Speaking of Cai Yong, the word Bo Jiao, Chen Liujun Yu County (now south of Qi County, Henan) people, when he was a teenager, he was erudite and knowledgeable, like literature, mathematics, astronomy, scriptures, music, once worshiped the famous scholar, Taifu Hu Guang as a teacher.

Cai Yong respects his parents, loves his younger generations, is friendly and neighborly, and has a good reputation. His mother was sick for three years, and Cai Yong waited in front of the bed, no matter how the weather changed in midsummer or severe winter, he never untied his clothes and belts, and he did not sleep for 70 days. After the death of his mother, he built a thatched hut next to the tomb to guard filial piety, and he obeyed the etiquette system when he moved and was quiet. He lived with his uncle, uncle, and his cousin, and there was no separation for three generations. He regarded his only daughter Cai Yan as the pearl of his palm, and devoted himself to teaching, and when he heard that Cai Yan was taken captive by Fanbang, he was extremely sad and closed his door for seven days and seven nights. A rabbit jumped very tamely beside his dwelling, and there was a tree with a branch, and people near and far thought it strange, and came to see it, and all praised its noble conduct.

Cai Yong is talented, rich in learning, versatile, and admires the government and the opposition. He is the last of the Han Dynasty to give a master, most of the fu is a small fu, a variety of materials, close to life, fresh language, often straight to express the chest, rich in the world and human feelings, very artistic appeal, his representative work is "Shu Xing Fu". Quan Fu is short and concise, with heavy feelings, profound criticism, and excellent emotional words, which is a masterpiece of contemporary lyrical Xiaofu. He expresses the love between men and women, and his style is bold and straightforward. "Tsing Yi Fu" is quite a touching work, in this romance fu, he truly revealed his love for a beautiful woman from a humble background, with sincere feelings, showing the contradiction between human feelings and feudal etiquette.

Cai Yong once collected the history of the Han Dynasty and compiled historical books, but most of them were scattered because of Li Dao's rebellion, only the "Lingji" and the Ten Meanings, and supplemented the 42 biographies. The poems, fu, tablets, verses, inscriptions, praises, beads, proverbs, hangings, discussions, and "Arbitrary", "Persuasion", "Interpretation", "Narrative", "Female Training", "Seal", plus blessings, chapters, tables, secretaries and other literary styles, a total of 104 articles have been circulated in the world. There are more than 400 poems of Cai Yong in circulation, but due to the war at that time, the original manuscript was not preserved, and all of them were written silently by his daughter Cai Yan with her amazing memory.

Cai Yong's life is fond of collecting books, up to more than 10,000 volumes, and in his later years, after giving the collection of books to Wang Cang, there are more than 4,000 volumes in the family collection. Cai Yong's prose is longer than the inscription, neat and elegant, and mostly uses puppets, which was quite popular in the old days.

Cai Yong is also good at calligraphy, good at seals, official calligraphy, especially the most profound attainments in official calligraphy, its character structure is rigorous, dot painting pitching, and the style is changeable. There is Cai Yong's evaluation of "book bones, refreshing and powerful". Emperor Ling ordered craftsmen to repair the Hongdu Gate (the Eastern Han Dynasty called the royal book collection as Hongdu), and the craftsmen used a broom dipped in white lime powder to write on the wall, and Cai Yong was inspired to create the "Flying White Book". This kind of calligraphy, with the slightest hint of white in the strokes, seems to be written with a dry pen, which is a unique style of calligraphy, which has a great influence on later generations. "Book Break" commented on Cai Yong's white book, saying that "Feibai is wonderful, and it is magical."

Cai Yong also learned the scriptures, Xiping four years (175) felt that the scriptures were long from the sage's writings, and there were many text errors, which were far-fetched by the vulgar Confucian, and delayed the students, so he and the five senses Zhonglang Tang Xidian, Guanglu doctor Yang Ci, counselor Ma Riyan and others, played the text of the "Six Classics", and Emperor Ling approved it. Cai Yong personally wrote on the stele with a red pen, and let the carver carve it and stand outside the Taixue Gate, which is China's first stone scripture "Xiping Stone Scripture" (also known as the Han Stone Scripture, the Stone Scripture of One). When the monument was newly erected, there were many people who came to see and copy it, and within a day, there were more than 1,000 cars, and the streets were clogged. Later, Confucian students all used this as the standard scripture.

