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

The letter harshly denounced Li Bi for selling out his master for personal gain, aiding and abetting the tyrant, and calling him an eternal sinner of the Han Dynasty.

Then, he turned the conversation to the order left by Chu Ning - he was strictly ordered not to implement the so-called "equal division of land" policy, and he must do everything possible to delay, obstruct, or even secretly sabotage it.

If he dared to follow Chu Ning's order and harm the interests of the Han family and the people, then the letter clearly warned him that his entire family, men, women, old and young, would be killed without a burial place!

The cruelty of his methods will far exceed his imagination!

What made Li Bi even more frightened and almost unable to hold the letter was the signature at the end of the letter.

There was no name, but a seal pattern that he was very familiar with!

That is the unique seal pattern of the royal family of the Han Dynasty!

Although the writer of the letter deliberately blurred the specific name or title of the owner, he would never make a mistake with the unique dragon pattern and regulations!

With a "thump", Li Bi's legs went limp and he slumped down on the armchair behind him, the letter in his hand falling to the ground.

His hands were shaking violently and uncontrollably, with cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He understood, he understood everything.

This is not groundless, nor is it an ordinary threat.

These were the members of the Han Dynasty royal family who had managed to escape the purge in Chang'an City or who were not in the city in the first place. They were acting in secret!

They were like poisonous snakes lurking in the shadows. They did not completely disappear because of the demise of the royal family. Instead, when Chu Ning led the main force away and Chang'an was empty, they began to show their fangs!

They were unwilling to see the throne change hands, they wanted to restore the old order, or at least disrupt the rule of the Chu State!

And I, the traitor who was entrusted with an important task by Chu Ning, undoubtedly became their primary threat and target.

Now, Chu Ning's army has rushed to the eastern front and is fighting fiercely with the Tang Dynasty. There is no possibility of returning to support in a short time.

In Chang'an City, he had only 10,000 soldiers and horses, and he had to maintain stability while implementing a land policy that was bound to provoke a strong backlash.

In the dark, there are remnants of the Han Dynasty whose number is unknown and whose hiding places are unknown, but who have the appeal of the royal family!

How to do?

What should I do?!

Should he succumb to the threat of death, pretend to obey, delay or even destroy the equal division of land in order to save the lives of his family?

But in this case, once the matter is exposed, or Chu Ning returns victorious on the eastern front and finds that he has failed to complete the mission, or even secretly obstructed it, what awaits him will be Chu Ning's thundering wrath, which is more terrifying than death!

With the emperor's cruel methods, I will also die without a burial place!

Or... should I bite the bullet, resolutely carry out Chu Ning's orders, and forcibly implement the new policy despite this deadly threat from the dark?

But in that case, he and his family might be assassinated or killed at any time by the remnants of the royal family hiding in the dark!

Can those 10,000 soldiers and horses defend against the pervasive assassination?

Can we wipe out those enemies lurking like ghosts?

To the left is a bottomless abyss, to the right is a mountain of swords and a sea of ​​fire.

Li Bi slumped in his chair, his face pale and his eyes empty, caught in unprecedented fear and a difficult choice.

He knew that if he made a mistake, he and his family would be destroyed.

In the study, the only sound was his heavy and desperate breathing.

The letter that fell to the ground lay there quietly like a death warrant, emitting a suffocating smell.

Li Bi sat alone slumped in the armchair, as if all the strength in his body had been drained away.

The doors and windows in the study were closed, and the light was dim, adding a bit of depression.

The threatening letter from the royal family of the previous dynasty was like a red-hot iron, burning his heart and making him feel uneasy. Cold sweat broke out in waves, soaking his underwear.

His thoughts were like a tangled mess, swinging wildly between two extreme choices, each of which led to a terrible abyss.

On one side was Chu Ning's cold and intimidating face.

The young emperor was cruel and clear about rewards and punishments.

He entrusted the most difficult task in the Han area to himself, which was a great trust and a severe test.

If he could withstand the pressure and do a good job of dividing the land equally, he would undoubtedly become the most sought-after meritorious official in the new dynasty, and his future would be limitless.

But if it fails, or even if it goes against one's will... Li Bi couldn't help but shudder.

He thought of the heads of the heads of the noble families hanging on the city gates and the mountains of royal corpses at the West Market.

The word "forgiveness" is not in Chu Ning's dictionary. Losing his trust will only lead to a fate worse than those who have been purged.

By then, let alone wealth and glory, even a quick death would be a luxury.

On the other side, there were the cold words on the letter and the blurred seal that symbolized the legal order of the previous dynasty.

These remnants of the Han Dynasty hiding in the dark are like poisonous snakes lurking in the shadows. Their numbers and hiding places are unknown, but they have the status of royal family and the obsession with restoration.

They were able to deliver the letter to his study without anyone noticing. Their infiltration capabilities and hidden power should not be underestimated.

If I ignore the warning and resolutely carry out Chu Ning's orders, I will undoubtedly become a thorn in their eyes and a thorn in their flesh. It is easy to dodge an open spear, but it is difficult to guard against an arrow from the dark.

They may not be able to confront the 10,000 Chu troops head-on, but they are hard to guard against assassinations and revenge against themselves and their families.

Li Bi felt suffocated by the thought that his wife, children and the elderly might encounter an accident because of him.

"Execute it, the family is in danger. If you don't execute it, you can't save yourself!"

He murmured to himself, his voice hoarse and desperate. The two thoughts fought fiercely in his mind, tearing at his nerves.

He tried to find a solution that would satisfy both parties, but found that there were only two thorny dead ends.

Time passed by little by little in agony.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the study became darker and darker.

Li Bi still sat there stiffly, his face pale and his eyes unfocused, unable to make up his mind.

He knew that no matter which side he chose, it would involve huge risks and could lead to eternal damnation.

Eventually, he realized he could no longer bear the immense pressure and fear alone.

He needs someone to share his burden with and needs to listen to other people's opinions, especially those colleagues who, like him, defected and are now also pushed to the forefront.

There is strength in numbers. Maybe... maybe we can work out a solution?

When this thought came to his mind, he felt as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw.

He stood up from his chair suddenly, and because he moved so quickly, his vision even went dark for a moment.

He calmed himself down, took a deep breath, tried to make his voice sound steady, and shouted out the door:

"Somebody come!"

Li Fu, the housekeeper who had been standing by at a distance and was equally anxious, heard the sound and immediately trotted to the door of the study:

"Master, what are your orders?"