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

The proclamation reached the village on the morning of the third day.

They are not government officials.

He was a deserter.

The man rode a skinny horse, its neck drenched in sweat, and he was practically being carried into the village. When the gatekeeper stopped him, he was too weak to even dismount, clutching only the roll of yellow hemp cloth tightly to his chest.

"...Luoyang".

"They've raised an army."

That was the first thing he said.

After they were carried into the hall and given two mouthfuls of hot water, their breathing finally returned to normal.

"A joint proclamation from the various prefectures of Kanto."

"To punish Dong Zhuo."

"They say it's... a secret edict from the Emperor."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into such silence that one could hear the sound of the lamp wick cracking.

By imperial decree.

These six words carry immense weight in today's world.

Lü Ding did not respond immediately.

He simply had the proclamation spread out.

The paper is rough, but the ink is fresh.

The handwriting wasn't neat, but each stroke was written with extreme force, as if hatred was directly pressed onto the tip of the pen.

"...Dong Zhuo seized power, held the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords, disrupted the government and harmed the people; his crimes are unforgivable..."

"...All those who are loyal and righteous should rise up together, purge the court of corrupt officials, and restore the Han Dynasty..."

Someone in the hall subconsciously swallowed.

This is not a piece of paper.

This is a fire.

A fire that can set the world ablaze.

"Which routes are we on now?" Lu Ding asked.

The deserter whispered, "Yuan Shao is in Hanoi."

"Cao Cao... is in Chenliu."

"Sour jujubes have already attracted quite a few people."

When he heard the name "Cao Cao," Lü Ding's gaze paused very briefly before quickly shifting away.

He rolled up the proclamation and handed it to the clan elder standing nearby.

"Keep it safe."

"This isn't ours."

The clan elder was taken aback: "But this matter... will inevitably fall on our shoulders sooner or later."

"Yes," Lü Ding nodded, "and very soon."

He raised his eyes and looked at everyone in the hall.

"The problem now is not Dong Zhuo."

"It's us."

This statement came as abrupt, yet no one refuted it.

"Once the proclamation is issued, actions will be taken in various places."

"Some people raise armies, some borrow troops, and some will take advantage of the chaos to seize grain."

"What do you think—"

"Wouldn't you consider our village a piece of prime real estate?"

No one spoke.

But the answer was written on everyone's face.

Calculate.

And the calculations were very precise.

The two villages were merged, new laws were established for land, and the people's hearts were initially settled.

To outsiders, this is not order.

It's oil and water.

"So, starting today—"

Lu Ding's voice was low but extremely steady.

"Establish a guard team."

Someone in the hall looked up.

These four words came too quickly.

"We need to completely divest ourselves from the workforce."

This time, there was a noticeable disturbance in the hall.

Everyone understands what taking time off work means.

That was real food.

The elder frowned: "Where did the grain come from?"

"Grain for the estate," Lü Ding replied.

"Just that 30%."

"Can it hold up?" someone couldn't help but ask.

Lü Ding did not answer immediately.

He walked to the front of the hall and pointed outside.

"Look."

Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing.

On the open ground where they were training, a dozen or so guards were standing in formation.

The formation is very loose.

The gun barrels were of different lengths, and their steps were uneven.

But they didn't stop.

Again and again.

No one complained of being tired.

"They were still in the fields yesterday," Lü Ding said.

"But here I am today."

Why?

No one answered.

"Because they know—"

"This is for my own practice."

Lu Ding turned around, his voice low but each word clear and distinct.

"Taking time off from work doesn't mean you're freeloading."

"It's about teaching some people how to survive first."

"Then, let others live."

The hall gradually quieted down.

Only then did some people realize—

This isn't about feeding a few more mouths.

It is an erected framework.

"How should the team be trained?" the clan elder asked again.

"Divide it into three sections," Lü Ding said.

"Morning exercises, afternoon training, night duty."

"Gun, knife, shield."

"Practice only three things."

"Form ranks."

"At your command!"

"Draw your gun."

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

Nobody considered this a local issue anymore.

"Who will be the general?" the clan elder asked in a low voice.

"Xu Huang," Lü Ding replied.

Several elderly men glanced out of the hall instinctively.

We're not looking for anyone.

It is confirming—

Did the person outside hear that?

The curtain moved slightly, then quickly settled back down.

No one came in.

On the training ground, commands rang out immediately.

not tall.

But he managed to keep the situation under control.

"continue!"

The gun barrels slammed to the ground, the sound even more synchronized than before.

That evening, the new roster was posted in the village for the first time.

It's not Tian Ce.

It is the Guardian's Register.

There is no drum.

No number.

The people whose names were called stood up and had different expressions.

Some people are nervous.

Some people are excited.

Some people even subconsciously looked back in their direction, as if to confirm something.

Lu Ding stood on the steps, looking at them.

"The guards should be trained according to the military methods."

"My primary responsibility is to protect Zhuangzi."

"Zhuang is here—"

"Then you will have land, food, and a home."

"If Zhuang is gone—"

He paused for a moment.

"Wherever you go, you'll be refugees."

No one spoke.

But the person who was standing gradually straightened their back.

The next day, the number of people on the training ground doubled.

On the third day, the length of the gun barrels was standardized.

On the fifth day, we began learning how to form formations.

This is the first time someone has been scolded.

Some people get their hands slapped for the first time.

But no one left.

They all knew it in their hearts—

Once they're gone, they can never come back.

On the seventh night, the first group of scouts appeared outside the village.

Not a soldier.

They were stragglers.

The two men were pinned to the ground by the night patrol guards.

No one was killed.

They were simply brought before the court.

"Where did it come from?" Lu Ding asked.

The man kept his head down and did not answer.

"Have you heard that land has been distributed here?" Lü Ding asked again.

Still no answer.

Lü Ding nodded.

"Release them."

Everyone was taken aback.

Give him some dry rations.

"Send him back to deliver the message."

The clan elder grew anxious: "This isn't—"

"Exactly," Lu Ding interrupted him.

I want people to know.

"This village has grain."

"There are also knives."

As the scout left, he glanced back at the training ground several times.

After that day, no one dared to approach easily anymore.

It's not because Zhuangzi was particularly powerful.

Rather, it is because of it—

Unlike Zhuangzi in chaotic times.

Two weeks later, people from the county came.

With a mark.

It's not a grain requisition.

Is this the roster?

"Rebellions are now breaking out in various places."

"The imperial court is to investigate local military preparedness."

The official spoke politely, but his gaze kept drifting towards the training ground.

Lü Ding responded calmly.

"Defend the territory and protect yourself."

"Do not leave the country."

No registration required.

The official flipped through the booklet but couldn't find anything wrong with it.

As he was leaving, he said something meaningful:

"This world."

"A knife without a name cannot be held for long."

Lü Ding watched him leave.

Only after the person disappeared from sight did he slowly exhale.

he knows.

The real test is yet to come.

The banner of opposing Dong was raised.

The world will never be the same again.

All he can do now is—

Before the waves actually crash in, nail this foothold firmly to the ground.

late at night.

The training ground finally quieted down.

The guards on duty spoke in hushed tones around the fire.

They weren't talking about war.

This is this year's harvest.

In the darkness outside the village, someone had already noted the village down in their account.