Yang Xiu's death

[Chen Kun]

up until now,I still don't understand why Cao Cao had to kill Yang Xiu,a talented officer.Whats wrong being close to his son,Cao Zhi?? or maybe Cao Cao was afraid of his talent?

[someguy44]

Cao Cao was afraid of him alright. But he wasn't afraid of him in the sense that Yang Xiu would take power away from Cao Cao. Cao Cao was afraid that Yang Xiu could read his mind and thoughts. He also hated Yang Xiu for teaching his son exactly what to say when Cao Cao tests him. This made Cao Cao think that his son was a genius (which could be or could be not). However, due to Yang Xiu's interference with his son, Cao Cao wasn't so sure on the intelligence of his son and he ended up really hated Yang Xiu deep down for it. The whole chicken tendon thing was just the last straw for Cao Cao and provided Cao a good excuse of finally doing away with this annoying presence.

[Chen Kun]

Cao Cao was afraid of him alright. But he wasn't afraid of him in the sense that Yang Xiu would take power away from Cao Cao. Cao Cao was afraid that Yang Xiu could read his mind and thoughts. He also hated Yang Xiu for teaching his son exactly what to say when Cao Cao tests him. This made Cao Cao think that his son was a genius (which could be or could be not). However, due to Yang Xiu's interference with his son, Cao Cao wasn't so sure on the intelligence of his son and he ended up really hated Yang Xiu deep down for it. The whole chicken tendon thing was just the last straw for Cao Cao and provided Cao a good excuse of finally doing away with this annoying presence.

well,if that was the reason,then I could say that Cao Cao had a narrow mind.Did other lords kill their officers who could read their minds?Cao Cao should be grateful to have such an officer.

[Tianshan Zi]

Yes, I think that Cao Cao viewed Yang Xiu as a meddler--and a meddler who imposed no boundaries on himself. In Cao Cao's view (or anyone's, really), this unchecked meddling could be quite dangerous.

[Lady Wu]

Cao Cao also wanted to pave the way for Cao Pi's succession. Since Yang Xiu was in Cao Zhi's camp, and by that time Cao Cao had decided for Cao Pi to be heir, it was to "everybody's interest" that Yang Xiu be eliminated, otherwise he'd be giving Cao Zhi all sorts of ideas.

[Tianshan Zi]

Cao Cao also wanted to pave the way for Cao Pi's succession. Since Yang Xiu was in Cao Zhi's camp, and by that time Cao Cao had decided for Cao Pi to be heir, it was to "everybody's interest" that Yang Xiu be eliminated, otherwise he'd be giving Cao Zhi all sorts of ideas.

Good point. It would have been the "right" thing for Cao Cao to do: kill Yang Xiu and allow Cao Pi's succession to go unopposed, kill Yang Xiu and avoid civil war after his death, etc.

[Chen Kun]

Cao Cao also wanted to pave the way for Cao Pi's succession. Since Yang Xiu was in Cao Zhi's camp, and by that time Cao Cao had decided for Cao Pi to be heir, it was to "everybody's interest" that Yang Xiu be eliminated, otherwise he'd be giving Cao Zhi all sorts of ideas.

Good point. It would have been the "right" thing for Cao Cao to do: kill Yang Xiu and allow Cao Pi's succession to go unopposed, kill Yang Xiu and avoid civil war after his death, etc.

well,I guess Cao Cao killed him to save his sons from killing each others,what a father and lord heh

[Tianshan Zi]

well,I guess Cao Cao killed him to save his sons from killing each others,what a father and lord heh

A sign of the times, no? Yes, I think that Cao Cao killed Yang Xiu in order to preserve the power of the Cao clan/dynasty.

[Mega Zarak]

I don't think anyone, not even the present days Prime Ministers/leaders, can tolerate an arrogant surbordinate, let alone one who tried to create disunity in their camps, leak military procedures, etc. Unfortunately for Yang Xiu, the penalty was not the sack like present day, but the loss of his head.

[someguy44]

well,if that was the reason,then I could say that Cao Cao had a narrow mind.Did other lords kill their officers who could read their minds?Cao Cao should be grateful to have such an officer.

No, I wouldn't go that far as to saying Cao Cao was narrow-minded. Obviously he wasn't for he forgive people whom tried to kill him (Xu Xuang) and recruited enemy officers to his own side.

Cao Cao fear Yang Xiu not only for being able to read his mind, but for being able to read his fears as well. I think Cao Cao would be quite happy to have an officer being able to read his strategical thoughts, but not of his inner fears. This somewhat made Cao Cao wary IMO and the fact that Yang Xiu was an arrogant showoff just made matters worst for Cao Cao. If Yang Xiu could keep his mouth shut when needed, he won't have gotten executed.