Cui Yan

  • The tragedy of Cui Yan [Three Kingdoms]

    After capturing Yecheng, Cao Cao promptly executed the highly meritorious Xu You to win the hearts of the people in Jizhou (Ji Province) and secure the support of the local gentry. Simultaneously, he began seeking out influential local talents to join his ranks, aiming to consolidate his rule over Ji Province.

  • Cutting Hair for the Head – Cao Cao in a dilemma [Three Kingdoms]

    In the chaotic final years of the Eastern Han dynasty, military discipline and public perception were as vital as battlefield prowess. One of the most enduring episodes illustrating this principle is “Cao Cao cuts his hair to substitute for his head”—a dramatic scene from Chapter 17 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.