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

Yonghe Lane.

Taipu Mansion.

Yuan Ji, dressed in a white robe, was sitting in his study.

On the table in front of him were teacups, an oil lamp, and a scroll of bamboo slips.

The study door was wide open, and four guards with swords hanging from their waists stood at the entrance.

Taipu was one of the Nine Ministers.

In charge of manufacturing weapons, chariots, and horses.

Although it may not seem to have the same power as the other nine ministers.

But Yuan Ji is still only thirty years old.

The weapons, vehicles, and horses within Luoyang City were all under Yuan Ji's command.

"My lord, Duan Yu came out of the West Garden, and the eunuch Zuo Feng escorted him out of the South Gate of the West Garden and boarded a carriage."

A man dressed in black robes knelt on one knee in front of Yuan Ji's study and spoke in a low voice.

Yuan Ji picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and then nodded, saying, "Continue the investigation and find out who exactly met with Duan Yu in the carriage."

"only!"

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

Inside the city, the atmosphere was bustling with noise.

The streets of Luoyang, where the curfew had just been lifted, were filled with people who had been cooped up at home for months and came out to release their stress.

Inside a tavern on the outermost edge of Jinshi, near Xiyuan.

Tie Shitou, accompanied by ten of Duan Yu's personal guards, sat at two tables near the window.

The bustling market was brightly lit.

Bright lanterns are hung in front of the shops that open at night.

The taverns were packed with people.

Iron Stone, sitting near the window, drank his wine while gazing out at the distant view.

From here, you can see the south gate of Daoxi Garden.

Duan Yu was in a carriage not far from the West Garden.

Just as Tie Shitou was raising his wine cup to drink, a man holding a wine gourd stumbled and bumped into Tie Shitou's table.

Ok?

The guards sitting around the iron stone immediately gripped the hilts of their swords and tried to get up.

Iron Stone turned his head and frowned at the drunk man.

The man chuckled and casually lifted a part of his waist that was being covered.

Tie Shitou's pupils narrowed, and he immediately gestured to his subordinates to calm down.

"Come on, pour this brother a pot of wine."

Tie Shitou said to the waiter at the tavern next to him.

The waiter immediately bowed and jogged over: "Please wait a moment, sir, it will be ready soon."

The waiter at the tavern was also quite perceptive. Having spent years in Luoyang, he could tell at a glance who was someone to mess with and who wasn't.

Although Tie Shitou and his companions appeared to be wearing long robes, the sharp-eyed waiter immediately noticed that they all had inner armor underneath.

In Luoyang, someone who dared to wear armor and carry a knife could not be an ordinary person.

After showing the token at his waist to Tie Shitou, the drunkard immediately covered it up again.

He then lowered his voice and said, "Night Hawk from the Fourth Military Intelligence Bureau greets General Tie."

Tie Shitou nodded slightly.

As Duan Yu's personal guard, Tie Shitou naturally knew about the existence of the Military Affairs Office.

"Speak, what's wrong?" Tie Shitou asked, picking up his wine glass.

“There are a large number of gentry members along the route in Luoyang City monitoring the military commander. It is not appropriate for me to appear near the commander in my capacity, so please ask General Tie to convey this message to the military commander.”

Ok?

Tie Shitou frowned and asked, "Do you know where this informant came from?"

Night Hawk shook his head and said, "It's not clear yet, but the Military Intelligence Bureau has already launched an operation in the vicinity. So far, they have killed several people, but there are a lot of informants. It shouldn't be a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather someone doing it on purpose."

"Please convey this message to the military commander, General Tie, and please be careful."

Tie Shitou nodded and said, "Okay, I understand. Be careful."

At this moment, the waiter also came over with a gourd full of wine and handed it to Night Hawk.

"Thank you, sir."

Night Hawk chuckled, then swayed as he carried his wine gourd toward the tavern's door.

After Night Hawk left, Iron Stone stood up unhurriedly and said to one of his subordinates, "Go back to the manor immediately and inform Wang Hunu to send another team to clear obstacles on the way back to the manor."

After receiving the order, the guard nodded hurriedly and turned to leave.

After watching Night Hawk disappear into the darkness of the street corner, Tie Shitou walked towards the carriage where Duan Yu was parked in the distance.

At this moment, the oppressive sounds that had been lingering inside the carriage gradually disappeared.

Then came the rustling sound of clothes being put on.

"You rascal, can't you spend more time with her...?"

He Lingman bit her red lips as she looked at Duan Yu.

Duan Yu, who was getting dressed, chuckled and said, "If you're still capable, I don't care. I'm just afraid you're not."

He Lingman's pretty face immediately turned red, and a feeling of weakness came from her body.

"How long will you be staying this time?" He Lingman asked expectantly.

Duan Yu shook his head: "I need to leave as early as tomorrow morning."

"Huh?" He Lingman's expression instantly fell. "Are you leaving so soon?"

Duan Yu nodded.

The matter in Luoyang is over, and the migration of a million Yellow Turban rebels to Liangzhou no longer needs to be done in secret.

Liangzhou has also made preparations to welcome the million refugees into Liangzhou.

Furthermore, before winter, he also planned to launch a campaign against the Qiang people to completely wipe out Wuwei, Jiuquan, Zhangye, and other places, and to open up the passage to the Western Regions.

It's already August, and there are still a few months until winter.

If we cannot open up the Western Regions this year, we cannot launch an attack before the spring planting season next year. This delay will take more than half a year.

His future plans to sell silk in the Western Regions will also be affected.

"There are still many things waiting for us in Liangzhou," Duan Yu replied while putting on his clothes.

He Lingman looked at Duan Yu with a sour expression and said, "Hmph, it's not so much about many things, it's probably about many women."

