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

Julu County.

Lower Quyang.

Inside a luxurious mansion in the city.

"What did you say?"

Zhang Bao stared wide-eyed at Zhang Liang standing in front of him, his eyes filled with disbelief: "You're saying that my elder brother defeated Lu Zhi in Guangzong City?"

"this....."

"How can this be?"

Zhang Bao shook his head, unable to believe that what Zhang Liang said was true.

They had fought Lu Zhi several times in Wei Commandery, but were repeatedly defeated by Lu Zhi and Dong Zhuo.

They were completely powerless to fight back.

He had already taken away the main force of the Taiping Dao, so how could his elder brother Zhang Jiao defeat Lu Zhi?

“It’s true,” Zhang Liang explained. “I heard some believers from Guangzong say that my brother not only defeated Lu Zhi, but also killed him.”

“Now my brother is leading over 100,000 followers north back to Julu County, and he is already heading this way.”

"Second brother... let's go back. As long as we admit our mistakes, our elder brother will definitely forgive us."

Zhang Liang looked at Zhang Bao, who was sitting in the main seat, and advised, "Second brother, as long as we join forces with eldest brother, even if the imperial court sends a large army to suppress us again, we will not have to worry anymore."

Zhang Bao's gaze suddenly darkened.

Admit mistake?

To join forces in one place?

forgive?

Zhang Bao, who had been looking down, raised his head, the gloom in his eyes dissipating: "You said that my brother is currently heading towards Xiaquyang?"

Zhang Liang immediately nodded: "Yes, there are many more Taiping Dao believers outside the city today. They all say they came from my elder brother's side, and that my elder brother's army is behind them."

"I estimate we'll arrive here in another day or two."

Zhang Bao took a deep breath, then slowly nodded and said, "Third brother, why don't you send someone to contact your elder brother first? Tell him... tell him we'll talk about everything when we meet."

“I made a mistake before, but I did it for my elder brother and for the Way of Peace.”

Zhang Liang's face lit up with joy, and he nodded hurriedly, replying, "Second Brother, as long as you sincerely admit your mistake, your elder brother will definitely forgive us."

“I will send someone right away... no, I will go to find my brother myself right away.”

Zhang Bao nodded slowly and said with a smile, "Go ahead, I'll be waiting for your good news in the city."

Zhang Liang turned and left the main hall of the mansion, then quickly walked outside.

Zhang Bao was left alone in the hall.

Watching Zhang Liang's departing figure, a sinister glint reappeared in Zhang Bao's eyes.

forgive?

How could I possibly forgive?

If what happened three years ago is exposed, how can he expect to be forgiven?

Some things, once started, can only be pursued to the bitter end.

"Third brother, don't blame me, because I had no other choice."

Zhang Bao clenched his fists.

..........

Xiaquyang is located at the border of Julu Commandery, Zhongshan State, and Changshan State.

Heading north, one arrives at Wuji County of the Zhongshan Kingdom.

To the west lies Zhen Ding County of Changshan State.

From here, the influence extends to Julu, Zhongshan, and Changshan.

After Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang were defeated by Lu Zhi, they went north to Xiaquyang and captured the county. They then used Xiaquyang as a base to recruit followers of the Taiping Dao from Changshan and Zhongshan.

He also sent a message to Youzhou, asking Cheng Zhiyuan, the chieftain of Youzhou, to lead the Taiping Dao of Youzhou south to meet him at Xiaquyang.

Although Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang only brought a small number of Taiping Dao followers to Xiaquyang after being defeated by Lu Zhi, after a period of rest, the number of Taiping Dao followers in Xiaquyang has grown to tens of thousands.

After a five- or six-day trek, Zhang Jiao, having traveled north from Anping Kingdom and crossed the Zhang River, was now only forty li away from Xiaquyang.

Heading north, Zhang Jiao gathered followers of the Way of Peace along the way, and by this time, the number of followers of the Way of Peace led by Zhang Jiao had reached nearly 200,000.

Duan Yu's Liangzhou army was positioned not far away, only about half a day's journey from the Yellow Turban army's camp.

However, Duan Yu was not in the army.

