished by sentencing.
In the "Infantry Combat Order", it is stipulated that when you are in battle, you are not allowed to make noise, but listen to the sound of the drums. Wherever the command flag points, you must rush there; when a unit is attacked by the enemy, other units must go to rescue; It is not allowed to walk freely in the army formation; when soldiers are about to fight, they are not allowed to snatch the clothing of cattle and horses, and those who disobey the order will be beheaded.
It can be seen from this that some of Cao Cao's regulations on marching and combat are clear and specific, rather than general and abstract, so that it is easy for soldiers to grasp.In other respects, military orders and regulations can basically be fine-tuned.
These decrees promulgated by Cao Cao are not empty words on the table, but each item must be strictly implemented.In actual implementation, his attitude is also very serious.He once said: "I have never heard that if the incompetent and the soldiers who are not brave enough to fight are rewarded and rewarded, they can make meritorious deeds and make the country prosperous. Therefore, a wise king will not do this. In peacetime, you can Advocate virtue, but in times of war we must reward those who have meritorious service.” He did what he said, and the famous examples he rewarded can be said to be everywhere.
Cao Cao also made it clear: "Rewarding without punishment is not the law of the country. Generals lead troops to go out to war, and those who are defeated must be punished according to the law, and those who cause losses must be dismissed and their titles will be cut off." This is for those who follow the trend, For generals who are proud of their achievements, it is undoubtedly a beneficial restraint.
Cao Cao concluded in the note of "Sun Tzu's Art of War": "Treating soldiers should not be blindly favored or punished blindly. It is the reward and punishment that must be strictly enforced according to the law. If not, they are like pampered children. If you don't obey discipline, it will harm them instead, and you won't be able to use them well."
After Cao Cao was defeated by Zhang Xiu in Wancheng, Xiahou Dun's Qingzhou soldiers took advantage of the situation and went to the countryside to plunder people's homes.Lieutenant Pinglu Yu Jin ordered that anyone who saw Qingzhou soldiers behaving badly should be killed immediately, without mercy, in order to appease the villagers.Qingzhou soldiers complained to Cao Cao in tears, and they all falsely accused Yu Jin of rebellion and wanted to drive all Qingzhou soldiers and horses to death.Cao Cao was shocked when he heard this.After a while, Xiahou Dun, Xu Chu, Li Dian, and Le Jin all arrived.Cao Cao discussed with the people that if Yu Jin really rebelled, he must meet with swords and soldiers, and he would not be merciful.
Seeing that Cao Cao and others had arrived, Yu Jin led his troops to shoot at the corners of the formation and began to set up camp.Someone told Yu Jin: "The Qingzhou army said in front of the prime minister that you are rebellious, general, and now the prime minister is here. Why don't you go to distinguish it and let the prime minister see it clearly? Why set up camp first?" Yu Jin said: "Zhang Xiu's pursuers are behind. We are very close, if we don't prepare first, how can we defend against the enemy? It is a trivial matter to distinguish, but retreating the enemy is a major matter, we must distinguish the priority of the matter." As soon as the camp was set up, Zhang Xiu's army came from two directions.Yu Jin got up and went out of the stronghold to fight, Zhang Xiu hurriedly retreated.When the generals on the left and right saw Yu Jin moving forward, they all led their troops to chase after him. Zhang Xiu's army was defeated and was chased all the way for more than a hundred li.Zhang Xiu couldn't resist, so he had to lead the defeated soldiers to Liu Biao.
Cao Cao received the army and ordered generals, and it was only at this time that Yu Jin entered the account and kowtowed to Cao Cao.It explained in detail that Qingzhou soldiers looted wantonly and disappointed the people, so they ordered their execution.Cao Cao said, "How can you explain that you did not come to explain the situation to me, but set up camp first?" Yu Jin also explained in detail.
Cao Cao was very happy after hearing this, and said: "General, in a hurry, he was able to build a strong army, let go of slander and work hard, and turn our army from defeat to victory. This is nothing more than a famous general in ancient times!" Shoutinghou; also issued an order to blame Xiahou Dun for his lax rule of the army.
In terms of meritorious deeds, great merit awards, minor awards and small awards, and those who have made special contributions will be rewarded heavily. This way of rewarding grades will motivate soldiers to make greater contributions.The means of reward and punishment complement each other.To be punished, discipline must be implemented quickly and education must be conducted in a timely manner.Because the purpose of rewards and punishments is to spur and warn others, otherwise it will lose its effectiveness once the time passes.
Rewards and punishments have always been an issue that rulers attach great importance to.It widely exists in various social fields such as politics, economy, military, science and technology, education, etc. It can be said that as long as there are people, rewards and punishments will be used as a means, otherwise, the collective will become a mess, and the army will become a mob.
The reason why Cao Cao can control the overall situation by himself lies in his superb control ability.He knows that a wise monarch can control his ministers as long as he controls the power of punishment and morality.Punishment is punishment, and rewarding people is virtue.As a minister, everyone is afraid of punishment and likes to be rewarded.Therefore, the monarch has the power of rewards and punishments, and the ministers fear his management authority and try to make themselves seek rewards and avoid punishment.
Cao Cao's rewards are sincere and generous; his punishments are also stern and impartial, fair and just, convincing.
Cao Cao's third son, Cao Zhi, is extremely talented, and he can be called the hero of Cao Cao's sons, and he is deeply loved by Cao Cao.However, because he was drunk before the battle and could not accept orders, he was dismissed from all official positions by Cao Cao.Cao Cao had such strict requirements on his son, which was indeed commendable at the time.
Cao Cao ruled the army by law, rewarded meritorious service and punished crimes, and indeed received the effect of improving the combat effectiveness of the army and turning the weak into strong.He trained an invincible army, which played a decisive role in stabilizing the ruling order of the Cao Group.In fact, due to Cao Cao's strict enforcement of laws and regulations, his troops were in step with each other in combat, and their actions were consistent, with strong combat effectiveness, which ensured his military victories, and his military victories gradually promoted his political status. .
Two lead by example and be strict with self-discipline as an example
"The Analects of Confucius" said: "If one's body is upright, one will follow orders; Influential people, their own qualities and behaviors have a huge influence on others.Although Cao Cao is not an emperor, he is actually more authoritative than the emperor.Why can he obey the orders and make people convinced?The reason is that his style of strict self-discipline and self-discipline played an irreplaceable role.
Before Cao Cao, apart from "Sun Tzu's Art of War", there were no other books on military theory that could be referred to, and he often commented on military books.Since Cao Cao stepped onto the political stage, he has been in the army for more than [-] years, and he has never left his book. This is very valuable and very important to him.Otherwise, it is hard to imagine that he gathered so many scholars with lofty ideals around him, and it is impossible to write so many unique chapters of "Jian'an character".
Although Cao Cao is treacherous and suspicious by nature, there is one thing that is strange, that is, all his generals have no doubts about Cao Cao.Throughout the more than 30 years of Zeng Cao's conquest, none of his famous generals betrayed him when he was in crisis. This kind of loyalty to the lord cannot but be said to have something to do with Cao Cao's usual treatment of equals and clear rewards and punishments.
In order to learn how to govern the army, Cao Cao not only treated his subordinates impartially and fairly, but also wrote military books with more than [-] characters on the basis of familiarity with the classics of the predecessors, and used them to guide military operations. The position of military commander; generally according to his orders to fight, often wins more than loses, his prestige among the three armies is naturally erected.Cao Cao's theory was integrated with practice, constantly upgrading rich political and military practice to theory, and using theory to guide practice.Therefore, compared with many outstanding figures at the same time, he gave people more sense of obedience, awe and respect, which is also an important guarantee that he has a higher leadership art than his contemporaries. "The rule of one generation begins with the study of one generation."Different times have different realities and different problems.The historical fact that Cao Cao complied with the requirements of the times, developed a style of study for a generation, and created a generation of achievements should be a deep inspiration to us.
In the history of our country, there are many examples of the decline of a regime caused by the dictatorship of foreign relatives, the intervention of the harem, and the injustice of the yamen.Cao Cao paid great attention to absorbing such lessons from history. According to the ancient motto "If you want to govern your country, you must first regulate your family", he strictly governed his family and took practical actions to heal his own family to promote the governance of the entire country.Cao Cao married many wives and concubines throughout his life, and there were more than a dozen of them with names and surnames.For the many wives and concubines, Cao Cao managed them in a very orderly manner. First, they were not allowed to interfere in the government affairs, and second, they were not allowed to squander and waste.
Cao Cao's several sons, some with outstanding literary talents, and some with outstanding martial arts, are all related to Cao Cao's hand-in-hand training.Except for a few who died early, the rest went to the battlefield to fight and train, and some died in battle.This is also Cao Cao's good discipline and example, which made them all escape from the sensuality of princes and grandchildren, and they were able to leave their names in history.
