First, in the discussion of a certain historical event, the author has always believed that there is nothing to do with right or wrong, but only between benevolence and wisdom. Second, the purpose of discussion is how to serve reality, that is, only by being rooted in history can we know what stage reality is in and thus see the direction of the future, so that history, reality and the future are inseparable. Third, the so-called questioning or rebuttal is another way of learning Xi, at least to provide a new way of thinking to serve the reader, without any other additions, let alone "disrespect or hype". 
The opening title is finished and the main topic is introduced!The first thing to talk about is not Cui Yan, but the Qinghe Cui clan in the north!For the four words "Qinghe Cui Clan", I am afraid that many readers know that it is a great family in history, and even Li Shimin had to play a trick when facing this family. In 632 A.D., Li Shimin ordered Gao Shilian to revise a book called "Clan Chronicles", Li Shimin believed that the scholars at that time had a tendency to solidify, which was not conducive to class circulation, because the marriage between the scholars was done internally. However, the result of Gao Shilian's revision made Li Shimin extremely angry, because the first place was still Qinghe Cui's, Li Shimin said angrily: "The generation is declining, and there is no crown to cover ......."I don't understand the world, what is important?”
One of the most important is that I don't understand the world, this word is too exquisite!The author saw the taste of "high up and disdainful of fireworks in the world". Gao Shilian hurriedly revised it for the second time, this time the Li family in Longxi ranked first, and this "Clan Chronicles" passed the test!Judging from the results, Li Shimin obviously has selfish intentions to play a trick, but who can deny that this is not a kind of progress?It is important to know that the great progress of history has always been accompanied by petty selfishness. 
So why talk about the Qinghe Choi clan first?Because Cui Yan can be called the founder of the Cui clan in Qinghe. After the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Cui family moved south, but Cui Yan's father Cui Mi stayed in the north, and Cui Yan was his second son. Therefore, the Qinghe Cui clan generally started from Cui Yan, flourished in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (Cui Hao), was suppressed in the early Tang Dynasty, and declined at the end of the Tang Dynasty (Huangchao). So to be fair, it was Cao Cao who created the Qinghe Cui clan!It was after Cao Cao broke through Yecheng, the stronghold of Yuan Shao's forces, that Cao Cao was excited, except that his son Cao Pi married Yuan Shao's daughter-in-law Zhen (the mother of Emperor Cao Rong of Wei Ming), Cao Cao began to search for talents in Jizhou, and Cui Yan was favored by Cao Cao at this time. 
Cui Yan's original identity was a celebrity, and he studied under the famous master Zheng Xuan. However, Cui Yan is not only a literati, when Yuan Shao was in charge of Jizhou, he summoned Cui Yan and appointed him as the "Cavalry Captain" (when Cao Cao debuted in the army, it was also this official position). But Cui Yan's specialty is obviously strategy, such as persuading Yuan Shao to strengthen military discipline, and not to fight Cao Cao, because this is tantamount to breaking with the Han family, but Yuan Shao didn't listen!Now Cao Cao has concurrently served as the pastor of Jizhou in order to digest Jizhou, and naturally Cao Cao will not let go of a celebrity like Cui Yan. 
Cao Cao is more generous than Yuan Shao, and as soon as he made a move, he gave Cui Yan a "don't drive", so that Cui Yan became the person next to Cao Cao. As soon as Cui Yan made a move, Cao Cao was also overjoyed, and sorted out the household registration, land, grain and other information in Jizhou for Cao Cao, so that Cao Cao shouted after reading it: 300,000 people!That is, 300,000 soldiers can be obtained, and the author knows that they are soldiers, not the population. Because then Cui Yan spoke, saying: "After Yuan Shao's death, the people of Jizhou who were troubled by the Yuan brothers were devastated, and the population was displaced, boss, you should stop calculating, you should quickly pacify the people and restore survival or something, this is the key!."”
Cao Cao immediately apologized to Cui Yan: I was wrong, you were right!As a result, Cao Cao had an abnormal respect for Cui Yan, and asked Cao Zhi to marry Cui Yan's brother's daughter. After Cao Cao became the prime minister, Cui Yan served as the post of Dong Cao, that is, he was responsible for the selection of **, etc., until Cao Cao became the queen of Wei, Cui Yan was appointed as the secretary. Looking at Cui Yan's series of promotions and influence, it can be said that without Cao Cao's reuse and trust, it is really difficult to say whether Cui Yan can bring up the Qinghe Cui family. Because in addition to Cui Yan serving Cao Cao, he also had a cousin named Cui Lin, who later ranked in the high position of the third duke of Wei. But at first, Cui Lin was not favored, but Cui Yan said: Just me, a late bloomer of the brotherhood!So Cui Lin's final big weapon became late, but who can deny that there was no help from Cui Yan in the early stage?
