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

As dawn broke, the rain finally stopped.

Grayish-white clouds pressed down on the horizon, like an old curtain yet to be lifted.

The official road outside Lüjiazhuang was muddy and slippery, yet figures were already moving about.

This is in Runan Commandery, Yuzhou, northwest of Pingyu County.

In times of peace and prosperity, this is a good place.

The area is characterized by vast stretches of fertile farmland, crisscrossing waterways, and official roads running north to south.

But in times of chaos, such places are the most likely to attract attention.

Lu Ding stood on the gate tower of the village, wearing an old cloak, his gaze passing over the official road and looking at the undulating hills in the distance.

He knew very well that the fact that the knife hadn't fallen last night didn't mean the danger had disappeared.

Quite the opposite.

"Young master."

Footsteps sounded behind me.

It was Lü Fu, the steward who had served the Lü family for over twenty years. He usually spoke calmly and slowly, but at this moment he showed a rare hint of nervousness.

"The inventory is complete," Lü Fu said in a low voice. "Three tenant farmers left last night; they slipped away in the chaos and didn't dare take any grain with them."

"They're gone, they're gone." Lü Ding didn't turn around, but touched his ear. "Write down their names."

Lü Fu nodded, then hesitated for a moment.

"There's one more thing."

"explain."

"Someone is coming to visit outside the manor," Lü Fu said in a low voice. "It's Chen Guang, the manor lord of Chen Family Manor in Pingyu."

Lu Ding's eyes narrowed slightly.

Chen Guang.

One of the more well-known powerful families in Pingyu County.

They started their business by hoarding grain, lending money, and taking advantage of the chaos to gather refugees. They also kept dozens of armed men in their village.

It is not under the jurisdiction of the government, but it is more like the government than the government itself.

—They are also the kind of people who will be the first to test the waters.

"How many people did you bring?" Lu Ding asked.

"Five," Lü Fu said, "all of them carry swords."

"Careful enough," Lü Ding nodded. "Let him in."

Main hall.

When Chen Guang came in, he had a smile on his face, but his back was ramrod straight.

He was dressed in a clean and neat short robe and military boots, clearly not intending to stay long, but also not intending to show weakness.

"Nephew Lü," Chen Guang said warmly, bowing slightly, "I heard that Cao Mengde stayed overnight at your estate last night?"

To get straight to the point.

One sentence summed up the turmoil of last night.

Several elders in the hall subconsciously tensed their backs.

Lu Ding, however, remained calm.

"The rain is heavy, and I'm exhausted," he said. "I just need to stay the night."

Chen Guang's smile remained unchanged, but it held a deeper meaning.

"Cao Cao was no ordinary guest," he said. "And the one who could let him leave safely was certainly no ordinary host either."

This is confirmed.

It was also a form of interrogation.

Lü Ding did not deny it.

He stood up and walked into the hall.

"Master Chen, you didn't come here today just to hear stories, did you?"

Chen Guang laughed heartily and decided to stop beating around the bush.

"To be honest," he said, "the world is going to be in chaos."

"The number of displaced people is increasing, the government is not doing anything about it, and bandits are running rampant."

"Something bad is bound to happen in the Pingyu area sooner or later."

As he spoke, his gaze swept around the hall.

"It's impossible to defend a village or household by relying on just one person."

"I'm here to discuss a collaboration."

Lu Fu opened his mouth, about to speak, but Lu Ding stopped him by raising his hand.

"How do we cooperate?" Lu Ding asked.

Chen Guang held up two fingers.

"Our two villages, together we guard this front line."

"The refugees will come to you first, register, and then be allocated to me."

"If there are bandits, look out for each other."

That's a nice way of saying it.

The meaning is very clear—

You take the risks, I'll reap the benefits.

The expressions of the elders in the hall had already changed.

Lu Ding suddenly laughed.

"Master Chen," he said, "you're too late."

Chen Guang was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

Lü Ding's voice was not loud, but clear:

"From this day forward, Lüjiazhuang will no longer accept unregistered vagrants."

"To enter the village, a register must first be established."

"If you want food, you have to serve in the military first."

The smile on Chen Guang's face slowly faded.

"Are you trying to emulate the government?"

"It's not learning," Lü Ding corrected, "it's supplementing."

He looked at Chen Guang and said, word by word:

"If the government won't do it, we will."

"If the bandits dare to come, we'll fight them."

"Whoever can protect people has the right to take them in."

These were very strong words.

Chen Guang sneered, "What can you use to protect your mere estate?"

Lü Ding did not say anything more.

He simply raised his hand.

Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the hall.

More than thirty people, holding spears, stood in a line in the courtyard.

They stood in neat rows, their gazes steady.

They are not a mob.

Chen Guang's pupils visibly contracted.

"Last night," Lü Ding said calmly, "they stood there all night."

