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

The palindrome was delivered to the county government office in the early morning.

There was no gong banging, nor was there any public notice posted.

The courier left a document at the gatehouse and then turned to leave, as if lingering any longer would get him involved in something.

Xu Heng dismantled it in the back room.

There was no one else, only him.

The envelope was thin, yet it used the standard format of the prefectural government. The sealing wax was not applied, indicating that it was not an urgent order, but the heading of the document read "Official Document from the Prefectural Government," indicating that it was not an inquiry.

Xu Heng was dismantling very slowly.

When the first line of text came into view, his breathing noticeably paused.

"The murder of the magistrate of Pingyu County is an extraordinary matter, and county affairs cannot be neglected for long."

No one was held accountable.

There were no questions asked.

It's just "very".

In officialdom, these two words are the most dangerous yet the most lenient way of defining a person.

Look down.

"Xu Heng, the county magistrate, is hereby appointed to temporarily assume the duties of the county in order to reassure the people."

Xu Heng's hand tightened slightly.

It wasn't because I was excited.

Rather, it was because—the moment he uttered those words, he truly stepped into the limelight.

Not an agent.

It is not acting on behalf of someone else.

It is "temporary filming".

This means that he will be responsible for all the consequences in Pingyu before the new magistrate arrives.

The last sentence is even lighter.

"The rest can be discussed later."

Xu Heng closed the book.

He got it.

It's not that the county hasn't seen the chaos.

Instead, they chose to stabilize one point first.

As for who is right and who is wrong, who should take responsibility, and who should go to jail—

You can calculate it slowly.

As long as it doesn't explode now.

Xu Heng did not immediately take the stage.

There was no announcement.

He simply had the clerk make three copies of the reply.

One copy was posted in the inner office;

Send one copy to the barracks;

The last one—

He personally sent someone to deliver it to the village.

Lü Ding received the document before the morning mist had dissipated.

The messenger was an old clerk from the yamen.

Without saying much, he simply cupped his hands and handed it over.

Lu Ding unfolded it, glanced at it, and then stopped.

Xun Heng stood to the side and whispered the key sentence:

"Xu Heng, the county magistrate, is hereby appointed to temporarily assume the duties of the county."

Xun Heng stopped reading after he finished.

Those few lines are enough.

The phrase "temporarily in charge of county affairs" may seem weighty, but at this time, it's more like a band-aid to stop the bleeding—to hold it in place for now, and the county isn't in a hurry to give an answer as to whether it will heal completely.

Xun Heng closed the document and said in a low voice, "This is to put Xu Heng at the forefront."

Lü Ding nodded.

What they held onto was their public image during the day.

But the reply didn't mention a single word about what happened at night.

The county government did not inquire about how the magistrate died, nor did it investigate who should be held responsible; it only repeatedly emphasized the phrase "to reassure the people."

This in itself is an attitude: as long as it doesn't explode again, everything else can be dealt with slowly.

"He's fit for this position," Lü Ding said.

This is not a compliment.

Rather, it's a judgment.

Xu Heng was a cautious and discreet man. Most importantly, he knew what should be written in the documents and what should remain unsaid at night.

But this title was ultimately only enough to keep the county government office from being empty.

The court can continue to receive documents, make judgments, and post notices.

The night patrols, grain routes, and guards outside the city will not suddenly become safe and secure just because of this official document.

Lü Ding put the document back on the table.

"He will continue as before," he said.

"He returns to his post during the day and is not questioned at night."

Xun Heng understood.

This is not a relinquishment of power.

Instead, they each maintained their official facade during the day and bore their own risks at night.

The county government provided a name that could temporarily stabilize the situation;

The real solution to the situation requires someone in the shadows to clean up the mess.

Lu Ding stopped talking, as if closing a door behind him, and then said to Xun Heng:

"Bring Xu Huang here."

Shortly after, Xu Huang entered the room.

They hadn't taken off their armor, and their boots were still covered in mud from the drill ground.

"Is there any movement from the county soldiers?" Lü Ding asked.

"Yes," Xu Huang answered quickly, "the roster was changed this morning."

"Whose?"

"It has been changed to 'Xu Heng, acting as magistrate'."

Xu Huang paused for a moment, then added, "But the order didn't change the word 'night patrol'."

Lü Ding nodded.

This is precisely where Xu Heng's brilliance lies.

During the day, officers and soldiers returned to their offices.

Night patrols continue, and auxiliary defense is still conducted.

"How many soldiers are there in the county?" Lü Ding asked.

"One hundred and twenty people."

Xu Huang replied.

This number is not small, but in chaotic times, it is far from enough to "suppress" the unrest.

Lu Ding then asked another question.

"Are these soldiers mentally stable?"

Xu Huang looked up and gazed in the direction of the training ground.

"No one was late last night during the shift change."

"No one was faking illness during roll call this morning."

"For now, that's enough."

Lu Ding nodded, then turned and walked to the table, unfolding an old map of Pingyu City's defenses.

"During the day, the county soldiers continue as usual."

"At night, at the city gate, the grain route, and the official road—"

Lu Ding pointed to several key points on the map, "The guards will lead the patrols, with county soldiers assisting in the defense."

Xu Huang glanced at the map and replied in a deep voice.

Noon has not yet arrived.

For the first time, the county government held a court session under the pretext of "temporarily taking over county affairs."

There was no drum for appealing grievances.

It was just a routine inquiry.

The number of people standing below the hall was twice that of usual.

Village head, gentry, and minor officials in the military garrison—not one was left out.

Xu Heng remained seated in the hall, without changing his seat.

It's still leaning to the left.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, everyone understood.

"With the magistrate absent, business continues as usual."

"But what happens at night should not be left until daytime."

This statement sounded like it was said casually.

This made the village heads feel uneasy.

Someone tentatively asked, "What happened that night—?"

"Stop for now," Xu Heng replied.

"It can't be stopped?"

Xu Heng paused for a moment.

"Report to me again."

After the meeting ended, the soldiers did not leave immediately.

Instead, they were kept.

Xu Heng only asked one question.

"Night patrol, is there anyone who dares not to go?"

No one answered.

"If anyone doesn't go," he continued, "according to military law."

"But who will take charge?"

The clerk of the military camp hesitated for a moment.

"Xu Huang".

Xu Heng nodded.

"That's settled then."

No new orders were issued that day.

However, three things were quietly settled in the city:

—Listening to Xu Huang during a night patrol;

—Nighttime affairs should not be conducted in the main hall;

—Even in broad daylight, the official's face remains that of a county magistrate.

evening.

For the first time, county soldiers appeared outside Lüjiazhuang.

It's not about entering the village.

It's just a matter of providing auxiliary defense.

They stood in very proper positions.

The guards were inside, and the county soldiers were outside.

Two rows of people stood in distinct positions, separated by a narrow line only a few feet apart.

There was no mixing of personnel, nor any overlap in command.

This isn't deliberate distancing, but rather a deliberate distinction—

Make sure everyone knows which level they are on now.

Xu Huang personally took a tour.

Ignore the armor and the knife; only observe the posture, the foot shift, and the gaze.

When he returned, he told Lü Ding, "It's usable."

Lü Ding did not press the matter further.

Xu Huang added, however, that "the people on the roster were originally wearing soldiers' uniforms."

"In the past, they were only made to do the work of yamen runners."

He paused, then lowered his voice:

"Now, we must follow the rules of military affairs."

Lü Ding then nodded: "Then how do we train?"

"Practice while the troops are at rest," Xu Huang replied directly.

These three words, spoken very softly, drew a clear line in an instant.