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

Almost at the same time that Duan Yu arrived in Xin'an County, Luoyang also received the battle report from Hangu Pass, as well as the news that Duan Yu had led the Liangzhou army through Hangu Pass.

After passing Hangu Pass, the land is flat and open.

Apart from the city walls, Luoyang offered no further cover for Duan Yu.

At this time, outside Luoyang City.

The city's defensive military camp.

As the name suggests, the city guards are the troops that defend the city.

Logically, the troops defending the city should have been stationed inside Luoyang.

However, after the Imperial Guards sealed off the palace, when He Jin summoned his ministers to the palace the next day, he led a portion of the city's garrison out of Luoyang.

This part of the army only numbered around a thousand.

He Jin led his thousand-strong army to garrison on the north bank of the Luo River, with the river right behind them.

As a general, he had the right to mobilize troops from all over the country.

But He Jin is now in a really bad situation.

The five schools of the Northern Army had not yet been established.

However, the troops dismissed from their posts in Luoyang could not be mobilized.

They wanted to send people to recruit soldiers, but they had neither money nor food.

On New Year's Day, He Jin gave all the profits from the snow salt and white paper to Liu Hong.

Unexpectedly, Liu Hong fell ill.

In just over ten days, most of the thousand soldiers He Jin had brought from Luoyang City to defend the city had fled.

Only a few hundred people remained.

He Jin spent almost every day in fear.

He was terrified that if Liu Hong died one day, he would lose his position as general and be captured.

Especially in the last two days.

When Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun led their troops to Luoyang, He Jin became even more panicked.

The two men brought 30,000 troops to Luoyang and stationed them at Xiaopingjin Pass and Mengjin Pass.

As long as there is a summons from Luoyang, the two can immediately lead their troops into the Luoyang area.

He, a dignified general, has now become a mere figurehead, an outsider.

Even He Jin wasn't entirely clear on the current situation within the palace.

It was midday, and the sun was shining brightly.

The warm breeze of early spring blows across the land, gradually thawing the permafrost that had been frozen all winter.

Tender green shoots gradually sprouted from the ground on both banks of the Luo River.

In a large camp near the Luo River.

Soldiers dressed in plain clothes leaned against the fences surrounding the camp, basking in the sun and trying to ward off the chill.

The soldiers guarding the camp gate stood listlessly beside it, holding long spears.

The deer staggered and crookedly approached the camp gate.

The tents in the camp were scattered and disorganized, and some were already empty.

In the very center of the camp, there is a relatively large tent.

Several soldiers, who looked fairly alert and were wearing armor, stood at the entrance.

"what!"

Excitement and cheers erupted from the tents.

Wearing a brocade robe, but clearly looking thinner, He Jin stood up from behind the table with a happy expression and looked at He Miao.

"Are you telling the truth? Did Duan Yu really come?"

He Miao nodded vigorously: "They've arrived! Duan Yu's troops have reached Xin'an County!"

"Great!"

"Great!"

He Jin clapped his hands vigorously and excitedly walked out from behind the table: "Great! Duan Yu's troops have arrived just in time!"

"How many troops did he bring, and are they heading towards Luoyang now?"

He Miao shook his head and said, "I don't know the exact number of troops, but they are all cavalry. It would only take them half a day to get here from Xin'an."

He Miao's words were like a shot of adrenaline for He Jin.

He Jin, who had just looked dejected, now had a flushed face.

"That's great, that's great."

He Jin paced back and forth in his tent, clearly excited.

"Brother, Duan Yu has arrived, but what are you planning to do?" He Miao asked He Jin.

How to do?

He Jin was taken aback at first.

Then he immediately came to his senses.

"What else can we do? Of course, we should let Duan Yu lead his troops into Luoyang and take control of the overall situation," He Jin said matter-of-factly.

However, He Miao gently shook her head.

"Although my elder brother Duan Yu has brought troops, His Majesty's decree is required to allow outside troops into the city."

"Without His Majesty's written edict, foreign troops entering Luoyang constitute rebellion."

"Then Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun's troops can only be stationed at Xiaopingjin Pass and Mengjin Pass."

"This is probably one of the reasons why Duan Yu's troops stayed in Xin'an County."

“Brother, if you allow Duan Yu to lead troops into Luoyang, that would be tantamount to rebellion.”

"Elder brother, what do you want to do...?"

"No no no no."

Before He Miao could finish speaking, He Jin quickly shook his head.

Rebellion?

What a joke.

He Jin never considered rebelling, nor did he dare to.

"Uncle Da, I never intended to rebel. It's just that Empress Dowager Dong made Liu Xie, the Marquis of Dong, the crown prince without His Majesty's decree, which is against the rules. I just want to ask her for an explanation."

"The Empress is still confined to the palace. We must establish Bian'er as the Crown Prince."

He Miao nodded slowly.

"That's exactly why you can't act recklessly, elder brother."

"Let alone whether Duan Yu would agree to lead troops into Luoyang, even if Duan Yu did agree, if my elder brother really did it, then he would truly be doomed."

“When the world surrounds and attacks us, you will be a traitor.”

He Jin frowned and rubbed his chin: "Then... what do we do now?"

"We can't just stay at this stalemate forever. If His Majesty were to pass away, it would be too late."

He Miao remained silent for a long time, but his tightly furrowed brows indicated that he was also deep in thought.

“Brother, how about this, let Duan Yu come first and see what he thinks,” He Miao said. “Although Duan Yu cannot directly lead his troops into Luoyang, at least now that Duan Yu’s troops are here, Empress Dowager Dong cannot do anything to you directly.”

"Elder brother can also take this opportunity to meet the Empress."

