Overthrowing Wei: Starting with Cao Cao's "I'd rather betray the world than surrender

As night deepened, torches lined the city gates of Runan.

Han Zixiu's carriage slowly entered the city in the night. There was no drumming or music, nor any extravagant welcome, only armored soldiers lined up and lanterns flickering.

The people watched from afar, whispering amongst themselves, but no one dared to approach.

"The prefect has returned." The words circulated quietly throughout the city, but did not cause a commotion. What was truly tense was the light that remained burning all night in the west wing courtyard.

Lu Dingli waited under the corridor, not wearing armor, but only a dark-colored casual robe, with a calm expression.

Xun You stood to his side and whispered, "Several aristocratic families in the city know that the prefect has entered the city, so it will probably not be quiet tonight."

Lü Ding did not answer, but only looked in the direction of the courtyard gate.

The carriage stopped, and Han Zixiu got out with steady steps and a calm expression, though his eyes were more intense than when he left the city.

He looked up and saw Lü Ding. Their eyes met in the firelight, neither warm nor distant.

"Acting Manager," Han Zixiu said first, his voice low but clear.

"Prefect," Lü Ding said, bowing slightly, his tone calm.

After entering the hall, seven lamps had been added, and the shadows overlapped and swayed on the wall.

The people took their seats one by one. The atmosphere in the hall was quiet, but undercurrents were surging.

Han Zixiu's gaze swept across everyone's faces, finally landing on Lü Ding, and he said, "I have already heard about the matter of the Xihe Ferry in Ye City."

Lü Ding replied, "The river line has not been lost."

Han Zixiu nodded: "They haven't retreated either."

Lü Dingdao said, "We haven't retreated an inch."

Han Zixiu then asked, "Cao Cao has already become the Governor of Yan Province."

"Yes."

Han Zixiu continued, "A letter from Yuan Shu?"

"I've been here before."

Han Zixiu looked up: "You agreed."

Lu Ding said calmly, "It should be the prefecture's governor, not the subordinate prefecture."

The atmosphere in the hall was slightly tense.

Xun You originally thought that Han Zixiu would question the matter of overstepping his authority or question the acting governor's arbitrary decision-making in the state affairs. However, Han Zixiu simply picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "In Yingchuan, you sent troops to patrol the territory, but they did not enter the city."

Lü Ding nodded: "I won't cross the line."

Han Zixiu looked at him for a while and said, "Being able to hold on is a skill."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a slight sense of relief. Lu Ding, however, showed no emotion, simply stating, "We are guarding Runan."

Han Zixiu suddenly changed the subject, asking, "If I hadn't returned, would you have gone to Yingchuan?"

The atmosphere in the hall froze.

Lü Ding's gaze remained straight: "No."

Han Zixiu asked, "What if things get chaotic?" Lü Ding replied, "If things get so chaotic that the prefecture is without a ruler, then we'll discuss it again."

Han Zixiu stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled softly: "You're more composed than I was back then."

These words, though simple, carried profound meaning. Everyone in the hall understood that this was not merely praise, but a form of acknowledgment.

Han Zixiu stood up and walked to the map, where the lamplight illuminated the outlines of the various prefectures of Yuzhou.

He pointed to Nanyang, then towards Yanzhou, and said, "The name of the prefecture is in Nanyang, but its power lies in the west. Both sides are watching Runan." He turned to look at Lü Ding, "If you retreat, the people in the city will be demoralized; if you advance, the people in the prefecture will suspect you of seeking fame. The most difficult thing to maintain is to find the right balance between advancing and retreating."

Lü Ding replied, "As long as the prefect is here, everything will fall into place."

Han Zixiu remained silent for a moment, then said, "I will not accept the title of acting prefect. I will not lightly bestow upon the seal of the prefect."

These words sent a jolt through everyone in the hall.

Han Zixiu continued, "Outside the capital, I am called the Prefect, but internal affairs are handled by the Acting Prefect. If the state inquires, I will take charge."

Xun You couldn't help but ask, "In that case, how can the people in the city be reassured?"

Han Zixiu said calmly, "The people's hearts are not at ease with obedience, but with the stability of the situation. If I remove you from the position of acting governor tonight, rumors will spread tomorrow; if I appoint you as deputy governor, the gentry will suspect that I have lost power. Only if my reputation remains unchanged will the people's hearts remain unchanged."

