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

The sweltering heat of July clung to the armor. Chu Ning tugged at the collar. The fine iron-scale armor and the undershirt had already been soaked with sweat.

The dull sound of wheels rolling over mud came from all directions. The thirty building cars cast uneven shadows in the sunlight after the rain. The bronze-cornered wheels sank into the mud from time to time, making a teeth-grinding squeaking sound.

"Your Highness, there is news from the Embroidered Uniform Guard!" Jia Yu rode over on horseback, his gray robe splattered with mud.

The strategist, who was famous for his "meticulous planning", had a frown on his face at this moment, and his fingers unconsciously stroked the mulberry paper on the edge of the map that was wrinkled by rain.

"A new five-colored flag has been erected on the top of Jinyang City. Scouts have reported that the emblems of all the noble families are on the flag."

Chu Ning reined in the restless black horse under his crotch, and the water droplets on the tip of the whip drew a silver arc in the air: "Ji Yingjie mixed his private soldiers with the new soldiers?"

He suddenly laughed loudly, startling several egrets in the forest. "This is just in case I have to defeat them one by one! Tell the engineering camp to bring those items wrapped in oilcloth to the front army."

On the muddy ground in front of the central army tent, twenty shirtless strongmen were shouting slogans and pushing the battering ram.

This weapon, made of century-old iron birch wood, is five meters long and wrapped in three layers of oil-soaked rhinoceros hide. At this moment, it is stuck in the mud like a dormant beast.

Further away, thirty improved cyclone cannons were being assembled, and the bronze capstans glowed dimly under the scorching sun.

This was a modification that Chu Ning ordered craftsmen to make this year. Its range is a hundred steps longer than that of ordinary catapults, and its power is also extremely strong.

Jia Yu's eyes swept across the wooden boxes tightly wrapped in oilcloth, and his Adam's apple rolled slightly.

Of course he remembered that he had personally tested the power of these things. Even though the walls of Jinyang were tall, they probably could not withstand the attacks of these sharp weapons.

However, he was still a little worried and frowned, saying, "Your Highness, the Jinyiwei has sent a message from the Tang Dynasty that they have already mobilized the troops of the Zhechongfu in Jiangnan Road. It seems that they want to send troops to aid the Jin Kingdom!"

Just as Jia Yu finished speaking, Chu Ning chuckled and placed his right hand on the sword at his waist.

"Master Jia, do you know why I must attack Jinyang City in July?"

Chu Ning tapped the hilt of the sword with his fingertips, a sarcastic arc on the corner of his mouth.

"The moat of Jinyang City is drawn from the Fen River. The water at this time of year..."

He chuckled: "As long as there is a heavy rain..."

Jia Yu's heart moved, and he immediately understood what Chu Ning was thinking.

Suddenly there was a commotion in the distance. Chu Ning looked up and saw dark clouds rolling in the southwest sky and muffled thunder rolling close to the ground.

He took a deep breath, and the humid air was filled with the stench of rust and rotting grass, a sign of impending storm.

The cowhide tents on the twenty tower vehicles were rustling in the wind, and the captain of the engineering camp was leading his soldiers to reinforce the base of the whirlwind cannon with hemp ropes.

“It’s going to rain hard!”

Chu Ning sneered: "Then we will wait for the water in the moat of Jinyang City to rise, and then our army will attack the city!"

Jia Yu smiled slightly and took the initiative to advise: "The Jin Emperor has placed the new soldiers on the wall, and the private soldiers of the noble families are guarding the corner towers. If we forcefully attack the east gate..."

"Their catapults can reach as far as 200 steps, but your highness's whirlwind cannon will hit them directly on the head at the beginning!"

Thunder roared, and Chu Ning's laughter mixed with the sound of rain seemed a bit crazy.

He drew out his sword with his backhand, and the blade cut through the tent. At this moment, a flash of lightning tore through the sky, illuminating the pine patterns formed by quenching on the sword.

"In this battle, I will not only destroy the State of Jin, but also avenge my good friend Ji Yinghao!"

