Warlord and poet of the late Han who unified northern China; his son founded the state of Wei. The novel 三国演义 makes him its cunning villain, and "speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives" is the Chinese "speak of the devil".
Hěnduō rén rènwéi Cáo Cāo shì yí wèi jiéchū de jūnshìjiā.
Many people consider Cao Cao to be an outstanding military strategist.
Tips
culture
On the 京剧 stage he wears the white face of the scheming villain, and he is the role people picture in 唱白脸, 'to sing the white face': to play the stern bad cop while a partner 唱红脸 and plays the kind one.