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

The drizzle in March was like smoke and fog, covering the red walls and green tiles of Chang'an City.

The golden glazed tiles of the Weiyang Palace shone coldly in the rain, and the copper bells on the eaves made dull sounds in the wind, as if mourning for the distant enemy country.

Inside the hall, ambergris curled up from the gilded beast furnace, but it could not dispel the oppressive and murderous aura.

Emperor Liu Che of the Han Dynasty sat upright on the Dragon Throne, his black robe embroidered with nine five-clawed golden dragons faintly visible in the candlelight. He tapped the armrests with his fingertips, his gaze sweeping over the courtiers below like a hawk.

"Dear ladies!"

Liu Che suddenly spoke, his voice not loud but causing the entire hall to fall silent: "I believe everyone has heard about the assassination of Chu Huai, the retired emperor of Chu."

At the front of the civil service queue, Prime Minister Chen Pin, dressed in purple official robes, raised his eyes slightly.

He had a gaunt face, with three long strands of beard hanging down to his chest. His eyes looked at his nose and his nose looked at his heart. He looked elegant, but he couldn't hide the brilliance in his eyes.

Opposite him, the Duke of Protector of the Country, Huo Quji, was dressed in military uniform. Although the sword at his waist was not unsheathed, he could already feel the murderous aura.

"Your Majesty clearly shows you!"

The Minister of War stepped forward first, bowing deeply. "The Chu State has been annexing the five great dynasties in recent years, acting with arrogance. Now the Emperor has been assassinated in the Qingshan Forest outside Kyoto. This is truly the vindication of Heaven!"

"Master Wang is absolutely right!"

The Minister of Rites immediately echoed: "The new king of Chu, Chu Ning, is young and arrogant, and now he can't even protect the previous emperor. The whole world is laughing at him!"

There was a sudden buzz of discussion in the court.

The Chief Censor stroked his beard and sneered, "I heard that Chu Huai's body is still warm, but Chu Ning is already rushing to decide on a temple name and posthumous title. This impatience shows how cold-hearted he is."

"you do not say!"

The Junior Secretary of the Honglu Temple raised his voice: "Chu has been engaged in wars all these years, and now retribution has finally arrived!"

Liu Che watched the ministers' discussion expressionlessly, his right hand unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist.

It was a green dragon pendant that felt warm to the touch.

When the discussion died down, he slowly spoke: "My dear ministers, you all seem very happy to see the State of Chu make a fool of itself?"

This question caused the hall to suddenly become quiet.

The ministers looked at each other, not knowing what the emperor meant.

"His Majesty!"

Chen Pin finally stepped out, his voice as calm and steady as an ancient well: "During the period of national mourning in Chu, the military's morale is bound to be unstable. This old minister believes that this is a heaven-sent opportunity."

Upon hearing this, Huo Quji's eyes lit up and he strode out of the formation: "I am willing to lead 100,000 elite troops to capture the three counties in the western border of Wei!"

His voice was so loud that the candlelight in the hall flickered. "The shame of the defeat years ago will always be remembered by me!"

Liu Che's eyes moved between the two men, and he suddenly chuckled, "The Prime Minister and the Duke of Protectorate seem to be in perfect sync with each other."

He stood up, the hem of his dragon robe sweeping across the jade steps. "Even if the Chu army's morale is low, they still have a large number of soldiers and horses."

He walked down the steps, his boots making crisp sounds on the jade tiles. "The one guarding Wei is Han Xing, the famous Chu general. He is a master of military strategy. There is also Jia Yu, known as the poisonous scholar, who is full of tricks. There are also fierce generals like Guan Yun and Chu Kuang."

At this point, he suddenly turned around, his eyes flashing like lightning: "Do you think it's easy to take advantage of them?"

You can hear a pin drop in the hall.

The Minister of Revenue wiped the sweat from his forehead and stepped forward with a brave face: "Your Majesty, please understand that although the Chu State is powerful, it will not dare to start a war during the period of national mourning. Our army only needs to attack them by surprise and we will win!"

"Attack them when they're unprepared?"

