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

There was silence in the hall.

The registrar looked up.

"please."

A moment later.

Footsteps sounded.

No rush, no panic.

Lü Ding entered the hall.

There was no grand ceremony; they simply bowed their hands in greeting as was customary.

"Lü Ding has come as summoned."

The voice was not loud.

Yet it is clear.

The registrar nodded.

"Since it's about assisting in the investigation."

"Please have a seat."

As soon as those words were spoken...

Many people in the hall had a change in their expressions.

sit.

mean--

They were not detained.

Not being interrogated.

Rather, they have the right to speak.

Lü Ding did not refuse.

They took their seats on the side of the hall.

Xu Huang did not enter the hall.

It just stood outside the door.

One hand rests on the knife handle.

Silent, still.

This caused many people in the hall to subconsciously lower their voices.

The registrar took a deep breath.

I pick up my pen.

"Let's start from the beginning then."

"Why did the Shen family change their tenants?"

this sentence.

Like a stone.

Finally, he was thrown into the water.

The water surface was still very flat.

But everyone knows—

Next.

Every answer.

All of these will cause ripples.

And these ripples.

Will decide—

This road has just begun to emerge.

They were pushed back underwater.

Or it gradually forms waves.

⸻

The sun was shining brightly outside the hall.

Inside the main hall of the prefectural government.

A battle fought without bloodshed.

just began.

The registrar finished speaking.

Inside the hall, no one immediately responded.

It's not that no one can answer.

But -

Everyone knows that if this sentence is said wrong, there will be no turning back.

Lu Ding raised his eyes and looked behind the desk.

Why did the Shen family change their tenant farming arrangement?

He repeated it.

The tone was very flat.

It's as if they're confirming the problem itself.

"The question is, why was it changed?"

"Or should I ask about the process of the land conversion?"

The registrar was taken aback.

Unexpectedly, he would break down the problem first.

"...Tell me what happened first," the registrar said in a deep voice.

Lü Ding nodded.

"Then let's start with what happened."

He turned to the side and looked down at the hall below.

"The Shen family's tenant farming began in midsummer of this year."

"Let's convert one field first."

"Not the whole village."

He raised his hand, making a very small gesture.

"Only 30% of the rent was changed."

Someone in the hall frowned.

"Why only change 30%?"

Lü Ding did not answer immediately.

Instead, they asked in return:

"Have you ever considered this—"

"How much grain does Shenjiazhuang harvest in a year?"

As soon as those words were spoken...

Several clerks in the hall subconsciously lowered their heads and flipped through the books.

Lü Ding did not wait.

"Reducing it by 30% is a trial."

"Will the tenants run away?"

Will the number of trial grains be cut off?

"Let's test Zhuangzi, see if he can hold on."

He spoke very slowly.

Inside the hall, someone whispered:

"But this is not in accordance with the old system."

"The old system?" Lü Ding looked up. "Which old system?"

The man paused.

"Tenancy agreements are traditionally determined by the estate owner."

"It is the estate owner's right to make changes."

Lü Ding took over the conversation.

"So, by amending the contract, which clause did the Shen family violate?"

There was silence in the hall.

The registrar frowned.

"The problem isn't in fixing it."

"exist--"

"This is causing unrest among the tenants," an official interjected.

Lü Ding nodded.

"it is good."

"Then let's talk about restlessness."

He turned his head and looked at the man.

"Excuse me--"

"Where is the restlessness?"

The subordinate official choked.

"The ridges of the fields in Zhao Family Village are facing each other."

"Members of the clan were injured."

"People's hearts are unsettled!"

Lü Ding nodded slightly.

"The ridges of Zhao Family Village".

"It's not Shenjiazhuang."

These words were spoken.

The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly changed.

Someone looked up.

Some people glanced at them sideways.

The clerk paused for a moment, his pen still.

Lü Ding did not stop.

"The Shen family changed their tenants."

"But the Zhao family was the first to run into trouble."

"Then may I ask—"

He looked at the registrar.

"Was this unrest caused by the Shen family?"

