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

"There are now a total of 926 households."

Xun Heng replied quickly.

"According to the household register, the total population is approximately 4,200."

He paused here, seemingly reviewing the numbers in his mind, before adding:

"Among them, there were about three hundred able-bodied men, excluding the injured, the young, the recently added, and the unstable."

After he finished speaking, the back hall of the ancestral hall fell silent for a moment.

The lamp wick flickered gently in the oil, casting flickering light on the faces of several people.

The sound of the wind outside seeped in through the crack in the door, but was blocked by the heavy wooden door, leaving only a low echo.

"A little over three hundred..."

Lu Ding repeated it in a low voice.

It's not that I think it's too little.

Instead—it just so happens.

"Out of three hundred people," he looked up, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the group, "no more than half will actually form a team."

No one objected.

Zhuangzi was not a military camp.

Those who stayed were mostly there for a stable source of food and a place to live.

If it were truly for war, they would have left long ago.

"So we don't use them all."

Lu Ding continued, "We can't use them all."

Xun Heng was slightly taken aback and subconsciously asked:

"Young master, what are you planning to do—"

"Choose people."

Lu Ding picked up the conversation, "But you have to be clear about it."

He held up one finger.

"The first requirement is that one has brothers and descendants."

"We cannot allow the population to become disconnected."

Upon hearing this, the steward in charge of the fields visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

This is the bottom line.

This is also the foundation upon which Zhuangzi was able to maintain his stability.

"Article Two."

Lu Ding then held up one finger, "He's obedient and doesn't cause trouble."

"It's not about how good he is at fighting."

"It means being able to obey orders and act accordingly."

He said this in a very flat tone.

Yet they command respect and do not dare to underestimate them.

Article 3.

He paused for a moment.

"There is enough food stored at home, and the situation will not be disrupted in the short term due to one person leaving the house."

This time, almost everyone in the hall looked up at the same time.

Xun Heng was the first to react.

This is not for preventing theft.

It's to prevent chaos.

The real hidden danger lies in the fact that once someone is chosen and taken away, the family cannot support itself.

"Use these three criteria for screening."

Lu Ding withdrew his finger. "First, screen out 150 to 180 people."

"No more, please."

"If it's too little, we won't force you."

"I don't maintain a hollow army."

The words weren't harsh.

But this fixes the entire direction of Zhuangzi here.

It's not about risking your life.

Yes, it can survive.

How can we persuade them?

Lu Fu asked in a low voice.

This is the most fatal step.

It's easy to pick someone.

It's difficult to stay.

Lü Ding did not answer immediately.

He stood up, walked into the hall, and spoke in a slightly softer tone than before.

"It's not a conquest."

"It's a business."

He looked at Xun Heng.

"Pass on the message."

"Those who are willing to come will have their grain allowance increased by 30%."

"The family's fields are cultivated by the village."

"If there is any injury, medicine can be obtained from the manor."

He paused for a moment after saying this.

The ancestral hall was so quiet that you could hear the soft crackling of the lamp oil burning out.

"If there is death—"

"The village is responsible for elderly care and child support."

The word "compensation" was not used.

But it is more important than compensation.

This is putting the price of life clearly on the table.

"It's not forced."

Lu Ding added, "Let them choose for themselves."

Xu Huang remained silent.

Only then did he raise his eyes to look at Lü Ding.

That look was very profound.

Not surprised.

Rather, it's confirmation.

This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

"First thing tomorrow morning."

Lu Dingdao said, "You gentlemen, please explain your terms."

"Those who wish to come before noon should report to the Foreign Languages ​​Department on their own."

"If you can't reach it, don't chase it."

No one asked anymore.

Because everyone understands—

This is the first time Zhuangzi has openly discussed the matter of "joining the army".

As night deepened, the lights in the ancestral hall went out.

But Zhuangzi did not sleep.

The news was passed down from house to house.

There was no bell ringing, no command given.

There was just a knock on the door.

Someone was speaking in a low voice.

Some people hesitated.

Some people remained silent.

Some people even sat in front of the stove for a long time that night, discussing it repeatedly with their families.

