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

As soon as Lü Ding finished speaking...

The tent was not yet empty.

The second urgent report arrived shortly afterward.

"Liang Kingdom requisitions grain in the southern border."

"Add three bushels to each household."

Those who refuse will be flogged.

"Some people abandoned their fields."

"Escape north."

Lu Ding raised his eyes and said.

"Erhe".

Chen Erhe stepped forward.

"exist."

"Focus on the Liang Kingdom."

"Yes."

Chen Erhe stepped down.

That night.

Small groups of people have already appeared on the rural roads in the northern border of Liang Kingdom.

The next morning.

Dust began to rise outside the north gate of the city.

At first, there were only a little over a hundred people.

He was with his family, and his clothes were tattered.

The soldiers guarding the city did not take it seriously.

"Don't block the door."

"Move to the side."

But in the afternoon...

Another group of people has joined.

Before sunset.

Intermittently.

More and more people gathered.

⸻

City wall.

Chen Su stood at the edge of the battlements.

How many people?

"It's already past two thousand."

"Still coming."

"Mostly from the direction of Liang Kingdom."

Chen Su's expression changed slightly.

"Isn't the Liang Kingdom requisitioning grain?"

"Yes."

"That's ruthless."

The garrison commander whispered:

"I heard that there was a grain grab in some villages."

"The higher-ups sent troops to suppress it."

"Several villages were burned down."

The wind carried cries and screams.

People knelt and kowtowed below the city walls.

"Open the door—"

"The child is starving—"

Chen Su gripped the city brick tightly.

"Do not open."

"If we let them in, the city will descend into chaos."

Before he could finish speaking...

Another group of figures appeared in the distance.

This time, it wasn't with the whole family.

They are young adults.

He has a wooden stick in his hand.

The gaze no longer pleaded.

The atmosphere on the city wall suddenly became tense.

Chen Su suddenly turned around.

"I'm going to report to the prefect."

⸻

The back room.

Han Zixiu was listening to the news.

"Three thousand have already gathered at the North Gate."

"The people in the city also began to gather and watch."

Han Zixiu remained silent for a moment.

"How much is in the county granary?"

"More than four thousand shi remain."

"but--"

Chen Su whispered:

"If we open the position, tomorrow it will be more than three thousand."

Han Zixiu closed his eyes.

"If it doesn't open—"

Chen Su lowered his head and remained silent.

⸻

It was getting dark.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the north gate.

Someone shouted:

"There is grain in the city!"

The crowd was startled.

A wooden stick was used to ram the door.

The cries of children were trampled underfoot.

Inside the city gates, the county soldiers were in a state of panic.

"withstand!"

"Don't open it!"

The wooden door vibrates.

Each time it got heavier than the last.

⸻

Just then.

The sound of horses' hooves rose in the distance outside the city.

Three hundred riders.

The flag's color was somber.

No horn sounded.

Until outside the North Gate.

The leader reined in his horse.

"Get out of the way."

The voice was not loud.

But it overwhelmed the noise.

The refugees were stunned for a moment.

Someone recognized him.

"Pingyu Righteous Cavalry Camp..."

The cavalry did not charge.

They are arranged in an arc shape only on the outer perimeter.

Separate the refugees from the city gates.

Lü Ding dismounted.

They did not enter the city.

Standing between the refugees and the city gate.

"Who will lead the way?"

No one spoke.

He looked at the few young men in the front row.

"Seize the door!"

"What's next?"

The man gritted his teeth:

"Go into town."

"What's the next step?"

silence.

Lü Ding's voice was steady:

"Grain grabbing."

"What happens after you've finished grabbing it?"

No one answered.

He scanned the crowd.

"The city has fallen."

"By then."

"You are refugees."

"Or are they bandits?"

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

The night wind is cold.

Someone lowered their head.

⸻

Lü Ding turned around and said to the city wall:

"Please allow me to enter the city, Prefect."

The city walls fell silent.

Han Zixiu looked at him for a moment.

"Open the east gate."

The wooden door slowly opened.

Lü Ding did not lead troops.

Only Xu Huang remained on the outer perimeter to hold the line.

He entered the city alone.

The city gates closed again.

The rear hall of the prefectural government.

Several volumes of county granary documents were spread out on the table.

Chen Su stood to the side.

Lü Ding entered and bowed.

"Prefect."

Han Zixiu stated frankly:

"The number of refugees at the North Gate has exceeded three thousand and is still increasing."

"Does Yunzhong have a good plan?"

He paused for a moment.

