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

Cui Jun's brushstrokes paused on the seven characters "Lü Ding holds the army and wields power," the ink not yet dry, yet he hesitated to add his signature.

He knew very well that if this message reached Ye City, it would push the situation to another level—it would no longer be a test, but a forced response from Ye City. The wind whistled against the eaves outside the window, and he suddenly realized that if this military report was written too harshly, it might not necessarily be detrimental to Lü Ding.

He eventually crossed out those seven words and wrote only one sentence:

"The morale of the Runan army is stable, but their status is still undetermined, so it should be dismissed as soon as possible."

The pen fell, and the seal was closed.

Meanwhile, the lights in the west wing were still on.

Lu Ding neither sent anyone to the military supervisor's office to inquire nor went to the Zhang family's residence to express his opinion. He simply ordered the three-section night drill to proceed as usual, with the righteous followers in formation. On the drill ground, swords and spears clashed, and the steps were perfectly synchronized. No matter how strong the wind was outside the city gate, it was just the sound of the wind.

The echo arrived from Ye City the following afternoon.

This time, it wasn't an urgent order, but a copy of a transfer order.

—Han Zixiu shall remain in Yecheng to participate in the military discussions on the southern front and shall not return lightly.

—The military and political affairs of Runan shall continue to be handled by an acting official and shall not be left vacant.

—The organization of the military camp will be postponed until the military situation becomes clearer.

There was no appointment letter, and no handover of official seal.

However, there was no room for "returning it to the prefect".

Han Zixiu's five words, "Do not return lightly," are tantamount to an explicit statement—he will not be coming back.

Cui Jun held the document, his face more somber than usual. He had originally thought that Yecheng would take this opportunity to make changes, or explicitly authorize the military supervisor to exercise prefectural administration, at least giving him a reason to truly control the southern front. But Yecheng did not; they chose a more cautious approach—no replacement of personnel, no return of personnel, just delaying.

If Han Zixiu does not return, the acting administration will not end; if the acting administration does not end, the morale of the army will remain stable in Lü Ding's hands; with the morale of the army stable, the system of the military camp cannot be forcibly implemented.

Cui Jun then realized that if he pushed forward and the morale of the army changed, Ye City might not clean up the mess for him; the one who would be held accountable would be the supervising officer.

As evening fell, he personally went to the prefectural government office and placed a copy of the transfer order on the table: "Prefect Han will not be returning for the time being."

Lü Ding nodded: "The southern front is of utmost importance."

"Aren't you surprised?"

"I had a premonition."

Cui Jun looked at him and suddenly asked, "Do you want him to come back?"

Lü Ding did not answer immediately, but looked at the seal hanging in the hall. It was Han Zixiu's seal, still hanging high in the main hall, but no longer issuing orders.

"If he returns, he will still be the prefect," Lü Dingping said in a flat voice. "If he doesn't return, I will govern Runan."

In short, don't compete or grab.

Cui Jun remained silent for a long time before suddenly saying, "Ye City did not grant the military supervisor the authority to act on this matter."

"The military supervisor has not been dismissed either," Lü Ding replied.

It's a delicate balance—no one wins, and no one backs down.

But in Runan City, people's hearts were already clear.

The situation is even more direct in the military.

When the three troops and the Yi Cong were training together, Chen Fang, standing beside the camp flag, gave the order without hesitation: "Follow the prefectural order." No one distinguished between the army camp and the prefectural army anymore. The camp flag was still there, but it was no longer seen.

Cui Jun observed the battle formation several times at the drill ground. The soldiers stood at attention, the drumbeats were perfectly synchronized, and the military registers were reported every three days—it was flawless. He could find fault with it, but he couldn't find any flaws.

As night deepened, he stood under the eaves, gazing at the distant lights, and suddenly understood—

Han Zixiu's failure to return was Yecheng's choice.

It is a fact in Runan that Lü Ding did not retreat.

He was simply caught in the middle.

Several days later, another document arrived in Ye City.

This time, it wasn't a military council or an inquiry, but a perfectly impartial reply:

—Han Zixiu was commended for his military achievements and was temporarily stationed in Ye City.

—The military and political affairs of Runan were managed by Lü Ding, and all matters concerning military registration, tax deeds, and patrol inspections remained unchanged.

—The military supervisor remains in his post, assisting and consulting with each other.

