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

The sky gradually brightened, and the eastern skyline turned pale, making the smoke covering Leling City look even more hideous.

The traces of last night's fierce battle were clearly revealed in the morning light - the arrow holes on the city wall were as dense as a honeycomb, the corpses in front of the city gate were piled up like a mountain, and the blood seeped into the loess, dyeing the land for several miles around dark red.

The situation on the battlefield changed dramatically, just like the gradually brightening sky.

At the South Gate, which had been breached by the Han army, the Chu army suddenly launched a counterattack, forcing back the elite Han army that had broken into the city.

On the city wall, the large flag with the word "Chu" fluttered in the morning breeze, greatly boosting the morale of the defenders.

"Report——!"

The sound of hurried horse hooves cut through the clamor on the battlefield.

A spy with blood all over his face galloped to the Ximen Han army command post. Before his horse even stopped, he dismounted and knelt in front of Liu Che.

"Your Majesty, this is bad, we've fallen into a trap!"

The spy's voice was tearful, and there were two broken arrows stuck in his armor, obviously he had experienced a brutal battle.

"General Li Gan led his troops into the city, but was first met with a fire attack, and then the Emperor of Chu personally led a cavalry charge. Ultimately... ultimately, General Li Gan was killed!"

"what!"

Liu Che suddenly stood up from the chariot, and the whip in his hand broke with a "snap".

The face of the Han emperor, who was over forty years old, turned pale in an instant, and a terrifying cold light flashed in his eyes.

He grabbed the spy by the collar and almost lifted him off the ground. "You said Li Gan is dead? How could this happen to my Minister of War?"

The spy pointed tremblingly towards the south of the city. "The Chu army deliberately let us in! They had already placed flammable devices inside the city. Once our troops were deep in the streets and alleys, they suddenly fired rockets from the rooftops on both sides."

"General Li's troops are trapped in a sea of fire, and Chu Ning personally led 3,000 armored cavalry to attack from the side, trying to catch us in a trap!"

Liu Che let go of the spy and staggered back two steps. His gilded armor reflected a dazzling light in the morning light.

Only then did he realize that although the 25-year-old Emperor of Chu had been on the throne for only two years, he had already caused great suffering to other countries in three major wars.

Chu Ning's military skills are as powerful as a ghost, and he is best at showing weakness to the enemy and luring them into deep territory.

"I've fallen into a trap, I've fallen into a trap again!"

Liu Che punched the chariot's armrest, his knuckles bleeding but he was completely unaware.

He looked around and saw that the attack on the west gate had reached a stalemate. Soldiers on the ladders were constantly being hit by rolling logs and rocks, and countless corpses were floating in the moat.

Liu Che took a deep breath and made a quick decision: "Pass the order down, the entire army retreats, and immediately goes to Suiyang to support the Duke of Huguo!"

Although the voice was soft, it carried unquestionable majesty.

"Your Majesty!" Upon hearing this, the surrounding generals knelt down and begged.

Deputy General Wang Ding kowtowed heavily: "Let me try again! Just give me two more hours and I will be able to break through the west gate!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Veteran General Zhou Bing's hair and beard stood on end. "We've fought to this point, and now we just want to retreat. I really don't want General Li Gan's death to be in vain!"

The young general drew his sword, pointed to the sky, and swore, "Your Majesty, I will personally lead the death squad to attack the city. I will not return until it is conquered!"

Liu Che glanced at the generals and saw faces blackened by gunpowder smoke and bloodshot eyes.

He wanted to capture Leling in one fell swoop, but as the king of a country, he had to consider the overall situation.

"Generals!"

Liu Che said in a low voice, "Do you know why Chu Ning wanted to kill Li Gan? He wanted to provoke me and make me continue to waste my troops here."

"In Suiyang, Huo Quji is being besieged by the main force of the Chu army. With the water route cut off, our army is in dire straits."

Seeing that the generals were still unwilling to give in, Liu Che suddenly raised his voice: "Chu Ning, that little brat, is deliberately showing weakness in order to delay our main force! Pass on my order, sound the horn to withdraw the troops, and those who disobey will be executed!"

"Dang——dang——dang——"

The shrill sound of the bugle echoed throughout the battlefield, and the Han army that was attacking the city retreated like a tide.

The soldiers looked towards the center of the army in confusion, not understanding why they suddenly retreated when the city was about to be captured.

Some warriors who had already climbed onto the city wall roared in resentment, but had to retreat along the ladders.

At the same time, at the east gate of Leling City.

Emperor Li Shiming of the Tang Dynasty, wearing golden chain mail, stood on the command platform surrounded by his personal guards.

He was about thirty-five years old, with a resolute face and a pair of eagle eyes fixed on the fighting on the city wall.

The Tang army's offensive was like a tide, with dozens of catapults continuously throwing fireballs at the top of the city, illuminating the pre-dawn sky like daylight.

"Report——!"

A spy came running over and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, the situation at the South Gate has changed! The Han army has been defeated and General Li Gan has been killed!"

Li Shiming's pupils suddenly shrank, and the whip in his hand fell to the ground with a "snap".

General Li Ji behind him cried out in shock, "This is impossible! The Han army has clearly entered the city, how could this happen?"

"Chu Ning deliberately let them into the city!"

The spy panted and said, "There is an ambush in the city. We will first use fire to disrupt their formation, and then Chu Ning will lead the elite troops to intercept and kill them."

"General Li Gan was struck from his horse by the Chu Emperor, Chu Ning, and his head... was hung on the watchtower south of the city for public display."

Li Shiming was silent for a long time, then suddenly sneered: "What a Chu Ning, he is indeed as cunning as a fox!"

Li Ji stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, the situation has changed. Should we temporarily suspend our offensive?"

Before he finished speaking, a burst of wild laughter suddenly broke out on the city wall.

A young man in silver armor appeared on the city wall surrounded by generals. It was the Chu Emperor Chu Ning.

He held a sword in his left hand and a bloody head in his right hand, which was particularly eye-catching in the morning light.

"Li Shiming!"

Chu Ning's voice was like a bell, echoing across the battlefield: "Look who this is? Han General Li Gan has surrendered. If you know what's good for you, retreat immediately!"

"Otherwise, the next head to be hung on the city wall will be yours!"

There was an uproar in the Tang army.

The soldiers looked at the hideous head in horror, and their attack came to a halt.

Li Shiming suddenly laughed out loud, "Chun Ning, you little bastard, don't try to trick me!"

He turned to the generals and said, "He's scared! He just wants to scare us off so he can focus on dealing with Liu Che!"

Li Ji frowned and said, "Your Majesty, Chu Ning is very cunning. I'm afraid..."

"Pass on my orders!"

Li Shiming suddenly drew his sword and said, "All troops, intensify the offensive! The first echelon presses forward, the second echelon prepares to ascend the city walls! I must be on the top of Leling City before noon!"

As the horn sounded, the Tang army's offensive suddenly intensified.

Hundreds of ladders were placed on the city wall at the same time, and the death squads climbed up fearlessly with short knives in their mouths.

Arrows flew like locusts from outside the city, suppressing the defenders.

The battering ram, protected by shields, slammed into the city gate with a deafening roar.

Li Shiming sternly shouted to the spy, "Hurry and tell the Han Emperor that I have intensified the offensive and Leling City will fall within four hours! Ask him to immediately intensify the offensive and capture this city together!"