Cao Cao was an outstanding politician, strategist and writer in Jian 'an era. In the first year of Jian 'an (196), he welcomed Emperor Xu (present-day Henan), took the emperor as a vassal, and successively put down the separatist forces such as Lu Bu.
After the battle of Guandu defeated warlord Yuan Shao, the northern part of China was gradually unified. In the 13th year of Jian 'an (208), he ascended the position of Prime Minister, led his troops south, and was defeated by Sun Quan and Liu Bei in Chibi.
Extended data
Cao Cao was born in a eunuch family. After the Three Kingdoms called him Cao Can, Cao Cao's father Cao Song was the adopted son of eunuch Cao Teng, and Cao Teng served four generations of emperors, which was quite famous. When Emperor Huan of the Han Dynasty was appointed, Cao Song succeeded Cao Tenghou and became a courtier of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty.
When Cao Cao began to embark on his official career, he tried to use stricter laws to change the situation in which power and prestige were rampant at that time. Due to the disaster of the central government, Cao could not show his intention. It was not until he came to power himself that the policy of restraining arrogance was fully implemented. He said: "the punishment of the husband is also the life of the people"; The policy of bringing order out of chaos should put punishment first.
He used Wang Xiu, Sima Zhi, Yang Pei, Lv Qian, Man Chong, Jia Kui and other local officials to curb the lawless strongmen. If we compare Yuan Shao's and Cao Cao's political skills in Jizhou, we can see two different situations: "At the end of the Han Dynasty, politics was lenient and salt was lenient, so we didn't take it."
Cao Cao is a generation of calligraphers but little known, mainly because there are few calligraphy works handed down by Cao Cao. "Book Review of Tang Dynasty" said: "Cao Shu is like a golden flower, exquisite everywhere, jade is brilliant, and Eta Ursae Majoris is brilliant."
Zhang Hua in the Western Jin Dynasty said in the Natural History: "In the Han Dynasty, Anping Cui Yuan, Bao, Hongnong and Zhilichang were good at cursive writing, while Taizu was good at cursive writing." Yu Jianwu, a calligraphy critic in the Southern Dynasties, listed Cao Cao's calligraphy works as the best among China people, calling them "Li Mo Xiong Zhan".
Zhang Huaiguan, a calligrapher and critic in the Tang Dynasty, called Cao Cao "an excellent calligrapher and calligrapher" in Shu Duan and praised his wonderful works. From this point of view, although Cao Cao's calligraphy works can not be regarded as excellent and top grade, they can also be regarded as famous calligraphers in China.
References:
Baidu encyclopedia-Cao Cao