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

On the top of the East Gate Tower, the cold wind was blowing, making the flags flutter.

Under the complicated gazes of the defending generals, Guanglu Doctor Li Bi stepped onto the forefront of the storm.

He took a deep breath of cold air, forced himself to calm down, and straightened his slightly wrinkled official robe.

He tried hard to make his face look solemn and tough, as befitted a high-ranking official of the imperial court.

He walked to the battlement and looked down.

A hundred steps away, Chu Ning stood in front of the formation, wearing golden armor that sparkled brightly in the thin winter sunlight. Although he was only one man on a horse, he seemed to have the momentum of thousands of troops.

Li Bi's heart beat faster involuntarily and cold sweat broke out on his palms.

"Is that His Majesty the Emperor of Great Chu below the city?"

Li Bi cleared his throat and tried to make his voice sound loud and steady, so that it could be heard from far away.

Chu Ning raised his head, his eyes calmly looking at the unfamiliar face of the civil servant on the top of the city wall, and a faint smile seemed to appear at the corner of his mouth:

"It is I, Your Excellency, who are you...?"

"I am Li Bi, the Grand Master of Imperial Households of the Han Dynasty!"

Li Bi straightened his back and, following Dugu Jia's instructions, deliberately raised his voice:

"I'm here to answer Your Majesty by order of the Empress Dowager! The Empress Dowager is ill and unable to ascend the city walls, so I've been specially ordered to speak with Your Majesty!"

He first stated his identity and purpose, and then, without waiting for Chu Ning's response, he began to raise his voice according to the established tough script.

Not only was he saying this to Chu Ning, but he was also saying this to every soldier on the city wall who was listening intently:

"Your Majesty the Emperor of Chu! Our Chang'an City has been the imperial capital for four hundred years. The walls are high and the moats are deep, impregnable as a rock!"

"Rolling logs and rocks are piled high on the city walls, kerosene and gold are plentiful, and there are millions of bows, crossbows, and arrows!"

"We also have 100,000 loyal and brave soldiers, united as one, determined to stand firm and fight to the bitter end with the city!"

He waved his arm, pointing to the towering city walls and densely packed defenders behind him, trying to inspire the defenders' pride and fighting spirit:

"Your Majesty, although your army is at the gates, it is nothing but a fool's dream to think of conquering Chang'an! Many powerful men have coveted this city in the past, but all have returned empty-handed!"

"If Your Majesty understands the current situation, it would be better to withdraw the troops as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary casualties and damage to Your Majesty's reputation!"

These words did have some effect.

Some soldiers on the city wall who were originally frightened heard their leader's "tough" declaration.

Seeing the tall and solid city wall in front of them, they felt a little relieved. Some people even whispered in agreement, and morale seemed to have improved a little.

However, Chu Ning, who was standing under the city, did not get angry after hearing Li Bi's stern but cowardly declaration. Instead, he sneered contemptuously.

The laughter was not loud, but it could be clearly heard on the top of the city wall, carrying with it a mocking tone that penetrated everything.

"Haha... Lord Li, you are really eloquent."

Chu Ning's voice remained calm, but like an ice-cold scalpel, he began to peel off the bluff in Li Bi's words layer by layer.

"The city is high and the pond is deep? Is it impregnable?"

Chu Ning raised his head slightly and looked at the Chang'an City Wall. "Indeed, the Chang'an City Wall is famous throughout the world."

"But Lord Li, have you forgotten? Even the strongest city walls need people to guard them!"

"Isn't the wall of Hongdu strong? Isn't the terrain of Kunyang dangerous? Where is Liu Xiu's 200,000-man army now?"

This rhetorical question was like a heavy hammer, hitting the defenders' hearts hard, and the morale that had just risen fell down again in an instant.

The disastrous defeats in Hongdu and Kunyang are an indelible shadow in the hearts of all Han troops.

Chu Ning continued, his tone tinged with brutal truth: "As for the 100,000 defenders? Sir Li, why deceive yourself?"

"Among these 100,000 men, how many were hastily recruited new recruits who couldn't even hold a weapon? How many were forcibly conscripted men who harbored resentment?"

"How many people are truly able and willing to fight? I'm afraid we can't even gather 30,000? Lord Li, how many days do you think we can hold this isolated city with this ragtag group?"

Li Bi's face turned pale and he wanted to refute, but found himself speechless.

What Chu Ning said was almost true!

Chu Ning didn't give him a chance to think at all, and his eyes swept over the confused-looking defending soldiers on the city wall.

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a force that shook the heart: "What about unity? Swearing to live and die with the city?"

"Master Li, ask the soldiers around you! Do they have parents, wives, and children at home?"

"Are they willing to sacrifice their lives in vain for the orphans and widows who committed atrocities in the palace and dragged the entire city to their graves?!"

"I am approaching the city today, not to massacre you! I have given you a chance to live! Lay down your weapons, open the gates and surrender, and I will ensure your safety!"

"Why should we shed our last drop of blood for the doomed Han Dynasty?"

"Your loyalty should be reserved for your living relatives, not dedicated to a cold grave and that unworthy mother and child!"

These words were no longer directed at Li Bi, but were a direct attack on every defending soldier on the city!

It tears off the cloak of loyalty and points directly to the most simple desire for survival and attachment to family in people's hearts.

Many soldiers lowered their heads, their eyes flickered, and their hands holding their weapons began to tremble.

The officers' rebukes became feeble and powerless.

"You... stop talking nonsense and disrupting the morale of our army!"

Li Bi was furious and pointed at the city and shouted loudly, but his voice was obviously lacking in confidence.

Chu Ning looked at him and finally delivered a fatal blow: "Lord Li, as a Han official, you are here talking nonsense, but have you ever thought about your fate after the city is captured?"

"Should I accompany Dugu Jia to be buried alive with him, or... should I find another wise leader?"

These words were full of puns, like a poisonous thorn, piercing Li Bi's most sensitive nerve.

This instantly reminded him of the warning from the Jinyiwei captain that night. His face suddenly turned as pale as paper and he could no longer utter any tough words.

In sharp contrast to the Han army on the city wall, which was dead silent and had plummeting morale, was the Chu army camp outside the city!

Chu Ning's well-reasoned and to-the-point rebuttal and psychological attacking words were quickly spread throughout the entire besieging army through messengers!

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

"The Han army has lost its will to fight!"

"Chang'an City could be taken at any moment!"

The Chu army soldiers were so excited after hearing this that their morale reached its peak!

They waved their weapons and let out earth-shaking cheers and shouts!

The sound hit the walls of Chang'an City like a tsunami, and also hit the already fragile hearts of every defending soldier!

Li Bi stood on the top of the city wall, listening to the deathly silence of the defenders behind him and the thunderous cheers of the Chu army outside the city.

Feeling the huge contrast and the overwhelming pressure, he felt cold all over and knew that he had failed completely.

Not only did he fail to complete the task of boosting morale assigned by the Queen Mother, but under Chu Ning's sharp words, he almost destroyed the last fighting spirit of the defenders.

He was in despair and no longer had the face to stay on the city wall.

He staggered back under the gazes of the defending generals, which were either contemptuous, sympathetic, or desperate, his back full of embarrassment and despair.

Chu Ning was still standing in front of the battle, looking at the demoralized soldiers on the city wall and his own army with high morale. The smile of control over everything on the corner of his mouth became clearer and clearer.

He completely won this psychological battle.

Next, it’s time to actually attack the city.

Or... maybe it doesn't need to be that troublesome at all?

He looked meaningfully at the huge gate of Chang'an City.