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

At Loufan Pass.

The many soldiers guarding the pass have already started cooking.

Between the two torches, Chen Qing'an and Zhang Liao stood side by side.

A bloody human head lay on the battlement to the side.

The head's eyes were wide open, clearly indicating that it died with its eyes open in disbelief.

The head belonged to none other than Wang Han's.

"happy!"

After taking a big gulp of wine, Zhang Liao wiped it with his sleeve and casually handed the wine bag to Chen Qing'an, who was standing next to him.

Chen Qingan took the wine, tilted his head back, and drank a large gulp.

The two stood side by side on the edge of the battlements, their eyes fixed on the distant darkness.

“Brother Chen, you don’t know, I’ve wanted to kill this Wang Han for a long time.” Zhang Liao said through gritted teeth, “Ever since he came to Loufan Pass, he has been embezzling soldiers’ rations, selling them, and then passing them off as inferior goods.”

“I reported this to Prefect Wang Rou several times, but each letter went unanswered.”

“Wang Rou knew Wang Han was like this, yet she still condoned his behavior.”

"At first I thought Wang Rou was thinking of the bond between uncle and nephew."

"Now it seems that this uncle and nephew are in cahoots!"

"He deserves to die!" Zhang Liao said fiercely.

Chen Qingan smiled and said, "Brother Zhang is very generous. If it weren't for Brother Zhang's help today, I might not have had such a smooth experience."

"Later, I will introduce Brother Duan to Brother Zhang and explain the matter. When the matter is settled and rewards are given, Brother Zhang will definitely have a share of the credit."

"Brother Duan has always upheld fairness and was clear about rewards and punishments."

Zhang Liao did not care about the so-called merits.

However, they were quite curious about Chen Qing'an.

"Brother Chen appears to be about my age, yet at such a young age he has been entrusted with such an important task. Brother Chen's background..."

Chen Qing'an smiled and shook his head, knowing what Zhang Liao wanted to ask.

“Brother Zhang, you misunderstand. I am of humble origin and grew up in the countryside.”

"Thanks to Brother Duan for not abandoning me, teaching me skills and bringing me from the countryside to the city."

“I also have three good brothers, all from the same place.”

"Brother Duan employs people from humble backgrounds and does not adhere to conventional etiquette."

"My master, Gao Shun, was forced to sell himself to bury his mother due to poverty at home, but was later taken in by Brother Duan."

"Now he is the top general under Brother Duan, holding the most powerful military force."

"This time I came to Yanmen County to command nearly a thousand cavalrymen."

"Brother Zhang..."

Chen Qing'an looked at Zhang Liao, who was becoming increasingly surprised, and said sincerely, "With Brother Zhang's skills, Brother Duan will definitely like you."

Zhang Liao was slightly taken aback.

He then shook his head knowingly and didn't reply.

Duan Yu, well...

He had heard this name many times recently.

I've only heard of him, but never met him.

Zhang Liao turned his head and glanced at the soldiers who were starting a fire to cook, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

If possible, he still hopes to stay in Yanmen, near his home.

My parents are here and I won’t travel far.

This is his home, and the place he wants to protect.

In the sixth year of the Xiping era, he was not yet ten years old.

I witnessed firsthand the Xianbei Chanyu Tanshihuai leading tens of thousands of Xianbei cavalry to invade Yanmen.

From that moment on, he vowed that if he grew up, he would protect his homeland and the Yanmen Pass.

"Come on, drink!"

Zhang Liao raised the wine bag and drank it down in one gulp, then handed it to Chen Qing'an.

Not long after.

Under the cool moonlight, the thunderous sound of horses' hooves pierced through day and night.

Thousands of riders galloped wildly under the cover of night, heading straight for Loufan Pass.

"coming!"

Chen Qingan looked excitedly into the distance.

Zhang Liao also stared wide-eyed with curiosity.

Zhang Liao had heard many rumors about Duan Yu.

However, I have not yet met Duan Yu.

“Brother Zhang, I’d like to introduce you to Brother Duan,” Chen Qing’an said.

Zhang Liao smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay."

After they finished speaking, the two of them walked down the pass together.

On the pass, the soldiers who heard the sound of horses' hooves stood curiously behind the battlements and looked into the distance.

When Duan Yu arrived at Loufan Pass with over a thousand cavalry, Chen Qing'an and Zhang Liao were already waiting beneath the gate.

