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

The darkness persisted until late into the night before gradually dissipating.

The campfires outside Shangcai City burned all night. Scouts came and went incessantly, cavalrymen changed horses and patrolled, and in the distance, among the hills to the north, a few enemy campfires could still be vaguely seen, flickering in the darkness.

The campsite was very quiet.

Lu Ding summoned several captains to the fire and gave them brief instructions. The enemy army hadn't gone far; they were most likely still near the northern hills tonight. The cavalry were divided into shifts for patrols, scouts constantly moving back and forth, while the rest rested to recharge.

"Wait until dawn."

"Let's reconsider."

After the order was given, the military camp quickly returned to silence.

The cavalrymen led their horses, changed saddles, and sharpened their spears with utmost care. One by one, the torches on the distant city walls went out, and the night slowly retreated towards the northern hills.

Just before dawn, a cloud of dust suddenly rose up on the official road.

A troop of men galloped in from the direction of Runan.

As the procession drew closer, their banners became clear. The lead knight dismounted; it was Zhang Cheng.

"Young master."

Zhang Cheng clasped his hands and said, "Three thousand infantrymen from Runan arrived overnight."

The soldiers behind him quickly formed ranks. Although the ranks were large, they stood in neat rows, their armor imposing, clearly indicating that they were all well-trained soldiers.

Another horse slowly came to a stop beside Zhang Cheng.

The man on horseback was dressed in a blue robe but was not wearing armor. After dismounting, he calmly walked forward and bowed respectfully.

"Young master."

This person was none other than Xun You.

Lu Ding nodded, glanced at the gradually brightening sky, and said:

"Everyone's here."

Li Tong then realized what was happening.

It turns out that Lü Ding held back his troops last night, waiting for reinforcements.

Lu Ding looked up at the hills to the north, his tone remaining calm.

"There's no rush to break the formation today."

Xu Huang asked:

"That is?"

Lü Ding said:

"Surround."

Xun You nodded slightly.

"The rebel army was defeated yesterday, but now they have regrouped. If we let them scatter and escape, the village will become even more chaotic. It would be better to surround them first and then slowly bring them back."

Xu Huang immediately smiled.

"Then surround it."

The order was quickly passed down.

The Yicong cavalry split into two groups, circling out from the east and west sides and advancing along the edge of the hills. Zhang Cheng's infantry formed ranks in front, slowly pressing northward. Li Tong led the Shangcai local militia behind the ranks; although their numbers were small, they were arranged in several rows, much more orderly than yesterday.

The morning light gradually spread over the hills.

When the mist dissipated, the army was already neatly laid out on the wilderness outside the city.

Standing on the side of the formation, Li Tong watched the scene unfold before him, still feeling somewhat unsettled.

Yesterday, he was still leading a group of villagers to defend the city walls. He thought that if he could hold out for another two days, the city would fall. But he did not expect that as soon as Lü Ding arrived, a single cavalry charge would rout the three thousand Yellow Turbans.

What impressed him even more was the calm and orderly demeanor of the Yicong Battalion.

That wasn't just simple bravery, but a military discipline characterized by immediate action and perfect formation.

Just then, a scout rode back from the north and dismounted in front of the formation.

"Young master."

"The rebel army re-established its camp at the foot of the hills, numbering approximately two thousand men."

Xu Huang gave a cold laugh.

"They were slaughtered so badly yesterday, yet they still dare to come back."

Lu Ding merely glanced at the distant hills.

"Continue to move forward."

The army slowly moved northward.

In less than half an hour, the Yellow Turban camp at the foot of the hill came into view.

It was a haphazard campsite. Tents made of tattered cloth stood crookedly on the wasteland, with several campfires still burning around them.

The bandits gathered in twos and threes, some arguing, others already packing their bags, clearly without any consensus.

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the east.

The cavalry charged out from behind the forest.

Black armor and long spears gleamed coldly in the morning light.

Immediately afterwards, cavalry appeared from the west, and the two cavalry units, like two doors, firmly blocked the enemy's retreat.

The camp was thrown into chaos.

"cavalry!"

"The government troops are here!"

Some people panicked and fled north, but they had only gone a short distance when they found that the hill pass had been blocked by another troop of cavalry.

Zhang Cheng's infantrymen from the south also slowly advanced.

Shields stood in rows, spears pointed forward.

Surrounded on three sides.

The rebel army immediately lost its bearings.

Xu Huang, mounted on his horse, shouted:

"Disarm and you will not be killed!"

The sound traveled extremely far in the wilderness.

Yet some in the camp remained defiant. A burly man charged out, brandishing his sword and shouting that he would fight to the death. The volunteer cavalry immediately met him, and in a moment, the man was felled to the ground by a long spear.

Upon seeing this, the remaining bandits' previously agitated momentum dissipated instantly.

Xun You then walked to the front of the battle formation.

He wasn't wearing armor, just a blue robe, yet he stood extremely steady.

"You were originally villagers, but you were coerced into becoming thieves."

"Those who lay down their arms today will not be questioned about their past crimes."

The sound wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the camp.

A silence fell over the camp.

After a while, a young bandit slowly threw his knife to the ground.

Then the second, the third...

The sounds of weapons hitting the ground gradually merged into one.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all two thousand Yellow Turbans had knelt on the wasteland.

Xu Huang couldn't help but laugh as he watched this scene.

"Easier than chopping someone up."

Li Tong stood to the side, seemingly lost in thought.

Yesterday these same people were shouting for battle outside the city walls, but today they are kneeling on the ground awaiting their fate.

He suddenly realized that a true army is not just about killing, but about making the enemy afraid to fight again.

Lu Ding glanced at the prisoners scattered on the ground, then turned to Xun You and asked:

"Available?"

Xun You looked around and said:

About half are usable.

Lu Ding nodded, then looked at Li Tong.

"The soldiers of Shangcai will be chosen from among them."

Li Tong was taken aback, but quickly understood.

What was originally just a name, "Shangcai Bing," has suddenly become a source of soldiers.

Xu Huang also laughed.

"This saves us the trouble of recruiting soldiers."

Lu Ding glanced at the kneeling Yellow Turbans, his tone remaining calm.

"Take it back to the city."

Sunlight streamed over the hills, illuminating the group of prisoners. The mist over the wilderness gradually dissipated, and the walls of Shangcai City slowly came into view in the distance.

Lu Ding looked at those people and said only one sentence.

"Let's eat first."

Xu Huang couldn't help but laugh.

Li Tong suddenly felt a jolt in his heart.

The local militia who were fighting to the death to defend the city yesterday are now receiving two thousand prisoners. The situation has changed so quickly that there is almost no time to adapt.

But he became increasingly clear that from this moment on, Shangcai was no longer just a small county town.

Just as everyone was preparing to escort the prisoners back to the city, another rider suddenly galloped in from afar.

The knight, covered in dust, dismounted in front of the formation and said urgently:

"My lord, there are enemy troops again to the north!"

Xu Huang raised an eyebrow.

"besides?"

The scout took a breath and said:

"It's not the same group as yesterday; it's a band of rebels that came from the direction of Pei State, and there are quite a few of them."

Xun You frowned slightly and looked at Lü Ding.

Lu Ding, however, showed no surprise whatsoever.

He merely glanced at the distant hills, then at the neatly arrayed troops behind him, his tone remaining calm.

"It seems so."

"This battle is not over yet."

In the distant wilderness, the wind flutters the tattered Yellow Turban flag.

New dust is slowly rising on the northern horizon.