Cai Yong is also good at music and is proficient in music. In Chen Liu's hometown, a neighbor prepared wine and food to invite him to a banquet. As soon as he arrived at the door, he heard a murderous sound coming from the piano. Cai Yong was frightened and turned back. The person who invited him told the host of the banquet: "Mr. Cai has just arrived, and he will leave when he arrives at the door." Cai Yong has always been respected by the villagers, and the owner felt very strange, so he hurriedly caught up with Cai Yong and asked the reason why he couldn't enter the door.

Cai Yong said: "I am usually a good neighbor and have never had a grudge against anyone, so why did I murder me? ”

The host was shocked: "When you haven't arrived, it's just a banquet earlier, and it's just a matter of blaming me for having a banquet before the guests arrived, where does the murder start?" Cai Yong then said the reason: "As soon as I arrived at the door, I heard someone playing the piano during the banquet, and the sound of the piano implied murder, not to me but to whom?" ”

The master swore that it was absolutely harmless, so he dragged Cai Yong to the house and asked the guests behind the screen about the sound of the piano. The guest said: "When I was playing the piano just now, I saw a praying mantis about to pounce on the cicada, and the cicada will fly away before it flies away, and the praying mantis's movements are one after the other. I'm afraid that the praying mantis will lose the opportunity and panic for a while, is this the so-called murderous intent revealed in the music? Cai Yong smiled: "I see! ”

When Cai Yong took refuge in Wudi, he heard the sound of a piece of paulownia wood bursting in the fire, and knew that it was a good material for making music equipment, so he picked it out and made it into a piano, the sound was very beautiful, but the end of the wood was still scorched, so people called it "Jiaowei Qin" at that time. After Cai Yong was killed, the Jiaowei qin was kept in the royal inner treasury. It is said that when Emperor Qi Ming reigned in later generations, he took out the Jiaowei qin and asked Wang Zhongxiong, a master of playing the piano, to play. Wang Zhongxiong played it continuously for five days and improvised the "Song of Regret" to dedicate to Emperor Ming. Later, it was passed to Li Jing, the lord of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and then given to the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty and to Li Yu, who was owned by the Song family after his death. It is rumored that Wang Fengnian, a native of Kunshan in the Ming Dynasty, also collected the Jiaowei Qin made by Cai Yong.

According to legend, Cai Yong dismantled the sixteenth bamboo flute of Keting, named "Keting Di" for short, "Ke Di", "Ke Ting", and its timbre is beautiful. Later, it refers to the beautiful flute, and it is also a metaphor for good talents. Later history books have many records of Cai Yong's production of "Keting flute", such as Fu Tao's "Di Fu Preface": "The view of Keting, with bamboo as the rafters, Yong takes the flute, and the strange sound is unique. "Jin Shu Huan Yi Biography": "(Huan Yi) is good at music, as wonderful as a moment, and is the first in Jiangzuo." There is Cai Yong Ke Tingdi, who often boasts about it. ”

Due to his willfulness and self-willedness, Cai Yong's career has been bumpy and ups and downs in his life. Emperor Huan of Han heard that Cai Yongqin played well, and ordered Chen Liutaishou to urge him to set off for the court. Cai Yong walked to Yanshi, and heard that the five marquis such as Xu Huang and Zuo Yi, who were often servants, were lawless and unwilling to be with them, so they pretended to be sick and returned home. Nothing to do at home, play with antiques, and don't associate with the people.

Cai Yong was recruited by Situ Qiaoxuan as a subordinate of Peng and was treated favorably by Qiaoxuan. Later, he served as the magistrate of Heping County, and was called to worship as Langzhong, and was promoted to the position of Lang in the Dongguan School. At the beginning, the imperial court believed that the prefectures and counties would collude with each other to engage in personal gain, so it ordered that families and people from the two states who were married to each other should not serve as supervisory officials of each other. Later, there were three mutual laws, stipulating that each other is a marriage and family and people from the two states are not allowed to exchange officials, and the taboo is even stricter. Cai Yong Shangshu suggested that Emperor Ling abolish the near ban, do not be limited to time and the three mutual laws, as long as it is suitable, it can be appointed. But the Spirit Emperor ignored it.

Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty liked to resign and created the "Huangxi Chapter", which attracted a lot of people who had no conduct and tended to be inflammatory, all of whom served in Hongdu Menxue, and liked to talk about some local customs and small things in the township, and Emperor Ling was very happy and was promoted according to common sense. There are dozens of villains in the market, who falsely claim to be the filial son of Xuanling, and they are all awarded the official positions of Langzhong and the crown prince. Cai Yong couldn't get used to it, so he sparse "Seven Things in Secret Words". Although Emperor Ling adopted some suggestions, such as personally welcoming auspicious qi in the northern suburbs and holding the Biyong ceremony, he also issued an edict to change those who were appointed as princes in the name of Xuanling's filial piety to be reappointed as captains. But it attracted the jealousy of the impeached eunuchs.

Soon after Emperor Ling's accession to the throne, there were often thunderstorms and winds, damaging trees and uprooting trees, earthquakes, hailstorms, and locusts, and Xianbei invaded the border. Emperor Ling asked the ministers the reason for the strange phenomenon. The ministers were tight-lipped and refused to do their best. Cai Yong played a performance, believing that the interference of women and eunuchs in political affairs was one of the reasons for the strangeness, and impeached Taiwei Zhang Hao, Guanglu Xun Weizhang, Changshui Captain Zhao Xuan, Tunqi Captain Gai Sheng and others for corruption and perversion of the law, and recommended Tingwei Guo Xi, Guanglu Doctor Qiao Xuan, and former Taiwei Liu Chong, and suggested that they be consulted on the government.

Emperor Ling sighed when he saw the concerto, and when he got up to go to the toilet, Cao Jie peeked at the concerto, causing the content to leak. The impeached people hated him very much and tried to retaliate, and Cheng Huang, a regular attendant, made people anonymously falsely accuse Cai Yong. Emperor Ling therefore issued an edict to question. Cai Yongshangshu defended himself, but because he offended too many people, he spoke ill of him in front of Emperor Ling, and was finally sent to prison and sentenced to "abandon the city" to death. Lu Qiang, a regular servant, took pity on Cai Yong's innocence and pleaded with Emperor Ling for him, and Emperor Ling also remembered Cai Yong's previous words, and issued an edict to save him from death, and he and his family were exiled to Anyang County, Wuyuan, and were not allowed to be exempted from punishment because of the pardon. Emperor Ling was highly respected because of Cai Yong's talent, and he was granted amnesty the following year, pardoning Cai Yong and allowing him to return to his hometown. It took nine months for Cai Yong to be pardoned.

When Cai Yong was about to set off to return to his hometown, Wuyuan Taishou Wang Zhi saw him off. After several rounds of drinking, Wang Zhi danced to persuade Cai Yong, but Cai Yong ignored it. Wang Zhi is the younger brother of Wang Fu, who is already very arrogant, and he lost face and was ridiculed by the guests, so he scolded Cai Yong and said: "The criminals dare to insult me!" Cai Yong threw up his sleeves and left. Wang Zhi hated him very much, so he secretly accused Cai Yong of being resentful and slandering the court. Emperor Ling's favored people also framed him, Cai Yong was afraid that he would not be spared, so he fled to the rivers and seas, left the land of Wuhui, and relied on the Taishan Goat clan back and forth, and stayed in Wu for a total of twelve years.

It is said that Dong Zhuo listened to Li Ru's suggestion of "receiving people's hope" and recruited Cai Yong to enter the court to be ordered. Cai Yongtuo was not sick, and Dong Zhuo was urged again. Cai Yong was afraid of exterminating the whole clan, so he had no choice but to obey the order.

