Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

The Tang Dynasty finally made a decision.

But unlike the Han Emperor Liu Che, they just wanted to use the Han Dynasty, Wei and Jin to consume the strength of Chu.

It was not a sincere alliance.

The Tang Dynasty was only willing to provide food and fodder support, letting the three dynasties fight the Chu State on their own, while the Tang Dynasty hid behind.

In this way, while the strength of the Three Dynasties and the State of Chu can be consumed, the strength of the Tang Dynasty can also be preserved.

As for the food and fodder for support?

That's nothing.

If you want to unify the world, losing some food and supplies is not a problem at all.

Moreover, there have been no wars in the Tang Dynasty in recent years, and a lot of food and fodder have been accumulated, so there is no need to worry about insufficient food and fodder.

Of course, such a large-scale action by the Four Dynasties could not be hidden from the Jinyiwei.

After receiving the news, they immediately reported to Chu Ning who was returning to the court.

On this day, at the end of January, a drizzle fell with the cold wind.

A troop of soldiers with dragon banners were advancing quickly on the official road.

Inside the purple carriage, Chu Ning was holding a military book in his hand, while Feng Mulan was eating pastries with a bored look on her face and pouting.

At this time, a fast horse caught up.

Jia Yu's voice appeared in their ears: "Your Highness, the Royal Guards have sent a message that the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shiming, has agreed to the alliance."

"According to the information we received earlier, they will hold an alliance next month, and his target must be our dynasty."

As soon as Chu Ning said this, before he could even open his mouth, Feng Mulan excitedly opened the curtain:

"Is this serious?"

Jia Yu said solemnly, "Indeed, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty set out for the meeting place after replying to the letter."

Feng Mulan laughed loudly: "In that case, I don't need to return to the court!"

He turned to look at Chu Ning in the car, hugged his arm, and said with a smile: "Let me go to the front line!"

She didn't want to return to the court, she just wanted to lead the troops to fight on the front line.

But Chu Ning deliberately put on a stern face: "That won't do. I have already told you in my reply that you have to go back."

"Besides, you have been in Youzhou for such a long time and have helped me a lot. You don't have to go to the front line this time."

"Although the Tang Dynasty has agreed to the alliance, as long as our dynasty does not send troops, there will be no war in the short term."

"Now even if you go to the front line, you will have nothing to do. It is better for you to return to the court with me first."

Although she knew this would be the result, Feng Mulan couldn't hide her disappointment on her face.

"Humph!"

She let go of Chu Ning's arm and turned her head away sulking.

Jia Yu lowered his head in the carriage, looking as if he had seen nothing.

Chu Ning pretended not to care about Feng Mulan's emotions, looked at Jia Yu and asked, "How is Su Tingmei's warship construction in Cangjiang going?"

Jia Yu's face changed slightly, and he smiled bitterly, "Your Highness, the drawings you gave us are too profound. The craftsmen have never seen such a ship before. They are still in the exploratory stage and have not started construction yet."

These words made Chu Ning's face look a little ugly.

The drawings he gave were of some ships he remembered, including the Fu ship, the shuttle ship, and the eagle ship.

These ships were not only huge, but also very strong, and could carry many soldiers on board for attack.

Even though the Jin navy was strong, they were still no match for these powerful ships.

The State of Chu had no navy, so if it wanted to make up for the gap in combat power between the two sides, it could only start with warships.

Therefore, he drew the blueprint himself and asked Su Tingmei to take people to the west bank of Cangjiang River to build warships in advance.

It has been more than a month and there is still no movement.

"It seems that this matter is not as simple as I imagined!"

Chu Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Immediately issue a notice to recruit skilled craftsmen from our dynasty, Zhao, Yan, and Qin. Anyone who comes will be paid ten times the silver!"

"Whoever can build the first warship will be rewarded with 10,000 taels of silver!"

"Yes!" Jia Yu responded and went downstairs to make arrangements immediately.

Afterwards, the team continued to move towards the capital of Chu State.

