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

The procession outside the city gate remained stationary for an entire night.

They did not set up camp or light a fire.

They were scattered along both sides of the official road, as if passing by, or as if waiting for something.

At daybreak, the soldiers guarding the city realized something was wrong.

There were only about thirty people, but they were all on horseback, their armor disheveled, but their weapons complete. They had no banners, nor did they announce their origin; they simply handed over a document, saying they wanted to "see the county magistrate."

When the magistrate heard the news, he was washing his hands in the back room.

Before the water was even dried, my hand stopped.

"Who sent it?"

"They say he's under... General Yuan's command."

This time, no one said "send a proclamation" again.

Because the actual proclamation has already been delivered.

What's coming now are people.

The magistrate remained silent for a moment.

"please."

The words came out, but they lacked conviction.

⸻

When the envoy entered the city, he did not beat the drum or disturb the people.

They went straight into the government office.

The leader was a middle-aged scholar, dressed in blue, without a sword, with only a corner of a bamboo slip showing from his sleeve.

The bowing was very proper.

"Minister Yuan, please send me to inquire after Pingyu."

The county magistrate returned the gift.

"What do you want to ask?"

The man looked up, his tone perfectly calm.

"Ask Pingyu, do you uphold righteousness?"

The magistrate's heart sank.

"Where does righteousness come from?"

"Dong Zhuo has seized the emperor, disrupting the government and the law," the envoy said. "Yuan Sili has raised an army, and this is for the sake of the whole country. All the prefectures and counties should respond."

"Respond to what?"

"People, food, soldiers."

Three words, spoken very softly.

It is sharper than a blade.

The magistrate did not answer immediately.

He slowly sat down, as if trying to buy himself some time.

"Pingyu is a small county with no more than a few hundred soldiers and only enough food for a little over a month. I'm afraid it will be difficult—"

The messenger interrupted him.

"What Yuan Sili wanted was an attitude."

There was silence in the room.

The county magistrate stood to one side, his back already soaked with sweat.

The magistrate looked up: "And if you don't comply?"

The envoy smiled.

It wasn't a sneer.

It was the kind of smile that said, "I knew you'd ask that."

"Next time my lord comes here, Pingyu County will be regarded as enemy territory."

Upon hearing this, even the scribe's pen paused for a moment.

"They're not even trying to hide it anymore, they're directly addressing me as 'Lord'."

The magistrate finally understood.

This is not a request for justice, but forced compliance.

⸻

That afternoon, the county government did not post a notice.

But news came from the city.

"Yuan Shao's men have entered the city."

"The county government has not yet made a statement."

The more the news spread, the more confusing it became.

By evening, the version had changed.

"We need to recruit soldiers."

"The grain needs to be distributed."

"The magistrate has agreed."

Once these two statements were made, no one in the city could say for sure who had said them first.

However, by nightfall, all the taverns had closed early.

There were many unfamiliar faces at the street corner, standing inconspicuously, yet always in important positions.

When asked, they only said one sentence—

"Night patrol".

But none of them were on the night patrol in the city.

⸻

A canal in the west of the city was the first place where the accident occurred that night.

Originally, this was a shared water source for several large villages in Pingyu, used for irrigating fields during the day and flowing continuously at night.

But just after midnight, the canal entrance was suddenly sealed off.

It is not a pile of stones.

are people.

Seven or eight burly men stood at the mouth of the canal, their clothes disheveled, but each of them carried a weapon.

They don't kill people, nor do they curse in the streets.

It's just blocked.

Someone stepped forward and asked, "Where are you from?"

The leader glanced at him, didn't register, and only replied:

"The Fengyi Army is investigating suspicious locations."

That's a very smooth way to put it.

It flowed so smoothly that it didn't seem like something that came up on the spur of the moment.

But then you could ask, "Whose life is it?"

He didn't answer.

He only added one sentence slowly:

"Lü Yunzhong did not object."

As soon as these words were spoken, half of the people who had gathered around dispersed.

It's not a letter.

It's fear.

⸻

When the news reached the city, it had already been changed.

"The people of Lüjiazhuang have started to move."

"The irrigation canal is blocked to cut off grain supplies."

"It's time to choose sides."

No one can say for sure where the first sentence came from.

But by the time the county government found out, this version had already become the majority.

The magistrate was awakened in the middle of the night.

The county magistrate stood before the couch, his voice low:

"Something happened at the canal entrance in the west of the city."

The magistrate propped himself up and asked quickly:

Someone died?

"no."

"Whose people?"

The county magistrate hesitated for a moment.

"...I can't explain it."

These three words are even more chilling than "someone is dead".

The magistrate put on his robe, got out of bed, and walked to the window.

The night wind was cold, but he didn't feel it at all.

He suddenly realized something—

Things have started moving forward on their own.

Before he could nod.

Without waiting for him to deny it.

⸻

Just before dawn, another message was delivered to the county government office.

This is not a message.

It was a note.

The paper was rough, but the characters were written steadily.

There was only one sentence on it:

"If we delay in carrying out our duties, things may change."

No signature.

The magistrate looked at it for a long time before slowly folding the paper.

He knew this wasn't a reminder.

It means urging.

It was also a test.

⸻

At the same time, in Lüjiazhuang.

Lü Ding was still awake.

Three lists were laid out under the lamp.

One of them is a person who can be used in the village.

One of them is someone who has voluntarily come to their aid in recent months.

The last one was a visiting card secretly sent by several wealthy families in the city.

Xun Heng stood to the side and whispered:

"Those who blocked the canal were not our people."

"I know," Lü Ding said without looking up.

"But everyone outside says it was your idea."

Lü Ding then stopped writing.

Why did they say that?

Xun Heng thought for a moment.

"Because...you didn't come out to deny it."

Lü Ding nodded slightly.

This is exactly what he wanted.

He did not nod.

He didn't shake his head.

This is the most dangerous, yet also the most useful place right now.

⸻

Before dawn, someone suddenly arrived outside the village.

They were not servants of the county government.

They were the heads of several families in the city.

They arrived all at once, stood outside the door, but dared not speak first.

Lü Ding had someone invite him in.

No one dared to sit there.

One of them finally spoke:

"The city is in chaos."

Lü Ding responded, "I've heard about it."

"Someone said last night that the estate should be investigated."

Lü Ding looked up.

"Who said that?"

The man opened his mouth, but didn't say his name.

Lü Ding smiled.

"That means it's not decided yet."

This sentence sounds like both a reassurance and a judgment.

Only then did everyone understand—

Lü Ding did see it.

Instead, they are waiting.

Wait for them to come over on their own.

⸻

noon.

The county government finally posted a notice.

Not big.

It's not conspicuous either.

Just one sentence:

"There have been many troubles in the city recently. Every village and household should strictly abide by their duties and not act rashly."

Yuan Sili was not mentioned.

There was no mention of requisitioning grain or conscripting soldiers.

This would normally be considered a pointless statement.

But now, it's like a knock on everyone's ear.

Because it didn't agree to anything.

And he didn't refuse anything.

⸻

Outside the city gate.

That team is still there.

They don't go into the city.

They won't refund it.

It's just a different way of standing.

Instead of being scattered along both sides of the official road, they have become a way to subtly block several key points.

Don't stop people.

But it makes people take a detour.

The soldiers guarding the city dared not intervene.

The head of the county soldiers pretended not to see it.

Because everyone understands—

This is not a matter involving thirty people.