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

Inside the Weiyang Palace, Emperor Liu Che of Han had just decided on national policy and was about to announce his retirement from court.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps was heard outside the hall. A shadow guard dressed in black hurriedly stepped into the hall, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a low and hurried voice:

"Your Majesty, urgent information!"

Liu Che frowned and raised his hand to signal him to continue.

The shadow guard took a deep breath and reported in a deep voice, "All our secret agents in the Chu capital were massacred three days ago. Not a single one was spared!"

"what?"

Liu Che slammed the dragon table with anger in his eyes.

"Chu Ning, this lunatic! He just cleaned it up last year, and he's here again this year? Do you really think I'm a man without anyone?"

He laughed in anger, his voice as cold as a knife: "Pass on my order, immediately order the city defense battalion to search the entire city for Chu spies, and anyone caught will be killed without mercy!"

"I obey your command!" The commander of the city defense camp clasped his fists, accepted the order, turned around and strode away.

The ministers in the hall had different expressions, some looked indignant, while others frowned.

At this moment, Prime Minister Chen Pin suddenly asked, "How are the secret agents of the Tang Dynasty and the Wei Kingdom?"

The shadow guard lowered his head and replied, "Your Excellency, they were also completely wiped out. Not a single one survived."

Chen Pin, instead of being angry, smiled meaningfully: "Interesting!"

Seeing his reaction, Liu Che couldn't help but frown: "Why are you laughing, Prime Minister?"

Chen Pin stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming. "Your Majesty, Chu Ning's relentless purge of the Three Kingdoms' secret agents precisely shows that he is truly preparing to ascend the throne, but is afraid that we will find out about his transfer of generals back to the front lines, so he is willing to eliminate them at all costs."

"From this point of view, Chu Ning's ascension to the throne was definitely not a ploy to lure the enemy, but a real event!"

Liu Che's eyes flashed with realization, but then he asked doubtfully, "But didn't the Prime Minister just say wait and see? Why has he changed his mind now?"

"This time, that time."

Chen Pin explained calmly, "I was worried before that Chu Ning was setting a trap to lure us in. Now that we've confirmed he's serious about ascending the throne, the front lines must be undermanned. This is the perfect opportunity for us to capture Maple Leaf City!"

Minister of War Li Su couldn't help but interrupt: "But what if Chu Ning had been prepared and prepared in advance?"

Chen Pin sneered: "No matter how defensive he is, he can't change the reality of the generals' transfer."

"The coronation ceremony is imminent, and all the generals and officials from the various prefectures and counties of Chu will return to the capital to pay their respects. Moreover—"

He looked at Liu Che meaningfully: "Now that all the secret agents of the Three Kingdoms have been destroyed, Chu Ning has effectively cut off his own eyes and ears. This is the moment when he is most 'blind'."

Chu Ning cleaned out the secret agents of the Three Kingdoms, and the Three Kingdoms would naturally clean out the secret agents planted by Chu in their capitals.

In this way, Chu Ning would not easily get the news of their troop movements.

Liu Che's eyes lit up, and he stood up suddenly. "Okay! Pass on my order. Send a pigeon to Emperor Li Shiming of the Tang Dynasty and Emperor Sima Yi of Wei immediately. Tell them that I agree to join forces and have them send their battle plan as soon as possible!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" The ministers responded in unison.

Chen Pin added, "Your Majesty, I suggest that you also order the border guards to step up their guard and stage a feint attack."

"Firstly, it can confuse the Chu army, and secondly, it can seize the opportunity at any time."

Liu Che nodded with satisfaction. "As the Prime Minister says, I will also order the Shadow Guards to expedite the rebuilding of the intelligence network. We must grasp the Chu army's movements before the battle begins!"

"I will take your orders!"

Three days later, in the Tang Dynasty, the Imperial Palace.

In the imperial study room where candlelight flickered, Emperor Li Shiming of the Tang Dynasty tapped the secret letter he had just received with his fingertips, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

The candlelight illuminated the letter, revealing Liu Che's seal. The words between the lines revealed the urgency of the alliance. He suddenly sneered and crumpled the letter in his palm.

"Since Chu Ning really wants to ascend the throne, I will give him a gift he will never forget."

Zhang Sun Wuji, who was standing beside him, bowed slightly and asked, "How does Your Majesty plan to respond?"

Li Shiming stood up and walked to the window, looking at the lights gradually lighting up in the imperial city, his voice as cold as frost:

"Wuji, you will personally lead your men to wipe out the secret agents of the Jinyiwei of the Chu State in Chang'an. Leave no one alive."

As he turned, his robe sleeves billowed like eagle wings. "Write back to Liu Che and tell him I'll personally draft a battle plan against Chu for the Lantern Festival. Have their frontline troops prepare for battle half a month early."

Changsun Wuji frowned slightly.

He noticed that His Majesty deliberately emphasized the word "Lantern Festival" - that was the day after Chu Ning's coronation ceremony.

But after thinking it over, he took a half step forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, Chu Ning's method of slaughtering the Three Kingdoms' secret agents was too cruel. I have a feeling... there may be a trick."

"Fraud?"

Li Shiming suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter shaking the teacup on the table. "The Emperor of Chu was seriously ill and hastily passed the throne. The entire court is forcing Chu Ning to take on this hot potato. He is now purging his secret agents because he is afraid that the news of the frontline generals returning to the capital will leak out."

He suddenly stopped laughing, his fingertips tapping on the gilded lampstand, making a crisp sound. "This is a fight between trapped beasts. Where would they find the energy to set up a trap?"

Zhangsun Wuji stared at the flickering face of His Majesty in the lamplight, still unwilling to give up hope: "But the commander of the Jinyiwei of Chu State, Jia Yu, has always been cunning. What if they deliberately lure our dynasty to send troops..."

"enough!"

Li Shiming suddenly waved his sleeves, and the military token on the desk fell to the ground, making a harsh metallic collision sound.

He stared at Changsun Wuji, who was kneeling on the ground to pick up the military token, and his voice was filled with unquestionable pressure:

"What I want is for Chu Ning to see the beacon fires lit on the border illuminating half of his throne when he ascends the throne."

Seeing the emperor's wrath, Changsun Wuji could only bow deeply and say, "I will arrange it right away."

Although he still had doubts in his heart, this was the emperor's decision and he could only carry it out unconditionally.

During this period, the generals in the court were very excited because 50,000 troops were destroyed on the front line.

The emperor was eager to send troops, partly to calm the anger of the generals.

When did the Tang Dynasty ever suffer a loss?

This time they suffered a loss but were unable to regain their face, which made all the generals feel ashamed.

In addition, Yuchi Gong, who died in battle, had a high reputation in the army, so these generals all wanted to reward him.

When the study door closed gently, Li Shiming took out a map from the secret compartment.

As his fingertips brushed across the cinnabar mark marking "Maple Leaf City," he suddenly raised the corner of his mouth as if remembering something.

"Chu Ning, Chu Ning, do you think you can rest easy after cleaning up the hidden gangs?"

The candlelight cast his cold smile on the wall, like a tiger ready to pounce. "I will let you know what it means to dig your own grave."

Three muffled sounds of the night watchman's drum were heard outside the window, and the faint sound of horse hooves could be heard outside the palace wall - that was Changsun Wuji and his shadow guards leaving the palace at night.

Li Shiming blew out the candle. In the darkness, only the jade pendant on his waist emitted a faint cold light, like the last flicker of phosphorus on the sea before a storm.