As soon as Cai Yong entered the court, he was appointed as the acting sacrificial wine, and then he was promoted to serve the imperial history, the imperial history, and the Shangshu, and within three days, traversed three Taiwans. He was promoted to the Taishou of Ba County, stayed in the middle of the service, and was promoted to the third rank within a month, and was very respected by Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo, together with Situ Huang Wan and Sikong Yang Biao, carried the Gong to the court to write a letter, demanding the rehabilitation of Chen Fan and Dou Wu, who were politically identified (framed) as traitors in the September Mutiny in the first year of Jianning (166), and many party members who were arrested and killed in the "Second Party Rebellion" in the following year. Liu Xie's quasi-performance, restored the titles of Chen Fan and others, and promoted his descendants to officials. Dong Zhuo made a gesture of being close to scholars, recruited celebrities such as Xun Shuang, Han Rong, Chen Ji, etc. to enter the court as officials, and selected a large number of celebrities such as Han Fu, Liu Dai, Kong Ling, Zhang Zhi, Kong Rong, Ying Shao, Zhang Miao, etc. to serve in important positions such as local taishou, and even regardless of previous suspicions, Yuan Shao, Wang Kuang, Bao Xin and others who hated themselves and abandoned their officials and left were awarded Taishou to show reconciliation.

Dong Zhuo rose to fame, sold fame, and bought people's hearts; On the one hand, the palace slaughtered the market, exerted obscenity, and demonstrated military exploits. Empress Dowager He, the Young Emperor and the imperial concubine Tang were trapped in Yong'an Palace on the first day of September, and on the third day of September, Dong Zhuo sent warriors to throw Empress Dowager He downstairs under the pretext of "writing poems with resentment", hanged Tang Concubine, killed Liu Wei, and buried her corpse outside the city. At the time of burial, only the emperor was allowed to mourn, and the ministers were not allowed to wear filial piety clothes, just plain clothes. Dong Zhuo took advantage of the burial of Empress Dowager He's body and opened the Wenling Tomb (the tomb of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty) to steal the treasures in it. Dong Zhuo also sent people to dig up He Miao's coffin, dismembered the body, abandoned the roadside, and killed He Miao's mother, Wuyangjun, and abandoned the body in the garden, not allowed to be restrained.

Dong Zhuo is cruel and tortured. When the servant Shi disturbed the dragon sect and forgot to remove the sword when he visited Dong Zhuo, Dong Zhuo took advantage of the problem and ordered him to be beaten to death. Dong Zhuo relied on the power of the military to indulge the soldiers to plunder the wealthy, loot property, and rape women. In February, the Yangcheng villagers held a competition, and men and women gathered together. Dong Zhuo ordered the sergeants to besiege and kill all the men, and more than 1,000 heads were hung under the car; The women and the looted property were loaded onto the cart, and the rebels were threatened to return with a great victory. And they went out to the gates, and burned the heads, and scattered the women and their goods to the soldiers. Zhou Hui, the son of Zhou Zhong, the great Si Nong, heard about the change in Yangcheng and rushed to Yangcheng, Dong Zhuo was very disgusted and sent troops to rob and kill him. Since then, Dong Zhuo has entered the palace every night, raped the palace maids, and stayed on the dragon bed at night, unscrupulous.

Dong Zhuo knew that Cao Cao was eloquent and talented, and wanted to discuss major affairs of the court and politics with him, so as to show his love for talent, and promote Cao Cao to be the captain of Xiao Cai. Cao Cao thought that Dong Zhuo was arrogant, brutal and unkind, and would be defeated in the end, so he didn't bow down. Dong Zhuo was very angry and said to Li Ru: "Meng Dewen and Taowu are very comparable, if they are not used by me, they must be eliminated." Otherwise, there will be endless troubles. ”

Li Ru said: "Cao Cao has no wife and is young in Beijing, living alone in an apartment. You can send someone to summon you, but if you don't come, you will be captured and beheaded. Dong Zhuo did as he said, and sent four jailers to the apartment to summon Cao Cao. The jailer went for a long time and came back to report: "Cao Cao has not returned to his apartment, and he does not know where he is going? Dong Zhuo was furious, so he ordered all over the paperwork, drawing shadows and graphics, and arresting Cao Cao: the one who captured the sacrifice was rewarded with thousands of gold to seal the marquis of ten thousand households, and those who harbored and did not report were guilty of the same crime.