"As long as Cao Cao is here, they won't move."

"Cao Cao left, but they are still here."

As soon as those words were spoken, the air in the hall seemed to grow heavier.

Chen Guang remained silent for a long while.

"What do you want?" he finally asked.

"That wasteland on the west side of your village," Lü Ding answered decisively, "I want it."

Chen Guang suddenly looked up: "You're dreaming!"

"You can't hold onto that land," Lü Ding said calmly. "It's the place with the most refugees, and the most popular with bandits."

"It would be a burden for you to have it in your hands."

"Give it to me, it's a bargaining chip."

Chen Guang stared intently at Lü Ding.

a long time.

He suddenly laughed.

"Okay," he said. "Here you go."

"But I also want something."

Lü Ding nodded: "Speak."

"If Cao Cao ever returns to Yu Province," Chen Guang said, enunciating each word clearly, "you will stand in front."

The hall fell silent.

This is going to put the Lü family in the spotlight.

Lü Ding did not hesitate.

"Can."

"But there is one condition."

"What?"

"Before that day," Lü Ding looked at him, "your men were under my command."

Chen Guang's smile finally vanished completely.

He realized—

The young man in front of me wasn't talking about cooperation.

It's about incorporation.

In the end, however, he nodded.

Because he could see it very clearly.

In the Pingyu area

If you don't keep up, you'll be eaten.

After seeing Chen Guang off, Lü Fu followed behind Lü Ding without saying a word for a long time.

"What are you doing..." he whispered, "pushing yourself to the forefront."

Lü Ding nodded.

"In chaotic times, those who hide in the back are the ones who die the fastest."

After saying this, Lü Ding did not turn around immediately.

He stood in front of the hall, his gaze passing over the courtyard wall and looking in the direction of Chenjiazhuang, as if he were already measuring that piece of land that he had not yet acquired.

"The Chen family's land wasn't given away for free."

He turned around and looked at Lü Fu.

"Send someone to Chenjiazhuang to establish the boundary today."

Lu Fu was taken aback: "Establish a boundary?"

"Insert stakes," Lü Dingdao said. "Measure the land, draw lines, and erect wooden stakes as boundaries."

"Make it clear that Chen Guang temporarily borrowed the jurisdiction of Lüjiazhuang under the pretext of assisting in defense."

"It's not buying and selling, it's allocation."

The word "dispatch" is used with great emphasis.

This means that all people, food, and labor on that land must first pass through the Lü family's gate.

"In addition," Lü Ding continued, "send twenty of Chen Guang's men, the strongest and most capable."

"Starting tomorrow, you'll be integrated into the teams of people from my village."

Lu Fu gasped.

"Mixed composition?"

"Yes." Lü Ding nodded. "If we don't stick together, we'll never be one of our own."

"Give them the same rations, the same shifts, and the same orders."

"Everyone is treated equally when they commit a crime."

This is not preferential treatment.

It directly bound the Chen family members to the rules of the Lü family.

"What if someone disagrees?" Lü Fu asked.

Lu Ding glanced at him.

"Then let Chen Guang come and take the person himself."

In short, they simply shifted the blame back to the perpetrators.

Lu Fu remained silent for a moment, then nodded emphatically.

"The third thing." Lü Ding raised his hand and tapped lightly on the table.

"grain."

"The harvest in Chenjiazhuang is not good this year."

"Have them transport 30% of their surplus grain over first."

"Nominally, it's in exchange for the benefit of protecting the estate."

"In reality, it's about holding their lifeline in your grasp."

Lü Fu's Adam's apple bobbed.

He understood.

In this world,

Food is a matter of life and death.

"Keep the books in order," Lü Ding added, "note each entry clearly."

"It's not about settling accounts."

"It's to let them know—they owe it."

After saying all this, Lü Dingcai slowly exhaled.

Rules were established, boundaries were marked, people lived together, and grain was held in their hands.

Even if Chen Guang decides to turn against them one day,

They will also discover it first—

He was unable to move.

Lu Fu stood aside, watching this scene, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

This is no longer a test.

Instead, it was a takeover.

"Go and do it," Lü Ding said.

After saying that, he turned and left, his steps steady, even his back view was different from before.

Lü Fu stood still, not following immediately.

The young master didn't seem like someone who had grown up overnight.

More like—

A different person, using this body, stood up again.

He suddenly realized that he had not hesitated at all when he obeyed orders.

It wasn't because of loyalty.

It's because I instinctively feel that if I don't do it, something bad will happen.

This thought made Lü Fu's heart tighten.

The rain subsided, and the people in the courtyard dispersed.

Lu Fu raised his hand and wiped his face, unable to tell whether it was rain or cold sweat.

He didn't think about it anymore.

Some things, once you understand them, become harder to do.

He simply responded in a low voice:

"Yes."

He then turned and went to take care of his business.