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

Finally, Cao Cao shifted his gaze, turned to his attendants, and said calmly:

"Sheathe your sword."

The sound of a sword being sheathed was exceptionally clear in the night.

Lu Boshe could barely stand.

Cao Cao put his cloak back on and walked out of the hall.

Just before leaving, he stopped and did not look back.

"Lü Ding".

"Remember tonight."

"In this chaotic world, those who dare to make decisions for others will not live long."

Lü Ding responded in a low voice:

"Then I'll live until others have no choice but to accept my decision."

Cao Cao was taken aback, then chuckled and stepped into the rain.

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance.

The hall was deathly silent.

Lu Ding stood still and slowly exhaled.

he knows--

I survived the first blow recorded in history books.

But it was at this moment that he realized with absolute clarity that from this night onward, he was standing on the edge of this chaotic world.

After Cao Cao left, the rain continued for a long time.

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, and night once again enveloped Lüjiazhuang, but the chill that weighed on my heart was even stronger than before.

The torches still burned in the courtyard, casting flickering shadows on the walls, but no one dared to speak loudly anymore. The servants stood still, unsure whether to advance or retreat, as if any movement would bring about some disaster.

Lu Boshe stood in the center of the main hall, his back view appearing somewhat hunched over than usual.

He did not sit down immediately.

He didn't say anything.

Only when the hall door was gently closed, keeping out the wind and rain, did he seem to have all his strength drained away, slowly sit back in the main seat, and let out a long breath.

"Ding'er".

That call was tinged with obvious exhaustion.

Lu Ding stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Father."

Lu Boshe raised his head and looked at his son, his eyes filled with a complex and unreadable expression.

The boy he saw was no longer the quiet and well-mannered boy he usually knew.

Rather, he was someone who dared to speak up in front of Cao Cao.

"Just now..." Lü Boshe paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "You shouldn't have spoken to Cao Cao like that."

Lü Ding offered no explanation.

"That man is ruthless and suspicious," Lu Boshe said in a low voice. "The fact that he's willing to sheathe his sword today doesn't mean he's truly at peace with himself."

"On the contrary."

Lü Ding nodded.

"I understand."

Lu Boshe looked at him, but his brows furrowed even more.

"If you understand this, why did you still step forward?"

This time, Lü Ding raised his head.

"Because if I don't stand up, the Lü family may not see the dawn tonight."

There was silence in the hall.

The elders exchanged glances subconsciously, but no one spoke up to refute them.

They are not fools.

The sound of knives clattering in the kitchen, Cao Cao's gaze, and the few attendants who never loosened their grip on their swords—no one would believe there was no murderous intent in them.

Lu Boshe remained silent for a long time.

He slowly closed his eyes, and what appeared in his mind was the image of blood flowing everywhere.

"How did you know?"

He asked again.

This question is no longer a question, but an exploration.

Lü Ding had already thought of the answer.

"I didn't know they would definitely take action."

"But I know that Cao Cao will definitely be suspicious."

"He doesn't trust people."

"I especially don't believe in acts of kindness that suddenly appear in times of chaos."

These words were spoken very calmly, yet they sent a chill down the spines of many people in the hall.

Lu Boshe opened his eyes, looked at his son, and slowly nodded.

"You saved the Lü family."

This sentence seemed to bring the whole matter to a conclusion.

But Lü Ding knew very well in his heart—

The real danger has only just begun.

"Father."

He spoke in a low voice, "After tonight, the Lü Family Village needs to change its way of life."

Lu Boshe was taken aback.

"What do you mean?"

Lu Ding walked to the door of the hall and gently pushed it open a crack.

The night was deep, and the rain pattered softly. Many houses in the village still had lights on, and shadowy figures moved behind the windows.

Nobody can sleep.

They are waiting.

We're waiting for an explanation, waiting for a result.

"Cao Cao is gone," Lü Ding said, "but he is not dead."

"As long as he lives, tonight's events will never truly be over."

Lu Boshe's expression changed slightly.

"Someone will come and ask."

"Ask the Lü family why they survived."

"Some people might speculate that the Lü family has already chosen sides."

At this moment, Lü Boshe finally realized the seriousness of the matter.

In this world, not taking sides means standing against everyone.

"So what do you want to do?"

Lu Boshe looked at his son, his tone becoming serious for the first time.

Lü Ding did not answer immediately.

He turned around and looked at everyone in the hall.

Elders, stewards, and heads of the troops—not one was left out.

"The first thing to do is to keep quiet."

There can only be one explanation for what happened tonight.

"Cao Cao passed through this place, stayed overnight, and left as soon as the rain stopped."

"If anyone dares to say a word—"

Lu Ding paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the clan elders one by one.

"It's not about the Lu family."

"It's ruining your own life."

Inside the hall, even the breathing became quieter.

"The second thing is reorganization."

The moment those two words were uttered, a slight commotion arose in the hall.

Lu Boshe frowned: "Reorganize?"

"Yes."

Lü Ding nodded, "Tenants, retainers, and vagrants can no longer be mixed together."

"If something really happens tonight, it won't be because of the Lü family's name."

"But those thirty men who dared to draw their swords."

That was a very strong statement.

"Cao Cao has already left."

Lu Boshe said in a low voice.

"But what if another Cao Cao comes tomorrow?"

"What about ten more?"

Lü Boshe fell silent.

Lü Ding continued:

"From tomorrow onwards, Lü Family Village will no longer be just a village."

"But rather, it is a force capable of self-preservation."

"There is a roster, a duty roster, and provisions."

"It's clear at a glance who keeps watch at night, who patrols the village, and who obeys orders."

Among the clan elders, one couldn't help but exclaim, "Isn't this...raising an army?"

"Not a soldier."

Lu Ding immediately corrected him, "They are the protectors of the manor."

"But if they are not treated as soldiers, they are just a group of civilians with knives."

"When civilians with knives go on a rampage, they are more terrifying than foreign enemies."

No one in the hall dared to object.

Because of this sentence, everyone's heart was touched.

Lu Boshe slowly stood up.

He walked up to Lü Ding, looked him over carefully for a while, and suddenly asked:

"Do you even know what you did tonight—"

"It's not about saving lives, it's about placing a bet."

Lü Ding nodded.

"That's right, and on the other side of the bet is the impending chaos."

"That's why I need to start preparing."

Lu Boshe took a deep breath, as if he had made a decision.

"Starting tomorrow, you will be in charge of personnel matters in the village."

These words caused an uproar in the hall.

Lü Ding simply cupped his hands in greeting.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

He knew very well that this was not a reward.

Instead, he placed the entire Lü Family Village on his shoulders.

late at night.

The meeting adjourned.

Lü Ding walked out of the main hall alone.

The rain had stopped, but the ground remained damp and cold. The occasional barking of dogs echoed in the distance, sounding particularly clear in the night.

He stood in the courtyard, looking up at the dark sky.

he knows--

I survived the first blow recorded in history books.

But from this moment on, he could no longer live simply to "survive".

You either control the rules or you are swallowed up by them.

He chose the former.