Cao Cao once had great hopes for Cao Zhi. When Cao Zhi was 23 years old, he wrote a special letter of warning to Cao Zhi, inspiring Cao Zhi to be aggressive with his young experience.Cao Cao's deeds of governing his family strictly still have practical significance.
Cao Cao advocated strict law and discipline very much, and paid attention to governing the country with the law and the army.He presided over the formulation of many laws and other regulations throughout his life. Once promulgated, he took the lead in practicing them and mobilized thousands of troops with his exemplary actions.
Cao Cao suffered from "reverse qi disease", which often occurred after sleeping, and he began to use copper vessels to hold water by the bedside for drinking.But the water changed its taste, so he made a small square vessel out of silver to hold the water.Some people were puzzled and mistakenly thought that Cao Cao loved money. When Cao Cao heard about it, he immediately switched to wooden utensils.Cao Cao is so cautious, and pays great attention to such small things, in order not to have a bad influence on his subordinates.According to the customs at that time, when a great person like Cao Cao passed away, it would be quite pompous to bury him at the end, and Cao Cao was disgusted by this.Before his death, he specially issued a thin burial order. In order to ensure the implementation of his last order, he made simple burial clothes by himself during his lifetime.
Cao Cao has the wisdom to govern the army, and he also has a fair heart. His principle of governing the army is based on whether it is correct or not. Before the facts, everyone is equal, and he is no exception.Because of this, his subordinates usually dare to respect the facts and argue with reason. It cannot but be said that all this is related to Cao Cao's usual training.
Cao Cao pays attention to self-cultivation. Although he is in a high position, he still leads by example, using his own "righteousness" to influence and motivate his subordinates.This kind of behavioral bowing down will definitely give people great psychological incentives.Such a team can only explode with great combat effectiveness at critical moments.
A large part of Cao Cao's behavior of setting an example and being strict with himself comes from his strong ambition to unify the world and become hegemony, but it does have our inexhaustible and inexhaustible motivation.
Sancut hair acting head obeys military discipline without exception
Today's society is an era of fierce competition. Whoever wants to gain a firm foothold in society must strictly demand himself and cannot be left out of the law.Cao Cao lived in an era when "punishment is not a doctor", and he has already set a good example in this regard.
In order to win the war and unify the world, Cao Cao tried his best to win the hearts of the people in the world.Because he understood the principle of "the people are the foundation of the country", every time he went to war, he strictly enforced military discipline to prevent disturbing the people.
On the way of an expedition to Zhangxiu in Nanyang, Cao Cao saw that the wheat was ripe along the way, and the people fled away because the soldiers were coming, and they dared not go home to harvest the wheat.Cao Cao sent people to search for his fathers, villagers, and officials guarding the border everywhere, and issued an order: "I obey the emperor's edict to send troops to fight against rebellion and eliminate harm from the people. Now when the wheat is ripe, we have to raise troops, generals and schools, Whoever crosses the wheat fields and tramples them will be beheaded. The military law is very strict, so the people should not be surprised." When the people knew about it, they praised it happily.When the officers and soldiers passed through the wheat fields, they all got off their horses and supported the wheat with their hands, passing each other, not daring to trample on it.Seeing their backs as they went away, the common people all came to thank them on the side of the road.
One day, Cao Cao was marching on horseback, when suddenly a sparrow appeared in the field.Cao Cao's war horse was suddenly frightened, and ran into the wheat, trampling a large piece of wheat field.Cao Cao then found the marching master book, and proposed that he should commit the crime of treading wheat.The master of the army said: "The prime minister is the leader of the army, how can he discuss crimes?" Cao Cao said: "I violated the laws I made myself. If I don't punish them, how can I convince the people?" Hastily stopped.Guo Jia said: "The Spring and Autumn Annals said: the law does not impose respect. How can the prime minister lead the army, how can he kill himself?" Cao Cao pondered for a long time, and said: "Since the Spring and Autumn Annals has the meaning that the law does not impose respect, then I will temporarily avoid it." If you die, you will be punished." So he cut off his hair with a sword, threw it on the ground and said, "Cut your hair to replace your head." He sent someone to report the matter to the three armies, saying, "The prime minister should have stepped on the wheat. The beheading order is now being cut off."
After the news of Cao Cao's cutting off the acting head spread, the whole army was shocked.I admire Cao Cao's spirit very much, and they all obey discipline more consciously.The army moved on, and when they passed the wheat fields, everyone was more cautious.Cao Cao's strict self-discipline had a great impact, strengthening and improving the combat effectiveness of Cao's army.
Cao Cao's story of cutting hair and acting head is to use a small conspiracy to achieve a big goal.When his war horse trampled on the wheat field, Cao Cao felt very embarrassed: on the one hand, he had to strictly observe military discipline, and on the other hand, he had to protect himself.When Guo Jia uttered the old adage that "the law is not respected", Cao Cao stepped down the donkey and performed the wonderful scene of cutting the hair and replacing the head at the right time to solemnly decree.
In fact, Cao Cao could forgive himself, but he did not do so.Cao Cao used a small trick-cutting the hair to act as the head.In doing so, he not only upheld the army's laws and regulations, but also saved his own life, and at the same time alerted other officers and soldiers.Cut off his hair and throw it on the ground, which means that he has been tortured.Kun punishment is a punishment of shaving hair in ancient times.In feudal society, people believed that body, hair and skin were given by parents, and it was unfilial to damage it.Therefore, cutting hair is listed as a punishment.Cao Cao's haircut means replacing the head with hair.In a situation where the feudal rulers preached that "punishment should not be imposed on a doctor" and "punishment should not be imposed on respect", it is indeed commendable for Cao Cao to be able to express that he is not outside the law.
Regarding Cao Cao's "cutting hair and replacing the head", later generations think it is a trick of Cao Cao to buy the hearts of the soldiers and the people. This is really hard to agree with. quality.In fact, it is understandable for Cao Cao to take such a contingency approach.If Cao Cao really killed himself on the spot because he violated the law of self-control, is it necessary?At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, all the heroes rose together one after another, and the warlords separated the regime.Most of them took advantage of the chaos to do wrong, and who ever blamed themselves for it?
In contrast, Cao Cao's ability to "cut the hair and replace the head" not only shows that Cao Cao's military discipline is strict, and he will not forgive himself for breaking the law, but also shows his determination to dominate the world, which is indeed rare.
Cao Cao was born in a family of petty officials, and he reached the peak of power through his own continuous efforts.Therefore, he has a good understanding of the mentality of all kinds of people, especially the grassroots.Cao Cao knew that the key to his victory or defeat was not only a few generals, but more importantly, the tens of thousands of officers and soldiers under him.As the so-called train runs fast, it all depends on the front belt.In order to buy the hearts of officers and soldiers, Cao Cao always put himself and the officers and soldiers on the same standard. This approach is Cao Cao's excellence.
Four meritorious service must be rewarded, treat subordinates with kindness and win people's hearts
"Sun Tzu's Art of War" mentioned: Rewards and punishments are an important means of army management.Military scientists of later generations also pointed out that the effectiveness of rewards and punishments depends on whether they are open, fair, and can be seen immediately.However, there are many means of rewards and punishments, and Cao Cao's means of rewards and punishments are different. He combined rewards and punishments with the honor of a general, and innovated the form of rewards and punishments.And he knows very well that in troubled times, everyone wants to "have a house to live in, and food to eat." , definitely beneficial.His method of buying people's hearts has indeed achieved very good results in the chaotic period when the heroes are all rising together.
At that time, when Cao Cao first boarded the Tongque Terrace, he hung his robe and compared arrows, originally for celebration.When Cao Xiu hit the bull's-eye and sparked a battle of generals, Cao Cao on the stage was not angry because the generals lost their composure. On the contrary, he seized the opportunity and unexpectedly rewarded all the generals.According to common sense, it is a festive stage, and everyone is happy. Regarding the sudden robe dispute, it must be said that Cao Jun's original intention was lost.However, Cao Cao's handling of the matter was a brilliant move. Not only did he not cool the hearts of the generals, but on the contrary, he won the hearts of the people and consolidated his position among the generals.
A careful analysis of the matter of fighting for robes shows that Cao Cao hung up his robes and the generals fought against each other, which shows that Cao Cao's status in the eyes of the generals is extraordinary; One aspect shows that Cao Jun has a large number of talents, which makes Cao Cao very happy; Cao Cao rewarding all the generals shows that he is not bound by common sense, not only does not blame, but can turn this kind of thing into a situation where everyone is happy.Cao Cao's wit and cleverness and ability to grasp the overall situation can be seen.
