Cao Cao’s military capabilities and achievements can be summed up by four sentences. The first sentence is that Cao had strengths in tactics but weaknesses in strategy. The second one is that Cao had strengths in appointment of generals but weaknesses in army management. The third one is that Cao had strengths in ground battle but weaknesses in marine warfare. The last one is that Cao had strengths in politics but weaknesses in military affairs. Because of these characteristics

Cao Cao in fact is not a good military strategist

not to mention an outstanding military mind.