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

The Grand Tutor's Residence.

After the court session, Yuan Wei returned to his residence in a carriage.

With peace talks now a done deal, Choi Yeol, who proposed the idea, naturally became the envoy for these talks.

After the court session, Cui Lie acted as if a close relative had died in his family.

Coupled with the exclusion by Xun Shuang and others, Cui Lie looked completely dejected when he walked out of the Sima Gate.

After returning to his residence, Yuan Wei, supported by his servants, entered the large and spacious study.

Yuan Ji, dressed in a white robe and wearing a Jinxian crown, had been kneeling in the study for a long time.

Upon seeing Yuan Wei return, he immediately bowed and said, "Uncle."

Yuan Wei nodded slightly, then returned to his desk and sat down.

After serving the tea, the servant quietly withdrew and closed the study door.

After the major defeat at Hangu Pass, Huangfu Song, Zhang Wen, and all the remaining generals were held accountable.

Zhang Wen and Huangfu Song, who escaped from Hangu Pass, were immediately imprisoned and sentenced to a reduced sentence, one degree less than death.

As for Zhu Jun, he's already dead, so there's nothing more to investigate.

Although Yuan Ji was also guilty as the military supervisor, he was not primarily responsible, so he was only sentenced to be stripped of his position as Grand Master of the Palace, one of the Nine Ministers.

But whether it was Zhang Wen, Huangfu Song, or Yuan Ji, although the punishment seemed severe, everyone knew that Zhang Wen and Huangfu Song could not be imprisoned indefinitely.

The court is currently in dire need of capable personnel, and Zhang Wen and Huangfu Song will be released sooner or later.

As for Yuan Ji, needless to say.

It will have to recover sooner or later.

Yuan Ji, who returned to Luoyang last night, did not have time to see Yuan Kui. This morning, Yuan Kui had to attend court to discuss politics, so Yuan Ji waited for him in Yuan Kui's study early in the morning.

"Uncle, I have disappointed you."

Yuan Ji lowered his head, his face showing guilt.

After taking a deep breath, Yuan Wei waved his hand and said, "This matter is not your fault. Even I did not expect that Yang Biao would actually defect to Duan Yu."

When the Empress Dowager sent someone to deliver the imperial edict to Yang Biao regarding the requisition of grain, I felt something was amiss. Jian Shuo's nephew, after gaining power, became arrogant and disrespectful. Upon returning, he submitted a memorial to the Empress Dowager, speaking ill of Yang Biao. I felt something was wrong then, but I never expected Yang Biao to go to such extremes.

"It seems that... the seeds of disaster were sown when Yang Ci was seriously ill."

Yang Ci must have realized that Duan Yu's occupation of Liangzhou and his intimidation of the Sili Commandery meant that he might extend his reach to the Sili Commandery sooner or later. Otherwise, Yang Ci wouldn't have been so ambiguous about Duan Yu in the first place, which led to Yang Biao speaking up for Duan Yu last time.

"Now it seems that things were already showing signs when Duan Yu last entered Luoyang. I was careless, so I have no reason to blame you."

Yuan Ji felt much better after hearing Yuan Wei's words.

Yuan Ji initially thought that recruiting Yang Feng was a great achievement, but unexpectedly, Yang Feng became the cause of the great defeat at Hangu Pass.

The fact that the Yang family of Hongnong had sided with Duan Yu meant that Yuan Ji understood the upheaval this would cause.

The Yang family of Hongnong and the Yuan family of Runan were equally matched, with their students and former officials having deeply intertwined relationships.

Now, the gentry of Guanzhong will definitely side with Duan Yu under the leadership of the Yang family.

The imperial court in Chang'an has already established its dominance.

"Uncle, how does the court plan to deal with Duan Yu now?" Yuan Ji looked up at Yuan Wei.

Yuan Wei sighed and shook his head, saying, "An incompetent general can exhaust an entire army; a commander without strategy can lead to the defeat and loss of ten thousand troops."

Presumably, it was Jian Shuo and others who suggested to the Empress Dowager that they negotiate peace with Duan Yu and grant him the title of king.

"Huh?" Yuan Ji's expression froze instantly: "Peace talks?"

"Hmph..." Yuan Wei snorted disdainfully, "That's utter nonsense."

In doing so, wouldn't this be encouraging Duan Yu's arrogance? In my opinion, if this continues, the Han Dynasty might be in trouble...

Yuan Wei didn't say what came next, but Yuan Ji already understood.

“The Xun family of Yingchuan and the Guo family of Yingchuan have already prepared their escape routes in advance, and now it’s our turn…” Yuan Wei said with a gloomy look, “I have been enemies with Duan Yu for so long, and Duan Yu naturally holds a grudge. In addition, Gong Lu killed Duan Yu’s generals, so it is difficult to get away with it now. But even so, we still have to leave a way out for the Yuan family.”

As soon as Yuan Kui mentioned leaving a way out, the image of a certain person immediately came to Yuan Ji's mind.

Yuan Shao.

“Benchu, Duan Yu, and Cao Cao were once very close friends. Fortunately, some friendship remains. It seems that this escape route will fall on Benchu’s shoulders,” Yuan Wei said.

With his head down, Yuan Ji suddenly clenched his fist hidden in his sleeve, and his brows furrowed involuntarily.

“Well then, you should make some preparations.” Yuan Kui looked at Yuan Ji and said, “Now that you have no official position, you are finally free of worries. In the next few days, you should go to Jizhou to see Benchu ​​and convey my message to him: observe the situation quietly.”