"Could the volunteer troops be sent into the city to assist in its defense?"

There was silence in the room.

Chen Su's gaze fell on Lü Ding.

This is not simply asking for advice.

Lü Ding did not answer immediately.

He looked at the county map on the table.

How many soldiers are currently defending the city?

Chen Su replied:

"Only a little over a thousand are available."

"They will then divide up to guard the four gates."

Lü Ding nodded.

"The refugees have not entered the city."

"At this time, the Righteous Cavalry Battalion was dispatched to enter the city first."

"This could cause panic among the city's residents."

Chen Su was taken aback.

Han Zixiu did not refute this.

Lü Ding continued:

"The righteous troops can assist in defense."

"But we won't go into the city."

"However, this is not a long-term solution."

"If the governor is trustworthy."

"Yunzhong is willing to take on the responsibility of resettling displaced people."

"His fame originated from the prefecture and county."

"The matter was handled by the Yicong Battalion."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Han Zixiu did not answer immediately.

He looked at Lü Ding.

Looked for a long time.

It is both an examination and a measurement.

The county granary ledgers were spread out on the table.

Three thousand refugees from the North Gate.

The people in the city have begun to discuss it.

If it drags on for another night—

Either the city gates are breached, or chaos erupts within the city.

Han Zixiu said slowly:

Do you have any requests?

Lü Ding replied:

"I only ask for a letter from the prefect."

Han Zixiu's eyes darkened slightly.

"What document?"

Lü Dingping said in a flat voice:

"The resettlement of displaced people is under the jurisdiction of the prefectural government."

"Assisted by the Yicongying."

"No entry into the city."

"No entry into the camp."

"Anyone who causes trouble shall be subject to both military and county laws."

These words were spoken.

Chen Su was startled.

Military law and county law coexist.

This is the first time.

Some people put the military and the prefecture together.

Han Zixiu, however, was not angry.

He asked, "How will you settle in?"

Lü Ding answered very clearly:

"Divided into three categories."

"The old and weak."

"Conscripted men".

"Children."

"The elderly and infirm will be resettled in the wasteland north of the city."

"Strong men were registered and worked in exchange for food."

"Build a trench."

"Build a shed."

"Clear the ditch."

"The children were adopted by local gentry for three days."

The room was silent for three breaths.

Chen Su suddenly said:

What if the refugees don't comply?

Lu Ding glanced at him.

"Then they are not refugees."

"They are rioters."

"Different approaches were taken."

This sentence was spoken very softly.

It was extremely cold.

Han Zixiu finally spoke.

"I'll give you the documents."

Chen Su was taken aback.

Han Zixiu continued:

"His fame originated from the prefecture and county."

"I issue the order."

"thing--"

He looked at Lü Ding.

"You do it."

Chen Su's heart sank.

he knows.

This is not about borrowing troops.

This is leveraging existing momentum.

But he had no way to object.

Because if it is delayed any longer...

The people in the city then asked the prefectural government why it was not doing anything.

Han Zixiu picked up his pen.

Four lines written by hand:

"The resettlement of displaced people is the responsibility of the prefectural government."

"Righteousness follows the camp and acts together."

"Work relief instead of work relief".

"Those who violate this rule will be dealt with according to the law."

The seal fell.

He handed it to Lü Ding.

"Yunzhong."

"I'm entrusting this matter to you."

Lu Ding cupped his hands, accepted the document, and without saying a word, turned and left the hall.

It was already late at night outside.

The faint noise from the direction of the North Gate had not yet ceased.

Lü Ding headed straight for the east gate.

The city gates reopened.

Xu Huang waited outside.

Seeing him come out, he asked in a low voice:

"how?"

"The document is here."

"The governor has given his approval."

"I will handle this matter."

Xu Huang's gaze darkened.

"Move another thousand infantrymen to form ranks at the north gate."

Xu Huang didn't ask any further questions.

"I obey."

Outside the North Gate.

The firelight flickered.

The discontent among the displaced has not yet subsided.

Some people are still inciting:

"Hit it again!"

"Chaos is inevitable in the city!"

Before an incense stick could burn for a second, dust rose again in the distance.

A thousand infantrymen arrived in formation.

Shields are arrayed in front, spears are pressed diagonally to the ground.

They finally stopped three zhang (approximately 10 meters) in front of the city gate.

Xu Huang personally reined in his horse and stood at the front of the battle.

"Everyone, take three steps back."

"Those who violate this rule will be treated as causing trouble."

He then stepped aside to make way.

"Young master."