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

Chapter 46 Zhang He of Hejian, courtesy name Junyi

It's not about handing out more knives, nor is it about calling out names more often.

Instead, starting today—

Commands must be clear, formations must be well-defined, and advances and retreats must be rhythmic.

More importantly, let them know:

When to go on, and when to stop.

Lu Ding glanced at him: "Have you thought this through?"

Xu Huang nodded: "I've thought it through."

"They've already donned their military uniforms," he said steadily, "they just need to toughen up their skin."

Lü Ding smiled and said, "Then let's take it slow."

"Afterwards, let them train, eat, and patrol with the guards."

"No mixed-age groups, but the same rules."

Xu Huang clasped his hands in response.

This is not a written order.

But it is more important than any transfer order.

Night fell.

Pingyu City was quieter than it had been a few days ago.

Along the official road, several hidden sentries had been set up.

The footsteps of the night patrol grew steadyer with each step.

No longer chaotic, no longer hurried.

Just then, someone came and reported in a low voice, saying only one sentence:

"On the official road heading north, we discovered that someone was scouting ahead."

Lü Ding did not ask who it was.

He simply raised his eyes and looked at the city defense map spread out on the table.

The official road to the north cast a long, thin shadow in the candlelight.

His finger paused for a moment on the line, but did not fall.

"Make the sentries retreat half a mile," he said.

Xun Heng was taken aback: "Retreat?"

"Yes." Lü Ding nodded, "So that people can see you retreating."

Xun Heng immediately understood.

It's not about showing weakness.

It's about showing restraint—

Let the other party know that there are people, a plan, and a disciplined approach here, but there is no intention to create unnecessary complications.

By the time the order was passed down, it was past midnight.

The sentries retreated one by one, but their positions remained unchanged.

Like the receding tide, yet still retaining clear patterns.

The official road heading north quickly responded.

⸻

The next morning.

The fog had not yet dissipated.

The sound of horses' hooves came from the official road, neither hurried nor slow.

Not a single rider,

Instead, they form teams.

The vanguard, numbering over three hundred, marched in separate ranks.

The banners are not raised, and the armor is not new.

But it was too neat.

This kind of team wasn't put together on short notice.

Lü Ding stood on a high place outside the city, without showing himself.

He saw it very clearly—

The enemy did not head straight for the city gate.

Instead, they slowed down and stopped three miles away.

This is waiting.

I'm watching too.

"What are they looking at?" Xun Heng asked in a low voice.

Lü Ding did not answer immediately.

He noticed that several riders in the opposing cavalry had broken formation.

I slowly walked around both sides of the official road.

Look at the footprints.

Watching the sentry post,

Look at the traces left by last night's patrol.

"Let's see if we've made any mistakes," Lü Ding said.

"They're also watching to see if we're only good at defending the city."

At that moment, a guard came and reported in a low voice:

"Xu Huang has already reached the official road."

Lü Ding nodded.

"Let him go."

"Just stand there."

Not welcome,

Don't stop them.

They won't refund it.

⸻

When Xu Huang arrived, the other party had already noticed him.

It wasn't because he walked fast,

Rather, it's because—

His position was perfect.

This is not beneath the city gate.

Instead, it is a gentle slope where the main road and a side road intersect outside the city.

Ahead lies the main road leading north;

Further on, there is a fork in the road leading to the city gate.

Xu Huang stood between these two roads.

Not blocking the way,

But they wouldn't give way.

Jia was not changed.

The knife was not drawn.

But the person was like a nail.

We must firmly anchor this section of the official road.

A general rode out on horseback. He was not old, and his old armor fit him perfectly. He sat upright.

He didn't look at the city immediately.

They didn't even look at the city gate.

Their gazes first fell on the dirt road beneath Xu Huang's feet.

The footprints were not messy.

There is a distance between the positions.

The traces were clearly left by a night patrol.

"You're not a county soldier," he said.

Not a question,

It is a judgment.

Xu Huang did not deny it.

"They are not ordinary soldiers either."

This time, his tone was more confident.

Xu Huang looked up at him.

Straight gaze,

Not humble,

Not arrogant.

Lai Jiang's gaze shifted, and his brows twitched slightly.

That look in his eyes

He had only seen him in the military.

"What's your name?"

"Xu Huang".

Two words, spoken very softly.

Lai Jiang paused noticeably. He recognized the name; he had seen it at the end of a border military report, where it appeared on only one line, accompanied by a very calm comment: "They can hold their ground."

Only then did he raise his eyes and look directly at Xu Huang.

"Zhang He of Hejian, courtesy name Junyi."

After announcing his name, Zhang He didn't exchange many pleasantries and went straight to asking:

"Are you training your troops?"

Xu Huang did not answer immediately.

Instead, he turned sideways and took a half-step back.

It's not a retreat.

This is a position indicator.

Following this half step,

Only then did the outline of the city truly come into view.

The city gates were tightly closed.

No one made a fuss on the city wall.

The defenses were not obvious.

Yet he remains in power everywhere.

That's not a city that shuts people out.

Instead, it is a—

The city was prepared for soldiers to pass through, but not for anyone to enter randomly.

Zhang He understood.

"A person like you," he said, "shouldn't be confined to a single county."

Xu Huang remained unmoved.

"The general took the northern route."

"I am guarding the road to Pingyu."

"Different paths."

Zhang He was taken aback.

He then burst out laughing.

"What a different path!"

He mounted his horse.

"I will walk this path."

"I will remember those people."

The three hundred riders regrouped and moved forward slowly.

But no one casually glanced at the city gate anymore.

⸻

High up outside the city.

Standing in the shadow of the city wall, Lü Ding could see everything on the official road with perfect clarity.

The moment Zhang He dismounted, asked his name, and then announced his number,

He already understood.

That wasn't just small talk.

This was confirmed by the military.

Xun Heng lowered his voice: "He's got his eye on Xu Huang."

Lü Ding nodded.

"It's only a matter of time."

"A man like Zhang He wouldn't stop his horse for an ordinary person."

He watched the dust and smoke recede into the distance on the northern road, his tone steady:

"He wasn't just looking at Xu Huang."

Xun Heng was taken aback.

"He's confirming," Lü Ding continued.

"Pingyu, is it possible to allow the army to pass through here without causing any trouble?"

"It's not about whether we can fight or not."

"The question is whether we can get around it."

—We only need to fight where we can't avoid it.

The wind blew in from outside the city, stirring up the dust on the official road.

Lü Ding closed the city defense map.

"He's confirmed it now."

That's why I called myself.

Xun Heng finally understood.

That self-introduction of his name was tantamount to defining Pingyu's status within the army, making it a point that could be considered for the march.

There is no need to occupy it, nor can we forcefully suppress it.

"We've passed this hurdle," Lü Ding said.

It's not because there are too many soldiers.

Rather, it's because—

People began to use this place as part of their marching route;

Some people also began to regard the people of Pingyu as those who could be put into the military ranks.

He turned around, his tone returning to normal:

"Night patrols continue as usual."

"Add another layer of covert surveillance."

"Don't panic."

"Let them see that this is how we've always been."

Xu Huang responded and left.