Cao Cao, in his lifetime, never declared himself emperor. Yet, it would be a mistake to interpret this as evidence that he lacked such aspirations.
Initially, Cao Cao was a staunch supporter of the Han dynasty, frequently mulling over the restoration of its grandeur. Yet, from the moment he gained control over the emperor to govern the lords, his ambitions swelled.
As his influence grew, he found himself surrounded by voices urging him to seize the imperial title, even if he had no immediate desire to do so. Sun Quan, at the time, had penned a letter to Cao Cao, advocating for his ascension to the throne.
Why, then, did Cao Cao never declare himself emperor during his lifetime? It could be that he deemed the time inappropriate, or he feared reprisal from moral traditionalists. Nevertheless, he ruled the kingdom in practice, an emperor in everything but title.
