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

Reports kept coming from the counties to the north, and troops were moving frequently between Xu and Yan. The warlords in Guandong were nominally united, but in reality, they were each acting independently. South of the Huai River, powerful clans held sway, and the waterways and supply lines were unstable.

Although the southern part of Yuzhou was pacified, the sentry flags at Lutailing and Shijiankou remained in place, and the night fires at the border of Chen and Liang gradually died down, but the situation in the prefecture was not yet stable.

Yuan Shu sat in the hall, with two scrolls of maps spread out on the table before him. One scroll depicted the mountains and rivers of Yuzhou, and the other the waterways of Huainan.

The candlelight illuminated the lines of mountains and rivers on the painting, casting swaying shadows.

"What about the south?"

Yan Xiang replied, "The sentry posts at Lutai Ridge and Shijiankou have been established, and there are no more nighttime fires at the border of Chen and Liang. The pacification commander patrols monthly, the valley entrance has not been lost, and merchants are gradually returning. Both Chen and Liang are already accustomed to the cavalry patrolling the valley entrance."

Yuan Shu nodded, not asking for details, but his gaze shifted to the scroll of Huainan, his fingertip lingering on the two characters "Shouchun".

"What about Huainan?"

Yan Xiang presented a military report: "Shouchun's defenses are weak, and the local powerful clans are operating independently without a leader. The Huai River's water transport is still operational, the granaries are full, and the troops are scattered and disorganized. If we enter Shouchun first and control the Huai River, then Yangzhou can be captured, and the area north of the Yangtze River can be defended."

Yuan Shu pondered for a long time.

Shouchun is located at a strategic point north of the Huai River, where waterways and land routes converge. It connects to Yangzhou in the south and the Central Plains in the north.

With water, the navy can travel far; with provisions on the boats, the army can endure. Although Yuzhou is vast, it is arid and is controlled from all sides; Huainan, on the other hand, is arid, and once the water is controlled, its power can be expanded outwards.

"Yuzhou is nothing more than a piece of land amidst the chaos," Yuan Shu said slowly. "Huainan is by water."

Yan Xiang knew that his lord's mind was made up.

"If our lord marches south, how should the military affairs of Yu Province be handled?"

Yuan Shu rose and walked to the window, letting in a cold breeze. He looked north, his tone calm yet remarkably clear: "The south is now a fortified region. The Commandant who quelled the rebellion is still here, the Prefect is still here, and the name of the prefecture has not been changed."

He turned and ordered, "Pass down the order: the administrative office is to move south to Shouchun."

This order signifies that Yuan Shu's true focus has begun to shift.

-

When the news reached Runan, Han Zixiu pondered for a long time.

Xu Huang whispered that Yuan Shu was leading his army south, but Xun You said, "Yuan Shu is going to take Yangzhou."

Lu Dingli stood in front of the map, remaining silent for a long time.

"Moving south does not mean losing Yuzhou," he finally said.

Xun You nodded: "The troops are still in the prefecture."

Xu Huang chuckled softly: "But Yuan Shu is far away."

The farther away, the slower.

Slow down, then relax.

Han Zixiu looked up at Lü Ding: "Yunzhong, the southern front must not be disrupted."

Lü Dingdao said, "Of course, this concerns everyone's life and fortune."

No one spoke again in the hall.

-

Shouchun.

The Huai River flows swiftly, with boats stretching to the horizon.

Yuan Shu's carriage entered the city, where powerful clans greeted and paid their respects, and grain ships anchored along the shore.

From the top of the city wall, one can see the vast expanse of water, with mist rising in the distance.

Yuan Shu stood atop the city wall, remaining silent for a long time.

"The situation in the southern part of Yuzhou can be delayed."

Yan Xiang asked, "Is the lord not worried?"

"Holding the line in Runan is just enough to stabilize a few counties," he said calmly. "With Shouchun in hand, we have waterways, grain supplies, and the gateway to Yangzhou."

He did not belittle Runan, but rather Shouchun's geographical location was more important.

-

Even after nightfall, Yan Xiang had not left.

The lights in the hall flickered. After hesitating for a long time, he finally spoke: "My lord, when I left Runan that day, Lü Ding said something to me in private."

Yuan Shu raised his eyes.

"If someone comes to borrow troops with heavy weapons in the future, my lord must not grant it lightly."

Yuan Shu's eyebrows twitched slightly: "A powerful weapon?"

Yan Xiang whispered, "The Imperial Seal."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Yan Xiang continued, "Jade can be used to gain fame, but not to gain military power. If military power is borrowed, the soldiers will not return, and although the fame may be great, the disaster will be profound. This move may seem to be to honor the Han Dynasty, but in reality, it will damage our own foundation."

