In the twelfth year of Jian'an, that is, in 207 AD, Cao Cao was 53 years old, and Cao Cao at this time was already more than sixty years old, in troubled times, but he was still heroic. At the age of more than half a hundred, he won a great victory at the age of 46 and completed the unification of the north at the age of 53. Although the years are not forgiving, Cao Cao has not shown the slightest appearance of a dragon bell, and he is still heroic.
Lao Ji is in the middle of nowhere, and his ambition is thousands of miles", this is Cao Cao's bold words about his grand ambitions. However, the poem also applies to another famous Wei general, Zhang Liao, Cao Cao's right-hand man.
Zhang Liao, who was originally a martyr Nie Yi when Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, was recommended as a county official as a teenager. He served under Ding Yuan and He Jin, and later joined Cao Cao and became one of the five good generals. Zhang Liao, although he was not famous in his early years, showed extraordinary talent under Cao Cao.
In 199 AD, Cao Cao broke through Xiapi, Zhang Liao surrendered, and began his career in Cao Ying. Cao Cao did not immediately reuse Zhang Liao, but this "old man" waited silently, and his ambitions were still ambitious. He was low-key and pragmatic under Cao Cao and never changed his true colors.
In the seventeenth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao conquered Sun Quan in the south, and Zhang Liao guarded Hefei. In fierce battles, Zhang Liao thwarted Sun Wu's attacks several times, especially in 215 AD, and he became famous in a battle with his excellent strategy and brave combat effectiveness. At this time, Zhang Liao was already 47 years old, but his prestige spread far and wide, and he became a feared general in Jiangdong.
However, Zhang Liao did not have the opportunity to enjoy his old age in peace. In 222 AD, when he was seriously ill, he went into battle with illness and successfully repelled the Wu general Lü Fan. This highly meritorious general ended his life on the battlefield at the age of 52. When Zhang Liao "retired", he was already sixty years old.