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

The spring wind in March, carrying with it a lingering chill, swept across the barren fields outside Yanzhou City.

Li Jing reined in his horse and stopped on a low hill, looking at the Tang army retreating like a long snake, his face so gloomy that water could drip out of it.

Eighty thousand elite soldiers, with flags fluttering, could not hide the dejected mood.

The soldiers lowered their heads and walked with heavy steps, as if every step was following the drumbeat of a defeated army.

"Report——!"

A scout came on horseback, dismounted at the bottom of the slope, and knelt on one knee:

"General, the White Horse Cavalry has withdrawn to Yanzhou City. The city gates are closed and the drawbridge is suspended."

Li Jing nodded slightly, but his eyes were still fixed on the towering walls of Yanzhou City in the distance.

In the morning light, the large banner embroidered with the word "Chu" fluttered on the top of the city wall, as if mocking his miscalculation.

The veins on the back of his hand bulged as he clenched the whip, and his knuckles turned white.

"Zhao Yu!" He whispered the name, as if he wanted to chew it between his teeth.

The encounter last night is still fresh in my mind.

He carefully planned a surprise attack, and his 80,000-strong army passed through the Chu army's defense line like ghosts. When they saw that Yanzhou City was within reach, they were cut off by the white horse cavalry of no more than a thousand people.

That kid Zhao Yu actually dared to fight against a larger number of enemies with a smaller number of troops, and managed to scatter his vanguard troops into pieces.

"General!"

Deputy General Luo Huan rode forward, his voice hesitant, "The soldiers haven't had a day and a night of rest. Should we rest first?"

"Pass the order down, the entire army will rest for half an hour."

Li Jing finally withdrew his gaze and said in a low voice like thunder, "Have the cooks light a fire and cook, and gather the wounded soldiers in the rear."

Luo Huan took the order and left, but Li Jing remained standing there without moving.

The spring breeze blew across his gray temples, but it could not blow away the gloom between his brows.

He was nearly sixty years old, with a face as tough as a knife, and deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, full of the vicissitudes of life on the battlefield.

At this moment, the hawk-like eyes narrowed slightly, scanning the surrounding terrain.

There are three roads before us, each of which is full of thorns.

Retreat to Luoyuepo? There are 60,000 elite Chu troops there, watching them eagerly.

Stay where they are? If they marched alone deep into enemy territory, once Chu Ning's 300,000 troops returned, his 80,000 men would probably be wiped out.

Go to Licheng to support Sima Yi of Wei? That old fox will definitely use the Tang army as cannon fodder.

"General."

Military officer Sun Yu had been standing beside the horse at some point, with a sheepskin map spread out in his hand.

"Scouts report that the Chu army on Luoyue Slope is fortifying their camp, seemingly preparing for a long-term siege."

Li Jing took the map and his eyes wandered among the mountains and rivers outlined by several ink lines.

Luoyue Slope is a dangerous place, shaped like a crescent moon, with high mountains on both sides and a narrow path in the middle that can only accommodate three horses running side by side.

When he divided his troops, he deliberately left 20,000 elite soldiers to his deputy commander Pei Xingjian to guard this place in order to contain Guan Yun.

"Guan Yun!" Li Jing snorted coldly, "The Chu army's most formidable general, possessing courage unmatched by ten thousand men."

Sun Yu said softly, "General Pei sent a letter saying that Guan Yun has been challenging us for days, but he has been following the general's orders and holding his ground. Although the Chu army is brave, they haven't attacked rashly."

Li Jing's eyes flashed, and he jabbed his finger heavily at the location of Luoyue Slope: "Pass my order, the entire army will turn around and retreat to Luoyue Slope!"

"What?" Sun Yu exclaimed in surprise, then realized that he had lost his composure and quickly lowered his voice.

"General, think again! Although our surprise attack failed, our main force is intact. If we turn to Licheng, we can cooperate with the Wei army to defeat the Chu army!"

"Follow the order!" Li Jing interrupted sternly. His voice was not loud but it hit Sun Yu's heart like a heavy hammer.

The military order was as firm as a mountain. Half an hour later, the 80,000 Tang troops turned northwest and marched towards Luoyuepo.

The dust raised by the horses' hooves rose into the air like a yellow dragon, covering half the sky.

During the march, the generals' unrest finally broke out.