Yuan Shu remained silent for a long time.

The candlelight illuminated his face, making his expression unreadable.

"You're overthinking it," he finally said softly. "Jade is but stone, and weapons are in my hands. The power of the world doesn't lie in a single seal."

Yan Xiang lowered his head and said nothing more.

But he knew in his heart that if the imperial seal were to truly appear in the world, his lord might not remain unmoved.

-

In the twelfth lunar month, another report came from the south.

Five hundred bandits from south of Lutai Ridge, calling themselves their leader Zhao Kui, launched a night attack on the valley entrance. Zhang Cheng led his camp to meet them, and before the battle could break down, the bandits retreated into the mountains. Chen Xiang sent an envoy, offering a month's worth of provisions to aid in the defense. Lü Ding replied that the provisions would be delivered to the valley entrance, not to the camp.

The boundary remains.

But dependence is already evident.

The mountain path at the border of Chen and Liang, once frequented by bandits, is now patrolled by riders every day.

Habits are forming.

People's hearts are drawing closer.

-

Runan will discuss this further.

Xun You said: "If there is no order to transfer Yuan Shu within three months of his southward move, the south will become the norm within the prefectures."

Xu Huang said, "Since Chen Liang is used to having captains protecting the lines, changing the personnel will surely cause chaos."

Han Zixiu asked Lü Ding, "What if the state mobilizes troops?"

"Adjustment is negotiable."

"What if the state summons me?"

Lu Ding was silent for a moment, then said, "I will go."

To go to a place signifies acknowledging one's status and position.

The soldiers are still on the register.

Not losing sight of propriety.

-

Winter snow fell on Lutai Ridge.

A new gatehouse stands at the valley entrance, and merchants from Chenliang set off again, but the night lights are nowhere to be seen.

In Runan city, the military drums were not urgent.

But no one dared to underestimate that captain's small flag anymore.

Meanwhile, at the city walls of Shouchun, the Huai River surged with the night tide.

Yuan Shu reorganized his naval forces and prepared provisions for the Huai River.

The situation in southern Yuzhou is temporarily stabilized.

-

However, a few days later, the Shouchun Administrative Office suddenly received a secret letter.

The envelope was unnamed, but sealed with dark red clay.

A faint dragon pattern is engraved on the clay seal.

When Yan Xiang received the letter, his heart sank.

The letter contained only one sentence:

"With such powerful weapons at our side, we are willing to lend you 5,000 soldiers."

After Yan Xiang finished reading the secret letter, his fingertips lingered on the paper for a long time.

These four words, though unsigned, have already identified the person.

He looked up at Yuan Shu.

"My lord, this letter is unusual."

Yuan Shu took the letter, his eyes scanning the words, his expression remaining calm, though his fingers tightened slightly.

"Who delivered it?"

"The messenger, who was traveling down from Huaibei, did not leave his name, but the ship owner said that the man claimed to be from the army in Luyang."

Luyang.

Yuan Shu's eyes flickered slightly. "Sun Wentai."

The candlelight in the hall flickered suddenly.

Since the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian has been the most aggressive in his campaign and the first to enter Luoyang. Rumors circulate that he obtained a valuable object in the abandoned palace, which he has never shown to anyone. Now, with the sudden mention of this "valuable artifact," there's no need to elaborate; the world already knows.

Yan Xiang said in a low voice, "If it's really in his hands, then it's not borrowing troops, it's borrowing power."

Yuan Shu did not answer immediately. He got up and walked to the window, where the night tide of the Huai River lapped against the shore, its sound long and drawn-out.

Imperial seal.

That's not a stone, it's a name.

If the jade is in Sun Jian's hands and the soldiers are in your own—with fame and military strength combined, you can shake the Guandong region.

Yan Xiang finally spoke the words that had been weighing on his mind: "My lord, jade can bring fame, but soldiers can threaten one's very foundation. If Sun Jian lends us five thousand men, the future where the jade ends and the direction of the soldiers may not still be in your hands."

Yuan Shu remained silent for a long time.

"He wants five thousand."

"Yes."

"Five thousand soldiers in exchange for a seal?"

He suddenly chuckled.

"Where in the world is there such a bargain?"

Yan Xiang did not respond.

Because he knew that his lord was interested.

The jade has not yet appeared, but the situation has already begun to change.

Meanwhile, on Lutai Ridge in Runan, the night sentry duty had just changed. Zhang Cheng patrolled past the mouth of the stone ravine, the valley wind biting cold.

But the lights on the walls of Shouchun were brighter than usual.

The wind on the water had not yet ceased, but the hearts of people in the city were already stirring with unspoken unease.