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

The moment the words left his mouth, everyone in the room was startled.

The next moment, the registrar fell silent.

Because those words were spoken too quickly and too forcefully.

The subordinate whispered:

"But... there are military precedents."

"The troops have not yet entered the village."

"The patrol inspector was dismissed according to military law."

This statement was like a bucket of cold water.

The registrar stood there, motionless for a long time.

Of course he understands.

The other party did not commit any crime.

But unfortunately—

They did everything.

"it is good."

The registrar nodded slowly, but his voice was cold and hard.

"That's a brilliant tactic."

He looked up at the darkening sky outside the window.

"Is Lü Ding telling me—"

"He's not afraid to make a big fuss."

No one made a sound from inside the room.

The clerk sat back down at his desk, looking down at the document that read "Assistance in Verification".

a long time.

He raised his hand, flipped the document over, and tucked it to the bottom.

"Let's stop for a moment."

This sentence was said very softly.

But it carried a sense of resentment.

Because he knew very well—

In this game

It's no longer a question of whether or not someone dares to do it.

Someone has already dragged the military into it.

The officials stood there, neither responding nor stepping down.

They all understood that "stopping" was not the end, but a change of course.

The registrar raised his hand, signaling them to disperse.

The person walked quickly, but deliberately made their steps light.

After the door closed, he was left alone in the back room.

The lamplight flickered.

The registrar sat at his desk but did not immediately turn to the stack of files.

He stared blankly at the corner of the table.

That corner, where he had just swept the booklets away, has now been neatly tidied up again.

It was as if nothing had happened.

But he knew in his heart that some things could never be the same again.

—The troops have been deployed.

Even without saying a single word.

He didn't even make a single cut.

But once it's placed there, the rules change.

The registrar slowly exhaled.

For the first time, he realized that what he had been doing these past few days was not forcing a villager to resign.

Instead, they were testing a line.

A line that should never have been stepped on.

But now, someone has stepped on it.

They're still standing there.

⸻

At the same time.

Shenjiazhuang.

The sky grew completely dark.

The people in the fields had dispersed, and the hoes leaned against the wall, not standing neatly as usual.

Someone glanced back at the outside of the village.

That open space is now empty.

Yi Cong's revenue is growing rapidly.

Without leaving a trace.

Only some compacted soil remained on the ground.

But everyone knows—

They will come again.

It may not be tomorrow.

But they will reappear whenever someone tries to take another step forward.

Shen Shao stood under the eaves, looking at the night view outside the manor.

The steward whispered:

"The inspectors left this afternoon."

"No message was left."

Shen Shao nodded.

"Those people who were taken away," the manager hesitated for a moment, "came back that same day."

"What's the situation?"

"No injuries."

"No conviction was handed down."

"It's just... the person is a little different now."

Shen Shao understood.

Once someone has been questioned, they can no longer pretend nothing happened when they return to the same spot.

But at least they came back.

That's enough.

Shen Shao turned around and said softly:

"Let them rest for two days."

"There's no rush for the work in the fields."

The manager was taken aback.

He then lowered his head and agreed.

⸻

Lüjiazhuang.

Lü Ding remained seated at his desk.

There was nothing on the table.

Xun You stood aside, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"The people in the prefecture capital should already know," Xun You said.

"Good to know," Lü Ding said.

He spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something he had expected long ago.

"The registrar will stop."

"But I won't accept it."

Xun You nodded.

"He'll find another way."

"Yes," Lü Ding said, "but that road will be slow."

He stood up and walked to the window.

It's very quiet outside.

“As long as things slow down,” Lü Ding continued, “it won’t be something he can control alone.”

Xun You did not ask any further questions.

Because he understood.

From the moment the righteous troops lined up in battle, this matter was no longer just a matter between the prefecture and the Shen family.

But -

Is there anyone who dares to put the rules out in the open?

Lü Ding withdrew his gaze.

"They won't sleep very well tonight," he said.

Xun You said softly:

"The same to you."

Lü Ding smiled.

It's very light.

"I can sleep."

"I'm not the one who should be panicking."

Under the lamp, the shadows were stretched very long.

The room became eerily quiet for a moment.

Xun You stood still and said nothing more.

Lü Ding did not move.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside.

Unhappy.

But it is heavy.

He stopped outside the door, hesitated for a moment, and then gently knocked.

"Enter."

The door was pushed open.

Xu Huang stood at the door, his armor still on, sweat still clinging to his forehead.

He paused for a moment at the threshold, as if holding his breath.

He then stepped into the house and said in a low voice, "A messenger just passed through, but did not enter the city. He only left a copy behind."

He spoke in a low, strained voice.

Lü Ding looked up.

"explain."

Xu Huang took a deep breath.

"Dong Zhuo burned Luoyang."

The lights in the room seemed to flicker.

Xu Huang paused, then added:

"They have taken the emperor hostage and moved the capital west to Chang'an."

The words fell silent.

Xun You's face turned noticeably paler.

He didn't speak, but slowly exhaled.

Lu Ding lowered his head, looking at the blank space on the desk.

After a long while, he asked:

"When did this happen?"

"It's been just these past few days," Xu Huang said. "The news is being kept very tight, so things aren't moving very fast."

He paused for a moment after saying this.

"It's like... they don't want the local area to know too early."

Lü Ding nodded.

"So," he said, "the pretext for opposing Dong Jianzhong still exists."

"But the capital is gone," Xun You continued.

This time, his voice lacked any of its usual composure.

With Luoyang destroyed and the emperor gone far away,

Many rules that could still be spoken of are now just a thin veil.

"The county will become more cautious," Xun You continued. "Requisitioning, transporting, and inventorying will all be done ahead of schedule."

Xu Huang responded.

"We've already heard rumors."

"The patrol inspection area?" Lu Ding asked.

"We'll put it on hold for now," Xu Huang said. "At least for now, we won't push it any further."

Lü Ding chuckled softly.

It's not easy.

It's more like confirming something that was already calculated.

"It's not that they withdrew."

"It's because they dare not make any more moves," Xun You said.

The room fell silent once again.

A breeze blew in from the window, carrying the sultry heat unique to summer nights.

Xu Huang stood very straight, but you could see the tension in his shoulders and back.

"The burning of Luoyang," Lü Ding said slowly, "was not just the burning of one city."

"It set the chaotic world ablaze."

After those words were spoken, the room fell silent for a moment.

Xun You nodded, but did not speak immediately. He subconsciously raised his hand and pulled his sleeve in, as if he suddenly felt cold.

Xu Huang stood to the side, his forehead, which had been covered in sweat, slowly lost its color.

Lu Ding got up and walked to the window, looking at the night outside.

"Regarding the new tenancy agreement," Lü Ding continued, "the county can't afford to deal with it right now."

He paused for a moment, not continuing immediately.

"I can't spare the time, not because I've given up, but because I don't have the time."

Xu Huang raised his eyes, waiting for what would happen next.

"This gap," Lü Dingdao said, "is where things are most likely to go wrong."

He turned around and looked at Xu Huang.

"The number of volunteers," he said, "doesn't need to be strictly controlled."

The room fell silent for a moment.

"From now on," Lü Ding continued, "there will only be more things to do, not fewer."

"If we don't prepare now, it will be too late when things really get chaotic."