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

Chapter 2274 Request for Instructions

The night wind grew stronger, making the torches crackle and pop, and also stirring the invisible scales in Chu Ning's heart.

The three defeated enemies are like three venomous snakes slithering into different dark depths, each of which may turn on you at some point in the future.

Although he has the advantage in troop strength, splitting his forces to pursue would disperse his power and could result in being injured by a desperate counterattack.

If we concentrate our efforts on one route, we will inevitably let the tiger return to the mountain, and the consequences for the other two routes will be unpredictable.

Time was slipping away, and with every moment of delay, the enemy moved one step further away.

Xue Huaide and Zhao Yu both focused their attention on him, awaiting the final decision.

The clamor of the battlefield seemed to recede at this moment, leaving only the sound of wind and fire, and the extremely calm weighing and choices deep in one's heart.

He had to make a choice.

Chu Ning's contemplation did not last long.

The night wind, carrying smoke and blood, swept across his sharply defined profile, and also fluttered the black dragon flag on the high platform, symbolizing supreme imperial power.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the flickering firelight and chaotic battlefield before him, reaching into a deeper and more complex game of chess.

The three "allies" each chose their own way to survive in the face of adversity, and this sudden division did not catch him off guard.

Instead, it acted like a prism, reflecting the pros and cons he had already weighed repeatedly in his mind.

He first ruled out the east.

"Li Shiming!"

Chu Ning's voice rang out calmly, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself, yet with a sharp insight into the essence of things.

"This time, we went all out to go south. We lost our vanguard under the walls of Jianghuai City, our main force was lost at Changting Slope, and even the last cavalry to provide support were all killed by Feng Mulan."

"After this battle, the Tang Dynasty will find it difficult to recover its strength for several years. Seven or eight out of ten of its elite cavalry on the border have been lost, and the pro-war faction in the court will inevitably suffer a heavy blow."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the gradually calming darkness in the east, the direction from which Li Shiming had fled in panic.

"Although this man is the ruler of a country, he is ambitious but incompetent, and stubborn and self-willed."

"Now only a few remnants of the defeated army remain, looking eastward in panic. Even if they manage to escape back, their prestige has already been lost, and internal and external troubles will surely follow one after another."

"In the short term, the Tang Dynasty has neither the strength nor the courage to look south into our Chu territory."

“If we pursue them, we may be able to capture the king and show our might, but they will fight like cornered beasts and struggle to the death, which will only make our elite troops run around in vain and suffer unnecessary losses.”

"Moreover, their journey back east may not be without backup or ambush, and there are many variables."

He shook his head slightly, his tone resolute: "This scoundrel is no longer a concern. The urgent matter is not in the east."

With Li Shiming eliminated, the remaining North and South are the real threats, two thorns that must be removed.

His gaze suddenly sharpened to that of a hawk, fixed on the boundless darkness to the north, a darkness that seemed capable of swallowing all light.

"Helian Hui!"

The name he uttered carried a chilling aura: "The Scorpion Clan has long been entrenched in the Northern Desert, harboring ambitions. They are greedy and brutal, and are especially skilled in mounted archery raids."

"This time they dared to brazenly tear up the old border trade agreement, disregard the dignity of the Celestial Empire, collude with traitors, and suddenly launch an attack southward, directly penetrating the heart of the Jianghuai region!"

His voice rose a few decibels, suppressing his anger and lingering fear: "If it weren't for Consort Feng's timely discovery and counterattack, and if it weren't for the bravery of all the soldiers, the gateway to Jianghuai would have been breached!"

"Although our army won this battle, the damage to the prefectures and counties along the way, as well as the casualties among the soldiers and civilians, are incomparable to the losses suffered by Li Shiming's defeated army."

He took a deep breath, but the coolness of the night breeze seemed unable to cool the murderous intent rising in his chest.

"Helian Hui's troops are the elite of the Scorpion Clan's royal court, and their wolfish ambitions are obvious."

"If we allow them to return north to the grasslands with half of their main force today, they will surely become a border threat again when they lick their wounds in the future!"

"They've even intensified their efforts, inciting more tribes to covet the southern lands. The northern border will never know peace!"

His fist clenched silently, his knuckles turning white: "Releasing a tiger back to the mountain will bring endless disaster."

"Helian Hui must be spared, and his Scorpion Clan cavalry must be annihilated within the borders of the country!"

"Firstly, to eliminate future troubles; secondly, to establish our authority among the various Hu tribes, so that they will know that anyone who offends our powerful Chu, no matter how far away, will be punished!"

At this point, the cold glint in his eyes intensified, and he abruptly turned south, the direction Chu Xuan had fled in.

A chilling aura, a mixture of anger, heartache, and the piercing coldness of being betrayed by loved ones, spread around him.

"As for Chu Xuan..."

His voice suddenly lowered, yet sounded even more oppressive and terrifying: "My good elder brother, the eldest son of the late emperor, has been granted the title of Prince, which is the highest honor."

"Since I ascended the throne, I have never openly treated him poorly. Even though I knew he harbored rebellious intentions, I considered our blood ties and could not bear to hastily punish him."

His words carried a faint yet clear trace of pain, which was then overwhelmed by a surge of anger.

"But he dared! He dared to disregard the legacy of his ancestors and betray his brotherhood for his own selfish desires."

"Secretly colluding with the Scorpion Clan, inviting wolves into the house, causing war in the northern frontier and widespread suffering! How is such behavior any different from treason? How is it any different from that of beasts?!"

Chu Ning's chest heaved slightly, clearly indicating that Chu Xuan's betrayal had touched the deepest, most untouchable bottom line in his heart.

"It is intolerable under the laws of the land, it is intolerable under the principles of Heaven, and it is even more intolerable to me!"

He said firmly, "As long as Chu Xuan is alive, the name of traitor to the country will be hard to erase, and the source of chaos within the imperial clan will be hard to eradicate."

"How will the people of the world view me as emperor? How will they view the laws and regulations of my Great Chu? He must pay the price for everything he has done!"

However, amidst this overwhelming rage and murderous intent, a subtle yet profound sense of apprehension, like an undercurrent beneath the ice, quietly emerged.

Chu Xuan still held a card in his hand—Su Tingmei.

That key figure, as elegant as bamboo and possessing unparalleled talent.

Chu Xuan's kidnapping of Mr. Su and his escape south were not simply for the sake of having another hostage.

Chu Ning did not voice this apprehension, but it was real and left a clear mark on his subsequent decisions.

The strategy has been decided, and the advantages and disadvantages are clear.

Without further hesitation, Chu Ning turned sharply to face the assembled generals, his black cloak drawing a resolute arc behind him.

"Zhao Yu, listen to my command!"

"Your subordinate is here!" The young general, his silver armor stained with blood, stepped forward, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

"I hereby order you to lead all the White Horse Cavalry of this unit, lightly armed and swiftly advancing, to immediately pursue Helian Hui to the north!"

Chu Ning's words were like a drawn sword, carrying an undeniable sharpness: "I don't want prisoners, I only want Helian Hui's head and his Scorpion Clan King's Banner!"

"Even if they escape a hundred miles into the grasslands, I will pursue them and crush them completely! Let all the tribes of the Northern Desert remember the price of their southward advance!"

"Your subordinate obeys! I will certainly not fail in my mission!"

Zhao Yu clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice resounding, and then turned around, rushing towards his troops like a whirlwind.

A resounding bugle call pierced the night sky, and the white-horse cavalry began to gather, preparing for a long-distance pursuit.

The Scorpion Clan will absolutely not let it escape back to the grasslands.