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

On the official road in late autumn, the withered yellow leaves were swirling in the wind, making a rustling sound.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the entire official road blood red, and the iron hooves of three thousand white horse cavalrymen crushed the fallen leaves on the ground, raising clouds of dust.

Chu Ning took the lead, his black cloak fluttering behind him, and his silver armor shining coldly in the setting sun.

Suddenly, a carrier pigeon flew across the sky and circled above the team.

Zhao Yu was quick-eyed and immediately blew the whistle.

Hearing the sound, the carrier pigeon swooped down and landed steadily on his arm armor. Zhao Yu quickly untied the bamboo tube on the pigeon's leg and his face suddenly changed.

"Your Majesty! Urgent report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard!" Zhao Yu's voice sounded particularly urgent in the autumn wind.

Chu Ning raised his right hand, and the three thousand cavalrymen reined in their horses instantly.

Amid the neighing of war horses, the entire team stopped in unison, showing amazing discipline.

The fallen leaves were still fluttering, and a few of them stuck to Chu Ning's shoulder armor.

Zhao Yu dismounted from his horse, knelt on one knee and presented the secret letter.

His armor was covered in dust and beads of sweat hung on his forehead. It was obvious that the whole journey had not been easy.

"Read." Chu Ning said in a deep voice, his voice seemed to come from an ice cellar.

"One hundred thousand Tang troops set out from the Tang territory and are marching towards Wei territory day and night!"

Zhao Yu's voice trembled slightly. "The Jinyiwei spies saw it with their own eyes. The Tang army's baggage train stretched for ten miles, and the battle flags blocked out the sky!"

A cold light flashed in Chu Ning's eyes, and he took the secret letter and read it carefully.

His fingers rubbed the letter paper, making a slight rustling sound.

"Li Shiming!"

Chu Ning sneered and crumpled the secret letter in his palm: "Sure enough, I can't hold it back anymore."

He looked toward the north, where the sky was already tinged with dusk. "Thinking of taking advantage of my battle with the Han army to launch a surprise attack on Wei? What a trick!"

Zhao Yu looked worried. "Your Majesty, there are only 50,000 troops stationed in the east of Wei. I'm afraid General Ma Chao can't stop the Tang army."

"It's okay." Chu Ning interrupted, his voice as steady as iron.

He reached out and brushed away the fallen leaves on his shoulder armor: "I have been prepared."

His eyes were fixed on the distance: "Feng Anguo is ostensibly going to the Yangtze River to provide support, but in reality he has secretly led an army of 200,000 to the Wei territory."

"Two hundred thousand?" Zhao Yu looked up in shock, and his armor made a crisp clashing sound.

An autumn wind blew by, lifting his cloak.

Chu Ning's lips curled up into a cold smile: "The Jinyiwei have already discovered that the Scorpion Tribe's 100,000-strong army is heading south."

He gripped the reins tightly, the leather creaking. "Li Shiming is playing with fire and getting burned."

The uneasy neighing of war horses could be heard in the distance, as if they also sensed the coming bloody storm.

"Send the order!"

Chu Ning gave an order, his voice particularly clear in the twilight: "Full speed ahead, and make sure to reach the Yangtze River within three days!"

Three thousand white horse cavalrymen galloped up again, and the sound of their iron hooves made the ground tremble slightly.

The setting sun completely sank into the horizon, and the last ray of light shone on Chu Ning's armor, reflecting a blood-red color.

At the same time, the Han army's water fort was brightly lit under the cover of night, and hundreds of warships were rising and falling on the river, making dull sounds when they collided.

On the towering watchtower of the main stronghold, sentries patrolled back and forth with torches in their hands, and the flames cast flickering reflections on the surface of the river.

Inside the central army tent, candlelight flickered.

Liu Che leaned over the waterway map that covered the entire table, and his fingers slowly moved along the course of the Yangtze River.

The ink on the map hadn't dried yet, emitting a faint scent. Outside the tent, the sound of the river lapping against the shore was faintly audible.

"Your Majesty, it's time to eat."

The eunuch carefully brought the food box, but Liu Che pushed it away. The delicate porcelain bowl fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

"Get out!" Liu Che roared, his voice causing the candlelight in the tent to shake violently.