War is a matter of last resort. If there is war, there will be casualties. People have the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. Therefore, in wars, it is inevitable that there will be those who are greedy for life and fear death, those who run away, and those who retreat when attacking.To stop these phenomena from happening and win the war, we must rely on severe punishment.
Cao Cao believes that punishment is the basis of military orders, and it is the commander's authority to order the three armies. Therefore, no matter whether it is political or military, it is necessary to clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments, and to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, so that orders can be prohibited and commands can be controlled.
Cao Cao adhered to the principle of rewarding those who make meritorious deeds.The most concentrated one was the great feudal official in the 12th year of Jian'an (207 AD).Cao Cao issued a "Order to Confer Heroes", saying:
It has been 19 years since my rebels fought against the rebels.Every battle must be won, is this my personal credit?It is really the result of the efforts of civil and military officials!The world has not yet been completely settled, and I still have to work with civil and military officials to pacify it; if I own these credits alone, how can I feel at ease?Now we have to quickly assess the credit for everyone and award them.
In this decree, Cao Cao realized that the brilliant success achieved in the 189 years since he launched an army against Dong Zhuo in the sixth year of Zhongping (19 AD) was not due to his own strength, but the joint efforts of many counselors and generals. As a result, the great cause of unification in the future still needs to rely on everyone's joint efforts.The credit cannot be greedy for oneself, it must be shared by everyone.Therefore, many civil and military officials were rewarded for meritorious service.
Cao Cao's attitude towards conferring rewards is serious and serious. Those who have merit should be rewarded. If he does not accept it, he must find a way to get him to accept it, because he must implement the principle of rewarding meritorious deeds.
Cao Cao made an expedition to Wuhuan, and Tian Chou made great contributions. Cao Cao wanted to reward him for his merits, and granted Tian Chou the title of Marquis of Ting, with 500 households in Shiyi.Tian Chou thought that he fled to Xuwu Mountain for refuge and did not avenge his old master Liu Yu in Youzhou. It was an unjust act and he should not enjoy honor, so he resolutely refused to accept the title.
Cao Cao was very considerate of Tian Chou's ambition, and did not force him to accept it for the time being.However, after Cao Cao came back from the southern expedition to Jingzhou, he felt that it was inappropriate to do so, and issued the "Order of Jue Feng Tian Chou", which said: Tian Chou's words are sincere and he has repeatedly declined.After three years, it has not been awarded.Although this fulfilled a person's noble reputation, it seriously violated the national system of rewards based on merit, and the loss was great.Rewards should be awarded according to the previous table, and this mistake should not be continued.
Later, Tian Chou still refused to accept his resignation, and Cao Cao did a lot of persuasion work many times.Although Tian Chou did not accept the reward in the end, it shows that Cao Cao is serious and serious about implementing the principle of rewarding meritorious deeds.
In the eighth year of Jian'an (203 A.D.), Xun Yu resolutely refused to be named Longevity Tinghou.So Cao Cao wrote to Xun Yu and said: Since the establishment of the imperial court with Xun Gong, you have done too much by assisting in rectifying errors, recommending talents, and helping to propose strategies and careful planning.Merit doesn't have to be on the battlefield.I hope you don't give in.
Seeing Cao Cao's sincerity, Xun Yu accepted the title.When Xun Yu was granted a new title in 207 AD, Xun Yu repeatedly resigned many times, and Cao Cao wrote to Xun Yu again, saying: Your strategy and plan are not just what you said in Biao Zou ("Please Add Xun Yu Biao") two things.Do you want to learn from Mr. Lu Zhonglian in the Warring States Period?This is really not what the saints who are well-versed in morals value.Your careful planning has stabilized everyone, and I have won honors many times. I repay you with the two things I said, but you still refuse to accept it. Why do you have to humbly refuse so many times? !
In this letter, Cao Cao not only affirmed Xun Yu's contribution, but also criticized him for being too modest.Finally Xun Yu accepted the enfeoffment.
Rewards for meritorious deeds not only effectively implemented the country's reward system, but also greatly won the hearts of the soldiers, giving the soldiers hope for marching and fighting, and at the same time stabilizing their authority. Why not do it?
Wushu Weili believes that if it is upright, the order must be followed
Cao Cao has experienced countless life and death battles from his rebellion against Dong Zhuo to his final ascension to the throne of King Wei.Cao Cao often took the lead in many battles, bravely killed the enemy, and won the respect of the soldiers.In Cao Cao's mind, people's hearts in troubled times can be said to be the most impetuous and unpredictable, and their advances and retreats will be greatly randomized and emotional.Therefore, Cao Cao knows how to lead people with different opinions in troubled times. If you can't strengthen your self-cultivation from your own perspective, strictly discipline yourself, set an example, and correct mistakes.It will be difficult to convince everyone, and the support of others will be greatly reduced.
Prestige, that is, prestige and reputation, is a quality that leaders must possess.For a leader with prestige, his plans, instructions, and tasks are easily accepted by his subordinates.His instructions and opinions convinced his subordinates, and the group he led was like a well-functioning machine, able to work quickly and efficiently.Otherwise, it will never make a difference.There are many factors to establish prestige, strict self-discipline bears the brunt.The ancients said: Human beings are not sages, and there is nothing wrong with them.In fact, sages are not necessarily innocent.Didn't a more comprehensive person like Zhuge Liang also make mistakes?The key is whether you can have self-knowledge and the courage to let go like Cao Cao.
In Cao Cao's official career, prestige and favor have always been a pair of irreconcilable contradictions. Of course, to stand up, you must be stern and selfless, and stern and selfless will give people a feeling of inhumanity. This is also the duality of being an official and a person. avoid.But Cao Cao always kept this point in mind: the prestige of a general can only be truly obeyed by everyone if he comes from strict discipline. This is a simple and profound truth.
Cao Cao often said: "If you are not upright, you will not follow orders, and if you do not follow orders, you will change." For Cao Cao, who has the world in mind, with this kind of prestige, there is a source of strength to inspire the world and not to be angry.
As the old saying goes, "the upper and lower works" and "the upper beams are not straight and the lower beams are crooked".Only when one's own "pillar" acts upright and stands upright can the sergeants below have no chance to take advantage of the military order's loopholes. Only such a team can be monolithic and have the strength to conquer the world.
Cao Cao has always understood that corruption often starts from the inside of the ruler, and the corruption of the atmosphere gradually progresses from the top to the bottom.So role models are very important.Role models have two aspects, one is good, which can inspire people to forge ahead, and the other is bad, which can make the world worse.We often say that the power of role models is infinite. If you set an example for yourself that can motivate you and add pride, this is indeed a good way to motivate yourself.
When Cao Cao marched west to Guanzhong, in the battle of Weishui against Ma Chao, in order to form horns against the enemy tactically, but also to stabilize the morale of the troops crossing the river.Regardless of the danger, he personally cut off the rear governor.As a result, Ma Chao's all-out attack was attracted, which almost killed him.Thanks to Xu Chu's hard work to kill the enemy, and Ding Fei's tricks, he was able to reach the other side.How could the soldiers not be moved when they saw Cao Cao retreating from the enemy with such a bow, and fought hard with one against ten.
As the supreme commander of the army, Cao Cao has every reason not to take this risk.However, after comparing the strengths of the enemy and the enemy, coupled with the current severe situation, he knew that he had to personally supervise the army to boost the morale of the army, so that he could have any hope of victory.In addition, Cao Cao, who has always been scheming, often draws inferences about things.He wants all the soldiers in the army to understand this: I, Cao Cao, have done this, so let everyone figure it out.Sure enough, this action of his not only stabilized the morale of the army, but also increased his prestige in the army unprecedentedly.Moreover, the planned goal of crossing the river was successfully completed, the strategic deployment of the enemy was completed, and the progress of the war was greatly advanced.
In the Battle of Weishui, Cao Cao almost lost his life. Even though it was suspected of being a last resort, his commander-in-chief style can be regarded as the style of a generation.It can be seen from this that if you want to catch people from the heart, there is only one way: to be united, to share the joys and sorrows, and to share the fate, so that such a team will never be defeated.
Although Cao Cao took a lot of risks in this move, he not only completed the strategic deployment in the short term, but also in the long run, his prestige has indeed improved a lot. His behavior is really a "less investment" for him. , more output", is totally worth it.It can be seen from this that Cao Cao is the leader of an army, and he can put personal life and death aside. In this regard, he is worthy of being a hero in the Three Kingdoms period and a leading military strategist and politician in the history of our country.
