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

When the group returned to Runan, the campfires outside Shangcai City had already formed a continuous line. The night wind blew across the wilderness, and the firelight flickered slightly in the wind, looking from afar like scattered stars in the darkness.

The city gates had already been opened, and the guards quickly made way for the returning government troops.

The cavalry entered the city first, followed by the infantry, the sound of hooves and armor echoing in the night.

Xu Chu led the three hundred local militiamen along the side of the column, speaking little along the way, only occasionally glancing back at the north direction.

The local militia were clearly not used to going to the city. They whispered to each other, but still followed Xu Chu closely.

Watching this scene from his horse, Li Tong couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. Just a few days ago, he was merely leading villagers to defend the city, but now he was already serving alongside Xu Huang and Xun You in the army, and this force had grown stronger without him even realizing it.

After entering the city, Lü Ding did not immediately disperse his troops.

Torches were quickly lit on the drill ground, and the cavalry and infantry regrouped.

The three hundred local militiamen stood to one side, their formation not perfectly orderly, but they did not appear flustered.

Xu Chu stood at the very front, his sword already wiped dry of blood, his whole body standing there heavily, like a huge boulder pressing down on the ground.

Xu Huang dismounted and walked around in front of the three hundred men, nodding as he looked at them.

"They don't seem like they've never seen anything like this before."

Xu Chu replied, "Having guarded the fort for many years, I must have some training."

Xu Huang grinned: "Those trained in guarding the fortress can be considered half-soldiers."

Xun You stood by the firelight, observing the expressions of the local militia, and suddenly said, "There are quite a few fortified villages in Peinan."

Lü Ding nodded.

"If we could gather these fortified villages together..."

He stopped there, but didn't finish his sentence.

Xu Huang, however, understood immediately, and his eyes lit up: "Young Master, do you intend to bring all these fortified villages in Peinan over?"

Lü Ding did not answer directly, but looked at Xu Chu.

"How many fortified villages are there in the Qiao County area?"

Xu Chu thought for a moment and said, "Many."

"Within ten miles, there are four or five such places."

"They are all clan settlements."

Xun You said softly, "In chaotic times, clan strongholds are often the best at protecting themselves."

Lü Ding nodded.

After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the order in various counties and prefectures had long since collapsed, and many villages relied on clans to live together and build fortified villages for self-protection.

These fortified villages are usually inhabited by villagers, but in times of trouble, they can often gather hundreds of able-bodied men.

If these fortified villages can be gradually brought under our control, then manpower will no longer be a problem.

Thinking of this, Lü Ding suddenly said, "Send someone to Qiao County tomorrow."

Xu Huang was taken aback: "Qiao County?"

Xun You, however, already understood.

"Young master intends to appease the fortified village."

Lü Ding nodded.

"Xu Chu is here."

"In Qiao County's fortified villages, most people are willing to listen to him."

Xu Chu frowned slightly. He wasn't used to this kind of thing, but after thinking for a moment, he still said, "If it's the Qing rebels, many people are willing to help."

Lu Ding glanced at him.

"That's enough."

The firelight flickered on the drill ground, and the night wind blew, making the armor leaves rustle softly.

Xu Huang suddenly patted Xu Chu on the shoulder.

"Now that you've joined the young master, you shouldn't be guarding the fort anymore."

Xu Chu didn't answer immediately. He glanced at the darkness outside the city wall, then looked at the local militia behind him. They were staring at him, their expressions a mixture of excitement and unease.

After a while, he slowly said:

"Defending the dock is defense."

"Fighting thieves is also a form of defense."

Xu Huang was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"That's true!"

Xun You nodded slightly.

Lü Ding then spoke up:

"From today onwards."

"Then you will stay by my side."

"To be the commander of the royal guard."

The drill ground fell silent in an instant.

Xu Huang was taken aback at first, then smiled and said, "Young master is quick."

Li Tong couldn't help but look at Xu Chu, a look of envy in his eyes.

Although the commander of the personal guards has few soldiers, he is the closest to the general.

