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

Although the war at Hangu Pass did not spread to the surrounding counties, the standoff between the Liangzhou army and the Han army captivated the hearts of all the gentry in Hedong County, Hongnong County, and Jingzhao Prefecture.

The war horn was like a huge dark cloud that shrouded the three counties in darkness.

The fear reached its peak, especially after Duan Yu personally led his troops to Hangu Pass.

Everyone thought that Duan Yu's arrival would lead to a fierce clash.

However, everything went beyond expectations.

Two hundred thousand Han soldiers built a fortress on the south bank of the Hongnong River and never set foot across it again.

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

Hongnong County, Yang Mansion.

The gates of the Yang family mansion, which covers dozens of acres, were tightly closed.

Two white lanterns were hanging in front of the door.

In the past, the Hongnong Yang family, which had produced four generations of high-ranking officials like the Yuan family of Runan, never lacked visitors.

However, after Yang Ci's death, Yang Biao was not promoted to one of the Three Dukes, and the power of the Yang family plummeted.

In addition, Yang Ci had instructed Yang Biao before his death not to fight with Duan Yu. Indeed, Yang Biao had not clearly sided with the Yuan family in his attitude towards Duan Yu, and therefore suffered considerable exclusion in the court.

Especially after Yuan Kui became Grand Tutor, those court officials who had previously attached themselves to the Yang family also turned to attach themselves to the Yuan family.

So Yang Biao simply resigned from his post and went home under the pretext of observing mourning.

At this moment, Yang Biao, who had been unemployed at home for more than half a year, sat in the study where his father, Yang Ci, used to sit.

Feeling the pressure brought about by the future rise and fall of the Yang family.

When Duan Yu raised his army, the Yang family of Hongnong, caught between Chang'an and Luoyang, bore the brunt of the attack.

Yang Biao, dressed in a brocade robe, sat behind his desk in the study, seemingly lost in thought.

At that moment, a knock came from outside the study.

"Come in."

Yang Biao raised his head and looked towards the direction outside the study.

A guard dressed in black pushed open the door and entered the room.

"Master of the house."

After bowing to Yang Biao, the guard cupped his hands and said, "News has come from Hangu Pass that Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun's army is still stuck at the Hongnong River, and Duan Yu is still fishing in front of the pass every day."

Yang Biao frowned and asked, "What day is it?"

"Reporting to the patriarch, it has been ten days."

Ten days.

Yang Biao was slightly startled.

Since Duan Yu arrived at Hangu Pass, he has been fishing in front of the pass every day, and this is the tenth consecutive day.

Meanwhile, the 200,000-strong army led by Zhang Wen, Huangfu Song, and Zhu Jun outside Hangu Pass dared not set foot on the Hongnong River, and did not even dare to attack Hangu Pass.

Before Duan Yu arrived at Hangu Pass, the war was still raging.

Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song took turns attacking Hangu Pass every day.

However, Duan Yu leaves the pass every day, and the gates of Hangu Pass remain open for a whole day, yet Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song dare not advance their troops.

This means that Duan Yu alone intimidated 200,000 Han soldiers!

One man frightened two hundred thousand Han soldiers.

This sounds unbelievable no matter how you look at it.

But that's exactly what happened.

Yang Biao took a deep breath.

No wonder.

No wonder his father forbade him from opposing Duan Yu again.

How could he possibly afford to offend someone like Duan Yu?

The question now is not whether Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun can break through Hangu Pass.

The problem now is that Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song's separation clearly indicates their concern that Duan Yu might launch an attack from Hangu Pass.

Yang Biao waved to the guard and said, "You can go now. Continue to send people to keep an eye on the situation at Hangu Pass. Report any developments immediately."

The guard bowed and left the study, closing the door behind him.

After the guards left, Yang Biao was left alone in the study again.

"Father... if it were you, what would you do now?" Yang Biao frowned, his expression troubled.

Hangu Pass was breached.

Duan Yu's Liangzhou troops will surely capture Hongnong County and Hedong County soon.

The Yang family's home is located in Hu County, which lies between them and Hangu Pass.

News of Duan Yu's recruitment of gentry from Guanzhong in Chang'an has already reached Hongnong County.

In addition, Duan Yu had previously destroyed the Wei and Fan clans in Hedong County, so the gentry in Guanzhong were now in a state of panic.

As the leading aristocratic family in Guanzhong, the Yang family would be the first to be affected if Duan Yu broke through Hangu Pass.

Now he faces the question of what to do next.

Yang Biao now desperately hopes that his father is still alive.

At the very least, this allows them to guide the Yang family onto the right path at this critical moment.

"Hey......"

Yang Biao shook his head and sighed, then prepared to stand up.

However, before Yang Biao could stand up, there was another knock on the door outside the study.

"Master, the imperial court has dispatched an envoy."

Hearing the sounds outside the study, Yang Biao was taken aback.

Has the imperial court sent someone?

What is the imperial court sending people to do at this time?

Yang Biao pushed open the door to the study and saw the butler standing outside.

"Where is he?" Yang Biao asked.

The butler, dressed in a gray robe, bowed and said, "He's outside. He said the head of the family will greet him."

Yang Biao frowned.

meet?

Who is this important person that he has to personally greet?

When did the Yang family fall to this state?

In the past, even when someone came to read an imperial edict, they would say "please" or "please." Now, they're making me greet them?