The next morning, before dawn.

There were already people standing in the outer courtyard.

One.

two.

ten.

They were not standing close together, but they did not disperse.

Some people had their heads down, while others clenched their fists.

No one speaks.

By the time the sun had truly risen, the courtyard was already filled with people.

Xun Heng counted three times.

"A total of 160 people."

More than expected.

Lu Ding stood on the steps, looking at them.

Their clothing varied.

Their expressions were different.

But one thing is the same—

They are standing here; they came here on their own.

There were more people than I expected.

Lu Ding spoke, his voice not loud, but enough to drown out the noise in the courtyard.

"Those of you standing here must know what you're about to do. You're not soldiers in name only."

"At least not now."

"What needs to be done next is the soldiers' business."

No one answered.

No one left.

"Disband."

Lü Ding waved his hand, "I'll follow Xu Huang's instructions."

The group then dispersed.

Not chaotic.

It's not fast either.

It was as if they were waiting for the next command.

In the afternoon, the equipment from the county arrived.

There was no gong banging.

Two oxcarts entered the village through a side gate.

Old guns, old shields, and old bows were handed over in accordance with the number of items.

And on the last car—

Twenty extra suits of armor were added.

It's not a new armor.

However, it was 10% more than originally agreed.

Lu Ding glanced at it but didn't ask any further questions.

He knew it in his heart.

This is the county's attitude.

On the afternoon of the day the equipment was put into storage, Xu Huang did not immediately begin training.

He first counted the 160 people again.

It's not a roll call.

It depends on the person.

Posture, gaze, and breath.

Whoever instinctively moves forward, and whoever habitually shrinks back.

Whose eyes wander, and whose gaze remains steady?

Xu Huang wrote them down one by one.

"Eat first."

He said.

This sentence left many people stunned.

They thought that what followed would be shouting, running, and being scolded.

But in the side courtyard, the pot had already been set up.

Corn rice.

Salted meat soup.

There wasn't much soup, but it was oily.

The piece of meat wasn't large, but it was real meat.

When someone picked up the bowl, their hand trembled slightly.

It's not hunger.

I didn't expect that.

Lu Ding stood under the corridor, watching this scene without saying a word.

— Soldiers, first remember Zhuangzi by reciting his words.

After the meal, the team regrouped.

Ten people form a row.

Xu Huang spoke.

"Remember the front, back, left, and right sides."

"You're standing in the wrong spot, but I won't punish you."

"I will punish you both before and after."

The situation within the team immediately changed.

The originally loosely positioned people gradually moved towards the center.

No one is thinking about themselves anymore.

The sun slowly began to set in the west.

My legs are starting to ache.

My back started to stiffen.

But no one dared to touch it.

Xu Huang stood to the side the whole time.

Don't rush me.

Don't scold.

Only when someone is shaking violently, say one sentence:

"stable."

He didn't raise his hand until sunset.

"Disperse."

This is the first day.

The real training began on the second day.

They don't practice charging into battle formations.

They don't practice fighting.

Practice walking first.

Ten people in a row walked around the field ridges outside the village.

You are not allowed to speak.

No one is allowed to fall behind.

Falling behind

Start over again.

The punishment for not having money.

But it's more serious than a fine.

Because no one wants to be a burden to those behind them.

On the third day, the meals remained the same.

No day is better than the last.

But it didn't stop for even a day.

That evening, Lü Ding made his point even clearer.

"From today onwards."

"Each of you will have money every day, in addition to your food."

"not much."

"But it won't be less."

"You can leave whenever you want."

"Settle the money before you leave."

Nobody moved.

Because they already understood—

This is Zhuangzi raising an army.

late at night.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the village.

The night patrolman rushed into the courtyard, his voice barely audible, yet trembling with fear:

"Naharaguchi——"

"An attack is coming."

The sound of the wind swept across the eaves.

The torch flickered.

Xu Huang had already turned around.

Lü Ding stood still, his gaze calm.

he knows--

For the first time since coming into this world, Zhuangzi truly stood on the line between life and death.