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

On the city wall of Tugu City, the setting sun was as red as blood, reflecting Ma Chao's stern face.

He held onto the city wall with one hand, his knuckles turning slightly white from the exertion, and his eyes like a hawk scanned the battlefield outside the city, which was littered with corpses.

Deputy General Ma Ji quickly climbed up the city wall, with blood still stained on his armor.

He clasped his fists in a salute, his voice low and hurried, "General, scouts report that Li Guang is leading over 40,000 remnants of the Han army in a desperate escape towards Dongping City!"

Ma Chao's lips curled up into a cold smile, his eyes flashing coldly: "Dongping City? Ha, that's exactly what I want."

He turned, his black cloak rustling in the wind. "Your Majesty's order is clear—this Han army must be annihilated, leaving no one alive."

Ma Ji frowned slightly and stepped forward, saying, "General, how about I lead the army in pursuit while you stay in Tugu City?"

"Although the Wei army was defeated, there are still remnants roaming nearby. If they take advantage of the opportunity to counterattack..."

"No need."

Ma Chao raised his hand to interrupt, his voice as cold as iron: "Li Guang is as cunning as a fox. If we let him escape into Dongping City, it will be difficult to annihilate him."

He stared at Ma Ji with a sharp gaze: "You stay here and wipe out the remaining enemies. Anyone who refuses to surrender will be killed without mercy!"

Ma Ji opened his mouth and wanted to persuade him again, but saw Ma Chao striding towards the stairs with a resolute back.

He could only grit his teeth and clasp his fists: "I obey your command!"

He knew Ma Chao's temper and personality, and it was definitely impossible to persuade him at this time. He could only complete the task assigned by Ma Chao as soon as possible.

Soon, 30,000 Chu cavalry rushed out of the city gate like a black torrent, and the sound of horse hooves shook the earth.

Ma Chao led the way, his spear pointed at the sky, and shouted coldly, "All troops, listen to my order—pursue the Han army until they are dead!"

"kill!"

The thirty thousand cavalrymen roared in unison, the sound was like thunder, and the birds in the distant woods were startled and scattered.

Twenty miles away, the remnants of the Han army led by Li Guang were fleeing in panic.

The soldiers threw away their armor and helmets, and many of them even dropped their weapons, and just ran desperately towards Dongping City.

"Faster! Faster!"

Li Guang whipped his warhorse with a dark face.

He looked back and saw dust flying in the distance. He could vaguely see the black flags of the Chu army fluttering in the wind.

Deputy General Zhao Cheng's face was covered in sweat, and his voice was trembling: "General, the Chu army is chasing too closely! Our infantry can't outrun their cavalry!"

Li Guang gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot. "Leave behind the wounded and baggage, and march lightly! As long as we can enter Dongping City, we can survive!"

However, as soon as the order was given, a shrill scream suddenly came from the rear.

"The Chu army is catching up!"

Li Guang turned his head suddenly, his pupils suddenly contracted - he saw on the horizon, a dark mass of Chu cavalry surging like a tide, and the leading general was none other than Ma Chao!

"Form a line! Form a line quickly!" Li Guang roared and drew his sword, but the Han army had already been defeated and no one obeyed his orders.

Ma Chao's spear stabbed out like a poisonous snake, instantly piercing the throat of a Han army general.

Blood splattered, staining his armor red.

He sneered and shouted, "Li Guang! Today is the day you die!"

Li Guang knew that he couldn't escape.

He reined in his horse abruptly, a fierce glint in his eyes: "All troops, listen to my order—form a circle and fight to the death!"

The remaining 30,000-odd Han troops barely gathered together, with their spears pointed outward, trying to resist the charge of the Chu cavalry.

However, they were already exhausted and their formation was as loose as sand.

Ma Chao sneered and raised his spear high: "Charge!"

"boom!"

The Chu cavalry crashed into the Han army's formation like huge waves hitting the shore.

