Cao Cao (155— 15, March 220), whose real name is Xiahou, was born in Peiguoqiao County (now Bozhou City, Anhui Province). China was an outstanding statesman, strategist, writer, calligrapher and poet in ancient times. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Quan Xiang was the son of Qiu Cao Song and the founder of Cao Wei. In his early years, Cao Cao showed his love and talent for martial arts, read widely, especially liked the art of war and copied the strategies of ancient art of war, which laid a solid foundation for his later military career.
Cao Cao was good at poetry, understood the art of war and established An Wen style. There are many poems. Another note, The Art of War, has been handed down from generation to generation. Modern people have compiled his poems into a typographical edition of Cao Cao Ji. At the same time, he was also good at calligraphy, and was rated as a "wonderful work" by Zhang Huaiguan in the Tang Dynasty.
Cao Cao's Political Measures
Cao Cao's thought is influenced by Confucianism, and its foundation belongs to the category of Confucianism. He advocates benevolence, righteousness and propriety, and tries to educate the people and the administration with benevolence, morality and propriety, that is, "governing propriety first". On the other hand, the well-documented history of Cao Cao's attaching importance to the law and neglecting the technique, imposing severe punishment and strict law constitutes another important aspect of Cao Cao's thought.
This is called "putting chaos into punishment first". Therefore, Cao Cao's thought is a contradictory unity. Cao Cao in troubled times not only emphasized criminal law, but also remembered the use of ethics. He has always respected etiquette and law, used both hands, and showed his unique ability to cheat in both etiquette and law.
In terms of leading troops, the army is strictly managed and the laws and regulations are strict. On one occasion, during the March, Cao Cao ordered that the wheat fields should not be trampled, and all offenders would be beheaded. The soldiers all dismounted and walked for fear of hurting the wheat seedlings. But Cao Cao's steed was frightened and stepped on the wheat field. He drew his sword and cut off a lock of hair as punishment, which shows the seriousness of law enforcement. The military orders of Wei Wu, Wu Wei's warship and Wei Wu's marching included in the General Program of Military Code also reflect his strict military orders.