An Owl Picking Up a Dead Mouse

Cao Zhang, King Rencheng, was the son of Cao Cao, Emperor Wu of Wei State. He was young and stouthearted. He not only learned augury but also read many books about the civil and military skills. When Emperor Wu of Wei State intended to attack Wu State, he ever consulted Cao Zhang to gain some tactical strategies.

Cao Zhang was good at shooting with both hands. He also did well in throwing sword. He could shoot a suspending hair in the distance of one hundred steps. One day, the state of Lelang offered a tiger as tribute. The tiger was surrounded by an iron fence and there were many beautiful stripes on it. The ordinary warriors dared not draw near while Cao Zhang could draw the tail of the tiger and wind it around his arm with the tiger not howling and moving. Everyone admired him for his courage.

In those days, the state of Nanyue offered a white elephant as tribute. In the presence of King Wu, Cao Zhang beat the nose of the elephant with his hand and consequently, the elephant lied still on the ground, face downwards.

Cao Pi, Emperor Wen of Wei State, casted a very big and heavy bell. It was intended to be put in front of the Chonghua Hall. In order to transport it, more than one hundred strong men were sent to drag it but in vain. However, Cao Zhang carried it on his back and walked very fast. All the other states at that time dared not take reckless military actions after hearing about his courage. For this, Emperor Wen said,“if Cao Zhang, King Rencheng of Wei, is appointed to lead troops to swallow up Wu State and Shu State, it is just like an owl picking up a dead mouse.”

Today this idiom indicates that handling affairs is as easy as turning one's hand over.