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

That's what I meant.

They've already brought their spears.

Lü Ding smiled.

Extremely light.

"Mr. Xu, rest assured."

"I will not vote for Dong."

Xu You's eyes flashed.

That's not what he wanted to hear.

"Then—"

Lü Ding continued.

"But now, I'm not leaving the county."

The words were spoken.

In short.

There was no turning back.

The atmosphere in the room was slightly heavy.

Xu You stared at him.

Why?

Lü Ding did not dodge.

"Luoyang was burned down."

"An uprising is about to begin in the Kwantung region."

"The first wave of chaos won't be in Chang'an."

"It will be in the Central Plains."

His gaze was steady.

Runan is located in the Central Plains.

"At this time, they abandoned the prefecture and left."

"It's not about opposing Dong Zhuo."

"They are outcasts."

That statement is too strong.

Xu You remained silent.

At that moment, he suddenly understood.

The person in front of me is not timid.

He understands the situation better than anyone else.

"What if Lord Yuan personally comes to invite me?"

Xu You asked the last question.

This is not a test.

It's a reminder.

Lü Ding's gaze remained steady.

"If the course of the battle has already been decided."

"The safety of Runan is now settled; I will consider it myself."

Refuse.

But the door remained open.

Xu You stared at him for a long time.

He suddenly smiled.

"I will respond truthfully to what you said today."

Lü Ding cupped his hands in greeting.

Thank you.

Xu You left without showing any anger.

⸻

After Xu You left.

The room was quiet for a moment.

Xun You said in a low voice:

"Close the door."

Lü Ding shook his head.

"The door wasn't closed."

"Not now, though."

He walked to the window.

The camp flag fluttered in the night wind.

"Yuan Shao will remember this."

"If Dong Zhuo were to hear this, he would remember it."

Xu Huang asked:

"And what about us?"

Lü Dingdao:

"Guard."

"practice."

Before Xu Huang could answer,

Lü Ding continued, "Summon men tonight."

"Who?"

"Besides the two of you, call Xun Heng."

He paused.

"Call Chen Erhe here again."

⸻

The night grew deeper.

The bugle calls from the righteous camp gradually subsided.

The lights inside the main tent were still on.

A rough wooden table is placed in the center.

A simplified map of the prefecture was spread out on the table.

A stack of grain registers.

A stack of military manuals.

The atmosphere was even more somber than when I had just met Xu You.

Lu Dingxian began by saying, "Let me first tell you about the current situation of the Righteous Cavalry Camp."

Xu Huang spoke first:

"The current formation is five battalions."

"Veterans make up 60%."

"Most of the new recruits are not yet in formation."

He was direct.

"If a war really breaks out, there won't be many weapons we can use."

Lü Ding nodded.

"Therefore, military discipline must be established first."

His gaze swept over the group.

"Starting tonight, three orders are hereby issued."

"Private fights are forbidden in the camp."

"You must not leave without permission."

"No private information about extramarital affairs is allowed."

The voice was not loud.

But not a single word was false.

Xu Huang replied:

"Those who violate this rule?"

Lü Ding said calmly:

"Court-martial."

The tent was even quieter.

This was the first time he had placed the words "military law" on the table.

They are no longer local militia.

It is the army.

⸻

Xun Heng stepped forward.

He was usually silent, but at this moment he unfolded a ledger.

"The current grain reserves are 3,800 shi (a unit of dry measure)."

"The total amount can last for more than two months."

He looked up.

"If we raise another five thousand."

"It can last for one month."

The numbers have been finalized.

It's colder than any grand statement.

Lu Ding looked at the grain register.

"Recruiting will be suspended starting tomorrow."

Xu Huang frowned slightly.

"Popular support is high."

"Extreme prosperity is easily lost."

Lü Ding spoke calmly.

"People will be thrown into chaos because of food shortages."

"No matter how much, it's useless."

He looked up.

"Starting today, the Yicong Battalion will have a quartermaster."

Everyone was taken aback.

Lü Dingdao:

"Food, weapons, clothing, and medical supplies are all under your command, Xun Heng."

"Daily account report."

Xun Heng cupped his hands in greeting.

"Yes."

⸻

Lü Ding turned to another person.

Chen Erhe stood in the corner.

Their clothing was the most unremarkable.

But their eyes are the most expressive.

