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

The audience fell silent for a moment.

Liu Pi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered, "Useless." He turned to look at the crowd, his tone full of disdain, "Just a bunch of rabble."

One of the bandit generals frowned and said, "Commander, if the Runan troops really reach this place..."

Liu Pi waved his hand dismissively and said, "What's there to be afraid of? The northern mountains are dangerous, and the mountain paths are narrow. If the government troops dare to come, we'll let them taste their own medicine." He paused here, then sneered, "Besides, they might not even be able to come."

Someone in the audience asked, "Why?"

Liu Pi smirked coldly: "Those people in Liangnan are just bait; the real supplies are still in the north. As long as the supply lines remain intact, even if ten thousand government troops come—I can hold the northern mountains."

The night wind swept through the mountain stronghold, and the torches crackled. Meanwhile, further south, the Runan army had begun its mobilization, and a true great battle was quietly approaching.

The fog on the Liangnan Mountain Road had not yet dissipated when the Runan army had already set up camp outside the road. Fifty li further south, nestled among the mountain ranges, lay the northern mountains of Chen State, the territory where Liu Pi's Yellow Turban forces were also entrenched.

Lu Ding rode on his horse, gazing at the undulating mountains to the south. Morning mist drifted slowly through the forest, and distant mountain paths appeared and disappeared. After two battles a few days prior, the army's morale was high, but everyone knew that the real enemy lay further south in the Northern Mountains.

A temporary military tent was quickly set up in the camp, and Lü Ding summoned the generals to discuss matters.

Inside the tent lay a rough map of the mountains, hastily drawn last night based on the prisoners' confessions and scouts' reports. The map marked the Liangnan Mountain Road, several fortified villages, and a thin line running from north to south into the northern mountains.

Guo Jia leaned down to look at the map, gently tapped the thin line with his riding whip, and said, "The grain route is here."

Xu Huang glanced down, his brow furrowing slightly: "Only this one?"

Guo Jia shook his head and said, "There may not be only one route, but this is the shortest. The food for the thousands of people in Beishan must be transported from outside. If we take a longer route, the mountain roads are treacherous, and the food carts will have difficulty traveling."

Lü Ding asked, "How often do the grain convoys travel?"

Guo Jia replied, "The prisoners said that a grain convoy enters the mountains every three or four days."

As he said this, he looked up at the distant mountains, his eyes flickering slightly: "If Liu Pi isn't stupid, there will most likely be another team today."

Upon hearing this, Xu Huang's eyes lit up slightly: "Then we should intercept it."

Li Tong frowned and said, "If it's just seizing a convoy of grain carts, I'm afraid it won't be enough to shake Beishan."

Guo Jia smiled and gently shook his head: "So we can't just rob grain."

He drew a line lightly on the map with his riding whip and said, "The northern mountains are treacherous. If we launch a direct attack on the stronghold, the casualties will be heavy. But thousands of people guarding the mountains also need to eat. If we cut them off for a few days, they will naturally become restless."

Xu Huang said in a deep voice, "To control the supply lines?"

Guo Jia nodded: "Not bad."

Li Tong pondered for a moment and said, "If we guard the supply route, the enemy will surely come to fight for it."

Guo Jia smiled slightly: "That's exactly right."

Xu Chu grinned and said, "If they come down the mountain, I'll chop them down."

Everyone in the tent chuckled, and the atmosphere immediately lightened.

Guo Jia continued, "But cutting off the food supply isn't enough; we also need to let Liu Pi know."

Lü Ding asked, "How do we let him know?"

Guo Jia said calmly, "Keep them here."

Xu Huang immediately understood: "Send a few back to report."

Guo Jia nodded.

The tent fell silent for a moment.

Lu Ding looked at the map and pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "In that case, let's follow Fengxiao's plan."

He looked up at the assembled generals: "Li Tong."

Li Tong immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subordinate is here."

"Lead a thousand infantrymen to occupy the supply route. Cut down trees to block the road, block the mountain pass, and prevent a single cart of grain from entering the northern mountains."

Li Tong replied in a deep voice, "Yes."

