In the long river of history, Cao Cao and Cao Pi, two important historical figures, intertwined a series of exciting plots and ambitions. The relationship between them is not only complicated by political schemes, but also accompanied by the twists and turns of history. This article will provide an in-depth analysis of the conspiracy psychology between Cao Cao and Cao Pi, as well as their roles on the historical stage.
Cao Cao was an eloquent statesman, and in the autumn and July of 196 AD, he skillfully welcomed Liu Xie, the Emperor of Han Xian, to the capital of Xu, re-established the imperial court, held high the banner of the Son of Heaven, conquered the Quartet, and gradually pacified the north. What he did, in the name of restoring the Han family, conscripted Yuan Shu, Lu Bu, Yuan Shao and other princes, so that many people loyal to the Han family attached themselves to him.
However, Cao Cao did not have emperor dreams in his heart. In the early days, he was just ordered by the Son of Heaven to be subordinate. It was not until 212 A.D. that Cao Cao's ambitions began to be revealed when Dong Zhao and others proposed to let Cao Cao enter the Duke of the Kingdom and add the title of Jiuxi. However, the opposition of Xun Yu and others caused Cao Cao to be psychologically burdened, and he did not quickly adopt this proposal. Cao Cao had an insurmountable moral mountain in his heart, which made him hesitate and did not dare to rashly claim the title of emperor.
Cao Cao is no longer invincible in the imperial court, but he is not someone who can overlord the bow. The psychological moral barrier prevented him from easily crossing the threshold of becoming emperor. Cao Cao understood that the human heart could not be destroyed with a butcher's knife, but needed to be morally tamed. He was afraid of fear of power and not virtue, so in his lifetime, Cao Cao finally gave up the opportunity to become emperor and left this opportunity to his son Cao Pi.
Cao Cao's hesitation to become emperor reflects the inner contradiction of a politician. The pull between power and morality made Cao Cao hover on the edge of power and dare not act rashly.
Cao Pi, compared to his father Cao Cao, is more lucky. The big tree of Cao Wei was erected by Cao Cao, and Cao Pi crowned him the emperor, but it was not fiercely opposed. He also didn't have much of a moral burden and became an emperor as a matter of course.
However, despite Cao Pi's successful ascension to the throne, the rule of Cao Cao and Cao Pi has always been shrouded in the shadow of usurping the Han dynasty. The collapse of Cao Wei in its heyday was not only due to the flaws in the design of the system, but also related to the inappropriate line of Cao Cao and Cao Pi to claim the emperor.
Cao Cao left a rich political legacy on the stage of history, and his power and wisdom became the object of Xi for later generations. However, his hesitation to become emperor also sounded a profound historical alarm for future generations. Scheming is important, but morality is also indispensable in governing the country.
Cao Pi took over his father's mantle and became an emperor. However, Cao Wei's fate was always accompanied by the name of usurpation. Cao Cao's psychological and moral obstacles became a political burden for Cao Pi and his descendants, resulting in Cao Wei's reputation in history always difficult to get rid of the evaluation of "fearing power but not virtue".
The political intrigues, psychological barriers, and historical influences between Cao Cao and Cao Pi are intertwined to form a colorful chapter in Chinese history. This period of history not only gives people a deep understanding of the struggle between power and morality, but also provides valuable lessons for future generations. In the process of governing the country, although power and strategy are important, morality is even more fundamental, and only when the two complement each other can we create a truly great historical heritage.