It can be said that most of the reasons for Yang Xiu's death were his own. He knew what Cao Cao was thinking, but he didn't fully know. His intelligence was in trying to figure out Cao Cao's little thoughts, but he couldn't see. Cao Cao's disgust for himself grew day by day. After Yang Xiu was finally killed by Cao Cao, Cao Cao once met Yang Xiu's father Yang Biao. Yang Biao's words made Cao Cao ashamed. So, what did Yang Biao say to Cao Cao?
There is a hillside called Huangnigang in Liuying Village, Zhoujiashan Town, Mian County, Shaanxi Province. According to locals, Yang Xiu of the Three Kingdoms was buried here. There was once a tombstone with the words "The Tomb of Yang Xiu, Lord of the Han Dynasty" written on it. It was erected by Bi Yuan, the governor of Shaanxi during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. As time has eroded, the cemetery has become difficult to find. Only the flowing Han River still tells the story of that past.
Yang Xiu, Cao Cao’s counselor in the Three Kingdoms, was born into a family of officials. "Book of the Later Han Dynasty" says that "from Zhenzhi to Biao, he was the fourth Taiwei". From Yang Xiu's great-great-grandfather Yang Zhen to his father Yang Biao, they were all princes of the four dynasties, and they were all known for their loyalty. In particular, Yang Zhen is the famous "Four Knowledge Prefect." (Subordinates give gifts and say that only you and I know. Yang Zhen said: What are you and me? Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know.) Yang Xiu was smart and studious since he was a child. During the Jian'an period, he was promoted as a filial and honest person. In addition to being a doctor, he later served as the chief registrar of Prime Minister Cao Cao. "Three Kingdoms" and "Cao Zhi's Biography" say: "When Xiu was twenty-five years old, he was known as a talented young master and was favored by Taizu. The military and state were troubled, but Xiu always knew the inside and outside, and everything went well." At that time, Cao Cao's military affairs were complicated, and Yang Xiu was responsible for internal and external affairs. The results were satisfactory and Cao Cao was very satisfied. Cao Cao also lamented that Yang Xiu was inferior to him. Liu Yiqing's "Shishuoxinyu" of the Southern and Northern Dynasties vividly exaggerated Yang Xiu's talent.
One: "Yang Dezu (Yang Xiu) was the chief bookkeeper of Wei Wu. At that time, he was the Prime Minister of the country. He began to construct the banquets. Wei Wu came out to see it and asked someone to inscribe the door with the word "movable". Then he left. Yang When he saw it, he ordered it to be broken. After that, he said: "The door is lively and the word is wide. Wang Zheng thinks that the door is big." When the rafters were in the house, Cao Cao came to inspect them in person. After reading it, I asked someone to write the word "live" on the door and left. When Yang Xiu saw it, he immediately asked someone to tear down the door. After it was completed, he said: "Add the word 'live' to the door, which is the word 'wide'. King Wei thought the door was too wide."
The second one: "Wei Wu was given a cup of cheese, and Wei Wu ate a little. He wrote the word '合' on his head to show the public, but no one could understand it. When he came to Yang Xiu next, he ate it and said: ' If a public servant takes a sip, why should he doubt it?'" Someone gave Emperor Wu of Wei Cao Cao a cup of cheese. After Cao Cao ate a little, he wrote the word "合" on the lid of the cup for everyone to see, but no one could understand what it meant. . After passing it to Yang Xiu in order, Yang Xiu took a bite and said, "Master Cao taught us to take a bite each. Why should we hesitate?" Cao Cao clapped his hands and laughed.
The third one: "Wei Wu tasted Cao E's stele, and Yang Xiu followed it. On the back of the stele, there was an inscription of 'yellow silk young woman, grandson Yingjiu'. Wei Wu said to Xiu: 'Explanation No?' The answer was: 'Explanation.' Wei Wu said: 'You can't say anything, let me think about it.' After traveling for thirty miles, Wei Wu said: 'I have got it.' Ling Xiu said: 'Yellow silk, color silk', the word "Jue". The word "young woman" means "wonderful". The word "grandson" refers to the word "good". Ye. Wei Wu also remembered it, and he sighed and said: "I didn't see you, but I was thirty miles away." Cao Cao, King Wu of Wei, once passed by Cao E's monument, and Yang Xiu followed him. I saw the words "young woman with yellow silk, grandson Yingjiu" written on the back of the stele. Cao Cao asked Yang Xiu: "Do you know what it means?" Yang Xiu replied: "Yes." Cao Cao said: "Don't say it out yet, let me think about it." After walking for thirty miles, Cao Cao said: "I have figured it out." He asked Yang Xiu to write down his understanding separately. Yang Xiu wrote: "Yellow silk is colored silk, and the colored silk is combined into the word "Jue"; young woman means girl, and the girl is combined into the word "Miao"; grandson is the son of the daughter, and the woman is combined into the word "Miao". The word "good" means "hard work". The word "good" means "hard work"; this is "excellent good words". ”
Fourth: “When Cao Cao was in Ping Hanzhong, he wanted to attack Liu Bei but was unable to advance. He wanted to defend it but it was difficult to achieve success. "It's just chicken ribs." Wai Cao Mo Nengxiao said, "If you eat chicken ribs, you will get nothing, and it will be a pity to discard them." So he ordered Wai Bai to be stricter and return to the army. "Knowing the situation, he refrained from repairing it, fearing that it would cause trouble later on, so he killed him because of the incident." In the 22nd year of Jian'an (AD 217), Cao Cao led his army to attack Liu Bei's Hanzhong territory. Liu Bei's soldiers and horses were strong, but he refused to defend due to danger. Cao's army could not attack for a long time. Cao Cao hesitated in his heart: retreat, returning without success means all previous efforts have been wasted; continue the attack, it will be impossible to defeat for a while, and the food and grass are almost running out. Cao Cao thought while eating chicken. At this moment, someone came to ask for instructions, what is the password for the army tonight? Cao Cao happened to see that there were chicken ribs left on the plate, so he casually said: "It's called chicken ribs!" The password was passed down, and Yang Xiu, the chief clerk, started Pack your bags. Someone asked: "Why is the chief secretary packing up?" Yang Xiu said: "The prime minister has used 'chicken ribs' as a password. It is a pity to discard the chicken ribs and tasteless to eat. It can be seen that the prime minister will retreat soon." Everyone thought it was reasonable, so they They all started to pack their bags.
