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

Lü Ding stepped forward.

The firelight reflected on his face.

He didn't look at the city gate.

They didn't even look at the city walls.

He just looked at the refugees in front of him.

He then unfolded the official seal.

In the firelight, the marks were clear.

"Resettlement of displaced people"

"I'll take care of it."

A commotion broke out in the crowd.

"manage?"

Some people sneered.

"What for?"

Lü Dingping's voice:

"We won't go into the city, but we'll still have food to eat."

this sentence.

More effective than any threat.

Someone looked up.

He continued:

"The elderly and weak should go first."

"Save the able-bodied men."

Xu Huang raised his hand.

The shield array slowly parted to create a narrow passage.

"The elderly and the weak shall stand in the left column."

"Men, line up on the right."

No one moved.

Lu Ding looked at the few young men holding sticks in the front row.

"You guys go first."

The man gritted his teeth:

Why should I believe you?

Lü Ding did not answer.

He only said to Xu Huang:

"Bring the first pot of porridge over."

After a while.

Two large pots were carried up.

Steam rises.

The aroma of rice mingled with the night breeze.

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

Lu Ding pointed to the pot.

"The elderly and weak should eat first."

"Conscripts—"

His gaze darkened.

"Working in exchange for food."

"It begins tonight."

Some people in the crowd hesitated.

Some people have already given up.

An old woman knelt down first.

"I...I'll do it."

Xu Huang signaled to his soldiers to help her out of the ranks.

A child was carried out.

Then comes the second one.

The third.

Order began to crumble.

The burly young men holding sticks exchanged glances.

One of them suddenly threw the wooden stick on the ground.

"I'll do the work."

Lü Ding nodded.

"Clean the ditch tonight."

"Dig a trench."

"Dive the water away."

"Build a shed tomorrow."

He paused.

"Day Three—"

He raised his hand and pointed to the wasteland north of the city.

"Let's begin clearing the land."

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

Lü Ding's voice was steady:

"Register by household."

"Each household is limited to three mu."

"If the land is not cultivated, there will be no food."

"The earth was created."

"The grain produced—"

He scanned the crowd.

"Three-tenths returned to the prefecture."

"I kept 70% for myself."

"Grain and utensils can be borrowed from the prefecture first."

This time.

The crowd fell silent.

Some people hesitated:

"What if there are many people?"

Lü Ding replied:

"Limit".

"There are a few wastelands."

"First come, first served".

"Those who are late will wait their turn."

He added:

"Those without households—"

"Merge it into his household."

"It must not be listed separately."

These words were spoken.

Xu Huang's eyes flickered.

He understood.

This is to prevent spillage.

It's also to prevent chaos.

Lü Ding concluded by saying:

"Runan does not support idlers."

"But those who are willing to work hard to clear land can cultivate it."

The words were spoken very clearly.

Everyone began to cooperate actively.

⸻

After an incense stick has burned.

The area outside the North Gate has been divided into three rows.

The left column consists of the elderly and weak.

Children in the middle row.

The right row of able-bodied men.

The shield array is no longer oppressive.

Rather, it's about maintaining order.

The firelight illuminated the register.

Chen Erhe had arrived at some unknown time.

whisper:

"More than 300 places of origin have been recorded."

"Most of them come from the southern border of the Liang Kingdom."

Lü Ding nodded.

"Keep an eye on young and middle-aged adults."

"Remember the names."

"Who instigated this?"

Chen Erhe's eyes flashed.

"clear."

⸻

late at night.

The first batch of elderly and infirm people have already received the porridge.

The child quieted down.

The able-bodied men were divided into groups of ten.

The soldiers were given wooden shovels.

"The wasteland north of the city."

"Clear weeds."

"Dig drainage ditches."

Some people are puzzled:

"Shall we do it now?"

Lü Ding said calmly:

"Dig tonight."

Once they start moving, they won't bang on the door anymore.

⸻

City wall.

Chen Su looked down.

"Did he really make them work?"

Han Zixiu remained silent.

He sees further.

"He is setting the rules."

Chen Su whispered:

"Whose rules should be established?"