Liu Che sneered, "Do you think Chu Ning is a fool? If he can force his father to abdicate at such a young age, why wouldn't he think of guarding against neighboring countries taking advantage of the mourning period to launch an attack?"

The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works could not help but remonstrate: "Your Majesty, this opportunity cannot be missed! The Chu State has just suffered a loss, and it is time to..."

"What is it?"

Liu Che interrupted him: "Is this a good time to die?"

He slammed his hand on the table, startling several civil servants. "Do you think I don't want to send troops? But rash action will only lead to repeating the same mistakes!"

Seeing this, Chen Pin coughed lightly and said, "Your Majesty, I have a plan."

Liu Che narrowed his eyes and said, "Speak."

"You can send an envoy to contact the Tang Dynasty."

Chen Pin said calmly, "We'll have them attack from the east, and we'll advance from the west. We'll agree that whoever captures the city will own it. Driven by this interest, the Tang Dynasty will certainly send troops."

Huo Quji immediately added: "If the Tang Dynasty also sends troops, Chu will be attacked from both sides and this battle will surely be won!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers realized that the emperor had already planned everything that happened today, otherwise the prime minister and the Duke of Protector would not have such a consistent attitude.

A minister immediately stood up and said, "The Prime Minister and the Duke of Protector are absolutely right. If we can get the Tang Dynasty to send troops, this battle will be won without a doubt."

"That's right, if the two countries join forces, they will surely be invincible!"

"I am willing to follow the Duke of Protectorate and rush to the front lines. Your Majesty, please give the order!"

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that must not be missed. Once the Tang Dynasty sends troops, the Chu army will be attacked from both sides!"

Liu Che turned his back to the ministers and looked at the rain outside the hall.

Rainwater dripped down the eaves, splashing tiny drops of water on the stone steps.

He suddenly remembered the letter sent by Chu Ning when he ascended the throne two years ago. The sharpness between the lines did not look like it was written by a teenager in his twenties.

"it is good."

Liu Che turned around, a fierce look flashing in his eyes: "Let's follow the Prime Minister's plan, and Duke Huguo Huo Quji will obey your orders!"

Huo Quji knelt on one knee and said, "I am here!"

"I order you to lead an army of 200,000 men and march in three days to capture the western border of Wei!"

"The general will obey the order!"

Liu Che looked at Chen Pin again and said, "Prime Minister, please write a letter to the Tang Dynasty immediately and send it by carrier pigeon. Remember..."

He lowered his voice and said, "The letter is to hint to the Tang Dynasty that the eastern border of Wei is under-defended."

Chen Pin understood and bowed deeply: "I understand, old minister."

Outside the palace, the rain was getting heavier.

The rain washed away the bronze lion in front of the Weiyang Palace, and also washed away the long-accumulated ambitions of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Che walked back to the dragon throne, his fingertips tracing the dragon patterns carved on the armrests. He suddenly asked, "What do you think Chu Ning is doing right now?"

The ministers were stunned. Chen Pin pondered, "I guess they're preparing for the funeral of the retired emperor of Chu."

"No," Liu Che chuckled, "He must be waiting."

"What are you waiting for?" Huo Quji was puzzled.

Liu Che looked southward, his gaze seemingly piercing through the palace walls and reaching the capital of Chu: "Wait for the first fool to take advantage of the situation and fall into my trap."

He averted his gaze, his tone turning cold, "So I won't let him wait too long—three armies are advancing simultaneously, making it difficult for him to manage both ends!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" the ministers shouted in unison.

Amid the sound of rain, Liu Che's decrees were transmitted from the Weiyang Palace one after another: mobilize food and fodder, recruit civilians, and reorganize military equipment!

The entire Han Dynasty began to operate slowly like a sophisticated war machine.

Thousands of miles away in the Chu Imperial Palace, Chu Ning was standing in front of the coffin of the late Emperor Chu Huai, lighting three incense sticks with his own hands.

The rising smoke blurred his handsome face.

No one knew that what he was thinking at this moment was seven points similar to that of the Han emperor.