Duan Yu, covered in dust, dismounted from his horse.

Gao Shun, Tie Shitou, and Wang Hunu followed closely behind.

"Brother Duan."

Chen Qing'an stepped forward and looked at Duan Yu excitedly: "Qing'an has lived up to his mission, has taken control of Loufan Pass, and has killed Wang Rou's nephew, Wang Han, the garrison commander of Loufan Pass."

Duan Yu smiled and stepped forward, then reached out and gently patted Chen Qing'an's shoulder a few times.

"Well done."

A simple compliment made Chen Qing'an's face flush with excitement.

However, the excited Chen Qing'an did not forget Zhang Liao, and stepped aside to introduce him to Duan Yu:

"Brother Duan, the trip went so smoothly thanks to Brother Zhang's great support."

“Brother Zhang, this is my brother Duan,” Chen Qingan said.

Zhang Liao's eyes widened when he saw Duan Yu for the first time.

There are only three words in my mind.

How magnificent!

With the system's support, Duan Yu's body began to develop a second time, and his height had now exceeded 1.9 meters.

With broad shoulders and a wide back, the man exudes an extremely powerful and imposing aura simply by standing there.

And there was also a faint aura of malevolence emanating from him.

Ordinary people might not feel it, but only when standing in front of Duan Yu can one feel the terror.

But as a border soldier, Zhang Liao clearly knew what kind of person carried that aura.

That's because too many people have been killed.

Duan Yu's gaze passed over Chen Qing'an and landed on Zhang Liao.

"My name is Zhang Liao. I greet County Magistrate Duan." Zhang Liao stepped forward and greeted him with a cupped hand.

Zhang Liao?

Duan Yu was taken aback.

Zhang Liao of Mayi?

Is this... such a coincidence?

Before Duan Yu could even confirm, Chen Qing'an had already started speaking.

“Brother Duan, Brother Zhang is from Mayi in Yanmen County.”

"Originally, Brother Zhang was the deputy general of Wang Han, the garrison commander of Loufan Pass, but he was dismissed because Wang Han embezzled military pay and deducted military rations..."

Chen Qingan offered an explanation.

Upon hearing Chen Qing'an's description, Duan Yu confirmed that the Zhang Liao standing before him was the later Zhang Babai.

Judging by the age, that's about right.

Zhang Liao was famous from a young age, and his family was a powerful clan in Mayi.

Zhang Liao served as a county official in his youth. Later, after Ding Yuan succeeded him as the governor of Bingzhou, he recruited Zhang Liao and sent him to Luoyang to be under the command of General He Jin.

I didn't expect to meet you here.

"Qing'an, let Brother Duan enter the city first. His soldiers must be exhausted after a long day of running around."

"I have the people inside the pass prepare food."

“Let’s eat and talk,” Zhang Liao said, looking at Chen Qing’an.

Chen Qingan smiled and nodded: "Alright, Wen Yuan will make the decision."

Seeing the way Chen Qing'an and Zhang Liao were talking, it was clear that they had a very good relationship, and Duan Yu couldn't help but smile to himself.

It seems this trip to Yanmen has been quite fruitful.

........

Loufan Pass.

Duan Yu, Gao Shun, Chen Qing'an, Tie Shitou, Wang Hunu, and Zhang Liao sat around a campfire in an open space near the edge of the city wall inside the city gate.

Listen to Chen Qing'an recount how he cooperated with Zhang Liao to break out of Wang Han's mansion and then kill Wang Han in front of all the soldiers.

Wang Han's embezzlement of military rations has been going on for quite some time.

Most of the soldiers in Loufan Pass were angry but dared not speak out.

The soldiers were naturally delighted to see Wang Han in trouble, and no one offered him any help.

On the contrary, most of the soldiers were supporters of Zhang Liao.

The loyalists at Wang Han's residence were quelled almost without making a fuss, and then they were bound and imprisoned.

After killing Wang Han, Zhang Liao's first action was to immediately open the treasury and distribute the military rations that Wang Han had not yet sold, allowing the soldiers to have a good meal.

His usual prestige, coupled with the favor he received after killing Wang Han.

This dispelled all doubts and concerns within the pass.

Listening to Chen Qing'an recount Zhang Liao's actions, Duan Yu nodded silently.

Most people grow up with age, but some things and some people are born with natural talent.

