On CAO Cao’s Death and the Coping Strategies of LIU Bei, SUN Quan and CAO Pi

CAO Cao’s death was an important event in early period of Three Kingdoms. LIU Bei, SUN Quan and CAO Pi adopted different coping strategies. LIU Bei attacked Wu Kingdom without fear. Because he set his military camp for over 700 li and broke the taboo of dividing forces, he suffered the Yiling defeat. He was a loser in the event of CAO Cao’s death. However, SUN Quan still took the strategy of submitting his kingdom to the rule of CAO Pi, the son of CAO Cao. He dealt with LIU Bei with all his strength and got the victory in Yiling battle. At this time, CAO Pi was busy to replace Han Dynasty with his Wei Kingdom and consolidate his power. Accordingly, when LIU Bei assailed SUN Quan from the West, he aban- doned the great opportunity to attack SUN from the East. Apparently, he was neither a loser nor a winner. In fact, this was a great strategic mistake. CAO Cao’s death marked the end of Jian’an period of Eastern Han Dynasty. Afterwards, CAO Pi, LIU Bei and SUN Quan found their own kingdoms and proclaimed themselves emperors one after another. And the three parts became three kingdoms.