The eunuch retreated in a hurry and almost tripped over the curtain.

Liu Che continued to study the map, and tapped his finger hard on a certain area of ​​water, leaving a mark on the map with his nails.

At this time, hurried footsteps were heard outside the tent.

"Report! General Zhou Yu requests an audience!"

"Come in." Liu Che said in a hoarse voice without raising his head.

Zhou Yu lifted the tent and walked in, bringing in a gust of river breeze that made the candle flame flicker violently.

There was still moisture on his armor, obviously he had just come off a warship.

"Your Majesty, great news! A letter has arrived from the Tang Dynasty!" Zhou Yu could not hide his excitement, his voice trembling a little.

Liu Che then looked up. Under the candlelight, his eye bags were dark blue, and it was obvious that he hadn't slept for many days. "What's the matter?"

"Tang Emperor Li Shiming sent out 100,000 troops, joined forces with 100,000 from the Scorpion Tribe, and added 100,000 Tang troops on the front line, a total of 300,000 troops to attack Wei!" Zhou Yu's voice echoed in the tent.

Liu Che stood up suddenly, and the chair made a harsh friction sound.

He snatched the letter and glanced through it quickly.

Under the candlelight, his expression changed from shock to ecstasy, and finally he burst into laughter: "Hahaha! Good! Good!"

The laughter echoed in the tent, startling the guards outside and making them look at each other in surprise.

The wind from the river suddenly grew stronger, causing the tent curtain to swing violently and make a snapping sound.

"Li Shiming, Li Shiming!"

Liu Che slammed the letter down on the table, knocking the pen and ink over. "You still hold the vengeance of your son's murder in your heart!"

Zhou Yu approached excitedly and said, "Your Majesty, if this is the case, our army will defeat the Chu army in no time!"

"Shut up!"

Liu Che's expression suddenly changed. He grabbed Zhou Yu's collar and said, "Chu Ning is on his way. What's your plan to defeat the enemy? Tell me!"

Zhou Yu's face turned pale and he stammered, "The Chu army's warships are excellent, and our army... I'm afraid we still need to wait for the Fu ships."

"Wait?" Liu Che suddenly pushed Zhou Yu away, and the latter stumbled and knocked over the lamp stand.

The tent suddenly became dark, with only a few candles still burning.

"I give you ten days! Tell the craftsmen to speed up!"

Liu Che's voice was particularly ferocious in the darkness: "Within ten days, you must see five Fu ships launched! Otherwise, I will be beheaded!"

Outside the tent, the sound of the river lapping against the shore suddenly became rapid, as if foreshadowing the coming storm.

Zhou Yu opened the tent curtain, and the damp and cold breeze from the river blowing in his face made him shiver involuntarily.

He stood outside the tent and took a deep breath, trying to calm the depression in his chest.

The moonlight shone dimly on the wooden plank road of the water fort, stretching his shadow very long.

The clinking sound of craftsmen working all night long came from afar, sounding particularly harsh in the quiet night.

"Ten days!" Zhou Yu muttered to himself, his rough fingers unconsciously stroking the sword at his waist.

He knew that it was simply a fantasy to complete the construction of five Fu ships within ten days.

The best way is to rush to complete the hull shell first. As for the internal mechanisms, compartments and other delicate structures, they can only be completed after the war.

A thin mist drifted over the river, blurring the outlines of the warships in the distance.

Zhou Yu suddenly felt his heart tighten, as if an lingering worry like fog was entangling him.

Your Majesty is too optimistic about this battle. The Chu navy is by no means an easy opponent, not to mention that the killer Chu Ning is on the way.

"General?" The guard beside him called out cautiously.

Zhou Yu came to his senses and found that his palms were full of cold sweat.

He clenched his fists tightly, and the armor made a slight clinking sound.

"Go and pass on the order," he said in a deep voice, "Have the craftsmen work day and night and complete the hulls of the five Fu ships within ten days."

After a pause, he added: "Tell them that this is His Majesty's death order."

After saying this, Zhou Yu looked up at the dark night sky.

A few sparse stars were looming among the clouds, just like his wavering mood at the moment.

He always felt that this battle might not go as smoothly as His Majesty had imagined.

But as a subject, he had no choice but to carry out orders.