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

The grain outside Pingyu City was piled higher and higher.

At first, there were just a lot of cars.

Later, more people joined.

County officials, clerks, and porters who were responsible for transporting grain were forced to stay outside the city for more than ten days at a time.

They guarded the grain during the day and took turns keeping watch at night, sleeping under carts or sheds, with a straw mat on which they slept through the night, exposed to dew.

If the grain is not transported, the responsibility will remain hanging in the balance.

Not long after the grain was piled up, some people began to give out.

It's not a serious illness.

He just has a fever, cough, and can't get out of bed.

His companions summoned a physician, who, after taking his pulse and glancing at him, simply shook his head.

"This is an illness that has been slowly developed over time."

"He's already exhausted and his life is over."

The fever subsided a bit after taking the medicine, but the person didn't wake up again by dawn.

He died peacefully, his face turned toward the grain cart, his hand still clutching the bamboo slips recording the amount of grain, his knuckles white, as if he was still thinking about the grain's destination until his very last moment.

When the news reached the volunteer army camp, Xu Huang stood for a long time without saying a word.

He did not die in battle.

It wasn't a robbery.

It can't even be considered an "accident".

But unfortunately—

Die here.

To die in a place where "someone is watching".

In less than half a day, sounds began to emanate from outside the city.

No one dared to speak out loud.

But each sentence is very weighty:

"They didn't kill the people."

"But she died here."

"If this drags on, won't there be a second one?"

No one dared to say these words in front of the militia.

But they can grow legs on their own.

In the evening, another porter fainted.

He didn't die.

But as soon as he fell, everyone saw it—

That face was so ashen, it didn't look alive.

⸻

Lü Ding learned of this at night.

Xun You did not rush to say "what to do".

He simply pushed the list gently in front of Lü Ding.

"This is the first one."

Lu Ding stared at that line of names for a long time.

"I didn't distribute the grain," he said.

"I know," Xun You replied quickly, "but it wasn't you who forced them to stay."

Lü Ding did not speak again.

Because he knew better than anyone else—

There's no need to force them; in some places, once you stand still, people won't dare to move.

"If this drags on any longer," Xun You said slowly, "more people will fall."

"It wasn't a robbery."

"It's not a conflict."

"They just couldn't hold on any longer."

He paused, then added:

"And this kind of death is the hardest to explain."

Lü Ding closed his eyes.

This is the first price to pay, not from the sword or the fire, but from the responsibility that fell upon him first.

Not long after, people from the prefectural government arrived.

It's not urgent.

They were not officials with orders.

He was just an ordinary clerk, carrying a letter of inquiry.

The document was written very lightly: "Recently, grain supplies have been temporarily suspended, and many people from various counties are stranded, which may cause inconvenience. Since Pingyu is assisting in the relief efforts, could the grain be allocated as well to avoid further complications?"

There was no "order," no "command," not even a "please," yet it was as if it had already been decided that this was something you were supposed to do.

After Xun You finished reading, he tapped his knuckles lightly on the table.

"They've started."

"Start with what?"

"They're starting to pin the blame for what happened on us."

Lu Ding took the document, glanced at it, and suddenly smiled.

"They don't want to pick up dead people."

Xun You nodded.

"Dead people don't look good."

"But if I die here with you," Lü Ding said slowly, "then it won't be the prefecture's problem anymore."

"Yes," Xun You said, "that is because you 'failed to provide adequate protection'."

Xu Heng's face darkened.

"Should we go back or not?"

"Let's go back," Lü Ding said.

He picked up his pen and wrote only one line:

"The large number of people stranded is not what we wanted, but we dare not move the grain without orders."

not much.

Not hard.

But he gently pushed the word "order" back.

That night, the prefectural government did not return.

But the next morning, another document arrived.

This time, we won't mention the dead.

Just one sentence:

"A certain county is short of grain, so it will temporarily borrow surplus grain from other counties to reassure the people."

It didn't say who it was borrowed from.

But everyone understands—

The only one we can borrow is Pingyu.

For the grain is with you.

After reading it, Xun You only said one sentence:

"They're testing you."

"Try what?"

"Let's see if you dare to distribute the grain."

Lü Ding closed the document.

"Once I separate..."

"And what have you become?" Xun You asked.

Lü Ding's voice was very low:

"They became the ones who took all the consequences for them."

If you don't distinguish between them, the people will resent the government's incompetence.

If you lose a point, whoever falls behind or has to keep going will be held responsible.

The prefectural government can simply stand behind and watch you withstand everything.

⸻

evening.

More people have appeared outside the city.

It wasn't for transporting grain.

They came to "inquire".

Someone asked in a low voice:

When will Pingyu release grain?

Some people are more direct:

"Is it ready to transport grain?"

The soldier on guard did not answer.

But their silence is the answer in itself.

That night, the area outside the city was quieter than the night before.

The silence was unsettling.

Lu Ding stood outside the village, watching the line of grain carts.

He suddenly realized something—

He no longer needs to prove whether he "can manage" or not.

The question now is:

Should he take on all the dirty work for everyone?

Xun You stood beside him and whispered:

"Now, you're no longer someone who 'gets your help'."

Lü Ding remained silent.

"They've started to feel—"

Xun You paused for a moment,

"Only you can manage this."

As night deepened, a deliberate quiet descended upon the area outside the city.

The shadows of the grain carts were stretched very long.

Before midnight, three men arrived from outside the camp: one old and two middle-aged. They were dressed neatly, and their boots were clean, so they were clearly not the grain transporters.

The soldier on guard stopped them.

The old man raised his hand, offering a business card, and said only one sentence:

"Chen family of Runan, come and see the grain."

This sentence was spoken very softly.

But it made the soldier on guard instinctively turn around and glance at the lights in the camp.

The message quickly reached Lü Ding.

Xun You listened without surprise, and simply said:

"When a person dies, the gentry will surely come."

Lü Ding did not go out immediately.

He stood in the shadows, watching the three men standing beside the grain cart, talking in hushed tones.

They did not look at the body.

They didn't ask about the cause of death.

They simply observed the grain, the vehicles, the sentry posts, and the soldiers' posture.

It's like taking inventory of something that has started to "get out of control".

After a short while, the old man spoke.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for several people around to hear.

"The grain has been piled up here for more than ten days."

"The person is dead."

"If this drags on any longer, there might be more than one."

After he finished speaking, he turned around, faced the direction of the camp gate, and bowed slightly.

"We are not here to interrogate you."

"I just wanted to ask Young Master Lü to consider this—"

"If this grain isn't transported soon, who will ultimately be held responsible?"

This statement does not name anyone.

But it's like a needle, piercing the most critical spot.

Lü Ding then came out.

In the firelight, his expression remained calm.

"Put it on me," he said.

The old man was taken aback.

Obviously, I didn't expect him to answer so quickly.

Lu Ding looked at him and continued:

"People die here, and so does the grain."

"It's already very clear whose share it is."

The surroundings became quiet.

The old man was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"In that case..."

"Then my Chen family is willing to take the lead."

"Borrow thirty cartloads of grain to relieve the county's urgent need."

The air instantly tightened upon hearing this.