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

After the heavy snow, Luo City was covered in silver, and the snow in the square outside the Baoen Pagoda was half a foot deep.

General Li Junxian stepped on the crunching snow, and his black combat boots left a series of deep footprints on the snow.

The white air he exhaled quickly condensed into frost in the cold wind, hanging on his thick sword-like eyebrows.

"Send ten more sharpshooters to the east arrow tower."

Li Junxian said to the deputy general beside him in a low but powerful voice: "When the empress ascends the tower, any bird flying over the square must be shot down."

The deputy general clasped his fists and took the order before leaving. His iron armor shone coldly in the snow.

Li Junxian looked up at the towering Baoen Pagoda. The nine-story octagonal structure sparkled in the sunshine after the snow.

The icicles hanging from the eaves of the tower point to the ground like sharp swords, as if warning of something.

"General, the tower has been checked three times and nothing unusual has been found."

A captain came quickly and reported, "According to your instructions, two female guards disguised as maids have been posted on each floor, and all flower pots and incense burners have been checked."

Li Junxian nodded slightly and glanced around the square.

He had already ordered secret sentries to be placed at various commanding heights, and plainclothes guards were also stationed in the teahouses and restaurants on both sides of the street.

On the Lantern Festival, this place will be crowded with people coming to admire the empress, and his duty is to ensure that everything goes well.

"Have all the houses around the Baoen Tower been cleared?" Li Junxian asked.

"According to the general's order, all residents within a hundred-foot radius have been temporarily relocated and will be taken over by our people."

The captain replied, "Each household has been assigned archers and swordsmen."

The cold wind blew up the snow on the ground and hit Li Junxian's resolute face.

He squinted his eyes, as if he saw the lively scene of the Lantern Festival a few days later - Empress Wu Zetian would announce the important decision of the Great Zhou to be incorporated into the Chu State here.

This decision has made the eight major families bow their heads, but Li Junxian knows that the opposition forces in the dark will never give up.

"General, does the weather vane on the top of the tower need to be adjusted?" A soldier came running to ask.

Li Junxian thought for a moment and said, "No need. Just leave it as it is. If someone tries to tamper with the tower, the abnormal movement of the wind vane will be our first warning."

He walked towards the main gate of the Baoen Pagoda, and two guards immediately pushed open the heavy vermilion lacquered door.

It was as warm as spring inside the tower, in stark contrast to the ice and snow outside.

Li Junxian walked up the spiral staircase, inspecting each floor, each step steady and powerful. He paused on the third-floor corridor and peered through the arrow slits, where he could take in the entire square.

"Add two more crossbowmen here."

He pointed to both sides of the corridor and said, "I want the best ones, the kind that can shoot arrows through the air at a hundred paces."

"Yes, sir!" The accompanying officer immediately took note.

When he reached the top of the tower, Li Junxian's cloak was rustling in the cold wind.

Looking down from here, you can have a panoramic view of the entire snowy scenery of Los Angeles, and the golden roof of the imperial palace in the distance is shining in the sun.

He imagined the scene of the empress standing here and accepting the worship of the people, and a feeling of pride surged in his heart.

As a general guarding the country, he vowed to defend the empress's safety, even at the cost of his life.

"Send the order!"

Li Junxian turned to his followers and said, "From today on, a curfew will be imposed within a three-mile radius of the Baoen Pagoda. Any suspicious individuals will be apprehended immediately."

"On the Lantern Festival, all citizens entering the square must undergo three rounds of inspection. Anyone carrying a sharp weapon will be killed without mercy."

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

The followers responded in unison and quickly dispersed to carry out the order.

Li Junxian took one last look at Luocheng in the snow, then turned and went downstairs.

The heavy snow obscured many traces, but also made potential threats more visible.

He was confident that he could nip all dangers in the bud before the Empress arrived.

At the same time, in the Han Imperial Palace.

Inside the Weiyang Palace, the candlelight on the Bronze Sparrow Lantern Stand flickered in the cold wind.

The secret letter in the hands of Emperor Liu Che of Han was wrinkled by him, and his knuckles turned white from the force.

The charcoal basin in the hall was burning red, but it could not dispel the chill that enveloped the hearts of the ministers.

"Your Majesty, is this serious?"