Yuan Ji, with his head bowed, nodded slightly, then kowtowed to Yuan Kui before leaving the study.

Yuan Ji left the study and walked towards the outside of the Grand Tutor's residence.

His face was etched with worry.

The Yuan family's future depended on Yuan Shao.

Rather than focusing on him, the future head of the Yuan clan...

Yuan Ji gritted his teeth.

In other words, if Duan Yu were to actually capture Luoyang and gain the upper hand in the future, then the entire Yuan clan would be led by Yuan Shao.

After all, Yuan Shao was the only one in the entire Yuan clan with the best relationship with Duan Yu, and was also the most likely to be integrated into Duan Yu's forces.

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

After boarding the carriage waiting in front of the Grand Tutor's residence, the dim light inside the carriage seemed to engulf Yuan Ji in an instant.

Only the faint light filtering through the car headlights illuminated Yuan Ji's profile.

Family, rise and fall, glory and disgrace, prosperity and decline, hope and abandonment...

Yuan Ji's mind was filled with countless words that his uncle Yuan Kui had once said to him.

There was also the scene of Yuan Shu's tragic death.

As the eldest son of the Yuan family, Yuan Shu's death seemed insignificant to his uncle, Yuan Wei.

Yuan Shu was foolish, but no matter how foolish he was, he was still the eldest son of the Yuan family.

Although there were internal struggles and conflicts among the Yuan family's descendants over resources, all of these were resolved internally.

At Hangu Pass, Yuan Shu was tortured to death by Duan Yu, who cut him into a thousand pieces.

But so far, his uncle Yuan Wei hasn't mentioned it at all.

Who will be the next to be sacrificed?

For a long time, after Duan Yu rose to power, he had always stood against Duan Yu.

He offered advice and traveled around to devise strategies.

But now the Yuan family's hopes are pinned on Yuan Shao, their illegitimate son.

If that day really comes, what will he do?

To become like Yuan Shu, a tool for Duan Yu to vent his anger?

"Uncle... is this what you meant by putting the interests of the Yuan family first in everything?"

"Anyone can be sacrificed?"

"But I am the future head of the Yuan clan, the legitimate son of the Yuan clan..."

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

The next morning, when the gates of Luoyang opened, two groups of people emerged from Luoyang in two different directions.

After leaving Luoyang in Yuan Ji's carriage, they headed north towards Yanjin Ferry.

Meanwhile, the other pair, Cui Lie, carrying the imperial edict from Empress Dowager Dong, headed west.

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

Changan.

Autumn has arrived, and the frost of the night condenses into dew under the rising sun in the morning, dripping from the increasingly yellowing leaves in the flowerbed.

Inside Dong Yi's room in the courtyard, Dong Yi, who had gotten up early, was helping Duan Yu put on his official robes with the assistance of two maids.

The well-tailored official robes on Duan Yu added to his noble air.

"Husband, there's something I want to tell you," Dong Yi said while helping Duan Yu straighten his official robes. "Mu'er has been staying with Madam Ding for a while now, with Qing'er by her side. Mu'er doesn't want to live with her mother anymore."

Looking at himself and Dong Yi in the bronze mirror, Duan Yu roughly guessed what Dong Yi wanted to say.

Duan Yu, smiling, did not interrupt Dong Yi.

“My husband, Mu’er will be four years old soon, and Qing’er is the same age as Mu’er. I think the two children are a perfect match.”

My husband and Mengde are sworn brothers, and now the Cao family members are all serving under my husband. My husband has also adopted Mengde's son as his godson, making the two families even closer. I think this is to arrange the engagement between Mu'er and Qing'er, to strengthen the bond between the two families. This way, the Cao and Xiahou clans will feel more at ease serving under my husband.”

Dong Yi's words were not unexpected by Duan Yu.

"Isn't it a bit too early to get engaged now?" Duan Yu said with a smile.

Dong Yi shook her head: "It's not early. I think Qing'er is a very good child. She's definitely a good match for Mu'er."

"Alright then." Duan Yu didn't object. "Since you think it's good, then that's good. Does Madam Ding agree as well?"

Seeing Duan Yu nod in agreement, Dong Yi immediately smiled and snuggled into Duan Yu's arms, saying, "Sister Ding naturally also likes our Mu'er."

Duan Yu adjusted his belt and then picked up the ceremonial tablet used for court from the tray beside him.

He then left the mansion.

Zhao Yun and his brother Zhao Feng were already waiting outside the mansion.

Today is an extremely important day.

Since Yang Biao led the Hongnong Yang clan to surrender, the gentry of Guanzhong have all expressed their attitudes, and those who had not accepted the recruitment before have now come on their own initiative.

The great victory at Hangu Pass, coupled with the surrender of the Yang clan of Hongnong, made many people seem to have a clearer understanding of the situation.

Since the goal is to rival Luoyang, a legitimate and justifiable status is required.

As the eldest son of the emperor, Liu Bian was naturally inappropriate to do so.

Therefore, today is the day that Liu Bian's ascension to the throne was finalized, and also an important day for establishing the Chang'an court and enfeoffing officials.

It was precisely for this reason that Duan Yu rushed back from Hangu Pass.

After boarding the carriage, Duan Yu headed towards Weiyang Palace.

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

P.S.: A small gift, a charger, and a five-star review, please please please!