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

The winds in the north are harsher than those in Yuzhou.

On the border of Youzhou, the snow had not yet melted, and the horses outside the camp were breathing out white vapors. Liu Bei, wearing an old fur coat, stood in front of the camp gate, his hand on the hilt of his sword, looking at the gray-white horizon in the distance.

Gongsun Zan's banners fluttered in the wind, and northern barbarian cavalry appeared from time to time, indicating that the war had not stopped.

The camp didn't have many soldiers; most were former troops from Youzhou, and some were volunteers recruited temporarily.

Liu Bei's troops numbered only a few hundred, making them insignificant among the various armies.

Guan Yu was sharpening his sword, while Zhang Fei sat on a wooden stake, holding a wine jar.

Zhang Fei muttered, "The fighting in the north is all between General Gongsun and Yuan Shao. If we just follow along, when will it ever end?"

Guan Yu looked up at Liu Bei but said nothing.

Liu Bei was silent for a moment, then said, "In chaotic times, it doesn't matter who you stand behind; what matters is having a place to stand first."

His tone wasn't impassioned; it was more like he was speaking to himself. Since joining Gongsun Zan in the uprising against Dong Zhuo, he had seen far too many. Some seized land by force, others by reputation, but very few could truly establish themselves.

He knew that he came from a humble background, had no reputation, and lacked troops. If he was too eager for quick success, he would only be swept away.

A cavalryman outside the camp reported that the situation in Ji Province was still at odds with Gongsun Zan, and Yuan Shao refused to retreat. Both sides had stationed their troops and neither was willing to give way first.

Guan Yu sheathed his sharpened sword, looked up, and asked, "Brother, who do you think can hold onto Ji Province?"

Liu Bei gazed at the continuous mountain ranges to the north, pondered for a moment, and then spoke: "It's impossible to determine a winner in the short term. Neither side is willing to retreat, but no matter how many troops we have, we can't withstand a prolonged war."

Zhang Fei asked impatiently, "Then who will win?"

Liu Bei smiled but did not answer. He knew in his heart that the power struggle in the world was not limited to Ji Province. He had heard that Cao Mengde was gathering troops in Yan Province, and that Yuan Shu had already marched on Yang Province. Things were moving everywhere, but those who moved quickly could not necessarily hold their ground for long.

He had no territory, no prefectures or counties to defend, so talking about restoring the Han dynasty was still too far off.

As night deepened, the three men huddled around the fire. The wind whistled, swirling snowflakes against the tent, and whispers rang out in the camp discussing the state of the world.

Liu Bei listened to those names pass by without interrupting. His thoughts were simple. If there was a province where the people could live in peace, the soldiers had provisions, and the generals no longer had to desert, then it was worth defending. He didn't know where that province was, nor when he would encounter it, but he understood in his heart that without even a single province, there was no way to talk about restoring the Han Dynasty.

Guan Yu suddenly said, "Brother, if there were a province that could be defended in the future, what would you do?"

Liu Bei looked up at the firelight and said calmly, "First, we must win over the hearts of the people."

Zhang Fei chuckled: "How easy is it to win people's hearts?"

Liu Bei did not argue, but only said, "It's easier to defend than a city."

The flickering firelight reflected on his face. He was still a lowly general under someone else's command, far away in the snowy north. The turmoil in Yuzhou, Yangzhou, and Yanzhou was still a thousand miles away from him. The world would eventually be united.

A north wind blew through the camp, and the firelight flickered. Liu Bei looked up to the south, where there were no stars, only a deep, dark night.

-

The nights in Runan are much milder than in the north.

When Lü Ding left the military headquarters, the military equipment register from the daytime was still on his mind.

Xun Heng's accounts were clear; losses and recoveries were all recorded, leaving no room for error. Yet, the clearer the records, the more he felt something was amiss. With the increase in patrols, it was only natural that spearheads would be damaged.

However, the iron consumption for the same patrol was significantly higher than in previous years. The loss figures reported by each battalion were correct, but if a large-scale replacement of weapons were to be carried out, problems might arise.

