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

The spring breeze in April brought a bit of chill, stirring up the dust outside the Wei army camp.

Flags fluttered in the tents and the sound of armor clashing was endless.

Inside the central army tent, the flickering candlelight illuminated Sima Yi's gloomy face.

The letter sent out a few days ago finally received a reply from Li Jing.

When Sima Yi took the wax-sealed letter, his knuckles turned white from the force.

He slowly opened the letter, his eyes scanning between the lines like a knife.

The handwriting in the letter was vigorous and powerful, yet it revealed an undisguised contempt:

"Your Majesty, Emperor Wei, please note: I have led my troops back to Luoyue Slope. With 150,000 Chu troops threatening us, I cannot continue to provide assistance. I hope Your Majesty will understand the urgency of the situation and not blame me for leaving without permission."

"Be bold!"

Sima Yi suddenly slammed the table and stood up, causing the teacup on the table to jump up and spill tea onto the sheepskin map, spreading a dark color.

"What a jerk Li Jing! Even if you are the military god of the Tang Dynasty, you can't speak to me like that!"

The soldiers guarding outside the tent were so frightened by the angry shout that they clenched their halberds tightly.

General Xu Fang happened to be reporting on military matters. Seeing this, he quickly stepped forward and bowed, "Your Majesty, please calm down. I wonder what happened?"

Sima Yi sneered and threw the letter to the ground: "Look for yourself!"

Xu Fang bent down to pick up the letter, and his expression suddenly changed as soon as his eyes fell on the content.

He repeatedly confirmed the numbers in the letter, his voice unconsciously rising. "150,000 Chu troops? This... How is this possible! The total strength of Chu is only 300,000. How could they deploy half of that at Falling Moon Slope?"

"Don't you understand yet?"

Sima Yi walked over to the hanging map and poked his finger heavily at the location of Luoyue Slope:

"Li Jing doesn't want to participate in the upcoming decisive battle between our army and the Chu army. He decided to stay out of it!"

The flame on the bronze lampstand inside the tent flickered, distorting Sima Yi's shadow.

He suddenly turned around, a fierce look in his eyes: "But this is also good. Since Li Jing is going back to defend Luoyue Slope, let him help me contain this Chu army."

As he spoke, he ran his finger across the map and stopped at Licheng: "Pass the order down, all troops must line up tomorrow, I want to personally challenge Chu Ning!"

Xu Fang hesitated and said, "If Chu Ning doesn't avoid the battle..."

"Then let the cavalry circle around Licheng and curse!"

Sima Yi clenched his fists fiercely: "Calling him a coward and a turtle who hides his head in fear of war! I want to see how long this heroic leader of the great Chu can endure!"

"I will obey my orders."

As Xu Fang retreated with his fists clasped, he noticed that the ink stains on Sima Yi's sleeves had spread into a hideous shape, like a war about to break out.

The Wei army camp was brightly lit under the night sky.

The cooks were busy preparing the dry food needed for tomorrow. The sound of clanging could be heard in the blacksmith shop as the soldiers were busy sharpening their weapons.

"General!" the deputy general rode up and said, "Scouts report that the Chu army seems to be reinforcing the defenses of the east gate."

Xu Fang narrowed his eyes and looked towards Licheng.

In the moonlight, the outline of the fortified city looked like a dormant giant beast.

He suddenly remembered the news brought back by the scouts three days ago - the Chu army seemed to be secretly training some kind of formation.

Sima Yi didn't take it seriously at the time, but thinking about it now made his back shiver.

Xu Fang lowered his voice and said, "Order the scouts to closely monitor the movements of the Chu army!"

"Yes!"

Under the same moon, the scene in the Licheng Chu army camp was completely different.

Inside the central army tent, six bronze lanterns illuminated the interior as bright as day.

Chu Ning was wearing casual clothes and was sitting in front of the sand table with generals such as Han Xing and Zhao Yu.

