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

The autumn sun shone through sparse clouds onto the official road. Chu Ning rode on a white horse, followed by three thousand elite cavalry disguised as a caravan.

The caravan's flags swayed gently in the breeze, and the wheels made a creaking sound as they rolled over the leaf-covered road.

"Your Majesty, we will reach Yong'an City in just one day's journey."

Zhao Yu rode his horse closer and spoke in a low voice.

The burly general was wearing a coarse cloth robe at the moment, but a sharp sword was hidden at his waist.

Chu Ning nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping across the golden rice fields on both sides of the road.

In the fields at the end of September, farmers were bending over to harvest, occasionally looking up and curiously gazing at this large "caravan".

"Pass the order down, speed up." Chu Ning said softly, "We must reach the front post before sunset."

However, what Chu Ning didn't know was that just two days ago, a huge uproar had already broken out in the imperial palace of Chang'an City.

Emperor Liu Che of Han suddenly threw the teacup in his hand to the ground. The sound of the porcelain breaking was particularly harsh in the imperial study.

"What? The messenger was killed?"

His face was so gloomy that water could drip out of it, and veins bulged on his forehead. "In my Han Dynasty, no one dares to kill a messenger. This is a grave crime that will lead to the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan!"

The spy knelt on the ground with his forehead pressed to the ground, his voice trembling, "Reply...Reply to Your Majesty, the body was found on the official road twenty miles outside Huai'an City. The command arrows and documents on the body are missing."

Prime Minister Chen Pin, standing aside, frowned and twirled his beard unconsciously with his fingers.

He noticed that the place where the messenger died was exactly on the route that Chu Ning might have passed.

Because it is the only way to the Han Zhou front line!

"It's Chu Ning!"

Liu Che suddenly shouted, slamming his fist on the table: "Chu Ning must have happened to meet the messenger and killed him!"

He turned outside the palace, his voice as cold as ice: "Send a message to Li Li, have him lead 5,000 imperial guards and rush to the road between Huai'an City and Yong'an City immediately!"

"Also, send a pigeon to Yong'an City, telling them not to let anyone pass!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Pin took a step forward, his wide official robe swaying slightly with his movements. "Your Majesty, this matter requires further consideration."

"The messenger was killed, which means Chu Ning is indeed in our territory. If we kill him, it will definitely arouse the wrath of Chu."

"If they go to war with our dynasty regardless of the consequences, it will be more trouble than it's worth."

Liu Che sneered, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Prime Minister, you're worrying too much. If Chu Ning dies, the Chu army will be in chaos."

"The Tang army's 200,000 soldiers will surely take action. The Chu army will be too busy to fight against us."

"If our dynasty seizes this opportunity to defeat the Great Zhou, we might even be able to seize the city of Chu. This would be a win-win situation."

Chen Pin wanted to persuade him again, but Liu Che suddenly waved his sleeves and said, "Follow the order!"

"Yes."

Chen Pin sighed deeply, and when he turned around, his eyes swept across the map of the Han Dynasty's territory hanging on the wall, and an ominous premonition arose in his heart.

Two days later, Yong'an City.

Upon receiving the pigeon message, the city's defending general, Zhou Yi, had a drastic change of expression. He immediately issued an order: "Close the city gates! All defenders, guard the city walls! Send out three squads of county soldiers to search along the official road!"

The heavy city gate slowly closed with a creaking sound. The soldiers on the city wall walked back and forth nervously, and the archers were already in position.

Teams of county soldiers rode out of the city on horseback and conducted a carpet search along the official road.

At this time, in a dense forest thirty miles away from Yong'an City, Wang Wu, the spy sent by Chu Ning, was lurking on a tall oak tree.

He held his breath and watched the Han army search team passing by below.

"What a quick move!" Wang Wu was secretly surprised.

He noticed that the county soldiers were not only checking passers-by but also recording the size and characteristics of each caravan.

One of the officers shouted, "Everyone, be careful! Especially the large caravans, don't let any of them go!"

After the search team walked away, Wang Wu slid down from the tree like a civet cat and quickly jumped onto his horse.

He must bring this news back as soon as possible.

As the sun set, Wang Wu finally found Chu Ning's troops stationed in a clearing in the forest.

He dismounted and knelt on one knee. "Your Majesty, the gates of Yong'an City have been closed, and no one is allowed to enter or leave. The Han army has also sent many county soldiers to search along the road."

Upon hearing this, Chu Ning paused slightly for a moment as he held the water bag in his hand.

The light from the bonfire shone on his angular face, casting flickering shadows.

"I didn't expect Liu Che to react so quickly."

He said softly, with a hint of admiration in his voice: "It seems that he has already done everything to kill me."

Zhao Yu stood up quickly and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the situation is critical!"

His expression was particularly solemn in the firelight. "How about I lead some men to distract them, and you lead the team to take a detour?"

The surrounding white horse cavalrymen echoed this, with determination in their eyes.

They were well aware of the danger of this journey. If they could attract the attention of the Han army, His Majesty would be able to take a safe detour.

Chu Ning suddenly laughed.

He stood up, his tall figure standing still like a mountain in the firelight.

"No, I can't abandon you."

His voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable power.

The night wind blew, and the rustling sound of falling leaves was heard in the forest.

Chu Ning walked to the campfire, picked up a branch and fiddled with the fire, sending sparks flying.

"Since they want to find me, I will show up and let them find me!"

A sneer appeared on his lips: "I want to see what Liu Che can use to deal with me in this empty Han Dynasty!"

At this moment, Chu Ning exuded an astonishing aura.

After observing the Han territory for a period of time, he has already figured out the opponent's strengths and weaknesses.

At this moment, most of the Han army was fighting fiercely on the front line with the Zhou Dynasty, and some were confronting the Chu army in Maple Leaf City. There were very few troops left in the country.

The three thousand white horse cavalrymen around him were all elite soldiers selected from hundreds of miles away.

"Send the order!"

Chu Ning's voice was particularly clear in the night sky: "Change your attire and display the flag of the Great Chu! Tomorrow at 1:00 AM, we will pass through Yong'an City with dignity!"

Zhao Yu said anxiously, "Your Majesty, this is too dangerous! Yong'an City has at least 5,000 defenders!"

Chu Ning laughed so loudly that the birds in the forest were startled. "Five thousand? My three thousand cavalrymen are more than enough to crush it!"

He turned to face the crowd, his eyes burning with fighting spirit: "Liu Che thought I would hide like a stray dog, then I will show him what a true king's teacher is!"

As the night deepened, the camp gradually became quiet.

Chu Ning stood alone at the edge of the camp, looking at the faint fire in the direction of Yong'an City in the distance.

The autumn wind blew across his face, bringing a hint of coolness.

"Liu Che!"

Chu Ning whispered the name, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes: "You think you can turn the tide of the battle by killing me? Ridiculous."

At the same time, in Chang'an City.

Liu Che stood on the high platform of the imperial palace, also looking towards the direction of Yong'an City.

The night wind blew his dragon robe, making a rustling sound.

"Your Majesty, it's late." Chen Pin appeared behind him at some point.

Liu Che didn't turn around: "Prime Minister, what do you think Chu Ning will do?"

Chen Pin was silent for a moment: "Given Chu Ning's personality, I'm afraid he won't choose to hide."

"Just to my liking."

Liu Che sneered, "Send a message to Li Li, telling him to arrive at the designated location before noon tomorrow. I will make sure Chu Ning never returns!"