Cao Cao heard this and said angrily: "How dare you make remarks that disturb the morale of our army!" Cao Cao was jealous of Yang Xiu's talent and feared endless trouble, so he killed Yang Xiu on the grounds of disturbing the morale of the army. The poem "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" says: "The clever Yang Dezu (Yang Xiu) has inherited the hairpin from generation to generation. The dragon and snake are walking away in the pen, and the silk is in the chest. He startled everyone when he started talking, and he was the best among the heroes. The cause of his death was wrong, not because he wanted to retreat." .
However, Cao Cao will not be beheaded just because of his talent. Among the kings of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao ranked first for his talent and general strategy. Under his command, there are countless counselors and capable ministers like carps crossing the river. Such as Guo Jia who made many ingenious plans, Jia Xu who was full of strange changes, Xun Yu who was well versed in the art of war and politics, Cheng Yu who was courageous and resourceful, and so on. The military and political capabilities of these people were far greater than that of Yang Xiu, but none of them were killed by Cao Cao because of their talents. In fact, it was because Yang Xiu was involved in the struggle for imperial power and heir apparent that he committed a big taboo. This matter can be seen in the "Dian Lue" quoted by Pei Zhu: "At this time, there are many things in the military and the country. General Xiu knows everything inside and outside, and everything is satisfactory. From the prince of Wei down, he has been fighting for and making friends. It is also the time when Hou Zhi came to Linshan. In the autumn of the 24th year, Gong Yixiu leaked his teachings to the princes, so he was killed."
Cao Zhi was the third son of Cao Cao. He was smart since he was young. His representative works include "Luo Shen Fu", "White Horse Pian", "Seven Sorrow Poems", etc. Later generations called him, Cao Cao and Cao Pi the "Three Caos" of Jian'an because of his literary attainments. When Cao Zhi was only in his early 10s, he could recite the Book of Songs, The Analects of Confucius, and the poetry of pre-Qin and Han Dynasties. He was quick in thinking, and whenever asked by Cao Cao, he often responded and blurted out the answers. Coupled with his straightforward temperament, he was very popular with Cao Cao. He was not afraid of conquests and conquests, and accompanied Cao Cao on many expeditions. Cao Cao had intended to pass on the title of Crown Prince to Cao Zhi.
Yang Xiu also bet his money on Cao Zhi. Not only did he have close contacts with Cao Zhi, but he also secretly taught Cao Zhi how to deal with Cao Cao's inspection. It is said that Cao Cao once wanted to try the contingency plan of his sons Cao Pi and Cao Zhi. One day, Cao Cao ordered them both to walk out of Yecheng gate. But secretly sent people to distribute the officials guarding the city gate, and they must not be allowed to leave the city. It is said that Cao Pi arrived first and was stopped by the gate officials on the spot from going out. Cao Pi had no choice but to retreat. Cao Zhi asked Yang Xiu what to do. Yang Xiu said: "You are going out under the king's order. If there is anyone who blocks your way, you can kill him." When Cao Zhi walked to the city gate, he was also blocked by the gatekeepers. Cao Zhi reprimanded: "I have the king's order, who dares to stop me!" He immediately killed the gatekeepers and left the city. Therefore, Cao Cao felt that Cao Zhi was really talented.
Later, someone secretly reported to Cao Cao: "This is what Yang Xiuzhi taught." Cao Cao was wary of Yang Xiu from then on. In order to let Cao Zhi win the election, Yang Xiu specially prepared more than ten countermeasures for Cao Zhi. Whenever Cao Cao asked Cao Zhi about important military and state affairs, Cao Zhi answered fluently. Later, Cao Pi secretly bribed the servants in Cao Zhi's mansion, stole Yang Xiu's countermeasures for Cao Zhi, and told Cao Cao the whole story. Cao Cao was very angry when he knew that Cao Zhi passed the test with the help of Yang Xiu. Later he wrote to Yang Biaozhong and mentioned: "A wise son relies on the power of his powerful father. Whenever he does not share my feelings, he wants to straighten the rope. Gu Po hates." He expressed his strong dissatisfaction with Yang Xiu. Finally, in the autumn of the 24th year of Jian'an (AD 219), Cao Cao was accused of "leaking out his teachings and teachings to the princes" and killed all the criminals. Yang Xiu sighed: "I thought it was too late to die." For the sake of national affairs, Yang Xiu touched this high-voltage line. Cao Cao then took action and killed Yang Xiu. Yang Xiulin sighed before he died: I knew I would die sooner or later.
A generation of talented Yang Xiu died at the hands of Cao Cao. Later, Cao Cao met Yang Xiu's father Yang Biao and asked with concern: "Why has Mr. Yang become thinner?" Biao replied: "I am ashamed of the foresight of Rixi, but I still have the love of an old cow licking its calf." This means that I hate myself for not disciplining my son well, but I miss and cherish my child. Cao Cao blushed and was speechless. In order to make up for his guilt, Cao Cao gave Yang Biao many precious gifts.