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

Chu soldiers fell in droves under the rain of arrows, and the defensive perimeter began to shrink inward.

"Shieldbearers! Cover!" Feng Mulan shouted, grabbing a giant shield herself and charging into the most dangerous area.

But just as she rushed out a few steps, a strange horn sound suddenly came from the west.

That wasn't the bugle call of the Tang army, nor the Chu army—but a desolate, rough sound, like the roar of a wild beast.

Immediately afterwards, chaos erupted behind the Tang army's western formation!

A Chu army force of about a thousand men charged out of the alley like mad tigers.

They were not reinforcements from outside, but rather they broke through from inside the Tang army's defenses!

The leader was bald and shirtless, covered in wounds, with a broken arrow stuck in his left shoulder and right leg, yet he still wielded a blood-stained broken spear, causing chaos and defeat wherever he went.

"Ran Ming!" Feng Mulan could hardly believe her eyes.

That was indeed Ran Ming.

This seriously wounded general, with the last few hundred remnants of the vanguard battalion, somehow broke through the Tang army's encirclement and charged in from behind the Tang army's western defense line!

"Hahaha! I'm still alive!"

Ran Ming laughed wildly, piercing through a Tang army captain who tried to stop him with his spear: "You little brats of the Tang army! Didn't expect that, did you? Grandpa came out from behind you!"

This force, which suddenly attacked from behind, threw the Tang army on the west side into chaos.

The archers on the rooftop turned around in alarm, trying to fire, but Ran Ming's troops had already infiltrated the Tang army's ranks, and the archers, fearing for their lives, dared not release their arrows.

Ran Ming's objective was clear—to rush straight at the crossbowmen on the rooftops.

He led his troops into the buildings on both sides and cleared them out from the inside.

Screams echoed from inside the building as Tang archers fell from the windows.

The threat from the west was miraculously neutralized by this sudden attack from behind!

"Provide support for General Ran!" Feng Mulan made a decisive move, leading her personal guards to the west to open a path for Ran Ming.

The two Chu armies met in the Tang army's formation.

When Ran Ming, covered in blood, walked up to Feng Mulan, the bald, fierce general grinned, revealing his blood-stained teeth:

"Your Majesty, I am late."

Looking at the shocking wounds on his body and the hundreds of equally wounded but fierce-looking soldiers behind him, Feng Mulan felt a surge of complex emotions.

There was emotion, admiration, and an overwhelming sense of joy at escaping a desperate situation.

“It’s not too late.” She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly. “You’ve come at the perfect time.”

The three—Feng Mulan, Guan Yun, and Ran Ming—finally reunited in this blood-soaked inferno.

They stood back to back, each facing a different direction.

Feng Mulan looked to the south—there, the Tang army was regrouping, clearly preparing for the next offensive.

Guan Yun looked to the east—his Mo Dao troops had just repelled a charge, but Tang reinforcements were pouring in from the depths of the streets and alleys.

Ran Ming looked westward—the passage he had fought his way through had been resealed by the Tang army, and more enemies were closing in.

To the north... to the north lies the Huai River, a retreat route, but also a dead end.

“Now,” Feng Mulan said slowly, her voice unusually clear amidst the sounds of battle, “we have over thirty to fifty thousand men.”

She paused, then added, "Those capable of fighting number about 25,000."

Guan Yunmo, his sword planted firmly on the ground, gasped for breath: "The Tang army still has at least fifty thousand men."

"Fifty thousand versus twenty-five thousand." Ran Ming spat out a mouthful of blood: "The difference isn't too bad."

The three looked at each other and saw the same thing in each other's eyes—

A will to fight to the death.

There was no way out, no reinforcements, only each other, and the soldiers behind them who were willing to die with them.

But that's enough.

Because they were the Chu army.

They are the most elite troops of the Great Chu.

It is the sharp sword in His Majesty's hand.

"Issue the order to the entire army."

Feng Mulan took a deep breath, her voice suddenly rising: "Contract the defensive perimeter, abandon the outer barricades, and retreat to the core area of ​​Zhuque Avenue! We must build the last line of defense here!"

"Let the Tang army know," Guan Yunmo raised his sword, the blade pointing to the sky, "that if they want to take Jianghuai City, they'll have to step over our dead bodies!"

"Hahaha!" Ran Ming laughed wildly, "Then I'll make them put in a lot of effort! They'll have to tread on it at least three times!"

With the order given, the Chu army began an orderly retreat.

They abandoned their outer positions and retreated to the widest central square on Suzaku Avenue.

There are no complicated streets or hidden buildings here; it is an open area—disadvantageous to the defenders, but equally disadvantageous to the attackers.

Most importantly, here, the three main forces of the Chu army can finally fully converge and unite as one.

The Tang army clearly saw through the Chu army's intentions and launched an even more frenzied offensive.

They surged toward the central square from all directions, attempting to divide and annihilate the Chu army before it could complete its retreat.

However, Feng Mulan, Guan Yun, and Ran Ming personally covered the rear.

Red armor, long-handled sword, broken spear.

Three figures, like three insurmountable mountains, stood in the way of the Tang army's torrent.

Every step back requires paving the way with the corpses of the enemy.

With each step back, the bluestone is stained crimson with blood.

The half-hour battle cost them a heavy price.

But it also brought them together in the end.

And this may be the beginning of a comeback.

Because when three Chu army flags were raised simultaneously over the central square—

The entire city of Jianghuai saw hope.

The outcome of the battle is still uncertain.

Victory or defeat is still something to be fought for.

On a high slope outside Jianghuai City, before the imperial tent.

Chu Ning stood with his hands behind his back, his black dragon-patterned cloak fluttering in the morning breeze.

Behind him stood 100,000 fully equipped reserve troops—the last trump card of the Great Chu, the ultimate force that would determine the outcome of the battle.

Since the battle began at dawn, this army of 100,000 has remained motionless, like a dormant dragon.

The commander of the Imperial Guard knelt on one knee before the horse, his voice trembling slightly with urgency: "Your Majesty! The latest battle report from within the city—the three armies of Consort Feng, General Guan, and General Ran have joined forces and retreated to the central square of Zhuque Avenue."

"But the Tang army still has more than 50,000 troops lying in ambush, and they are attacking from all sides with overwhelming force!"

He paused, his voice growing more anxious: "The frontline commander has sent an urgent report that if no reinforcements enter the city, our army can only hold out for another two hours at most!"

“Two hours…” Chu Ning repeated softly, his gaze still fixed on the distant Jianghuai City.

The flames of war within the city intensified.

Flames and thick smoke could be clearly seen shooting into the sky from the direction of Zhuque Avenue, and the shouts of battle could be faintly heard even from this distance.

That was the sound of a bloody battle, the sound of a fight to the death.

Beside him, several generals could no longer contain themselves.

"Your Majesty! This humble general requests permission to lead 30,000 elite troops into the city to provide reinforcements!"

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine is surrounded! We cannot wait any longer!"

"Your Majesty, with only 20,000 troops, I am confident that we can break through the Tang army's defenses!"

The generals volunteered one after another, their eyes burning with fighting spirit and anxiety.

But Chu Ning simply raised his hand slowly.

This simple action silenced all calls for action.