In Chinese history, the Three Kingdoms period was an era full of wars and political struggles. Cao Cao and Liu Bei, as the main figures of this period, their struggle for power was particularly noteworthy. At first, Cao Cao acted in the name of the Han Dynasty and was regarded as the orthodox force to maintain the rule of the Han Dynasty. However, as time went by, Liu Bei gradually rose up and ultimately became the representative figure of the Han Dynasty in history and folklore. This article will explore the reasons behind this transformation.

Firstly, Cao Cao's political status was relatively clear at first. He was an outstanding politician and militarist, as well as a powerful official in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. In the late Han Dynasty, when the royal power was weakening, Cao Cao gradually gained control of the court by virtue of his political cunning and military talents. He welcomed the Han Xian Emperor to Xudu, apparently maintaining the rule of the Han Dynasty but actually consolidating his own power. Therefore, for a period of time, Cao Cao was widely regarded as the representative of the orthodox Han Dynasty.

However, with the rise of Liu Bei, the situation began to change. Although Liu Bei was a relative of the Han royal family, his strength was not strong at first. Through marriage alliances, alliances, and other means, he gradually expanded his sphere of influence. Especially after the Battle of Red Cliff, Liu Bei quickly developed and expanded with the help of Sun Quan. He established his own bases in Jingzhou, Yizhou, and other places, and ultimately established the Shu Han regime in Chengdu.

There are several key factors why Liu Bei was able to replace Cao Cao as the representative of the Han Dynasty in the hearts of the people and in history. Firstly, as a relative of the Han royal family, Liu Bei's bloodline made him theoretically more qualified to inherit the orthodoxy of the Han Dynasty. Secondly, Liu Bei cleverly used his identity in political propaganda, emphasizing that he was the legitimate heir to restore the Han Dynasty. In addition, Liu Bei implemented benevolent governance when governing the local area, winning the hearts of the people, which also earned him the reputation of "the benevolent king". Finally, literary works of later generations such as "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"美化the image of Liu Bei, portraying him as an ideal benevolent king, which deepened people's perception of him as the orthodox of the Han Dynasty at the cultural level.

In summary, although Cao Cao was initially the representative of the orthodox Han Dynasty, with the rise of Liu Bei and his political propaganda, as well as his cultural塑造, Liu Bei gradually replaced Cao Cao and became the orthodox of the Han Dynasty in people's hearts. This transformation not only reflects the complex political struggles of the Three Kingdoms period but also demonstrates the influence of historical memory and cultural transmission on historical figures.

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