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

In the Han Dynasty, inside the Weiyang Palace, the magnificent palace glowed with a golden light under the setting sun.

Emperor Liu Che of Han sat upright on the dragon throne, holding tightly in his hand the handwritten letter sent by Huo Quji, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

There was an unbreakable worry between his brows. He glanced at the ministers in the hall and said in a deep voice:

"My dear ministers, urgent news from Maple Leaf City: the Chu army has launched an offensive. Their numbers far outnumber ours. If we engage in a full-scale battle, our army may be in danger. Do you have any good strategies?"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the hall.

Civil and military officials looked at each other in bewilderment, whispers rising and falling.

The Minister of War was the first to step forward, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, I believe the most urgent priority is to preserve our strength. It would be better to retreat to Chaoge City and rely on the towering walls to hold out until reinforcements arrive."

His gray beard trembled slightly with his rapid breathing, and fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead.

"absurd!"

The general stepped forward, his armor clanging. "The Chu army's move is clearly a bluff! If we retreat without a fight, won't that only embolden the enemy?"

"I request to lead 30,000 elite troops to the aid of Maple Leaf City. Together with the Duke of Protector of the Country, we will surely be able to repel the Chu madman!"

"General, you are wrong!"

Zhou Yi, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward tremblingly. "The Chu army is coming with such force. If we engage them rashly, our dynasty will be in danger if we are defeated!"

"Master Zhou is as afraid of the enemy as a tiger!"

"General, this is just a show of bravery!"

In the court, the pro-war faction and the pro-peace faction were arguing with each other, and their voices were getting louder and louder.

Liu Che looked at his ministers who were arguing with each other, and his temples were throbbing.

He slammed the dragon table, causing the teacups on it to clink and clatter. "That's enough!"

This angry shout was like a thunderclap, and the hall suddenly fell silent.

Liu Che took a deep breath, suppressed his anger and said, "I am here to listen to your advice, not to listen to your quarrels!"

He turned his gaze to the Prime Minister Chen Pin, who had remained silent, and asked, "Prime Minister, do you have any advice?"

Chen Pin slowly stepped out of the line. Although he was over sixty years old, his back was still as straight as a pine tree.

He stroked his graying beard and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, Chu Ning's plan is an open conspiracy."

His old yet clear eyes swept over the ministers: "The Chu army attacked Maple Leaf City in order to force our dynasty to send troops to rescue the Duke of Huguo."

"If our army doesn't come to the rescue, Chu Kuang will turn his fake play into reality and attack and destroy Huo Quji's army. If our army comes to the rescue, General Li Guang will have no more reinforcements to send."

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured on the heads of the ministers.

The hall fell into a brief silence, with only the dripping sound of the copper clock being heard.

After a while, the discussion started again, but it was no longer as intense as before.

"The Prime Minister is absolutely right. The Duke of Protector's troops are of great importance and must be supported!"

"Maple Leaf City is the gateway to our dynasty. If we lose it, the Chu army will be able to march straight in. We must not give them an opportunity to take advantage of us."

"General Li Guang and the Wei army have a combined force of 150,000, which is more than enough to protect us!"

Liu Che closed his eyes in deep thought, tapping lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne with his knuckles.

When he opened his eyes again, his gaze had become firm: "Pass on my order, immediately mobilize 50,000 elite troops and rush to the aid of Maple Leaf City!"

Although he knew that this was Chu Ning's conspiracy, he had to send troops to support.

Huo Quji's troops were defeated by Chu Ning some time ago, and their morale has not yet recovered. In addition, their troops are outnumbered by the Chu army.

If that madman Chu Kuang really attacks, even if Huo Quji can hold him off, he won't be able to hold him off for many days. It would be better to send troops in advance.

Two days later, at the Chu army camp outside Yuling City.

Chu Ning was studying the sand table in his tent when he suddenly saw Jinyiwei Commander Jia Yu rush in and kneel on one knee:

"Your Majesty, secret report! The Han Emperor has sent 50,000 troops to support Huo Quji!"

"very good!"

Chu Ning suddenly slammed the table and stood up, his eyes flashing with brilliance: "Liu Che has fallen into the trap!"

He turned to look at Jia Yu and Zhao Yu, a confident smile on his face, "It seems that the Han Emperor is very confident in Li Guang and the Wei army."

"In that case, let's eat up these 150,000 coalition forces first!"

Zhao Yu frowned and clasped his fists, saying, "Your Majesty, General Ma Chao only has 70,000 cavalrymen under his command. I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to capture Tugu City."

"It is precisely because we are cavalry that we have a chance to annihilate the enemy army."

Chu Ning tapped the Tugu City on the sand table with his finger, his eyes flashing with wisdom.

He whispered the plan. Jia Yu and Zhao Yu were surprised at first, then suddenly realized it and praised in unison:

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Chu Ning immediately picked up his brush and wrote a secret letter himself.

Jia Yu took the letter, carefully sealed it with wax, and handed it to the carrier pigeon that had been prepared.

The snow-white carrier pigeon flapped its wings and flew high, soon disappearing into the southwest sky.

That afternoon, outside Tugu City, the Chu army camp.

Ma Chao was cleaning his spear in his tent when he heard a soldier outside urgently report, "General, His Majesty has sent a letter by carrier pigeon!"

Ma Chao grabbed the copper tube, took out the secret letter and read it carefully.

As his eyes moved between the lines, his bronze face gradually flushed with excitement, and finally he couldn't help laughing out loud:

"A brilliant idea! A truly brilliant idea!"

He stood up suddenly, his armor clattering. "Send a message to all camps, have an extra meal tonight! Assemble all troops at midnight and assault Tugu City!"

Several deputy generals were shocked when they heard this.

Deputy Commander Ma Ji said anxiously, "General, please think twice! Our army is composed entirely of cavalry and lacks siege equipment. How can we possibly break through the city?"

"Yes, General," the military officer Wu Miao also advised, "The walls of Tugu City are high and the moats are deep, and the defenders outnumber us several times. A strong attack will not be beneficial to our army."

Ma Chao's eyes widened as he shouted, "What do you know? This is a plan personally decided by His Majesty. How can you doubt it?"

He drew his sword with a swish, the cold light illuminating his resolute face. "Anyone who dares to discuss military orders again will be punished by military law!"

Seeing how determined he was, the generals had no choice but to accept his order.

But when they left the tent, their faces were filled with worry that was difficult to conceal.

Ma Ji and Wu Miao exchanged glances and looked at the Tugu city wall in the twilight.

The towering city wall cast a long shadow in the setting sun, like a dormant giant beast.

As night fell, smoke rose from the military camp.

The soldiers sat around the campfire, eating the meat for snacks, but they were all silent.

There was an inexplicable tension in the air, and even the war horses seemed restless.

As midnight approached, Ma Chao, fully armed, stood before the battle formation, holding a 10-foot-long spear.

He looked around at the generals and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, tonight's battle is of great importance. Your Majesty has a brilliant plan. This battle will surely be won!"

Following his order, 70,000 cavalrymen rushed forward like a black tide.

Silently, they surged towards Tugu City. Sporadic lights on the city walls flickered in the night, and the shadows of the defenders moved back and forth between the battlements.

Ma Chao looked up at the moonlight, a cold smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.

He slowly raised his spear, and the cavalrymen behind him simultaneously gripped their weapons.

A fateful battle is about to begin on this dark and windy night.