The sand table accurately reproduces the terrain around Licheng, with small flags of various colors representing the deployment of the two armies.

"Report——"

The scout knelt on one knee and said, "The Wei army is undergoing a large-scale mobilization, and the vanguard cavalry has left the camp for training."

Chu Ning and Han Xing exchanged a glance, the corners of their mouths curled up slightly: "Sure enough, you can't hold your temper anymore."

He picked up the black flag representing the Wei army and played with it. "Li Jing's reply is like a tinder thrown into dry wood. Sima Yi's fire has burned even more fiercely than I expected."

Han Xing stroked his beard and smiled, "Thanks to General Zhao Yu. If he hadn't accidentally disguised himself as Li Jing this time, our army would have been in danger."

Before he finished speaking, clear laughter came from outside the tent.

Jia Yu entered through the curtains, holding a scroll of bamboo slips. "Your Majesty, the Five-Colored Flag Formation has been mastered."

He unfolded a bamboo slip, revealing a complex diagram of flag signals. "The five-colored flags, carried by strong men, will change in sync with the drumbeats from the city walls. Even the Wei army's Eight-Gate Golden Lock Formation, no matter how powerful, will be useless!"

Chu Ning carefully examined the blueprint, a look of satisfaction on his face: "Very good, then we just wait for the moment of breaking the formation tomorrow!"

At this time, Ma Chao hurriedly asked: "Your Majesty, I am willing to be the vanguard!"

Chu Ning laughed heartily, patted Ma Chao on the shoulder, and said, "Alright! General Ma Chao and the Canglang Legion will still be the vanguard in this battle. Pass the order down..."

He suddenly stopped smiling and glanced at the generals: "According to the plan tomorrow, all units must act according to orders."

The generals agreed with a roar.

Xun Yu frowned and said, "Your Majesty, Sima Yi is suspicious by nature. Could he have gotten the news about our recent training of soldiers on how to break the formation?"

"So I want to give him a big gift."

Chu Ning chuckled: "Tomorrow I will personally put on my armor and go into battle. Let's see if he can bear it!"

Nothing happened during the night and time quickly came to the next morning.

When the first ray of morning light penetrated the clouds, the Wei army formation had already been deployed under Licheng.

The dark army formation was like a rolling dark cloud. The cavalry in the front row raised their spears high, and the tips of the spears reflected a cold light.

Sima Yi, in his golden armor and red robe, stood out against the general's flag.

"Chun Ning kid!"

Ten strong men with booming voices rushed out from the Wei army and shouted in unison: "Do you dare to come out of the city and fight our emperor in an upright battle? If you don't dare, you'd better go home and hug your son!"

The Chu army guards on the city wall glared angrily, but no one responded.

Sima Yi signaled the start of the second round of cursing.

This time, the Wei army sang a pre-arranged insulting ballad with vulgar lyrics, which caused the Chu army soldiers to tighten their grip on their weapons.

Just as the Wei army was cursing, the east gate of Licheng suddenly opened.

A team of light cavalry rushed out like a whirlwind, and the leading general in silver armor and white robe was Chu Ning himself!

"Sima Yi!"

Chu Ning pointed his spear directly at the Emperor of Wei: "Today I will teach you what it means to be a king!"

Sima Yi's eyes flashed with ecstasy, and he was about to order the entire army to advance, but Xu Fang pulled his reins:

"Your Majesty, be careful. Chu Ning is always cunning. This may be his strategy to lure the enemy. Don't be fooled!"

"Don't miss this opportunity!"

Sima Yi shook off Xu Fang and drew his sword: "All troops, form a battle array, attack!"

The war drums roared to the sky.

The Wei army at the north gate lined up and formed an eight-gate golden lock formation.

But the Wei army at the west gate rushed towards the city gate like a tide, but did not notice that Jia Yu was raising an indigo flag on the city wall.

Chu Ning looked at the Wei army arrayed before him, a sneer on his face:

"Sima Yi, I will break your Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation today!"