Xu Chu clearly hadn't expected this arrangement.

He paused for a moment before clasping his hands in greeting and saying:

"I am willing to obey your orders."

Upon hearing this, the three hundred local militiamen, who had initially been somewhat uneasy, calmed down. If Xu Chu were by their commander's side, they certainly wouldn't be easily scattered.

Xu Huang looked at this scene and laughed, "It seems these three hundred men can be considered the young master's personal guards."

The army quickly dispersed.

The cavalry led their horses back to camp, and the infantry returned to their respective ranks. The three hundred local militia were temporarily housed in the military camp south of the city, and Li Tong personally arranged for their food and lodging.

On the same night, in Qiao County of Pei State to the north, someone also received the news.

The lights in the Qiao County government office were still on.

The Prime Minister of Pei sat in the hall, holding a newly delivered urgent report in his hand.

"Are Runan soldiers entering the country?"

The county official beside him whispered, "I heard it's about pursuing and suppressing the Yellow Turbans."

After a moment of silence, the Chancellor of Pei asked, "How is the enemy army?"

The county official replied, "Most of the rebel army has been captured, and the rest have scattered."

"The Yellow Turban factions in Peinan have been wiped out."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

After a while, the Prime Minister of Pei slowly spoke:

"This saves our county a lot of effort."

He placed the urgent report on the table and added:

"As long as we don't cross the border too far."

"Let them be."

For him, the Yellow Turbans in Peinan were already difficult to eradicate, so it was naturally a good thing that someone had taken care of them for him.

The county official hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "However... there is one more thing."

The Prime Minister of Pei looked up at him.

The county official said, "I heard that Lü Ding has gathered several fortified villages in the Qiao County area and taken away many able-bodied men."

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became quiet for a moment, and the Prime Minister of Pei tapped the table lightly with his fingers.

"How much did they take?"

The county official replied:

"Several hundred people."

"Some prisoners were also taken back to Runan."

The Prime Minister of Pei did not speak for a while, and then slowly said:

"Suppressing the bandits is a good thing."

"But what if they take the people with them too..."

He picked up the urgent report again and glanced at it.

"This is going too far."

The officials below the hall exchanged glances, but none of them dared to speak.

After a moment of silence, the Chancellor of Pei State suddenly said, "Write this matter down in writing."

The county official was taken aback: "Report it?"

The Prime Minister of Pei nodded.

"Report this to the prefecture and request the governor to make a decision."

He didn't speak heavily when he said this, but everyone in the hall understood the meaning behind it.

Suppressing bandits is one thing, but withdrawing troops across borders is another.

Meanwhile, outside Shangcai City, dawn was breaking.

The city gates opened again.

Lu Ding stood in front of the city gate, looking at the troops lined up.

After last night's mopping-up operation, hundreds more prisoners were captured. They were tied together with ropes and made to kneel in an open area outside the city.

Lu Ding looked at it for a moment and said:

"The prisoners were divided into two groups."

"The able-bodied men were incorporated into the camp."

"The rest were sent to farm."

Xu Huang nodded.

"Shangcai should also leave some troops behind."

Lü Ding said, "Zhang Cheng."

Zhang Cheng immediately stepped forward.

"exist."

"Leave 500 men to guard Shangcai."

"Keep an eye on the prisoners."

Zhang Cheng clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, sir."

After the arrangements were made, the remaining troops began to form ranks.

The morning mist slowly dissipated in the wilderness.

Lu Ding mounted his horse and looked towards the official road to the south.

"Returning to the capital."

The sound of bugles soon rang out.

The cavalry moved first, followed by the infantry, and the troops slowly left Shangcai City.

Xu Chu rode behind Lü Ding, silently following the procession.

Behind them, the prisoners were escorted along the way.

The procession gradually disappeared into the distance, and dust slowly settled on the official road.

Silence returned to the area outside Shangcai City.

Meanwhile, dozens of miles away in Yingchuan County, a cavalry force was also heading south overnight.