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

Before the generals could react, Guo Ziyi had already given a stern order: "Pass the order! Fire signal arrows! Ten of them, fire them all!"

"Order!"

The guards immediately brought out ten specially made signal arrows.

These arrows have shafts as thick as a child's arm and are filled with oil. Once fired, they will ignite a dazzling red flame high in the sky, visible for miles around.

The bowstring vibrated, and ten signal arrows rose into the air in succession.

Whoosh—bang!

Whoosh—bang!

……

One after another, ten bursts of intense red light exploded in the pre-dawn sky, like ten blood-red stars hanging in the heavens.

It is clearly visible even in sunlight.

Twenty miles away, in a secluded valley.

One hundred thousand soldiers stood in silent solemnity.

This army was completely different from the Tang army in Jianghuai City—their armor was brand new, their swords and spears were gleaming, their warhorses were strong, and their morale was high.

They lay in wait for three whole days, neither eating hot food nor carrying torches, like a lurking tiger, waiting for the right moment to be released from its cage.

At the very front of the army formation stood 30,000 iron cavalry.

They were all mounted on fine horses from the northern frontier, both riders and horses were fully armored, and there was a forest of spears.

This was the last trump card of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor's personal guard.

Following the iron cavalry was a square formation of 70,000 infantrymen.

The unit consisted of heavy infantry, spearmen, archers, and swordsmen, with a complete range of troop types and a well-organized formation.

Every soldier's eyes burned with a fierce fighting spirit, the ecstatic joy of finally getting a chance for revenge after being suppressed for too long.

In the center of the army, a large banner embroidered with the golden character "Tang" fluttered in the wind.

Under the banner, Li Shimin sat upright on his warhorse.

This Tang emperor was over forty years old, with a resolute face and piercing eyes.

He wore bright yellow armor with dragon patterns, covered by a black cloak, and the sword at his waist was ancient and heavy, the Emperor's Sword passed down from the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

At this moment, he gazed silently in the direction of Jianghuai City, at the battlefield engulfed in flames, his face expressionless, but the knuckles of his hand holding the reins were slightly white.

It's been three days.

He waited here for three whole days.

Watching the Chu army besiege the Jianghuai region, watching the city fall, watching Guo Ziyi risk his own life and that of 150,000 soldiers to lay this inescapable trap.

Every time the Chu army launched a massive offensive, he wanted to immediately lead his troops out to fight.

Every time he saw the smoke of war rising in the city, he wanted to personally lead his cavalry to its aid.

But he held back.

Because he was the emperor, the monarch of the Tang Dynasty.

What he wanted was not a victory or defeat in a short time or place, but to annihilate the main force of the Chu army in one fell swoop and decide the fate of the world in one battle!

"Report——!"

The scout rode in on horseback, his voice trembling with excitement: "Your Majesty! Commander Guo's signal arrows! Ten of them! All of them have taken off!"

Li Shiming was startled.

coming.

finally come.

The opportunity that Guo Ziyi had created for him with blood and fire has finally arrived!

He slowly raised his head and looked up at the sky.

Although they were twenty miles apart, it was as if one could see the ten blood-red flames and hear the ten earth-shattering explosions.

That was the battle horn.

It is the prelude to the counterattack.

This is the final roar of the Tang Dynasty!

"Soldiers!"

Li Shimin's voice suddenly rang out, like a resounding bell, echoing throughout the 100,000-strong army:

"Did you see that? Did you hear that?"

One hundred thousand soldiers stood at attention, their eyes all focused on the emperor.

"Within Jianghuai City, 150,000 soldiers of our Great Tang are risking their lives to buy us time! General Guo Ziyi is using himself as bait to create an opportunity for us!"

Li Shiming drew his sword, its blade gleaming coldly in the morning light: "And now—the time has come!"

