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

The official road leads south, and the spring mud is still soft. After leaving Yingchuan, the rider did not stop. The horse's hooves traveled south along the post road, occasionally passing through villages and fields, and in the distance, a few newly built fortified villages could be seen.

The knight was dressed in ordinary blue robes, with a short sword hanging at his waist, yet his expression was quite composed. It was Guo Jia.

He rode on his horse, looking at the fields along the way.

This year's spring rains have been plentiful, and the fields are already showing some green, but many field ridges remain barren.

Occasionally, you can see farmers, but they are mostly working in groups, with wooden spears stuck in the fields.

Guo Jia was not in a hurry to continue his journey. Instead, he would rein in his horse from time to time and stop by the roadside for a while.

Sometimes we look at villages, sometimes at fortified villages. These fortified villages are mostly built by clans, with low but thick walls, and wooden fences often stand at the entrance.

Guo Jia watched from afar for a while, and began to understand somewhat. "If we could really gather these fortified villages together..."

He muttered to himself, "Then they're no ordinary county soldiers."

Thinking of this, he suddenly became more interested in Lü Ding, whom he had never met.

Several days later, in Runan County.

The area outside the city gate was bustling with people, much more lively than the villages along the way.

As Guo Jia led his horse into the city, he saw a troop of soldiers coming out of the city. Their armor was neat and orderly, and although there were not many of them, their ranks were clearly distinguishable.

At the very end of the column, two bound soldiers were being escorted, their heads bowed and faces pale.

People on the street were whispering among themselves.

"It's disturbing the peace again."

"I heard there was a robbery of alcohol last night."

"Today you will be taken to the drill ground to be subjected to military law."

Guo Jia stood on the street for a while, then raised an eyebrow slightly: "Our own troops?"

An old man beside him nodded and said, "These are newly recruited prisoners of war. If they cause trouble, they'll be beaten with sticks. Young Master Lü is very strict in disciplining his troops."

Guo Jia did not ask any more questions. The troop of soldiers walked past him with steady steps and neat formation, and the people being held did not struggle.

Guo Jia watched them leave, then glanced at the market. The people were busy, but not flustered.

He said softly, "The army has discipline." Then he smiled and said, "That's quite interesting."

After entering the city, he went to the prefectural government office first. After announcing his name, he was quickly led into a side hall.

Before long, a middle-aged scholar emerged, thin in stature and with a steady gaze.

Guo Jia cupped his hands in greeting: "Gongda."

Xun You was taken aback at first, then laughed and said, "No wonder the magpies were chirping incessantly in the courtyard just now; it turns out that Fengxiao has arrived."

Guo Jia laughed and said, "Gongda, you flatter me. I, Fengxiao, am unworthy of such praise."

The two had met a few times in Yingchuan in their early years. Although they were not close friends, they knew each other.

Xun You glanced at him and asked, "Fengxiao, why have you suddenly come to Runan?"

Guo Jia didn't hide anything: "I heard that someone here has broken through several Yellow Turban rebels, so I wanted to come and see for myself."

Xun You smiled slightly: "You're certainly well-informed."

After Guo Jia sat down, he didn't exchange pleasantries and went straight to asking, "Is that Young Master Lü in the city?"

Xun You nodded and said, "Young Master has only recently returned to the city; he was still training troops at the drill ground yesterday."

Guo Jia raised an eyebrow: "Reorganize the army?"

Xun You said, "After the suppression of the bandits, a lot of new people were recruited. The prisoners, able-bodied men from the fortified villages, and county soldiers are now being reorganized."

Upon hearing this, Guo Jia's eyes lit up slightly, and he smiled, "Indeed, it's not just the Qing traitors."

Xun You did not deny it, but said calmly, "In chaotic times, if one only knows how to suppress bandits, one cannot even defend a prefecture."

The two exchanged a glance, and Guo Jia suddenly laughed, "I'd rather see Young Master Lü."

Xun You nodded: "Come with me."

The drill ground was located south of the prefectural government office. As the two approached, they could hear the commands from afar.

Thousands of people were lined up on the drill ground, with infantry in the front and newly formed captured soldiers in the back. Several captains patrolled back and forth, adjusting the formation from time to time.

Guo Jia stood to the side and watched for a while. He found that although these soldiers were newly formed, their formation was intact, which meant they had obviously been trained.

Just then, someone on the other side of the training ground shouted, "One more time!"

Guo Jia turned his head and saw a burly man standing on the sidelines, holding a thick-backed sword in his hand. He was tall and imposing, standing there like a wall.

"Who is this?"

"Xu Chu," Xun You said, "has only recently joined the army."

Guo Jia exclaimed in amazement, "He is indeed a fierce general."

Just then, the crowd parted and a young man walked over from the other side of the training ground.

He was not wearing armor, but only dressed in dark casual clothes, and his steps were steady.

The young man glanced at the soldiers in formation and said calmly, "Tighten up the formation a bit; the distance between your steps is too far apart."

The captain immediately responded, and the ranks were readjusted.

Guo Jia observed for a while, then asked softly, "Is this Young Master Lü?"

Xun You nodded: "Exactly."

Guo Jia did not speak, but simply watched the young man patrolling the training ground.

After a moment, he suddenly laughed.

Xun You asked, "Why is Fengxiao laughing?"

Guo Jia then said, "He's like a general, but not just a general who knows how to fight."

Xun You did not answer, because this statement was actually his own feeling.

Just then, Lü Ding noticed the two of them and walked over.

Xun You spoke first: "Young Master."

Lü Ding nodded, then looked at Guo Jia: "And who is this?"

"Guo Fengxiao of Yingchuan".

Lu Ding was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained his composure and cupped his hands, saying, "I have long admired your name."

Guo Jia returned the greeting, saying, "I have long admired you."

He glanced at the drill ground and laughed, "Runan now resembles an army."

Lü Ding shook his head: "It's still a long way off."

The two exchanged a glance, and the air fell silent for a moment. Guo Jia suddenly asked, "May I ask, young master, what are your plans for the next step?"

Lu Ding did not answer immediately. He glanced at the soldiers training in the distance, then looked towards the direction outside the city, and said calmly, "First, ensure that the people of Runan are free from war."

Guo Jia laughed: "Just Runan?"

Lü Ding smiled and said, "Let's start with one prefecture."

Guo Jia didn't speak again, but his eyes brightened a bit.

In the distance, commands rang out again from the drill ground, and the newly formed troop formation moved slowly. The spring sunlight fell on the armor plates, shimmering with tiny sparkles.

Guo Jia stood there watching for a while, then suddenly said softly:

"It seems this trip to Runan was worthwhile."

On the same day, a convoy of post horses traveled south from the prefecture, heading straight for Runan along the official road.

Several days later.

Outside the prefectural government office, a messenger dismounted and handed a document with its seal still intact into the office.

The document contained only one sentence:

—The governor's office summoned him.

Lü Ding went to the prefecture to discuss matters.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Xun You glanced at the document and said softly, "It seems that news of your expedition to Pei State to suppress the bandits has already reached the governor's office."

The spring breeze blew in from outside the courtyard, and the sounds of commands still echoed from the distant drill ground.

Meanwhile, remnants of the Yellow Turban rebels, who had not yet been eradicated, continued to roam secretly among the various prefectures of Yuzhou.

A sweeping purge that will engulf Yuzhou is also quietly brewing.