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

As dawn approached.

A fire suddenly broke out outside Chenjiazhuang.

The first to notice something amiss were the village guards on night watch at Dongwei.

He was adding charcoal to the brazier when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a spark in the distance amidst the gloom.

Not in one place.

Instead, several points appeared in succession, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, as if they were being deliberately obscured.

"who--"

Before he could finish speaking, a cold arrow had already pierced through the air.

With a "thud," the arrow pierced the wooden pillar.

Zhuang Ding's heart tightened, and he turned and ran.

Before he could run two steps, two figures pounced on him from behind.

They were wrapped in rags, their faces were covered in dirt, but their eyes were frighteningly fierce.

The knife fell.

Blood splattered on the wall.

Almost simultaneously, screams of agony echoed from the South and West banks.

The gong was struck, but it sounded rushed and chaotic.

The outer dike of Chenjiazhuang was originally a wooden fence used to prevent refugees from fleeing. When it encountered someone who had actually seen bloodshed, there was no time for delay.

That group of people surged forth from the shadows like a turbulent current.

There was no formation, but someone was leading the way.

Some were responsible for setting fires, some went straight for the granaries, and some specifically targeted the courtyards of wealthy families.

Torches were lit.

The firelight illuminated numb yet fierce faces.

This is the most common type of person after the Yellow Turban Rebellion collapsed.

I no longer believe in fate.

They only believed in the grain they could seize.

-

Chen Guang was awakened in the warm pavilion.

First came the sound of gongs.

Then the firelight shone through the window.

Finally, the clan elder staggered in.

"Master! Something terrible has happened!"

"The outer dike has breached!"

Chen Guang suddenly stood up, and the account books on the table slipped to the ground.

How many people?

"I don't know... at least sixty people!"

Chen Guang felt a chill run down his spine.

In Chenjiazhuang, those who can wield a knife are no more than forty years old.

Moreover, these people have never actually fought in battle.

"Gather everyone and guard the granary!"

The order was given very quickly.

It can be executed terribly.

Some people couldn't find their weapons.

Someone ran in the wrong direction.

Some people have even forgotten about their work and are only thinking about going home to protect their wives and children.

When the first scream came from the inner embankment, Chen Guang's face changed completely.

Not outside.

They've already broken in.

"Master!"

The steward's voice trembled, "Xiwei...can't be held!"

The fire spread with the night wind.

The thick smoke made it impossible for people to open their eyes.

Some people were forced out of the house and were hacked to death on the spot.

Chen Guang stood in front of the hall, feeling a tightness in his chest.

He finally realized—

The other side came to seize the grain and destroy the village.

"...Go to Lüjiazhuang to get reinforcements."

He said those words almost through gritted teeth.

The clan elder was taken aback.

"The Master of the Manor?"

"Go now!" Chen Guang roared. "Take the back road and explain things clearly!"

At that moment, he no longer cared about abacuses, accounts, or calculations.

There is only one person left who can save Chenjiazhuang.

-

at the same time.

Lüjiazhuang.

The night was not yet over, and the smell of blood had not completely dissipated.

Xu Huang had just finished patrolling the outer perimeter when the sentry suddenly fired three short signals in quick succession.

Someone is approaching.

The next moment, a figure stumbled into the manor gate.

He was covered in blood.

They are not from Lüjiazhuang.

"Young Master Lü...!"

The newcomer almost knelt on the ground, crying, "Chen Family Village... has fallen!"

Lu Ding stood under the lamp, not speaking immediately.

He looked at the man.

The blood is fresh.

The wound is trembling.

It wasn't an act.

How many people?

"Can't see clearly, but there are quite a few people!"

The man was panting. "He's dressed in rags, but not like an ordinary vagrant..."

"It's them."

Lu Ding's gaze sharpened.

"The batch from last night?"

"No mistake." Xu Huang sneered, "Those guys who weren't completely wiped out last night, it seems they didn't manage to steal any grain from us and went to Chen Family Village."

