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

In the Tang army camp, inside the general's tent.

Li Shiming had just stepped into the tent and had not yet taken off his golden armor when he heard hurried footsteps outside the tent.

General Qin Qiong, Deputy General Zhang Yue and others filed in, all with unwilling looks on their faces.

"His Majesty!"

Qin Qiong saluted with his fists clasped together, his voice booming like thunder. "The Chu army's vanguard consists of only 20,000 men. Now is the perfect time for our army to attack! I am willing to lead the cavalry in a charge. We will surely defeat the Chu army in one fell swoop!"

Li Shiming glanced at him coldly and did not respond immediately. Instead, he slowly took off his helmet and handed it to the guard beside him.

The flickering candlelight in the tent illuminated his gloomy face.

"His Majesty!"

Zhang Yue couldn't help but step forward. "Chu Ning has appeared in front of the battle. If our army seizes the opportunity and attacks, we may be able to capture him alive! The Chu army will be leaderless, and our army will surely win!"

Another general stepped forward and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, now is the best time for our army to attack!"

"That's right. I am willing to be the vanguard and charge into battle. I will definitely break through the Chu army's formation!"

"Your Majesty, if you only give me 10,000 soldiers, I will definitely defeat the Chu army!"

"enough!"

Li Shiming slammed the table, his voice as cold as ice: "Don't you understand what I'm saying?"

All the generals fell silent immediately, and the atmosphere in the tent suddenly became tense.

"Chu Ning is as cunning as a fox. He dared to provoke me alone today, so he must have a trick up his sleeve!"

Li Shiming's eyes were sharp as he slowly scanned the crowd: "If our army attacks rashly, it will play into their hands!"

"Have you forgotten how the Fourth Prince died at the hands of Chu Ning? Do you still want me to follow in his footsteps?"

"That Chu Ning is as cunning as a fox, and now he's leading 20,000 men as a vanguard. This is clearly an attempt to deliberately lure our troops out of the camp to fight!"

Qin Qiong still refused to give up and said through gritted teeth: "But Your Majesty, the opportunity for battle is fleeting!"

"Fighter?"

Li Shiming sneered: "Do you think Chu Ning is stupid enough to come and die with 20,000 vanguard troops? There must be an ambush behind him!"

He stood up, his golden armor gleaming coldly in the candlelight, his voice deep and majestic:

"Pass on my military order. All troops, strictly guard the camp. No one is allowed to go into battle without my permission! Anyone who disobeys my order will be executed!"

The generals looked at each other in bewilderment, and finally could only clasp their fists and accept the order: "I obey your command!"

Although they were reluctant, it was the emperor's order and they had to obey.

After everyone left, Li Shiming slowly sat down, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

"Chu Ning...what are you planning?"

Li Shiming never dared to ask for instructions from Chu Ning.

This is the result that his son and General Li Ji paid for with their lives!

At this time, in the camp on the right wing of the Tang army.

Helian Kuang sat on a large animal skin chair, holding a sharp scimitar in his hand, the blade shining coldly in the candlelight.

Outside the tent, a Scorpion Clan spy walked in quickly, knelt on one knee, and said in a deep voice, "Chief, the Tang Emperor and the Chu Emperor met in front of the battle line, but... did not order an attack!"

"what?"

Helian Kuang stood up suddenly, his eyes burning with anger: "The Chu army's vanguard is only 20,000, why doesn't Li Shiming dare to fight?"

He grabbed the spy by the collar and demanded sharply, "What on earth did he say?"

Beads of sweat oozed from the spy's forehead. He trembled and said, "The Tang Emperor...seems to be worried about the Chu army's deception and has ordered the entire army not to fight..."

"waste!"

Helian was furious. He pushed the spy away and strode out of the tent: "I will go and ask him myself!"

However, as soon as he took a step forward, several Scorpion generals in the tent immediately stepped forward to stop him.

"Captain, don't be impulsive! We are now living under someone else's roof. If we anger the Tang Emperor, it will be detrimental to our army."

"Yes, the Tang army is powerful, and we still need to rely on them. Turning against them now will only cause us losses!"

"The main force of the Chu army has not arrived yet. Any rash action will only alert the enemy!"

Helian Kuang clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He took a deep breath, murderous intent surging in his eyes, and finally snorted coldly: "Okay! I'll wait and see. When the main force of the Chu army arrives, how can Li Shiming avoid the battle!"

He turned and walked back into the tent, suddenly thrusting his scimitar into the table. The blade embedded itself deeply into the wood, making a sharp sound.

"Pass the order down, all troops on alert!"

He said coldly: "If the Tang army doesn't fight tomorrow, we will do it ourselves!"

Time passed quickly and it was evening.

As night fell, the sky was dotted with stars, and torches lit up the camp like a forest, illuminating the entire area.

In the distance, the sounds of heavy footsteps and the neighing of war horses were intertwined, and a huge army was slowly marching into the camp.

Chu Ning stood outside the central military tent, his black cloak fluttering in the night wind.

His gaze passed over the crowd and fell on the army that had just arrived - the main force of the Chu army had finally arrived!

"His Majesty!"

General Zhao Yu dismounted, stepped forward quickly, and bowed. "I have been ordered to lead the army. I seek your instructions, Your Majesty!"

Chu Ning nodded slightly and offered a hand to help him up: "Get up."

Zhao Yu stood up. In the light of the fire, he noticed that Chu Ning's face was paler than in the past few days, but there was a kind of almost paranoid coldness burning in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, our army has been marching for days and the soldiers are exhausted. Should we rest for a few days before fighting?"

"No need." Chu Ning interrupted coldly: "Tomorrow at noon, the entire army will attack the Tang army camp!"

Zhao Yu's pupils shrank slightly, and he subconsciously said, "Your Majesty, the Tang army is defending the camp. If our army attacks forcefully, I'm afraid there will be considerable casualties."

"How can there be no death in war?"

Chu Ning's voice was low, yet filled with unquestionable determination: "The Tang army colluded with the Scorpion Clan to harm my brother. If this vengeance is not avenged, how can the army be at peace?"

Zhao Yu wanted to persuade him again, but Chen An stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, although our army's morale is high, the Tang army is well-rested and waiting for us to tire out. If we attack rashly, I'm afraid..."

"enough!"

Chu Ning waved his sleeves fiercely, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "I have made up my mind. The decisive battle will be tomorrow!"

Zhao Yu and Chen An looked at each other and saw worry in each other's eyes.

But the military order was as heavy as a mountain, and they could only clasp their fists and accept the order: "I obey your command!"

Chu Ning turned and walked towards the big tent, his back looking particularly lonely in the firelight.

The night wind howled, as if foreshadowing the coming of a bloody battle.

Zhao Yu looked at his back and whispered to Chen An, "Your Majesty...something seems to be wrong."

Chen An was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly: "Ever since Prince Zhao was injured, Your Majesty seems to have become a different person."

"Tomorrow's battle..." Zhao Yu gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, a look of determination flashing in his eyes: "No matter what, I will follow you until death!"

As the night deepened, the torches in the camp gradually went out, only the candlelight in the central army tent remained bright.

Chu Ning sat alone at the table, holding a blood-stained arrow in his hand - it was a scorpion poison arrow taken from his brother's body.

His knuckles turned white from the exertion, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

"Li Shiming... Helian Kuang..."

He murmured softly, his voice like a devil crawling out of hell: "Tomorrow, I will make you pay for your blood debt with blood!"