"You've been gone for more than half a year. The women at home must be getting impatient waiting for you."

Duan Yu chuckled and said, "The more it's like this, the more it proves my ability."

"What's wrong? Don't you understand this all too well?"

He Lingman was irresistibly aroused by Duan Yu's teasing.

But it was also clear that Luoyang could not keep Duan Yu.

Duan Yu will eventually have to return to Liangzhou.

But deep down, she still longed for the day when she could be with Duan Yu forever.

"You know about white paper and snow salt, right?" Duan Yu suddenly said to He Lingman.

He Lingman nodded blankly and said, "I know, so what?"

"White paper and snow salt are actually my businesses. After I came to Luoyang this time, I handed over the distribution rights of white paper and snow salt in Nanyang County to your elder brother He Jin."

"The official profit split is 50/50, with your brother and I each taking 50% of the profits."

“You have nothing to do in Luoyang, so I’d like to entrust this matter to you.”

"That way I can feel more at ease, do you understand what I mean?"

Duan Yu looked at He Lingman.

It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision by Duan Yu to let He Lingman manage the distribution rights for white paper and snow salt in Nanyang County.

Actually, this is also related to He Lingman's identity.

Although He Lingman and He Jin are siblings, they are not, in theory, blood siblings.

He Jin's biological mother died early, and He Jin's father later remarried.

He Lingsi and He Lingman were both born to He Jin's father's second wife.

In other words, their blood relationship is only that of half-siblings.

He Jin's younger brother, He Miao, was not a biological brother of He Jin. He was the child of He Jin's father's second wife. He was originally surnamed Zhu, but changed his surname to He after settling in the He family.

He Miao, He Lingsi, and He Lingman are theoretically related.

Historically, after the death of Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, there was a disagreement between He Jin and He Lingsi. Duan Yu speculated that this might also be related to their relationship.

Moreover, because Zhang Feng was unable to have normal sexual relations, He Lingman harbored resentment towards He Jin for betrothing her to Zhang Feng, and lived as a widow for so many years.

If He Lingman hadn't harbored resentment towards both Zhang Rang and He Jin, she wouldn't have told him about the money hidden in Zhang Rang's ancestral home in Yingchuan.

This is cause and effect.

Hearing Duan Yu's words, He Lingman's eyes showed not only surprise but also a hint of sweetness.

"You...you trust him that much? Aren't you afraid...aren't you afraid I'll tell my brother about this?" He Lingman looked at Duan Yu with seductive eyes.

Duan Yu smiled slightly.

Then he reached out and pulled He Lingsi into his arms: "You are my woman, now and in the future. I have no intention of harming your brother, I just hope you can remain fair."

"So what?"

"If I can't even trust my own woman, then who can I trust?"

He Lingman gently rested her head on Duan Yu's shoulder, her face beaming with sweet happiness.

"Don't worry, they know what to do." He Lingman said softly, "My identity is destined to remain hidden, now and forever. I just hope... I hope you'll think of me often. As for anything else, I don't need anything else."

"I don't have my sister's high position, nor can I marry you openly like your other women."

"I only ask that you reserve a place for me in your heart, and that will make me content."

Duan Yu, who was holding He Lingman, smiled and nodded, then gently stroked He Lingman's black hair.

Footsteps sounded outside the car.

Duan Yu tilted his head slightly.

"My lord, there is urgent business."

The sound of iron and stone echoed outside the carriage.

Upon hearing Tie Shitou's words, Duan Yu frowned.

The fact that Tie Shitou took the initiative to come over at this time must mean he really had something important to discuss; otherwise, he would never have bothered him.

Looking at He Lingman in his arms, Duan Yu lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.

"Alright, I'm leaving now," Duan Yu said.

He Lingman nodded slowly: "Okay, go ahead, be careful on your journey."

...........

Outside the carriage, Duan Yu, having straightened his clothes, stepped down from the carriage.

Iron Stone stood a few meters away from the carriage.

After Duan Yu got off the carriage, He Lingman ordered the carriage to leave and head towards the road they had taken from Jinshi.

"What's wrong?" Duan Yu also walked towards Jinshi.

Tie Shitou, about half a step behind Duan Yu, said, "My lord, just now when I was at the tavern, a scout named Night Hawk from the Military Affairs Department came to report."

"They say that just now, a large number of spies began to monitor you, and the Military Affairs Bureau has already killed several people, but there are still many more."

"And so far, we do not know the purpose of these people's visit or who they are."

A spy?

Surveillance?

Duan Yu frowned and thought for a moment.

There were many people monitoring him in Luoyang.

Anyone could be that way.

But if it's about how many eyeliners suddenly appeared today...

Yuan Kui!

Suddenly, the image of Yuan Wei appeared in Duan Yu's mind.

Today in court, Yuan Wei suffered a great loss, even losing his position as Minister of Works.

What he revealed in court today was something Yuan Wei was unaware of before.

and......

After he revealed his contact with Zhang Jiao, Yuan Wei must have been worried that Zhang Jiao might reveal the Yuan family's past dirty deeds.

This old fox.

Unfortunately, this old fox was too cautious in his actions.

His father-in-law, Zhang Jiao, had no leverage over the Yuan family.

Yuan Wei must have sensed the danger, which is why he suddenly began to send more people to monitor him.

As he was thinking, Duan Yu's expression suddenly changed.

not good!

He Lingman!

Duan Yu's gaze suddenly turned to the direction where He Lingman's carriage had left.

At this time, He Lingman's carriage had already entered the gold market.

"Stone, go find that carriage from earlier. Also, inform Wang Hunu to wait near the residence of Imperial Physician Zhang Feng. If you encounter a carriage returning home, intercept it immediately."