In September 208, Cao Cao, a powerful minister of the Eastern Han Dynasty, ordered that Kong Rong, the grand master of Taizhong, and his family be arrested and then executed. Kong Rong is a well-known figure, and the story of "Kong Rong Makes Pears" has been passed down through the ages. As a famous scholar at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Kong Rong's virtue was very high, why was he executed by Cao Cao? Although Cao Cao said that Kong Rong's crime was disloyalty and filial piety, was there some ulterior motive behind this?
1. The leader of the celebrity
Kong Rong was the twentieth grandson of Confucius and had been an official for generations. Kong Rong can be said to have become famous as a teenager, he followed his father to Beijing when he was ten years old, and when he met the famous scholar Li Bing, he left a story of "hours up" and was appreciated by Li Bing. Later, the Eastern Han Dynasty broke out in the disaster of the party, and the famous scholar Zhang Jian was persecuted by eunuchs and planned to defect to Kong Rong's brother Kong Bao, but Kong Bao was not at home. Although Kong Rong was only sixteen years old, he resolutely decided to keep Zhang Jian.
Later, the matter leaked, Zhang Jian escaped, but kong bao and Kong Rong brothers were arrested and imprisoned. But who did not think that Kong Bao and Kong Rong were fighting to bear the responsibility for the crime, "a fight for death, the county is doubtful", Kong Rong has become a well-known figure in the world. In 184, Kong merged into the dynasty as an official, and later repeatedly disobeyed Dong Zhuo's wishes, was hated by Dong Zhuo, and was put into Beihai as an official. In 196, Kong Rong came to Xuchang to serve as an official in the middle of the dynasty, and by this time he had become the leader of the famous scholars at the end of the Han Dynasty, and "the handsome people in the sea were convinced".
Second, Cao Cao's reasons
But twelve years later, Cao Cao killed Kong Rong! According to the documents impeaching Kong Rong, I can find that Cao Cao's crime of killing Kong Rong mainly has two main points: First, he was dissatisfied with the Eastern Han court and intended to rebel. During Kong Rong's stay in Beihai, he "saw that the royal family was not quiet, and recruited disciples, and wanted to do wrong", and also made up lies, saying that at that time, Kong Rong made a big fuss, "After my great sage, and seeing the destruction in the Song, there is a world, why should he use the golden sword." Later, when talking to eastern Wu emissaries in Xuchang, Kong Rong "slandered the imperial court".
Second, the son of filial piety, who acts debauchery. Kong Rong "does not obey the imperial ceremony, the bald scarf is slightly walked, and the Tang Dynasty official is not filial", and when talking with You Heng, he did not filial piety, "The father is to the son, when what kind of relatives?" In its original meaning, it is actually the ear of lust. The son is to the mother, and the son is also reverent? For example, in the middle of the hermitage, out is out of the way." In addition, You Heng also said that Kong Rong was "Zhongni does not die". All in all, Cao Cao charged Kong Rong with disloyalty and filial piety and then killed his entire family.
Third, the real reason
Although Kong Rong's political and military talents are limited, his character is beyond doubt! It can be said that Kong Rong inherited the tradition of the Eastern Han Dynasty, was not afraid of the powerful, and dared to speak out in righteousness. In the process, Kong Rong inevitably offended Cao Cao, because the political philosophies of the two were fundamentally different. Although Kong Rong came to Xuchang, he adhered to the political position of "surrendering to Han and not surrendering To Cao". However, Kong Rong did not have a single soldier in his hands, so he used his own words as a weapon.
During his stay in Xuchang, Kong Rong made sharp criticisms and ridicules of Cao Cao and his heirs. For example, Cao Pi privately accepted Yuan Xi's wife Zhen Shi, and Kong Rong wrote to Cao Cao, saying that "The King of Wu cut down the silk and gave the Duke of Zhou with his own concubines." Later, Kong Rong put forward the proposition that "it is advisable to approve the system of the ancient king, a thousand miles and a universe, not a feudal prince", which deeply stung Cao Cao, so Cao Cao removed Kong Rong from his official position. However, Kong Rong still had a strong influence and did not restrain himself, and was eventually killed by Cao Cao.
References: 1. Book of the Later Han Dynasty; 2. Romance of the Three Kingdoms; 3. Zizhi Tongjian