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

"It's also the most crucial step."

"The counties of Runan will soon encounter trouble."

Lü Ding was taken aback.

Xun You, however, remained unmoved.

"It's not you who's stirring up trouble."

"Instead, we need to let them understand it themselves—"

"Even when something happens in a county, they can still manage to hold on."

"But with several things piling up at once, we need to find a place to go."

"Find someone who can handle it."

Xun You paused for a moment.

"By then, Runan Prefecture will still look the same, but there will be more than one place that can truly be transformed."

Lü Ding remained silent.

He had already envisioned that scene in his mind.

long silence.

Lü Dingcai asked a question:

"What about Yuzhou?"

Xun You looked up.

This time, his tone was even softer than before.

"Yuzhou, you don't need to go get it."

"It will fall down by itself."

Lü Ding was taken aback.

"After Dong Zhuo moved the capital, Guanzhong was too busy to take care of itself."

"Look south from Jing and Yang."

"Look north from Yanzhou."

"Yuzhou is sandwiched in the middle, with weak troops, insufficient food supplies, and a heavy reputation."

Xun You slowly said:

"Wait until the world really starts fighting."

"Yuzhou will only have one choice—"

"Find a place where troops can be dispatched immediately and supplies can be protected immediately."

He looked at Lü Ding.

"And at that time—"

"Pingyu will become the center."

The night grew deeper.

The lamp flame, however, burned steadily.

Lü Ding did not speak immediately.

He stood under the eaves, gazing at the fields outside the manor swallowed by the night, as if waiting for something, or perhaps calculating something.

Xun You did not urge him.

He knew very well that this step required no further explanation.

Summer is deepening.

The aroma of wheat dissipates, and the summer heat begins to subside.

Within Runan Prefecture, the first piece of news that seemed amiss reached Pingyu.

This is not an urgent report.

It's not even bad news.

It's just a small county in the southwest corner of the country, and it added an extra sentence in the palindrome:

"Summer grain has been prepared, but the roads are not peaceful. Please postpone for a few days."

This statement is extremely safe.

It's flawless.

The county has done its job.

The grain has been prepared.

The reason is still the same reason that everyone knows but doesn't say a word about.

Not long ago, a county was smuggling summer grain on the county road. The smuggling was robbed en route, three officials escorting the grain were killed, and half of the grain was lost. Afterwards, it was only recorded as "road thieves" and no further investigation was conducted.

From then on, the phrase "the roads are not peaceful" was no longer just a cliché in official documents.

Whoever acts first will bear the responsibility first.

And the prefecture will not take over this responsibility for any county.

In contrast, outside Pingyu City, at least one army was willing to openly step forward.

The prefectural government did not immediately reply to the small southwestern county.

It's not that I don't want to go back.

However, there have been more documents of this type recently.

The following day, another county reported:

"The grain has been counted according to procedure, and the granary has been temporarily sealed pending further orders."

Subsequently, another county reported: "Rumors are circulating along the trade routes, which may cause complications. We request further instructions before taking any action."

Up to this point, things were not out of control.

The problem is—

Everyone is waiting.

Wait for the official decree from the prefecture.

Which county will take action first?

Which grain route should be tested first?

And this is precisely the most dangerous time.

In the midst of this stalemate, a new convoy appeared outside Pingyu City.

No flags are raised, no bugles are sounded.

Only a dozen or so grain carts, fully loaded, stopped beside the official road south of the city.

The people escorting the grain were not soldiers.

They were several burly men dressed in coarse cloth shorts.

They don't go into the city.

He didn't even look back.

Just leave it there.

It's like taking a break, or like waiting for something.

It's not noon yet.

The second convoy has arrived.

This time, there were even more cars.

The people are more diverse.

They have a local accent.

There are also those from other counties.

They also did not enter the city.

They simply moved the grain cart next to the one in front of them.

Dust rose up.

It fell quickly again.

The guards at the city gate were stunned.

This is not a case of fleeing famine.

It wasn't a grain transfer.

The news quickly reached the county government office.

Xu Heng stood in front of the desk, looking at the briefing in his hand, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

"Where did it come from?" he asked.

The clerk whispered:

"From Xincai."

