Xu Shao, one of the founders of Yuedan Commentary at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, commented on Cao Cao as: a minister who governs the world and a hero in troubled times. This comment is definitely accurate when used in Cao Cao's life. The end of the Eastern Han Dynasty was a turbulent time that lasted for decades, so Cao Cao was also called "the hero of the troubled times."
The treacherous hero originally meant to be a treacherous hero. In fact, in addition to treacherousness, Cao Cao can continue to grow and develop in troubled times until he unifies the entire north. Employment and trust are one of the most important reasons. Cao Cao reused a large number of Talents with outstanding talents, but these people can not trust Cao Cao much.
Reuse and trust are not contradictory. The ministers Cao Cao reused may not necessarily be trusted. For example, Xun Yu, as a Shang Shuling, handles the court affairs for Cao Cao in the DPRK and serves as a bridge connecting Cao Cao and Han Xiandi. Xun Yu relies on his talents. It was reused by Cao Cao, but Cao Cao did not trust Xun Yu, and eventually forced Xun Yu to death because of his different political ideas.
1. The source of Cao Cao’s suspicion
Everyone knows that Cao Cao is suspicious and can make up stories to kill in his sleep. Of course, Cao Cao was not a suspicious person at first, but It was a series of betrayals that made Cao Cao suspicious of those around him, especially those holding heavy soldiers. Among them, two people had the greatest influence on Cao Cao, one was Zhang Miao and the other was Zhang Xiu.
Zhang Miao was one of Cao Cao’s most trusted people in the early days. Before the expedition, Cao Cao said to his family: If I had an accident, you can go to Zhang Miao. In other words, Zhang Miao is someone Cao Cao can entrust his family with. It can be seen that Cao Cao trusted Zhang Miao, but what is the result? When Cao Cao conquered Xuzhou, Zhang Miao turned around and Chen Gong and Lu Bu jointly betrayed Cao Cao, and almost ended Cao Cao's lifelong career. This betrayal is unforgettable and unforgettable.
Zhang Xiu was one of the Xiliang warlords. After his uncle Zhang Ji passed away, he took over the army and guarded the north gate of Jingzhou for Liu Biao. Cao Cao beat Zhang Xiu, and Zhang Xiu took refuge in Cao Cao. As a result, Cao Cao fell in love with Zhang. Embroidered aunt, forcibly accepted as his wife and concubine, Zhang Xiu turned around and began to plan a betrayal. Just when Cao Cao married Zhang Xiu's aunt and was negligent when he returned with the beauty, Zhang Xiu suddenly launched a rebellion and killed Cao Cao's beloved general Dian Wei. , Nephew Cao Anmin, eldest son Cao Ang, and even Cao Cao himself almost died of Zhang Xiu's.
These two betrayals are the major setbacks that Cao Cao encountered in his early years, and they are also the reason why Cao Cao no longer trusts the people around him, but if no one trusts him, Cao Cao will not be able to complete the great cause of unifying the north. , At least three people let Cao Cao trust.
2. The three people Cao Cao trusted the most
The first person Cao Cao trusted the most was Xiahou Dun.
No doubt about this, can freely enter and exit Cao Cao’s bedroom. There is only Xiahou Dun in the entire Cao Wei Dynasty. This is equivalent to Cao Cao’s undefense against Xiahou Dun, which is Cao Cao’s highest trust . Although Xiahou Dun is not the most capable person, he must be the person Cao Cao trusts most.
Xiahou Dun is not only Cao Cao’s hometown, but also Cao Cao’s relative. Xia Hou Dun’s brother Xia Hou Yuan and Cao Cao are brothers-in-law. Of course, relatives alone cannot be trusted by Cao Cao. Xia Hou Dun’s loyalty to Cao Cao is what makes Cao Cao most trusted. .
What is the most important thing in troubled times? Of course it is military power. Military power is a tool of strength that can protect itself and make achievements in troubled times. Cao Cao fought in Xuzhou, and Xiahou Dun was the only military general left behind. With Xun Yu and Cheng Yu, he protected the three cities and became the basis for Cao Cao’s comeback. Xia Hou Dun Compared to Xun Yu and Cheng Yu, it is even more important, because only Xiahou Dun has the military power, Xun Yu and Cheng Yu do not. Cao Cao went out to fight and gave Xiahou Dun the only military power, which is trust .
