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

Outside the Jiade Hall of the Imperial Palace.

In June, when all the flowers are in full bloom, bees and butterflies flutter their wings and chase each other in the garden outside the Jiade Hall, amidst the colorful flowers blooming on both sides of the pond.

The bottom of the crystal-clear pond is covered with pebbles of roughly the same shape and size.

Schools of fish swam slowly in the water.

An octagonal stone pavilion stands in the center of the pond, surrounded by a corridor that connects to the shore.

Every ten steps or so along the corridor stood a palace maid dressed in a long white dress.

Wearing a black robe and gauze dress, and adorned with gold and silver phoenix hairpins, Empress Dowager Dong was sitting in the pavilion enjoying the cool air.

On either side of him, palace maids waved palm-leaf fans to ward off the summer heat.

On the stone table in front of them were freshly retrieved chilled fruits and wines from the deep well.

Compared to a few months ago, Empress Dowager Dong looked much younger at this time.

And her elegant demeanor was also enhanced.

However, just as Empress Dowager Dong closed her eyes and enjoyed the cool breeze passing through the stone pavilion...

A series of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from the east corridor.

Dressed in armor and wearing combat boots, Jian Shuo strode towards Empress Dowager Dong.

He was also holding a scroll of bamboo slips in his hand.

Upon arriving at the pavilion, Jian Shuo bowed respectfully to Empress Dowager Dong, who was standing in the pavilion, and said, "Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Dong, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them and glanced at Jian Shuo: "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry to find me...?"

Upon hearing this, Jian Shuo held up the bamboo scroll in his hands and said, "Empress Dowager, the Grand Tutor just sent over a memorial, which was presented by Duan Yu, the Governor of Liangzhou."

Oh?

When she heard the name Duan Yu, Empress Dowager Dong raised an eyebrow.

"Duan Yu?"

"Isn't he attacking the Western Regions?"

"Why submit a memorial?" Empress Dowager Dong asked casually.

However, Jian Shuo's expression was very solemn as he said, "Empress Dowager, Duan Yu submitted a memorial saying..."

"What did you say?" Empress Dowager Dong asked, resting her hand lightly on her temple as she reclined on her long robe in the stone pavilion.

"Duan Yu wrote a letter saying...that the kingdoms of the Western Regions have now submitted, and that all of the kingdoms in the Western Regions, except for the Wusun who fled to the northern desert, have surrendered to the Han Dynasty."

“The hostages from the Western Regions are being sent to Luoyang, including their letters of surrender and their official seals.”

"Duan Yu submitted a memorial... requesting the Empress Dowager... to confer upon him the title of King."

"what!"

The Empress Dowager Dong, who had been completely indifferent just a moment ago, sat up abruptly from the bench the next second.

He stared at Jian Shuo with utter shock in his eyes.

"What did you say?" Empress Dowager Dong asked incredulously, "You said Duan Yu conquered the entire Western Regions?"

Jian Shuo, who had his head down, immediately nodded, still holding the memorial in both hands.

"Give it to me, give it to me..."

Empress Dowager Dong pointed urgently to the memorial in Jian Shuo's hand.

The palace maid standing to the side immediately stepped forward, took the memorial from Jian Shuo's hand, and then quickly delivered it to Empress Dowager Dong.

Upon receiving the memorial, Empress Dowager Dong immediately untied the ribbons binding the bamboo slips and then unfolded them.

The bamboo slips were densely covered with small seal script.

Sitting on the long bench in the stone pavilion, Empress Dowager Dong rapidly scanned the contents of the document from top to bottom, row by row.

Northern Xiongnu, Wusun, Kucha, Dayuan, Kashgar...

Each sentence struck Empress Dowager Dong's shocked heart like a heavy hammer blow.

After reading all the contents, Empress Dowager Dong, holding the memorial in both hands, was filled with shock.

Four months.

Less than five months.

Duan Yu actually conquered the entire Western Regions?

"this......."

