Cao Wei's Emperor Cao Chao was the first emperor in Chinese history to openly lead an army to crusade against his ministers as a puppet.
"Zizhi Tongjian Wei Jijiu": The emperor saw that the authoritarian power was gone, and he was overwhelmed. In May, Ji Chou, summoned Wang Shen, Shangshu Wang Jing, and scattered horses to serve Wang Ye, saying: Sima Zhao's heart, passers-by know. I can't sit back and suffer the humiliation, and I should ask for it with Qing today.
Cao Chao saw that his power was weakening day by day, and he could not control his anger, so he summoned Wang Shen, Shangshu Wang Jing, and Sanqi Chang Wang Ye, and said a famous sentence to them:
Sima Zhao's ambition is known even to pedestrians on the road. I cannot sit back and wait for the disgrace of being deposed, and today I will personally go out with you to crusade against him.
Cao Chao led the palace guards and servants out of the palace to kill Sima Zhao, and then there was no more, Cheng Ji Changge under Jia Chong assassinated Cao Chao, and Cao Chao became the first emperor to be killed in broad daylight and in full view.
Cao Chao's blatant crusade, from a historical point of view, has no chance of success at all, it is tantamount to a suicide attack, why would such a smart person as Cao Chao use this method of death?
Cao Chao said to Wang Shen, Wang Jing, and Wang Ye that he would crusade against Sima Zhao
Zhong Hui once commented on Cao Chao:
Cai is the same as Chen Si, the martial Taizu.
Cao Chao's talent is as outstanding as Cao Zhi's, and his military ability is as good as Cao Cao's.
Zhong Hui's words were the answer made when Sima Zhao asked what kind of person Cao Chao was, and Sima Zhao then said: If this is the case, it is the blessing of Jiangshan Sheji.
According to Zhong Hui's evaluation, Cao Chao is a person who is both civil and military.
Chen Shou, author of "Three Kingdoms", commented on Cao Chao:
The noble public talent is wise, easy to ask questions, and Emperor Gai Yiwen is also romantic.
The noble townsman (Cao Chao) is gifted and intelligent, an early academic achievement, likes to discuss the righteousness of scriptures, and has the style of Emperor Wen of Wei in the past.
Evaluation is evaluation, if you want to know what Cao Chao has done, you will know what kind of person he is.
Cao Chao was proclaimed emperor by Sima Shi and Empress Dowager Guo, this year Cao Chao was only 14 years old, the 14-year-old boy Cao Chao knew the etiquette of humility, and still did not dare to take the throne as the emperor after arriving in the capital, but regarded himself as a courtier, and treated the queen mother and officials with the courtesy of a courtier, which is how to be humble.
Cao Chao is a very talented person
Sima Shi died violently this year, Cao Chao succeeded to the throne only a few months ago, he planned a seizure of power, when Sima Shi was ready to pass the position of general to Sima Zhao, Cao Chao issued an edict to let Sima Zhao stay in Xuchang, let Shang Shu Fu Yan lead the army back to the capital, which is obviously to cut Sima Zhao's military power.
Sima Zhao was a treacherous and slippery, and saw through Cao Chao's plan, Zhong Hui discussed with Fu Yi to send a letter to the imperial court, allowing Sima Zhao to lead the army back to Beijing, and the 14-year-old Cao Chao had no henchmen and support in the imperial court, and the coup ended in failure.
Although the plan failed, Cao Chao undoubtedly showed his ability, he just lacked experience and support, after all, he was only 14 years old, too young, and it was not easy to do this.
When Cao Chao was 15 years old, he discussed with the ministers who was stronger and who was weaker between Ji Shaokang and Liu Bang, and the ministers all thought that Liu Bang was more capable, and only Cao Chao thought that Ji Shaokang was more capable, for the following reasons:
The Xia Dynasty has declined, and the concubine was killed, and the remnants of the Xia Dynasty gathered the old and young of the Xia Dynasty, restored the merits of Xia Yu, and had the merit of rebuilding the Xia Dynasty. And Liu Bang violated the law of the sage, many times put his son and father in danger, after his death, the country almost perished, if Liu Bang and Shaokang swapped eras, maybe could not revive Xia Yu's exploits, so Shaokang was stronger than Liu Bang.
This matter is actually very sensitive, the crux of the problem is not who has the ability of Liu Bang or Shaokang, and Liu Bang and Shaokang's identities are different, Shaokang is the lord of Zhongxing of the Xia Dynasty, Liu Bang is the founding king of the Han Dynasty, the Xia Dynasty started with the third generation of monarchs Ji Taikang, the government was taken away by the ministers, the Xia Dynasty almost perished, it was Shaokang who killed the ministers and restored the Xia Dynasty.
Cao Chao admired Shaokang and wanted to revive Cao Wei
The real purpose of Cao Chao's admiration for Shaokang was to become Shaokang himself, and then to revive the Cao Wei regime like Shaokang.
