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

Huo Guang's letter was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, completely crushing the last hope in his heart.

With the external aid cut off, Hongdu City has become a completely isolated city!

He suddenly raised his head and looked towards the distant northern horizon, his face filled with endless pleading and despair, as if Emperor Liu Xiu could hear his inner voice:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty! You must come as soon as possible! Hongdu... Hongdu can't hold on any longer!"

At this moment, the sound of war drums outside the city exploded again like thunder!

The Chu army seemed to have received some kind of order, and the offensive suddenly became more crazy and fierce!

Countless Chu troops surged in like a tide, and arrows, stones and bullets poured down on the city walls even more densely!

Geng Hui was brought back to the cruel reality by this sudden onslaught. He shook off his despair and let out a hoarse roar:

"Everyone, cheer up! Hold on! Hold on for me! Reinforcements... reinforcements will definitely come!"

Although he himself did not know when the reinforcements would arrive, or even if they would arrive at all, he had no choice but to fight to the death.

The fate of Hongdu City seems to be sliding into an irreversible abyss.

The battle under Hongdu City has entered its most intense stage.

The deafening shouts and cries, the clashing of weapons, the wails of the dying, and the terrifying roars of siege equipment intertwined together to form a symphony of destruction.

The Chu army was like a tireless tide, madly attacking the crumbling city walls wave after wave.

At the front, the fierce bald general Ran Ming was like a mobile war fortress. His voice was like thunder, and he kept roaring orders: "Crossbowmen! Aim at the battlements for me. Suppress! Suppress! Don't let these Han bastards show their heads!"

"Ladder team! Quick! The ladder on the left has collapsed, fix it for me! Quick!"

"Crash the car! Crash the car and give me more force! Do you hear me? The city gate is about to collapse! Crash it open for me!"

Each of his roars was extremely penetrating, and could even temporarily drown out the clamor of the battlefield. Driven by him, the surrounding Chu soldiers attacked desperately as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

Just then, a steady sound of horse hooves came from behind.

Ran Ming was roaring excitedly, and subconsciously turned around to curse who was so blind as to dare to approach the front line, but he saw the dazzling silver armor and the purple dragon cloak at a glance.

The fierceness on his face instantly turned into respect. He quickly bowed and saluted. His voice subconsciously lowered a bit, but it was still as loud as thunder:

"General Ran Ming, I pay my respects to Your Majesty! Why are you here in person? It's too dangerous here with arrows flying everywhere!"

Chu Ning rode his horse to a relatively safe high ground a little behind, his eyes sweeping across the tragic siege battlefield. He just waved his hand slightly in response to Ran Ming's concern and asked calmly:

"How is the battle going?"

Ran Ming immediately straightened his back and pointed at the smoke-filled, flame-filled city wall ahead, reporting in a muffled voice with a hint of excitement and complacency in his tone:

"Your Majesty! We've been attacking continuously for six hours, starting at midnight last night! The defenders on the city walls are being crushed by our catapults and crossbows, barely able to raise their heads! The casualties are heavy!"

He emphasized, "This is entirely in accordance with your Majesty's plan. We've spared no expense, unleashing all our stockpiles of stone bullets and crossbow arrows! The results are remarkable!"

"Look at the main gate in the south of the city. It's been deformed and cracked by our ramming cars and is about to collapse!"

"If we keep fighting at this pace, I promise we will be able to break into the city tonight!"

He paused and added, which could be considered an explanation for the long time it took:

"Hongdu City is a fortified city after all, and Geng Hui is a tough nut to crack. To have achieved this much after fighting for six hours is already far beyond our expectations!"

Chu Ning heard this, and a hint of satisfaction appeared on his cold face. He nodded and said:

"Very good, General Ran Ming, you have worked hard. Now, the key to breaking the city depends on you."

At this moment, a fast horse came galloping over, and on the horse was a captain of the Jinyiwei who looked dusty and was wearing a flying fish uniform.

He dismounted, knelt on one knee, and held a thin bamboo tube high in his hands. "Your Majesty! General Zhao Yu has sent an urgent pigeon message from Luoyingjian!"

Chu Ning raised his eyebrows, and a hint of imperceptible expectation flashed in his eyes.

He reached out to take the bamboo tube, crushed the sealing wax, took out the silk and quickly browsed through it.

After a moment, a confident smile appeared on his lips, as if everything was under control. He even chuckled:

"Haha, good! Zhao Yu has never let me down!"

He raised his head and handed the silk in his hand to the curious Ran Ming, his tone becoming relaxed and firm:

"Zhao Yu sent a letter saying that Huo Guang's 30,000 vanguards were completely killed by him in Luoying Gorge. After a hard night's battle, they suffered heavy losses and could barely protect themselves. There's absolutely no way they could send troops to aid Hongdu!"

"General Ran Ming, all your worries are gone!"

But then, Chu Ning's smile faded, his tone turned serious, and he looked at Ran Ming sharply:

"However, Zhao Yu also reminded me that the main force led by Liu Xiu could reach the Luoyingjian area within a day at the earliest!"

"Zhao Yu's troops must withdraw from the battle within one day, otherwise they risk being attacked from both inside and outside by Liu Xiu and Huo Guang."

He stared into Ran Ming's eyes and gave the final and most important order:

"In other words, Ran Ming, you only have one day!"

"Before Liu Xiu's reinforcements arrive and pose a threat to Zhao Yu, you must capture Hongdu City for me!"

"Remember, you only have one day! You must take the city within one day!"

This ultimatum-like order hit Ran Ming's heart like a heavy hammer.

He instantly understood the urgency of the situation and His Majesty's entire plan - Zhao Yu used himself as bait and a barrier to buy him this last and most critical day!

The muscles on Ran Ming's face suddenly tensed up, and his huge palm slapped his smooth forehead hard with a snapping sound, and his eyes burst into terrifying ferocity and unparalleled determination.

He patted his chest and promised in a thunderous voice, "Your Majesty, don't worry! Even if I have to risk my life, I will definitely destroy this Hongdu City for you within a day!"

"Before tonight, I will have your dragon flag hoisted on the top of Hongdu City!"

Chu Ning nodded slightly: "I will wait and see."

After saying this, he turned his horse around and left the noisy front line surrounded by his personal guards.

As soon as the emperor left, Ran Ming turned around abruptly, like a mad bear, gathering all his strength and roaring deafeningly at the entire battlefield. The sound even temporarily drowned out all the sounds of fighting:

"Everyone, listen up! Listen carefully! The Han army's reinforcements have been blocked by General Zhao Yu!"

"Within one day, they won't be able to get even one soldier here!"

He brandished his massive mace, pointing it at Hongdu City: "Your Majesty has ordered! Give us only one day!"

"Hongdu must be taken within one day! Defeat this city, and its wealth and women will be yours to take! If you fail to take it within the time limit, military law will be ruthless!"

"Brothers! Success or failure depends on this! Follow me! Charge into Hongdu, today! Kill!"

Ran Ming's roar and the deadline order were like the strongest stimulants, injected into the bodies of all Chu soldiers.

They understood that this was the last chance and the moment to gain endless wealth and glory!

Under Ran Ming's personal supervision and the stimulation of the deadline, the Chu army's offensive became more crazy and more reckless!

The entire Hongdu City seemed to have turned into a lone boat in a raging ocean, which could be completely swallowed up at any time.

The one-day countdown officially begins!