Why was Cao Cao reluctant to kill Chen Gong?
First of all, in the difficult process of Cao Cao's failed assassination of Dong Zhuo and being arrested while fleeing, Chen Gong played a key role, he not only gave up his official position and saved Cao Cao's life, but also showed extraordinary lobbying talent in the later Yanzhou affairs, and made great contributions to Cao Cao.
As a celebrity in the Yanzhou region, Chen Gong had a wide range of contacts and rich social resources, and after Cao Cao killed the celebrity Bian Rang, Chen Gong became an important link between Cao Cao and the Yanzhou family. His presence not only helped alleviate Cao Cao's conflicts with the local family, but also provided Cao Cao with valuable strategic advice and courageous support. When Lü Bu almost breached Cao Cao's lair, Chen Gong's advice once again helped Cao Cao resolve the crisis.
Therefore, in many ways, the importance of Chen Gong to Cao Cao is self-evident. He not only felt like a brother and sister, shared weal and woe with Cao Cao, but also valued Cao Cao for his intelligence and value. At this time, Chen Gong was already in prison and no longer a threat to Cao Cao, so Cao Cao left him without any harm.
However, Chen Gong insisted on seeking death, showing an unyielding and fearless temperament, which is admirable. In contrast, an act of wagging his tail and begging for mercy like Lu Bu would only attract contempt in Cao Cao's eyes.
In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Luo Guanzhong's depiction of Chen Gong's image before his death made the images of Chen Gong and Cao Cao vivid. One is a celebrity who is willing to die, and the other is a hero who knows how to repay his kindness. In the era of the Three Kingdoms, there was also a sympathetic side between heroes. Chen Gong died generously and saved his honor, while Cao Cao treated Chen Gong's family well. Such an ending is already the best, reflecting the true feelings of the world and the continuation of traditional Chinese virtues.
Secondly, when Cao Cao ordered the killing of Chen Gong, he was actually giving up his past self and carrying out a profound process of self-recognition and transformation. As a young man, Cao Cao was in the midst of a power struggle between eunuchs and relatives in the late Han Dynasty, and once followed Yuan Shao, and his position was similar to that of the general He Jin's alliance of relatives, dedicated to eliminating the evil forces.
However, the political chaos at that time had not subsided, and Yuan Shao put forward the bad idea of the king of Zhaobian Junqin, luring the wolf into the house, which led to further chaos in the situation. When Yuan Shaoyi left rhetorically, preparing to rebel against Dong Zhuo, while Cao Cao secretly planned the failure of the operation, and when faced with life and death, Cao Cao realized the fear and weakness in his heart.
As Cao Cao's actions increasingly deviated from his original intentions, Chen Gong saw through his hypocrisy and decided to leave. Although Cao Cao was angry, he could not deny that he had deviated from his heart and made a major mistake. Cao Cao later bravely raised an army against Dong Zhuo, but found that his ally Yuan Shao was indecisive, and the princes in the alliance had their own ghosts. Cao Cao gradually recognized the hypocrisy of the so-called loyal and righteous people, and began to show his true side, unscrupulously strengthening his own power. His behavior became more and more cruel, and he even carried out a large-scale ** in Xuzhou, completely insulating himself from the righteous path of benevolence, righteousness, and righteousness.
It wasn't until 198 that after Cao Cao destroyed Lu Bu, Chen Gong appeared in front of him again. At this moment, Cao Cao saw not only Chen Gong, but also the image of the hero who participated in the extermination of eunuchs and was not afraid of life and death, as well as the traitorous male who killed innocent people by mistake and insisted on going his own way. Eventually, Cao Cao witnessed his original self and said goodbye to him sadly and tearfully. From then on, Cao Cao deeply realized his own nature, and eventually became the prime minister and king of Wei who coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes.
In the end, in fact, Chen Gong is Cao Cao's first love, Bai Yueguang, and that pure and precious emotion seems to be a touch of sadness in Cao Cao's heart. In addition to Chen Gong, most of the strategists around Cao Cao were from famous families, such as Xun Yu and Xun You, and had a deep family background. Others, such as Guo Jia's young death, Cheng Yu's talent but limitations, Jia Xu's mess, and Chen Qun and others are unknown.
Only Chen Gong, who stood by Cao Cao's side without hesitation at the difficult moment when Cao Cao was imprisoned, burdened with serious crimes, and was hunted down, did not seek profit or power. is like a hardcore friend, even if it is just a county **, he can firmly put aside fame and fortune.
Cao Cao was actually a person who was extremely eager for ideals in his heart, and he admired Chen Gong's ambition, admired his decisiveness, and even admired Chen Gong's intelligence. And such a person once belonged to him. It's that he Lao Cao didn't cherish. A loyal and selfless partner he once had. This lost friendship may become an indelible regret in the depths of Cao Cao's soul. Three Kingdoms