Cao Cao was from Qiao County (Today’s Bozhou in Anhui Province). His father was Cao Song, who had been surnamed Xia-hou, later became the foster-son of Cao Teng, a senior eunuch of Emperor Huan. Therefore, his father changed his family name.
When he was a child, Cao was fond of hunting and dancing. He was a tricky fellow and has a keen wit. His uncle was annoyed by Cao’s profligacy. He told this to his brother, who reprimanded Cao Cao. He decided to play a trick on his uncle. One day when he saw his uncle, he fell down, pretending that he had a stroke. He uncle was shocked and tell this to Cao Song. Cao Song made haste to see his son and found there was nothing wrong with Cao. He asked,” you uncle said you had a stroke, have you recover from it?” Cao said,” I have never got such illness. Because I was out of uncle’s favor, I got framed.” Cao Song believed his words. From then on Cao Song did not listen to censure about Cao from his uncle.
Cao became more profligate. A person named Qiao Xuan said to him,” Our country was likely to be out of order, nobody excerpt those who are capable of saving us can change this. Who can do this? Probably you can.” Xu Shao, who was famous for selecting talent, said to Cao Cao when receiving him, “you are the competent chancellor at peaceful times and the treacherous official in a state of chaos.”