Ten days later, at the city gate of the capital of Chu State.

In the rosy glow of the morning, the black dragon flag had already rolled over the banks of the Wei River.

Chu Ning sat astride the white dragon colt of Zhaoye, with unmelted frost and snow on his iron-armored shoulders. Behind him, ten thousand soldiers formed a nine-layer goose feather formation. The yellow dust raised by the chariots when they rolled over the official road actually blocked half of the morning sun.

Feng Mulan's red fox fur billowed like blood waves in the morning breeze. The red silk wrapped around the two swords on her waist was the same color as the flags. Wherever she passed, the ancient locust trees on the side of the road rustled at the sound of iron hooves.

Thirty miles away from the capital, people were already burning incense and kneeling in a pavilion that filled the ten-mile long pavilion.

The white-haired old woman held the freshly steamed millet cake and shouted "Black Armor God of War", while the little child climbed on the branch of mulberry tree and learned to sing "Breaking the Formation Song".

When the nine-zhang-high black flag passed over Fenghuang Slope, the whole capital city suddenly roared with applause - twenty-four city towers beat the Kuiniu war drums at the same time, eight hundred imperial guards holding Jinwu were stationed on both sides of Zhuque Street, and five-colored brocade was spread from the top of the city to the jade steps of the Taimiao.

"Did His Royal Highness really melt the twelve bells of the Qin Palace into swords?"

The newly promoted young official of the Ministry of Rites clutched the green jade tablet. Seeing the row of black-armored cavalrymen trampling down the sunset glow on the street, he suddenly felt that the tablet in his hand was heavier than a thousand-pound tripod.

The Grand Tutor beside him stroked his silver beard and chuckled, "Not only the chimes, but even the imperial seal is in the bronze chariot at the back."

Before he finished speaking, a chariot pulled by six pure white dragon horses rolled over the Jinshui Bridge. The bloodstains on the shafts that had not been wiped clean glowed dark red in the morning light.

The Emperor of Chu stood under the Nine-Dragon Canopy; the sun, moon, and stars on his twelve-chapter-patterned crown were dimmed by the cold light of his armor.

He looked at the black cloak that was lifted up when Chu Ning turned over and got off the horse, and suddenly felt a sense of strangeness.

Looking back to the time when Chu Ning and he first met in the hall, that young boy in coarse linen clothes has now become a killing god feared by the world!

While thinking, Chu Ning bowed and said, "Your Highness, I greet you!"

"Thank you for your hard work this time." Emperor Chu nodded slightly.

"Your son presents the Imperial Seal of the Qin Palace."

Chu Ning's voice startled the copper bells on the eaves. Four strong men came forward carrying a gilded wooden box. The moment the lid of the box opened, the morning sun hit the night pearl in the mouth of the jade dragon.

A suppressed gasp emanated from the ranks of officials, and suddenly the ivory tablet of the Grand Historian fell to the ground with a clang - beneath the jade seal was a half-torn Qin army flag.

This scene made the surrounding ministers and people very excited.

These two things here represent the demise of the Qin State!

"Good good!"

The King of Chu was very excited: "My son has destroyed the Qin State, and my Chu State will surely be prosperous in the future!"

At this time, the Minister of Rites Deng Hongwen came forward holding the imperial edict of the Nine Gifts Ceremony and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has specially held a welcoming ceremony for you."

When the smoke from the burning wood for the noon sacrifice rose ten feet high, Chu Ning stood in front of the city gate with his sword in hand to accept the worship of all officials.

His shadow slanted over the dragon-patterned imperial boots of the King of Chu, and the congratulatory letters from the three dukes and nine ministers piled up like a small mountain on the incense table.

The grand welcoming ceremony lasted for a full hour.

Afterwards, the emperor led the way and personally took Chu Ning back to the palace.

This scene was seen by a pair of cold eyes hidden in the crowd, and a sneer appeared on his face.

At this moment, Chu Ning was eager to go home. He couldn't wait to see the Crown Princess and his children.