Why did Cao Cao risk offending Xiongnu for a woman?

Cao Cao's redemption of Cai Wenji is based on three points.

1. Cai Wenji's father, Cai Yong, was an old friend of Cao Cao and was killed by Wang Yun after Cai Yong, while Cai Yong's family had almost nothing after Dong Zhuo's rebellion. In the words of Cai Wenji's sorrowful poems, it is "not only the end of home, but also the end of China and foreign countries". Cao Cao was also impressed by this decision and took back Cai Wenji, who was the only descendant of his old friend Cai Yong.

2. Cai Wenji is a descendant of Cai Yong, a famous writer at that time, and he is famous in the world. Taking Cai Wenji back is more beneficial for Cao Cao to show his preferential treatment for talents. Even if he dies, he should be kind to his descendants. It is conducive to attracting aristocratic families to support Cao Cao.

3. At that time, the southern Xiongnu had been weakened to some extent. Wenxi returned to Han in the 11th year of Jian 'an (207), but as early as the 7th year of Jian 'an (202), the Southern Xiongnu had already returned to Cao. In the 21st year of Jian 'an (265,438+06), Cao Cao detained Hu Chuquan of the Southern Xiongnu and divided him into five parts, which shows that the strength of the Southern Xiongnu at that time was not difficult to get back to Cai Wenji.