In the chaotic narrative of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the encounter, companionship, and eventual separation of Cao Cao and Chen Gong resemble a brief yet profound intertwining of fate.
They were brought together by the shared ideal of supporting the Han Dynasty and eliminating traitors, but ultimately parted ways due to fundamental differences in values. Their story ended tragically at the White Gate Tower with Chen Gong prefer death to surrender, leaving behind a timeless lament about ideals and reality, loyalty and strategy.
Encounter at Zhongmu County: Idealist’s pursuit of loyalty
After Cao Cao’s failed assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo, he fled Luoyang in panic and was captured by guards in Zhongmu County. Facing certain death, his fate took a turn due to the county magistrate Chen Gong’s recognition of a hero and emphasis on righteousness. This scene, depicted with great tension in the fourth chapter of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, shows Chen Gong not immediately sending Cao Cao to the capital for a reward but instead taking him to the backyard for a late-night interrogation. When Cao Cao passionately declared, “My ancestors for generations enjoyed the Han Dynasty’s patronage. If I do not think of repaying the state, how am I different from a beast? I submitted to Dong Zhuo only to seize an opportunity to eliminate him and rid the state of a scourge,” and openly expressed his intention to “return to my hometown, issue a forged decree, and summon the nobles of the realm to raise troops and together destroy Dong Zhuo,” Chen Gong realized that this fugitive wanted by the court was actually a loyal and righteous man with the world at heart.
At that time, Chen Gong was a typical idealist. As a county magistrate, he had yet to meet his true lord and yearned to follow a wise leader who could support the state and save the people. Cao Cao’s heroic attempt to assassinate Dong Zhuo and his ambition to raise troops against the traitor perfectly aligned with Chen Gong’s expectations of loyalty and benevolent governance. Thus, Chen Gong made the most resolute decision of his life: abandoning his official post and family to follow Cao Cao. For him, this was not merely “following” but a pursuit of his ideals—he believed he had finally found a kindred spirit to achieve their shared goal of “eliminating traitors and stabilizing the world.”
For Cao Cao, Chen Gong’s appearance was nothing short of redemption in despair. At that time, he had just escaped the danger of a failed assassination, with a uncertain future and the stigma of being a wanted criminal. Chen Gong not only released him but was willing to abandon his family and career to accompany him. This trust and support provided Cao Cao, at his lowest point, with rare warmth. At this moment, one was an idealist seeking a wise lord, the other a hidden dragon in need of support. Bound by the common goal of “loyalty and righteousness,” they became “companions” relying on each other in the chaotic times.
Breakup: The death of Lü Boshe, the eruption of clashing values
The rift between Cao Cao and Chen Gong was already hidden in the fundamental differences between “idealism” and “pragmatism,” and the death of Lü Boshe’s entire family became the trigger that ignited this conflict.
During their escape, the two sought shelter at the home of Lü Boshe, an old friend of Cao Cao’s father. Lü Boshe warmly welcomed them, personally went out to buy wine, and instructed his family to prepare a feast. However, upon hearing the words “tie it up and kill it” from the backyard, the inherently suspicious Cao Cao assumed Lü Boshe intended to capture him for a reward. He immediately decided to “strike first,” and together with Chen Gong, killed Lü Boshe’s family. It was only after seeing the tied-up pig that they realized it was a misunderstanding. As they continued their escape, they encountered Lü Boshe returning with wine. Knowing he had already wrongly killed Lü Boshe’s family, Cao Cao killed Lü Boshe as well to eliminate witnesses. Faced with this tragedy, Chen Gong exclaimed, “To knowingly kill an innocent man is a great injustice!” But Cao Cao, showing no remorse, uttered the words that shattered Chen Gong’s ideals: “I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me!”
This statement laid bare Cao Cao’s pragmatic nature of achieving goals by any means necessary, sharply contradicting the values of “benevolence, righteousness, and trust” that Chen Gong upheld. In Chen Gong’s eyes, the greater good of eliminating traitors for the state must be built on the foundation of not harming the innocent. Even in chaotic times, one should not abandon the morality of repaying kindness—Lü Boshe was an old friend of Cao Cao’s who had shown them hospitality. Even if it was a misunderstanding, they should not have resorted to killing, let alone show no remorse after learning the truth. Cao Cao’s actions, in his view, were not a necessary means of survival in chaotic times but cold-hearted selfishness.
At this moment, Chen Gong finally saw clearly: the loyal and righteous man he had followed was merely a cunning hero willing to sacrifice everything for his ambitions. Their disagreement was never about differences in methods but moral foundations. Thus, in a late-night inn, while Cao Cao was sound asleep, Chen Gong left silently, from companion to adversary. This rupture marked the idealism’s final disillusionment with realpolitik.
Reunion: Farewell at the White Gate Tower
Years later, Cao Cao and Chen Gong reunited at the White Gate Tower during the Battle of Xiapi. By then, Cao Cao was no longer the fugitive but the powerful governor of Yan Province, commanding heavy troops and dominating central China. Chen Gong, meanwhile, was assisting Lü Bu in defending Xiapi and had become Cao Cao’s prisoner.
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, upon seeing Chen Gong captured by Xu Huang, Cao Cao’s first words were, “Gongtai, I trust you have been well since we parted!” His tone was filled with complex nostalgia and expectation—he always remembered the kindness shown in Zhongmu County and never truly let go of the only person willing to follow him at his lowest point.
Faced with Cao Cao’s attempt to persuade him to surrender, Chen Gong remained exceptionally firm. He denounced Cao Cao for having evil intentions and committing many unjust acts, stating, “Today, I choose death!” Even when Cao Cao threatened him with the safety of his elderly mother and wife, Chen Gong stood unwavering, calmly responding, “I have heard that those who rule the world with filial piety do not harm others’ relatives; those who implement benevolent governance do not cut off others’ lineages. The survival of my mother and wife lies in your hands, my lord. Since I am captured, I ask for immediate execution without any regrets.” These words were both a final challenge to Cao Cao’s “benevolent governance” and upholding of his own ideals.
Cao Cao ultimately ordered Chen Gong’s execution but did not harm his family, instead treating them even better than before, as recorded in history and Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This act may be seen as a bittersweet closure: Cao repays the debt of Zhongmu; Chen dies upholding his principles.
The farewell at the White Gate Tower was without entanglement, only the tragedy of an idealist and the regret of a pragmatist—Cao Cao gained the world but forever lost the man who once believed in his cause and was willing to abandon everything to follow him at his lowest point; Chen Gong loses his life but preserves his integrity, loyalty, and honor.
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