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

The night was deep, but the lights in the Zhao residence were dazzlingly bright.

Servants rushed about, horses' hooves clattered, and figures moved back and forth in the porch between the side house and the main courtyard.

Zhao Gong, the head of the Zhao family, hastily mounted his horse with his outer robe draped over his shoulders, his face grim.

He knew that Lü Ding had a Fox Battalion keeping an eye on people, but he didn't expect them to move tonight, let alone that they would be intercepted on the South Gate path.

Outside the west wing, armored soldiers were already lined up in a row. When Zhao Gong dismounted, his personal guards did not stop him, but only whispered, "The acting manager is waiting in the hall."

Zhao Gong slowly walked into the courtyard. The lamplight reflected on the blue brick ground, casting long shadows.

When he entered the hall, Lü Ding was already sitting to the side of the main seat, Han Zixiu was not there, Xun You stood to the side, and Chen Erhe retreated into the shadows.

There were no instruments of torture in the hall, nor were there crowds surrounding and pressing down on people; only the open silk scroll lay quietly on the table.

Upon seeing those lines of text, Zhao Gong's heart sank slightly, but he still bowed respectfully: "I am terrified to have disturbed the acting manager so late at night."

Without exchanging pleasantries, Lü Ding asked only, "Do you recognize this character?"

Zhao Gong glanced at the silk scroll, paused for a moment, and then said, "I recognize it."

Who wrote it?

"The steward of the outer courtyard dictated the instructions, and the scribe in the household wrote them down."

"Where to send it?"

"Nanyang".

The hall was so quiet that only the soft crackling of the candlelight could be heard. Lü Ding neither became angry nor questioned his motives, but simply asked, "Why?"

Zhao Gong remained silent. This "why" wasn't about the content of the letter, but about his stance. If he said it was for self-preservation, it would be opportunism; if he said it was for the sake of Yuzhou, it would be overstepping his bounds; if he said he didn't know, it would be hypocrisy.

Silence became the only option to delay.

"I remember that the salt contracts of your family are still in effect when the Xihe Ferry is pressing in."

"Back then, you bet on this city."

Zhao Gong's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Now that Cao Cao has gone to Yanzhou, Yuan Shu has not made a move, and the prefect has returned to the city," Lü Ding said calmly. "yet you send a letter to Nanyang."

Zhao Gong finally spoke: "Acting Secretary, the Zhao family is not rebelling."

"What is that?"

"Looking for a way out."

After those words were spoken, the air in the hall seemed to grow even heavier.

Zhao Gong stopped trying to hide it; he knew that hiding it would only complicate matters further.

"When Cao Cao was pressing the river, the Zhao family feared the river would break; when Yuan Shu sent his letter, the Zhao family feared the state would fall. Now, although the prefect has returned, Yanzhou is pacified, but Nanyang is still uncertain. The Zhao family only thinks that no matter which way the state's situation turns, they won't be the first to die."

After listening, Lü Ding did not respond immediately. He stood up and slowly walked to the map, the lamplight illuminating the outline of Yuzhou. Nanyang was in the southwest, Runan in the center, Yingchuan in the north, and Yanzhou in the northwest. The situation resembled a net that was slowly tightening.

"Do you think that if Nanyang were to take control of Yuzhou, they would protect the Zhao family?"

Zhao Gong said in a low voice, "Nanyang and the Zhao family have a long-standing marriage relationship."

Lu Ding turned around, his gaze calm: "Can marriage alliances protect salt deeds? Land deeds? City gates?"

Zhao Gong remained silent.

"If the Nanyang troops arrive, open the gates and welcome them," Lü Ding said softly. "And what about the people of Runan?"

After a long silence, Zhao Gong finally whispered, "Acting Manager, I dare not gamble."

"You didn't believe this city could be defended, so you prepared an escape route for yourself early on," Lü Ding said, looking at him.

These words fell like a nail.

Zhao Gong's face turned slightly pale.

Lü Ding returned to the table, folded the silk scroll—neither tore it nor dropped it—and simply placed it back into the oilcloth. "The Zhao family has lived in Runan for three generations. Yet you've staked your escape route outside the city."

Zhao Gong's forehead was already covered in a fine layer of sweat.

