Cao Cao’s Underground Troop Passages

Cao Cao’s Underground Troop Passages

Cao Cao’s Underground Troop Passages is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Located beneath the main streets of the old city area in Bozhou, these passages radiate outward from Dayu Head as the center to all directions leading outside the city. The tunnel network features an intricate crisscross design, with a complex and versatile layout, three-dimensional distribution, elaborate structure, grand scale, and massive engineering efforts, stretching over 4,000 meters in total. It is the earliest and largest underground military passage discovered to date. Its historical and strategic value far exceeds that of the well-preserved ancient city above ground, earning it the title “Underground Great Wall.” On July 17, 2001, it was listed as part of the fifth group of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites.

Cao Cao (155–220), courtesy name Mengde, was a renowned statesman, military strategist, and writer in the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China, and the founder and key architect of the Wei Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. Historical records indicate that Cao Cao frequently employed tunnel warfare tactics to secure victories. The ancient underground passages in Bozhou were the military defense tunnels built by Cao Cao in his hometown. He used them to secretly move a limited number of soldiers out of the city via the tunnels, then re-enter from outside repeatedly to confuse the enemy and achieve victory through surprise. The surviving ancient tunnels come in three structural types—timber and earth, brick and earth, and brick—and four forms: single-passageway, turning passage, parallel double passage, and two-tier vertical passage. The tunnels are generally 2 to 4 meters deep, with the deepest reaching 7 meters. The interior height is about 1.8 meters, and width approximately 0.7 meters. Turning points inside the tunnels are all T-shaped. The parallel double passages are spaced 2 to 3.5 meters apart, with square communication holes built between them. The ancient passages are deep, winding, and irregularly shaped, equipped with military facilities such as foxholes, bunkers, barrier arches, barrier walls, leg-snare boards, and traps, as well as auxiliary features including ventilation holes, communication holes, and lantern niches.

Artifacts from the Han, Tang, and Song dynasties unearthed in the tunnels include pellets, iron swords, iron lamps, chess pieces, bronze mirrors, pottery, porcelain, and inkstones. These findings are of significant importance for the study of ancient Chinese military architecture, military tactics, and Cao Cao’s military thinking.

The troop passages have a complex structure and ingenious layout, featuring four types: single-passageway, parallel double passage, two-tier vertical passage, and three-dimensional crossing passage, along with various military facilities such as foxholes, barrier arches, barrier walls, pitfalls, and leg-snare boards. Then, the reporter arrived at the command room of the underground troop passages.

The area reached after descending is what served as Cao Cao’s office, or the central command point. This spot is the highest point in the tunnel system, about six meters or slightly more above the ground. Why is this considered Cao Cao’s office? Because many chess pieces were unearthed here, and the space is relatively high and wide. Moreover, it is the central hub—no matter which direction you go, east, west, south, or north, all passages connect.

Cao Cao (July 18, 155 BC – March 15, 220 AD), courtesy name Mengde, also known as Ji Li and nicknamed A-Man, was a Han Chinese from Qiao Commandery, Pei State (present-day Bozhou, Anhui Province). He was a famous military strategist, politician, and poet in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the founder and main architect of the Wei Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period, and later became King of Wei. After his son Cao Pi ascended the throne, he posthumously honored Cao Cao as Emperor Wu of Wei.

Cao Cao’s grandfather, Cao Teng, held an official position during the reign of Emperor Huan of Han and was granted the title Marquis of Feiting. His father, Cao Song, had unclear origins. According to the “Records of the Three Kingdoms: Annals of Emperor Wu,” it is stated that his background “could not be thoroughly verified.” Meanwhile, the Song Dynasty scholar Pei Songzhi... More detailed information on Cao Cao ++