Led by the vanguard general Xu Yan, more than a dozen generals dismounted and knelt in front of Li Jing's horse.

"General!"

Xu Yan clasped his fists and shouted loudly, his voice like a bell, "I beg your permission to turn to Licheng! Retreating to Luoyuepo now would be tantamount to walking into a trap!"

"Yes, General!" General Hong Tai echoed, "The terrain of Luoyue Slope is dangerous. If the Chu army blocks both ends, our army will be unable to escape!"

Li Jing reined in his warhorse and glanced coldly at the group of generals who looked dissatisfied.

The spring breeze suddenly became sharp, rustling the flags, as if questioning his decision.

"you……"

Li Jing spoke slowly, his voice filled with suppressed anger: "Are you teaching me how to command troops?"

All the generals were instantly hushed, with Xu Yan the only one who bravely replied, "I dare not! I just... I just don't understand why the general would give up the chance to fight the Chu army!"

Li Jing took a deep breath and suddenly dismounted. He strode to a high slope and signaled his generals to follow him.

In the distance, the outline of Yanzhou City has gradually become blurred in the spring mist.

"Look over there."

Li Jing pointed to the northeast: "Chu Ning's 300,000-man army is confronting Sima Yi in Licheng. Look here—"

He pointed eastward again: "Guan Yun's 60,000 elite troops are blocking the Luoyue Slope, and we, 80,000 men, are isolated and stranded between them."

He turned to face the generals, his eyes flashing with a cold light: "If we stay, we will be attacked from both sides by the Chu army."

"If we go to Licheng, that old fox Sima Yi will definitely make our army lead the charge. We have no choice but to retreat to the Moon Slope, where we can attack when we advance and defend when we retreat!"

Military officer Sun Yu suddenly understood: "General, what you mean is... wait and see?"

"good."

Li Jing sneered, "If both Wei and Chu are defeated, our army can reap the benefits."

"If the Wei army is defeated, we can also excuse ourselves - we can say that Guan Yun dragged us to Luoyue Slope. In any case, it won't harm the foundation of our Tang Dynasty!"

The generals looked at each other, and the dissatisfaction in their eyes gradually turned into admiration.

Xu Yan clasped his fists and said, "The general is very far-sighted. I, your humble servant, was short-sighted and nearly missed the big opportunity!"

Li Jing waved his hand and remounted his horse. "Order the troops to speed up the march. Also, send more scouts to monitor the movements of Yanzhou and Licheng."

A day later, when the news of the Tang army's turn reached the Chu army camp outside Licheng, Chu Ning was playing chess with his adviser Xun Yu in his tent.

"Report! Urgent message to General Zhao!" The messenger's voice interrupted the silence of the chess game.

Chu Ning took the letter, read it quickly, and his face suddenly changed.

He stood up suddenly, the chessboard was overturned, and the black and white chess pieces rolled to the ground.

"What a jerk Li Jing!" Chu Ning crumpled the letter into a ball. "How dare you launch a surprise attack on Yanzhou!"

Xun Yu quickly picked up the letter, unfolded it, and read it carefully. His gray beard trembled uncontrollably. "If General Zhao hadn't returned in time, Yanzhou would have been in danger! Li Jing's military tactics are truly unpredictable!"

Chu Ning walked to the sand table and stared at the topographic map covered with small flags.

His slender fingers crossed the route from Yanzhou to Licheng and finally stopped at Luoyuepo.

"Li Jing retreated back to Luoyue Slope?" Chu Ning muttered to himself, "Is he just sitting on the mountain and watching the tigers fight?"

Xun Yu twirled his beard and nodded, "Your Majesty, please understand. Li Jing's plan is extremely vicious. Regardless of who wins or loses between Wei and Chu, he will profit from it."

Before he finished speaking, a burst of rapid horse hooves sounds came from afar.

Ma Chao rushed into the tent, exhausted.

"His Majesty!"

Ma Chao bowed and said hurriedly, "The Wei Lord Sima Yi is personally leading his army outside the city to challenge us!"

There was a sudden silence in the tent. Chu Ning and Xun Yu exchanged glances, and a solemn look appeared on their faces.

"finally come!"

Chu Ning whispered, "Sima Yi wants to take advantage of the fact that our army has not yet broken through his formation and force me to leave the city to fight him!"