He pointed his sword northward: "Zhao Yu's 30,000 White Horse Cavalry are engaged in a fierce battle with Li Guangbi on the north bank! They are the most elite cavalry of Chu. If we can annihilate them, the Chu army will lose an arm!"

Then, pointing to Jianghuai City: "Inside the city, the main force of the Chu army has been held back by our ambush troops, and Han Xing's 20,000 men have just entered the city and their formation is not yet stable!"

"If we can defeat them in one fell swoop, the Jianghuai region can be recovered, and the crisis can be resolved!"

Finally, the sword's edge pointed directly at the black dragon banner atop the distant high slope:

"And Chu Ning—that arrogant Emperor Chu, believing victory was assured, has kept his 100,000 reserve troops inactive, waiting for my next move!"

A cold glint flashed in Li Shimin's eyes: "Then I will give him this backup plan!"

He turned his horse around to face the army of 100,000, his voice booming like thunder:

"Personnel guards, listen to my command!"

Thirty thousand iron cavalry roared in unison: "Here!"

"You shall set out immediately and rush to the aid of the north bank at full speed! Coordinate with Li Guangbi's 40,000 troops to launch a pincer attack from both sides, and be sure to annihilate Zhao Yu's 30,000 White Horse Cavalry!"

"Remember—no prisoners, no survivors! I want the world to know that those who offend my Great Tang will only face death!"

"Understood!" The commander of the 30,000 iron cavalrymen clasped his fists and

"The rest of the departments!"

Li Shimin pointed his sword at Jianghuai: "Follow me and march on Jianghuai City! Infantry in front, archers providing cover, and cavalry on both flanks!"

"Objective—to decisively defeat the Chu army outside the city, storm into the city, and relieve the siege of our comrades!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Tang Dynasty!" Ten thousand soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth.

Li Shiming took one last look at the sky where the ten signal arrows had disappeared, and took a deep breath.

This battle gambled with the fate of the Tang Dynasty.

They risked the lives of Guo Ziyi and 150,000 soldiers.

He also staked Li Shimin's dignity as an emperor.

But we have to gamble.

Because without gambling, the Tang Dynasty would perish.

Taking a gamble might offer a glimmer of hope.

Of the nine great dynasties in the Central Plains, only the Tang Dynasty remains. The Chu Kingdom is at its zenith, and this time, he must take a desperate gamble.

Therefore, he personally led the expedition!

Even with the opposition of all the ministers, and even with the opposition of Chancellor Changsun Wuji, who had always stood by him, he still came without hesitation.

Because he knew very well that this was his last chance, and also the last chance for the Tang Dynasty.

Only by winning this battle can the Tang Dynasty continue!

"Let's go!"

At a single command, an army of 100,000 surged out of the valley like a flood bursting its banks.

Thirty thousand Tang cavalrymen were the first to set off, their warhorses galloping like an iron torrent, rushing towards the north bank.

The thunderous sound of horses' hooves echoed across the ground, and the dust they kicked up blotted out the sky.

The remaining 70,000 troops, personally led by Li Shiming, advanced steadily toward Jianghuai City like a moving mountain.

The infantry formation marched forward in perfect unison, their steps shaking the earth.

The archers have nocked their arrows, the swordsmen have raised their shields, and the spearmen have leveled their spears.

This is a fresh force that has been resting and recuperating for many days.

This is a fierce and ruthless army, burning with the fury of revenge.

Their target was the young Chu emperor, who believed he had victory in his grasp.

It is that 100,000-strong reserve army that has remained inactive until now.

This is the final victory in this decisive battle!

The twenty-mile distance was rapidly shortened as the 100,000-strong army advanced at full speed.

Inside and outside Jianghuai City, no one was yet aware—

The true Grim Reaper has spread its wings and is coming in, blotting out the sky.

This decisive battle, which would determine the fate of the Central Plains, has finally reached its climax.

When two dragons meet, one of them is bound to perish.

And history will write a new chapter at this moment.