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

Han Zixiu's carriage stopped inside the city gate. The curtains were drawn low, the banners on the city tower fluttered slightly, and the air was so heavy that it was almost impossible to breathe. The city gate was empty, with the county officials and the militia standing on both sides in neat formation, even quieter than usual.

Lu Dingli stood at the front of the battle line, without wearing armor.

The curtain was lifted, and Han Zixiu stepped down from the carriage. His gaze swept over the ranks on both sides, finally settling on Lü Ding. Without any pleasantries or empty words, he said to everyone, "The military and political affairs of the prefecture have been settled, and the military tally has been returned to its box. My return date is uncertain, and the affairs of the prefecture will be temporarily handled by Yunzhong."

The suppressed atmosphere in the crowd trembled slightly.

Lu Ding took a half step back, cupped his hands and bowed his head: "This is a great responsibility, Lu Ding dares not accept it."

Han Zixiu emphasized, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary tasks."

Lü Ding still did not look up: "There are officials in the prefecture."

Han Zixiu's voice turned serious: "I order you to guard this place."

Lu Ding then raised his head, his gaze steady, and slowly said, "Since the Prefect has given his order, Lu Ding will simply comply."

Just one word: "guard".

The title was officially established at this moment.

However, just as the carriage was about to move, a short, startled cry suddenly erupted from behind the crowd. A figure abruptly rose from among the ranks of county officials, thrusting a short blade straight at Lü Ding. The movement was ruthless and swift, clearly not the work of an ordinary refugee. Almost simultaneously, another person lunged towards the carriage from the other side.

Xu Huang, as if he had anticipated this, took a half-step forward, pressed his shield forward, and swept his blade horizontally. The first assassin's wrist was severed, and the short blade fell to the ground. The second person had already approached the carriage shaft. Lü Ding did not retreat, but instead took a step forward, kicking over a wooden stool next to the carriage shaft, tripping the approaching person. Xu Huang's second blade slashed down, and a line of blood flashed in the air. The person fell to the ground on the spot.

Three breaths passed, and the city gates remained deathly silent. Not a single inch of the ranks were broken, and not a single county official moved.

Han Zixiu stood in front of the carriage, his gaze heavy. He didn't turn around or exclaim in surprise, only glancing at Lü Ding before the carriage curtain was lowered.

The assassin was taken back to the prefectural government, and the carriage continued out of the city.

On a distant high-rise building in the southern part of the city, Zhang Huan's face turned deathly pale. He understood in an instant—his men had no chance to act. But someone in the crowd had already whispered the words "southern city accent."

-

On the day of the trial, the confessions came out very quickly.

The assassin claimed the money came from a secluded courtyard in the southern part of the city. The silver pouch had rough engravings, suggesting it was from a wealthy family, yet it deliberately revealed flaws. Chen Su remained calm and immediately suggested sealing off the Zhang family's residence.

Lu Ding didn't move. He picked up the silver pouch, weighed it in his hand, and slowly asked, "Twenty taels?"

Chen Su replied, "Yes."

Lu Ding raised his eyes: "If the Zhang family were to kill me, would they use twenty taels?"

There was silence in the hall.

He added, "One man stabbed me, the other stabbed the carriage. If it was only for me, why bother with the prefect? ​​If it was for the prefect, why retain the southern accent?"

The voice was not loud, yet its sharpness was unmistakable.

For the first time, Chen Su truly fell silent. At that moment, he realized that his carefully laid plans had been seen through.

-

That night, Zhang Huan voluntarily went to the prefectural government office. Without waiting to be summoned, he directly handed over his letter and entered the hall, stating bluntly: "If this was done by the Zhang family, I am willing to be investigated."

Lu Ding looked at him and said calmly, "You wouldn't reveal so many flaws." These words shocked Zhang Huan.

He suddenly realized that Lü Ding wasn't without suspicion, but rather had no intention of continuing down this path. Zhang Huan retreated that night.

The following day, a public trial was held.

The confessions were contradictory, and the pattern on the silver bag did not match that of the Zhang family's treasury. Lü Ding publicly declared: "Bandits from another prefecture."

The Zhang family was uninvolved, but the city was shaken.