"Moreover, I believe that Empress Dowager Dong will also be wary of Duan Yu's troops, as will Yuan Wei and others."

"Let's summon Duan Yu here first to discuss things, and then figure out what to do next."

"Okay, it's up to you."

..........

Inside Luoyang City.

The residence of Grand Tutor Yuan Wei.

Yuan Wei was sitting next to a bronze brazier in his study, warming himself by the fire.

Yuan Ji and Yuan Shu knelt not far from Yuan Wei.

"I didn't expect Duan Yu to be so fast."

Yuan Wei sighed and said, "Originally, we wanted to drag Duan Yu out until His Majesty passed away."

"Once His Majesty dies and a new emperor ascends the throne, Duan Yu, no matter how many tricks he has up his sleeve, will be powerless to use them. I never expected..."

"Ding Jianyang is incompetent."

Yuan Wei shook his head in disappointment.

“Uncle, Duan Yu has arrived, which gives He Jin confidence. So how should we deal with this?” Yuan Ji asked Yuan Wei.

"response?"

Yuan Wei shook his head and said, "Why should we deal with Duan Yu?"

"The ones who should deal with Duan Yu are the Empress Dowager, Jian Shuo, and Zhang Rang."

Ok?

Yuan Ji's eyebrows shot up.

"It was the Empress Dowager and Jian Shuo and others who supported Dong Hou to become the Crown Prince, not us."

"The ones who should be anxious are the Empress Dowager, Jian Shuo, and Zhang Rang."

"The reason why Jian Shuo supported the Empress Dowager was because he was worried that He Jin would take power. If He Jin took power, given the relationship between He Jin and Duan Yu, he would definitely be the first one to be dealt with."

Yuan Ji nodded slowly.

He was naturally aware of the conflict between Jian Shuo and Duan Yu.

"The Empress Dowager was worried about He Shi gaining power because she had irreconcilable conflicts with the Empress."

As for Zhang Rang...

Yuan Wei's lips curled up slightly as he said, "Duan Yu's second visit must be to clear Dong Zhuo's name. Zhang Feng... it's almost impossible for him to remain unscathed with Duan Yu's methods."

“If Zhang Feng plots to murder the emperor, and this matter is exposed, Zhang Rang will surely die.”

At this point, Yuan Wei paused, his narrowed, fox-like eyes gleaming with a sharp light.

"As for us, we can just watch the show."

"Send this message to the palace," Yuan Wei said softly.

Yuan Ji nodded.

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

Luoyang Nangong.

Jiade Hall.

Wearing armor, Jian Shuo hurried towards the main hall.

Inside the Jiade Hall.

Empress Dowager Dong, dressed in a long black dress and with her hair in a ponytail, was sitting next to the dragon table in the main hall.

Four-year-old Liu Xie knelt behind the dragon table, leaning over it with a brush in one hand, writing something on a piece of white paper.

Empress Dowager Dong sat to the side watching.

Two maids stood on each side, gently fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans.

"Queen Mother."

Upon arriving at the hall, Jian Shuo bowed to Empress Dowager Dong, then turned and bowed to Liu Xie, saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Empress Dowager Dong turned her head to look at Jian Shuo.

"Your Majesty, we have just received news that Duan Yu, the Governor of Liangzhou and Marquis of Ji, has led his troops from Liangzhou to Luoyang and is currently in Xin'an County."

Jian Shuo looked worried as he spoke.

Empress Dowager Dong's expression changed upon hearing Jian Shuo's words.

Duan Yu!

"Didn't he... already have Ding Yuan, the governor of Bingzhou, intercept him at Hangu Pass?" Empress Dowager Dong asked, frowning.

“Yes.” Jian Shuo nodded and said, “The messenger said that Ding Yuan, the governor of Bingzhou, died at Hangu Pass, and afterwards several of his lords opened the gate and let Duan Yu in.”

"He...how dare he!" Empress Dowager Dong roared, "He actually dared to kill an official of the court without authorization and defy the court's orders to lead troops into Luoyang. Does Duan Yu intend to rebel?!"

"Jian Shuo, immediately summon the Grand Tutor to the palace and have him lead troops to suppress him."

With his head down, Jian Shuo's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

Suppression?

If only Duan Yu were that easy to suppress.

Although Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun's troops are currently near Luoyang, if a real battle breaks out, can they really control the Liangzhou troops and Duan Yu?

not necessarily.

"Your Majesty, I believe it is not advisable to do so at this time."

"Duan Yu's troops are still stationed in Xin'an County and show no signs of heading to Luoyang. If we send troops to suppress them now, it might force Duan Yu to rebel, which would be counterproductive."

After her impulsive outburst, Mrs. Dong pondered and realized that Jian Shuo's words made some sense.

"Your Majesty, Duan Yu was summoned to Luoyang by General He Jin, who has the authority to deploy troops. If we send troops to suppress him, it will only make us appear weak."

Empress Dowager Dong nodded slowly and said, "What you said makes sense."

“But we must be wary of Duan Yu,” Jian Shuo continued. “The Empress Dowager can ask the Grand Tutor to mobilize troops, and have Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun lead troops to Luoyang to garrison the city’s defenses, in order to guard against Duan Yu.”

"but......"

"But what?" Empress Dowager Dong looked at Jian Shuo and said, "Speak freely."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Jian Shuo cupped his hands and said, "However, this humble general believes that such delay is not a solution, and things may change if this goes on for too long."

"Duan Yu came here on the orders of the Grand General, whose intention is to assist Marquis Shi in becoming the Crown Prince and inheriting the throne. To resolve this matter completely, we probably need to address the root cause."

source?

"How do we solve this?" Empress Dowager Dong asked Jian Shuo.