As the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, Cao Cao was later promoted to Gong Wei, which seemed to have a high status. However, according to historical records, Cao Cao was an extremely thrifty man, and he didn't have high requirements for food and clothing. He doesn't like gorgeous and conspicuous appliances. Cao Cao believes that after the suitcase is woven with bamboo, it is enough to use coarse cloth as the lining, and no luxurious decoration is needed. The most unbearable thing is that Cao Cao is also very frugal in eating. He only has one meat dish when he eats at home. Even when his wife Bian Shi invited his brother's family to dinner, there was no fish or meat on the table, which showed that Cao Cao was simple in life. Is Cao Cao really a thrifty man?

Judging from Cao Cao's internal precepts, he is indeed a simple and pragmatic figure. And he can do this in a high position, which proves that Cao Cao is not just pretending, but asking himself and his family to take the lead. For example, Cao Cao once asked the family not to burn incense. But Cao Cao has a daughter who loves beauty very much and has always wanted to use incense. Because of her father Cao Cao's orders, it was not until she married Emperor Xian of Han Dynasty that it was realized. And Cao Cao is not without this condition and ability to do such a thing. For example, Yu Xun likes incense very much. He can stay there for three days. As a courtier of Cao Cao, Yu Xun can still use incense without mercy. I think Cao Cao Can can afford it, but Cao Cao still doesn't need incense and doesn't let his family use it, which shows that Cao Cao is really frugal.

But Cao Cao's life style is relatively simple, that is to say, he is compared with the emperor. Even if Cao Cao is compared with the emperor, I think he is not much different. After the battle of Guandu, Cao Cao saw that Yuan Shao had built Yecheng so well that it was far better than Xudu, so he moved the capital to Yecheng. What's more, Cao Cao built a bronze sparrow terrace for his own liking, which is simply unfair.

In contrast, the lifestyle of Shu-Han officials is really simple. Zhuge Liang dedicated his life to Shu Han. He holds the military and political power, but he only has 800 mulberry trees and 15 hectares of land. As a general, Deng Zhi came from a poor family and even went hungry when he was a general. In contrast, Cao Cao's life is really not simple. However, Cao Cao did not commit mass martyrdom at the funeral, and the funeral also required simplicity and opposed thick burial. Speaking of it, he is simple.

The author thinks that although Cao Cao advocates simplicity and is quite successful in educating his children, the wind of simplicity gradually disappears in Cao Cao's generation. In the later period of Cao Cao's ruling career, the palace was luxurious, just like when Cao Cao built the bronze sparrow terrace. This is really not a simple life.