Cao Cao and Cao Chong

Cao Cao, the formidable warlord of the Three Kingdoms period, was decisive and stern on the battlefield, but he doted on his intelligent and kind youngest son, Cao Chong. Cao Chong is not only remembered for the famous story of 'Cao Chong weighing the elephant,' but was also a deeply compassionate young boy in private. Once, an official managing the stables discovered that Cao Cao's favorite horse saddle had been chewed up by rats. Under the military law of the time, this was a serious offense punishable by heavy penalties, and the official was terrified. Upon hearing this, Cao Chong took a small knife and tore a few holes in his own clothes. He then approached Cao Cao with a dejected look and said, "My King, everyone says that clothes being chewed by rats is an ominous sign. My clothes were bitten; will something bad happen?" Cao Cao smiled and reassured him, "That's just superstition, don't worry!" Later, when the official came to confess about the saddle being damaged, Cao Cao, recalling his recent conversation with his son, smiled and forgave the official. With his wit and kindness, Cao Chong warmly saved a life.