So why was Cui Yan killed by Cao Cao?Among them, there is a sentence in the "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms": It is very majestic, the courtiers look forward, and the Taizu is also respectful!That is, Cui Yan has a good character, majesty, etc., which attracted Cao Cao's respect and fear, so he made a mistake and killed Cui Yan unjustly. So is Cui Yan terrible to have Sima Yi?Cao Cao's precautions against Sima Yi were stricter and more fearful, why did Sima Yi survive?I am afraid that it is precisely because of this that when Mr. Yi Zhongtian talked about the Three Kingdoms, he once said: Cui Yan was the most virtuous and respected celebrity in the Three Kingdoms, decent and elegant, far-sighted, dignified, awe-inspiring in the court, Cao Cao was also intimidated by his righteousness. Cui Yan's death was the biggest unjust case at that time. Cui Yan used death to prove that he was a gentleman. Cao Cao used Cui Yan's death to prove that he was a traitor. 
First, Cui Yan is a gentleman and talented, which is right. Cao Cao also took a fancy to this point and reused it. In other words, it was Cao Cao who gave Cui Yan a stage to show his gentlemanly style and display his talents, which is not wrong, right?So Cao Cao killed Cui Yan because of this, is this a self-contradiction?Because Cui Yan posed a threat to Cao Cao, he was far inferior to Sima Yi. Second, is Cao Cao a traitor?The author has always denied that Cao Cao is a figure who has made great contributions to history, but the historical period in which he lived is too complicated, and he can only survive and succeed if he adapts to the complex historical environment (the times make heroes), and finally reach the realm of "heroes make the times". 
Cao Cao's killing of Cui Yan is not only not evidence that Cao Cao is a traitor, but evidence that Cao Cao "created the current situation". The reason is that Cao Cao killed Cao Zhi's wife, Cui's!As mentioned earlier, Cui Yan's cousin's daughter married Cao Zhi. After Cao Cao became the king of Wei, he openly opposed extravagance and waste many times, especially the requirements for family members were very strict, and once Cao Cao found that his daughter-in-law Cui was dressed luxuriously, Cao Cao was furious, which was tantamount to taking the lead in violating Cao Cao's decree to ask for savings, so he gave Cui Shi death. 
From this incident, it can actually be seen that the power of the Cui Yan family must have been very strong at that time. For example, Cui's blatant slap in the face of Cao Cao is tantamount to giving Cao Cao a signal, that is, the current situation that Cao Cao wants to create (demanding simplicity and economy, opposing extravagance and waste) has been openly challenged!From this point of view, Cao Cao's killing of Cui Yan was a traitorous act or a hero's broken arm?During the Three Kingdoms period, the people were displaced, Cui Yan used this reason to prevent Cao Cao from wanting to recruit troops in Jizhou, but now the people of Cui Yan's family are extravagant and wasteful, violating Cao Cao's laws, so Cao Cao can only calculate this account on Cui Yan's head - it is also a warning to other nobles.
So Cui Yan is a true gentleman, but behind Cui Yan is a huge family interest, and he can't control many things, such as Cui's luxurious clothes, how does Cui Yan know?It was only later learned that Cui's killing was a blatant disregard for Cao Cao's decree. But everything is irretrievable. It is said that after the founding of the Western Jin Dynasty, such as Shi Chong and Wang Kai and other descendants were stunned by the Doufu, which was the cause of the demise of the Western Jin Dynasty, Cao Cao had long expected this, killing Cui Shi (Cao Zhi's wife) was a family rule, and killing Cui Yan warned the nobles of the Shi clan, so in this regard, the most neutral evaluation is probably that this is Cao Cao's style of doing things: leaving no room for doing things, but being sentimental to people!(There are relevant interpretations and introductions before, so I will not repeat them).
History cannot be seen in isolation, and the wind rises at the end of Qingping. For a character like Cao Cao, he can deduce the result from a small thing. Therefore, Cao Cao's killing of Cui Yan, in the author's opinion, was Cao Cao's warning to the nobles at that time, that is, not to be extravagant and wasteful, but to understand that "between heaven and earth, people are precious, and the monarch and herdsmen are ...... for it."From Cao Cao's poem "Duguan Mountain").