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

"Protect His Majesty into the city!"

Zhao Yu led the remaining white horse cavalry to charge madly, tearing a bloody path through the enemy formation.

The Leling city gate was just around the corner, but the pursuers were also getting closer. A stray arrow brushed past Chu Ning's cheek, but he turned around to avoid it.

"Shoot!" Seeing that the emperor was in danger, the commander on the city wall immediately ordered his men to shoot arrows to protect him.

Arrows rained down, and the pursuers were delayed.

Finally, after paying some price, Chu Ning and the remaining soldiers retreated into the city.

The city gate slammed shut, blocking the surging enemy troops outside the city.

At the foot of the city, Liu Che looked at the towering walls and sneered, "Pass on my order to seal the four gates and build a siege! I want to see how long Chu Ning can hold out!"

Inside the city, Chu Ning climbed up the city wall and looked at the dense enemy troops outside the city without any fear on his face.

"Your Majesty, our army has suffered casualties..." Zhao Yu hesitated to speak.

"Speak." Chu Ning's voice was calm.

"Two thousand White Horse cavalrymen were killed or wounded, and over eighteen hundred infantrymen were killed or wounded." Zhao Yu whispered, "We still have enough food and fodder to last three months."

Chu Ning nodded, then suddenly turned to face the soldiers in the city, his voice thundering: "In today's battle, our army, despite being outnumbered, killed over ten thousand enemy soldiers! This is a great victory!"

Upon hearing this, the tired soldiers' fighting spirit was rekindled in their eyes.

"Leling City is strong, its moats deep, and its food and fodder abundant. I will live and die with you all, and we will surely hold out until reinforcements arrive!"

Chu Ning raised his sword high: "Great Chu will win!"

"Great Chu will win!" Thousands of soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the sky.

Outside the city, Li Shiming listened to the shouts from within, his brow furrowed. "Emperor of the Han Dynasty, this battle may not be that simple."

Liu Che disagreed: "Sixty thousand against eight thousand, the advantage is mine! Within ten days, we will capture this city!"

The setting sun is like blood, shining on the top of Leling City.

The three royal flags fluttered in the evening breeze, indicating that the bloody battle for supremacy among the Three Kingdoms had just begun.

Outside Leling City, the setting sun dyed half the sky red, and the camps of the Tang-Han coalition forces spread out like a tide, surrounding the entire city.

The black Tang army tents and the red Han army tents were arranged alternately, with flags fluttering, swords and spears like forests, and a murderous atmosphere filled the air.

Li Shiming stood on a high slope, overlooking the Leling city wall in the distance, his brows furrowed.

The Chu army flags were still flying on the city walls, and the defenders were on high alert, without any sign of panic.

He snorted coldly, turned around and strode towards the central military tent.

Inside the tent, Liu Che was discussing military affairs with several Han army generals. When he saw Li Shiming come in, he immediately waved his hand to signal everyone to leave.

When only two people were left in the tent, Liu Che said solemnly, "Emperor of the Great Tang, Chu Ning is a cunning and scheming man. If we can't fight quickly and decisively, I'm afraid the night will be long and full of troubles."

Li Shiming nodded, his eyes stern: "Indeed, Leling City is high and deep, and a strong attack will inevitably result in heavy losses."

"But if we delay for too long, once the Chu reinforcements arrive, we will be attacked from both sides, and the situation will be dire."

A fierce look flashed in Liu Che's eyes. "In a few days it will be June, and the weather will be hot. The city's water demand will increase significantly. If we can cut off the water supply, the Chu army will be in chaos!"

Hearing this, Li Shiming raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "Brother Liu, what you said is exactly what I want."

He immediately turned around and shouted outside the tent: "Someone come!"

A Tang army general walked quickly into the tent, clasped his fists and waited for orders.

"Pass the order down and immediately send troops to block all water sources outside Leling City. No matter if they are rivers, wells, or mountain springs, they must all be filled up or poisoned. Make sure there is not a drop of water in the city!" Li Shiming ordered in a cold voice.

"Yes!" The general took the order and left.

Liu Che nodded with satisfaction and added, "Send scouts to monitor the city walls day and night. Anyone who leaves the city to fetch water will be killed without mercy!"

