After his defeat at the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao spent years rebuilding his forces and restoring his influence. By 216 CE, he had ascended to the title of King of Wei, establishing his capital city in Ye. His reputation in the north was so formidable that the Chanyu (leader) of the Southern Xiongnu, Hu Chuquan, traveled to Ye to offer his respects. Cao Cao treated him as an honored guest, keeping him in Ye while appointing the Xiongnu’s Right Virtuous King to oversee their homeland in his stead.
This renewed alliance between the Southern Xiongnu and the Han reminded Cao Cao of an old friend, Cai Yong, who had passed away. He recalled that Cai Yong’s daughter, Cai Wenji, was still in the Xiongnu territory, and he resolved to bring her back.
A daughter lost in chaos
Cai Yong was a renowned scholar of the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was exiled to the northern frontiers in his youth after offending the powerful eunuchs at court. Later, when the warlord Dong Zhuo took control of the imperial government, he was recalled to Luoyang. Eager to win the scholars’ favor, Dong Zhuo greatly valued Cai Yong, promoting him three ranks in three days. Despite serving under a tyrant, Cai Yong appreciated this time of his life better than the period he spent in the earlier chaos of the Han court.
When Dong Zhuo was assassinated, however, Cai Yong lamented his death — a simple sigh that sealed his fate. The regent, Wang Yun, seeing him as a loyalist to Dong Zhuo, had him imprisoned and executed, despite many officials pleading for his life.
His daughter, Cai Wenji (Yan), inherited his extraordinary intellect and literary talent. After her father’s death, turmoil engulfed the region, and the people of Chang’an were forced to flee for their lives. Cai Wenji wandered through war-torn lands among the refugees until Xiongnu raiders captured her. They recognized her beauty and grace and presented her to the Left Virtuous King of the Xiongnu, who took her as his wife. Though she lived among them for twelve years and adapted to their way of life, her heart remained bound to her homeland.
A king’s summons
Cao Cao, recalling Cai Wenji’s plight, dispatched envoys with gifts to the Xiongnu, requesting her return. The Left Virtuous King was reluctant to let her go but dared not defy Cao Cao’s command. Though overjoyed at the prospect of moving back home, Cai Wenji was torn by sorrow — she had children in the Xiongnu, and leaving them behind was heart-wrenching. During this emotional turmoil, she composed the famous poem “Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute,” a work of profound longing and sadness.
Upon her arrival in Ye, Cao Cao, seeing her alone and without support, arranged for her to remarry. She became the spouse of an officer named Dong Si, who, not long after the wedding, committed a crime and was sentenced to death.
A plea for mercy
Desperate, Cai Wenji rushed to Cao Cao’s residence to plead for her husband’s life. At that time, Cao Cao hosted a grand banquet attended by high-ranking officials and scholars, many of whom knew the woman’s father.
Hearing of her arrival, Cao Cao turned to the guests and said: “Cai Yong’s daughter has endured years of hardship in a foreign land. Would you like to see her?” Everyone agreed, eager to meet her. Cai Wenji entered barefoot, her hair disheveled. She fell to her knees and tearfully begged for Dong Si’s pardon. Her voice, clear and sorrowful, stirred the hearts of the assembled officials, many of whom had once been friends of her father. Overcome with emotion, they, too, were moved to tears.
Cao Cao listened and sighed: “Your plea is touching, but the sentence has already been issued. What can be done?” Cai Wenji implored: “My lord, you have thousands of horses and countless warriors. The order can still be recalled if you send just one rider on a swift horse.” Moved by her words, Cao Cao personally issued a pardon and dispatched a messenger to stop the execution in time. As she prepared to leave, Cao Cao, noticing her thin clothing in the bitter winter cold, gifted her a headscarf and warm shoes.
The preservation of knowledge and culture
Cao Cao then asked: “I’ve heard your family had an extensive collection of books and manuscripts. Do you still have them?” With a sorrowful heart, Cai Wenji replied: “My father left me over four thousand volumes, but in the chaos of war, every single one was lost. However, I still remember over four hundred by heart.” Amazed, Cao Cao said: “I will send ten scholars to record what you recall.” But Cai Wenji declined, saying: “There’s no need. If my lord grants me paper and ink, I will write them myself.” True to her word, she transcribed hundreds of texts from memory and presented them to Cao Cao, who was deeply impressed.
Through his efforts to bring Cai Wenji back, Cao Cao ensured the survival of a brilliant scholar and played a vital role in preserving China’s cultural heritage. The tale of Wenji’s Return to Han remains a celebrated story in history, a testament to the enduring power of knowledge, resilience, and loyalty to one’s homeland.
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