In Cao Cao's military camp, the rule of law has always been emphasized, but when he himself "knows the law and breaks the law", it is a severe challenge. Cao Cao made a decisive decision and clearly expressed his attitude by "cutting the hair to replace the leader". The subordinates are deeply respected.As a result, the whole army was terrified, and no one dared to ignore military orders anymore, and discipline was rectified.
Because Cao Cao was strict with himself when governing the army and the country, they had a very high prestige in the hearts of the soldiers and the people.This is probably an important reason for his ultimate success, right?
Six magnanimous prime ministers are able to punt a boat
As the saying goes: A prime minister can punt a boat in his stomach.For a leader, strategy and generosity are two excellent qualities, and the two complement each other, and if they can be skillfully used, they will definitely be superior to others.It is too cruel to have a plan without tolerance; it is often difficult to make great achievements if you have a magnanimity without a plan.Cao Cao did both, so he became a successful politician and strategist.Although Cao Cao was treacherous and suspicious all his life, he was able to treat people generously and not turn over old scores, so that he won his subordinates to work hard for him, and there were not a few enemies who turned to him.These talents also did their best, and finally built an efficient team, which made great contributions to Cao Cao's expansion of territory.
Cao Cao employs people without thinking about old evils.Once after capturing the enemy's city, a bunch of letters were found from Yuan Shao's books and files, all of which were letters of surrender secretly written to Yuan Shao by people in Cao Ying.At that time, someone suggested to Cao Cao that this matter should be investigated seriously, and all those who wrote black letters should be arrested and killed.However, Cao Cao had a higher vision and a broader mind. He said: "When Yuan Shao is very powerful, I can't protect myself, let alone other people?" .It is an important principle of employing people not to be suspicious and not to be suspicious.And those who had an affair with Yuan Shao didn't appreciate Cao Cao's kindness?Why don't you give up on Cao Cao's advice and advice?As a result, Cao Cao quickly stabilized the morale of the army.
Why didn't Cao Cao severely suppress these people, but took such magnanimous measures?This is because doing so has two benefits:
[-]. Avoid accidentally injuring loyal ministers.Now that Cao Cao has mastered the list of private letters with the enemy, he already knows these people well, as long as he uses them carefully in the future, they can still play a role.In this way, Cao Cao has the initiative over them.The reasons for these private letters with the enemy are different, and the crimes range from mild to serious, so they cannot be generalized.If they are severely punished regardless of indiscrimination, it will expand their involvement and cause unnecessary internal chaos.
Two, do not cut off your arms.At this time, all the heroes are rising together, the general situation of the world is uncertain, and it is time to employ people.Zeng Cao burned these letters to show tolerance, then those who had private letters with the enemy will be grateful to Cao Cao, sincerely, and serve Cao Cao wholeheartedly.The fact is exactly the same. Many of these people became Cao Cao's powerful helpers in the future.Cao Cao's move can be said to truly reflect his flexible and changeable character.
Zhang Xiu is the nephew of Zhang Ji, one of the four generals of Dong Zhuo. When he was young, he was only a county magistrate. He was famous in the local area for defeating a riot of the Yellow Turban Army.Later, he pulled up his team and defected to his uncle Zhang Ji.At that time, Situ Wangyun, Lu Bu and others planned to kill Dong Zhuo, and Dong Zhuo's four generals took the opportunity to raise troops, under the banner of revenge for Dong Zhuo, and strengthen themselves.Zhang Xiu participated in the war against Lu Bu with the army, and was promoted to Jianzhong General because of his military achievements, and was granted the title of Marquis of Xuanwei.Later, Zhang Ji died in a war, and Zhang Xiu took over his uncle's position, stationed in Nanyang, and formed an alliance with Liu Biao.
After Cao Cao greeted Xu, the emperor's capital, he sent his troops to the south to attack Zhang Xiu, and the army killed Wancheng. Zhang Xiu knew that he was invincible, so he surrendered.At the beginning, the two sides feasted all day long, and the atmosphere was very harmonious. Unexpectedly, Cao Cao took in a large army, and a little too proud to accept Zhang Xiu's aunt as his concubine.
Zhang Xiu couldn't face this insult, so he turned back and launched a surprise attack on Cao Cao.Cao Cao was caught off guard and fled in defeat.The eldest son Cao Ang and nephew Cao Anmin were killed, and he himself was hit by a arrow and was almost killed.Cao Cao regained his composure and raised his troops to take revenge. Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao helped each other.
Later, Cao Cao was going to deal with a bigger enemy, Yuan Shao. On the eve of the Battle of Guandu, Cao and Yuan both came to fight for Zhang Xiu's new force.At this juncture, Zhang Xiu followed the advice of counselor Jia Xu and surrendered to Cao Cao again.Jia Xu accurately analyzed: Cao Cao is weak and Yuan Qiang will be valued only if he votes for Cao Cao, and helping Cao Cao at this critical juncture can eliminate old grudges.
As expected, Cao Cao was very happy when he heard that Zhang Xiu had come to surrender.And let his son Cao Jun marry Zhang Xiu's daughter, the enemy became a relative, and he also worshiped Zhang Xiu as General Yangwu.In the Battle of Guandu, Zhang Xiu really did his best for Cao Cao, beating Yuan Shao and then attacking Yuan Tan.Cao Cao was also very generous in granting him awards, granting him more land than all the generals.The two parents vowed to drive the Yuan family to extinction, and they went to Karasuma side by side to chase and kill Yuan Shang.
Jia Xu once advised Zhang Xiu and almost killed Cao Cao. Regardless of the past, Cao Cao greeted him personally, took his hand and said, "If you make a small mistake, don't take it to heart." After that, Jia Xu became Cao Cao again. The important counselor under the tent made great contributions to Cao Cao's conquest.
For those who have opposed him or even insulted him, as long as they have real talents and are willing to change their attitudes, Cao Cao will always be lenient and will not pursue them.On the eve of the Battle of Guandu, Chen Lin drafted an appeal for Yuan Shao to crusade against Cao Cao, counting Cao Cao's various "crimes", some of which are true and some are false, and it is difficult to distinguish.It is also said that Cao Cao's grandfather Cao Teng was an eunuch, his father Cao Song was adopted, and Cao Cao was "an eunuch and ugly". It is an obvious personal attack to expose Cao Cao's background.
It is more emotionally difficult for Chen Lin to scold Cao Cao to her father than to scold herself.However, Cao Cao made such a "vicious attack" on Chen Lin. When he captured Chen Lin after defeating Yuan Shao, he just blamed Chen Lin and said: "You used to write a call for Yuan Benchu, and you can just scold me. How can you drag it up and scold me?" What happened to father and grandfather's head?"
Chen Lin hurriedly apologized to Cao Cao, saying that the arrow was on the string and had to be fired, and it was a last resort.Cao Cao loved talents, not only did not kill him, but also appointed him as Sikong's sacrificial wine.This is an outstanding example of Cao Cao not thinking of old evils.
It is indeed rare to be able to "be tolerant and tolerant of others, and not remember other people's small faults", and it is even more rare to give up personal grievances for the sake of greatness and grand strategy.From this point of view, Cao Cao is really a generous hero.
If a military commander is narrow-minded and short-sighted, he can't tolerate others and fight civil wars for trivial matters; if he finds that his subordinates are inconsistent with him, he resorts to a set of tricks to punish people, and the result will inevitably forget the strategy Goals, do many things that make loved ones hurt and enemies happy.This kind of small-minded person cannot achieve great things.
(End of this chapter)
[-]. Strict law enforcement, clear rewards and punishments
Although Cao Cao himself was treacherous and suspicious, he had lofty prestige and authority, which made the generals trust him deeply.This is also the result of his strict discipline and strict order in the army.
As an incomparable military strategist and statesman, Cao Cao is well aware of the role and power of the legal system.When he first took charge of the public security affairs in the north of Luoyang City, he enforced the law like a mountain and dared to face difficulties.In order to expand his influence, he also took the uncle of the eunuch Jian Shuo, a celebrity around the emperor, to operate, and finally eliminated the public security problem in Luoyang.When he served as the prime minister of Jinan, he severely punished the local officials and bullies who had misbehaved. The government of Jinan was clear for a while, and the people praised it.
Through political practice in different positions, Cao Cao fully realized the importance of the rule of law.Therefore, after Cao Cao raised his army, he combined the rule of law with the strict military discipline of military strategists to form a military rule of strict law enforcement and clear rewards and punishments.During the more than 25 years from Chen Liu's army to his death in the 220th year of Jian'an (30 AD), Cao Cao formulated and promulgated a series of military regulations.This is an important factor why he can defeat the strong with the weak and is not afraid of strong enemies.So even Cao Cao's enemies had to admire Cao Cao's ability to govern the army while gnashing their teeth at Cao Cao.
