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

Xun You looked up.

This time, there was no detour.

"I want to see."

"Is your chessboard worth betting the rest of your life on?"

The courtyard was very quiet.

The wind rustled through the leaves.

It made a rustling sound.

Lü Ding did not answer immediately.

He poured himself a cup of tea as well.

I took a sip.

Then he said:

"I can't guarantee anyone's safety here."

"No refunds allowed."

Xun You nodded.

"Before I arrived, there was no way out."

The two sat facing each other.

A light mist of tea vapor dissipated.

No one spoke again.

The night was very dark.

A breeze blew in from outside the courtyard, causing the lamplight to flicker slightly, but it never went out.

Xun You suddenly spoke.

"What do you think—"

"Will Dong Zhuo die?"

Lü Ding did not answer immediately.

He got up, walked to the porch, and glanced at the night sky.

"Yes," he said.

"But not now."

Xun You nodded.

That's how I calculated it too.

He paused for a moment.

"In Luoyang, many people believe—"

"As long as Dong Zhuo is killed, the world can return to what it was before."

Lü Ding turned around.

"You don't see it that way."

"I dare not look at it that way," Xun You corrected, "because I saw something else."

He looked up, his gaze calm.

"It wasn't Dong Zhuo who brought the world to where it is today."

"The world can no longer accommodate the old order."

That statement was made very casually.

But it made the courtyard even quieter for a moment.

"Rebellions will break out in various places," Xun You continued, "and the banners they raise will be more and more righteous than the last."

"But they are not of one mind; they all have their own plans."

Lü Ding then spoke.

"Because nobody trusts anyone else."

"It's not just that," Xun You shook his head, "but rather, they all know in their hearts—"

"Killing Dong Zhuo is just the beginning."

Lü Ding fell silent.

He suddenly realized that the person in front of him was not a loser.

Rather, they were people who had already calculated the ending in advance.

"So you think—" Lü Ding asked, "what will become of the world?"

Xun You did not answer directly.

He reached out and slowly drew a circle on the table.

"Central collapse."

"The prefectures and counties protect themselves."

"Powerful clans hold military power."

"Scholars choose their masters."

He looked up as he said this.

"This is the beginning of chaos."

Lu Ding's breathing became slightly shallow.

This statement is even colder than "the world is in chaos".

"What about Dong Zhuo?" Lü Ding asked.

"Dong Zhuo will not be the first person to 'hold the emperor hostage'."

Xun You said.

"Wait until he dies—"

Xun You raised his hand and waved it gently.

"The Emperor's Society still exists."

"But there are other Dong Zhuos in the world."

That's an understatement.

It was so light it sounded like a comment about the weather.

Lü Ding remained silent for a long time.

Then he asked a question that, while not a boastful statement, was deadly.

"So, who will survive?"

Xun You looked at him.

"Not the most loyal."

"Not the most correct one."

"They weren't the first to raise the flag either."

He spoke each word clearly.

"They are the ones who can gain a foothold even amidst the smoke of war."

Lu Ding suddenly smiled.

"So you came to find me."

It's not a question.

Yes, it's confirmed.

Xun You nodded.

What I saw in Luoyang was—

"Everyone is scrambling to recruit soldiers and personnel."

"And here."

He looked at the faint glow of the campfires visible outside the village.

What I see is taking root.

Lü Ding did not deny it.

"I don't want to be a feudal lord," he said.

"That's for later," Xun You replied.

"You are now doing things that only feudal lords would do."

Lü Ding's gaze tightened slightly.

Are you worried I'll go too far?

"I'm afraid you're not clear-headed enough when you leave," Xun You replied.

He then slowly said:

"The warlords will not truly fight to the death until Dong Zhuo dies."

"With Dong Zhuo dead, the warlords will be even less likely to fight to the death."

"They will fight."

"But only attack others."

"They will come to the king's aid."

"But the ultimate goal is simply to protect their own territory."

"A territory where each goes its own way."

Lü Ding nodded slowly.

He did not respond immediately.

He wasn't hesitating; rather, he was mentally rearranging the names "Pingyu" and "Runan."

"You say take root," he said, "but if you take root too quickly, people will notice."

Xun You smiled.

"So the first step is not expansion."

"Yes—take it."

Lü Ding looked up.

"What are you collecting?"

"Take back power," Xun You replied softly, "but not like taking back an official position."

"Be like water."

"It does not seek fame, nor does it occupy a high position, yet it is omnipresent."

Lu Ding gestured for him to continue.

Xun You reached out and tapped the table three times.

"The first step, Runan."

"You are now in Runan, and you are no longer the strongest force."

"But you are—"

He looked up at Lü Ding.

"The most reliable one."

Lu Ding's heart stirred.

What you're doing now is already halfway done.

Xun You continued:

"In Xiping and Ancheng counties, if anything happens, they'll contact you first."

"When the county encounters difficulties, the first reaction is not to send troops, but to tacitly agree that you should take the lead."

This proves one thing—

"Whenever something happens in Runan, the first people we think of are no longer the county soldiers."

Lü Ding suddenly understood.

"so--"

"So from now on, don't fight over it," Xun You interrupted him, "you have to let others have it."

"Let what?"

"Make the county 'feel' that they are using you."

Xun You spoke with an extremely steady tone:

"You have three things to do."

"First, you cannot stand in front of the stage now."

"Xu Heng's position must be secured."

"He needs to be in front so you can move behind."

Lu Ding's brows twitched slightly.

"You must find a way to ensure that every order in the county is inseparable from you."

Lu Ding remained silent for a moment.

"How did you do that?"

Xun You answered very decisively:

"grain."

"The counties of Runan will soon be in chaos."

"The problem isn't the military, it's logistics."

"You only need to do one thing—"

"Change all documents related to 'joint defense,' 'troop mobilization,' and 'food protection' to a single premise."

He looked at Lü Ding and spoke each word clearly:

"It must be coordinated by the Pingyu Righteous Cavalry Camp."

"You didn't give the order."

"Even when they're writing documents, they can't get past you."

Lü Ding took a soft breath.

Xun You continued:

"Secondly, the gentry."

"Your greatest danger right now is not your official position."

"yes--"

"Several prominent local families in Runan."

Lü Ding nodded.

"They are waiting."

"I'll wait until you crash and burn," Xun You said. "And I'll wait until you become too powerful."

"So you need to take the initiative and solve a difficult problem for them."

"What's the problem?"

"What is most feared in chaotic times?" Xun You asked rhetorically.

Lü Ding answered quickly.

"Food shortage."

"Wrong." Xun You shook his head. "The grain is there, but we dare not transport it."

He looked at Lü Ding.

"What you need to do is to give the gentry a way out."

"It's not about getting them to vote for you."

"It's about making them the only way for them to survive."

"You can open a 'charity warehouse'."

"We can set up a 'protection' system."

"We can get them to provide money, food, and manpower."

"But you must remember one thing."

Xun You's tone turned somber.

"Don't let them into the camp."

"They could only stand outside the camp."

This time, Lü Ding truly smiled.

"That way, they'll have no choice but to protect me at all costs."

"Yes." Xun You nodded, "Because you fell, their supply lines were cut off."

"Third," Xun You said slowly.