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

The scene at the naval camp was quite different.

Ran Ming specially ordered people to catch fresh fish from the Huai River and cook them with mutton.

The sailors sat around on the deck of the warship, drinking and eating meat in the river breeze. Some played the pipa, while others sang folk songs from the Jiangnan region. The songs drifted along the Huai River, creating a sense of tragic grandeur and romance before the decisive battle.

The most bustling place was the Iron Cavalry camp.

Feng Mulan personally served meat and wine to the soldiers. This female general removed her armor, wearing only a red outfit and her long hair tied in a high ponytail. She looked heroic and valiant in the firelight.

Wherever she went, the most enthusiastic cheers erupted.

"Imperial Consort! Are we really going to break through the south gate in seven days?" a young cavalryman asked while gnawing on a lamb leg.

"What, scared?" Feng Mulan raised an eyebrow.

"Afraid? I'm afraid that if I arrive late, General Yue Ran and his men will steal all the credit!" The cavalryman laughed heartily.

There was laughter all around.

Feng Mulan laughed as well, picking up a bowl of wine: "Then let's drink and eat quickly, get plenty of rest, and in seven days—the first to storm into Jianghuai City must be our Xuanjia Iron Cavalry!"

"The general is mighty!"

The wine bowl was raised high once more.

Outside the central command tent, Chu Ning and Han Xing stood side by side, gazing at the sea of ​​fire and the ocean of jubilation.

Han Xing stroked his beard and exclaimed, "In my forty years of military service, I have never seen such morale and fighting spirit. Your Majesty's reward is more valuable than that of 100,000 elite troops."

Chu Ning smiled with his hands behind his back: "The soldiers have followed me in battles across the north and south, enduring hardships and fatigue. With the decisive battle imminent, this feast is what they deserve."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each face radiating confidence and fighting spirit in the firelight:

"More importantly, we need to let them know that I believe they can win, and that I will live and die with them."

Before the words were even finished, one of the battalions started singing a military song.

That was the "Song of the Great Wind," passed down through generations of the Chu army, its melody majestic and desolate:

"A strong wind rises, and the clouds fly high—"

At first, only a few dozen people were singing, then hundreds, thousands, and tens of thousands.

Finally, the 300,000-strong army sang in unison, the sound waves sweeping across the plains like a tsunami, even causing the Tang army banners on the city walls of Jianghuai to flutter loudly.

"My might extends throughout the land, yet I return to my homeland—"

The soldiers stood up, the wine in their bowls swirling with the song.

Some people wept, some roared to the sky, and some smashed their wine bowls on the ground as if making a vow to fight to the death.

"Where can I find brave warriors to guard the four corners of the land?"

Chu Ning closed his eyes, feeling the earth-shattering sound waves crashing against his chest.

He knew that at this moment, the morale, fighting spirit, and confidence of this army had reached their peak.

Such an army is unstoppable.

As the singing faded, Ran Ming strode over and knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty! The vanguard battalion of 30,000 soldiers requests to fight! In seven days, this humble general is willing to lead his troops as the vanguard of the entire army and be the first to scale the walls of Jianghuai!"

Following them were Feng Mulan, Guan Yun, Zhao Yu, and the generals of Ma Chao's various armies, who knelt down one after another to volunteer for battle, their voices booming like bells.

Chu Ning opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning: "Approved!"

He walked to the high platform in front of the imperial tent, and the eyes of 300,000 soldiers all focused on him.

"Soldiers!"

Chu Ning's voice carried throughout the camp through his personal guards: "Tonight, eat and drink your fill. Tomorrow, rest and recuperate. Seven days from now—"

He drew his imperial sword from his waist, its blade pointing directly towards Jianghuai City: "I will lead you to conquer Jianghuai, point my sword at Chang'an, and unify the Central Plains!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Great Chu!"

The roar of shouts, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down, rang out again, this time even more frenzied and intense.

The soldiers brandished their weapons and banged their shields, causing the entire camp to tremble.

The firelight illuminated every frenzied face, and the aroma of alcohol mixed with the scent of meat filled the night air.

That night, no one in the Chu army camp slept.

That night, the morale of the troops burned like wildfire.

Meanwhile, Guo Ziyi, far away in Jianghuai City, was standing on the highest point of the city tower, gazing at the sea of ​​fire that illuminated the night sky, listening to the shouts carried by the wind, his brows furrowed.

He knew that the final battle was truly about to begin.

Moreover, this will be the most brutal and bloody battle of his military career.

Because the fighting spirit burning in the eyes of the 300,000 Chu soldiers outside the city was not ordinary.

That was the unwavering belief in victory, the long-suppressed desire, and the volcano about to erupt.

Seven days later, this city of Jianghuai will face the most brutal baptism since its birth.

The watchtower at the west gate of Jianghuai City is the highest point of the entire city wall, from which one can overlook the Chu army camp twenty miles outside the city.

When the first campfire was lit at night, the Tang army captain on duty noticed something was amiss.

"Something's not right. The Chu army has set up too many campfires tonight." The captain squinted, shading his eyes with his hand as he peered into the distance.

The lookout beside him had already begun counting: "One, two, three... Captain, at least three hundred large bonfires, more than five times the usual number!"

What alarmed the lookouts even more was the size of the campfires—ordinary campfires were no taller than a person, but tonight the flames in the Chu army camp leaped more than ten feet high, clearly indicating that the firewood had been piled up high and grease had been poured on it.

The firelight illuminated half the night sky in crimson, even casting an eerie orange hue over the city walls of Jianghuai.

"And there's smoke from cooking fires..."

The captain took a deep breath, and a faint aroma of meat wafted through the air: "They're slaughtering animals."

The lookout's expression changed.

There are only two situations in wartime when livestock are slaughtered: either as the last meal before food supplies run out, or as a reward before a decisive battle.

However, the Chu army had besieged the city for several days without cutting off their supply lines, so it was clearly not the former.

"Quickly! Report to the commander!" the captain ordered sternly.

The message was reported up the chain of command, and by the time Guo Ziyi received the urgent report in the central command tent, it was already completely dark.

This famous general of the Tang Dynasty was over fifty years old, with white hair and beard, but his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's.

He was strategizing the possible attack routes of the Chu army in front of the sand table when he heard the news that "the Chu army is giving generous rewards to its troops." The red wooden chess piece representing the Chu cavalry in his hand paused for a moment in mid-air.

"A generous reward!"

Guo Ziyi slowly put down the chess piece, his voice low and deep: "Chu Ning is about to make his move."

Without the slightest hesitation, he grabbed the cloak from the table and walked out.

The captain of the personal guard hurriedly followed: "General, the night wind is cold, you..."

"Go up the city wall," Guo Ziyi said, uttering only three words.

The group walked quickly through the quiet streets of Jianghuai City.

To save lamp oil, a curfew had long been in effect in the city, with only the torches of patrolling soldiers flickering on the street corners.

When the guards along the way saw Guo Ziyi, they all stood at attention and saluted, but their faces were filled with solemnity.

The unusual movements of the Chu army had already spread throughout the ranks.

When Guo Ziyi climbed the West Gate tower, the first thing he saw was a sea of ​​fire that illuminated the sky.

Even though I was mentally prepared, the shock I witnessed still far exceeded my expectations.

The camp stretched for twenty miles, with bonfires falling like stars, their flames leaping and rising, clearly illuminating the outline of the Chu army camp.

Further away, countless figures could be seen moving in the firelight, and the sounds of clamor carried on the wind could be heard.

It wasn't the usual noise of a military camp, but a kind of revelry that had finally erupted after being suppressed for too long.