Ed, you should watch some Three Kingdoms (2010). The whole thing's up on YTube. Great series - immersed me in the setting, big-time. I know purists prefer the early 90s version, but purists aren't always a great barometer for general enjoyment.
Speaking of that series, I'm going to try out Cao Cao first, because he's the only smart ruler in the whole saga. Liu Bei, Sun Quan, Cao Cao et al had smart advisers, but only Cao Cao was on that same intellectual level. Brutal, subtle, world-weary, cunning, intelligent and ambitious. Liked the character a lot, even if he was ultimately portrayed as a villain (as he usually is, in ROTK media).
Good scene, showing his style:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dftx28aZ46c