He looked at Lü Ding: "Tomorrow I will preside over the court, and you will stand by my side. The decrees will be issued as before, and the official seals will still be issued by me. Let them know—the city has not changed hands."

Lü Ding cupped his hands in greeting: "Understood."

Their eyes met, neither in a master-servant nor hostile relationship, but in a clear collaboration.

That night, there was no overturning of the case, no reckoning, but the boundaries were redefined.

Han Zixiu did not reclaim his power, nor did Lü Ding relinquish his real authority.

No one spoke again in the hall, and the distance between the main seat and the side seats was also reset that night.

After the banquet ended, Han Zixiu called out to Lü Ding from under the eaves.

A night breeze swept through the corridor, causing the lamplight to flicker. Han Zixiu said in a low voice, "Someone in Ye City is asking about you."

Lü Ding's expression remained unchanged: "Who?"

Han Zixiu said, "Yuan Shao did not speak frankly, but only asked—is that man from Runan usable?"

As soon as those words were spoken, the night seemed to grow even darker.

Lü Ding asked, "What did the prefect reply?" Han Zixiu looked at him and said, "I said—'You are fit to be the prefect.'"

Lu Ding was silent for a moment, then said, "If you guard it for too long, it won't be guarding it anymore."

Han Zixiu chuckled: "Only if you can hold on, can you talk about anything else."

After those words were spoken, a brief silence fell between the two of them.

The lamplight flickered gently under the eaves, and a breeze slowly swept in from the courtyard gate, causing the candle wicks to tremble slightly. In the distance, the drumbeats sounded three times.

Han Zixiu turned to go back to the inner room, but after taking two steps, he stopped.

He didn't turn around, but said calmly, "Ye City has already set its sights on Runan."

Lu Ding stood still, without asking any further questions.

"You must not only maintain the status quo, but also guard your heart," Han Zi added before slowly walking away.

Only Lü Ding and Xun You remained in the courtyard.

Just when the two thought nothing would happen that night, a very soft signal came from outside the courtyard wall. The guards did not startle them, but simply stepped aside to make way for them.

Chen Erhe, wearing a short cloak, quietly entered. Behind him, two members of the Fox Camp escorted a young man whose hands were bound and whose robes were covered in dust, indicating that he had just been captured.

Lu Ding looked up at him, his tone calm: "Where did you take that screenshot from?"

Chen Erhe replied in a low voice, "Three miles outside the south gate, on a small path leading out of the city. The Fox Camp has been watching for three days, and they only made their move tonight." As he spoke, he placed an oilcloth package on the table. The oilcloth was unwrapped, revealing a silk book that was not yet fully sealed, the seal clay not yet applied.

Xun You stepped forward and unfolded the document. Under the candlelight, several lines of text were exceptionally clear: "If Nanyang enters the prefecture, Runan should open its gates to welcome him."

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned cold.

"Whose house is it?" Xun You asked in a low voice.

"The Zhao family's outlying residence," Chen Erhe replied calmly. "This person is the steward of the Zhao family's outer courtyard."

The young man knelt on the ground, his face pale, but he forced himself to say, "I was merely delivering books; I don't know their contents..."

Lü Ding didn't look at him, but only asked Chen Erhe, "Have any books left the city before?"

"There were two letters, but we dared not disturb them. We have already sent people to chase after them." Chen Erhe paused, then added, "The Zhao family has been in frequent contact with Nanyang in recent months."

Lu Ding slowly stood up, his gaze falling on the silk scroll. His expression showed no anger, only a chill. He remained silent for a moment, then said calmly, "Please invite the Zhao family head."

Chen Erhe looked up: "Now?"

"Now," Lü Ding looked out the window at the deep night, "before dawn."

Xun You's heart skipped a beat: "What if it alerts the city?"

Lu Ding said in a very soft voice, "It's not the people in the city who are alarmed, it's them."

A night breeze swept through the corridor, causing the candlelight to flicker. Outside the west courtyard, shadows had already begun to spread out.

The lights in the Zhao residence suddenly came on, and servants rushed about.

Almost simultaneously, the lights in several aristocratic residences were also turned on.

News of the Fox Camp's deployment had already quietly spread under the cover of night.