Without a doubt, Zhang Liao was born to lead troops.

To achieve such great success at the same age as Chen Qing'an and others is due not only to his background but also to his own abilities.

Zhang Liao's family was a powerful clan in Mayi.

He was a wealthy merchant in Mayi during the early Han Dynasty.

However, at that time, Zhang Liao's family name was not Zhang, but Nie.

The reason he changed his surname to Zhang was to escape the pursuit of the Xiongnu.

The "Mayi Plot" during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han was initiated by Zhang Liao's ancestor.

However, it failed in the end.

Therefore, the Xiongnu began to retaliate fiercely. It was at that time that the Nie family changed their surname to Zhang in order to avoid the Xiongnu's retaliation.

"I deeply admire Wen Yuan's noble character," Duan Yu said with a smile.

Being praised by Duan Yu in front of Gao Shun and the others made Zhang Liao feel a little embarrassed.

"Brother Duan, you flatter me," Zhang Liao replied with an embarrassed smile.

"Wen Yuan, I have another request, and I wonder if you would be willing to grant it?" Duan Yu said, seizing the opportunity.

Chen Qingan turned to look at Zhang Liao, his eyes filled with expectation.

"Brother Duan, please speak." Zhang Liao straightened his expression and said, "If Zhang Liao can do it, he will not refuse."

Duan Yu was glaring at those words, so he smiled and said, "Yanmen County is Wen Yuan's hometown."

“I came from Taiyuan and had no guide.”

"Because the situation was urgent and we were not prepared, it would be very safe if Wen Yuan could lead the way."

“Wen Yuan can serve as the vanguard alongside Qing An. I will write to the governor now to recruit Wen Yuan.”

"Qing'an just said that Wen Yuan has already written his resignation."

"Wen Yuan deserves credit for killing Wang Han this time. I will also report to the governor and reward Wen Yuan for his merits."

"If it is inconvenient for Wen Yuan, then write whatever you like, but the credit must be reported."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao first glanced at Chen Qing'an beside him.

Chen Qingan nodded vigorously.

Zhang Liao immediately cupped his hands and said, "We dare not disobey."

"Ha ha!"

Duan Yu smiled happily.

If it were right after he transmigrated, he probably would have already approached Zhang Liao to recruit him.

After all, aren't those the kinds of things in books? The protagonist shudders, and then famous ministers and fierce generals bow down in obeisance.

One by one, renowned ministers and generals from medieval noble families fell at the feet of the protagonist, a commoner.

Although Zhang Liao was not from a noble family.

However, they were also powerful figures in Mayi, and even the most powerful in Yanmen County.

To put it bluntly, his only respectable identity right now is that of Dong Zhuo's son-in-law.

But Dong Zhuo, like Zhang Liao, came from a powerful family.

Zhang Liao simply resigned from his official post; he could have just gone home and waited, and sooner or later officials would have recruited him.

What about him?

If he hadn't been Dong Zhuo's son-in-law, he'd probably still be a nobody in a village.

Moreover, people in the Han Dynasty had a particularly strong sense of hometown.

Parents should not travel far.

Why did most of the gentry from Yingchuan and Guanzhong submit to Cao Cao, rather than the more powerful Yuan Shao, after the chaos at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty?

One reason for this was that Cao Cao occupied Guanzhong and Yanzhou.

Regional power was an extremely important factor in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Given his current status and position, recruiting Zhang Liao would be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

But an invitation is different.

Given the current relationship between Zhang Liao and Chen Qing'an, if they spend some more time getting to know each other before recruiting them, the chances of success will be much greater.

It is not uncommon for a subordinate's friend to become a subordinate.

Xi Zhicai and Xun Yu were good friends, and Xun Yu introduced Xi Zhicai to Cao Cao. Guo Jia and Xun Yu were also good friends, and Xun Yu introduced Guo Jia to Cao Cao.

Li Dian, Yue Jin, and others were all from the same hometown and friends, which is why they all went to join Cao Cao.

Let Chen Qing'an and Zhang Liao cultivate their relationship first, and everything else will fall into place naturally.

Imagine if Chen Qing'an and Zhang Liao teamed up.

What will the future hold?

Chen Qing'an is somewhat similar to Chen Qingzhi in terms of the demeanor of a scholar-general, combined with the ancient tiger-summoning Zhang Wenyuan.

Tsk tsk...