Let's say that Cao Cao did not accept Dong Zhuo's appointment, knowing that Dong Zhuo was a person who would be repaid in the cracks, and he was a person who would take extreme revenge even if he had a little grudge against others, and even had some wrong words, how could he give up, so he didn't go back to his apartment, took a few followers, and rode straight to the city gate. The soldier guarding the gate asked him, and replied, "Cheng sent me out of the city to handle urgent business", and said that he galloped out of the city on horseback, and returned to his hometown day and night.

On the evening of this day, he came to Chenggao County (that is, Tiger Prison Pass, now in Xingyang, Xixingyang, Zhengzhou, Henan), and saw the city gate posted a picture and graphic arrest notice, so he walked around the city. About midnight to a dense forest, Cao Cao and his entourage led the horse to the depths of the forest, was waiting for the rest of the horse to eat, suddenly a group of strong men surrounded and robbed the horses and property, Cao Cao and his entourage assassinated several people, one knelt on the ground and begged for mercy: "I am the eldest son of the owner Lu Bohao, four brothers have been killed, please spare your life." ”

When Cao Cao heard that he was Lu Bohao's son, he thought: Lu Boyao was also an official, and he was not so poor that he lived by robbery, how could he raise such an unscrupulous son, so he said casually: "I am Cao Mengde, a native of Peiguo, and I know your father, so let you go." The man got up and walked away. Cao Cao thought about it instead: I have already reported my name, if I tell my father, wouldn't it be a disaster? So he caught up and assassinated him, and he was miserable: "I'd rather bear people than people bear me!" "Renyun: You can't have the heart to harm people, and you can't have the heart to prevent people. Cao Cao's defense is too heavy, no wonder he will leave a sarcastic truth to future generations, "I would rather teach me to bear the world, and stop teaching the world to bear me".

Cao Cao continued eastward, passing through Zhongmu County (present-day Dongzhongmu, Zhengzhou, Henan), still circling the city, but was captured. The pavilion chief suspected that he was a fugitive prisoner and escorted him to the Zhongmu County Ya for examination. Some officials of the county government already knew that Cao Cao was arresting important criminals, but Cao Cao said that he was a businessman with the surname Huangfu, and only Cao Renxun, who was engaged in written records, examined the shadow of the arrest proclamation for a long time, and knew that this person was Cao Cao, so he sent the others to disperse and said to Cao Cao: "Cao Gongxiu wants to hide it from me." I went to Luoyang with the county order Yang Yuan to see Cao Gong, so I recognized it. I heard that Dong Zhuo treats the public well, why did he defect and bring disaster upon himself? ”

Cao Cao said: "The bird's nest knows the ambition of the bird." That Dong Zhuo was treacherous and cruel, messing up the court and harming the people. When I return to my hometown today, I want to recruit volunteers and raise troops to fight against Dong Zhuo to calm the world. ”

When Ren Xun heard this, he was overjoyed: "Cao Gong is so ambitious, which is admirable. Don't hide it from Cao Gong, my cousin Ren Jun, the word Boda, is discussing with Yang Yuan, the commander of Zhongmu County, how to fight against Dong Zhuo's brutality. If he rises into the army, I will persuade my cousin to follow Cao Gong. Cao Cao was overjoyed and asked for his name, and Ren Xun replied: "The surname is Ren, the name is Xun, and the word is Botong." Today, Yang County ordered to go to my cousin's place to discuss matters, and I sent Cao Gong out of the city. Ren Xun personally sent Cao Cao and his party out of the city gate, and went to Yang Yuan and Ren Jun to report.

