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

"Stay calm! Don't panic!"

Helian Hui roared angrily, trying to organize a counterattack.

But once morale wavers, it's like a dam bursting; it can never be stopped.

Ahead, the Scorpion Clan cavalry, who were besieging the Chu army, turned around to look when they heard the shouts and screams coming from behind.

When they saw their rear guard being slaughtered by the Chu navy, an uncontrollable panic began to spread.

"Our escape route has been cut off!"

"We're surrounded!"

"Run!"

Panic spread like wildfire. Many of the Scorpion Clan cavalrymen who were charging forward began to slow down, hesitate, and... turn their horses around.

The morale of the troops was completely thrown into chaos.

Meanwhile, in the Chu army formation...

Chu Ning sat upright on his horse, gazing at the chaos of the Scorpion Clan army in the distance, a cold smile slowly curving his lips.

“Now,” he turned to look at Feng Mulan beside him, “we can attack.”

Feng Mulan only then came to her senses from the shock.

Looking at the navy that suddenly appeared in the distance like divine soldiers descending from the sky, and at the collapse of the rear of the Scorpion Clan army, she finally understood the true meaning of Chu Ning's words "waiting for reinforcements".

"Your Majesty...you had already made all the arrangements?" Her voice was filled with disbelief.

Chu Ning did not answer, but slowly raised the Shangfang sword.

The sword's edge gleamed coldly in the morning light, pointing directly at the Scorpion Clan cavalry, who were already in disarray ahead.

"Black-armored Iron Cavalry, White Dragon Cavalry, heed my command!"

"Here!" the two armies responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

"Follow my command—" Chu Ning's voice boomed like thunder: "Counterattack! Annihilate the Scorpion Clan and capture Helian Hui alive!"

"kill--!"

The Chu cavalry, who had been waiting for this moment for so long, finally got their chance to counterattack.

Feng Mulan took the lead, her red armor burning like flames, and her twin swords caused the Scorpion Clan cavalry to retreat.

She was seething with anger—these barbarians dared to injure His Majesty!

The Xuanjia Iron Cavalry followed closely behind, like a red tidal wave, crashing fiercely into the already shaken Scorpion Clan formation.

Although the remnants of the White Dragon Cavalry numbered less than a thousand, their morale was soaring.

Chu Ning personally led the army in the charge, and every swing of the Shangfang Sword carried the force of thunder.

The wound on his left shoulder was still bleeding, but he seemed completely oblivious to it.

Three cavalry units attacked the already chaotic Scorpion Clan army from three directions simultaneously.

Meanwhile, the Scorpion Clan faced a counterattack from the Chu cavalry in front, a surprise attack from Zhang Shijie's navy behind, and Tang troops on their flanks... no, the Tang army was also in disarray at this moment.

Xue Che saw it clearly from within the formation.

When he saw the Scorpion Clan's rear guard being ambushed by the Chu army's navy, and when he saw the Scorpion Clan's formation beginning to collapse, the face of this Tang army commander instantly turned ashen.

He knew that the tide of battle had turned.

The issue now is not about annihilating the Chu army, but rather—once the Scorpion Clan is defeated, the Chu army can free up its resources to deal with the Tang army!

"Order! Cease the attack and consolidate the defensive line!" Xue Che decisively ordered, "Quickly! Retreat northeast and rejoin His Majesty!"

But how easy is it to withdraw troops now?

The Tang army of 40,000 men was engaged in a fierce battle with the remnants of Xue Dingshan's forces, and both sides were already bloodthirsty.

It is virtually impossible to suddenly disengage and retreat calmly during a fierce battle.

Moreover—would the Chu army let them leave?

"Want to run?"

Xue Dingshan saw it all clearly from within the formation. Although he was covered in blood, his eyes blazed with wild joy.

"Brothers! Reinforcements have arrived! The Scorpion Clan is in chaos! Now—it's our turn to fight back!"

"kill--!"

The Chu army's defenses, already on the verge of collapse, erupted in a final frenzy.

The soldiers, disregarding their own lives, charged at the retreating Tang army, holding them fast and preventing them from leaving the battlefield.

The battlefield situation outside Jianghuai City underwent a dramatic reversal within a mere fifteen minutes.

The scorpion army collapsed completely under the combined attack from both sides, and the soldiers scattered and fled.

The Tang army was caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat, and was held back by the Chu army.

Meanwhile, the Chu army broke free from its desperate situation and launched a full-scale counterattack.

The morning light completely illuminated the earth.

The bloody battle entered its final and most brutal phase.

But the outcome is gradually becoming clear.

Under the desperate protection of his personal guards, Helian Hui led his remaining troops in a rout to the southeast.

He glanced back at the battlefield that had become a living hell, and at the still-standing black dragon banner, his eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness.

"Chu Ning..." he gritted his teeth, "If I don't avenge this, I swear I'm not a man!"

But he knew he had lost this battle.

A crushing defeat.

Chu Ning was currently standing on his horse in the center of the battlefield.

The black dragon flag fluttered behind him.

He gazed at the fleeing Scorpion Clan, at the Tang Army in dire straits, and at the land soaked in blood, and slowly closed his eyes.

Then, when she opened her eyes again, all that remained was a cold, resolute gaze.

"Order the entire army—"

"Pursue them for fifty li, but do not take any prisoners."

"I want the whole world to know—"

"Those who offend our Great Chu, though far away, shall be punished!"

At this moment, on a gentle slope five miles northeast of Jianghuai City, Li Shiming stood up with difficulty, supported by his guards.

His complexion improved slightly after taking the pulse-restoring powder, but the severe pain in his chest persisted.

At this moment, he was staring intently at the chaotic battlefield in the distance, at the scorpion banner that was fleeing in disarray, his eyes almost spitting fire.

"Idiot! Helian Hui is such an idiot!"

Li Shiming suddenly flicked his sleeve, aggravating his wound, and coughed violently again, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

But he didn't bother wiping it away, and roared angrily, "Retreat at this time? Has he lost his mind?!"

Xue Che, who was beside him, quickly supported him: "Your Majesty, please calm down, your health is of utmost importance..."

"Dragon body?!"

Li Shiming shoved Xue Che aside and pointed in the direction of the battlefield: "Look! Look at that battlefield!"

"The Scorpion Clan army still has more than 20,000 men. Although the Chu army cavalry counterattacked, their numbers were less than 20,000. Zhang Shijie's navy was mainly composed of infantry!"

"If Helian Hui can regain his composure now, gather his forces, and fight back with all his might, he might just be able to turn defeat into victory!"

He grew angrier as he spoke, his voice trembling with emotion: "But what did he do? He chose to run away! On the battlefield, in front of tens of thousands of troops, the commander-in-chief was the first to flee—that was the most foolish choice!"

"This will completely destroy morale, turning a force that could have fought into lambs to the slaughter!"

Xue Che was speechless.

As a general, he certainly knew that His Majesty was right.

On the battlefield, victory or defeat often hinges on a single decision. The commander's will can often determine the life or death of an army.

"Messenger!" Li Shiming turned his head sharply, his voice hoarse but resolute.

"Your subordinate is here!" The messenger knelt on one knee.

"Send a message to Helian Hui immediately!"

Li Shiming spoke each word as if squeezed out from between his teeth: "Tell him—if he runs away now, he will only face death!"

"The Chu cavalry will tear his 20,000 remaining soldiers apart and devour them bit by bit, like wolves chasing sheep! There are no natural defenses along the Huai River; he won't be able to escape more than 30 li!"