1. Bawling out a scaly dragon
When Cao Cao was ten years old, he was swimming in a dragon pool when he suddenly encountered a ferocious crocodile. The crocodile attacked Cao Cao with all its teeth and claws, but Cao Cao was undaunted and calmly maneuvered around the crocodile. The crocodile was unable to get a bite and fled.
When Cao Cao returned home, he did not mention the crocodile to his family. Later, when an adult saw a snake and cowered in fear, Cao Cao laughed and said innocently, "I wasn't afraid of a crocodile at the Dragon Pool, but you're afraid of a snake... it's ridiculous!" When the people inquired, Cao Cao told them the truth, and they all marveled at the audacity of the young Cao Cao.
2. Wise up to Yuan Shao
When Cao Cao was young, he and Yuan Shao used to love being rogues. The two of them once went to see someone else get married, took the opportunity to sneak into the owner's garden, and in the middle of the night yelled, "There's a thief!" The people inside the green hut all ran out to look, and Yuan and Cao drew their swords and robbed the bride.
After the two of them ran out, they got lost in the middle of the road and fell into a thorn bush, and Yuan Shao couldn't move. Cao Cao shouted again, "The thief is here!" Terrified and anxious, Yuan Shao quickly jumped out on his own, and the two were finally able to escape.
3. Cutting the hair instead of the head
One year, when everything was harvested, Cao Cao was ordered by the emperor to lead his army through the wheat fields, and he ordered, "Don't spoil the wheat, and execute anyone who violates the rules!" Everyone in the army on horseback dismounted and walked with their hands holding each other's wheat. Cao Cao's own horse kicked back and scurried into the wheat field, inviting his chief bookkeeper to condemn him.
The chief minister responded with an allusion to the Spring and Autumn period, saying that since ancient times, criminal law has not been applied to the honorable. Instead, Cao Cao said, "How can you command your subordinates when you have made your own laws and violated them yourself? Yet as commander of an army, I cannot die until I have accomplished my task, and request that the criminal law be applied to myself." So he took up his sword and cut off a piece of his hair and cast it to the ground.
4. Quench Your Thirst by Looking at Plums
On one occasion when Cao Cao was leading his troops on an expedition, he couldn't find any water on the way, and the soldiers were thirsty. So Cao Cao told his men to send a message to the soldiers, saying, " There is a large plum forest right in front of us, bearing many plums, which are sweet and sour, and can quench their thirst." When the soldiers heard this, their mouths watered. With this, they were able to reach a place with a water source ahead.
5. Splitting incense and selling shoes
Before Cao Cao's death, he left his Last Order, which said, "My maidservants and singing and dancing artists are very hard working, so let them live in Copper Sparrow Terrace, and place them well, put a six-foot bed on the main hall of the Terrace, hang up a spiritual tent, and put up food offerings for sacrifice in the morning and evening, and on the first day of every month and the fifteenth day of every month, from early morning to midday, sing, dance, and play music to the tent.
You shall ascend to the Bronze Sparrow Terrace from time to time, and visit the tomb of my west tomb. The rest of the incense may be divided among the ladies without its sacrifice. Those in the houses who have nothing to do may learn to make bands and shoes to sell."
Baidu Encyclopedia - Cao Cao