Cao Cao left Zhongmu and rushed to Chenliu overnight, saw his father Cao Song, and prepared to disperse the family's assets, recruit righteousness and bravery, and ask Dong Zhuo about it. Cao Song was afraid that his family resources were insufficient, and said that filial piety and Weihong were very rich in this area, and he was sparse and righteous, and if he could help each other, great things could be done. Cao Cao set up a banquet to invite Wei Hong to his home, Chen Shu Dong Zhuo was cruel and unkind, bullying the king and harming the people, and confessed his determination to support justice and save the people. Wei Hong readily agreed: "I have long had such a wish, but I can't meet a hero like you." Since Meng De has such ambitions, he is willing to help with his family resources. ”

Cao Cao was overjoyed, so he erected a recruitment banner with the word "loyalty" written on it, and recruited volunteers and brave soldiers. In a few days, the volunteers were gathered like rain, one after another. First, there were Yangcheng Weiguo people Le Jin, Shanyang Julu people Li Dian to vote, and then Peiguo Xiahou Yuan and his brother Xiahou Yuan each led more than 1,000 strong men to come to join, and there were thousands of people from the brothers Cao Ren and Cao Hong to help. Wei Hong made all his fortunes and bought clothes and banners. Cao Cao scattered all his family wealth, and got to donate countless food and materials from all sides, while writing "Zhuwen" to deliver it to the state and county governments, calling on all the candidates to raise troops to fight Dong Zhuo; On the one hand, he moved his troops and trained his military horses.

In December of the sixth year of Zhongping (189), Cao Cao was full of ambition and swore to raise troops in Jiwu (now southwest of Ningling, Henan) to show his ambitions. Cao Cao led the army through Zhongmu, ordered the army to be stationed outside the city, and only brought a few relatives into the city to the county government to thank Ren Xun for his return. When the county ordered Yang Yuan to hear the news, he took Ren Jun and Ren Xun out to greet him, and said that when he heard that Meng Dejiwu had raised troops, he asked Ren Jun to raise grain and grass and recruit hundreds of guests from the clan to greet him, so that he could listen to the army. Cao Cao was very happy, and instructed Yang Yuan and Ren Xun to carefully govern the place and treat the people kindly; After appointing Ren Jun to escort the grain and grass, he led his troops to set off with the army. From then on, Ren Jun was attached to Cao Cao. Every time Cao Cao went on an expedition, Ren Jun was mostly in charge of armaments and grain and grass procurement and transportation, and his achievements were remarkable, and he was very trusted by Cao Cao. This is a later story, so I won't mention it for the time being.

Let's say that all the people from all walks of life received the "Text" and responded one after another. Han Fu, a native of Yingchuan, was first a member of the imperial history, and was recommended by Dong Zhuo as the pastor of Jizhou. Han Fu knew that Yuan Shao hated Dong Zhuo, and sent him to Bohai County to monitor and prevent Yuan Shaoxing's soldiers from guarding too much. Han Fu once received a fraud from the Taishou Bridge of Dongjun that the three dukes of the Beijing Division raised troops to attack Dong Zhuo Yiwen, but hesitated. Convened to discuss: "Should I help Dong Zhuo, or should I help Yuan Shao?" Liu Zihui said: "The army is for the sake of Jiangshan Sheji, what are you talking about Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shao!" Han Fu knew that his words were short, and he was a little ashamed. Liu Zihui also said: "Marching and fighting is a dangerous thing, and it is not appropriate to take the lead. You can wait and see what happens in other states and counties, and if there is a provocateur, you can respond with it. Han Fu thought that Jizhou was relatively prosperous, with sufficient military rations, and was relatively strong compared with other states. If the move is successful, the credit is not above Jizhou, and if it fails, it is not Jizhou as the leader, but it is just forced to coerce. When he received Cao Cao's text, Han Fushu went to Yuan Shao, counted Dong Zhuo's crimes, and listened to raising troops. Yuan Shao gathered his subordinates, led 30,000 troops, and left Bohai to join Cao Cao.

In the first month of the first year of Chuping (190), Jizhou Mu Hanfu and the state thorn history, although the county Taishou had their own mentality, but they all led their own soldiers and horses, a total of 17 soldiers and horses, there were 30,000, there were 120,000, how many ranged, mighty, from all directions to Luoyang. Exactly: I raised troops to fight Dong thief, and all the candidates rose up to respond to Cao Gong. If you want to know what happens next, let's see the next breakdown.