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

As night fell, the torches on the top of Suiyang City flickered, stretching the shadows of the soldiers defending the city.

The Han envoy passed through the city gate in a dusty state, and the sound of horse hooves was particularly crisp in the quiet street.

He walked quickly into the guard house and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, Chu Ning has agreed to meet at noon tomorrow."

Liu Che stood with his back to the crowd in front of the sand table where candlelight flickered. He turned around slowly when he heard the words.

The candlelight cast flickering shadows on his angular face, and his hawk-like eyes narrowed slightly.

"He's quite straightforward."

The voice was low and contained a hint of danger.

Huo Quji took a step forward, his armor making a slight clinking sound. "Your Majesty, Chu Ning is a cunning man. I'm afraid this meeting might be unpredictable! Why not let me..."

"What are you afraid of?"

Liu Che suddenly interrupted, slamming his right hand on the table, making the teacups clink. "I have an army of over a hundred thousand soldiers inside the city. What dare Chu Ning play tricks on me?"

He turned abruptly, his robe stirring up a gust of wind. "Pass the order down. Except for the soldiers defending the city, the rest of the troops will rest. Also..."

He paused, a gleam in his eyes. "Tell the commander of the Imperial Guards to secretly prepare three thousand elite cavalrymen to ambush at the gate and obey my orders."

Huo Quji hesitated for a second before finally clasping his hands together and accepting the order: "I obey your command."

Although I am still a little worried, there are at least three thousand soldiers lying in ambush in the city, so if there is real danger, we can deal with it.

At noon the next day, the sun was shining brightly.

The scorching sun in July baked the earth so hot that even the air was distorted in the heat wave.

Outside Suiyang City, the two armies faced each other from a distance, and their flags fluttered in the hot wind.

"Squeak-"

The heavy city gate slowly opened, and Liu Che took the lead, riding his black horse and slowly marching out with steady steps.

He was wearing heavy black iron armor with delicate dragon patterns carved on the armor, which shone coldly in the sunlight.

Three thousand imperial guards followed closely behind, their armor thick and their spears like a forest. The sound of their orderly footsteps made the ground tremble slightly.

At the same time, the gate of the Chu army camp was opened.

Chu Ning was wearing a silver-white light armor, the armor plates sparkling in the sun, like a god descending from heaven.

As he rode out, there was a faint smile on the corner of his mouth and a playful gleam in his eyes.

Generals such as Han Xing and Guan Yun followed closely behind. The Chu army was in neat formation and had great momentum.

Before the two armies, only two emperors rode forward.

Liu Che's face was stern, his right hand always on the sword at his waist, while Chu Ning seemed calm and composed, even having the leisure to appreciate the scenery around him.

The two horses were ten steps apart and stopped at the same time.

The heat waves evaporated between the two of them, and even the air seemed to freeze.

"I hope the Han Emperor is well."

Chu Ning spoke first, his voice clear and playful, "I heard there were flames shooting up into the sky in Suiyang City last night. I guess the Han army was holding a bonfire party?"

A cold light flashed in Liu Che's eyes: "Chu Ning, stop pretending here!"

Chu Ning chuckled softly, his slender fingers gently stroking the horse's mane. "Why should the Han Emperor be so angry? Speaking of which, Empress Dugu is living very comfortably in my camp. She even enjoyed flowers and tea with me yesterday, and when she mentioned the Han Emperor..."

He deliberately drawled out his tone: "Your eyes are full of tears, so pitiful."

"you!"

Liu Che gripped the reins so hard that his knuckles turned white, but he quickly forced himself to calm down.

He knew that Chu Ning was deliberately provoking his anger to make him lose his mind.

At this critical moment in the peace talks, he must not be provoked by Chu Ning, and he must not lose his mind.

Taking a deep breath, he calmed down completely.

"I came here today only to exchange for the queen. Please give me your conditions. As long as I can do it, I will definitely agree to it."

Chu Ning raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise: "Oh? The Han Emperor is so straightforward?"

He tilted his head, as if thinking, "Let me think about it...how about..."

Suddenly he clapped his hands and said, "How about the Han army withdraw from Wei territory and offer twenty more cities?"

"Wishful thinking!" Liu Che shouted angrily, and his voice made the surrounding soldiers hold their breath.

Chu Ning calmly took out a brocade bag from his bosom and slowly opened it: "Han Emperor, don't be so hasty to refuse. Take a look at this..."

He shook out a silk handkerchief embroidered with a phoenix: "This is something you once wore with the Queen. You said you gave it to her as a token of your love."

Veins popped up on Liu Che's forehead, and his eyes were about to spit fire, but he suppressed his anger: "Chu Ning, don't go too far!"

"Too much bullying?"

Chu Ning suddenly put away his smile, his eyes sharp as a knife: "Han Emperor, do you still remember the Three Kingdoms Alliance two years ago? Back then, you three countries joined forces and forced me in the same way!"

He suddenly raised his voice: "Now the situation has changed, how does it feel?"

Liu Che took a deep breath, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead under the scorching sun. "Okay, I promise you, I will withdraw my troops a hundred miles within three days, and all the cities along the way will belong to you."

"Now, hand over the queen!"

Chu Ning suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter echoing across the empty fields: "Han Emperor, oh Han Emperor, you are still so naive."

He smiled and shook his head, "When did I ever say I would release them now? I will consider it after the city is handed over."

Liu Che stared at Chu Ning intently, the murderous intent in his eyes almost becoming tangible.

Suddenly, a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Chu Ning, do you think I will believe you?"

He raised his hand suddenly: "Look behind you!"

Chu Ning looked back and saw three smoke signals suddenly rising from the direction of the Chu army camp in the distance.

His expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "The Han Emperor is very resourceful. I guess you secretly mobilized Gongsun Ao's troops to come to our rescue, right? But..."

He pulled out a jade pendant from his bosom: "Do you recognize this?"

Liu Che's pupils suddenly shrank - that was the queen's personal jade pendant!

"My Jinyiwei is right beside the Queen."

Chu Ning played with the jade pendant and said frivolously, "If the Han Emperor acts rashly, he may never see her again!"

Liu Che's entire body tensed up, and he finally gritted his teeth and said, "What do you want?"

Chu Ning suddenly became serious and took out a letter from his sleeve: "Second condition."

He shook his wrist and the letter shot towards Liu Che like a sharp arrow.

Liu Che took the letter, unfolded it and his face turned pale instantly.

He clutched the letter tightly, his knuckles turning blue, and after a long while, he squeezed out a word from between his teeth:

"Okay, I agree!"

The scorching sun still burned the earth, and the heat wave distorted the distant view.

Liu Che turned his horse around and rode back to the city with a stiff back.

Chu Ning looked at his receding figure, the smile on his lips gradually disappeared, and his eyes became deep and unfathomable.

"Your Majesty, what's written in the letter?" Su Tingmei couldn't help asking after returning to the camp.

Chu Ning stroked the jade pendant in his hand and said softly, "An offer he can't refuse."

At the same time, in Suiyang City, Liu Che slammed the letter paper on the table and said with a gloomy face:

"Chu Ning, do you really think you can succeed?"

"Hmph, once I rescue the Queen, I will tear you into pieces!"