Despite their rivalry, Cao Cao and Liu Bei are very similar in this regard they are both supported and trusted by the people.

Gainsaying his reputation for ruthlessness, he looks out for his followers and treats them with generosity. Caring little for status or hidebound tradition, he judges men solely on their achievements and skill, and his companions respect him for this reason. He is a leader who dedicates himself to his ambitions and possesses a unique mindset. Ingenious and merciless, he’s known as the Puppet Master and has no qualms in controlling others to fulfill his aspirations. Though some call him ruthless, he is nevertheless mindful and considerate, maintaining agricultural garrisons to protect both his supplies and his people during troubled times. Regarded as a strategic genius, Cao Cao pursues victory at any cost, and ensures that the ends always justify the means. Cao Cao has seen emperors fall and tyrants rise, he has witnessed power grasped by the undeserving, and it is this world of chaos through which he plots a path to order. His family was closely intertwined with politics, and Cao Cao studied hard, maturing into a powerfully cunning and shrewd statesman in his own right. This makes Cao Cao related to two of his most trusted generals, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan. It is said that Cao Song’s original family name was Xiahou. His father Cao Song was a foster son of Cao Teng, one of the favoured eunuchs of Emperor Huan.

Who is he?Ĭao Cao was born in 155CE in Qiao county, Han Empire. By systematically driving factions against each other, by manipulating others into attacking him and calling his allies to defend him, and by later confederating or vassalising the fractured remnants of once-great factions, Cao Cao can grow in territory and power without fighting a single battle. Because of this, you can conceivably win the game without ever being involved in any major conflicts. In desperate times when swift action is needed, rather than making two factions like each other less and hoping they might go to war – you can directly trigger it without anyone knowing it was your doing. With Cao Cao’s faction, you can instigate a proxy war between two warlords. These unique abilities can be taken even further. His agricultural garrisons help to make his farms more defendable and give stronger boosts to his armies. Playing as Cao Cao is all about long-term strategic planning preparing for war far in advance by setting the diplomatic stage to strike, while expanding your realm slowly but steadily. He’s an excellent melder of emotions and can make others think more positively of himself or his allies, allowing him to get better diplomatic deals from those targeted. Of course, Cao Cao can also influence relationships to forge stronger bonds between warlords. This can fray their relations to the point where war is all but inevitable. He divides and conquers, manipulating relationships between factions by spreading rumours of disunity between them. His main strength lies in diplomatic exploitation.

Disclaimer: All details included below are subject to change as development continues and should not be considered final.Ĭao Cao is a brilliant strategic commander, excelling in war and politics.

Total war three kingdoms