Why did Cao Cao of ancient China have to kill Hua Tuo?

People often say that heroes cherish heroes, but in Chinese history, Cao Cao did not cherish Hua Tuo and even tortured him to death. The decline of a generation of famous doctors was heartbreaking for a while, and people had a lot of opinions about Cao Cao. Is Cao Cao wrong in doing this?

According to records in the Later Han Dynasty, Cao Cao did indeed torture Hua Tuo to death, but the reason was not as simple as it appeared. From a certain perspective, this was caused by Hua Tuo himself.

The past of Hua Tuo

The saying 'all things are inferior, only reading is high' is deeply rooted in the minds of ancient Chinese people and was the greatest pursuit of life in that era, and Hua Tuo was no exception.

Hua Tuo has been smart since childhood and enjoys reading, but unfortunately, he was born in the wrong era. Before the Sui and Tang dynasties in China, the only way to become an official was through recommendation. Although he was familiar with the classics, he did not have a solid background. If he wanted to become an official, he was just a fool's dream. Fortunately, in addition to his dream of becoming an official, Hua Tuo also had a hobby of studying medicine.

He was born in Bozhou, which is rich in traditional Chinese medicine. He has many powerful doctors around him and grew up with exquisite medical skills, treating many patients. It is said that his greatest expertise is surgical surgery, where he once opened a person's abdominal cavity for surgery and invented the anesthetic "Ma Boiling Powder."

Due to his superb medical skills, Hua Tuo's reputation grew stronger and stronger. The Prime Minister of Peiguo, Chen Xuan, recommended Hua Tuo as a filial and honest person, and the First Lieutenant, Huang Wan, also recruited him to become an official. Perhaps it was because the official position was too low, which did not meet Hua Tuo's psychological expectations, or perhaps it was because Chen Yan and Huang Wan's invitation to him was not sincere enough, and ultimately Hua Tuo did not go.

From Anhui to Jiangsu in China, and from Shandong to Henan, Hua Tuo traveled to many places and treated many people's illnesses. He was deeply loved and respected by the people and gained a great reputation for a time.

At that time, Cao Cao was suffering from headaches. Cao Cao had this headache problem when he was young, and as he grew older, his condition worsened. The joint consultation of Cao Cao's military doctors could not alleviate his pain by any means. After hearing about Hua Tuo's name, he called him over to see him. Hua Tuo lived up to his reputation as a miraculous doctor and quickly stopped Cao Cao's headache by stabbing his acupoints with a few silver needles.

Cao Cao felt that his headache could finally be cured, so he was very happy and raised new hope for his illness. To Cao Cao's disappointment, Hua Tuo pondered for a long time and slowly shook his head at him, saying that this disease is difficult to cure in a short period and requires frequent treatment to extend his lifespan.

Upon hearing Hua Tuo's answer, Cao Cao was somewhat disappointed, but he still left Hua Tuo in the army so that he could relieve his pain at any time.

Caught playing tricks and getting caught.

After Hua Tuo stayed in Cao Cao's army, he did not treat himself as well as Cao Cao thought, but rather had an imposing attitude. Cao Cao is a person who cherishes talents extremely. Seeing Hua Tuo like this, not only did he not criticize him too much, but he always tolerated him.

Hua Tuo, under Cao Cao's urging, treated his headache several times, then said that his wife at home was ill and that he would go back to treat her. After obtaining Cao Cao's approval, he immediately got up and returned to his hometown Bozhou.

Hua Tuo had agreed with Cao Cao that he would return to Cao Cao as soon as he cured his wife. Who knows that once Hua Tuo left Cao Cao, just like the bird left the nest, like the fish into the sea, never to return.

Hua Tuo originally only took a short leave from Cao Cao, but when the time to return had come, he was not in a hurry to go back. Every time Cao Cao wrote to urge him, he declined and said that he had to take care of his wife and could not go back.

Hua Tuo did what he did because he had his thoughts. Hua Tuo was a famous doctor, but before he became a famous doctor, he was a scholar. Because he chose the profession of a doctor, he often regretted it. He stayed by Cao Cao’s side because he heard that Cao Cao only chose talented people and wanted to seek a half-official position for himself.

Hua Tuo is a very awkward person. He wants to become an official, but he relies on his talent and arrogance, only wanting people to ask him to become a high-ranking official. He deliberately fooled Cao Cao time and time again because of his headache treatment, just to show off his importance. As a generation of heroes, how could Cao Cao be manipulated by Hua Tuo?

In ancient China, doctors were of the same low status as eunuchs. Hua Tuo was treated with courtesy by Cao Cao, not only without gratitude but also with increasing arrogance, not even doing his job well, which made Cao Cao very angry.

To understand the real reason why Hua Tuo was unwilling to come back, Cao Cao personally sent people to Bozhou to find him. Cao Cao told the person that if Hua Tuo's wife fell ill, he would reward some money. If what Hua Tuo said is false, then he will be arrested directly. This time, Hua Tuo's lie could no longer be concealed, and he was forcibly brought back to Cao Cao's side.

Cao Cao is not an ordinary person. He was a famous politician and strategist in the late Eastern Han Dynasty in China, and his strategy was difficult for ordinary people to reach. Hua Tuo's careful thinking had long been seen by him.

Hua Tuo's commotion not only failed to benefit himself but also angered Cao Cao, who threw him into prison and tortured him severely.

Death in prison, no one inherits superb medical skills.

After Hua Tuo was imprisoned, many soldiers who had been treated by him pleaded for him. Even Xun Yu, a counselor under Cao Cao, once said to Cao Cao, "Hua Tuo has excellent medical skills and can save people's lives. We should let him go." Upon hearing this, Cao Cao disdainfully said that there was no need to worry, as there were many such people.

Hua Tuo died soon after being tortured in prison. Before dying, Hua Tuo took out a medical book he had secretly written, which recorded his life's work. He said to the jailer, "Here you are. If this book is passed on, it will save many lives." The jailer looked at the precious medical book and wanted it but did not dare to ask for it, for fear of being discovered by Cao Cao and punished.

Hua Tuo was disheartened to see that no one had inherited the medical achievements he had worked on all his life. Finally, he set fire to his medical books and left with grudged feelings.

After Hua Tuo's death, Cao Cao's headaches became worse, but he never regretted killing Hua. Hua Tuo's death was a great loss to Chinese medicine. He could have saved the world with his medical skills, but because of his selfish heart, he eventually died in prison.