Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

Hedong Commandery, Anyi County.

Inside Dong Zhuo's governor's mansion, a heavy thud was heard. The maids and servants inside and outside the hall fell silent, heads bowed, not daring to lift their heads.

In the main hall, Dong Zhuo, dressed in a black official robe and looking slightly fatter than when he was in Bingzhou, sat in the main seat.

Standing to the left is Li Ru, who is also dressed in a black robe and wearing a Jinxian crown.

Apart from Li Ru, there were only two other people in the hall.

One person was kneeling on the ground, looking at Dong Huang, who had become noticeably thinner.

The other man was Hua Xiong, who was clad in armor, had a broad build, and had just returned from Hanyang County with eight hundred Flying Bear Cavalry.

The battle of Hanyang Commandery has ended, with Duan Yu achieving a great victory.

The outcome of the battle had already reached Dong Zhuo's ears.

After returning to Ji County, Duan Yu ordered Hua Xiong to lead eight hundred Flying Bear Cavalry back to Hedong Commandery.

Although Duan Yu was very envious of Dong Zhuo's eight hundred Flying Bear Cavalry.

But this was the foundation of Dong Zhuo's survival; the elite among his elite troops.

Unless Dong Zhuo dies, it is virtually impossible to give away these eight hundred Flying Bear riders.

Duan Yu knew this, so he sent Hua Xiong back to Hedong County with eight hundred Flying Bear Cavalry.

Also, send Dong Huang along.

No matter what, Dong Huang is the eldest son of the Dong family and the only next generation of the Dong family who can continue the bloodline.

It's not that Duan Yu can't be killed.

However, if they were to kill him like that, it would be difficult to explain to Dong Zhuo.

Moreover, he no longer needed to visit the Dong family's door.

Taking things to this point is bad for Dong Yi.

Firstly, Duan Yu needed to consider Dong Zhuo's patronage and assistance.

Another reason is that although Dong Huang was involved in this matter, to put it bluntly, Dong Huang was just a brainless playboy.

The idea came from Niu Yaodi; Dong Huang was simply being manipulated by her.

Sending Dong Huang to Dong Zhuo and letting him handle the situation would be the best course of action.

"You bastard, look what you've done!"

By this time, Dong Zhuo had already thrown away everything he could from the table in front of him.

Writing brushes, inkstones, and bamboo slips were scattered around Dong Huang.

Dong Huang collapsed to the ground, his face deathly pale with fear, and dared not look up at Dong Zhuo.

Dong Huang was a spoiled brat who was basically fearless in his hometown of Lintao.

As the eldest son in the family and doted on by his grandmother, he wasn't even afraid of his own father.

But among the Dong family, Dong Huang's only fear was Dong Zhuo.

"How could the Dong family have given birth to such a rebellious son as you!"

Dong Zhuo clenched his teeth, his eyes blazing with fury.

He committed adultery with his daughter-in-law, Niu Yaodi.

It was a family scandal to begin with.

She even conspired with Niu Yaodi to harm Duan Yu!

Even Dong Zhuo couldn't understand this, so how could Dong Huang agree to it?

It's one thing to play with women, but what's truly tragic is that he was also played by women.

They're completely brainless.

I learned that this was not something Duan Yu told me, but rather something Dong Yi told me in a letter from Ji County.

"Do you even have a brain?" Dong Zhuo pointed at Dong Huang and said, "For money, for that slut, you're going to assassinate Duan Yu?"

"If Duan Yu could be harmed by ignorant and incompetent people like you, would he be where he is today?"

"Also, have you ever heard of anyone making that much money selling salt?"

"Use your dog brain to think!"

Duan Yu's ability to make snow salt and white paper was only discovered by Dong Zhuo after he took office as the governor of Hedong.

Salt is produced in Anyi County, Hedong Prefecture, and it is of the highest quality.

Before Dong Zhuo took office as the governor of Hedong Commandery, he had already set his sights on this area.

However, the salt ponds of Anyi were supervised by salt inspectors appointed by the imperial court.

He couldn't find a gap to reach out to for the time being.

But what Dong Zhuo didn't expect was...

