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

The aide replied in a low voice, "If it's the Righteous Cavalry Camp—"

"It can be reached in half a day."

The words fell.

The prefect tapped his knuckles lightly on the table.

not heavy.

But it is extremely slow.

He did not immediately express his opinion.

He simply looked down at the urgent report on the table that was still open.

The grain transport route to Xiping County was cut off, the bandits were unaware of the situation, and the county soldiers dared not leave the city.

The four characters “盗众不明” (the thieves were unaware of the situation) were written very lightly.

But he knew very well what was going on in his heart.

This is not theft.

It's chaotic.

Chaos, once it drags on for even a day, is not just a matter of "running out of food," but rather "losing control."

"What did the magistrate of Xiping County say?" the prefect asked.

"Request reinforcements," the aide replied. "Three urgent reports, each more urgent than the last."

The prefect slowly exhaled.

He looked up and gazed into the hall.

"Where are the county soldiers now?"

The staff member hesitated for a moment.

"The troops on the northern route have been redeployed and have not yet returned to camp."

The prefect's brows furrowed even more deeply.

The county soldiers were not present.

This means—

The fastest way to reach Xiping now is...

There was only one soldier.

That was the unit of soldiers he had just intercepted for supplies.

Under the lamplight, the prefect's gaze fell upon the document outlining the local government's plan to raise military provisions.

At that moment, he finally realized a fact:

The question of whether this force is "usable" is no longer one of concern.

But -

If you don't use it, something bad will happen.

"Let's get the documents ready," the prefect suddenly said.

The aide was startled: "Now?"

"Now," the prefect nodded, "we won't follow the troop deployment order."

"Under what pretext?"

The prefect remained silent for a moment.

"On behalf of the county, we request assistance."

The staff member looked up.

This word is used with extreme emphasis.

It's not "tuning".

It is "please".

This means that, at this moment, the county is in a subordinate position.

"How should the document be written?" the aide asked in a low voice.

The prefect slowly said:

"State three points."

"First, the situation in Xiping County is urgent, and the grain supply line must not be cut off."

"Secondly, the Pingyu Righteous Cavalry Battalion will be subject to local command and will not be subject to separate control."

"third--"

He paused.

"The military rations will be allocated by the prefecture immediately."

The staff member's breathing became noticeably heavier.

"What about the three-day postponement—"

"Withdraw," the prefect ordered. "Withdraw immediately."

He said this in a very flat tone.

But the staff could tell—

This was a complete concession.

⸻

Pingyu.

It was before dawn.

The Yi Cong camp has already begun to stir.

Xu Huang stood in front of the camp gate, looking calmly at the rows of prepared supplies.

Lü Ding stood beside him.

"The official documents from the prefecture have just arrived." Xu Heng strode over and handed over a letter.

Lü Ding accepted it.

Unfold.

I didn't finish reading it right away.

Instead, he glanced at the signature first.

—Seal used in the prefecture.

Not the central army.

He is the prefect.

Lü Ding then continued reading.

The document is not long.

Yet it was written with remarkable stability.

Neither bowing down nor forcing others.

But one word was written very clearly.

[Please send the Pingyu Righteous Cavalry Camp to quickly reinforce Xiping.]

Lü Ding closed the document.

"We've been used," Xu Huang said in a low voice.

"I was forced to use it," Lü Ding replied.

Xu Heng stood to the side, his voice very low:

"The grain has been specified as being allocated by the prefecture."

"And immediately."

Xu Huang's gaze sharpened.

"This is to wipe away all the previous debts."

Lü Ding nodded.

"They can't afford to lose a second time."

He looked up at the sky gradually brightening outside the camp gate.

"But this time—"

"We have to go."

Xu Huang did not hesitate.

"I will lead the troops."

Lu Ding glanced at him.

"You bring eight hundred men."

Xu Huang was taken aback.

"The remaining two hundred will be used for night patrols."

After Lu Ding finished speaking, he paused and continued, "Moreover, we can only win in Xiping, we cannot afford to lose."

⸻

The first quarter of Chen Shi (7-9 AM).

Pingyu Yi followed the camp and left the camp.

There was no fanfare.

There was no one in the city to see them off.

Only one camp flag was unfurled on the official road.