Cao Cao's military orders were strict, and he led his troops to fight by relying on his wisdom in governing the army. He left Cao Wei with a strict management system, so Wei Guo did not rely on the rule of man like the Shu Han to maintain it.From this point of view, Cao Cao deserves to be a real politician.
Cao Cao has a legal concept that surpasses his contemporaries.He personally formulated various military orders and decrees, and took the lead in strictly implementing them.Among them, the specific regulations for marching operations include the "Warship Order", "Military Order", and "Infantry Battle Order", etc.
In the "Warship Order", it is stipulated that before boarding the warship, the first drum is beaten to start preparations; after the second drum is beaten, the Shizhang and Wuchang will board the boat first, arrange the slotted oars, and then the soldiers will board the boat with weapons and take their positions. ; beat the third drum, and the large and small warships set off in turn. They are not allowed to cross at will, and those who violate the order will be beheaded.
The "Military Order" stipulates that soldiers can open and debug during the march, but they are not allowed to take arrows, and in the barracks, they are not allowed to draw their bows;After the drum beats and walks three miles, the spears and halberds can be pulled obliquely, the flags can be rolled up, and the drums can be stopped; military officials are not allowed to kill animals and sell them in the barracks;Violators will be punished by sentencing.
In the "Infantry Combat Order", it is stipulated that when you are in battle, you are not allowed to make noise, but listen to the sound of the drums. Wherever the command flag points, you must rush there; when a unit is attacked by the enemy, other units must go to rescue; It is not allowed to walk freely in the army formation; when soldiers are about to fight, they are not allowed to snatch the clothing of cattle and horses, and those who disobey the order will be beheaded.
It can be seen from this that some of Cao Cao's regulations on marching and combat are clear and specific, rather than general and abstract, so that it is easy for soldiers to grasp.In other respects, military orders and regulations can basically be fine-tuned.
These decrees promulgated by Cao Cao are not empty words on the table, but each item must be strictly implemented.In actual implementation, his attitude is also very serious.He once said: "I have never heard that if the incompetent and the soldiers who are not brave enough to fight are rewarded and rewarded, they can make meritorious deeds and make the country prosperous. Therefore, a wise king will not do this. In peacetime, you can Advocate virtue, but in times of war we must reward those who have meritorious service.” He did what he said, and the famous examples he rewarded can be said to be everywhere.
Cao Cao also made it clear: "Rewarding without punishment is not the law of the country. Generals lead troops to go out to war, and those who are defeated must be punished according to the law, and those who cause losses must be dismissed and their titles will be cut off." This is for those who follow the trend, For generals who are proud of their achievements, it is undoubtedly a beneficial restraint.
Cao Cao concluded in the note of "Sun Tzu's Art of War": "Treating soldiers should not be blindly favored or punished blindly. It is the reward and punishment that must be strictly enforced according to the law. If not, they are like pampered children. If you don't obey discipline, it will harm them instead, and you won't be able to use them well."
After Cao Cao was defeated by Zhang Xiu in Wancheng, Xiahou Dun's Qingzhou soldiers took advantage of the situation and went to the countryside to plunder people's homes.Lieutenant Pinglu Yu Jin ordered that anyone who saw Qingzhou soldiers behaving badly should be killed immediately, without mercy, in order to appease the villagers.Qingzhou soldiers complained to Cao Cao in tears, and they all falsely accused Yu Jin of rebellion and wanted to drive all Qingzhou soldiers and horses to death.Cao Cao was shocked when he heard this.After a while, Xiahou Dun, Xu Chu, Li Dian, and Le Jin all arrived.Cao Cao discussed with the people that if Yu Jin really rebelled, he must meet with swords and soldiers, and he would not be merciful.
Seeing that Cao Cao and others had arrived, Yu Jin led his troops to shoot at the corners of the formation and began to set up camp.Someone told Yu Jin: "The Qingzhou army said in front of the prime minister that you are rebellious, general, and now the prime minister is here. Why don't you go to distinguish it and let the prime minister see it clearly? Why set up camp first?" Yu Jin said: "Zhang Xiu's pursuers are behind. We are very close, if we don't prepare first, how can we defend against the enemy? It is a trivial matter to distinguish, but retreating the enemy is a major matter, we must distinguish the priority of the matter." As soon as the camp was set up, Zhang Xiu's army came from two directions.Yu Jin got up and went out of the stronghold to fight, Zhang Xiu hurriedly retreated.When the generals on the left and right saw Yu Jin moving forward, they all led their troops to chase after him. Zhang Xiu's army was defeated and was chased all the way for more than a hundred li.Zhang Xiu couldn't resist, so he had to lead the defeated soldiers to Liu Biao.
Cao Cao received the army and ordered generals, and it was only at this time that Yu Jin entered the account and kowtowed to Cao Cao.It explained in detail that Qingzhou soldiers looted wantonly and disappointed the people, so they ordered their execution.Cao Cao said, "How can you explain that you did not come to explain the situation to me, but set up camp first?" Yu Jin also explained in detail.
Cao Cao was very happy after hearing this, and said: "General, in a hurry, he was able to build a strong army, let go of slander and work hard, and turn our army from defeat to victory. This is nothing more than a famous general in ancient times!" Shoutinghou; also issued an order to blame Xiahou Dun for his lax rule of the army.
In terms of meritorious deeds, great merit awards, minor awards and small awards, and those who have made special contributions will be rewarded heavily. This way of rewarding grades will motivate soldiers to make greater contributions.The means of reward and punishment complement each other.To be punished, discipline must be implemented quickly and education must be conducted in a timely manner.Because the purpose of rewards and punishments is to spur and warn others, otherwise it will lose its effectiveness once the time passes.
Rewards and punishments have always been an issue that rulers attach great importance to.It widely exists in various social fields such as politics, economy, military, science and technology, education, etc. It can be said that as long as there are people, rewards and punishments will be used as a means, otherwise, the collective will become a mess, and the army will become a mob.
The reason why Cao Cao can control the overall situation by himself lies in his superb control ability.He knows that a wise monarch can control his ministers as long as he controls the power of punishment and morality.Punishment is punishment, and rewarding people is virtue.As a minister, everyone is afraid of punishment and likes to be rewarded.Therefore, the monarch has the power of rewards and punishments, and the ministers fear his management authority and try to make themselves seek rewards and avoid punishment.
Cao Cao's rewards are sincere and generous; his punishments are also stern and impartial, fair and just, convincing.
Cao Cao's third son, Cao Zhi, is extremely talented, and he can be called the hero of Cao Cao's sons, and he is deeply loved by Cao Cao.However, because he was drunk before the battle and could not accept orders, he was dismissed from all official positions by Cao Cao.Cao Cao had such strict requirements on his son, which was indeed commendable at the time.
Cao Cao ruled the army by law, rewarded meritorious service and punished crimes, and indeed received the effect of improving the combat effectiveness of the army and turning the weak into strong.He trained an invincible army, which played a decisive role in stabilizing the ruling order of the Cao Group.In fact, due to Cao Cao's strict enforcement of laws and regulations, his troops were in step with each other in combat, and their actions were consistent, with strong combat effectiveness, which ensured his military victories, and his military victories gradually promoted his political status. .
Two lead by example and be strict with self-discipline as an example
"The Analects of Confucius" said: "If one's body is upright, one will follow orders; Influential people, their own qualities and behaviors have a huge influence on others.Although Cao Cao is not an emperor, he is actually more authoritative than the emperor.Why can he obey the orders and make people convinced?The reason is that his style of strict self-discipline and self-discipline played an irreplaceable role.
Before Cao Cao, apart from "Sun Tzu's Art of War", there were no other books on military theory that could be referred to, and he often commented on military books.Since Cao Cao stepped onto the political stage, he has been in the army for more than [-] years, and he has never left his book. This is very valuable and very important to him.Otherwise, it is hard to imagine that he gathered so many scholars with lofty ideals around him, and it is impossible to write so many unique chapters of "Jian'an character".
Although Cao Cao is treacherous and suspicious by nature, there is one thing that is strange, that is, all his generals have no doubts about Cao Cao.Throughout the more than 30 years of Zeng Cao's conquest, none of his famous generals betrayed him when he was in crisis. This kind of loyalty to the lord cannot but be said to have something to do with Cao Cao's usual treatment of equals and clear rewards and punishments.