Xiahou Dun stayed in the rear several times when Cao Cao went out for war, and became one of Cao Cao’s three military commanders. After Cao Cao’s southern conquest and Sun Quan, he appointed Xiahou Dun to lead the 26th army to reside in the nest. It can be said that Cao Cao controlled the entire southeast front line. All the military power was handed over to Xiahou Dun, and the Southeast Front Military Region was regarded as the largest and the strongest among the three military regions under Cao Cao. This was Cao Cao's trust in Xiahou Dun.
曹操's second most trusted person is Xiahouyuan .
Xia Houyuan and Cao Cao are brothers-in-law, and their wives are sisters. Xia Houyuan is brave and good at fighting and is good at making long-distance raids. It is said that Xia Houyuan can lead an army forward 500 miles in three days, and can lead an army forward 1,000 miles in six days. The speed was very fast, so Cao Cao let Xia Houyuan lead the entire Western Military Region.
Although Xia Houyuan is good at fighting, he lacks strategy. It is called General Baidi, that is, he is not good at using soldiers. Xia Houyuan has such a big shortcoming. Cao Cao can rest assured that Xia Houyuan is guarded, except that Cao Cao trusts Xia Houyuan. Besides, there is no other reason. Of course, when Xia Houyuan guarded Yongzhou and Liangzhou and Guanzhong, he was indeed regarded as the megatron. It could defeat the remaining forces of Ma Chao and Han Sui and stabilize Cao Cao's rule in Guanzhong. .
But Xia Houyuan lacks strategy. If you encounter someone who is good at strategy, Xia Houyuan will suffer a big loss. Therefore, Xia Houyuan was easily beheaded by the strategy set up by Liu Bei, Fazheng, Huang Zhong and others in the battle of Hanzhong. Xia Houyuan In response to Liu Bei's strategy of attacking the east and the west, Liu Bei used the attack on Zhang Yun to lure Xia Houyuan to send troops to rescue him, and then stormed Xiahouyuan, and finally Xiahouyuan died in battle.
However, Cao Cao clearly knew Xia Houyuan's shortcomings and still let Xia Houyuan act as the commander of the military area guarding one side. This is Cao Cao's trust in Xia Houyuan.
The third person Cao Cao trusted most is Cao Ren.
The reason is very simple. Cao Ren is Cao Cao’s younger brother. The two have a common ancestor. At the same time, Cao Ren was loyal to Cao Cao throughout his life. When Cao Cao started his business, Cao Ren led an army of thousands of people to join Cao Cao. This is called taking the capital to seek refuge, which strengthened Cao Cao's strength, so Cao Ren gained Cao Cao's trust and reuse.
Cao Ren later became a general under Cao Cao, and he almost participated in most of Cao Cao’s early wars. When Cao’s main force attacked the enemy, Cao Ren must have led a partial army to attack the city. As a partial division to cooperate with the main force, Cao Ren was on the battlefield. The performance on the game affected Cao Cao's performance on the battlefield. Cao Cao attacked Lu Bu, Cao Ren led another army to attack Juyang, Cao Cao attacked Zhangxiu, Cao Ren led another army to attack the surrounding area, Cao Cao fought Guandu, Cao Ren fought against Liu Bei in Runan, Cao Cao fought against Chibi, and Cao Ren fought against Sun Liu Lianjun in Nanjun.
Cao Ren also became the supreme military commander in the Jingzhou Military Region under Cao Cao. This is definitely obtained by Cao Cao’s trust. In troubled times, trust is far more important than ability, and those who are reused may not necessarily be trusted. , But those who trust will definitely be reused. As the commander of the military region, Cao Ren holds heavy soldiers and is quite loyal to Cao Cao. The surrender finally won the battle of Xiangfan, which all came from the trust of Cao Cao.
So the three most trusted by Cao Cao are: Xiahoudun, Xiahouyuan, and Cao Ren. They are also the generals who hold the military power under Cao Cao. The ability to ban, Zhang Liao, Lejin, Xu Huang, Zhang Yun, etc. is not in Xiahou Dun, Under Xia Houyuan and Cao Ren, the people who are trusted and reused are Xiahou Dun, Xia Houyuan, and Cao Ren. You can say that Cao Cao employs nepotism, or that Cao Cao has no meritocracy at all, but Cao Cao trusts Xiahou Dun, Xia Houyuan, and Cao Rensan. People are an indisputable fact.
