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

It was getting dark.

On the official road outside Pingyu City, someone was walking slowly.

The man was dressed in gray clothes, the fabric old but impeccably clean, the cuffs neither too wide nor too narrow, so that he didn't get dusty as he walked. He walked slowly, and never looked back.

The route was not deserted; there were many more carriages and horses coming and going than at this time of year in previous years.

Some carried grain sacks, some led mule carts, and some young men walked in twos and threes, with short blades of varying ages hanging at their waists, but their expressions were not ostentatious.

The man in gray watched for a while, his brow twitching almost imperceptibly.

Chaos is about to break out, but people's hearts are not yet in turmoil.

This in itself is unusual.

Instead of entering the city, he followed the official road outside the city and traveled south for half a mile, where he saw a drill ground in the distance.

The site wasn't new; the wooden stakes at the corners were even a bit old.

The people stood very neatly, not in the rigid order of the military, but so neatly that you could tell at a glance where everyone knew where they should stand.

When the command was given, the voice was not loud, but no one was slow to react.

The man in gray had simply been standing by the roadside, casually observing.

But when the first rotation ended, he subconsciously stopped in his tracks.

--wrong.

This is not a hastily assembled group of volunteers.

This is an army that already has the air of a military force.

It's not about using whips, but about maintaining order day after day.

Just as he was about to take a closer look, a voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Sir, you're not from this county, are you?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it was clear.

The man in gray turned around.

Not far away, a young man stood, dressed simply, with a calm expression, but his gaze was steadily fixed on him.

There was no hostility.

There were no formalities.

It's just a statement.

"Just passing by," the man in gray replied casually.

"These past few days, quite a few people have passed by," the man nodded. "Some are watching the road, some are watching the soldiers."

The man in gray smiled slightly.

"I was just watching the show."

The man smiled as well.

"A lively scene isn't visually appealing."

"Trouble is more likely to happen in crowded places."

These words were spoken softly, yet carried an undeniable certainty.

In that instant, the man in gray seemed to suddenly understand something—

The reason this place isn't chaotic isn't because there are many people, but because there are people who keep everything under control.

"My surname is Xun," he said casually, "Xun You."

The young man nodded slightly.

"Lü Ding".

There was no further introduction or small talk.

But the moment the name left his lips, Lü Ding felt a barely perceptible pause in his heart.

Xun You.

He had certainly heard of that name before.

Xun You was not known for his bravery, but for his strategic thinking. He was a strategist who considered the aftermath before the victory, and he was a reliable advisor.

"He shouldn't be here at this time. I remember that Xun You was imprisoned around this time for plotting to kill Dong Zhuo. No, no, he was still in the plotting stage and hadn't been executed yet. So why is he in Pingyu? Is it related to the prefecture?"

While Lü Ding was deep in thought.

On the training ground, the command rang out again.

Lu Ding snapped out of his daze, turned to look at Xun You, and said casually:

"If you don't mind, it's getting late, why don't you come in and sit for a while?"

Xun You hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

⸻

In Lujiazhuang, the lights were not bright.

There was no banquet.

There was only a pot of warm wine and a few vegetarian dishes.

Xu Huang sat to one side, saying little, only adding a sentence when Lü Ding gestured for him to speak.

They weren't discussing military strategy.

"I've traveled this road more these past few days than in previous years," Xun You said.

"Because someone is looking for a way out," Lü Ding replied.

"An escape route?" Xun You raised his eyes.

"Dong Zhuo is in Luoyang." Lü Ding said calmly, "We have no choice but to fight, but if we really fight, no one is confident of victory."

"So first, choose a side."

Xun You remained silent for a moment.

That's too blunt.

"Aren't you afraid I'll take these words elsewhere?" he asked.

Lü Ding shook his head.

"If I were afraid, I wouldn't have invited you in."

Xun You suddenly laughed.

That smile seemed to have lifted something off his shoulders.

"I certainly didn't come here of my own volition."

Lü Ding did not respond.

Just wait.

"Some people think it's appropriate for me to come and take a look," Xun Heng said slowly, "to see which way this place will turn."

"Let me see you too."

After those words were spoken, the room fell silent.

Xu Huang raised his gaze for a moment, then quickly returned it to his wine cup.

Lu Ding's expression remained unchanged.

"Have you finished reading it?" he asked.

Xun You nodded.

"I've finished watching it."

"how?"

"Stable," Xun You replied quickly, "more stable than I expected."

"So—" Lü Ding continued, "what will you say when you go back?"

Xun You remained silent for a moment.

"I would say there won't be any chaos here."

"We shouldn't act recklessly."

Lu Ding finally showed a slight smile.

"That's good."

The wine was not finished.

But that was the end of the conversation.

As night deepened, the wind outside Lüjiazhuang grew stronger.

When Xun You got up to take his leave, Lü Ding did not immediately see him off, but said, "The night road is not easy to travel, and there are empty rooms in the manor. Why don't you stay the night, sir?"

Xun You glanced at him and did not refuse.

"Alright."

⸻

There were no formalities or formalities for guest rooms; only a small courtyard room was prepared. The lights were dim, and a faint light shone through the paper windows. At night, one could hear the footsteps of the changing of the guard over the drill ground, each step firm and steady.

Xun You lay on the couch, but did not fall asleep immediately.

He rarely spends the night in places like this.

Fewer people will be left behind by such individuals.

This estate lacks the air of a noble family, yet it is quieter than many grand mansions. So quiet that one realizes that the order here is not maintained by rituals and laws.

It depends on people.

And that person is right here in this manor.

As night deepened, Xun You slowly closed his eyes.

⸻

It was before dawn.

The Lu family village has already made its move.

It wasn't a commotion, but rather the kind of quiet that everyone knew when they were supposed to get up.

When Xun You pushed open the door, there was already someone in the courtyard.

He was dressed simply and was instructing his servants to clean up the water accumulated in the corridor. His voice was not loud, but it left no room for ambiguity.

Hearing footsteps, the person turned around.

His gaze fell on Xun You, paused for a moment, and then revealed a slight smile.

"Brother."

Xun You was taken aback.

"Xun Heng?"

The man cupped his hands in greeting.

"I heard last night that my cousin had arrived at the village. I wanted to come and see him, but I was afraid of bothering him."

Xun You then took a closer look at the other party.

Xun Heng, a few years younger than him, had an unassuming appearance, yet possessed a composure that only those who get things done could have. It wasn't the sharpness of a strategist, but rather—the kind of person who could hold onto their position.

"Are you working here?" Xun You asked.

Xun Heng smiled and said.

"Yes, I stayed here after leaving Yingchuan."

The two walked side by side to the corridor, where low commands could be heard from the direction of the drill ground, as the newly recruited soldiers were lining up.

Xun You glanced at it and said softly, "You've chosen a bad place to stay."

Xun Heng shook his head.

"On the contrary."

"This is the place where people should be right now."

Xun You glanced sideways.

Xun Heng paused, then suddenly asked, "What do you think of Young Master Lü?"