Cao Cao's military career was full of adventures, and he passed death several times, but he failed to shake his determination to go out in person.
In February of the first year of Chu Ping, Emperor Xian of Han Dynasty, Cao Cao led an army to pursue Dong Zhuo, and met Xu Rong, a general under Dong Zhuo, at Bianshui, Xingyang. After a fierce battle, Cao Cao was defeated and was shot with several arrows. Fortunately, his armor was thick, and he was lucky to survive.
In the spring of the first year of Xingping, Cao Cao personally led an army to wage a war with Lu Bu in Puyang. Cao Caobing fled in a hurry and was almost captured by Lu Bu.
In the sixteenth year of Jian 'an, Cao Cao and Ma Chao fought in Weishui. Although Cao Cao won in the end, he was killed by Ma Chao and almost lost his life in embarrassment.
The danger of personally charging in the era of cold weapons is self-evident, and Cao Cao is not stupid. If there is a better substitute, I believe he will never take the lead.
When attacking Puyang, Cao Cao was ready to take the lead in entering the city. His subordinates dissuaded him and said, "Master, stay outside the city. Let me find out the truth first. "
Cao Cao shouted, "If I don't go myself, who will?"
This sentence tells the helplessness of Cao Cao. As the boss of a family business, if he hides his head first, is afraid of knives and swords and hesitates, how can he expect his men to be high-spirited in this situation?
Therefore, the demonstration role of coaches is very important to boost morale and improve the combat effectiveness of troops.
Controlling and commanding the army personally is the most direct and effective way to prevent being overhead by subordinates. The military power is like a knife. If the handle is mastered by others, its own safety will be full of uncertainty.
Ancient means of communication were backward and information transmission was too slow. When the battlefield situation changes rapidly, we rush directly to the front line, so that we can know the battlefield situation in time and accurately, so as to come up with countermeasures at the first time.
Even out of the need to strengthen the control of civil and military officials, Cao Cao must stay at the front. If officials are allowed to leave their sight and move freely in private, this situation will also pose a great threat to their rule.
Then Cao Cao doesn't want to be a bystander in the chess game. This is a far cry from the feeling of playing chess with your opponent in person. So how did Cao, as a strategist, give up the fun of competing with his opponent?
Although Cao Cao likes personal expedition and has been in distress many times, he can lift the crisis and save the day, which also makes Cao Cao's image more legendary out of thin air.