This means that Cao Chao has always had great ambitions in his heart, even if he is young, he has always remembered to revive Cao Wei, and has been looking for opportunities.
So why didn't Cao Chao kill the powerful minister Sima Zhao above the court?
It's very simple, one is that there is no chance, and the other is that even if there is a chance, you can't guarantee your safety.
Quanchen attaches great importance to his own safety, starting from Dong Zhuo, the late Eastern Han Dynasty has already coerced the Son of Heaven to order the princes, Dong Zhuo built a dock fort for himself in Meixian County, usually not to go to court, Dong Zhuo lived in the dock fort, the dock fort wall is very high, a lot of grain is stored, and there are heavy guards.
Dong Zhuo just didn't think of Lu Bu's betrayal, otherwise it would be difficult to kill Dong Zhuo with those people in the imperial court.
When Cao Cao controlled Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, it was also a similar method, controlling the emperor in other places, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was in Xuchang, and Cao Cao usually either fought abroad, and after returning to Beijing, he either lived in his hometown of Qian County or Yecheng.
Even if he met the Son of Heaven in person, he came with an army, did Liu Xie dare to kill Cao Cao? Of course he didn't dare, even if he had the conditions to kill, he couldn't guarantee his own safety, and Cao Cao's army would fight back.
Sima Zhao is the same as Cao Cao back then, all the military power of Cao Wei's regime is under Sima Zhao's control, starting from Sima Yi, Sima Shi controlled Cao Wei's military power, after Sima Yi, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao's training, they promoted a large number of cronies, and most of the guards and servants around Cao Chao were Sima Zhao's people.
Cao Chao has no chance to kill Sima Zhao above the court, even if he has, Cao Chao does not dare to take risks, he still has to ensure his own safety, if he also dies, then even if he kills Sima Zhao, what is the use?
Above the court, Cao Chao had no chance to kill Sima Zhao
Since Cao Chao had no chance to kill Sima Zhao, why did he crusade against Sima Zhao with great fanfare? Isn't this the same as suicide?
In fact, Cao Chao is not stupid, he knows that he can't kill Sima Zhao no matter what method he thinks, since he can't kill Sima Zhao, Cao Chao thought of a different way: the jade is burned.
Cao Chao wanted to use his life to discredit Sima Zhao and slow down the process of Sima Daiwei, and he did not hesitate to stop Sima Daiwei at the cost of being killed in broad daylight, arousing the whole world to miss Cao Wei and oppose Sima.
Why? Because the whole process of Cao Chao's crusade against Sima Zhao was deliberately done by him.
"Jin Shu · Emperor Wen Ji": In May, the Son of Heaven merged with the Taiyuan Shangdang Xihe Leping Xinxing Yanmen and the eight counties of Pingyang in the east of the river in Sizhou, with a place of 700 miles, and the emperor was the Duke of Jin, plus nine tin, and the Jin State was in a lawsuit. Nine lets, is the end.
Cao Chao was forced to crown Sima Zhao as the Duke of Jin at that time, add Jiuxi, enter the Xiangguo, and establish the Duchy of Jin, just like Cao Cao established the Duchy of Wei at that time, the establishment of the Duchy was a very important step in usurping the throne, which meant that the independent Duchy of Jin was about to appear.
If Cao Chao doesn't do anything, then according to the procedure, Sima Zhao will definitely be called the Duke of Jin and establish the Duchy of Jin, and then he will be called the King of Jin and establish the Kingdom of Jin, which is exactly the same as Cao Cao's process.
Cao Chao has reached the point where he has to send it, there is no time left for Cao Chao, Cao Chao must delay the process of Jin Dynasty Wei.
Before the crusade, Cao Chao summoned the three of them to Zhongwang Shen, Shangshu Wang Jing, and Wang Ye, and told them to crusade against Sima Zhao, among the three in addition to Wang Jing, the other two were Sima Zhao's people, Cao Chao told the three people, and did not restrict the freedom of the three, and let them ventilate the news.
Cao Chao's crusade against Sima Zhao was done with great fanfare, for fear that others would not know
Second, before Cao Chao crusaded against Sima Zhao, he also told the Empress Dowager Guo, isn't this kind of thing known to fewer people as possible, the Empress Dowager Guo has been cooperating well with Sima Shi and Sima Zhao, so Cao Chao is not worried about Empress Dowager Guo secretly telling Sima Zhao? Of course not worried, he did it on purpose.
Third, when Cao Chao led the guards and servants out of the palace to crusade against Sima Zhao, he did so with great fanfare, and shouted out of the palace with everyone, according to the historical records:
"Zizhi Tongjian Wei Ji Jiu": The emperor then drew his sword and ascended, and led the guards in the palace to come out with a loud noise.
Pay attention to the words "come out of the noise", this is for fear that others will not know.