Li Shiming's eyes were deep as he spoke slowly, "No matter how patient Chu Ning is, he won't last more than ten days. By then, there will be no water in the city, and the army will be in chaos. If we attack the city again, we will surely be able to capture the king!"

As night fell, the Tang-Han coalition forces took quick action.

Elite cavalrymen were divided into several teams, carrying shovels and sandbags, and headed straight for various water sources outside Leling City.

There is a small river three miles west of the city, which is one of the main water sources of Leling City.

After the Tang cavalry arrived, they immediately began digging a river channel to divert the water to the low-lying areas.

At the same time, the soldiers threw rotten grass and poison that had been prepared in advance into the water to ensure that the water downstream was undrinkable.

The water well in the east of the city was also filled with boulders and sand by the Han soldiers, and the well mouth was completely sealed.

Several springs at the foot of the mountain were poisoned, and a layer of strange green foam floated on the surface of the water.

In just one night, all water sources outside Leling City were destroyed.

At dawn, the Chu army scouts discovered something unusual and immediately returned to the city to report.

When Chu Ning heard the news, his face darkened and he immediately summoned all the generals to discuss the matter.

"Your Majesty, the enemy has cut off our water supply, and the water storage in the city can only last for five days at most!" Zhao Yu said in a deep voice.

Chu Ning's eyes were stern. After a moment's contemplation, he slowly said, "Pass the order down. Implement water conservation measures immediately. Reduce drinking water in the army by half, and strictly control the water consumption of the people."

"But Your Majesty, the weather is hot. If the soldiers lack water, their combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced!" Chen An was worried.

Chu Ning sneered, "Li Shiming and Liu Che thought they could force me to surrender by cutting off the water supply? They underestimate me."

He turned to look at Zhao Yu: "Is there any underground canal or water source in the city?"

Zhao Yu's eyes lit up: "There is an abandoned ancient well in the south of the city, maybe we can dig it up again!"

Chu Ning nodded: "Immediately send people to investigate secretly. If we can find a water source, our army can hold out for a few more days!"

At the same time, inside the Tang-Han coalition tent, Li Shiming and Liu Che were listening to the scouts' report.

"Your Majesty, the Chu army has discovered that the water source has been cut off, and the city seems to have begun to practice water conservation." The scout knelt and reported.

Liu Che laughed heartily: "Great! In a few days, the city will be in chaos!"

Li Shiming frowned slightly. "Chu Ning is a cunning man. He won't just sit there and wait for death. Send the order down. Strengthen patrols to prevent the Chu army from leaving the city to get water or break out at night!"

Liu Che disagreed: "The Emperor of the Tang Dynasty is worrying too much. Leling has been surrounded by us like an iron barrel. Chu Ning can't escape even if he has wings!"

Li Shiming shook his head: "Don't be careless. Although the Chu army is trapped, they still have fighting power. If they fight to break out, we may not be able to stop them."

Liu Che snorted coldly: "If they dare to break out, we can just annihilate them in the wild!"

Li Shiming said no more, but looked deeply towards the direction of Leling City, with a hint of uneasiness in his heart.

That night, Chu Ning personally climbed up the city wall and looked at the enemy camp.

Under the moonlight, the campfires of the Tang-Han coalition forces were as dense as stars, surrounding Leling City.

"Your Majesty, the ancient well has been re-dug, and there is indeed groundwater seeping out, but the amount of water is limited and can only barely supply the needs of the army." Zhao Yu reported in a low voice.

Chu Ning nodded slightly: "That's enough. Pass the order and have the soldiers take turns to fetch water. Make sure to maintain their fighting strength."

Chen An stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said, "Your Majesty, the enemy's siege is very tight. If we hold on for a long time, it will not be a solution."

"Why not let me lead an elite force to break out at night and seek help!"

Chu Ning pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No, Li Shiming and Liu Che will definitely defend the area tightly. A hasty breakout is too risky."

His eyes were firm as he slowly said, "Wait three more days. After three days, I will have my own plans."

Zhao Yu and Chen An looked at each other and responded in unison: "Yes, sir!"

Chu Ning looked at the enemy camp in the distance, a cold look flashing in his eyes: "Li Shiming, Liu Che, do you think you can force me to surrender by cutting off the water supply? I want to see who will have the last laugh!"