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

It was three days after Chen Guoxiang's official letter was sent that Han Zixiu finally sent a reply.

The location was set at Baimapo, where Chen and Liang meet.

Baima Slope was originally just a small hill where merchants changed horses. To the east was Chenjing, to the west was Liangdao, and to the south, down the ridge, was Runan. The mountain lines of the three regions met here, and although they usually guarded their own territory, for the first time now they stood side by side.

Lü Ding only brought a hundred or so horsemen to the meeting.

There was no heavy armor, no drums or bugles. Xu Huang accompanied them, as did Xun You. Zhang Cheng remained to guard Lutai Ridge.

At Baima Slope, Chen Guoxiang Luo Jun had already arrived. He was nearly forty years old, with a calm demeanor. When he saw Lü Ding dismount, he took two steps to greet him.

"Captain"

"Luo Xiang".

The two exchanged a bow, without exchanging many pleasantries.

Those who came from Liang were the Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office and the Patrol Officer. They did not have any ceremonial entourage, only a few attendants.

The three parties sat down, and a route map was laid out in the middle.

Luo Jun spoke first.

"Last time Chencheng was in danger, it was thanks to Commandant Lü's timely arrival that a major chaos was averted. This year's spring planting was able to proceed smoothly, thanks to the efforts of Runan."

As he spoke, he bowed solemnly to Lü Ding.

"Chen Guo remembers this kindness."

Lu Ding returned the greeting, his tone calm.

"We are both in Yuzhou, so we just guard each other."

Luo Jun stopped being polite and focused his gaze on the route map.

"It's not difficult for each other to guard the valley once or twice, but people walk through it every day. If it's cleared today, people will still go in next year. If there's no routine, the same thing will happen again."

He raised his hand and tapped on the map.

"Xiling, Baimapo, and Lutailing are the three points that control the southern mountain line. Right now, with the Runan patrol cavalry keeping an eye on them, things are naturally stable. But if everyone takes charge of their own area in the future, and the mountain roads are cut off, people's hearts will be in turmoil."

The Liang Kingdom patrol captain replied in a deep voice:

"When Liangcang was distributing grain, the biggest threat wasn't large groups of bandits, but rather 30 to 50 people constantly causing trouble. If a grain cart was stopped once, the people would hesitate; if it was stopped twice, merchants would take a detour. By the third time, even if there was still grain in the granary, it wouldn't be able to get out."

He looked at Lü Ding.

"It's not hard to fight once, but it's hard to have someone guard it every day. If no one is watching the valley, even thirty or fifty thieves can cause a huge mess."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Everyone understands that I'm not sitting here to thank anyone for their contribution.

The rules need to be established.

Luo Jun unfolded a roll of paper: "Chen Guo's intention is for the three prefectures to jointly patrol. Each prefecture will contribute troops, rotating monthly. A permanent sentry post will be set up at the valley entrance, and troops will no longer be deployed on a temporary basis."

Liang Guo nodded.

Then everyone looked at Lü Ding.

Runan had the largest military force among the three prefectures.

Lü Ding did not answer immediately.

He looked down at the map and drew a line between Lutailing and Baimapo with his fingertip.

"If we're going to patrol together," he said, "there needs to be a unified command. Otherwise, if things get complicated and we keep passing the buck, it'll only make things worse."

Luo Jun asked, "What does the captain mean?"

"If all three parties remain in their positions, but an uprising breaks out on the mountain path, we can't wait for official documents to be exchanged. Whose orders will we follow then?"

The chief clerk of Liang frowned.

The problem has finally come to the forefront.

The wind was very light on the slope, and the three county flags fluttered at the same time.

Xu Huang remained silent.

Lu Ding placed his hand on the edge of the map and slowly tapped the location of Baima Slope with his fingers.

"Whoever sends the most troops and bears the heaviest burden, we will listen to them."

Luo Jun smiled and asked, "The captain deployed the most troops?"

"That's the current situation."

The scene fell silent for a moment.

Luo Jun did not refute. He knew in his heart that with the Chen army scattered and the Liang army mainly focused on defense, the only one that could truly send out more than a thousand troops was Runan.