In an instant, the sounds of breaking bones, screams, and clashing weapons resounded throughout the wilderness.

Li Guang personally wielded his sword to fight, and with one blow he split the chest of a Chu cavalryman. Hot blood splattered on his face, hot as an iron.

He roared, "Kill! Kill one and we'll break even. Kill two and we'll make a profit!"

The Han soldiers were forced into a desperate situation, but they burst out with ruthlessness and fought back desperately.

A Han army captain with a broken arm bit the back of the knife with his teeth, held the spear with one hand, and stabbed the horse of a Chu army centurion.

The battlefield instantly turned into Shura hell.

After half a day of fierce fighting, more than half of the Han army was killed or wounded, and corpses piled up like a mountain.

Li Guang was covered in blood, his horse had been shot dead long ago, but he was still fighting on foot with a sword in hand.

Suddenly, a dull sound of war drums came from afar.

"Dong-dong-dong-"

Li Guang looked up suddenly and saw a black-armored army slowly approaching on the official road in the direction of Dongping City, with flags waving. It was - the Chu Army!

"Ambush?" Li Guang's face turned pale instantly, and the hand holding the sword trembled slightly.

Deputy General Zhao Cheng stumbled over, his voice desperate, "General, we've fallen into a trap! The Chu army has set an ambush here!"

Li Guang laughed loudly, his laughter as shrill as a ghost: "What a Ma Chao! What a trick to lead someone into a trap!"

He turned abruptly and shouted to his guards, "Send men to Dongping City for help! Tell the Wei army that if they continue to sit idly by, they'll be next!"

Just as the personal guard charged forward a few steps on his horse, a sharp arrow flew through the air and pierced his back!

Ma Chao slowly put down his longbow and sneered, "Calling for help? Too late."

The Chu army's ambush troops and pursuing troops attacked from the front and back, surrounding the Han army.

Li Guang knew that he would die today.

He tore off a corner of his robe, wrapped it around his bleeding right arm, raised his sword and shouted:

"Men of the Han Dynasty! Although we may die today, our heroic spirits will live on! Kill—!"

The remaining 10,000-odd Han troops roared their last breath and pounced on the Chu army like trapped beasts.

Ma Chao personally led his personal guards into the battle formation. His spear was like a dragon, and blood and flesh flew wherever it passed. He and Li Guang finally met face to face.

"Li Guang, surrender now," Ma Chao said coldly, "You are a talented general. His Majesty may spare your life."

Li Guang spat out a mouthful of blood foam and grinned, "I, Li Guang, would rather die than surrender!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly pounced forward and pierced Ma Chao's throat with his sword!

Ma Chao dodged sideways, and his spear was as fast as lightning, instantly piercing Li Guang's shoulder.

Li Guang groaned, and regardless of his injuries, he grabbed the spear with his left hand and slashed at Ma Chao's face with the long sword in his right hand!

"clang-!"

Ma Chao drew his sword to block, sparks flying.

The two men passed each other on horseback. Li Guang staggered a few steps, knelt on one knee, and blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

"It's over." Ma Chao slowly raised his spear.

Li Guang raised his head, a strange smile on his bloodstained face: "You think... you won? The Wei Kingdom... will not let you go..."

The spear stabbed down and pierced through the heart.

Li Guang's body slowly fell to the ground, his eyes still fixed on the direction of Dongping City - where the city gates were always closed.

He was very unwilling and could not understand why the Wei army was unwilling to send troops to help them.

As the sun sets, the battlefield finally returns to silence.

Ma Chao stood in a sea of corpses and blood and slowly put away his gun.

The guards stepped forward and reported: "General, the Wei army in Dongping City has not moved at all."

Ma Chao sneered, "Order the entire army to rest and regroup. Three days from now—we will march towards Dongping City!"

A strong wind blew, stirring up blood-stained sand all over the ground.

One of Sima Yi's three armies and reinforcements had been destroyed, and even the reinforcements were completely wiped out!