Since that day when he had a frank conversation with Zhang Jiao, Duan Yu had remained with the Yellow Turban Army.

Of course, although they were called the Yellow Turban Army, they were actually the Yellow Turban Army controlled by Duan Yu.

Zhang Jiao's main force consisted of 50,000 Yellow Turban soldiers led by Cheng Yu.

In addition, Zhang Xiu led a thousand elite Liangzhou cavalrymen who were the Yellow Turban warriors by Zhang Jiao's side.

The remaining 100,000-plus Yellow Turban soldiers were basically composed of old people, children, and refugees, and had no fighting power whatsoever.

Duan Yu stayed by Zhang Jiao's side not to monitor him.

Rather, it's so that we can communicate our plans for the future at any time.

Duan Yu's intention was to relocate a million Yellow Turban soldiers to Liangzhou.

However, the number of Yellow Turban rebels in Ji Province alone certainly wouldn't reach that figure.

Therefore, it will take some planning and waiting to raise a million.

At this time, dozens of miles away from Xiaquyang, on the east bank of the lower reaches of the Wei River, the Yellow Turban Army, who had been on foot for a day, stopped and set up camp.

Next to Zhang Jiao's central command tent, there was a smaller tent.

Duan Yu was among them at that moment.

Besides Duan Yu, Jia Xu, Cheng Yu, and Li Ru were also in the camp.

The camp was surrounded by elite troops from Liangzhou led by Zhang Xiu.

Inside the tent, Duan Yu was standing in front of a flat map.

Li Ru, Jia Xu, and Cheng Yu stood on the left and right sides respectively.

Duan Yu looked at Xiaquyang, which was circled in red on the map, and pointed to it, saying, "Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang currently have nearly 100,000 Yellow Turban soldiers here."

"Add to that the 200,000 we have here, and it'll be around 300,000."

"There should still be more than 100,000 Yellow Turban soldiers in Youzhou. If we recruit them for a while longer, the number can reach 500,000."

Duan Yu tapped the map in front of him lightly and said, "But this number is still not enough."

"We're still way from a million."

"Therefore, I will replace Zhang Bao with Zhang Jiao, and use Xiaoquyang as a base to create momentum and attract all the Yellow Turban Army troops from Qingzhou and Yanzhou to this place."

All three nodded.

“However, Zhang Bao betrayed Zhang Jiao before, so I estimate it will be difficult for him to be of one mind with Zhang Jiao again. The problem now is to deal with Zhang Bao.” Duan Yu looked at the three of them.

After having a frank conversation with Zhang Jiao, all the information about the Way of Peace was no longer a secret to Duan Yu.

As the three chief strategists under Liangzhou's command, Duan Yu naturally needed to explain this information to them so that he could make strategic adjustments as needed.

"It would be best to do it without bloodshed," Li Ru said, fiddling with the jade pendant in his hand. "Li Zhao, the governor of Ji Province, is located in the direction of Gaoyi in Changshan State, and he still has a certain number of troops under his command."

"If we were to take over the Yellow Turban army in Quyang by attacking them, I am worried that Li Zhao would take this opportunity to send troops."

"At present, Ji Province only has your army. If the Liang Province army is to disguise itself as the Yellow Turban Army, I am worried that the court will find out."

Duan Yu nodded.

This is a problem.

Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang occupied Xiaquyang, which was defended by 100,000 Yellow Turban soldiers.

It is unrealistic to rely on the Yellow Turban Army to launch a forced attack.

After all, the Yellow Turban Army's fighting strength was undeniable.

Furthermore, if the Yellow Turban Army were to engage in internal strife, it would likely cause concern among the Yellow Turban Army forces in Youzhou, Qingzhou, and Yanzhou.

Therefore, figuring out how to deal with Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang in Xiaquyang is a difficult problem.

A glint of light flashed in Duan Yu's eyes, and he said to the direction outside the tent, "Youwei, go and call Liu Baitu."

Zhang Xiu, who was waiting outside the tent, responded.

Before long, Liu Baitu, dressed in a black robe, entered the tent.

