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

After Zhao Yu reported the battle damage, he stood aside without saying a word.

Chu Ning was silent for a moment, then slowly turned around and glanced at the soldiers busy cleaning up the battlefield in the distance, as well as the corpses scattered all over the mountains.

He exhaled lightly, his tone returning to its previous indifference, but with a hint of indescribable meaning: "As expected of the last elite troops of the Han Dynasty, as expected of the troops led by Huo Quji... they are indeed a formidable force."

"But unfortunately, they chose the wrong master and followed the wrong person."

"Their bravery and sacrifice will ultimately serve only as stepping stones on the road to my imperial hegemony."

His words were cold and realistic, with the indifference unique to winners.

After evaluating his opponent, he no longer hesitated. A sharp light rekindled in his eyes. He looked towards Hongdu City and decisively ordered: "Order the entire army to rest here for three days, treat the wounded, bury the bodies, and replenish supplies."

"Three days later, the army will march out to Hongdu City!"

"Yes! I obey your command!" Zhao Yu responded loudly, turned around and left quickly to convey the order.

Chu Ning took one last look at Huo Quji's tombstone, his eyes calm, as if he was just looking at an insignificant old object.

Then he turned around resolutely and strode towards the central military tent.

The setting sun stretched his shadow very long, and the silver armor reflected the last light, cold and dazzling.

The era of Huo Quji has ended, and next, it will be an era that belongs entirely to Chu Ning.

Two days later at dusk, a exhausted carrier pigeon with disheveled feathers flapped its wings, finally crossed numerous mountains and rivers, and stumbled into a pigeon house deep in the Han Imperial Palace.

The eunuch removed the bamboo tube from the pigeon's leg as quickly as possible and presented it to the emperor.

Liu Xiu, the newly enthroned Emperor of the Han Dynasty, was reviewing memorials in the imperial study.

When he saw the special expedited mark, his heart sank.

He took a deep breath, forced himself to remain calm, opened the bamboo tube, and took out the scroll of silk that was as thin as a cicada's wing but weighed more than a thousand pounds.

His eyes quickly swept across the words on the silk, and the blood color on Liu Xiu's face faded at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning as pale as paper.

His fingers began to tremble violently and uncontrollably. The silk seemed to weigh a thousand pounds and he could hardly hold it.

"How...how could it be...this way..."

He murmured to himself, his voice dry and hoarse, filled with incredible horror:

"The Protector of the Country... The Protector of the Country... He actually... died in battle?! His entire army... was annihilated?!"

He almost roared the last four words, his voice distorted by extreme shock and pain!

He stood up suddenly, and because of his big movement, he overturned the dragon throne behind him, making a loud "clang" sound, but he was completely unaware of it.

The immense grief and panic instantly overwhelmed him like ice water.

Huo Quji was not only the Protector of the Han Dynasty, but also the pillar of the army. He was Liu Xiu's greatest reliance in stabilizing the government and fighting against the Chu army!

His death in battle was not only a military defeat, but also a fatal blow to the foundation of the Han Dynasty!

"Somebody come!"

Liu Xiu suddenly raised his head, his eyes red, and roared heartbreakingly towards the outside of the hall, with a barely perceptible tremor in his voice:

"Quick! Ring the bell! Emergency court meeting! Summon all ministers in the capital to the Golden Throne Hall immediately for a meeting! Quick!!"

The emperor's roar was like thunder, instantly alarming the entire palace.

The eunuchs and imperial guards did not dare to be negligent in the slightest and carried out the order as quickly as possible.

soon--

"Boom...!"

"Boom...!"

"Boom...!"

Heavy, long, and ominous bell sounds rang out from the highest point of the imperial palace, one after another, clearly spreading throughout the entire Chang'an City!

This bell is not a signal for court to go to court on ordinary days, but an alarm bell that will only be rung when the most urgent and important state affairs occur!

One, two, three... the bell rang continuously, with no sign of stopping.

The officials, nobles, and even ordinary people in the city were all startled by the sudden sound of the bell.

When the bell rang to the sixth and seventh time, everyone's face changed.

When the ninth heavy bell finally rang out and the echo was still lingering over the city, an indescribable atmosphere of panic instantly enveloped the entire Chang'an!

Nine bells ring!

It represents the highest level of alert, indicating the danger to the country and the imminent national crisis!

"Nine! Nine bells!"

"Oh my god! What happened?!"

"Quick! Go to the palace!"

Officials at all levels, no matter what they were doing at the moment, immediately put down their work, and without even having time to change into court robes, rushed out of their mansions as fast as possible, taking carriages or walking directly, and rushed to the palace in a panic.

The streets were suddenly filled with the clamor of traffic and the flow of people, and everyone's face was filled with surprise and anxiety.

The officials met at the palace gate and asked each other anxiously, "Sir Wang, do you know what happened?"

"Minister Li, why did His Majesty suddenly ring the nine bells?"

"Could there be an incident at the front?"

"Come in quickly!"

But everyone shook their heads. No one knew the exact news, and this unknown deepened the fear in their hearts.

Soon, everyone's attention focused on the new prime minister Tang Yimin.

Several important officials gathered around and asked anxiously in low voices, "Prime Minister, do you know why His Majesty has urgently summoned you? Is it about the front line..."

Tang Yimin frowned, shook his head solemnly, and said in a low voice, "I am also unaware of this. Your Majesty directly ordered the bell to ring without informing the Secretariat."

"But the ringing of nine bells is no small matter. Everyone, be prepared."

Even the Prime Minister doesn’t know?

Everyone was even more uneasy.

At this moment, a burst of heavy footsteps came.

Huo Guang, dressed in military uniform and with a face so gloomy that it seemed as if water was about to drip out, was seen walking towards them with big strides.

Everyone immediately surrounded him as if they had found their core.

"General Huo, do you know..."

Huo Guang didn't wait for them to finish their questions and interrupted them with a hoarse and heavy voice. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept all night:

"No need to guess. What else could possibly cause His Majesty to ring the nine bells at this moment, other than the collapse of the war situation on the front lines? I'm afraid it's... a catastrophe!"

He almost squeezed the last word out from between his teeth, with a sense of foreboding.

When everyone heard this, they were all shocked and no longer cared about talking. They quickened their pace and almost ran into the palace gate.

Cross the square and step into the Golden Throne Hall, which is solemn and dignified but seems particularly depressing at this moment.

Inside the hall, all civil and military officials quickly stood in line according to their ranks, everyone held their breath and concentrated, whispers echoed low in the empty hall, and the air was filled with a tense atmosphere as if a storm was about to come.