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

Lü Ding and Xun You originally thought that the aristocratic families would be the first to give way.

But they didn't expect—

The first to step forward were the tenants who had already seen the "difference".

It wasn't for the sake of gaining more; it was because they realized for the first time that they didn't necessarily have to live this way.

⸻

The wind suddenly picked up on the ridge north of Zhao Family Village.

The wind made my eyes sting.

But no one blinked.

Because everyone can see it—

If this drags on any longer, someone has to make a move here first.

The standoff has gone on for far too long.

Even the tenants in the front row had sweaty palms.

After a while, someone started pacing impatiently back and forth over to the manager's side.

It's not that anyone wants to fight.

This line has been stretched to its limit.

If it doesn't move, it will break.

⸻

"Ask one more time."

The manager's voice was deep.

"Are you guys going back to work or not?"

No one answered.

It's not that nobody wants to speak up.

But -

I've already said that.

⸻

Just then.

One of the clan members suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"Why waste your breath on them?"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly took a step forward and reached out to snatch the hoe from the tenant farmer at the front.

The action is fast.

It was also very sudden.

⸻

In that instant, it was like a spark falling into dry grass.

On the tenant's side, someone instinctively gave a push.

It's not about using force.

It's just instinct.

But this push was immediately seized upon by someone.

"You dare to lay a hand on me?!"

The clan members shouted loudly.

"Did you see that?!"

"They're going to rebel!"

⸻

The scene instantly descended into chaos.

The hoe handles collided.

Someone was pushed and stumbled.

Someone angrily cursed.

It was on the verge of completely spiraling out of control—

⸻

"stop."

A sound, suppressing the chaos, fell.

not tall.

But it's very stable.

⸻

next moment.

A figure had already rushed into the crowd.

It wasn't a reprimand.

It means taking direct action.

⸻

The clansman who reached out first felt a numbness in his wrist.

Before they could react, they had been twisted and pressed to the ground.

His knees slammed heavily against the edge of the field.

Dust rose up.

"ah--!"

The scream was barely out of his mouth when it was firmly pinned down by a hand.

⸻

Xu Huang knelt on his back.

One hand was gripping the wrist.

His other hand was already on the hilt of the knife.

He did not draw his sword.

But it's more frightening than drawing a sword.

"Who started it?" he asked.

The voice was low.

There was absolutely no intention to discuss it.

⸻

The surroundings fell silent instantly.

The tenant was stunned.

The manager was stunned.

Even the clan members who were just shouting didn't react for a moment.

They didn't expect—

Lu Ding's men, they're here so quickly.

Even more unexpectedly—

It will directly crush people.

⸻

"Xu Sima".

Someone finally came to their senses and shouted sternly.

"What are you doing?"

"This is my clan's estate!"

Xu Huang looked up and glanced at him.

There was no letting go.

"You weren't the one who did it?"

The man choked.

He then angrily said:

"He is a member of the clan!"

"Even if something happens, it's none of your business as an outsider to touch him!"

⸻

"Before we take action," Xu Huang said slowly.

"He was the one who made the first move."

He doesn't talk much.

But it blocked the road.

Just then.

The sound of horses' hooves stopped outside the paddy field.

Before the dust had settled, Lü Ding had already dismounted.

He didn't speak immediately.

He only glanced at the person who was being held down on the ground.

He glanced again at the tenant farmer across the street.

Finally, their gaze fell on the elder whose face was the most grim.

"What's going on?" Lu Ding asked.

The tone was very flat.

It sounded like they were genuinely asking a question.

The elder took a deep breath.

The next moment, his tone suddenly rose.

"Young Master Lü!"

"You've come at the perfect time!"

He raised his hand and pointed towards the tenants' side.

"Look—"

"They gathered a crowd to surround the fields!"

"Force the manager to revise the contract!"

"Now, they even dare to attack members of their own clan!"

"What else could this be but something you instigated?!"

⸻

These words were spoken.

The air suddenly tightened.

The tenants' expressions all changed.

They wanted to argue.

But for a moment, I didn't know where to begin.

⸻

"vertical?"

Lü Ding repeated the word.

The sound wasn't loud.

But it gave me a jolt.

He looked at the clan elder.

"You're saying I set them on fire?"

The elder sneered.

"Was it you who decided to amend the contract with the Shen family?"

"Did the tenants find out because of you?"

"The people below are restless now—"

"If you didn't instigate it, who else could it be?"

This statement completely severed all pretense of civility.

Xun You stood aside without saying a word.

But he had already figured it out.

At this moment, the other party is not trying to clarify right and wrong, but rather to first label them as "inciting tenants".

Lü Ding did not immediately refute.

He simply raised his hand.

He gestured for Xu Huang to release his grip.

Xu Huang hesitated for a moment.

I loosened my grip.

But they did not retreat.

Only then did Lü Ding speak.

"First."

"They did not enclose the fields."

"Just standing on the edge of the field."

"second."

"They did not force us to amend the contract."

"I only asked one question—"

He paused for a moment.

"Why can the Shen family change things, but they can't?"

The elder sneered.

"ask?"

"Since when have tenants had the right to ask such questions?"

These words were spoken with absolute confidence.

He spoke very steadily.

Because in their eyes—

This is simply a matter of course.

Lü Ding nodded.

"it is good."

"Then let me ask you a question too."

He looked at the other person.

"Did they make their move today?"

The clan elder was taken aback.

"And what about him?" Lü Ding raised his hand, pointing to the clan member who had just been held down.

"Did he reach out first?"

The elder's face darkened.

"That's because they refuse to break up!"

"Then explain it clearly."

Lü Ding's voice remained steady.

"It's because they're standing still and won't move."

"So you think you can make the first move?"

These words were spoken.

The surroundings became quiet.

Lü Ding gave them no time to react.

He continued:

"If I hadn't come today..."

"With this stroke of the hoe..."

"Whose share is it?"

The elder subconsciously said:

"Of course they belong to them!"

"But just now," Lü Ding looked up.

"Your people were the ones who struck first."

"Should we calculate that too?"

This time.

Finally, someone realized—

Things started to take a different turn.

And that label of "inciting tenants,"

It wasn't firmly secured.

The elder's face was grim.

Suddenly, he said in a cold voice:

"Lü Ding".

"You protected them today."

"Is this to make enemies of all the gentry in Pingyu?"

These words were spoken.

In an instant, all around became so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.

Lü Ding looked at him.

a long time.

He suddenly smiled.

"I'm not protecting them."

He said.

"I am a nurse—"

He lifted his foot and stepped onto the ridge of the field.

"This rule."

The words fell.

Both sides of the field ridge.

At the same time, it fell silent.

After a brief silence.

The middle-aged man who had been standing behind the manager finally spoke.

His voice wasn't loud, but it commanded the room.

"Young Master Lü."

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, maintaining proper etiquette.

"So that's how it is—"

"Are you sure you want to interfere in the affairs of our Zhao family's estate?"