"I won't ask you whether you're loyal or not," Lü Ding continued. "I'll only ask one question—do you believe this city can be defended?"

Zhao Gong looked up and saw the calm in Lü Ding's eyes. It wasn't a threat, but a certainty.

"If I say I believe you, will the acting manager believe me?" Zhao Gong asked rhetorically.

"Whether I believe it or not is not important," Lü Dingdao said. "What is important is whether the people in the city believe it or not."

Zhao Gong remained silent. He suddenly understood that this night was not an interrogation, but a choice. If Lü Ding wanted to kill him, he wouldn't wait until dawn; if he wanted to confiscate his property, he wouldn't need to explain. Sitting here now was giving him a way out.

"What does the acting manager intend to do?" Zhao Gong asked in a low voice.

"Dispose of them?" Lü Ding shook his head. "The Zhao family hasn't betrayed us, so why should we dispose of them?"

Zhao Gong suddenly looked up.

"I'll leave the letter," Lü Ding said calmly. "Take the person back with you."

Zhao Gong could hardly believe it.

"But from tonight onwards, all salt and grain contracts of the Zhao family must be transferred to the prefectural government for a single payment." Lü Ding's tone was not loud. "If you want a way out, I will give you a clear path. If the prefecture is in chaos, I will protect the city first; if the city is in chaos, you will protect the contracts first."

Zhao Gong's breathing became slightly heavy. He understood what this meant—from tonight onwards, the Zhao family would no longer be a neutral gentry, but would be bound to the government of Runan.

"Acting manager... does this mean I'm to escort the city?"

"It's not a 'pledge,'" Lü Dingdao said. "It's a 'stand.'"

The candlelight flickered softly in the hall, and the night breeze outside was growing cool.

Zhao Gong suddenly sighed and slowly knelt down: "Zhao Gong failed in his duty and is willing to accept punishment."

Lu Ding did not help him up, but only said, "Return to the manor before dawn. You will stand at the front of the court tomorrow."

Zhao Gong responded in a low voice, and when he left, his back was no longer as stiff as when he came.

After the others left, Xun You asked softly, "Are we just going to let him go back like that?"

Lu Ding didn't look up, but said calmly, "Letting him go back is more useful than keeping him."

Xun You was slightly taken aback.

Lu Ding continued, "Once the salt and grain contracts are transferred to the prefecture, he will no longer be a bystander. If he sends another letter, it will be the Zhao family cutting itself off from Runan."

Chen Erhe emerged from the shadows and asked in a low voice, "What if he really dares to send it again?"

Lu Ding said calmly, "That would be blatant rebellion. At that time, we won't even need to lift a finger, and the people in the city won't speak up for him."

The hall fell silent. In the distance, the night watchman's drum sounded again, and the sky was beginning to turn slightly gray.

Just when everyone thought the matter was settled, Chen Erhe suddenly said, "Acting Manager, there is one more thing."

Lü Ding looked up.

"There are more than just the Zhao family on that path near the South Gate," Chen Erhe said in a low voice. "Last night, another rider went around the east side of the city, but we didn't catch up."

Xun You frowned slightly: "Where to?"

Chen Erhe said, "Heading north."

It faces Yanzhou directly.

The lights in the hall suddenly seemed a bit colder.

Lu Ding was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Investigate."

Chen Erhe lowered his head: "I've already sent people to investigate."

After saying that, he took a step back, but did not leave immediately, as if he was waiting for a more specific order.

Lu Ding stood before the table, his gaze fixed on the northwest corner of the map, and gently pressed his fingertip on the border between Yanzhou and Chenliu.

With Yanzhou pacified and Cao Cao appointed its governor, if someone were to send a letter north from Runan at this time, it would not be as simple as seeking a way out.

"Is that rider traveling light or with entourage?" Lü Ding asked.

"Riding alone," Chen Erhe replied. "I changed horses twice and took the old trade route, not the official road."

Xun You's expression darkened slightly: "We avoided the official roads to avoid leaving any traces."

Lu Ding did not respond, but slowly said, "Investigate the origin of the horses, the post stations along the way, and where he stayed in the city. Within three days, I need to know for whom he left the city."

Chen Erhe accepted the order and left, leaving only the soft flickering of candlelight in the hall.