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

After Chu Kuang led 30,000 Xiliang cavalrymen to leave Qingcheng, Jia Yu stood on the top of the city wall, looking at the billowing smoke and dust raised by the cavalrymen in the distance, frowning slightly.

He sighed softly, turned around, walked down the city wall, and walked straight towards a mansion in the city.

The nights in July were hot and humid, with the chirping of cicadas echoing among the treetops. Occasionally, a night breeze would pass by, but it could not blow away the heat in the air.

Jia Yu walked hurriedly, his clothes slightly soaked with sweat, but he did not slow down.

Inside the mansion, candlelight flickered and several military doctors were busy.

Ma Chao was lying on the bed, his upper body wrapped in bandages, his face pale, but his eyes were still as sharp as a knife.

Seeing Jia Yu pushing the door open, he struggled to get up, but Jia Yu quickly stepped forward and held him down.

"General Ma, please don't get up. The military doctor has ordered that you need to rest now."

Jia Yu's voice was calm, but there was still a hint of worry in his eyes.

Ma Chao gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with resentment: "I never thought Qin Qiong was so powerful. I'm afraid only General Ran Ming can fight him!"

He knew in his heart that although Guan Yun and Zhao Yu were also powerful generals, their strength was not much different from his. They had little chance of winning against a top master like Qin Qiong.

Only Ran Ming, a monster born with supernatural powers, can firmly suppress Qin Qiong.

Jia Yu nodded slightly and said in a deep voice: "Yes, this famous general of the Tang Dynasty is indeed worthy of his reputation!"

He paused, then added, "Fortunately, the military doctor has already treated the general. He will recover after resting well for the next three months."

Ma Chao gave a bitter laugh, clenching and unclenching his fists. "Your Majesty is deploying troops, and yet I'm injured. It's really..."

He shook his head and then asked, "What were our losses in this battle?"

Jia Yu's expression was solemn as he slowly said, "We've just finished counting, and we've lost approximately 28,000 people."

"So many?" Ma Chao frowned, obviously surprised by the number.

Jia Yu sighed and explained, "Some died defending the city, another seven thousand were killed by the cavalry led by you, General Ma, and the rest were the casualties incurred when our army stormed the Tang army camp, and when Li Ji led twenty thousand Tang soldiers to cover the rear."

Ma Chao was silent for a long time, and finally whispered, "With His Royal Highness Prince Zhao here, I believe he can handle the aftermath."

Upon hearing this, Jia Yu gave a wry smile, "His Royal Highness the Prince of Zhao... has already led 30,000 Xiliang cavalry out of the city to pursue the Tang army."

"what?"

Ma Chao raised his head suddenly, causing the wound to move. He gasped in pain, but he ignored the pain and said hurriedly:

"Isn't it a bit late to chase them now?"

Jia Yu shook his head helplessly: "The King of Zhao believes that the Tang army's marching speed is slow and the cavalry can catch up. He wants to take advantage of this opportunity to expand the victory."

Ma Chao opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more.

He knew Chu Kuang's character. Once he made a decision, no one could persuade him.

At the same time, Chu Kuang led 30,000 Xiliang cavalry and galloped along the retreat route of the Tang army.

A day later, the spy came on horseback and reported: "Your Highness, Prince Zhao, we have discovered the whereabouts of the Tang army. They are not moving fast, and they are only twenty miles away!"

Chu Kuang looked up at the sky. The sun was setting and dusk was deepening. He raised a sneer and shouted:

"Very good! All troops accelerate, and launch a surprise attack immediately after dark!"

As night fell, the Tang army set up camp in an open area.

The soldiers were exhausted after days of defeat and the camp soon became quiet, with only sporadic torches swaying in the wind.

However, just as the Tang army fell asleep, the earth suddenly shook!

"Enemy attack——!"

The shrill alarm pierced the night sky, followed by the deafening sound of horse hooves approaching like thunder!

"kill--!"

Chu Kuang took the lead, with the long sword in his hand flashing with cold light, and led the Xiliang cavalry to sweep in like a hurricane!

Under the pitch-black night, the Chu army's cavalry rushed into the Tang army camp like a raging wave, their horses' hooves crushing the bonfire and sending sparks flying.

The Xiliang cavalry in the front row, holding long spears, took advantage of the momentum of the charge and stabbed them into the chests of the Tang soldiers who had not yet reacted, and blood instantly sprayed on the tents.

The cavalry archers in the rear drew their bows and arrows, and a rain of arrows poured down, knocking the hastily assembled Tang army to the ground.

"Don't be chaotic! Form a formation!"

A captain of the Tang army shouted at the top of his lungs, but before he could finish his words, a scimitar chopped off his head.

The Chu cavalry galloped across the tents, and with the flash of their swords, the Tang soldiers fell one after another.

Some people were knocked away by their horses as soon as they grabbed their spears; some people raised their shields in panic, but were pierced by several long spears at the same time.

Qin Qiong, wearing heavy armor and holding a spear, fought desperately in the chaotic army.

He knocked over two Chu cavalrymen with one spear and roared, "Protect His Majesty and retreat!"

Dozens of personal guards immediately formed a circle to cover Li Shimin's breakout to the west.

However, more Tang troops had fallen into chaos. Some dropped their weapons and fled, while others knelt on the ground begging for mercy, but were ruthlessly trampled by the galloping cavalry.

Chu Kuang took the lead, and wherever his long sword passed, waves of blood surged.

He saw a Tang army general trying to organize a resistance, so he immediately rode his horse and rushed forward. The blade flashed with a cold light, and the general's helmet and half of his head flew off.

Seeing this, the surrounding Tang army completely collapsed and fled in all directions crying and shouting.

Flames shot up into the sky from the tents, illuminating the corpses scattered on the ground.

Broken limbs and arms mixed with broken weapons were scattered everywhere, and the wails of the wounded and the neighing of war horses intertwined into a hellish melody.

The morale of the Tang army had already hit rock bottom. Faced with this wolf-like and tiger-like cavalry, they could not even organize a decent counterattack and could only be slaughtered like lambs to be slaughtered.

The Tang army responded hastily, but their morale was low and they were unable to organize an effective resistance.

This scene made Li Shiming's face gloomy, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, but he quickly calmed down and said in a deep voice:

"Order the entire army to retreat immediately and do not engage with them!"

He knew that the morale of the Tang army was low at the moment, and if he forced a fight, he would only suffer greater losses.

At the command, the Tang army quickly withdrew from the camp and retreated westward.

Seeing this, Chu Kuang laughed heartily: "The Tang army is indeed vulnerable! The entire army will pursue them and leave no one alive!"

The Xiliang Iron Knights were in high spirits and frantically chased the fleeing Tang army.

However, as the battle continued, Chu Kuang gradually discovered that there were fewer and fewer cavalrymen around him.

It turned out that he had just ordered a free pursuit, and many soldiers had become blood-thirsty, scattered, and even lost themselves in the night.

Chu Kuang reined in his warhorse and looked around, his brow furrowed. "The Tang army actually left without any resistance? Could this be a trick?"

An inexplicable uneasiness surged in his heart. He suddenly raised his hand and shouted sternly, "Send the order, sound the retreat!"

"Dang——dang——dang——"

The rapid sound of gongs echoed in the night sky, and the Chu cavalry turned their horses around and began to gather their troops.

Chu Kuang looked at the direction where the Tang army was retreating in the distance, and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

"Something's wrong..." he muttered to himself.