Cao Cao's name simply means, 'to hold an office in the government'. It has none of the sparkling imagery of his cousin's names. Xiahou Dun means Kindhearted Summer Marquis, and Xiahou Yuan means Profound Summer Marquis. For elegance, Cao Cao relies on his style name. Mengde means Virtuous Eldest Brother. He tries to be that; he tries to be a good leader for his family and for his men and for the peasants. But there is conflict. He is not only Mengde, he is also Cao Cao. Holding office is necessary in order to do good things for the people under his care. But anyone who holds an office is forced to make difficult decisions, compromises, and bids for power. He tries to take the responsibility for harsh acts from the shoulders of his family, to concentrate all of the shortcomings of the Han Wei on his shoulders. It is better for one man to be ruthless than for all men to be. One's essence should be pure: not many things but one thing. Someday, those he crushed may write histories portraying him as a power hungry villain who simply could not reign in a desire to rule all of China. But no one will write stories that slander Xiahou Dun, or Xiahou Yuan. Cao Cao will see to that.
