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

The group outside the city gate did not advance another step.

But someone else acted first.

It was not yet afternoon.

Suddenly, a few words spread rapidly throughout the city.

"The county magistrate delayed fulfilling his duty."

"Someone wants to cut off Pingyu's road."

He doesn't talk much.

Yet every word he uttered sounded like he was handing someone a knife.

The first to believe it were those idle men who were not originally on the county government's register.

No land, no registration, no one to rely on.

They understand one sentence—

"If you don't do it, you'll be treated as an enemy."

⸻

It was evening.

In the dilapidated temple south of the city, someone raised a flag for the first time.

Soon, more and more people gathered.

Some were summoned.

Some of them came to us on their own.

They weren't standing in a straight line.

The tools they're holding are different too.

Some people held machetes, some gripped hoe handles, and some were simply bare-handed.

But the expressions on their faces were surprisingly similar.

—Not anger.

—It is the determination that comes after being forced onto a certain path.

People were whispering among themselves:

"The county is going to hand over the grain."

"Deliver the grain first, then the people."

"If you don't stand up now, you're not acting out of loyalty; you're being dragged away."

None of these words came out of thin air.

But no one bothered to ask who said it first.

By the time it got dark, three fires had been lit in front of the dilapidated temple.

The flickering firelight cast long shadows.

The white cloth flag fluttered in the firelight.

It seems like the two characters "奉义" (Fengyi) are to be used.

It shines directly into everyone's eyes.

The flag is not high.

But it was very glaring.

Someone shouted:

"Yuan Sili raised an army for the sake of the world!"

"If Pingyu lags behind, he will be cutting himself off from the righteous army!"

"If the magistrate hesitates, he is aiding and abetting the wicked!"

Upon hearing this, someone responded.

It's not because of faith.

Rather, it's because—

Someone has already shown them this way.

⸻

at night.

The door of the county government office was banged on.

It's not drumming.

It's smashing.

The sound of the wooden door vibrating echoed into the hall.

It felt like a blow to the chest.

The county soldiers stood inside the gate, motionless.

Their orders were to "guard".

It's not a "war".

To defend means not to take the initiative to attack.

This also means that once the door is breached, the danger increases exponentially.

The magistrate stood in the hall, listening to the noise outside, without saying a word.

The flickering lamplight cast his shadow on the wall, making it appear somewhat thin.

He suddenly understood.

Yuan Shao's men did not intend to wait for his reply.

What they want is chaos.

It's so chaotic that it doesn't matter who dies.

The back door was opened from the inside.

It doesn't mean the county magistrate.

Someone made the decision for him.

Several radical members of the "Fengyi Army" rushed in.

The action is fast.

But it is not chaotic.

It was as if they had rehearsed it beforehand.

It's clear who blocked the road, who pressed against the wall, and who made the move.

They bypassed the main hall, went around the pillars, and headed straight for the inner courtyard.

The familiarity with the route was chilling.

The magistrate only had time to look up.

At that moment, he saw one of their faces clearly.

They are not strangers.

I had just heard him speak in the yamen a few days ago.

"you--"

He hadn't finished speaking.

The blade has already fallen.

It wasn't a beheading.

It's a stab.

It was a mess.

It's as if it's intentional, to make the wounds indistinguishable in terms of primary and secondary features.

So that it will be difficult to investigate later.

Who did it?

When the county soldiers rushed in,

The person was already lying in blood.

The blood flowed slowly along the cracks in the brickwork.

It's as if it's for this county town.

Let go of even the last bit of hesitation.

⸻

At daybreak.

The rumors have already spread throughout the city.

"The county magistrate obstructed the righteous army and was killed by the righteous men."

"This is clearing the way for the world."

"From this day forward, Pingyu will no longer be under the jurisdiction of the county government."

The more the story spread, the more plausible it became.

It all seemed to have been prepared in advance.

Some people started hoarding food.

Someone started recruiting people.