The problem isn't with the accounts, it's with the people.

Each camp repaired it themselves, found their own craftsmen, and made it themselves.

The styles varied, the thicknesses differed, and repairs could only be done by remelting. The accounts were clear, but the iron was scattered.

The southern mountain line has been connected, and patrol reports have been standardized, but weaponry remains fragmented. This is not something that can be resolved by fighting a single battle; it requires someone to specifically address and organize it.

But who is suitable?

Xu Huang was skilled in battle but impatient with trivial matters.

Xun You was good at assessing the overall situation, but not at keeping an eye on the stove.

Xun Heng is already busy enough with managing accounts; adding another layer will only make things more chaotic.

It would be inappropriate to have Chen Erhe, who is in charge of the Fox Camp, coordinate with the craftsmen.

As Lü Ding stood under the eaves, the night wind blew by, and he suddenly realized that what he lacked was not a craftsman, but a meticulous person who could manage others.

He thought for a long time, then suddenly turned and left the city.

It was late at night when the city gate guards recognized him and hurriedly opened the gate.

The horse's hooves trod on the spring mud as it headed south.

Shenjiazhuang is not far outside the city, and its lights are still on. Since the formation of the Southern Joint Defense, Shenjiazhuang has had more contact with Runan, but he has not visited in person for some time.

When the gate was knocked, the steward of Shenjiazhuang came out to open it. He was taken aback when he saw that it was Lü Ding, but quickly led him in.

Shen Wan was tidying up the accounts in the side hall when she heard footsteps. She looked up and was slightly taken aback when she saw it was him.

The two looked at each other for a moment, but neither spoke immediately.

We haven't seen each other for several months, and we seem to have changed a lot.

She was more composed than when they first met, and her expression no longer held the same restraint. Lü Ding was no longer the young man guarding the village, but a captain commanding troops in a region.

There seemed to be an unspeakable distance between them, yet a ripple of joy at their long-awaited reunion slowly spread through their hearts.

"So late?" she asked first, suppressing the turmoil in her heart and trying to keep her tone normal.

"Something's up," Lü Ding said directly.

She gestured for the steward to leave, leaving only the two of them in the hall. The lighting was soft.

Lu Ding placed the military equipment register on the table without any pleasantries.

"The weapons are in disarray, not because they're scarce, but because they're disorganized. Each battalion is fighting independently, repairing and patching their own systems. They can manage for now, but when they really need to be put to good use, things will likely get chaotic."

Shen Wan listened without interrupting. She flipped through a few pages and then picked up a blacksmith's ledger next to her for comparison. After a long pause, she said, "Is iron consumption higher than in previous years?"

"many."

"Low recycling rates?"

"There are quite a few in the books, but they are actually scattered among the various camps."

She nodded, then looked up at him: "You want to integrate?"

"I'd like to," Lü Ding said, "but soldiers aren't suited for this. I need someone to gather the craftsmen, define the production process, establish recycling rules, and oversee the work long-term. It's not about a short burst of action, but about gradually establishing a system."

She was silent for a moment, her gaze falling on the account book before returning to his face. "Why did you come to see me?"

Lü Ding did not evade the question. "Because you are meticulous, and you have kept the accounts of the blacksmith shop and granary in Shenjiazhuang in order all these years. You know how to get people to do things according to the rules."

Shen Wan smiled gently. "That's a manor, not a military camp."

"They're all the same at heart," Lü Ding said. "With so many people, if there's no order, things will get chaotic sooner or later."

She looked at him, as if judging his seriousness.

After a long pause, he finally asked, "If I were to intervene, under what pretext would I act?"

"Manage the workshop affairs," Lü Ding replied. "Don't go to the military headquarters, and don't get involved in military orders. Just manage the craftsmen and iron materials. The army will cooperate, and they will only listen to me; you don't need to worry about anyone else."

Shen Wan looked at Lü Ding and remained silent for a long time.