Han Zixiu said slowly:

"From the prefectural government."

"It's his too."

⸻

The people inside the city watched from a distance.

The initial fear gradually dissipated.

It slowly turned into a whisper.

"The city gates are not open."

No one died.

"They even served porridge."

Someone whispered:

"The Volunteer Corps... is different."

This message spread slowly, but it got around.

⸻

The night is drawing to a close.

Dozens of torches have been lit outside the North Gate.

Strong men dug ditches.

The children were sleeping under the shed.

The elderly and infirm leaned against the fire.

Lü Ding stood at the front of the formation.

There was no seat.

Xu Huang whispered:

"The situation has been stabilized."

Lü Ding replied:

"It's only the first night."

"Tomorrow will be the hardest day."

Xu Huang remained silent.

Lü Ding raised his eyes:

"So we need to be quick."

"tomorrow--"

"Move south in batches."

"Building sheds on vacant land."

"Three hundred for young and strong men."

"Assigned as a temporary duty unit."

"Manage things first, then manage people."

Xu Huang was taken aback.

"Made up?"

Lü Dingdao:

"Not a soldier."

"This battle."

"But you must obey orders."

this step.

It's very light.

But it's crucial.

From "refugees".

To "servants".

Then—

A controllable person.

⸻

Just now.

A high slope in the distance.

Some people stood silently.

"The city is not in chaos."

The person behind him whispered:

"The militia has taken over."

The man smiled faintly.

"Take over?"

"If he can control the situation, many things in the county will be inseparable from him, and his reputation will rise even higher."

"But if it gets out of control, Runan will fall into chaos, and it's still unknown who will take over Runan in the future."

He turned around immediately, the sound of hooves was faint, and his figure was swallowed up by the night.

The next day.

The rear hall of the prefectural government.

Han Zixiu did not sleep all night.

Chen Su said in a low voice:

"The north gate is secure."

Han Zixiu nodded slowly.

"A solid night."

"It may not be stable for three days."

He paused for a moment.

"Go check."

"Who is secretly spreading the word that 'there is grain in the city'?"

Chen Su's gaze sharpened.

The governor is suspicious—

Han Zixiu did not finish speaking.

He simply said:

"Disorder never occurs without cause."

⸻

Wasteland north of the city.

The first rays of dawn fell.

Refugees formed groups.

Some people have already started pulling weeds.

Some people piled the excavated soil into mounds.

Chen Erhe approached.

"More than 600 households have been registered."

"What if someone else comes?"

Lü Ding looked into the distance.

The direction of Liang Kingdom.

The smoke and dust had not yet dissipated.

"Establish a second wasteland."

"But the number of slots will not be increased."

Arranged by work process.

Chen Erhe was taken aback.

"Process?"

Lü Dingdao:

"Who can finish faster?"

"Who goes first?"

"It's not first come, first served."

"Those who work first reap the rewards."

Chen Erhe's eyes lit up.

"clear."

⸻

far away.

The people on the high slope reappeared.

Looking at the vast expanse of barren land that had been turned upside down.

He said softly:

He didn't get any grain.

"He's dividing up the land."

The person behind him whispered:

"Isn't this more stable?"

The man shook his head.

"The earth is the root."

"Take root."

"People's hearts will then follow."

He remained silent for a moment.

"Tell the clan."

"Prepare food supplies."

"In a few days."

"We also run soup kitchens."

The person behind him was startled.

"Compete with him?"

The man smiled faintly.

"It's not about arguing."

"It's about letting people choose."

The wind hasn't stopped.

On the desolate land north of the city, the firelight gradually dimmed.

The temporary duty team has been divided into three platoons.

Someone was speaking in a low voice.

The voice was kept very low.

But it wasn't just in one place.

Chen Erhe walked on without stopping.

He only wrote the name in his sleeve.

—Three.

—They all come from the same village.

The following afternoon.

A prominent family in the southern part of the city suddenly opened their granary.

No work is set up, and no registration is required.

Just put in porridge.

The news spread faster than the wind.

Some of the refugees raised their heads.

"There's no work to do over there."