"They said the cooperation document hasn't been issued yet, and they're worried something might happen on the way."

Xu Heng did not speak immediately.

He walked to the window and glanced towards the city.

In the distance, a blurry line of carriages could already be seen beside the official road.

"Is there anything else?" he asked.

The clerk swallowed hard.

"Just now... someone delivered another message."

"There's also a batch in Ancheng."

Xu Heng closed his eyes.

He understood.

It wasn't just one company that had the problem.

Instead, no one dared to make the first move.

afternoon.

The third batch of grain trucks has arrived.

This time, the people escorting the cart went directly to the Pingyu Righteous Cavalry Camp.

There was no disturbance.

They didn't force their way in.

They simply handed over a document.

The heading reads:

"Please assist in the delivery of the grain."

The main text, however, is extremely vague.

There was no specific time.

There was no clear route.

It's more like they've handed you a question, presented exactly as it is.

Xu Huang read it but did not accept it.

He only said one sentence:

"The number of troops is limited, so we need to request permission."

This is a push.

It's also a block.

But the person didn't leave.

He was standing outside the camp.

They stood very properly.

evening.

The grain carts outside the city had already formed a rather long line.

There was no uproar.

There was no argument.

There wasn't even any haggling.

There was only a kind of oppressive silence that made it hard to breathe.

People started whispering among themselves.

"Didn't they say the county needed grain?"

"Then why are they all piled up here?"

"Who dares to ship first?"

"You dare?"

No one responded.

at night.

Lüjiazhuang.

Xun You stood under the corridor, watching the torches that were beginning to light up in the distance.

Those were temporary lamps lit beside the grain carts outside the city.

"They've already started piling them up," he said.

Lü Ding nodded.

"Sooner than I expected."

"It's not about speed," Xun You corrected, "it's that they're all waiting for someone who can take responsibility for them."

Lü Ding remained silent.

He knew very well—

Once you take this step, you can never let it go.

⸻

a few days later.

A clerk from the county government arrived late.

There was no explicit order.

The statement simply stated: "Summer grain production in each county should be determined according to local conditions."

These four words are as good as saying nothing.

This resulted in a few more grain carts arriving outside the city.

Because it means—

The county will not take responsibility for anyone.

⸻

The situation became even more tense after the document was issued.

There is so much grain outside the city that we need to temporarily clear land.

People began setting up tents outside Pingyu City.

It's not inhabited.

It's about protecting the grain.

There were servants of the gentry.

There were also county officials.

They were wary of each other.

Yet they depend on each other.

Because nobody dares to leave.

This delay put immense pressure on the county.

That afternoon.

Xu Heng personally went to the Yicong Camp.

He did not bring any documents with him.

I just stood at the camp gate and watched for a long time.

"If you don't answer soon," he said, "things are going to get out of hand."

Xu Huang said in a deep voice:

"Once you receive it, it's not just about protecting grain once."

"It applies to everything from now on."

Xu Heng did not refute.

He simply whispered:

"The county... is also waiting for you."

⸻

These words were spoken very softly.

It was like a stone that had fallen onto the water.

⸻

That night.

Lü Ding finally left the village.

They were not wearing armor.

He did not bring any attendants.

He only brought Xun You with him.

The two stood by the official road outside the city.

Beneath the torches, rows of silent grain carts stood.

The wheels were stuck in the soil.

It's as if it has already taken root.

Lü Ding looked around.

Then, open your mouth.

"The grain remains untouched."

The person escorting the grain was taken aback.

But the next sentence followed.

"Starting tonight—"

"All grain carts will be taken over by the militia battalion's sentry posts."

"Arranged in segments according to the route taken."

"The cars won't leave until the people disperse."

"No one is allowed to move without my permission."

Lu Ding simply finished speaking calmly.

But in an instant—

This put everyone at ease.

Because they finally realized that someone was willing to stand at the forefront and take the lead.

A night breeze blew by.

The torch flickered.

Lu Ding stood among the grain carts, saying nothing more.

Xun You was beside him and whispered:

"You've already answered."

Lu Ding hummed in agreement.

"But I had no luck."

Xun You paused for a moment.

That's enough.