u/Mikasabing

Did Cao Cao’s assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo ever have a realistic chance of succeeding?
Dong Zhuo was known as a physically imposing man, and Lü Bu was by his side. Cao Cao was hardly an imposing fighter himself. An assassination at close range would have been incredibly risky, and Cao Cao had to know that.
In the traditional version of the story, Dong Zhuo turns his back, yet Cao Cao doesn’t strike immediately. He hesitates long enough for Dong Zhuo to notice something is wrong.
Then there’s the Seven-Star Sword. Why insist on borrowing Wang Yun’s precious sword instead of using his own? It also gave Cao Cao a ready-made excuse if he was caught (it was as a gift).
The failed attempt also gave Cao Cao something very valuable: the reputation of being one of the few men willing to stand up to Dong Zhuo. That reputation later helped him rally supporters and build his own faction.
So is it possible that Cao Cao went in expecting the assassination to fail—or at least planned for that possibility from the beginning?

History is shaped by narrative. Without the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the Three Kingdoms era probably wouldn’t feel nearly as vivid today. But at the same time, the novel also greatly shaped how people view historical figures, such as the popular image of Zhou Yu as petty and jealous.

I’ve always wanted to retell history through a different kind of narrative, especially in a more absurd way. But how to handle the balance between historical facts and comedic exaggeration is genuinely difficult.

I spent two months making a short animation about Red Cliffs, centered on Cao Cao. I wanted to try telling this story in a more playful way. What if Cao Cao was a foodie?

I’d sincerely love to hear your feedback and suggestions.

https://youtu.be/19fLtYTYsk8?si=7mWn5kSxxTiePxfU

Thanks in advance! I’m still learning animation and trying to improve the next one.

Did Cao Cao Never Really Plan to Assassinate Dong Zhuo?

I made a comedic animation about Cao Cao’s defeat at Red Cliffs and would love some feedback