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

After Xu Heng asked that question, the hall fell silent for a moment.

Lü Ding did not answer immediately.

He stood up and walked into the courtyard.

A night breeze blew by, and the sound of changing guards' footsteps echoed from the direction of the drill ground—punctual, orderly, and without a sound.

Only then did Lü Ding speak.

"If there were to be a troop mobilization order," he said, "it wouldn't be now."

Xu Heng frowned.

Why?

Lu Ding turned around and looked at him.

"Because now, whoever gives the order must take responsibility."

"The campaign against Dong Zhuo has failed, the alliance is unstable, and if troops are mobilized, the county and roads will be in chaos."

"Once the county roads were in chaos, Dong Zhuo didn't even have time to fight; the people behind him turned against him first."

He paused, lowering his voice.

"Nobody in the county wants to be the first to take the blame."

Xu Heng was startled.

"So you're planning to—"

Lü Ding interrupted him.

"That's not what I planned."

"It's because they themselves don't dare."

He pointed to the official documents on the table.

"This document is not a request for troops."

"It's a test."

Xu Heng was taken aback, then understood.

"So how should I reply?"

"Reply one."

"Just write two sentences."

"The soldiers have been registered, and the roads are now secure."

"The rest are at your disposal."

Xu Heng was taken aback.

"that's all?"

"That's settled." Lü Ding nodded.

"If there are too many words, they can find fault with them."

"The fewer words there are, the more restless they become."

Xu Heng remained silent for a moment.

These two sentences, seemingly plain, are actually quite profound, with every word hitting the nail on the head.

The soldier has been registered as a citizen.

This indicates that the military already exists and its name has been established;

The road is now safe and secure.

This means that the troops are not acting recklessly and the local area remains under control.

The rest are awaiting orders.

They neither rejected nor resisted, but instead threw the question of "when and how" back into the past.

"Okay." Xu Heng nodded. "I understand."

He already knew what was going on when he said that.

This is not a command, but rather returning the choice as it is.

⸻

Back at the county office, Xu Heng personally took up his pen.

Instead of using the usual official document format, he wrote it down word by word, following the style of official documents from the prefecture.

There is no rhetoric.

There was no explanation.

The signature remains the same:

"Xu Heng is temporarily in charge of Pingyu County."

The document was sent out before dawn.

Xu Heng stood under the eaves, watching the messenger depart, when he suddenly realized something—

This letter is destined to be read more than once.

And that is indeed the case.

⸻

The seat of Runan Commandery.

The back room.

The lights were still on.

The armored officer who left the day before yesterday is now in the hall.

Besides these, there are three others.

One chief clerk of the prefecture, one assistant, and one close relative of the prefect.

The document was spread out on the table.

It was Xu Heng's reply.

The registrar spoke first, his tone unpleasant:

"Just two sentences?"

"This is just a perfunctory response."

Ya Jiang said coldly:

"It's one thing to be perfunctory."

"The problem is—he didn't say he wouldn't leave, but he also didn't say when he would leave."

Engaging in frowning:

"This is stalling."

The aide didn't respond immediately. He looked at the two sentences repeatedly, as if weighing them, and after a moment of contemplation, slowly said:

"It's not necessarily a matter of stalling."

Several people looked at him at the same time.

"The fact that the soldiers have been registered means that they have completed the 'tasks' assigned by the prefecture."

"The fact that the road has been secured tells us that if we move against them now, it's like we're dismantling the road ourselves."

As he said this, he gently tapped the table.

"The most important thing is the last sentence."

"The rest are at your disposal."

"This is not talking back."

"That's a rhetorical question."

Ya Jiang sneered:

"What are you asking in return?"

The aide looked up.

"Ask us in return—"

"Who dares to issue a real order to mobilize troops now?"

There was silence in the hall.

No one dared to respond to that.

Because everyone knows—

What does it mean if the order to mobilize troops is actually issued?

This means that, at a time when the alliance is not yet stable and the feudal lords are not yet fully assembled,

First, withdraw all the soldiers from the county, leaving an empty road.

If something really goes wrong,

The one who will take the blame will definitely not be Pingyu.

He hesitated for a moment before proceeding:

"Then...should we send more people to suppress it?"

The staff member shook his head.

"Pressing now will only make things worse."

"and--"

He paused.

"Who led those thousand men?"

Ya Jiang said in a deep voice:

"Xu Huang".

The staff member nodded.

"We need to find a way to pull this person away."

Upon hearing this, the registrar paused for a moment.

"pull?"

"A martial artist from a county?"

The aide said calmly:

"It's precisely because it's from the county that it's easy to pull."

"It will be too late if we wait until he joins someone else's army."

Ya Jiang snorted coldly:

"Can you pull it?"

The staff did not give a direct answer.

He simply said:

"Give him a name."

"Nominally, it belongs to the county."

"Soldiers, don't rush to move."

These words were spoken very softly.

This caused a simultaneous stirring in the hearts of the people in the hall.

⸻

Three days later.

Pingyu.

County government office.

Xu Heng was checking the newly recruited roster when the clerk hurriedly entered.

"Lord Xu".

"A letter has arrived from the county."

Xu Heng looked up.

This time, it wasn't a military supplies transfer.

Instead, it was a letter—

The prefectural government issued a document.

The wording was much milder than before.

The first half affirms that Pingyu has "orderly recruitment of soldiers and local stability".

In the middle section, it was mentioned briefly:

"Many of the volunteers in the county are capable of serving."

Finally, it all came down to a seemingly casual remark—

"It is said that Xu Huang is skilled in training troops and maintains order. The prefecture intends to temporarily appoint him as 'Separate Commander,' and the transfer will be discussed after the alliance is finalized."

Xu Heng paused slightly as he read this.

Separate Division Commander.

It's not a real shortage.

He does not hold military power.

but--

It is a name in the military order of the prefecture.

This is pulling.

It's also a trial.

Xu Heng did not close the document immediately.

Instead, he got up and went directly to Lüjiazhuang.

⸻

On the drill ground.

Xu Huang is training.

The newly recruited 500 men are already able to line up in formation according to orders.

Unhappy.

But Qi.

Xu Heng stood aside and watched for a while before quietly handing over the document.

Xu Huang did not immediately express his opinion after reading it.

He only asked one question:

"Is this the county's intention?"

"Yes," Xu Heng nodded, "but it's not an order."

Xu Huang remained silent.

He was well aware of the significance of this document.

I accepted this name—

It's like registering in the county first.

No answer —

It's like revealing your stance too early.

He looked up at the training ground in the distance.

The five hundred guards remained standing in their original positions.

He suddenly understood something Lu Ding had said earlier—

Let them remember his name.

Xu Huang closed the book, his fingers lingering for a moment on the edge.

"I'll take it," Xu Huang said.

Xu Heng was taken aback.

"However," Xu Huang added, "we only accept names."

"The soldiers are still in Pingyu."

Xu Heng looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"it is good."

⸻

That night.

After hearing the report, Lü Ding only said one sentence:

"They've started changing their tactics."

"Recruit people first."

"Move troops again."

Xu Huang asked:

"Is it too early for me to accept this name?"

Lü Ding shook his head.

"It's not early."

"Your name is on you."

"The troops are stationed here in Pingyu."

"That's what you call—"

He paused.

"Don't rush."

The sound of wind swept across the training ground.

The footsteps of the changing of the guard rang out once again on time.

That night.

Pingyu remained quiet.

But some people already understand—

The real game has only just begun.