The hall was quiet.

Many of the local militiamen instinctively gripped their weapons tighter.

It's not fear.

Rather—it's about remembering.

Remember the blood.

I remember that feeling of almost collapsing.

Lü Ding turned around.

"gather."

Two words.

No hesitation.

The team quickly took shape.

Faster than last night.

Because they already knew—

If you're even a step too slow, someone else will be the one who dies.

Before setting off, Lü Ding stopped in his tracks.

There is no high ground.

He simply turned around and looked at them.

"You recognize these people."

He said.

"They came to our village last night."

"We drove them away."

In the darkness, someone's breathing became heavier.

"Now, they've gone to Chenjiazhuang."

Lu Ding paused for a moment.

"It's not because Chen Family Village is easy to bully."

"It's because—they're afraid of us."

The moment those words were spoken, a distinct jolt ran through the group.

"We'll meet again later."

Lü Ding spoke in a very steady tone.

"You only need to remember one thing."

"If we can beat them once, we can beat them a second time."

There was no order.

There was no shouting.

Xu Huang grinned.

"Set off!"

-

When the people from Lüjiazhuang arrived at the outer embankment of Chenjiazhuang, the battle was already on the verge of getting out of control.

The rebels are carrying grain.

Many of the soldiers were killed or wounded.

In the firelight, Chen Guang was forced back into a corner.

The knife was trembling.

It's not because I'm afraid.

It's exhaustion.

next moment.

"——Charge!"

Xu Huang took the lead.

The old gun roared like thunder.

The first thief was knocked down immediately.

The second person turned to run away but was slashed in the back by a knife.

Someone exclaimed in surprise.

"It's them! They're from that village before!"

The rebels' expressions changed instantly.

They recognized them too.

Recognize these people—

The people who scattered them last night.

Panic spreads faster than a knife.

Lü Ding rushed into the firelight.

He saw Chen Guang.

They also saw a knife slashing down from behind Chen Guang.

No thought was given.

A knife pierced his back.

Out of the chest.

Blood splattered in the firelight.

Chen Guang slumped to the ground, and when he looked up, his eyes were filled with shock.

By the time the battle was completely over, it was already broad daylight.

The fire is still burning.

The bodies of the rebels were dragged to an open area outside the dike and piled up. Blood slowly flowed down the ditch and seeped into the mud. Someone gagged and vomited, but was quickly pulled away by others.

These are people from Chenjiazhuang.

It was also the first time they had ever witnessed a complete attack and counterattack.

Chen Guang sat under the half-burnt-down porch, wearing an outer robe he had found somewhere, his hands resting on his knees, his knuckles white.

He never imagined that one day he would be looking at his own estate in this way.

When Lü Ding walked up to him, his footsteps were not heavy.

Chen Guang immediately raised his head.

The two looked at each other for a moment.

There was no small talk.

There were no formalities.

"What about the casualties?" Lü Dingxian asked first.

"Seventeen died," Chen Guang said hoarsely. "More than thirty were wounded."

After he finished speaking, he added in a low voice:

"Most of them are on night watch at the outer dike."

Lü Ding nodded.

There was no comfort.

There was no sigh.

This is not the right thing to do now.

He turned his head and looked into Chenjiazhuang.

The fire was under control, but several granaries had their roofs burned through, and black smoke slowly dissipated with the wind. Some people were rummaging through the ruins for anything still usable, while many others stood in the open, holding children or supporting the elderly, their expressions blank.

They were waiting for an outcome, their eyes all fixed on Chen Guang.

Chen Guang did not turn around.

He knew very well that at this moment, whether Chenjiazhuang could survive was no longer in his hands.

He looked at Lü Ding.

Chen Guang's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

Finally, he stood up and bowed deeply to Lü Ding.

"Chen Family Village..."

His voice was hoarse.

"We are willing to merge into Lü Family Village."