In order to learn how to govern the army, Cao Cao not only treated his subordinates impartially and fairly, but also wrote military books with more than [-] characters on the basis of familiarity with the classics of the predecessors, and used them to guide military operations. The position of military commander; generally according to his orders to fight, often wins more than loses, his prestige among the three armies is naturally erected.Cao Cao's theory was integrated with practice, constantly upgrading rich political and military practice to theory, and using theory to guide practice.Therefore, compared with many outstanding figures at the same time, he gave people more sense of obedience, awe and respect, which is also an important guarantee that he has a higher leadership art than his contemporaries. "The rule of one generation begins with the study of one generation."Different times have different realities and different problems.The historical fact that Cao Cao complied with the requirements of the times, developed a style of study for a generation, and created a generation of achievements should be a deep inspiration to us.
In the history of our country, there are many examples of the decline of a regime caused by the dictatorship of foreign relatives, the intervention of the harem, and the injustice of the yamen.Cao Cao paid great attention to absorbing such lessons from history. According to the ancient motto "If you want to govern your country, you must first regulate your family", he strictly governed his family and took practical actions to heal his own family to promote the governance of the entire country.Cao Cao married many wives and concubines throughout his life, and there were more than a dozen of them with names and surnames.For the many wives and concubines, Cao Cao managed them in a very orderly manner. First, they were not allowed to interfere in the government affairs, and second, they were not allowed to squander and waste.
Cao Cao's several sons, some with outstanding literary talents, and some with outstanding martial arts, are all related to Cao Cao's hand-in-hand training.Except for a few who died early, the rest went to the battlefield to fight and train, and some died in battle.This is also Cao Cao's good discipline and example, which made them all escape from the sensuality of princes and grandchildren, and they were able to leave their names in history.
Cao Cao once had great hopes for Cao Zhi. When Cao Zhi was 23 years old, he wrote a special letter of warning to Cao Zhi, inspiring Cao Zhi to be aggressive with his young experience.Cao Cao's deeds of governing his family strictly still have practical significance.
Cao Cao advocated strict law and discipline very much, and paid attention to governing the country with the law and the army.He presided over the formulation of many laws and other regulations throughout his life. Once promulgated, he took the lead in practicing them and mobilized thousands of troops with his exemplary actions.
Cao Cao suffered from "reverse qi disease", which often occurred after sleeping, and he began to use copper vessels to hold water by the bedside for drinking.But the water changed its taste, so he made a small square vessel out of silver to hold the water.Some people were puzzled and mistakenly thought that Cao Cao loved money. When Cao Cao heard about it, he immediately switched to wooden utensils.Cao Cao is so cautious, and pays great attention to such small things, in order not to have a bad influence on his subordinates.According to the customs at that time, when a great person like Cao Cao passed away, it would be quite pompous to bury him at the end, and Cao Cao was disgusted by this.Before his death, he specially issued a thin burial order. In order to ensure the implementation of his last order, he made simple burial clothes by himself during his lifetime.
Cao Cao has the wisdom to govern the army, and he also has a fair heart. His principle of governing the army is based on whether it is correct or not. Before the facts, everyone is equal, and he is no exception.Because of this, his subordinates usually dare to respect the facts and argue with reason. It cannot but be said that all this is related to Cao Cao's usual training.
Cao Cao pays attention to self-cultivation. Although he is in a high position, he still leads by example, using his own "righteousness" to influence and motivate his subordinates.This kind of behavioral bowing down will definitely give people great psychological incentives.Such a team can only explode with great combat effectiveness at critical moments.
A large part of Cao Cao's behavior of setting an example and being strict with himself comes from his strong ambition to unify the world and become hegemony, but it does have our inexhaustible and inexhaustible motivation.
Sancut hair acting head obeys military discipline without exception
Today's society is an era of fierce competition. Whoever wants to gain a firm foothold in society must strictly demand himself and cannot be left out of the law.Cao Cao lived in an era when "punishment is not a doctor", and he has already set a good example in this regard.
In order to win the war and unify the world, Cao Cao tried his best to win the hearts of the people in the world.Because he understood the principle of "the people are the foundation of the country", every time he went to war, he strictly enforced military discipline to prevent disturbing the people.
On the way of an expedition to Zhangxiu in Nanyang, Cao Cao saw that the wheat was ripe along the way, and the people fled away because the soldiers were coming, and they dared not go home to harvest the wheat.Cao Cao sent people to search for his fathers, villagers, and officials guarding the border everywhere, and issued an order: "I obey the emperor's edict to send troops to fight against rebellion and eliminate harm from the people. Now when the wheat is ripe, we have to raise troops, generals and schools, Whoever crosses the wheat fields and tramples them will be beheaded. The military law is very strict, so the people should not be surprised." When the people knew about it, they praised it happily.When the officers and soldiers passed through the wheat fields, they all got off their horses and supported the wheat with their hands, passing each other, not daring to trample on it.Seeing their backs as they went away, the common people all came to thank them on the side of the road.
One day, Cao Cao was marching on horseback, when suddenly a sparrow appeared in the field.Cao Cao's war horse was suddenly frightened, and ran into the wheat, trampling a large piece of wheat field.Cao Cao then found the marching master book, and proposed that he should commit the crime of treading wheat.The master of the army said: "The prime minister is the leader of the army, how can he discuss crimes?" Cao Cao said: "I violated the laws I made myself. If I don't punish them, how can I convince the people?" Hastily stopped.Guo Jia said: "The Spring and Autumn Annals said: the law does not impose respect. How can the prime minister lead the army, how can he kill himself?" Cao Cao pondered for a long time, and said: "Since the Spring and Autumn Annals has the meaning that the law does not impose respect, then I will temporarily avoid it." If you die, you will be punished." So he cut off his hair with a sword, threw it on the ground and said, "Cut your hair to replace your head." He sent someone to report the matter to the three armies, saying, "The prime minister should have stepped on the wheat. The beheading order is now being cut off."
After the news of Cao Cao's cutting off the acting head spread, the whole army was shocked.I admire Cao Cao's spirit very much, and they all obey discipline more consciously.The army moved on, and when they passed the wheat fields, everyone was more cautious.Cao Cao's strict self-discipline had a great impact, strengthening and improving the combat effectiveness of Cao's army.
Cao Cao's story of cutting hair and acting head is to use a small conspiracy to achieve a big goal.When his war horse trampled on the wheat field, Cao Cao felt very embarrassed: on the one hand, he had to strictly observe military discipline, and on the other hand, he had to protect himself.When Guo Jia uttered the old adage that "the law is not respected", Cao Cao stepped down the donkey and performed the wonderful scene of cutting the hair and replacing the head at the right time to solemnly decree.
In fact, Cao Cao could forgive himself, but he did not do so.Cao Cao used a small trick-cutting the hair to act as the head.In doing so, he not only upheld the army's laws and regulations, but also saved his own life, and at the same time alerted other officers and soldiers.Cut off his hair and throw it on the ground, which means that he has been tortured.Kun punishment is a punishment of shaving hair in ancient times.In feudal society, people believed that body, hair and skin were given by parents, and it was unfilial to damage it.Therefore, cutting hair is listed as a punishment.Cao Cao's haircut means replacing the head with hair.In a situation where the feudal rulers preached that "punishment should not be imposed on a doctor" and "punishment should not be imposed on respect", it is indeed commendable for Cao Cao to be able to express that he is not outside the law.
Regarding Cao Cao's "cutting hair and replacing the head", later generations think it is a trick of Cao Cao to buy the hearts of the soldiers and the people. This is really hard to agree with. quality.In fact, it is understandable for Cao Cao to take such a contingency approach.If Cao Cao really killed himself on the spot because he violated the law of self-control, is it necessary?At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, all the heroes rose together one after another, and the warlords separated the regime.Most of them took advantage of the chaos to do wrong, and who ever blamed themselves for it?
In contrast, Cao Cao's ability to "cut the hair and replace the head" not only shows that Cao Cao's military discipline is strict, and he will not forgive himself for breaking the law, but also shows his determination to dominate the world, which is indeed rare.
Cao Cao was born in a family of petty officials, and he reached the peak of power through his own continuous efforts.Therefore, he has a good understanding of the mentality of all kinds of people, especially the grassroots.Cao Cao knew that the key to his victory or defeat was not only a few generals, but more importantly, the tens of thousands of officers and soldiers under him.As the so-called train runs fast, it all depends on the front belt.In order to buy the hearts of officers and soldiers, Cao Cao always put himself and the officers and soldiers on the same standard. This approach is Cao Cao's excellence.
Four meritorious service must be rewarded, treat subordinates with kindness and win people's hearts
"Sun Tzu's Art of War" mentioned: Rewards and punishments are an important means of army management.Military scientists of later generations also pointed out that the effectiveness of rewards and punishments depends on whether they are open, fair, and can be seen immediately.However, there are many means of rewards and punishments, and Cao Cao's means of rewards and punishments are different. He combined rewards and punishments with the honor of a general, and innovated the form of rewards and punishments.And he knows very well that in troubled times, everyone wants to "have a house to live in, and food to eat." , definitely beneficial.His method of buying people's hearts has indeed achieved very good results in the chaotic period when the heroes are all rising together.