Lü Ding then looked at Xu Huang: "Xu Huang."

Xu Huang cupped his hands in greeting.

"You will lead your troops to ambush at the mountain pass. If the enemy army comes down the mountain to fight for supplies, then you will attack them."

A glint of fighting spirit flashed in Xu Huang's eyes: "This subordinate obeys."

Lu Ding looked at Xu Chu one last time: "Xu Chu."

Xu Chu grinned and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Lead five hundred men and provide mobile support. If the enemy scatters, pursue them."

Xu Chu laughed heartily: "I'll go and chop down a few too."

Lü Ding nodded: "Make your own preparations."

The generals responded in unison.

With the military council settled, the camp quickly began its operations. Beishan was only about fifty li away, and if they traveled light and quickly, they could reach it in a day, so Lü Ding did not intend to delay.

After the military council concluded, Li Tong led a thousand infantrymen away from the camp and headed north. They marched along a secluded mountain path, their movements extremely quiet. Most of the soldiers were veterans who had seen bloodshed in yesterday's battle, and they made almost no sound along the way.

By evening, they had reached the supply route. This place was only a dozen miles from the North Mountain, and it was the only way for the bandit army to transport grain into the mountains.

It was a narrow mountain road nestled between two mountain ridges, with a rugged surface and deep ruts. The dense forests on both sides made it an easy place to set up an ambush.

Li Tong dismounted, carefully examined the terrain, and then said, "Cut down the trees."

The soldiers immediately got to work. Several thick trees were quickly felled and placed across the narrowest part of the mountain path, and several captured wrecked carts were pushed in to block the way. Before long, the mountain path was completely blocked.

Li Tong glanced at the terrain and nodded: "Leave two teams to guard this place, the rest of you retreat into the forest."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain ridge, Xu Huang had already led his troops into ambush.

As night deepened, the mountains and forests fell silent.

Just at midnight, the faint sound of wheels and the light of torches could be heard from the distant mountain road.

A Yellow Turban grain transport team is slowly approaching along the mountain road.

More than thirty wooden carts creaked along the rugged mountain road, piled high with grain sacks, escorted by about two hundred bandits.

The torches swayed in the night wind, illuminating the entire mountain path with intermittent light and shadow.

The bandit leader, mounted on his horse, yawned and cursed, "Hurry up, we'll reach the stronghold after this mountain path. The chieftain is waiting for supplies."

Before the words were finished, a bowstring twanged suddenly echoed through the mountains and forests.

The next moment, arrows rained down.

Li Tong stepped out of the forest, his long sword flashing coldly in the firelight.

"kill!"

The government troops suddenly surged out of the forest, their spears and shields forming a line in the firelight.

Before the bandit group could react, they were cut in half. Several men in the front row were instantly pierced by spears, and the bandits behind them were thrown into chaos.

The bandit leader had just drawn his sword when Li Tong was already upon him. His long sword slashed horizontally, and with a loud clang, the bandit leader's weapon was knocked from his grasp. The next moment, the blade fell, and the bandit and his horse tumbled to the ground.

The mountain path was narrow, making it impossible for the rebel army to deploy their forces. The government troops continued to advance from the forest, their battle cries echoing through the valley. In no time, the rebel soldiers had scattered and fled.

Someone shouted in terror, "There are people lying in ambush along the grain route!"

Some people turned around and fled towards the North Mountain.

Li Tong stood in the middle of the mountain path, watching the figures flee in disarray, and slowly sheathed his weapon. He did not order a pursuit, but coldly said:

"Let a few people go."

The captain beside him was slightly taken aback, but immediately understood.

A moment later, several bandits who had been deliberately let go stumbled and fled into the night, heading straight for the North Mountain.

The valley fell silent again.

Li Tong looked up towards the direction of Beishan Mountain. The night was deep, and the mountain ranges rose and fell like a black tide.

He let out a soft breath.

"Go."

"Take the message back."

Tell Liu Pi—

"The supply line has been cut off."

The night wind swept through the valley, and the torchlight flickered uncertainly in the woods.

Meanwhile, in Beishan Village, more than ten miles away, the lights were still on.