Just as he finished speaking, the sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance.

The sultry heat before the rainstorm, wrapped in the smell of blood, hit Zhao Yu in the face. When he rolled off the horse, there were still pigeon down feathers on his breastplate.

The Zhenbei General, who was known as a Confucian general, was actually shaking slightly in his hands as he held the gilded lacquer box.

The ink of the imperial seal with coiled dragon pattern on the lid of the box had not yet dried. This was an urgent secret report to the emperor that had to be sent over an 800-mile journey.

"The Tang Dynasty is sending Princess Jincheng for marriage?"

Chu Ning used the tip of his sword to pry open the lacquer box, and the silk fluttered in the fishy wind.

He suddenly sneered, and the cold light of the Chengying Sword swept across the falling rain: "The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty thought that I would marry them?"

Jia Yu's expression changed, and he frowned and said, "If Your Highness refuses the marriage now, the Tang army can use this as an excuse to send troops to aid the Jin State!"

"But if you accept the marriage certificate..."

Before he could finish his words, thunder roared and the sound of wood breaking suddenly came from outside the tent.

When everyone looked over, they saw that the bronze capstan of a whirlwind cannon had cracks in the heavy rain, and the craftsmen were repairing it in the rain.

Chu Ning's pupils shrank slightly and he frowned, "We can't let the siege weapon get wet, cover it with cowhide first!"

After he finished speaking, he looked at Jia Yu and sneered, "What a good plan to kill three birds with one stone."

He suddenly threw the marriage certificate into the rain, and when the silk was about to fall to the ground, Jia Yu reached out and caught it.

"The Emperor of Tang wants to earn a reputation for being benevolent and righteous, and at the same time he wants to tie down our military forces to welcome the bride..."

He snorted coldly: "Tell my father that I will personally receive the marriage certificate on the top of Jinyang City."

Zhao Yu looked up suddenly. The sound of armor leaves colliding with the sound of rain was particularly harsh. "But Princess Jincheng's carriage has passed Tongguan!"

"Then let them go slowly."

Jia Yu stretched out his hand to signal the three men to enter the wet tent: "The Tang army wants to delay, so we have to delay too!"

"As long as our army takes down Jin at lightning speed, the Tang Dynasty will be helpless."

Chu Ning suddenly laughed out loud, and used his Chengying sword to cut through the surging water vapor in the tent: "Send a message to the three armies! Once the rain stops, march immediately!"

"When I take over Jinyang City..."

He turned his head to look at the water marks on the marriage certificate that were slowly spreading on the sand table. The phoenix painted in cinnabar had turned into a blood-red color as if it was spreading its wings and ready to fly.

"Let's see if their Princess Jincheng can still marry into this scorched earth city!"

Li Shiming's plan of marriage was just to delay time and paralyze him at the same time.

How could he not understand this simplest plan?

However, on the surface, he really couldn't refuse this marriage.

On the one hand, he also didn't want the Tang army to intervene in a short period of time.

On the other hand, he also wanted to use this incident to undermine the Four-Nation Alliance.

During the fierce battle with the Jin navy, the Han Dynasty and the Wei State had already caused him considerable losses.

If given the chance, he certainly wouldn't want the four countries to continue their alliance.

If the Four-Nation Alliance is destroyed, he will be able to defeat the other sides one by one in the future.

Thinking of this, Chu Ning narrowed his eyes and a cold look flashed across his face: "Spread the news that the Tang Dynasty has taken the initiative to form a marriage alliance immediately!"

"We must let the Emperor of Jin and the people of Jin, as well as Sima Yi of Wei and Emperor Liu Che of Han know!"

"Whether they believe it or not, we must spread the word that our Chu State intends to share the world with the Tang Dynasty!"

"And this marriage is the sincerity of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty."

"As for the State of Jin, it will also become part of the sincerity of Emperor Li Shiming of the Tang Dynasty!"

"I want them to be suspicious of each other and unable to work together!"