At that time, when Cao Cao first boarded the Tongque Terrace, he hung his robe and compared arrows, originally for celebration.When Cao Xiu hit the bull's-eye and sparked a battle of generals, Cao Cao on the stage was not angry because the generals lost their composure. On the contrary, he seized the opportunity and unexpectedly rewarded all the generals.According to common sense, it is a festive stage, and everyone is happy. Regarding the sudden robe dispute, it must be said that Cao Jun's original intention was lost.However, Cao Cao's handling of the matter was a brilliant move. Not only did he not cool the hearts of the generals, but on the contrary, he won the hearts of the people and consolidated his position among the generals.
A careful analysis of the matter of fighting for robes shows that Cao Cao hung up his robes and the generals fought against each other, which shows that Cao Cao's status in the eyes of the generals is extraordinary; One aspect shows that Cao Jun has a large number of talents, which makes Cao Cao very happy; Cao Cao rewarding all the generals shows that he is not bound by common sense, not only does not blame, but can turn this kind of thing into a situation where everyone is happy.Cao Cao's wit and cleverness and ability to grasp the overall situation can be seen.
War is a matter of last resort. If there is war, there will be casualties. People have the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. Therefore, in wars, it is inevitable that there will be those who are greedy for life and fear death, those who run away, and those who retreat when attacking.To stop these phenomena from happening and win the war, we must rely on severe punishment.
Cao Cao believes that punishment is the basis of military orders, and it is the commander's authority to order the three armies. Therefore, no matter whether it is political or military, it is necessary to clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments, and to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, so that orders can be prohibited and commands can be controlled.
Cao Cao adhered to the principle of rewarding those who make meritorious deeds.The most concentrated one was the great feudal official in the 12th year of Jian'an (207 AD).Cao Cao issued a "Order to Confer Heroes", saying:
It has been 19 years since my rebels fought against the rebels.Every battle must be won, is this my personal credit?It is really the result of the efforts of civil and military officials!The world has not yet been completely settled, and I still have to work with civil and military officials to pacify it; if I own these credits alone, how can I feel at ease?Now we have to quickly assess the credit for everyone and award them.
In this decree, Cao Cao realized that the brilliant success achieved in the 189 years since he launched an army against Dong Zhuo in the sixth year of Zhongping (19 AD) was not due to his own strength, but the joint efforts of many counselors and generals. As a result, the great cause of unification in the future still needs to rely on everyone's joint efforts.The credit cannot be greedy for oneself, it must be shared by everyone.Therefore, many civil and military officials were rewarded for meritorious service.
Cao Cao's attitude towards conferring rewards is serious and serious. Those who have merit should be rewarded. If he does not accept it, he must find a way to get him to accept it, because he must implement the principle of rewarding meritorious deeds.
Cao Cao made an expedition to Wuhuan, and Tian Chou made great contributions. Cao Cao wanted to reward him for his merits, and granted Tian Chou the title of Marquis of Ting, with 500 households in Shiyi.Tian Chou thought that he fled to Xuwu Mountain for refuge and did not avenge his old master Liu Yu in Youzhou. It was an unjust act and he should not enjoy honor, so he resolutely refused to accept the title.
Cao Cao was very considerate of Tian Chou's ambition, and did not force him to accept it for the time being.However, after Cao Cao came back from the southern expedition to Jingzhou, he felt that it was inappropriate to do so, and issued the "Order of Jue Feng Tian Chou", which said: Tian Chou's words are sincere and he has repeatedly declined.After three years, it has not been awarded.Although this fulfilled a person's noble reputation, it seriously violated the national system of rewards based on merit, and the loss was great.Rewards should be awarded according to the previous table, and this mistake should not be continued.
Later, Tian Chou still refused to accept his resignation, and Cao Cao did a lot of persuasion work many times.Although Tian Chou did not accept the reward in the end, it shows that Cao Cao is serious and serious about implementing the principle of rewarding meritorious deeds.
In the eighth year of Jian'an (203 A.D.), Xun Yu resolutely refused to be named Longevity Tinghou.So Cao Cao wrote to Xun Yu and said: Since the establishment of the imperial court with Xun Gong, you have done too much by assisting in rectifying errors, recommending talents, and helping to propose strategies and careful planning.Merit doesn't have to be on the battlefield.I hope you don't give in.
Seeing Cao Cao's sincerity, Xun Yu accepted the title.When Xun Yu was granted a new title in 207 AD, Xun Yu repeatedly resigned many times, and Cao Cao wrote to Xun Yu again, saying: Your strategy and plan are not just what you said in Biao Zou ("Please Add Xun Yu Biao") two things.Do you want to learn from Mr. Lu Zhonglian in the Warring States Period?This is really not what the saints who are well-versed in morals value.Your careful planning has stabilized everyone, and I have won honors many times. I repay you with the two things I said, but you still refuse to accept it. Why do you have to humbly refuse so many times? !
In this letter, Cao Cao not only affirmed Xun Yu's contribution, but also criticized him for being too modest.Finally Xun Yu accepted the enfeoffment.
Rewards for meritorious deeds not only effectively implemented the country's reward system, but also greatly won the hearts of the soldiers, giving the soldiers hope for marching and fighting, and at the same time stabilizing their authority. Why not do it?
Wushu Weili believes that if it is upright, the order must be followed
Cao Cao has experienced countless life and death battles from his rebellion against Dong Zhuo to his final ascension to the throne of King Wei.Cao Cao often took the lead in many battles, bravely killed the enemy, and won the respect of the soldiers.In Cao Cao's mind, people's hearts in troubled times can be said to be the most impetuous and unpredictable, and their advances and retreats will be greatly randomized and emotional.Therefore, Cao Cao knows how to lead people with different opinions in troubled times. If you can't strengthen your self-cultivation from your own perspective, strictly discipline yourself, set an example, and correct mistakes.It will be difficult to convince everyone, and the support of others will be greatly reduced.
Prestige, that is, prestige and reputation, is a quality that leaders must possess.For a leader with prestige, his plans, instructions, and tasks are easily accepted by his subordinates.His instructions and opinions convinced his subordinates, and the group he led was like a well-functioning machine, able to work quickly and efficiently.Otherwise, it will never make a difference.There are many factors to establish prestige, strict self-discipline bears the brunt.The ancients said: Human beings are not sages, and there is nothing wrong with them.In fact, sages are not necessarily innocent.Didn't a more comprehensive person like Zhuge Liang also make mistakes?The key is whether you can have self-knowledge and the courage to let go like Cao Cao.
In Cao Cao's official career, prestige and favor have always been a pair of irreconcilable contradictions. Of course, to stand up, you must be stern and selfless, and stern and selfless will give people a feeling of inhumanity. This is also the duality of being an official and a person. avoid.But Cao Cao always kept this point in mind: the prestige of a general can only be truly obeyed by everyone if he comes from strict discipline. This is a simple and profound truth.
Cao Cao often said: "If you are not upright, you will not follow orders, and if you do not follow orders, you will change." For Cao Cao, who has the world in mind, with this kind of prestige, there is a source of strength to inspire the world and not to be angry.
As the old saying goes, "the upper and lower works" and "the upper beams are not straight and the lower beams are crooked".Only when one's own "pillar" acts upright and stands upright can the sergeants below have no chance to take advantage of the military order's loopholes. Only such a team can be monolithic and have the strength to conquer the world.
Cao Cao has always understood that corruption often starts from the inside of the ruler, and the corruption of the atmosphere gradually progresses from the top to the bottom.So role models are very important.Role models have two aspects, one is good, which can inspire people to forge ahead, and the other is bad, which can make the world worse.We often say that the power of role models is infinite. If you set an example for yourself that can motivate you and add pride, this is indeed a good way to motivate yourself.
When Cao Cao marched west to Guanzhong, in the battle of Weishui against Ma Chao, in order to form horns against the enemy tactically, but also to stabilize the morale of the troops crossing the river.Regardless of the danger, he personally cut off the rear governor.As a result, Ma Chao's all-out attack was attracted, which almost killed him.Thanks to Xu Chu's hard work to kill the enemy, and Ding Fei's tricks, he was able to reach the other side.How could the soldiers not be moved when they saw Cao Cao retreating from the enemy with such a bow, and fought hard with one against ten.