"this......."

Empress Dowager Dong's hands trembled slightly: "How could this be? Duan Yu... he's lying!"

Although Jian Shuo didn't believe it either.

However, Duan Yu had already stated in his memorial that his nephews from the Western Regions kingdoms were already on their way to Luoyang, and that there were also letters from the Western Regions kingdoms.

This is something that cannot be faked.

“Your Majesty, since Duan Yu…Duan Yu has submitted a memorial, it’s unlikely that he would punish those who fabricate it. This humble general believes that Duan Yu has truly conquered the entire Western Regions,” Jian Shuo said.

Empress Dowager Dong, holding the memorial in her hand, had an unusually blank expression.

Normally, it is a great thing for the country and its people when a general on the frontier expands the territory.

The Western Regions were originally subordinate to the Han Dynasty, but later, due to the decline of the Han Dynasty, they gradually broke away from its control.

Now the Western Regions have returned to the Han Dynasty, and not as a vassal state, but as a completely conquered territory.

This is something the whole country should be celebrating.

However, Empress Dowager Dong's face clearly showed no sign of happiness.

Even Jian Shuo is the same.

Make the king!

Duan Yu submitted his memorial requesting to be granted the title of king!

Several months ago, before Duan Yu left Luoyang, Empress Dowager Dong personally promised at the court meeting that if Duan Yu conquered the entire Western Regions, she would make him a king.

Duan Yu has now done it.

But.......

"This..." Empress Dowager Dong was stunned for a moment before she reacted and looked at Jian Shuo, saying, "Does this mean I'm going to bestow a title of king upon him?"

"Didn't you say that we should use the method of having Duan Yu attack the Western Regions to delay Duan Yu?"

Jian Shuo was speechless.

Yes.

But who could have imagined that Duan Yu would conquer the Western Regions in such a short time?

How could Duan Yu have conquered so many small kingdoms in the Western Regions, including Wusun, Kucha, and the Northern Xiongnu, so quickly?

Jian Shuo couldn't understand it.

"Go immediately and summon the Grand Tutor and the Three Dukes." Empress Dowager Dong closed the memorial in her hand.

Jian Shuo immediately nodded.

Granting Duan Yu the title of king was a matter of great importance.

I definitely need to change my top.

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

After receiving Empress Dowager Dong's order, Jian Shuo immediately sent someone to inform Yuan Wei and others.

Before long, Grand Tutor Yuan Wei, Minister of Works Cui Lie, Grand Commandant Zhang Wen, and Minister of Public Works Ma Ridi arrived at the side hall of Jiade Hall.

Since Liu Hong fell seriously ill, Empress Dowager Dong has been living in the Jiade Palace with Crown Prince Liu Xie to attend to him.

Especially after the case of Imperial Physician Zhang Feng, Empress Dowager Dong never left the Jiade Palace.

A few days ago, the Imperial Medical Academy diagnosed Liu Hong's condition again.

The consensus is that Liu Hong may face difficulties related to "Xiangyue".

"Xiangyue" refers to July.

The Eastern Han Dynasty continued to use the Taichu Calendar of the Western Han Dynasty, which was based on the Xia calendar (lunar calendar). The seventh month corresponded to the first month of autumn, hence it was called "Mengqiu" (early autumn).

The Erya (a Chinese dictionary) clearly records: "The seventh month is called Xiang, the eighth month is called Zhuang, and the ninth month is called Xuan."

It is already mid-June.

In other words, Liu Hong's life is nearing its end.

For this reason, Empress Dowager Dong and Emperor Liu Xie never left the Jiade Palace, and the imperial guards could be seen everywhere outside the Jiade Palace.

After Liu Hong fell seriously ill, Xiyuan Garden was abandoned.

Without Liu Hong's extravagant lifestyle, they were able to save a considerable amount of money and food.

In order to stabilize the court and increase the number of troops under her control, Empress Dowager Dong ordered the reorganization of a new army in the Western Garden and the expansion of the Imperial Guard.