He rephrased it: "If it's under the command of a colonel, is that equivalent to a permanent patrol in the south?"

"Yes," Lü Ding replied.

The chief clerk of Liang asked in a low voice, "What does the governor think?"

There was a slight pause in the room after those words were spoken.

Lü Ding did not avoid it.

"The patrols do not enter the city, nor do they interfere in the affairs of the various prefectures. They simply guard the valleys and protect the grain routes."

Luo Jun stared at him for a moment.

That was said with great tact.

It's not about seizing state power, it's about replenishing the state's troops.

Finally, Luo Jun nodded: "Chen Guo agrees to a joint patrol. If there is any movement along the mountain line, the orders from Runan shall prevail."

Liang Guo nodded slowly.

A simple set of regulations was drafted on the spot.

Each of the three prefectures will contribute troops, and permanent sentry posts will be set up at the valley entrances. Command and orders will be temporarily coordinated by the Commandant of the Runan Bandit Suppression Division. In case of major events, reports will be submitted to the prefectural government.

There was no fanfare, and no oaths were recited.

But the southern deployment was written down for the first time on Baima Slope.

-

Three days later, a copy of the memorial was delivered to the Yingchuan Prefectural Office.

The governor's surname was Wang, he was in his early fifties, and he was always cautious in his actions and did not easily express his opinions.

He finished reading the document but did not speak immediately.

The subordinate official whispered a reminder: "The joint inspection of the three prefectures and the movement of mountain lines are all based on the command of the Commandant of Runan. I'm afraid this arrangement will be difficult to handle later."

The governor did not answer directly, but only asked, "Is the southern part of Yu Province stable now?"

"stable."

"Can we go to the fields for spring plowing?"

"able."

The governor sighed softly.

"There are not enough soldiers in the state to begin with."

The subordinate official did not dare to respond.

The governor flipped through the memorial again, his tone calmer than before.

"They did not enter the city, set up camps outside the city, or interfere in the affairs of the county."

The subordinate nodded.

The governor closed the document.

"That's settled then."

The subordinate official looked up at him.

"Reply," the governor said. "The state is aware of this matter. If the southern part of Yuzhou can be stabilized, the state government will not intervene for the time being."

This was not a formal appointment, nor was a flag presented.

But it was not rejected.

It's tantamount to tacit approval.

-

When the news reached the three counties, Luo Jun visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

In Runan City, Han Zixiu finished reading the prefectural letter and said slowly, "The prefect has no objection."

Xu Huang laughed and said, "That means you're nodding."

Xun You shook his head: "It's not exactly a nod, it's just something to put aside for now."

Lu Ding stood on the city wall, looking at the mountain line to the north.

"That's enough."

When the patrol cavalry at Lutailing changed shifts, their banners still bore the banner of "Commander Who Suppresses Bandits".

But at this moment, this flag is no longer just the flag of Runan.

The patrol cavalry of Chen and Liang also changed shifts according to the same patrol schedule.

For the first time, the patrol times on the Sanjunshan line were perfectly aligned.

-

A few days later, merchants and travelers were discussing it on the mountain road.

"Now there are rules on the southern route."

"Whose opinion should we listen to?"

"Listen to the patrolmen."

Once rules are established, they will gradually become habits.

The wind is still blowing in Shouchun.

In Runan, however, a mountain line has already been connected.

Lü Ding did not occupy an inch more land, nor did he leave any line undefended.

However, the patrols of the three southern counties then revolved around a single center.

At night, Xun You stood on the city wall, watching the firelight on Lutai Ridge in the distance.

"The governor isn't intervening because he's too busy right now," he said.

Lü Ding did not turn around.

"What if he can manage it all?"

Xun You looked at the distant mountains and did not answer.

The spring mud hasn't dried completely yet.

At midnight, the Fox Camp entered the city.

He was wearing a merchant's cloak, still speckled with mud.

"There's some activity in Shouchun."

Lü Ding did not look up.

"explain."

"Sun Wentai borrowed troops and marched south to Jiangdong."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Xu Huang frowned: "How much did you borrow?"

"Thousands."