As the supreme commander of the army, Cao Cao has every reason not to take this risk.However, after comparing the strengths of the enemy and the enemy, coupled with the current severe situation, he knew that he had to personally supervise the army to boost the morale of the army, so that he could have any hope of victory.In addition, Cao Cao, who has always been scheming, often draws inferences about things.He wants all the soldiers in the army to understand this: I, Cao Cao, have done this, so let everyone figure it out.Sure enough, this action of his not only stabilized the morale of the army, but also increased his prestige in the army unprecedentedly.Moreover, the planned goal of crossing the river was successfully completed, the strategic deployment of the enemy was completed, and the progress of the war was greatly advanced.
In the Battle of Weishui, Cao Cao almost lost his life. Even though it was suspected of being a last resort, his commander-in-chief style can be regarded as the style of a generation.It can be seen from this that if you want to catch people from the heart, there is only one way: to be united, to share the joys and sorrows, and to share the fate, so that such a team will never be defeated.
Although Cao Cao took a lot of risks in this move, he not only completed the strategic deployment in the short term, but also in the long run, his prestige has indeed improved a lot. His behavior is really a "less investment" for him. , more output", is totally worth it.It can be seen from this that Cao Cao is the leader of an army, and he can put personal life and death aside. In this regard, he is worthy of being a hero in the Three Kingdoms period and a leading military strategist and politician in the history of our country.
In Cao Cao's military camp, the rule of law has always been emphasized, but when he himself "knows the law and breaks the law", it is a severe challenge. Cao Cao made a decisive decision and clearly expressed his attitude by "cutting the hair to replace the leader". The subordinates are deeply respected.As a result, the whole army was terrified, and no one dared to ignore military orders anymore, and discipline was rectified.
Because Cao Cao was strict with himself when governing the army and the country, they had a very high prestige in the hearts of the soldiers and the people.This is probably an important reason for his ultimate success, right?
Six magnanimous prime ministers are able to punt a boat
As the saying goes: A prime minister can punt a boat in his stomach.For a leader, strategy and generosity are two excellent qualities, and the two complement each other, and if they can be skillfully used, they will definitely be superior to others.It is too cruel to have a plan without tolerance; it is often difficult to make great achievements if you have a magnanimity without a plan.Cao Cao did both, so he became a successful politician and strategist.Although Cao Cao was treacherous and suspicious all his life, he was able to treat people generously and not turn over old scores, so that he won his subordinates to work hard for him, and there were not a few enemies who turned to him.These talents also did their best, and finally built an efficient team, which made great contributions to Cao Cao's expansion of territory.
Cao Cao employs people without thinking about old evils.Once after capturing the enemy's city, a bunch of letters were found from Yuan Shao's books and files, all of which were letters of surrender secretly written to Yuan Shao by people in Cao Ying.At that time, someone suggested to Cao Cao that this matter should be investigated seriously, and all those who wrote black letters should be arrested and killed.However, Cao Cao had a higher vision and a broader mind. He said: "When Yuan Shao is very powerful, I can't protect myself, let alone other people?" .It is an important principle of employing people not to be suspicious and not to be suspicious.And those who had an affair with Yuan Shao didn't appreciate Cao Cao's kindness?Why don't you give up on Cao Cao's advice and advice?As a result, Cao Cao quickly stabilized the morale of the army.
Why didn't Cao Cao severely suppress these people, but took such magnanimous measures?This is because doing so has two benefits:
[-]. Avoid accidentally injuring loyal ministers.Now that Cao Cao has mastered the list of private letters with the enemy, he already knows these people well, as long as he uses them carefully in the future, they can still play a role.In this way, Cao Cao has the initiative over them.The reasons for these private letters with the enemy are different, and the crimes range from mild to serious, so they cannot be generalized.If they are severely punished regardless of indiscrimination, it will expand their involvement and cause unnecessary internal chaos.
Two, do not cut off your arms.At this time, all the heroes are rising together, the general situation of the world is uncertain, and it is time to employ people.Zeng Cao burned these letters to show tolerance, then those who had private letters with the enemy will be grateful to Cao Cao, sincerely, and serve Cao Cao wholeheartedly.The fact is exactly the same. Many of these people became Cao Cao's powerful helpers in the future.Cao Cao's move can be said to truly reflect his flexible and changeable character.
Zhang Xiu is the nephew of Zhang Ji, one of the four generals of Dong Zhuo. When he was young, he was only a county magistrate. He was famous in the local area for defeating a riot of the Yellow Turban Army.Later, he pulled up his team and defected to his uncle Zhang Ji.At that time, Situ Wangyun, Lu Bu and others planned to kill Dong Zhuo, and Dong Zhuo's four generals took the opportunity to raise troops, under the banner of revenge for Dong Zhuo, and strengthen themselves.Zhang Xiu participated in the war against Lu Bu with the army, and was promoted to Jianzhong General because of his military achievements, and was granted the title of Marquis of Xuanwei.Later, Zhang Ji died in a war, and Zhang Xiu took over his uncle's position, stationed in Nanyang, and formed an alliance with Liu Biao.
After Cao Cao greeted Xu, the emperor's capital, he sent his troops to the south to attack Zhang Xiu, and the army killed Wancheng. Zhang Xiu knew that he was invincible, so he surrendered.At the beginning, the two sides feasted all day long, and the atmosphere was very harmonious. Unexpectedly, Cao Cao took in a large army, and a little too proud to accept Zhang Xiu's aunt as his concubine.
Zhang Xiu couldn't face this insult, so he turned back and launched a surprise attack on Cao Cao.Cao Cao was caught off guard and fled in defeat.The eldest son Cao Ang and nephew Cao Anmin were killed, and he himself was hit by a arrow and was almost killed.Cao Cao regained his composure and raised his troops to take revenge. Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao helped each other.
Later, Cao Cao was going to deal with a bigger enemy, Yuan Shao. On the eve of the Battle of Guandu, Cao and Yuan both came to fight for Zhang Xiu's new force.At this juncture, Zhang Xiu followed the advice of counselor Jia Xu and surrendered to Cao Cao again.Jia Xu accurately analyzed: Cao Cao is weak and Yuan Qiang will be valued only if he votes for Cao Cao, and helping Cao Cao at this critical juncture can eliminate old grudges.
As expected, Cao Cao was very happy when he heard that Zhang Xiu had come to surrender.And let his son Cao Jun marry Zhang Xiu's daughter, the enemy became a relative, and he also worshiped Zhang Xiu as General Yangwu.In the Battle of Guandu, Zhang Xiu really did his best for Cao Cao, beating Yuan Shao and then attacking Yuan Tan.Cao Cao was also very generous in granting him awards, granting him more land than all the generals.The two parents vowed to drive the Yuan family to extinction, and they went to Karasuma side by side to chase and kill Yuan Shang.
Jia Xu once advised Zhang Xiu and almost killed Cao Cao. Regardless of the past, Cao Cao greeted him personally, took his hand and said, "If you make a small mistake, don't take it to heart." After that, Jia Xu became Cao Cao again. The important counselor under the tent made great contributions to Cao Cao's conquest.
For those who have opposed him or even insulted him, as long as they have real talents and are willing to change their attitudes, Cao Cao will always be lenient and will not pursue them.On the eve of the Battle of Guandu, Chen Lin drafted an appeal for Yuan Shao to crusade against Cao Cao, counting Cao Cao's various "crimes", some of which are true and some are false, and it is difficult to distinguish.It is also said that Cao Cao's grandfather Cao Teng was an eunuch, his father Cao Song was adopted, and Cao Cao was "an eunuch and ugly". It is an obvious personal attack to expose Cao Cao's background.
It is more emotionally difficult for Chen Lin to scold Cao Cao to her father than to scold herself.However, Cao Cao made such a "vicious attack" on Chen Lin. When he captured Chen Lin after defeating Yuan Shao, he just blamed Chen Lin and said: "You used to write a call for Yuan Benchu, and you can just scold me. How can you drag it up and scold me?" What happened to father and grandfather's head?"
Chen Lin hurriedly apologized to Cao Cao, saying that the arrow was on the string and had to be fired, and it was a last resort.Cao Cao loved talents, not only did not kill him, but also appointed him as Sikong's sacrificial wine.This is an outstanding example of Cao Cao not thinking of old evils.
It is indeed rare to be able to "be tolerant and tolerant of others, and not remember other people's small faults", and it is even more rare to give up personal grievances for the sake of greatness and grand strategy.From this point of view, Cao Cao is really a generous hero.
If a military commander is narrow-minded and short-sighted, he can't tolerate others and fight civil wars for trivial matters; if he finds that his subordinates are inconsistent with him, he resorts to a set of tricks to punish people, and the result will inevitably forget the strategy Goals, do many things that make loved ones hurt and enemies happy.This kind of small-minded person cannot achieve great things.
(End of this chapter)
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