"Bai Tu, how many people from the Military Affairs Bureau are in Xiaquyang City? If we were to launch an assassination attempt on Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, would it be possible to succeed?" Duan Yu asked Liu Bai Tu.

Liu Baitu shook his head slightly and said, "There are some, but it would be very difficult to assassinate Zhang Bao."

“The people around Zhang Bao are all devout followers of the Taiping Dao who have followed Zhang Bao for many years. Our people simply cannot get close to them.”

"And this is only the first level."

“The Yellow Turban Warriors around Zhang Bao are all believers of the Way of Peace who have been following the Way of Peace for many years. Outsiders simply cannot infiltrate them.”

"According to intelligence coming from the city, Zhang Bao is also very cautious. Assassinating him would be extremely difficult, and the chances of failure would be even greater."

Duan Yu frowned slightly.

Yes, Zhang Jiao was able to be assassinated because he had Zhang Bao as an inside agent.

Otherwise, given that the Way of Peace had developed for over ten years, the people around these three brothers were all extremely devout followers of the Way of Peace, making it extremely difficult for outsiders to get close.

It seems that assassinating Zhang Bao is not an option.

If we fail, it will definitely alert Zhang Bao.

"My lord, is it possible to lure Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang out?" Cheng Yu asked Duan Yu. "Use Zhang Jiao as bait to lure the two out of Xiaquyang City."

Duan Yu thought about it for a moment and decided that this was something he could give a try.

Just as Duan Yu and the others were pondering this...

Zhang Xiu's voice suddenly rang out outside the tent.

"My lord, the lady has arrived."

Inside the tent, several people simultaneously turned their gazes to Duan Yu, each with a different expression.

Duan Yu glanced at the gazes directed at him and gave a slight twitch of his lips.

As the battle raged on, a lady suddenly appeared.

Moreover, she was Zhang Jiao's daughter.

It's surprising enough just to talk about it.

One is the daughter of the world's biggest traitor.

One is the former general whom the imperial court now relies on in Ji Province.

The two were actually father-in-law and son-in-law.

If this matter were to spread, it would likely shock all thirteen states of the land for three years.

"Why are you all staring at me like that? Go, go, go do what you're supposed to be doing." Duan Yu waved his hand helplessly and said, "I'm doing this for the greater good of Liangzhou. I'm sacrificing my own interests for the greater good. You don't understand."

The men suppressed their laughter and then walked out of the tent one by one.

............

Not far from outside the camp.

Zhang Ning, dressed in a white dress, stood outside with a flushed face.

When Zhang Xiu addressed her as "Madam" during the announcement, Zhang Ning's face turned as red as a ripe apple.

Ever since that day when Duan Yu met Zhang Jiao by the stream.

After returning, Zhang Jiao explained the matter to Zhang Ning.

As the saying goes, marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers, so Zhang Ning naturally had no choice but to obey.

However, the current circumstances are not the right time to get married.

But since Duan Yu stayed by Zhang Jiao's side, he needed a reasonable identity.

So Zhang Jiao announced to the public that Duan Yu was his son-in-law.

Therefore, the two are currently married in name only, but not in reality.

But those around Duan Yu didn't see it that way.

Now that the matter is settled, Zhang Ning will be Duan Yu's wife.

When faced with the lady who was to be brought to Liangzhou, Duan Yu's men naturally addressed her with respect.

Therefore, whether it was Zhang Xiu, Jia Dong, Hao Zhao, or others, they all addressed Zhang Ning as "Madam" with respect.

"Please wait a moment, Madam. The Lord is in a state council and will be out shortly," Zhang Xiu explained to Zhang Ning.

Standing in front of the tent, Zhang Ning lowered her head, her face flushed, and looked shyly at a pair of white shoes at her feet.

Inside the tent, Li Ru, Jia Xu, Cheng Yu, and Liu Baitu all came out.

Upon seeing Zhang Ning, the group respectfully clasped their hands in a fist and bowed in greeting.

"Madam, the Lord is inside the tent. Please come in."

The three of them said in unison.

Zhang Ning's face turned even redder.

Liu Baitu reached out and lifted the tent flap.

Seeing Zhang Ning enter the tent, the group exchanged glances and smiled without saying a word.