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

In July in Jinyang City, the scorching sun, mixed with the smell of blood, dyed the battlements of Jinyang City into a mottled ochre color.

The Chu army's thirty ladders were like the fangs of giant beasts, gnawing at the mottled city walls day and night.

Han Yanhui, the commander of the Jin army, stood on the enemy platform, looking at the piles of corpses of soldiers from both the Chu and Chu armies below the city.

The scorching sun roasted the corpse, giving off a rotten smell that was disgusting.

"This is the seventh time."

The deputy general counted the rhythm of the thunderous drum and inserted the arrows soaked in kerosene into the battlements of the city wall.

In the morning light, a golden dragon flag could be vaguely seen fluttering behind the Chu army formation. That was the main formation of Chu Ning, the crown prince of Chu.

The twelve Fuyuan crossbows on the top of the city wall suddenly roared in unison, and three cold iron crossbow arrows over ten feet long flew into the air. The Chu army that was charging hurriedly raised their shields to block them.

Han Yanhui stroked the newly poured ice layer beside the city wall, which was the second line of defense formed by well water transported overnight by the people of Jinyang.

Since receiving the secret report a few days ago, the entire Jinyang City has entered wartime regulations.

In the soldier cave under the city wall, many civilians were constantly carrying weapons. This battle was related to the survival of the State of Jin, and the people also spontaneously contributed.

However, they knew very well that they could not defend Jinyang City and had to wait for the Tang army to arrive!

At the same time, the letter from Jin Emperor Ji Yingjie also arrived at the Tang Dynasty two days later.

This day, the Tang Dynasty Palace.

The copper clock in the Liangyi Hall of the Taiji Palace ticked to three quarters past the hour of Xu, and Li Shiming stroked the silver-inlaid inscription on the gilded tiger talisman with his fingertips.

The letter for help from Jin Emperor Ji Yingjie was spread out on the dragon-patterned desk. The dark fingerprints on the edge of the parchment still carried the scent of war.

As the candlelight flickered, the Minister of War Hou Junji noticed the gleam in the emperor's eyes - that was a look that could only be seen at critical moments.

"Since the Chu army is running low on food and grass, my 50,000-man army can set out immediately to support Jinyang City!"

Fang Xuanling unfolded the marching map and stopped his finger at the border of Huoyi: "At a marching speed of 80 miles per day, we can reach Jinyang City in five days!"

Before he finished speaking, Changsun Wuji suddenly frowned and interrupted him in a deep voice:

"Master Fang, have you ever thought about Princess Jincheng's carriage?"

The hall suddenly became quiet.

A few days ago, the wedding procession was reaching Lingwu. Judging from the marching speed, they should have reached the territory of Chu State by now.

Li Shiming stood up slowly, and the thirteen-ring belt around his waist made a crisp sound: "How can my daughter marry so easily?"

"Since the Chu army is running low on food and grass, this marriage must be cancelled."

"Send a message to Princess Jincheng, asking her to come back immediately!"

As soon as these words came out, Fang Xuanling's face changed drastically: "Your Majesty, going back on your words will damage the prestige and reputation of my dynasty!"

But Li Shiming put his hands behind his back and sneered: "According to the agreement, the Chu army should not attack Jinyang City at this moment!"

"It was Chu Ning who breached the contract first, not Datang!"

"This……"

"okay!"

Li Shiming snorted coldly: "Just do it!"

"Yes!" Fang Xuanling responded and immediately went down to make arrangements.

Then, Li Shiming looked at Hou Junji and said, "Regarding the dispatch of troops, you will issue the order in the name of the Ministry of War!"

"Yes!" Hou Junji retreated with excitement on his face.

The last time, 50,000 Tang troops were completely wiped out, shocking the world and making the Tang army furious.

This time, they want to avenge their previous shame!

But two days later, Princess Jincheng, who was on her way to the State of Chu, finally received the news.

When Princess Jincheng Li Changge lifted the brocade curtain of the Zhai chariot, she saw Li Sheng, the General of the Imperial Guards, chopping off the nine-tasseled phoenix flag that symbolized the marriage.

"His Majesty has ordered that Princess Jincheng be escorted back to the capital immediately!" Li Sheng shouted loudly.

The Tang army escorting around immediately raised their arms and shouted!

They originally felt very aggrieved when they were asked to escort Princess Jincheng to marry the State of Chu.

