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

As the sun sets, Jinyang City is shrouded in a blood-red afterglow.

The golden glazed tiles on the palace's roof glowed eerily under the setting sun, as if foreshadowing the coming of a storm.

As the White Horse Cavalry had been transferred away, the guards in the imperial palace were much sparser than usual. Only Captain Zhao Sheng stood on the palace wall, looking at the gradually darkening sky with a frown on his face.

"Sir, today's patrol is completed and nothing unusual was found." A guard came to report.

Zhao Sheng nodded, but still felt uneasy.

He looked at the streets outside the palace walls that were usually bustling with people, but at this moment they were unusually quiet. Even the sound of vendors closing their stalls could not be heard.

"Pass the order down to strengthen the vigilance, especially the guards at the four gates. Add two more people to each shift."

"Yes!"

Just as Zhao Sheng turned around and was about to leave, a burst of hurried horse hoof sounds came from a distance.

He turned around suddenly and saw a group of men in black pouring out from the streets and alleys, approaching the palace like a tide.

"Enemy attack!" Zhao Sheng shouted, "Close the palace gates! Everyone be on alert!"

The bells rang throughout the palace, and the imperial guards quickly gathered.

However, it was too late, the private soldiers of the four major families had surrounded the palace from all directions.

The black-clad warriors of the Lin family, the spearmen of the Meng family, the archers of the Bai family, and the heavily armored soldiers of the Zhao family each took up advantageous positions and began to attack the city.

At the north gate of the imperial palace, Meng Xiao was riding on a black warhorse, holding two swords, with ambition flashing in his eyes.

"Chu Ning, today is the day you die!"

He shouted loudly, and then swung his sword: "Kill your way into the palace!"

At the same time, Bai Miao at the East Gate and Zhao Pan at the West Gate also ordered attacks.

Only the forest stream at the south gate stood still, as if waiting for something.

Inside the palace, Chu Ning stood in front of the hall, looking at the falling night, his eyes sparkling with brilliance.

At this moment, the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts.

"Your Highness! Something terrible is happening!"

The head guard Xu Yan rushed in, his face pale: "The four major families are united in rebellion and are attacking the four gates of the palace!"

Chu Ning slowly raised his head, and a cold light flashed in his hawk-like eyes.

"finally come."

He said softly, with a hint of anticipation in his tone.

"Your Highness, what should we do? The Imperial Guards are insufficient in number, and the White Horse Cavalry..."

Chu Ning sneered, and his tall figure cast a long shadow in the candlelight.

"Prepare your armor, and fetch me my spear."

In just a moment, Chu Ning was fully armed.

The silver-white armor sparkled in the firelight. He held a two-meter-long spear in his hand, and the tip of the spear flashed coldly.

Xu Yan looked at the master in front of him and couldn't help but feel awe - this prince, who was only 25 years old, was like a god of war at this moment.

"What's the situation at the North Gate?" Chu Ning asked as he strode out of the palace.

"The Meng family's offensive is the most fierce, and they have already set up the ladder."

Chu Ning sneered, "Meng Xiao is a reckless man who always loses his temper. Send an order to transfer half of the guards at the South Gate to reinforce the North Gate, and keep the other half to guard it strictly."

"This... The South Gate is already weak, and if we withdraw more manpower..."

"Follow orders!" Chu Ning said sternly.

When Chu Ning arrived at the north gate, there was already a melee on the city wall.

The Meng family's private soldiers were clinging to the ladders like ants, the imperial guards were struggling to push down the ladders, and arrows were falling like rain.

"Your Highness!"

When Zhao Sheng saw Chu Ning, he saluted immediately: "The enemy's attack is fierce, we..."

Chu Ning raised his hand to stop him, walked straight to the edge of the city wall, and looked down at the battle situation below.

Meng Xiao was shouting at the foot of the city, and when he saw Chu Ning appear, he frantically urged his men to attack the city.

"Archers prepare."

Chu Ning ordered in a deep voice: "Aim at the middle of the ladder and follow my orders."

Dozens of archers immediately lined up and drew their bows and arrows.

"put!"

Arrows flew through the air and accurately cut off the middle supports of several ladders.

The Meng family's private soldiers who were climbing up fell down with screams, and chaos suddenly broke out under the city.

"Prepare the oil pan."

Chu Ning continued to order: "Pour!"

Scalding hot oil poured down from the city walls, pouring on the enemies who were trying to re-set up the ladders, and shrill screams echoed through the night sky.

"ignition!"

When the rockets were fired, the enemies soaked in oil instantly turned into firemen, wailing and running around.

The Meng family's offensive collapsed immediately.

Meng Xiao, who was standing under the city, was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

He did not expect that the seemingly weak Prince of Chu had such military talent, and that he could command with such confidence and advance step by step.

"Your Highness is wise!"

Zhao Sheng sincerely praised: "The Meng family has lost at least one-third of its troops."

Chu Ning frowned, "This is just the beginning. The four major families are united in rebellion, so there must be a back-up plan. Pass the order down and investigate whether there is any accomplice in the palace, especially..."

Before he could finish his words, there was a sudden commotion coming from the direction of the South Gate.

"Report——"

A soldier covered in blood stumbled over and said, "The South Gate has been lost! Lin Jian and his men are charging in!"

Chu Ning's expression remained unchanged, and he asked in a cold voice: "Why did we lose so quickly?"

"Yes...someone opened the city gate from the inside!"

A cold light flashed in Chu Ning's eyes.

"Your Highness! The Lin family has already attacked the inner palace!" Another soldier reported in panic.

Chu Ning drew out his spear and narrowed his eyes: "It's coming so fast!"

"Come here, follow me to the inner palace immediately."

When Chu Ning led his army to the inner palace, Lin Jian had already led his men to attack the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The Lin family warriors were well-trained and far superior to the private soldiers of the other three families. The Chu army, which was outnumbered, was defeated.

"Chun Ning!"

Lin Jian saw Chu Ning appear and shouted, "You have killed innocent people in Jinyang City and caused the people to suffer. Today, the four major families are enforcing justice. Why don't you surrender quickly!"

Chu Ning sneered: "What a great justice! Lin Jian, I wanted to live in peace with you, but I didn't expect you to be so ungrateful."

"In that case, tonight is the day you die!"

Lin Jian sneered and said, "Why bother saying more? You will definitely die today. Come on, kill him!"

The Lin family warriors swarmed forward.

Chu Ning swung his spear and took the lead to meet the enemy.

The silver spear was like a dragon, and wherever it went, enemies fell to the ground.

But the enemy was numerous and we were few, and the Chu soldiers were gradually surrounded.

At this moment, a burst of orderly horse hooves and shouts of killing suddenly came from the west gate of the palace.

Lin Jian's heart sank - could it be that Zhao Pan had also attacked?

He originally wanted to break into the palace first, kill Chu Ning, seize the first merit, and get more benefits in the future.

If someone from the Zhao family came, the situation would be difficult to predict.

However, what appeared in the field of vision was a flag embroidered with golden dragon patterns - it was the white horse cavalry of the Chu State!

"This is impossible. How could the White Horse Cavalry come so quickly?" Lin Jian suddenly panicked.

He suddenly realized that the situation was not under his control.

"Protect His Highness!" Zhao Yu shouted loudly and led the elite cavalry into the enemy camp.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Lin Jian shouted, "Retreat! Retreat from the palace first!"