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

In the courtyard of the Suiyang City Guard House, the July night wind, carrying the lingering heat from the day, swirled over the bluestone floor.

Liu Che stood with his hands behind his back under an old locust tree. The moonlight shone through the branches and leaves, casting mottled shadows on his gloomy face.

The dragon-patterned armor he wore shone coldly under the lantern light, with traces of blood and dust from today's battlefield still lingering on the armor.

"Your Majesty, it's late. Why don't you go to bed early? I can leave this place to you."

Huo Quji whispered, his voice filled with suppressed worry for his brother.

The Duke of Protector stood straight as a pine tree, but his muscles under the armor were tense, and his right hand unconsciously stroked the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Liu Che didn't turn around, but just snorted: "I will personally wait for news from General Huo."

Around the courtyard, twenty imperial guards stood like sculptures, their armor gleaming coldly in the moonlight, their spears pointing obliquely at the night sky dotted with cold stars.

No one dared to make the slightest sound, and even their breathing was deliberately light, for fear of disturbing the emperor's already gloomy mood.

A gust of wind blew through the hall, bringing with it the faint sound of horns from the distant city walls.

This is the attack horn of the Chu army's siege!

Liu Che frowned even more tightly, he looked up at the source of the voice, the sinister look in his eyes almost becoming tangible.

If Huo Guang had not risked his life to protect him today, he probably would not have been able to enter the city.

With a creak, the door of the wing room was pushed open.

Everyone's eyes were instantly focused on the past.

The military doctor came out with a hunched back, beads of sweat on his forehead glistening under the lantern. He wiped them hastily with his sleeve, but froze the moment he saw Liu Che.

Liu Che strode forward, his boots thumping against the bluestone slabs. "How is General Huo's injury?"

The military doctor sank to his knees, resting his forehead on the cold ground. "Your Majesty, although General Huo's arrow wound to the right chest is deep, fortunately it has not hit his heart. The arrowhead has been removed, and he has applied a wound remedy."

He paused, his voice lowering a little, "It's just that General Huo has lost too much blood and needs to rest for at least three months. During this half month, it's best... it's best to rest in bed."

Huo Quji's knuckles were clenched white, and he forced himself to remain silent.

As the Protector of the Country, he could not show excessive personal emotions in front of the emperor.

But as an older brother, scenes from the daytime kept flashing back to his mind.

Huo Guang brandished his spear in the chaotic army, carving a bloody path for him and the emperor. When the stray arrow came through the air, Huo Guang could have clearly dodged it, but in order to protect Liu Che behind him, he used his body to block the fatal blow.

"I understand. You can leave now." Liu Che's voice interrupted Huo Quji's thoughts.

The emperor turned and walked towards the wing room, and Huo Quji immediately followed.

The house was filled with a strong smell of medicine and blood.

Huo Guang lay on his back on the couch, his face as pale as paper, and only his weak breathing proved that he was still alive.

His armor had been removed, and his right chest was wrapped in a thick white cloth, but a glaring red color was still spreading.

Liu Che stood in front of the couch, looking at the general who blocked the arrow for him with complicated eyes.

"Your brother is a loyal minister." Liu Che said suddenly.

Huo Quji knelt on one knee and said: "To die for Your Majesty is the honor of our Huo family."

Liu Che sneered but said nothing more.

He turned and walked out of the room, followed closely by Huo Quji.

The lanterns in the courtyard swayed in the night wind, lengthening and shortening the two people's shadows, just like the unpredictable situation on the battlefield at the moment.

"Duke Protector of the Country." Liu Che stopped beneath the locust tree and said in a cold, hard voice, "How many of our troops are still inside Suiyang City?"

Huo Quji took a deep breath and quickly calculated in his head: "Originally, there were 150,000 troops. After the last night attack and the days of defending the city, there are now about 110,000 combat-ready soldiers left."

"Where are the Chu troops?"

This question made Huo Quji's throat roll: "According to the scouts' report, there are about 150,000 Chu troops outside the city."

Liu Che turned around abruptly, his eyes flashing with coldness: "They didn't suffer any casualties?"

"The Chu army initially had approximately 180,000 troops."

Huo Quji said in a deep voice, "They did suffer losses, but Han Cheng seemed to have been prepared, with new troops constantly coming in."

Liu Che narrowed his eyes, his profile as sharp as a knife in the moonlight: "Navy! It's Chu Ning's navy."

He pounded the trunk of the locust tree with his fist, causing the leaves to rustle. "We were focusing on their infantry and cavalry, but forgot about that 100,000-man navy!"

Huo Quji was silent. This mistake was too fatal.

The Chu navy has always been good at covert operations. If it is true as the emperor said, the sudden increase in troops under Han Cheng's command is most likely the elite navy that secretly moved north along the Mian River.

"No matter what the cost," Liu Che's voice was like a poisoned blade, "I must defeat the Chu army and rescue the queen."

He strode towards the meeting room. "Follow me. We must make a plan."

At the same moment the two men stepped into the conference room, in the granary area in the northwest corner of Suiyang City, more than a dozen black shadows were moving silently along the wall.

They were dressed in night clothes, with black scarves covering their faces, and only their eyes flashed coldly in the moonlight.

"Sir, the patrol on the east side just passed by, there is a gap of half a quarter of an hour." A thin figure emerged from the shadows and reported in a low voice.

The leading Jinyiwei captain Chu Qi nodded and made a gesture.

Dozens of elite Jinyiwei spread out like ghosts, each with a bulging leather bag filled with kerosene and flint on his waist.

"Remember," Chu Qi said in a very low voice, "After burning the East Warehouse, immediately retreat to the North Gate. Our people will be there to support us. If you are intercepted, you will be killed without mercy."

Everyone obeyed the order silently.

They were like a pack of wolves in the dark, silently pouncing on unsuspecting prey.

The Han army guard outside the granary was yawning when he suddenly felt a chill in his throat and fell to the ground before he could sound the alarm.

Chu Qi took out a fire starter from his arms, blew it gently, and the flame shot up.

He looked grimly at the mountains of food and fodder before him, which was the last hope for the Han army to hold Suiyang.

"Liu Che," he said softly, "General Han sends his regards."

The torches fell, and the kerosene-soaked food and grass instantly burst into dazzling flames.

The flames greedily licked the dry wooden beams and straw, and in the blink of an eye a sea of fire was formed.

Panic shouts were heard in the distance: "The granary is flooded! The granary is flooded!"

Chu Qi sneered and quickly disappeared into the darkness with his men.

Behind them, the flames rising into the sky illuminated the night sky of Suiyang City red, as if the gates of hell had opened on earth.

The fire in the granary quickly alerted the city defense office. Liu Che had just stood in front of the sand table when he heard a commotion outside.

He flung open the window, and what came into view was the fire in the northwest that dyed the night blood red.

"Granary!" Huo Quji's voice trembled with disbelief.

Liu Che's face looked particularly ferocious in the firelight. He gritted his teeth and squeezed out three words:

"Chu-Ning-!"

"Send the order, go put out the fire immediately!"