Some people took advantage of the chaos to bring up old grievances and settle personal scores.

The white cloth flag was planted at the entrance of the official road south of the city.

Facing the morning breeze.

It's like they're waiting for something.

⸻

What they waited for was Lü Ding.

Lü Ding arrived very early.

It was just dawn, and the fog had not yet lifted.

This was the first time he had ever worn armor.

The armor is not new, but it fits perfectly.

The sword was not drawn, yet it could still intimidate people.

Behind him was Xu Huang.

Then came a full 500 guards.

They moved in unison.

The nails rustled softly.

It doesn't seem like they're going to the city.

It's more like an array.

Take it one step at a time and move forward.

A hundred or so people had already gathered in front of the "Fengyi" flag.

Someone recognized Lü Ding.

There was a hint of probing in his voice:

"Lü Yunzhong!"

"You're one of the rebels too!"

Lu Ding stopped in his tracks.

I glanced at the flag.

"Who gave you permission to erect this?"

No one answered.

Some people laughed first.

He laughed very quickly and urgently.

"The magistrate is dead, and Pingyu is without a ruler!"

"Yuan Sili's army is right to the north!"

"If you know what's good for you, you should join us in this uprising!"

Lü Ding nodded.

It seemed like they understood.

"I see."

⸻

He raised his hand.

The guards behind them also stepped forward at the same time.

The movements are slow.

However, they were all in sync.

At that moment, the air seemed to be compressed.

"Who killed the county magistrate?"

This time, no one spoke.

Lu Ding's gaze swept across the crowd.

Not urgent.

But nothing was missed.

"Using the name of Yuan Sili, they killed officials and seized grain."

"Is this what you call upholding righteousness?"

He paused.

"This is called a mutiny."

⸻

Someone cursed and was the first to rush forward.

Xu Huang did not shout for battle.

There wasn't even a knife drawn in protest.

He simply raised his hand.

Five hundred people were divided into three rows at the same time.

Press the front column in.

The middle row is sealed.

The following columns remain unchanged.

There was no pursuit.

There was no indiscriminate cutting.

As long as someone crosses the line—

Within three steps, it will surely fall.

This is a movement that has been repeated countless times in training.

Clean.

neat.

Someone tried to escape from the side.

Just as he turned around,

But then he discovered that someone was already standing behind him.

that moment,

They finally realized—

This is not a rebel army.

He is a soldier.

Less than fifteen minutes.

There were more than a dozen corpses lying on the ground.

The rest of the people left.

They retreated very quickly.

They didn't even dare to turn their heads.

The white flag was cut in half with a single stroke.

It fell into the mud.

Someone stepped on him.

⸻

Lu Ding stood still and did not give chase.

He only said one sentence to Xu Huang:

"Send men to carry the body outside the city gate."

Write it clearly.

"The rebel army used righteousness as a pretext to commit murder."

Xu Huang clasped his hands in greeting and left.

⸻

Noon that day.

For the first time, the city truly quieted down.

It's not because I'm afraid.

Rather, it's because—

Does anyone know,

Who can kill?

Who can salvage this situation?

The county soldiers began to report on their own initiative.

I will not ask for permission.

Only request instructions.

Lü Ding did not accept the seal.

There was no one sitting in the office.

He simply sent someone to deliver a message:

"Everything in the city remains the same."

This sentence spread faster than a notice.

⸻

On the same night.

Outside Lüjiazhuang, an extra rider appeared.

The person who came did not knock.

They did not reveal their names.

They simply tied the horse to a tree outside the manor gate and waited quietly.

He only carried one letter with him.

The envelope was clean and made of ordinary white paper.

Without the heading of a manifesto,

There were no official seals or markings.

It's as if they're doing it on purpose, trying to erase the traces of their past.

The letter was delivered to the village when it was past midnight.

The letter did not address the person as an official.

There was no small talk.

There was no questioning.

He only wrote one sentence:

"The journey is now stable."

"We are about to proceed on the northern route; may we pass through?"