The flag is not new.

The characters are not elegant.

The four characters "Pingyu Yicong" fluttered in the morning breeze.

The people stood by the roadside.

There was no cheering.

But they did not back down.

They watched as the procession, step by step, embarked on the official road.

Someone whispered:

"This isn't a transfer."

"We're going to rescue people."

These words were spoken very softly.

It felt as if a stone had been placed on everyone's heart.

⸻

North Road of Xiping County.

The fog was so low it clung to the ground, and the official road was as if covered by a layer of gray cloth, with only shadows visible a dozen or so steps away.

Outside the city gate, there were only about thirty people in sight, standing very far apart, as if they were randomly blocking the road.

But the magistrate of Xiping County immediately noticed something was wrong—

In the ditch on the left, the reeds still bear fresh marks of being trampled.

Behind the rocks on the right, the armored figure flashed and disappeared;

At the bends in the official road, even the footprints had been deliberately erased.

It's not that there are few people.

Everyone hides it.

The magistrate of Xiping County raised his hand, signaling the front row to stop.

The two scouts had barely stepped ten paces out of the city gate when suddenly a bowstring rang out in the fog.

One man was shot in the throat and collapsed on the spot;

The other man turned to retreat, but was pinned to the ground by a short spear that flew from the side.

There was no shouting.

There was no pursuit.

The thirty-odd people remained standing in the same spot, as if they hadn't moved at all.

⸻

After the fog cleared, the sound of horses' hooves arose.

Not urgent.

Not chaotic.

It wasn't a raid.

It is advancing in formation.

The sound was half swallowed by the fog, but it still pressed steadily against the ground, one beat after another, approaching the official road.

The thirty-odd people blocking the road finally tightened their stance.

It's not about retreating.

Instead, they converge simultaneously.

It's like tucking a loose net into the middle.

"They're here," someone whispered.

The voice just fell.

A team stepped out from the fog.

Not wearing heavy armor.

Shield in front, spear behind.

The formation was small, but extremely tight.

The first row, with shield edges aligned and steps in unison.

Next came the spearmen, who kept their bodies low, their spear tips slightly raised but not swaying.

Then, the archers lined up on both flanks, their bows already drawn.

Xu Huang was in the formation.

There was no shouting.

He did not draw his sword.

He simply raised his hand.

--stop.

The entire team came to an instant.

At that moment, the person on the other end felt a sinking feeling in their heart.

This is not a county soldier.

Among the group blocking the road, someone couldn't help but mutter a curse.

"Tsk."

next moment.

Xu Huang's hand fell.

"Enter."

The shield array advances.

It's not 沖.

It is pressure.

More than thirty men immediately fired arrows.

Few arrows, but deadly.

The two shield bearers were jolted back half a step, and the shields made a muffled thud.

But the formation didn't break.

Xu Huang didn't even look back.

"Left wing."

The archer moved forward half a step.

put.

The strings resounded in unison.

A few short, muffled groans came from the fog.

It wasn't a scream.

The person who was shot didn't have time to shout.

The person on the other side finally realized something was wrong.

"They're not county soldiers, retreat!" someone shouted.

Before he could finish speaking...

Xu Huang had already drawn his sword.

It's not about raising it high.

It is held horizontally.

"stick."

The shield array surged forward.

The distance was instantly reduced to within ten steps.

The short spear was thrown.

It wasn't a random stabbing.

It was aimed at the gap behind the shield, at the exposed legs, at the person who was a beat slow to retreat.

Blood splattered into the mist for the first time.

The formation blocking the road began to break down.

Some people want to quit.

But then they discovered—

An unexpected, chilling glint appeared in the fog as they made their way out.

It is the second column of meaning.

They had already circled around to the side and rear when the shield array was advancing.

This moment.

Xu Huang finally spoke.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was extremely cold.

"Cover the rear."

Hand in hand.

There was no shouting attack.

There was only the sound of flesh hitting flesh and iron hitting bone.

An enemy soldier was knocked down and tried to get up, but his wrist was stepped on.

The knife fell.

Blood splattered on the ground.

Xu Huang stepped into the fog.

A flash of light.

He suddenly paused.

The moment the man with the knife looked up—

"...It's you?"