In 193, Cao Song travelled to Xuchang to meet his son Cao Cao. While passing through Xuzhou, he was robbed and murdered. Cao Cao put the blame on Xuzhou governor Tao Qian and invaded his territory. Dressed in white to mourn Cao Song’s death, Cao Cao’s army was ordered to spare no human or animal in Xuzhou. Liu Bei came to Tao Qian’s rescue and Cao Cao was distracted by mutiny back home.
In 197, Cao Cao invaded Wancheng which was governed by the young Zhang Xiu. The latter surrendered. Cao Cao feasted inside Wancheng and helped himself to the women, including Zhang Xiu’s widowed aunt. Disgusted with Cao Cao, Zhang Xiu attacked. Cao Cao was beaten. Zhang Xiu killed his eldest son Cao Ang and his favourite general Dian Wei.
In 200, when Yuan Shao was preparing to attack Cao Cao, he saw Wancheng as a strategic location and proposed an alliance. Zhang Xiu’s advisor Jia Xu told him that it was a trap and advised him to join forces with Cao Cao instead. Zhang Xiu didn’t believe that Cao Cao would forgive him, but Jia Xu was right. Cao Cao blamed Tao Qian for his father’s death, but he blamed himself for Cao Ang and Dian Wei’s death.
Most people who think they’re familiar with the Three Kingdoms would find it indisputable that Cao Cao was a villain. While there are practically no good guys in the Three Kingdoms, we should be aware that Luo Guan Zhong 三国演义 is popular for the simple reason that it is so simplistic in portraying Cao Cao as the villain and Liu Bei as the nice guy. But if you follow Luo’s depiction, you may get confused when you read the whole story as some parts seem to contradict the others. For those who don’t have the time or patience to read the direct translation, check out this version of the Three Kingdoms that tries to make sense of the whole saga.
Making Sense of the Three Kingdoms