Holding the Sword

Holding the Sword tells the story of Cao Cao (155–220), one of the most iconic heroes/villains in Chinese history. In a famous episode, he disguised himself from a visitor by switching places with his guard, when he stood silently beside him, holding a sword. Yet the visitor sensed something extraordinary in the man holding the sword, without knowing he was, in fact, Cao Cao.

Throughout his life, Cao Cao was a game-player, a game-changer, constantly reshaping himself and the world to fulfill his ambition. A pivotal figure in the Three Kingdoms period, his legacy remains deeply influential.