The Minister of War was the first to break the silence, his voice filled with disbelief: "Wu Zhao really wants to hand over the Great Zhou Empire to that young boy Chu Ning?"

Liu Che coldly slammed the secret letter on the table, "It's absolutely true! My secret guards witnessed the representatives of the eight major families expressing their views in the Golden Palace. During the Lantern Festival, Wu Zhao will publicly announce this matter in the Pagoda of Gratitude!"

"absurd!"

The Imperial Censor slammed the table in anger, "A mere woman is truly incapable of such a task! If the late Emperor of the Great Zhou were still alive, he would surely be deeply saddened by this matter!"

There was a sudden buzz of discussion in the hall, and the faces of the ministers were filled with anger and contempt.

The Minister of Rites stroked his beard and sneered, "Women are women after all. They can abandon their country and their people for love."

"Chu Ning is only in his early twenties, while Wu Zhao is already over thirty. Such disregard for integrity is truly a disgrace to the nation!"

"Enough!" Liu Che shouted, and the hall immediately fell silent.

He slowly stood up, the gold threads on his black dragon robe gleaming in the candlelight. "I summoned you here to discuss matters, not to listen to your gossip!"

Prime Minister Chen Pin coughed lightly and walked out slowly.

This veteran of three dynasties has white hair and beard, but his eyes are still as sharp as an eagle.

"Your Majesty, this matter is indeed thorny. If the Great Zhou were to be annexed by the Chu State, Chu Ning would control the lands of the six kingdoms, and its strength would far exceed that of the Han and Li Tang combined."

"Does the Prime Minister have any good ideas?" Liu Che stared at Chen Pin with sharp eyes.

Chen Pin stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, a gleam in his eyes. "I believe that the key to this matter lies in the trust between Wu Zhao and Chu Ning. If we can sow discord between them, the merger will naturally fall apart."

"Go on." Liu Che leaned forward slightly.

"During the Lantern Festival, Wu Zhao will celebrate with the people at the Bao'en Pagoda."

Chen Pin lowered his voice: "If something unexpected happens at this time, Chu Ning will doubt Wu Zhao's sincerity."

Liu Che's eyes flashed, and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth: "The Prime Minister means..."

"I have heard that Chu Ning is suspicious by nature."

Chen Pin said meaningfully, "If he were assassinated within the Great Zhou territory, and the assassin happened to have a token from the Great Zhou court..."

When the ministers in the hall heard this, some looked surprised, while others nodded secretly.

The Minister of War frowned and said, "Although this plan is brilliant, it carries great risks. If it is exposed, our Han will offend both the Great Zhou and the State of Chu."

“Those who achieve great things don’t stick to trivial matters!”

Chen Pin said sternly, "Are we going to sit and wait for Chu to annex Great Zhou and then march down to the gates of our Great Han?"

Liu Che raised his hand to stop the argument, his eyes flashing coldly. "The Prime Minister is absolutely right. I have ordered the Night Owls lurking in Luo City to take action and create an unexpected event during the Lantern Festival that will drive a wedge between Chu and Zhou."

He walked to the window and looked at the falling snow outside.

Chang'an in December was colder than in previous years, and his heart was colder than ice and snow.

"remember!"

Liu Che turned his back to the ministers and said in a cold voice, "What I want is for Wu Zhao and Chu Ning to fall out, not for Chu Ning's life."

"If that madman dies, his fierce army will directly crush the Great Zhou, which will benefit others."

"Your Majesty is wise!" Chen Pin bowed deeply. "This old minister will make arrangements right away and ensure everything goes smoothly."

Liu Che waved his hand and the ministers left the hall one after another.

Only when the last official's back disappeared outside the palace gate did he let out a long sigh.

He picked up another secret letter on the table - this was a secret letter from the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Li Tang was also worried about the merger of Chu and Zhou.

"Wu Zhao, ah Wu Zhao." Liu Che murmured to himself, "You gave up your kingdom for a man. You are really disappointing."

Outside the window, the snow started falling again.

A layer of fresh snow quickly accumulated on the eaves of the Weiyang Palace, as if to cover up all the conspiracies and calculations in the deep palace.

Thousands of miles away in Luo City, Li Junxian was leading his soldiers under the Tower of Gratitude to practice defense plans over and over again, completely unaware that an undercurrent against the empress was surging.