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

Riverbank.

The surrounding Chu soldiers shouted in unison, "Surrender! Surrender! Surrender!"

The sound was like a tidal wave, making the river water seem to tremble.

The three hundred Tang soldiers looked at each other, and a hint of wavering flashed in many of their eyes.

Having fought to the death, they have fulfilled their duty.

Now that we're in such a desperate situation, if we surrender... perhaps we can still survive?

Guo Ziyi slowly turned around and faced the three hundred soldiers who had followed him to the death.

His gaze swept over every face—young faces, weathered faces, old subordinates he had known for many years, and new recruits who had just joined the army.

"Everyone!"

Guo Ziyi spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears: "You all heard it, the Chu army is trying to persuade us to surrender, offering us wealth and honor."

He paused, then slowly said, "I am sixty-three years old this year. I have spent my life on the battlefield, reaching the highest position in the government. I have enjoyed all the blessings I should have enjoyed, and fought all the battles I should have fought."

"To die here today is to die on the battlefield, and to have my wish fulfilled."

"But you are different."

Guo Ziyi's gaze softened: "Most of you are still young, with parents, wives and children at home. If you want to surrender and beg for your lives... I will not blame you."

Deathly silence.

Only the sound of the Huai River and the faint sounds of fighting from the distant battlefield could be heard.

After a long silence, a young soldier suddenly roared, "General! I joined the army at the age of thirteen and have followed you for ten years!"

"You have treated me like a son, taught me martial arts, and imparted military strategy to me! If I were to abandon you today, I would be worse than a pig or a dog!"

He drew his chipped sword, the blade pointing directly at the Chu army: "If we're going to die, we'll die together!"

"Yes! We'll die together!"

"Follow the commander-in-chief, fight to the death and never surrender!"

"A man of the Tang Dynasty would rather die standing than live on his knees!"

The three hundred remaining soldiers roared in unison, their shouts drowning out the surrender appeals of thousands of Chu soldiers.

Guo Ziyi's eyes welled up with tears.

Throughout his life, he led countless soldiers and fought countless battles.

But at this moment, the roar of these three hundred people was the most shocking sound he had ever heard.

"it is good!"

Guo Ziyi raised his broken sword high, his voice booming like thunder: "Since you are all willing to live and die with me, then today—let the Chu army see what the spirit of the Tang army is!"

He turned to face the Chu army, his broken sword pointing forward:

"Han Xing! Tell Chu Ning—I, Guo Ziyi, was born a general of the Tang Dynasty, and I will die a ghost of the Tang Dynasty! You want me to surrender? Dream on!"

"All soldiers—" Guo Ziyi roared hoarsely, "Follow me—in this final battle!"

"kill--!"

Three hundred remaining soldiers, like moths drawn to a flame, launched their final and most frantic counterattack against the thousands of Chu soldiers!

Han Xing saw it clearly from within the formation, a hint of respect flashing in his eyes, but it quickly turned into icy killing intent.

"Give them their wish." He slowly raised his hand: "All troops—attack!"

The Chu army surged forward like a tidal wave.

This is a battle without suspense.

Three hundred against several thousand, remnants against elite troops, trapped beast against hunter.

But these three hundred remaining soldiers unleashed astonishing fighting power.

They worked in groups of three or five, back to back.

As each person fell, the remaining men automatically filled the void. They hacked with broken swords, stabbed with broken spears, pounded with stones, and even bit with their teeth.

Many soldiers, even after being seriously wounded and falling to the ground, clung tightly to the legs of Chu soldiers, creating opportunities for their comrades to kill the enemy.

Guo Ziyi was at the forefront.

This veteran, who is over sixty years old, seems to have returned to his prime.

The broken sword moved like a dragon playing in the water in his hands, each strike precise and ruthless.

He specifically targeted Chu army generals, killing three captains and two lieutenant generals in succession.

But he also sustained more and more injuries.

