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

The fog cleared half a minute.

The two looked at each other.

Xu Huang's heart sank.

It was the same leader who had led the night raid on Pingyu Village.

At that moment, Captain Jiao's pupils suddenly contracted.

His shoulders, which were originally very taut, had noticeably slumped a bit.

The next instant, he abruptly took half a step back and uttered a low growl:

"withdraw!"

The shout was extremely urgent.

It's not a tactical shift.

I recognized him.

It was too late to retreat.

Xu Huang's knife was already pressed against it.

It wasn't a chop.

It's a horizontal cut.

The blade skimmed across the mist, leaving a sliver of cold light.

In the fog, the sound of blood rose again.

It wasn't the sound of continuous fighting.

It was a short, crisp, deliberately lowered sound.

Someone fell to the ground.

Someone was knocked aside.

Someone groaned in the fog and never stood up again.

The close combat lasted only a moment.

It's not because one side is afraid to fight.

Rather, it's because—

Some people have recognized the situation.

As Captain Jiao retreated, his steps faltered for a moment.

He is very clear.

The soldiers in front of us are not county soldiers.

This was not a hastily assembled grain protection team.

It was a well-organized military unit.

If this drags on any longer, more people will die.

He raised his hand, signaling the people around him to hold the line.

Then, he actually smiled.

That smile was not relaxed.

But they resigned themselves to their fate.

"So it was you."

This is not just small talk.

Yes, it's confirmed.

Xu Huang's knife did not fall immediately.

The blade stopped three inches from the opponent's chest.

"Who sent you?" he asked.

The voice was not loud.

But the fog seemed to have been pressed down, as if it had been thickened by a layer.

Captain Jiao remained silent for a moment.

He looked up, glanced at Xu Huang, and then looked at the grassy ditches to his left and right.

There, there are still shadows yet to appear.

Captain Jiao did not answer immediately; a voice came out after a moment.

"Asking this is useless."

Xu Huang's eyes turned completely cold.

"You are not qualified."

Xu Huang did not ask any further questions.

Those who died outside the village that night in Pingyu should not have died in vain.

He raised his hand.

It wasn't a sword strike.

It was just a very light gesture.

The Yi Cong Battalion's lines immediately advanced one step.

The shields moved forward, the archers raised their bows, but did not release the arrows.

Their escape route had been blocked in advance.

Captain Jiao's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Encircle them."

Xu Huang only said two words.

The sound wasn't loud.

But it made everyone in the fog stop what they were doing.

This is to keep everyone here.

Captain Jiao gave him a deep look.

There was no hatred in that one look.

He slowly backed away.

It's not about escaping.

They were forced to retreat because the road was cleared for them.

The figures that had not yet appeared in the fog also began to loosen at this moment.

Some people want to stay.

But he was grabbed by the person next to him.

Captain Jiao suddenly stopped.

It wasn't because someone stopped him.

He stopped it himself.

The fog gradually dissipated.

The outline of the official road gradually came into view.

More than ten corpses lay scattered on the ground.

It wasn't finished off.

There was no venting of anger.

Keep only what should be kept.

Captain Jiao looked down at his chest.

The wound wasn't deep.

But it hit the vital spot right there.

No blood spurted out.

It just seeped down little by little along the nail folds.

He suddenly smiled.

She laughed very softly.

"I see."

He looked up at Xu Huang.

This is the first and last time I will call out this name.

"Xu Huang".

The voice was not loud.

But it's very clear.

"You are on the right path."

He paused for a moment.

"I'm taking the fast road."

"Fast route—"

He looked down at the bloodstains at his feet.

"They won't go far."

The words fell.

His body swayed slightly.

It wasn't pushed.

It was my own weakness that caused this.

He leaned forward.

It crashed heavily onto the official road.

His presence was no longer felt in the fog.

In an instant, the surroundings fell completely silent.

The figures that had not yet appeared in the fog vanished completely at this moment.

It wasn't a rout.

It disappeared.

Xu Huang stood still and did not give chase.

He stared at the corpse on the ground and paused for a moment.

Then, he gave the order in a low voice:

"Qingdao".

"Collect the body."

"Memorize all the weapons, armor, and symbols."

"Not a single one will be missed."

⸻

That evening.

The city gates of Xiping County have finally reopened.

It wasn't given on the spot.

Instead, they opened each door slowly, one by one.

The common people were the first to peek out.

He leaned forward again.

Only after confirming that the troops on the official road showed no intention of turning away did anyone dare to actually leave the city gate.

Whispers spread slowly through the crowd.

"Not a county soldier..."

"Not from this county either..."

"It's from Pingyu."

These three words were spoken softly.

Yet it carried a rare sense of peace.

The magistrate of Xiping County personally went out of the city.

He wasn't walking fast.

But he walked very straight.

After standing still, he didn't say any pleasantries.

He simply bowed deeply.

Thank you.

Xu Huang returned the greeting.

The same bow.

"Guard the grain supply lines."

The magistrate nodded.

He knew this was not a reminder.

It's an explanation.

If it weren't for this army blocking our way today—

Within three days, Xiping will be thrown into chaos.

It was not a military uprising.

It is people's hearts that are in turmoil.

⸻

Pingyu.

The news arrived before the county clerk could even read it.

"The Righteous Cavalry Battalion fought a battle in Xiping."

"Those who are blocking the grain supply are not thieves, but soldiers."

No details.

No, it's not necessary.

These words are enough to make one thing clear—

The troops in Pingyu were not just for show.

Three days later.

The new official document from the prefecture was sent to Pingyu.

The document is very long.

The wording is extremely stable.

The first half is all about "local stability" and "joint efforts to protect the borders".

But what truly made my heart clench was the last line:

The Pingyu Righteous Cavalry Battalion will temporarily assume the responsibility of providing external support to Xiping and Ancheng counties.

He was not transferred.

No compilation.

There were not even any new regulations.

only--

The responsibility has expanded.

Xu Heng remained silent for a long time after reading it.

"What are they doing..." he whispered.

"I'm pushing you forward."

Lu Ding stood by the window, watching the flow of people coming and going on the official road.

Those who escort grain.

To avoid the road.

To gather information.

"No," he said.

"It's like putting a burden on your shoulders."

Xu Heng was taken aback.

Lü Ding turned around.

"Think about it."

"If the only objective is to defend Pingyu, should there be any responsibility for providing external support?"

Xu Heng shook his head.

"don't want."

"Then why now?" Lu Ding asked.

Xu Heng remained silent for a moment.

The answer is already out.

"Let's begin now," Lü Ding said slowly, "as soon as something happens in any county."

"The first person to be remembered was not a county soldier."

"It's Pingyu."

Xu Heng whispered:

"You've put yourself in the spotlight."

Lü Ding smiled.

There was no sense of pride.

It's more like resignation.

"I've been standing there for too long."

"That's why the people behind didn't dare to move."

⸻

late at night.

Pingyu Yicong Camp.

The camp flag fluttered in the wind.

Xu Huang stood motionless under the banner.

Someone walked up behind him.

"General."

"Thirteen men have died in action today."

Xu Huang closed his eyes.

"Record your name."

"Erect a monument."

"Families will receive compensation based on war damage."

The man was startled.

"Based on... battle losses?"

Xu Huang nodded.

"From today onwards."

"This camp is no longer temporary."

The wind fluttered the camp flag.

It rustled.

That night.

Outside the prefectural government.

Some people have already started quietly discussing something else—

Since we have to defend one county, we also need to support two other counties.

Is this battalion enough?