Duan Yu had already extended his reach when he was in Bingzhou.

The salt commissioner had already been bribed by Duan Yu.

This was something Dong Zhuo only learned after he took office.

Dong Zhuo later learned about the snow salt and white paper.

But as a father-in-law, even if Dong Zhuo knew, he couldn't ask for it directly.

Duan Yu didn't need Dong Zhuo to say anything; he directly gave him 10% of the profits from the snow salt.

Dong Zhuo never expected that Dong Huang could be so foolish.

Now look what's happened; even his daughter, Dong Yi, has been implicated.

"Take this bastard away and lock him up. No one is to release him without my order," Dong Zhuo said with a dark face.

Hua Xiong accepted the order and then carried Dong Huang out of the main hall.

After the two left, only Dong Zhuo and Li Ru remained in the hall.

"Wenyou...how do you think this matter should be handled?"

"What about Ziyi..." Dong Zhuo took a deep breath and said, "How can we explain things to Ziyi without putting Yi'er in a difficult position?"

Li Ru's eyes darted around, then he took a small step forward, cupped his hands, and said, "My lord, there's no rush with Young Master Huang, but there's one person you need to deal with immediately."

Dong Zhuo frowned and asked, "Are you talking about Niu Fu?"

Li Ru nodded and said, "Good."

"I have heard that when the Marquis of Guo was in Bingzhou, he went out to suppress bandits, and Niu Fu secretly made things difficult for him."

“Now that Niu Yaodi’s matter has implicated the entire Niu clan of Didao, the Marquis of Guo has also been eliminated.”

"No matter what, even if it's not to give the Marquis of Guo an explanation, Niu Fu can no longer keep such people by his side; they will only bring trouble sooner or later."

"It's better..."

Li Ru narrowed his eyes slightly.

Dong Zhuo nodded thoughtfully.

“Alright, but this matter… should be kept secret.” Dong Zhuo said with a frown, “The fewer people who know about it, the better.”

Li Ru nodded and replied, "This subordinate understands."

Dong Zhuo then took a deep breath and continued, "And what about Dong Huang...?"

If Dong Huang were not the eldest son of the Dong family, and not the only heir of the Dong family, Dong Zhuo would have ordered him to be beheaded long ago.

There was absolutely no hesitation.

But Dong Huang was the only son of the Dong family, and also the son of his elder brother.

If he were to kill Dong Huang, it would be tantamount to severing the Dong family's bloodline with his own hands. Although it would be an act of righteousness against family, it would still be unfilial.

He has an elderly mother at home, and if anything were to happen to her because of this, he would lose his official position.

He has risen from a lowly military officer in a border region to this position, and he is well aware of how many upright officials in the imperial court are watching him closely.

If he were impeached for filial impiety, he would certainly lose his official position.

It's hard to say when it will be able to make a comeback.

"Wenyou... this matter... is difficult for me to handle." Dong Zhuo shook his head vigorously and sighed.

Li Ru narrowed his eyes, as if he had already made up his mind.

"My lord, please leave this matter to me," Li Ru said. "I guarantee I will handle it properly."

Dong Zhuo covered his forehead with one hand, nodded without raising his head, and waved his hand: "Wen You, go ahead. Now, Wen You is the only one I can rely on."

..........

That night.

Li Ru was dressed in a black robe, with two soldiers following behind him.

In front of the county government dungeon in Anyi County.

Upon seeing the token that Li Ru handed over, the jailer immediately bowed and opened the prison gate, warmly welcoming Li Ru inside.

"You all get out."

Li Ru waved to the jailer and tossed out a string of coins, saying, "It's cold, buy some wine for your subordinate."

The jailer immediately bowed and thanked him with a smile: "Thank you, Chief Secretary, thank you, Chief Secretary."

Torches were lit in the prison.

Li Ru, dressed in a black robe, led two soldiers carrying food boxes toward the depths of the prison.

In the last cell of the prison.

Only Dong Huang was imprisoned.

At this moment, Dong Huang was lying on a wooden bed, without any chains or other restraints on his body.

Upon hearing Dong Huang's identity, the jailer dared not neglect him and made some exceptions for him, exempting him from the prison shackles and even providing him with a bed.