That very night, Zhang Huan delivered a thousand shi of grain, ostensibly to "assist the prefecture." It wasn't an apology, but rather a message to the entire city—the Zhang family would not antagonize the acting prefect.

-

The one who truly changed was Chen Su.

As night deepened, he sat alone under the lamp, tapping his knuckles on the table, a chill creeping into his heart for the first time. He had originally thought the assassination was a controllable situation, using the chaos to suppress the powerful and influential, using the powerful and influential to suppress Lü Ding, and then seizing power through order.

The city gates remained intact, the assassins died too quickly, the ranks were too stable—everything seemed pre-planned. Even more terrifying was that Lü Ding never mentioned it.

They neither investigated nor punished the assassin, but simply imprisoned him, as if it were merely an isolated incident committed by bandits from another prefecture.

This silence is more terrifying than a direct outburst.

-

Half a month later, the city had already tacitly accepted Lü Ding's title of "acting manager".

All official documents were signed "By order of the Prefect," and all dispatches were made through Lü Ding. The gentry remained hesitant, and no further letters came from Hebei.

The situation was stable, but Chen Su knew that he had been silently sidelined.

Several former subordinates were transferred to other counties to "assist in the registration and verification." The night patrol routes were changed, and the guards in the prefecture were rotated. They were not dismissed, but they also lost their positions.

One night, he met Lü Ding in the corridor.

The lamplight flickered, and the wind blew from the wasteland.

Lu Ding suddenly spoke up: "If the formation at the city gate had been disrupted even a step that day, Runan would be in chaos today."

Chen Su was startled.

As Lü Ding turned to leave, he added, "Some people don't need to be killed."

No roll call was necessary, but that was enough.

Chen Su stood there, suddenly realizing that he was not the player, but merely a piece.

-

Late at night, the lights in the west wing of the prefectural government building were still on.

Xun You asked, "Since you have already seen through it, why don't you expose it?"

Lu Ding looked out the window at the lights on the desolate land and said calmly, "If we lift the lid, the prefectural government will be in chaos first. Han Zixiu hasn't returned yet, so we can't let things get out of hand."

Xun You then asked, "What about Chen Su?"

Lu Ding said softly, "Let him know that I know."

This statement is sharper than a knife, because fear does not come from death, but from waiting.

Everything seemed calm in the city, but the real game was just beginning.

The wind in Yecheng is colder than in Runan.

When Han Zixiu arrived, Yuan Shao did not immediately summon him, but only ordered him to be accommodated in a post station. The first day was spent observing military exercises, the second day a banquet was held, and only on the third day was the discussion of military preparations in various prefectures taken place. The formalities were not lacking, but the delay was deliberately intentional. Han Zixiu knew in his heart that this was not a lack of respect, but an attitude—he had been invited not simply to discuss matters, but to be "removed" from the discussion.

On the third day, during the military discussion, Yuan Shao asked very detailed questions, yet his tone remained calm throughout. "How many military duties are there in Runan Commandery? How many drills have been conducted? Where is the military tally?" Han Zixiu answered each question. When he mentioned that "the military tally is in a box and sealed in the treasury," Yuan Shao's gaze paused slightly. He then asked, "Who is in charge of the drills?" Han Zixiu hesitated for a moment before replying, "Acting Lü Ding." Yuan Shao smiled faintly, a smile as subtle as placing a piece on a chessboard. He did not pursue the matter further.

That night, Han Zixiu sat alone in the post station. Merchants from the north had brought several private letters, one of which was from the Zhang family of Runan. The letter contained no complaints or grievances, only three words: "The prefecture is stable." These three words left Han Zixiu speechless for a long time. He had only been away from the city for half a month, and Runan had not only not fallen into chaos, but had actually stabilized. The gentry had not moved, the rumors had dissipated, the prefectural officials were training as usual, and even the pressure from Hebei had been quietly dissipated.

If Yuan Shao were truly preparing for war, he wouldn't necessarily have needed the prefect to leave the city. Summoning the prefect to Ye and delaying the discussion of war for three days was to see if the prefect's absence would cause an imbalance within the prefecture.

The answer is now before us.

There was no imbalance, meaning that the military and political power of Runan no longer depended on "the prefect residing in the city".