"Wei's Spring and Autumn Period": After entering the White Empress Dowager, she drew her sword and ascended, and the guards and officials in the handsome palace beat the war drums, and Izumo Longmen.
"Wei's Spring and Autumn" makes it clearer that Cao Chao beat the war drums when he set off, doesn't this let everyone in the world know that Cao Chao is going to crusade against Sima Zhao? That's right, that's what Cao Chao had in mind.
"Zizhi Tongjian Wei Ji Jiu": Jia Chong, the middle protector army, entered from the outside, fought against the emperor in the south, and the emperor used his own sword.
Fourth, Cao Chao, as the emperor, personally pulled out his sword to fight, is it the emperor's business to cut people? Cao Chao drew his sword to cut people, he might be cut down, this is putting his life in danger, that's right, Cao Chao did it on purpose, he was bent on death.
Cao Chao hopes to die in broad daylight, the more people know that they are killed, the more beneficial it is to Cao Chao, the bigger the trouble, the more unfavorable it is to Sima Zhao, Sima Zhao was a courtier at that time, Cao Chao is the king, and killing the king with a minister is a big rebellion, which will obviously cause the world to crusade against Sima Zhao.
"Book of Jin · Emperor Ji ·Chapter 2": The emperor summoned hundreds of bureaucrats to plot his reasons, and Chen Tai did not come. The emperor sent his uncle Xun Yi to extend it in the music room, saying: "Uncle Xuan, what is the world like me?" Tai said: "Only cut Jia Chong at the waist, and thank the world slightly." The emperor said: "Qing thinks more about the second." Tai said, "But see it." Not to see the second. So he blamed him and beheaded him.
After this incident, Sima Zhao summoned the ministers to discuss the matter, and Chen Tai did not come, Sima Zhao sent Chen Tai's uncle Xun Yi to call him, under pressure, Chen Tai came, Sima Zhao said to Chen Tai in the secret room: How do the people of the world think of me today?
Chen Tai expressed dissatisfaction with Sima Zhao
Chen Tai said: Only by cutting Jia Chong in the waist can we thank the world with this. Sima Zhao said: Is there a way to take a step back? Chen Tai said no, Sima Zhao didn't speak, but he didn't kill Jia Chong, and killed the three clans of Chengji.
Cheng Ji is a substitute for the dead, everyone in the world knows that the mastermind is Sima Zhao, Chen Tai is the son of Chen Qun, Chen Qun is the Yingchuan Shi clan who designed the Jiupin Zhongzheng system for Cao Pi, after Xun Yu's death, Chen Qun was the leader of the Yingchuan Shi clan, and his son Chen Tai committed suicide because of this incident, which is the side effect of Sima Zhao's murder of the king.
After this happened, Sima Zhao's usurpation process was interrupted, for three years, Sima Zhao still did not call Wei Gong, and there was no progress in the usurpation process, although he chose Cao Huan as the emperor, but due to the impact of the monarchicide incident, Sima Zhao could not change the current situation, which was exactly what Cao Chao wanted.
In desperation, three years after Cao Chao was killed, that is, in 263 AD, Sima Zhao launched the war of Shu, when Sima Zhao proposed the idea, almost no one agreed, Deng Ai objected, and only Zhong would cater to Sima Zhao.
The battle of Shu was a means for Sima Zhao to divert the attention of the king and divert the domestic contradictions, and the result was very unexpected, Zhong Hui and Deng Ai actually destroyed Shu Han, which Sima Zhao did not expect.
In October 263, Sima Zhao couldn't wait to be crowned Duke of Jin, and in March 264, Sima Zhao was crowned King of Jin.
See? In the three years that Cao Chao was killed, Sima Zhao did not make any moves, nor did he have any process of usurping the throne, until the outbreak of the battle of Wei and Shu, Sima Zhao made political capital for himself, he didn't even want to hide it, and within a few months, he was crowned the king of Jin.
Cao Chao was killed on the street
Only by crowning the king of Jin, the next step can be called the emperor, and he was forced to give up the throne of Emperor Wei Cao Huanchan, and then he had to resign three times.
Cao Chao's death delayed Sima Zhao's usurpation of the throne for three years, but unfortunately, Cao Chao's luck was not good enough, and Sima Zhao's luck was too good, and he directly destroyed Shu Han in one attack, which was something that no one expected.
So is it a pity that Cao Chao died?
It's not a pity, at least three years later, Cao Chao didn't want to honestly give up the throne like Emperor Han Xian, rather than sit and wait to die, it was better to die vigorously, Cao Chao chose to die in public.
Can't Cao Chao kill himself?
I can commit suicide, but I don't have much benefit from being killed in broad daylight. And there are not many people who know about suicide, and it is easy for Sima Zhao to tamper with history, unlike being killed in broad daylight, there are too many people who know, and history is not easy to change, and only afterwards do you know that it is really clever.