Now that the wedding is called off, they are naturally very happy.

The scorching July sun burned the rock walls, producing smoke, and Princess Jincheng's carriage struggled forward on the cracked riverbed.

Upon learning that the wedding was cancelled, they immediately returned the same way they came.

But at this moment, Li Sheng's face suddenly changed, he suddenly raised his right arm, and the escort team immediately formed a circle.

In the distance, three hundred Chu cavalrymen swept out from the Yadan landform in a ochre-red sandstorm, and the bronze bells hanging on the necks of their horses rang like death warrants.

"I, General Chen An, am here to escort the princess into Chu on the orders of the Crown Prince."

The rhinoceros-skin armor of the Chu general reflected a dazzling white light. He held the three-pointed, double-edged sword high in his hand, looking condescending.

Li Sheng's pupils shrank slightly. The weapon hanging next to the enemy cavalry's saddle was not an ordinary weapon, but a whistling arrow tied with guncotton. The dark blue wolfsbane juice on the arrowhead had condensed into beads.

"Since the engagement is cancelled, why would you want an escort?"

Li Sheng's long sword gleamed coldly under the scorching sun, and the ice silk ribbon wrapped around the hilt was exuding chill.

Twenty Qianniu Guards set up their crossbows at the same time. This heavy crossbow, which required a winch to wind the string, was once a powerful weapon for them to destroy cities and strongholds when they were pacifying the barbarians.

Chen An suddenly threw out a bone-shaped whistle arrow, and with the shrill whistle, the Chu cavalry horses were all blindfolded.

He pointed the tip of his knife at the setting sun and said, "The Crown Prince has ordered that if you don't see the Emperor before sunset, it will be considered as a breach of contract by the Tang Dynasty. We can escort Princess Jincheng back on our own!"

"Since you are unwilling to go back with us, please forgive us for being rude."

"Come on, attack!"

When the first wave of kerosene tanks exploded in front of the Tang army, Li Sheng swung his sword to cut off the reins of Zhai Cheyuan's horse.

The burning grease spread across the sand into a wall of fire, and the unique shouts of the Chu army were heard from the black smoke.

Princess Jincheng saw flames coming out of the curtains of her chariot, and the patterns woven with peacock feathers were curling up and burning in the heat.

"Leave the princess out!" Li Sheng's roar was drowned by the whistling of sharp arrows.

The fish-scale formation of the Qianniu Guards was broken up by the camel cavalry. The Chu Army's double-arc blades focused on chopping the seams of the Tang Army's heavy armor. The broken armor pieces and hot sand poured into the soldiers' mouths and noses.

The princess suddenly pulled out the sword given by Emperor Taizong and split open the bottom of the carriage. This was a special interlayer made by the Ministry of Works. The water bag slipped out of the secret compartment and she threw it into the sea of fire with all her might. The stored wine caught fire and instantly engulfed the outflanking Chu cavalry.

When Chen An's three-pointed double-edged sword pierced through the last Fuyuan crossbowman, Li Sheng was using a broken halberd to support his body and blocking the shaft of the carriage.

His mountain-patterned armor was soaked with blood, revealing the ice silk lining underneath - a summer battle robe woven with Tianshan ice silk.

"Give Way!"

Chen An's blade pressed against Li Sheng's shoulder armor, but the dying Tang general suddenly tore off his armor, and the Liangzhou guncotton wrapped around his waist exploded with sparks.

In the blazing flames, Chen An's mount stood up, its burnt mane mixed with the smell of burnt flesh and blood diffused in the hot air.

When the princess was dragged out of the overturned carriage, the golden needle on her wrist suddenly shot out a three-inch steel needle.

Chen An used the hilt of his knife to knock down the hidden weapon, but found that the jade hairpin in the princess's hair was against his throat.

"The prince would like a phoenix with claws."

Chen An waved the command flag with a grim smile, and the remaining cavalry immediately threw out their bronze nets.

She was captured alive amid Princess Jincheng's shock and anger.

When the dusk dyed Mingsha Mountain red, Chen An's white horse cavalry had turned into swaying black dots in the sky.

Li Sheng's charred broken sword was stuck in the sand, the ice silk ribbon wrapped around the handle was still fluttering, and the ground was littered with the corpses of the Tang army.

The news of Princess Jincheng's arrest was soon passed on to Chu Ning by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.