"Young Master Huang."

Li Ru stood in front of the cell, looking at Dong Huang, who was curled up asleep on the wooden bed.

Hearing someone calling, Dong Huang jumped up and saw Li Ru standing outside the cell.

"Mr. Wen, Mr. Wen!"

Dong Huang immediately stood up, ran to the prison door, knelt down in front of Li Ru, and pleaded, "Mr. Wenyou, Mr. Wenyou, please save me!"

“My uncle listens to Mr. Wenyou the most. Mr. Wenyou will put in a good word for me in front of my uncle.”

"I was just out of my mind for a moment and ended up on that slut's pirate ship."

"Mr. Wen, please help me! I don't want to die!"

At this moment, Dong Huang was in tears, showing no trace of his former arrogant and domineering demeanor as a spoiled young master in Lintao.

"Why....."

Li Ru sighed and said, "If only Young Master Huang had known this would happen, he wouldn't have done it in the first place."

As Li Ru spoke, he waved his hand and said, "Young Master Huang hasn't eaten yet, has he?"

"These past few days have been bumpy on the road, I must not have been eating or sleeping well. Let's eat and drink something first."

The soldier opened the cell door and then carried two food boxes into the cell.

Dong Huang must be hungry.

Along the way, Hua Xiong did not indulge Dong Huang.

Hua Xiong was also an old hand around Dong Zhuo, just like Li Jue and Guo Si.

After Dong Huang's incident, Li Jue and Guo Si complained endlessly and even went to Hua Xiong to see if there was any hope of returning to Dong Zhuo's side.

After all, there's no future for him with Duan Yu.

Therefore, Hua Xiong did not indulge Dong Huang along the way.

After putting down the food box, the soldier brought over a folding chair.

After the cell was locked again, Li Ru sat in the cell corridor.

The torch stuck in the wall beside him illuminated one side of Li Ru's face in a crimson glow, while the other side remained completely in shadow.

Starving, Dong Huang grabbed the food from the food box and began to eat heartily.

While grabbing food, Dong Huang didn't forget to cast a pleading look at Li Ru.

"Mr. Wen... Mr. Wen, your uncle listens to you the most. Please... please beg your uncle for me."

Li Ru gave a wry smile.

"Young Master Huang...you shouldn't have...you shouldn't have...how could you be so foolish as to use your wicked intentions on Marquis Guo?"

"If you don't die... you'll implicate the entire Dong family."

"Lord Guo..."

At this point, Li Ru paused, and the image of Duan Yu's imposing figure involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Duan Yu's rise to power is now unstoppable.

Based on his years of experience in judging people, Duan Yu was bound to rise to power even without Dong Zhuo's help.

It's just a matter of sooner or later.

Now it's no longer Duan Yu relying on the Dong family.

In the future, the Dong family will definitely rely on Duan Yu.

Duan Yu possesses all the qualities: temperament, methods, abilities, and vision.

All that's missing is time.

Given more time, no one can say for sure how far Duan Yu can go.

At the very least, he can't tell.

The fact that Dong Zhuo did not kill Dong Huang does not mean that Dong Huang will not die.

In fact, Dong Huang was destined to die.

Dong Huang was not Dong Zhuo's biological son, but Dong Yi was Dong Zhuo's biological daughter.

However, this matter... cannot pass through Dong Zhuo's hands.

“Sigh…” Li Ru sighed again.

Dong Huang, who was eating, suddenly widened his eyes.

He then clutched his chest.

He also spat out a mouthful of blood.

Li Ru reacted quickly, getting up and moving away.

The blood that Dong Huang spat out all landed on the erhu chair that Li Ru had just sat on.

Then his eyes widened, but he couldn't utter a single word. He raised one hand and pointed at Li Ru, while the other hand gripped his throat tightly.

"After arriving in Anyi, Prince Huang suddenly died."

Standing to the side, Li Ru said expressionlessly, "Niu Fu was beheaded for the crime of rebelling against the army. His head and these words were sent to the Marquis of Guo in Ji County."

"Also, send a message to the prefect, saying..."

"Young Master Huang died in prison from choking."