"still--"

"Someone saw that the Shen family's house has been altered."

"Even their own people are starting to want to change?"

Before he could finish speaking...

Some people in the hall were already getting restless.

"Lü Ding!"

Someone slurred.

"What are you doing—"

"I'm just going along with the question," Lu Ding interrupted.

His tone remained gentle.

"Since it has been verified."

"Then we must investigate thoroughly."

The registrar took a deep breath.

"it is good."

"Then let me ask you."

He looked up, his gaze truly pressing down on Lü Ding for the first time.

"Was it you who orchestrated the change of tenants for the Shen family?"

For a moment, even breathing slowed down in the hall.

This is the first knife.

Finally, it was unsheathed.

Lü Ding did not answer immediately.

He picked up the tea from the table.

I took a sip.

Then he spoke.

"Yes."

That sound.

In short.

No beating around the bush.

Several people in the hall looked up at the same time.

Some people showed expressions of surprise.

Some people had a hint of coldness flash in their eyes.

The registrar was stunned for a moment.

He had prepared a whole set of follow-up questions.

Unexpectedly, the other party answered so quickly.

"Then do you know—"

The registrar said in a deep voice.

"You are not a county official."

"Advocating for conversion to tenancy."

"What have we already crossed?"

Lü Ding looked up.

"I know."

"you say."

"Overstepping authority".

"Out of bounds."

"The old order has been disrupted."

He spoke very clearly, word by word.

Someone inside the hall sneered.

"Since you know that..."

"Why do it at all?"

Lü Ding put down his teacup.

The voice lowered a few decibels.

"Because the old order was already unsustainable."

This sentence.

Like a block of ice.

It was pushed directly into the water.

"Nonsense!" someone slammed their hand on the table.

"The old system has been in place for a hundred years!"

"A hundred years?" Lü Ding looked up. "Which hundred years?"

"In the past, food was scarce and the population was large."

"Later, the population dwindled and the land became barren."

"Later, powerful clans merged with each other."

"The number of tenant farmers is increasing."

He speaks slowly.

But each sentence presses down.

"Can be leased."

"It hasn't changed."

"Then may I ask—"

He looked at the person who had slammed their hand on the table.

"Who is upholding the old system?"

"They are the people who make a living off it."

"Or is it the one being crushed by it?"

The hall was deathly silent.

The registrar's face had turned completely grim.

"Lü Ding".

"You are discussing matters in court."

Lü Ding nodded.

"Yes."

"But I don't want to reform the system."

He raised his hand.

"I have a question to ask—"

"Is this road even passable?"

If not.

"Please—"

He looked behind the desk.

Tell me now.

The clerk stared at him.

a long time.

He then slowly opened his mouth.

"Do you know?"

"What you said today."

"Once it's recorded in the case file."

"What does that mean?"

Lü Ding did not evade the question.

"I know."

In the hall, for the first time.

Someone unconsciously swallowed.

The registrar closed the case file.

It made a soft sound.

"Then let me ask you one last question."

He looked up.

"If the county decides—"

"The Shen family must revert to the old system."

"Do you admit it or not?"

Lü Ding stood up.

There was no immediate response.

Instead, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"I accept the ruling."

The people in the hall were just about to breathe a sigh of relief.

The next sentence sent a chill down their spines.

"But I will remember it."

"Today in this hall."

"For what reason?"

"The ruling is that this action is illegal."

The words fell.

No one spoke again inside the hall.

The registrar slowly exhaled.

His gaze unconsciously drifted towards the outside of the hall for a moment.

It was then withdrawn.

"Let's take a break for today."

"This matter needs to be discussed further."

Dismissed.

People gradually got up.

But no one walks fast.

Lü Ding turned around and walked out of the hall.

The sunlight was blinding.

Xu Huang had already come to greet them.

He didn't speak.

I just followed silently.

Inside the hall.

Someone asked in a low voice:

"Can this matter still be suppressed?"

No one answered.

Because everyone knows that to bring down the Shen family, bloodshed is necessary.