bookrandom Chapter 1690 Why not?
Chapter 1690 Why not?
The scorching sun in May burned the official road, and the dust rolled like a yellow dragon under the iron hooves.
The 30,000 Han imperial guards rolled forward from west to east like a steel torrent. Their armor reflected a cold light under the scorching sun. From a distance, it seemed as if the earth was coated with a layer of flowing silver.
This is the most elite force of the Han Dynasty. Every soldier is wearing finely forged fish-scale armor. The armor plates are as fine as scales, and they make crisp metal collision sounds when they march.
They wore phoenix-wing helmets with red tassels swaying in the wind, wore ring-handled swords on their waists, and carried strong bows and crossbows on their backs.
The heavily armored infantry in the front row held two-meter-long spears with cold gleams on the tips, forming a moving forest of steel.
The cavalry in the center of the army was even more majestic. Their war horses were all covered in half-body armor, and the knights held lances in their hands, with iron whips hanging around their waists for close combat.
"end!"
With a loud shout from the messenger, the army stopped abruptly, moving in unison, demonstrating strict military discipline.
Under the central army flag, Liu Che was wearing a battle robe with a golden python pattern, lined with fine steel chain mail, and riding a snow-white Western horse.
He raised his hand to block the sun, squinted his eyes and looked at the winding official road in the distance, with an unraveling worry between his brows.
"Your Majesty, do you want to camp here?"
Minister of War Li Gan rode his horse forward. This veteran, who was over fifty years old, had white hair on his temples, but his eyes were bright and the sword bestowed by the late emperor was always on his waist.
Before Liu Che could answer, a cloud of dust suddenly rose from the end of the official road.
A horseman came galloping like an arrow, with three red flags on his back - this was a sign of an 800-mile express.
"Report——!"
The knight dismounted, kneeling on one knee in a cloud of dust. "Your Majesty, an urgent letter from the Protector!"
Liu Che raised his eyebrows, and his fingers trembled slightly when he took the wax-sealed letter.
A sense of foreboding flashed through his mind: "Could it be that Chu Ning has already reached the front line and started a war against our army?"
The rustling sound of the letter paper unfolding was particularly harsh in the silent center.
The accompanying generals unconsciously held their breath as Liu Che's eyes quickly moved across the paper. Finally, he narrowed his eyes, a cold look flashing across his face.
"Chu Ning actually invited me and the Tang Emperor Li Shiming to meet with him at this time!"
Upon hearing this, Li Gan immediately rode closer and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, beware of a conspiracy! Chu Ning has always been as cunning as a fox. He even brought the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty with him to this meeting. There must be something fishy going on."
His rough fingers rubbed the hilt of the sword. "The meeting place cannot be in the area controlled by our army in the west. If it is placed in the Chu territory in the east, we will not agree to it."
"Based on this calculation, the most likely location is the front line near the Chu army."
Liu Che sneered, his whip tapping unconsciously on his boots. "Are you worried that Chu Ning will set up a Hongmen Banquet?"
"Exactly!"
Li Gan's voice became even lower, and several trusted generals gathered around him unconsciously: "If the nine dynasties coexisted, he would naturally not dare to risk the wrath of the world, but now..."
The old general looked around, confirming that there were no outsiders before continuing, "The three great dynasties are in a three-way confrontation. If he were to eliminate you and the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty in one fell swoop, both countries would be in chaos."
"When the Chu army marches straight in, and he unifies the world, won't he have the final say on how history books are written?"
These words were like cold water poured over his head, and Liu Che suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
"Good Chu Ning!"
Liu Che suddenly burst into laughter, but there was no trace of amusement in his laughter: "He wants to plot against me, is it that easy?"
He clenched the reins fiercely, and the white horse reared up in pain. "Pass on my decree. I agree to the meeting, but the location must be jointly chosen by me and the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty! Send another pigeon to inform Li Shiming and ask if he has a suitable location."
Li Gan was about to take the order and leave when Liu Che stopped him again, saying, "Wait a minute! Tell the messenger to send three carrier pigeons in different directions to ensure the message is delivered."
After Li Gan left to make arrangements, Liu Che rode his horse alone to a high slope and looked into the distance to the east.
That was the sphere of influence of the Chu army and the land he dreamed of conquering.
The setting sun stretched his shadow very long, casting it on the soldiers lined up behind him.
Thirty thousand soldiers in armor stood in silence, with only the flags fluttering in the wind.
"His Majesty."
A gentle voice came from behind him. Liu Che turned around and saw that Queen Dugu had come to his side in armor without him knowing when.
Although she is a woman, she has been practicing martial arts since she was young, and this expedition with the army is the result of her repeated requests.
"Don't worry, Queen."
Liu Che reached out and brushed a fallen leaf off her shoulder armor. "Although Chu Ning's plan is vicious, how could I not be prepared?"
Empress Dugu shook her head: "I am not worried about the meeting, but..."
She hesitated for a moment. "Spies report that Chu Ning has been frequently mobilizing his navy recently, and seems to be making some moves along the Yangtze River. If his meeting is fake, and he's really taking the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on our rear..."
Liu Che's pupils suddenly shrank.
He suddenly realized that he might have fallen into Chu Ning's double scheme.
The meeting invitation could not only be a Hongmen Banquet, but also a pretext to lure the tiger away from the mountain.
Thinking of this, he immediately summoned his personal guards: "Go and call Li Gan back quickly, I have something important to discuss with you!"
At the same time, on the official road east of Wei, another powerful army was slowly advancing.
Eighty thousand black-armored soldiers covered the ground like a black tide. Under the large flag in the center with the golden word "Tang" embroidered on it, Li Shiming, wearing a golden chain mail, was dazzling in the sun.
Unlike the fish-scale armor of the Han army, the Tang army was generally equipped with Ming Guang armor. The entire piece of iron armor was polished to a shine. When they marched, it was like thousands of bronze mirrors reflecting sunlight, which was magnificent.
"Your Majesty, this is an urgent letter from General Li Ji." A messenger knelt and presented the letter.
Li Shiming opened the sealing wax and scanned the paper before sneering, "Chu Ning actually invited me to a meeting? Humph, this guy has quite the ambition. Is he planning to take me down?"
Li Jing, the Minister of War beside him, stroked his beard and pondered, "Chu Ning is a cunning man in his tactics. We must be on guard against him during this meeting."
"According to your opinion, how should I respond?" Li Shiming narrowed his eyes, his golden armor gleaming in the sunlight, making him look like a god descending from heaven.
Li Jing pointed to a spot on the map and said, "Why not wait and see the Han army's movements? Our army is carrying siege equipment and will be slow to move. We should hold off and wait for Liu Che to make a decision."
Li Shiming nodded and ordered the camp to be set up.
Two days later.
Under the same setting sun, Li Shiming stood in the makeshift central army tent, holding Liu Che's handwritten letter in his hand, with a sneer on his face:
"It seems Liu Che shares my opinion."
He turned to Li Jing and said, "Pass on my decree. We will meet in Leling in ten days. Each party can only bring one thousand guards."
"Also, secretly order Li Ji to secretly dispatch 30,000 elite troops to ambush in a valley 30 miles outside Leling, using red flags as a signal."
Outside the tent, smoke from the Tang army's cooking rose up and merged with the sunset.
The monarchs of the Three Kingdoms each had their own thoughts, and undercurrents were surging beneath this seemingly calm meeting invitation.
The meeting at Leling will become a key battle to change the world situation, and at this moment, the three armies are still ready to go on their respective expeditions.