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

Chu Ning's gaze once again turned to the outline of the huge city in the distance, and his tone became firm and resolute:

"So, it's not enough for them to hesitate and weigh things internally."

"I need to personally add fuel to the fire and add some wood! Let them clearly see that they have no other choice but to join me!"

He yanked the reins, turned his horse's head, and faced the advancing army. His voice suddenly rose, like a sword drawn from its sheath, cutting through the cold air:

"Order to all troops! Abandon all unnecessary baggage! Travel light and advance at full speed!"

"Before the sun rises tomorrow, I want every defender on the top of Chang'an City to be able to clearly see the flag of our Great Chu!"

"Target, Chang'an City! Speed ​​up!"

"Speed ​​up!"

The order spread quickly throughout the army like wildfire.

The 50,000 Chu troops burst into a thunderous response, and the marching speed increased again. Like an unstoppable torrent of steel, with the domineering power to crush everything, they rushed towards the final prey!

What Chu Ning wants to use is the absolute pressure of the enemy at the gate, which will become the last straw to break the psychological defense line of those fence-sitters in Chang'an City!

A day later, the darkness before dawn had just faded away, and the winter sun struggled to rise from the horizon, but it could not dispel the solemnity and despair that shrouded Chang'an City.

When the first rays of sunlight illuminated the earth, the defenders on the lookout at the top of Chang'an City let out a heart-wrenching, almost distorted cry of terror:

"Here they come! The Chu army is coming!!!"

Along with this shout, a black tide line slowly emerged on the distant horizon, and expanded and approached at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Countless "Chu" battle flags fluttering in the wind pierced the morning sky like a forest of death.

The swords and guns reflected the cold light, converging into a heart-pounding ocean of metal.

The heavy and orderly footsteps were like muffled thunder, coming from far away and getting closer, shaking the earth slightly and making the hearts of every defender on the city wall beat wildly!

After the final forced march, the fifty thousand elite Chu troops appeared outside Chang'an City on time, like heavenly soldiers and generals!

They did not launch an attack immediately, but instead demonstrated great military proficiency.

Under the command of generals at all levels, this huge army deployed rapidly like a precision instrument, divided into four huge torrents, and moved along the outskirts of Chang'an City towards the four main city gates in the east, south, west and north.

Flags cover the sky and armor clangs!

The Chu soldiers were silent, but the murderous aura condensed from hundreds of battles spread out like a substance, making it hard to breathe.

They quickly formed neat and solemn square formations within an arrow's reach of the city wall.

Spears stood like a forest, shields formed an iron wall, archers were ready to fire, and heavy equipment such as catapults and battering rams were also pushed to the front of the formation, flashing a cold light.

In the blink of an eye, this magnificent imperial capital that once symbolized the center of power in the world was surrounded by the dark Chu army, and no one could get out!

Looking down from the top of the city, all you could see were enemy troops and cold weapons. A chilling murderous aura rose into the sky, turning the entire Chang'an City into an isolated island in the center of a storm.

On the city walls, the defenders' reactions varied.

Those veterans who had experienced the war were still able to remain calm, holding their weapons tightly and staring vigilantly at the enemy troops under the city.

But more of them were new recruits who were hastily recruited. How could they have ever seen such a horrific scene?

Looking at the boundless and murderous army below, many people were so scared that their faces turned pale and their legs became weak. Some people even couldn't hold their weapons steadily, and they fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

The officers shouted at the top of their lungs, trying to restore order, but panic spread like a plague.

At this moment, the tallest imperial flag in the Chu army camp began to move forward.

Surrounded by elite cavalry, Chu Ning, dressed in golden armor and with a fluttering cloak, rode his horse slowly to the front of the east gate, less than a hundred steps away from the city wall!

This distance was within the effective range of the defenders' bows and crossbows, but he showed no fear at all, as if he was strolling in the garden.

The defenders on the city wall were suddenly in an uproar, and all the archers subconsciously aimed their arrows at that figure, but no one dared to shoot easily - that was the emperor of Chu!

Chu Ning reined in his horse and looked up at the top of the city wall.

His gaze was calm, yet carried a power that could see through people's hearts, as he slowly swept across the frightened, nervous, or hostile faces on the city wall.

He spoke. His voice wasn't particularly loud, but it was strangely clear to the ears of most of the defenders. It carried an unquestionable majesty and... a hint of compassionate calmness:

"My fellow Han soldiers and generals in Chang'an City, I am the Emperor of Great Chu, Chu Ning."

A simple self-introduction caused another commotion on the city wall.

Chu Ning continued, his tone calm, as if stating a simple fact:

"You may still be loyal to the Han Dynasty, but today I must tell you a reality: the Han Dynasty you are loyal to has lost its 200,000 main forces in Hongdu and Kunyang, and the false emperor Liu Xiu has been executed."

"Today, the Han Dynasty is left with only this isolated city and the orphan and widowed mother inside, barely surviving."

His words were like a heavy hammer, striking the already fragile psychological defenses of the defenders.

"Look around you!"

Chu Ning opened his arms and pointed at the boundless Chu army behind him: "Those under my command are all elite soldiers who have fought in hundreds of battles. With the power of great victory, wherever they point their spearhead, they are unstoppable!"

"And you, seven or eight out of ten defenders of the city, are merely common people who have just laid down their farm tools. Forced to take up arms, to be buried with this doomed imperial court, is that worth it?"

He changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of temptation: "Put down your weapons, open the city gates, and submit to the Great Chu."

"I can guarantee that I will never kill anyone without authorization! Those who wish to join the army can be incorporated into the Chu army and receive the same treatment."

"Those who wish to return home will be given travel expenses and sent back safely. I will give you a way out."

There was dead silence on the city wall.

There was only the sound of the howling cold wind.

The defenders looked at each other, some had flickering eyes, obviously shaken, but more people were silent or looked at their superiors.

There may have been thoughts of surrender, but under the death threat of the Queen Mother's ten iron rules, no one dared to express it first.

Chu Ning saw all of this and was not surprised.

He knew that just a few words would not be enough to make these people turn against him immediately under high pressure.

He suddenly smiled, a smile that showed a calmness that showed he was in control. He stopped shouting to the ordinary defenders and instead raised his voice and spoke clearly:

"It seems that you are unable to make the decision. If that is the case, then go and ask those who can truly make the decision to come out."