"Erhe".

Chen Erhe stepped forward.

"exist."

"The number of business travelers coming and going to Yingchuan has increased."

"There are scouts heading towards Chenliu."

"The Liang Kingdom has begun its grain requisition."

He spoke very calmly.

Yet every sentence points to the next big trend.

Lü Ding asked:

"What's the reported number of people in the camp?"

"More than five thousand have been passed down."

Lü Ding shook his head.

"Starting tomorrow."

"Three thousand external reports."

Xu Huang looked up.

Xun You nodded.

"Conceal your strength."

Lü Dingdao:

"Having more soldiers is a strength."

"Too much power is a disaster."

Chen Erhe asked in a low voice:

"What if there are more spies?"

Lü Ding answered decisively:

"put."

The people inside the tent were all taken aback.

Lü Dingdao:

"Let him see three thousand."

"I saw them practicing."

"The staffing system is not visible."

"The grain registers are not visible."

"Even more invisible—"

He paused for a moment.

"Our actual fighting capacity is limited."

Chen Erhe's eyes lit up.

Lü Ding continued:

"Starting tonight."

"A department shall be established within the camp."

"Name—Fox Camp".

There was a moment of silence inside the tent.

"Erhe".

"You are in charge."

Chen Erhe was taken aback.

"I?"

"Yes."

Lü Ding's gaze was extremely steady.

"Our eyes and ears must not be let off the hook."

"It needs to form a network."

"I'll give you three hundred spots."

"Divided into three groups."

"One group is in the county town."

"One group is on Yingchuan Road."

"One group traveled with the merchants."

"Listen to the wind."

"Focus solely on grain."

"Special record of soldiers."

Xu Huang whispered:

"Pulling people from the military?"

Lü Ding shook his head.

"No."

"Only key personnel are given positions in the camp."

"the remaining--"

He looked at Chen Erhe.

"You raised the money privately on your own."

"Poor households, merchants, coachmen, clerks."

"But there is one condition."

"The prefect must not be alarmed."

"No disturbance to the public."

"Just listen."

"Just remember."

"This must not be spread without permission."

Chen Erhe solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

What if someone betrays us?

Lü Ding said calmly:

"Those who are the eyes and ears."

"Once they disappear."

"They don't ask about it in the camp."

These words were spoken.

The tent was completely silent.

Because everyone understands—

Intelligence is a covert operation.

⸻

The frame has been erected.

Lü Ding, however, still did not sit down.

He looked at the map.

Runan is surrounded by other places on all sides.

"Yingchuan, Chenliu, and Liang State."

"If chaos breaks out, refugees will be the first to arrive."

Xu Huang said:

"Set up sentry posts."

"It has three layers."

"Thirty li away."

"Inner Ten Miles"

"Five li in front of the city."

Lü Ding nodded.

"When chaos breaks out, the most likely cause of disaster is not the soldiers, but the starving people."

"If refugees come."

Xun You replied:

"Distribute the grain first."

"Re-editing the book."

"No entry into the camp."

"Entry into the city is prohibited."

Lü Dingdao said, "We are protecting the safety of Runan."

No one spoke again inside the tent.

Everyone knows—

That night.

Righteousness follows the camp.

It was truly formed into an army.

⸻

The night grew deeper.

The crowd dispersed.

Lü Ding stood alone outside the tent.

The camp flag fluttered in the night wind.

In the distance, new recruits are still practicing marching.

He slowly exhaled.

Xun You walked to his side.

"You refused Yuan Shao."

"Fundraising must be suspended now."

"Some people will be dissatisfied."

Lü Ding said calmly:

"People's hearts cannot be stabilized by shouting slogans."

"It's about survival."

"I'll give them a way out."

"They finally gave me time."

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar.

The soldier on night watch asked in a low voice.

Soon after, one person was brought into the camp.

Covered in dust.

Report.

"The Liang state has mobilized its troops to the north."

The number of people is unknown.

Xun You's gaze darkened.

"They acted faster than we expected."

Lü Ding, however, did not get up.

"Going north doesn't necessarily mean they're heading towards us."

He pointed to the map.

"If the Liang Kingdom really wanted to attack Runan, it wouldn't just send a single line of troops."

"If it is to attack a prefecture."

"At least three routes will be activated simultaneously."

"Instead of heading north."