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

On the morning of the third day, before dawn, there was a knock on the gate of the manor.

It wasn't a hasty knock.

Instead, it was a very measured three-tone sound.

Lü Ding had already stood up.

He casually draped his outer robe over himself, yet he was perfectly lucid. When he reached the courtyard, some people in the village were already awake. The fire in the stove was being smoldered, the water buckets were set down, and footsteps were deliberately kept quiet. No one spoke, but everyone stopped what they were doing.

They all knew—

Someone will be coming today.

Standing outside the door was the same constable who had come the day before.

This time, however, he had four men behind him, with swords at their waists and a roster hanging from the side of their horses.

"Master Lü." The constable dismounted, his tone more composed than the night before. "As instructed by the county, I'm here for roll call."

Lü Ding nodded.

"please."

In short, it was decisive and efficient.

The constable was taken aback.

His prepared remarks were abruptly cut off by that "please".

The gates of the manor opened.

People did not gather together.

But he naturally stood up.

They weren't lined up, but rather scattered about. The torchlight illuminated the courtyard, making it appear spacious, with every gap seeming deliberately left out.

As soon as the roster was unfolded, the constable's heart sank.

He stood at the doorway, yet he couldn't see everyone in the village at a glance.

It's not because there are too many people.

Rather, it's because—

They were standing too far apart.

They are scattered, yet they can still see each other.

"Bring everyone out," the constable said, frowning.

"No need," Lü Ding said. "Everyone's here."

The constable did not believe him and took two steps forward.

The moment he stepped through the gate of the manor, his steps involuntarily faltered.

It's too quiet.

It was not a quiet born of fear.

Rather, it is a kind of...

The silence was knowing all along what was going to happen.

"Count by the roster." Lü Ding's voice was not loud, but steady.

"Shall you do it, or shall I?" the constable asked.

"Come here." Lü Ding took a half step back.

This retreat is not a sign of weakness.

Instead, they gave up their positions.

The roster unfolds.

The first name was read out.

Someone looked up, but no one answered.

Just look up.

the second.

The third.

The reactions of those who were called upon were almost identical.

The more the servants recited, the more uneasy he felt.

Because he discovered that these people—

Not one of them was standing in the wrong place.

It was as if they already knew they would be chosen.

The person who was called out was not at ease.

But the worst of the panic had passed by last night.

I repeated the name in my mind over and over again, and I calculated each and every account in my mind.

I've already thought through everything I should be afraid of and hesitant about.

Now that I've actually received the instruction, all that's left is to wait.

When the seventh name was called, the constable stopped.

He closed the register and looked at Lü Ding.

"Master Lü, you've prepared this estate quite quickly."

"It's not fast," Lü Ding said, looking at him. "It's early."

The constable squinted.

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is," Lü Ding said calmly, "that in the past few days, there hasn't been a single person missing or added to the village."

"Those you ordered are all registered residents of the village."

"If you want to take it with you," he paused, "you can."

This sentence made the constable's heart skip a beat.

"But it must be done according to the law."

Lü Ding raised his hand.

Xu Huang stepped forward.

He didn't draw his gun, but simply placed a few documents on the table.

"This is the village register."

"This is a record of the corvée labor service completed last year."

"This is--"

He pointed to the register in the constable's hand, "It doesn't match yours."

The constable's expression changed drastically.

"What do you mean?"

"We won't stop the county from taking people," Lü Ding continued, "but if they take those who have already served their military service or are not registered."

He looked into the eyes of the constable.

"Then it's not about obeying orders."

"That's overstepping authority."

The words weren't harsh, but they were accurate.

Silence filled the courtyard.

The constable then realized—

I am not here to lead anyone today.

They're here to reconcile accounts.

But the score had already been settled.

"Are you trying to make things difficult for the county?" he said through gritted teeth.

"No," Lü Ding shook his head.

"It saves the county a lot of trouble."

He reached out and pointed to the few blank lines on the roster.

"These people can be taken away."

The constable looked down.

Those few lines of names were clean and concise.

He is neither the breadwinner of his family nor someone who has just served in the military.

Some people, though they have families, have already divided their land and cooking facilities, and keep clear accounts.

That was spot on!

It was so accurate it didn't seem like it was picked on short notice.

"You were all prepared?" the constable asked in a low voice.

Lu Ding did not answer, but just looked at him.

The constable remained silent for a long time.

Finally, the roster was closed.

"Alright, I'm taking these people with me today."

"We'll wait at the door for fifteen minutes."

"I will report today's events truthfully."

"Thank you for your trouble." Lü Ding bowed.

The constable mounted his horse and quickly left the manor.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

The people who were called out did not immediately disperse.

They stood there, as if waiting for something.

One of them was standing in the innermost position.

Chen Erhe.

He neither looked up nor stepped back.

Lu Ding glanced at them.

This glance wasn't something I just saw now.

Chen Erhe knew very well.

Last night, under the oil lamp, that gaze had already looked at each and every one of them.

-

The night before last.

Only one lamp was lit in the room.

The door was closed tightly, preventing any wind from getting in, yet the light still flickered gently.

Lu Ding stood by the table, spread out the roster, and flattened it.

"The county will probably come to take attendance tomorrow."

There was no sound from inside the room.

Those who could be summoned were already standing at attention.

"Someone has to leave," Lü Ding said. "Not escape, but be selected."

"I won't hire people on the spot."

"Those who stand here tonight and agree will have their names in the register tomorrow."

"If you don't agree, leave now."

There was no coercion.

There was no attempt to persuade them.

Chen Erhe stared at the ground, but his mind was preoccupied with his own cold stove.

Finally, someone asked:

"If I leave... what will happen to the family?"

Lu Ding turned around and placed several small packages that had been prepared beforehand on the table.

"This is three months' worth of food."

"Your family's affairs are the village's responsibility."

"Tian, ​​don't move."

At that moment, Chen Erhe felt relieved.

"If the county retains you, that's your path."

"If it is returned."

"Come back, the place is still there."

"What if... we don't come back?" someone asked in a low voice.

The lights flickered gently.

Lü Ding looked up.

"And your matter," he said, "is handled by the village."

"Ensuring a continuous supply of grain, households, and fields."

"The elderly are cared for, and the sick are provided with medical care."

"Although you are not physically present, your share continues."

Then, Lü Ding added:

"When you get to the county, remember one thing."

"Living is more important than saving face."

-

At this moment, everyone inside and outside the manor gate returned to their places.

Those whose names were called began packing their bags.

Those who weren't chosen returned to the stove, the well, and the cowshed.

No one gathered to watch, and no one saw them off.

Everything happened very quickly.

It was so fast, as if it had been rehearsed long ago.

Chen Erhe walked last.

He tied his bundle tightly, straightened his back, but did not turn around to look at the village.

It's not that I don't want to watch.

Rather, it's unnecessary.

I confessed everything that needed to be confessed last night.

The rest depends on the state of the world.