Besides stabilizing the court, Empress Dowager Dong was mainly worried about General He Jin.

Although Liu Bian, the Marquis of Shi, has disappeared, Empress He is still carrying the imperial heir, and General He Jin still holds the power to command troops.

After the first month of the lunar calendar, He Jin used the pretext of rebuilding the Northern Army to reorganize the five schools of the Northern Army and recruited a large number of soldiers.

Although the Crown Prince is currently overseeing the country and Empress Dowager Dong is assisting in governance, He Jin's position as Grand General was conferred by Liu Hong.

Before the crown prince officially ascends the throne, He Jin, the general who controls the army of the whole country, cannot be deposed.

He Lingsi is now nine months pregnant and will give birth in a month at most.

If it were still a prince, he might even seize power, so Empress Dowager Dong had no choice but to expand the army to guard against it.

Inside the side hall of Jiade Hall.

Empress Dowager Dong sat in the main seat in the side hall.

Yuan Wei, Cui Lie, Zhang Wen, and Ma Ridi all knelt below.

Yuan Wei already knew why Empress Dowager Dong had summoned him to the palace. Holding his tablet, he lowered his head and remained silent.

On the contrary, Cui Lie and the others were unaware of the meaning behind Empress Dowager Dong's summons.

Several imperial guards stood in front of the side hall.

Jian Shuo stood beside Empress Dowager Dong.

"I have summoned you here because it concerns an important matter concerning Duan Yu, the governor of Liangzhou," Empress Dowager Dong said, looking at the group of people in the hall.

Upon hearing the name Duan Yu, everyone's gaze sharpened.

Empress Dowager Dong didn't even need to say the word "important matter"; anything concerning Duan Yu was never simple.

"Do you all still remember that on the first day of the first month, I promised Duan Yu, the governor of Liangzhou, that if he conquered the Western Regions, I would make him a king?"

"Just now, Duan Yu submitted a memorial stating that he has conquered the kingdoms of the Western Regions and has requested to be granted the title of king!"

hiss!

After Empress Dowager Dong finished speaking, everyone except Yuan Wei was immediately shocked.

Did Duan Yu conquer the entire Western Regions?

How... is this possible?

"Your Majesty, this is impossible!" Cui Lie was the first to question, "The Western Regions consist of dozens of kingdoms with a population of over a million. The territory is vast and remote, including Wusun, Kucha, and the Northern Xiongnu. Duan Yu conquered the entire Western Regions in just a few months?"

"This...this might be an exaggeration."

Empress Dowager Dong nodded calmly and said, "I do hope that Duan Yu's memorial is true. Expanding territory is an unparalleled achievement and a move that will revitalize the country."

"I admit that I promised Duan Yu that if he could conquer the entire Western Regions, I would make him a king."

"But I am also worried that if Duan Yu exaggerates, it will turn a good thing into a bad thing."

"Therefore...that's why I've asked you all to discuss this matter."

Empress Dowager Dong deliberately did not mention that Duan Yu had already sent hostages from various countries to Luoyang, and that he had also sent letters from those countries.

"Your Majesty," Cui Lie said, raising his imperial tablet, "I believe that if Duan Yu is exaggerating, then his intentions are despicable."

"Furthermore, the matter of bestowing a title of king is no small matter, and it should be confirmed before proceeding."

"Or perhaps we can wait until the new emperor ascends the throne and then bestow a generous reward!"

Upon hearing Cui Lie's words, Empress Dowager Dong slowly nodded.

Cui Lie's words struck a chord with Empress Dowager Dong.

The new emperor ascended the throne.

If we wait until the new emperor ascends the throne, then everything will be settled.

Her position as regent empress dowager was now firmly secured.

Without the threat from the He family, as long as Duan Yu doesn't cause trouble before the new emperor ascends the throne, what difference does it make if the new emperor bestows upon Duan Yu the title of King of the Western Regions after his ascension?