Background of writing "Guan Cang Hai":
Wuhuan was a serious problem in the northeast at that time. In the 11th year of Jian'an (206), Wuhuan captured Youzhou and captured more than ten Han people. Thousands of households. In the same year, Yuan Shao's sons Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi colluded with Tadun, the leader of Wuhuan in western Liaoning, and repeatedly harassed the border. As a result, Cao Cao had to decide to go north to conquer Wuhuan in the 12th year of Jian'an (207).
Later, under the guidance of Tian Chou, Xiao used strategies. In a battle around August of this year, Cao Cao finally won a decisive victory. This victory consolidated Cao Cao's rear and laid the foundation for his move southward the following year in order to realize his ambition to unify China. And "Guan Cang Hai" was written when he passed through Jieshi Mountain after returning from the northern expedition to Wuhuan after victory.
Extended information:
Cao Cao (155-March 15, 220?), whose courtesy name was Mengde, whose last name was Geely, and whose nickname was Ahao, was born in Qiao County, Peiguo (now Anhui) Bozhou) people. An outstanding statesman, militarist, writer, and calligrapher in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and the founder of the Cao Wei regime in the Three Kingdoms. Cao Cao served as the prime minister of the Eastern Han Dynasty and was later granted the title of King of Wei, laying the foundation for the founding of Cao Wei.
After his death, his posthumous title was King Wu. After his son Cao Pi became emperor, he was honored as Emperor Wu, with the temple name Taizu. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the world was in chaos. In the name of the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, Cao Cao conquered all directions, internally eliminated the separatist forces such as Yuan, Lu Bu, Liu Biao, Ma Chao, and Han Sui, and externally surrendered the Southern Xiongnu, Wuhuan, Xianbei, etc., and unified northern China.
And implemented a series of policies to restore economic production and social order, expand farmland, build water conservancy, reward farmers and mulberry trees, attach importance to handicrafts, resettle the exiled population, and implement "rent modulation", thereby gradually stabilizing the society of the Central Plains. The economy is turning around. Under Cao Cao's rule, the Yellow River Basin gradually became politically clear, the economy gradually recovered, class oppression was slightly alleviated, and social atmosphere improved.
Some of the measures taken by Cao Cao in the name of the Han Dynasty had a positive effect. Cao Cao was proficient in the art of war in the military and valued talents. For this reason, he would take the potential members under his command at all costs. In life, he was good at poetry to express his political ambitions and reflect the suffering life of the people in the late Han Dynasty. He was majestic and generous. desolate.
The prose is also clear and neat, which opened up and prospered Jian'an literature and left precious spiritual wealth to future generations. Lu Xun evaluated him as "the ancestor of reforming articles." At the same time, Cao Cao was also good at calligraphy. Zhang Huaiguan of the Tang Dynasty rated Cao Cao's calligraphy as "wonderful" in "Shujuan".
Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Guancanghai