Despite his displeasure, Yang Biao still headed towards the front yard.

Before long, led by the steward, Yang Biao arrived at the gate of the mansion.

A carriage was parked outside the mansion gate, surrounded by more than a dozen cavalry guards.

As Yang Biao walked out of the mansion gate, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a young man of about twenty years old stepped out.

The young man, dressed in brocade robes, looked at Yang Biao with an arrogant expression, his chin held high.

"I am Jian Ling, the Yellow Gate Attendant, here to deliver the imperial edict. Marquis Yang Biao of Linjin, receive the edict."

Jian Ling?

Yang Biao looked at Jian Ling, who called himself Huangmen Shilang.

Isn't this Jian Shuo's nephew?

It really is true that when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs benefit.

Thanks to Jian Shuo's current power, even one of his nephews has become a Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate.

This is no longer the Jian family that Cao Cao could beat to death with a five-colored club.

Upon hearing the imperial edict, Yang Biao did not dare to be negligent. He immediately straightened his clothes and bowed, saying, "Marquis Yang Biao of Linjin receives the edict."

Jian Ling pulled the imperial edict from his sleeve.

First, they read out a bunch of useless things.

What do you mean by caring about the Yang family, or about Yang Biao?

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they got down to business.

"The Yang family has been favored by the country for generations. Now, the rebels in Liangzhou have betrayed the country, which is a time of national crisis. The court has 200,000 troops to suppress the rebellion, which consumes countless amounts of money and grain every day. The court is overwhelmed and hopes that you can help raise 100,000 shi of grain."

"The court will surely remember your patriotism and loyalty to the emperor, and will reward you handsomely."

After speaking, Jian Ling closed the imperial edict in his hand.

"Lord Linjin, accept the decree." Jian Ling said arrogantly, chin held high. "The Empress Dowager still cares about the Yang family. Lord Linjin, you must perform well and not disappoint the Empress Dowager."

Yang Biao, with his head down, almost cursed.

it is good!

When the position of Minister of Works was vacant, Yang Shi was not considered.

Ma Ridi and Cui Lie were promoted.

Now that you're in trouble, you're remembering Yang?

100,000 shi of grain and fodder.

That's easy to say.

Indeed, the Yang family has enough, and they wouldn't be short of 100,000 shi of grain.

But they just asked us to donate 100,000 shi of grain out of no reason, without any explanation.

Yang Biao looked up at Jian Ling.

"What are you still standing there for? Why aren't you accepting the imperial decree?" Jian Ling urged impatiently.

Yang Biao took a deep breath and reluctantly accepted the imperial edict: "Yang Biao, accept the edict..."

The moment Yang Biao grasped the imperial edict, he felt an extremely unpleasant feeling in his heart.

However, the story doesn't end there.

After delivering the imperial edict, Jian Ling stood with his hands behind his back and looked at Yang Biao.

Yang Biao also glanced at Jian Ling.

"Lord Linjin... don't you have anything to say to me?" Jian Ling asked Yang Biao. "I've traveled all the way from Luoyang to read the imperial edict to you. I've done my duty, even if I haven't done anything special. You're not planning to let me come all this way for nothing, are you?"

Yang Biao was taken aback.

This Jian Ling is actually soliciting bribes from him?

This Jian Ling is actually soliciting bribes from him?

Yes, it is true that there is a tradition of angels coming to read out royal decrees, which means that some benefits will be given.

However, the imperial edict to be read must be favorable to the recipient.

Has anyone ever seen an imperial edict that meant execution, and that the angel delivering the edict had to be bribed?

Although the imperial edict was not intended to execute Yang, demanding 100,000 shi of grain was still a significant blow to Yang's health.

In the past, who would have dared to be so arrogant as to solicit bribes from the Yang family?

A minor official in the Imperial Secretariat.

A subordinate official under the Shaofu, one of the Nine Ministers.

In the past, he didn't even have the right to speak to him, but now he's using Jian Shuo's power to extort bribes from the Yang family!

"What?" Jian Ling seemed to sense Yang Biao's displeasure and said nonchalantly, "If Marquis Linjin is in a difficult position, then forget it. I'll leave now."

As he spoke, Jian Ling immediately turned around and prepared to board the carriage.

However, before getting into the carriage, Jian Ling gave Yang Biao a sinister smile and said, "The Marquis of Linjin has been away from Luoyang for a long time. He probably doesn't know what the current situation is in the capital. It seems that the Marquis of Linjin has indeed been staying at home for a while."

After saying this, Jian Ling didn't wait for Yang Biao to say anything more, and with a flick of the carriage curtain, he climbed into the carriage.

It wasn't until Jian Ling's carriage had gone far away that Yang Biao realized what had happened, feeling both ashamed and indignant.

"That person has gone too far!"

"That person has gone too far!"

"When did such despicable people dare to insult the Yang family?!"

Yang Biao gripped the imperial edict tightly in one hand while glancing at Jian Ling's carriage in the distance.

Yang Biao could guess without even thinking that once Jian Ling returned to Luoyang, he would definitely speak ill of the Yang family to Empress Dowager Dong.

Isn't this a common trick used by palace eunuchs?

"Fine, fine, if you're heartless, don't blame me, Yang Biao, for having a hard time!"

"Come on, come on!"

Yang Biao held the imperial edict in one hand as he walked towards the study.

Following Yang Biao's summons, two assassins arrived at Yang Biao's study.