"All military registration, tax deeds, and patrol duties shall remain unchanged."

The phrase "as before" suppressed all changes.

After Cui Jun finished reading, he handed the document back to Lü Ding: "The meaning of Yecheng is stability."

Lu Ding took it and said softly, "Steady."

At this moment, their status was settled.

It was neither an official seal nor a formal appointment.

That night, the prefectural government building was brightly lit.

Han Zixiu's seal still hangs in the hall, but it has become a symbol; military orders, patrol orders, tax deeds, and military registers are all issued by the west wing. Xun You said in a low voice, "The acting appointment is a fait accompli."

Lu Ding looked at the seal hanging in the hall and slowly said, "The name belongs to Lord Han, but the power belongs to Runan."

Will Lord Han return?

"I will come back."

There was no resentment, no sorrow.

It's just a judgment.

The rumors in the city completely subsided. No more talk of "changing personnel" circulated in the taverns of the North City.

The Zhang family engaged in quiet discussions behind closed doors, the Zhao family paid taxes according to the contract, and Sanqu and his followers continued their night drills as usual. The military camp flag still flew on one side of the drill ground, but it had long since lost its luster.

The soldiers looked up, but only glanced at the side of the field.

The man stood unassumingly, not even wearing an official robe, yet he never changed his position regardless of the changing winds and rains in the city.

Cui Jun never mentioned "exercising the prefecture's administration" again. He knew that if he argued about it now, it would only make Yecheng suspect his eagerness. The military camp was not abolished, but it had already been placed under the name of "mutual assistance"; the military registration was not changed, but it was already firmly in Lü Ding's hands.

The wind comes from the north.

However, they suffered a setback in Runan City.

A few days later, the military meeting in Ye City adjourned, but Han Zixiu remained in the north.

Within Runan City, all documents were still signed as follows:

—Acting as Lü Ding.

No one asked about the word "temporary" anymore.

Because it was temporary, it has become permanent.

As night fell, the lights in the west wing of the courtyard were dim.

Xun You said in a low voice, "Acting Governor, who is in charge of Runan now?"

Lu Ding looked towards the distant drill ground.

The drumbeats rose and fell in perfect unison.

He did not answer.

The drumbeats fell one by one into the night.

Military registration was kept in the western wing of the compound, tax deeds were kept in the prefectural government, and patrol inspectors obeyed orders at the drill ground.

My name is known in the north, my power resides in this city; Runan will wait for no one.

Runan City is stable, but the world is not.

Within the territory of Chenliu.

The night wind swept through the ruined camp, banners were half-broken, and armor was torn.

The lights inside the central command tent were still burning.

The man sat down, his face not showing any signs of dejection, but rather appearing more somber than usual.

"The failure to pursue Dong is my fault." He spoke calmly, but no one dared to underestimate him.

The generals inside the tent stood in silence.

Someone whispered, "The feudal lords each have their own selfish motives; it is not our lord's fault."

He shook his head: "The name of 'opposing Dong Zhuo' can rally people for a time; without a state as a base, it is difficult to establish oneself for a lifetime."

He got up and walked to the map.

The firelight flickered along the Yuzhou line.

"When feudal lords hold an alliance, it all comes to naught when the alliance is broken up."

"If you want to establish yourself, you must establish a solid foundation."

His finger slowly landed south of Chenliu.

"Yuzhou".

Someone inside the tent whispered a reminder: "Yuzhou has many prefectures, each with its own governor."

He then asked, "Who rules Runan?"

The reply was: "His official name is Han Zixiu, but in reality he is the acting administrator."

The man's eyes flickered slightly.

"Acting?"

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"A place where one holds a position of power but little influence is most vulnerable to being destroyed."

Someone asked, "Does our lord intend to march south?"

He didn't answer directly, but only said:

"When things are stable, we can take advantage of the situation; when things are chaotic, we can seize the territory."

The atmosphere inside the tent was slightly tense.

In the firelight, his eyes were colder than the lamp itself.

"Pass on the order—"

"Reorganize the army."

"First stabilize Chenliu, then explore Yuzhou."

"The southern front should not be underestimated."

The wind outside the tent was low, and the warhorses neighed softly.

He looked at the map again.

Chenliu is in the north.

Runan is in the south.

"The alliance of feudal lords has ended."

The lights flickered.

He reached out and covered the Yuzhou line.

The night wind outside the tent suddenly picked up.