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

As night fell completely, the back door of the Pingyu County government office opened a crack.

It wasn't a brightly lit main hall, nor a side hall used for trials; it was just a small room in the back office that was used to receive guests year-round.

There was only one lamp, and the flame was kept low, enough to illuminate a person but not a face.

Lü Ding arrived at the perfect time, neither too early nor too late.

He brought no guards, only Xun Heng.

The wooden latch clicked softly as the door closed, as if shutting out all the noise of the day.

There were already three people inside the house.

The magistrate sat in the center, with two documents on his desk, one opened and the other unopened; the assistant magistrate sat on the left, looking cautious; and at the very end was a young clerk, head bowed, pen in hand, who hadn't looked up since Lü Ding entered.

"Young Master Lü," the magistrate spoke first.

His tone was flat, but it lacked the official airs he used during the day and was more cautious.

Lu Ding bowed respectfully and said, "Your Excellency, County Magistrate."

There were no unnecessary pleasantries.

The magistrate's gaze lingered on Lü Ding for a moment before returning to the desk, pointing to the opened document.

"Do you know what this is?"

Lü Ding nodded: "Dong Zhuo's edict."

The magistrate did not deny it.

"The edict is very clear," he said slowly. "It strictly prohibits the establishment of private armed forces, the investigation of gatherings in villages and towns, and any actions taken on behalf of officials. All such actions are illegal."

As he said this, he looked up at Lü Ding.

"Your estate has everything in it."

There was silence in the room.

This is pressure.

It's not a threat, it's like putting a knife on the table and letting people see it for themselves.

Lü Ding did not rush to respond.

He simply asked, "Your Excellency, how many days has it been since the imperial edict reached Pingyu?"

The magistrate was taken aback, then replied, "The third day."

"In these three days, has the county magistrate carried out the investigation as ordered?"

The magistrate remained silent.

The county magistrate's fingers tightened slightly inside his sleeve.

Lü Ding then continued, "It's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't."

These words were spoken softly, yet they were very direct.

The magistrate was not annoyed.

He simply sighed softly: "That's why I asked you to come."

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room changed.

The situation has shifted from "officials oppressing the people" to "officials seeking solutions."

The magistrate raised his hand and pointed to the unopened document on the table.

"You should also know about this letter."

Xun Heng, standing to the side, quietly added, "It's Yuan Shao's proclamation."

The magistrate glanced at him but did not deny it.

"The proclamation is beautifully written," the magistrate said. "It neither obeys the emperor nor violates righteousness; it does not command the government, but instead summons righteous men. It seems to speak for the people, but in reality, it pushes the local area into the fire."

He paused.

"When the fire started, the first thing to be burned down was the county government office."

This time, he did not hide his fear.

It's not that I'm afraid of dying, it's that I'm afraid of losing control.

Lu Ding finally spoke: "So, what does the county magistrate want?"

The magistrate looked at him directly, without beating around the bush.

"I want Pingyu to remain calm and peaceful."

Even if it's just to prevent chaos for a short time.

This statement was made very softly.

That is the truth.

Lü Ding nodded: "Then I'll get straight to the point."

"I do not obey Dong Zhuo's edict."

The magistrate's brow twitched, but he didn't interrupt.

"I will not obey Yuan Shao's proclamation."

This time, the county magistrate couldn't help but look up.

Lü Ding continued, "By imperial decree, the palace was destroyed; by proclamation, the city fell into chaos."

"I will not serve anyone."

The room was quiet for a moment.

The magistrate suddenly smiled.

It wasn't mockery, but a sigh of relief.

"If you say which one, I shouldn't have seen you tonight."

After saying this, he leaned forward slightly.

"Then what are you going to do?"

Lü Ding answered very steadily.

"Guard."

"Guard what?"

"To keep the county magistrate safe, to keep the people's hearts at ease, and to ensure that the magistrate can remain in this position."

Upon hearing this, even the clerk, who had been keeping his head down, paused for a moment.

The magistrate did not respond immediately.

He stared at Lü Ding for a long time.

It was as if they were confirming whether this person was already standing in a position he shouldn't be in.

"Do you know," the magistrate said slowly, "what is what the imperial edict calls the thing you're doing right now?"

Lü Ding replied, "It's illegal."

"Then why are you still going to guard it?"

"It is precisely because it is illegal that someone must uphold it."

The magistrate's gaze sank deeper and deeper.

"You're trying to take the blame upon yourself."

Lu Ding shook his head: "It's not about taking it in, it's about preventing it from hitting someone else."

He stopped after saying that sentence.

There was no explanation.

But that's enough.

The magistrate remained silent for a long time, then suddenly pushed the edict from Dong Zhuo aside.

I won't ask you about the future.

"Let's just talk about now."

He said, word by word:

"The county government will not send troops into the village."

"No case will be filed against Ye An."

"Whenever there is a conflict, the village head should report it privately first, without going through official documents."

This is a concession.

But that's also the bottom line.

After hearing this, Lü Ding only replied, "I will not station any people in the city."

"Night is peaceful, just outside the manor."

"Don't touch taxes, don't touch levies, don't touch the registers."

The magistrate nodded.

"What if something serious happens?"

Without hesitation, Lü Ding said, "Find me first."

What if I can't control it?

"Then the county magistrate will step in again."

The magistrate looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"You've pushed me back a step."

Lu Ding calmly replied, "Only by standing in front can the county magistrate step back."

This time, the magistrate did not refute it.

He simply looked at the county magistrate: "Got it?"

The county magistrate responded in a low voice.

But he knew very well in his heart—

This is not something that is recorded in the books.

It is etched in people's hearts.

Xun Heng then spoke softly.

"The county magistrate has not authorized this today."

"It's just a default setting."

The magistrate glanced at him.

Xun Heng continued: "And tacit agreement is the most precious thing in chaotic times."

The magistrate was silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed:

"You scholars, you're really harsh with your words."

That being said, he did not deny it.

The lights flickered gently.

The sound of the night watchman's clapper could be heard outside.

It was already past midnight.

The magistrate stood up: "This is tonight."

"Young Master Lü, remember one thing."

"If you can hold out for one night, someone will force you to hold out for a whole city."

Lu Ding cupped his hands in greeting: "I will only guard what I am supposed to guard."

The magistrate said nothing more.

The door reopened.

The night wind blew in.

When Lü Ding walked out of the back gate of the county government office, he did not look back.

He knew that from this moment on—

The order in Pingyu County has been quietly shifted by an inch.

And this inch will never be returned.

Not far away, Xun Heng whispered, "After tonight, the county government will have a break."

Lü Ding responded.

"But even more people will be watching you."

Lu Ding looked up into the depths of the night.

"Then let them see."

He paused, then said:

"Look carefully, I'm not standing."

"It is to guard."

The sound of wind passing through the street.

In the south of the city, there is a house whose lights stay on very late.

It was neither the lamp of the county government office nor the torch of the neighborhood patrol at night.

The lamp was hidden behind high walls and deep courtyards; the window paper was not lit, but people were whispering to each other in the corridor.

Some people are looking through old maps, while others are calculating the distance.

Which road leads into the city, and which road avoids people?

Considering the magistrate's bottom line, and also the village outside the city, which side are they really on?

Some people are waiting for news.

What they were waiting for was not an imperial edict.

But -

How long can the person who dares to stand still between the imperial edict and the proclamation hold out?

The night watchman struck three times.

Outside the city gate, a group of unknown origin quietly stopped beside the official road.

They did not enter the city.

There's no rush.

Because they know—

Pingyu will soon be theirs.