The broken arrow wound on his left shoulder was pushed deeper, and the knife wound on his right leg reopened, soaking his trouser leg with blood.

A spear pierced his left abdomen. He gritted his teeth, broke the spear shaft, and used the broken sword to plunge into the attacker's throat.

"Protect the commander!" the guards roared, desperately protecting Guo Ziyi.

But the Chu army was too large.

Guards kept falling. Thirty, twenty, ten...

In the end, only three people remained by Guo Ziyi's side.

All around them were densely packed Chu troops.

Han Xing spurred his horse forward and reined it in ten paces away.

Looking at Guo Ziyi, who was covered in blood and swaying precariously yet still stood tall like a pine tree, his respect deepened.

"General Guo!"

Han Xing said in a deep voice, "Let's stop here. You have done your duty faithfully and have no shame before the Tang Dynasty or Heaven and Earth. Why must you die here?"

Guo Ziyi leaned on his broken sword, panting heavily.

With each breath, a gush of blood gushed from the penetrating wound in his left abdomen.

He raised his head, looked at Han Xing, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"General Han, you are also... a famous general."

His voice was hoarse and broken: "You should know that for a general, there are some things that are more important than life and death."

He paused, then slowly straightened up, the broken sword held horizontally in front of his chest:

"Come, let this old man... experience... the might of your Chu army."

Han Xing remained silent for a moment, then slowly drew his sword.

He knew that persuasion to surrender was useless.

This greatest general of the Tang Dynasty had already resigned himself to death.

"excuse me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Han Xing spurred his horse forward, his long sword flashing like lightning, aiming straight for Guo Ziyi's throat!

This is the fastest sword, and also the deadliest sword.

Guo Ziyi neither dodged nor evaded, but met the attack with his broken sword.

clang--!

The two swords clashed, and Guo Ziyi staggered back three steps, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He had reached his limit.

But Han Xing's attacks came one after another like a tidal wave. The second sword, the third sword, the fourth sword…

Guo Ziyi desperately tried to block, but each collision only worsened his injuries. The cracks on the broken sword multiplied, until finally—

Click!

The broken sword shattered completely!

Han Xing's fifth sword pierced Guo Ziyi's right chest!

"General!" The last three guards were furious and tried to rush forward, but they were held down by the surrounding Chu soldiers.

Guo Ziyi looked down at the sword blade that had pierced his chest, then looked up at Han Xing, his smile widening.

"Excellent swordsmanship..."

He spoke softly, blood gushing from his mouth with each word: "It's a pity... I couldn't... die... at the hands of... an emperor... like Chu Ning..."

He slowly fell backward.

Han Xing drew his longsword, and blood gushed out like a spring.

Guo Ziyi lay in a pool of blood, his silvery-white hair and beard stained red with blood.

He gazed at the sky, at the clouds bathed in the golden light of dawn, and the last glimmer of light in his eyes gradually faded.

But the smile still lingered on his lips.

It's as if it's saying: This life has been worthwhile.

Forty years of military service, guarding the northern frontier and protecting the Tang Dynasty.

If I die in battle today, my body will be wrapped in a horse's hide.

This is how a general should end up.

Han Xing dismounted, walked to Guo Ziyi's body, and slowly knelt on one knee.

The surrounding Chu generals were all shocked—Han Xing, a general of the Chu army, actually knelt down to the commander of the enemy state.

"General Guo!"

Han Xing's voice was low and deep: "You are the opponent I, Han Xing, respect the most in my life. I have offended you today."

He rose and ordered his personal guards: "Give General Guo a proper burial, with the honors due to a general. Do not be negligent."

"Then...the other Tang troops?" the deputy general asked.

Han Xing surveyed the battlefield.

The three hundred Tang soldiers who survived had all died in battle; not one surrendered and not one fled.

"They will all be given a proper burial after the war," he said slowly. "They were all true soldiers."