Hua Tuo, a character, was born in Pei County (now Bozhou, Anhui Province), the hometown of Cao Cao. When Hua Tuo was young, although he had done a lot of research on Confucianism, he could never achieve anything in his official career because of his background and other reasons. So he later left home to study in Xu Tu (now Xuzhou, Jiangsu). And what he learned during his study tour is no longer a subset of classics and history, but medical skills.
Since then, Hua Tuo has been studying abroad and treating diseases, and has traveled all over Anhui, Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan and other places. As his footprints spread, so did his fame. As a fellow countryman, Cao Cao naturally got the news.
From the third year of Chuping (192) to the second year of Jian 'an (197), Hua Tuo, who was over forty, was elected by Pei Gui, but declined the opportunity to be an official. So, at the request of Cao Cao, Hua Tuo became his retinue doctor.
As a doctor, Hua Tuo is undoubtedly excellent in the professional field. We don't know how many people he saved in his life, but he treated Cao Cao and Sima Shi. We can't say exactly how many medical achievements he has made, but he is undoubtedly innovative and accomplished. He first invented "Leprosy Powder", which is the earliest anesthetic known so far. From the operation of Dr. Hua Tuo's chief surgeon recorded in history, it can also be inferred that his diagnosis, disinfection, anatomy and hemostasis are excellent.
But no matter how excellent Hua Tuo himself was, the group of doctors was not taken seriously at that time. Hua Tuo is a scholar, and he also firmly believes in the truth that "learning to be excellent is to be an official". However, due to his poor background and the chaos in the ruling and opposition parties at that time, Hua Tuo had to embark on the road of becoming a doctor. Therefore, even a "surgeon" like him "always repents himself with his medical treatment".
Later, because of Cao Cao's appreciation, Hua tuo was able to approach the power center directly, although he only stayed next to the center to treat him. However, it still aroused a wave in Hua Tuo's heart about "learning to be excellent is to be an official".
In order to realize his pursuit with the help of Cao Cao, Hua Tuo was ordered to treat Cao Cao's headache.
At the beginning, Hua Tuo's diagnosis of Cao Cao was "a needle in a needle, but it was not easy." As a result, when the conversation turned, he suddenly said to Cao Cao, "It is difficult to help in the near future, so we can take offense as the defense, take governance as the matter, and delay the years." If Hua Tuo really diagnosed Cao Cao from the doctor's point of view and then treated him step by step, Cao Cao might not say much. Unfortunately, Hua Tuo then deliberately delayed the progress of treatment.
Cao Cao suspected that Hua Tuo had a purpose to make his simple headache difficult to cure. So he has always regarded Hua Tuo as a doctor. Although I trusted him, I didn't give him an official position. Then Hua Tuo made an excuse to go home, which directly satisfied Cao Cao's doubts.
It stands to reason that Cao Cao occupied the north, and there was no shortage of precious medicinal materials. However, Hua Tuo wanted to go home and prepare on the pretext that the materials were not uniform. Then he received a letter from home, and he couldn't wait to ask for leave to go home.
People are in such a hurry that Cao can't stop them any more. As a result, when Hua Tuo left, he repeatedly postponed the date of returning to Cao Cao on the pretext that his wife was ill. During this period, Cao Cao not only repeatedly issued decrees to send county officials to urge Hua Tuo, but also personally urged him to continue his treatment as soon as possible. But Hua Tuo turned a deaf ear to all this.
As a leader, it is rare for Cao Cao to be so patient with Dr. Hua Tuo. But after all, he is a lean man who "holds the emperor to make the princes". Even if he is patient with others, he can't stand Hua Tuo's contempt for his authority.
Besides, Hua Tuo's disrespect for Cao Cao is not only disobedient, but also an attempt to blackmail Cao Cao and give him a headache to give himself a position. So, in a rage, Cao Cao ordered people to go to Huatuo's house, and ordered that if his wife's illness was confirmed, he would be given 40 welcome to extend his holiday. If the disease is not real, then the only thing waiting for Hua Tuo is jail.
Hua tuo was naturally put in prison. Although Cao Cao still asked Hua Tuo to treat his headache, he only regarded Hua Tuo as a "tool man" and put him back after use. Only then did Hua Tuo realize that his plan had failed. And not only is the career hopeless, but my life is likely to be lost.
In fact, we are quite familiar with Cao Cao's employment strategy. As long as the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, Cao Cao is basically willing to use them, regardless of his background and virtue. Hua tuo, who can go to prison, is invincible in medical skills for a while, but he has been judged by Cao Cao as "I am sick and should respect myself, but killing this child will never break this ear for me." In the end, you will only end up abandoning your child.
Because Hua tuo and Cao Cao had such a struggle, some people in later generations regarded Hua tuo as a charlatan with "evil human nature" and sought fame with medical skills.