Chapter 892: An Invisible Clash of Scouts! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Buzz!
With a wave of his sleeve, Dalun Ruozan sent out a wave of Stellar Energy, causing the map of the continent to float in the air. He placed a palm over the map and began to move his fingers, allowing the starlight to fall on the map through the space between his fingers.
Light and shadow began to shift on the map, and suddenly, countless points of light appeared upon it. These points of light were arranged according to some sort of pattern, floating over mountains, hills, and flatlands, all in the direction of Talas.
Dusong Mangpoje and the surrounding Tibetan generals were all astonished, with only Huoshu Huicang remaining unperturbed.
Dalun Ruozan was no expert of the Great General level. The Great Ministers of the empire spent most of their time on administrative manners, so most of them did not have a very high level of martial arts. But this did not mean that they were poor martial artists. Dalun Ruozan had exquisite control over Stellar Energy, not one bit inferior to Huoshu Huicang's.
”Do all of you see it? This is where the Tang have placed their defenses. Take the vulture force and eliminate them!” Dalun Ruozan calmly ordered, his voice suffused with a formidable confidence.
”Yes, Great Minister.”
The six Tibetan officers responded with respectful tones and then began to carefully examine the points of light on the map, after which they set off. Caw! The air resounded with those startling cries as the flock of vultures followed.
Dusong Mangpoje slightly frowned as he stared at those points of light, a tinge of doubt in his eyes.
”Let's go! This isn't your first time working together with the Great Minister. You'll understand in the future!”
A large palm patted him on the shoulder as Huoshu Huicang gave Dusong Mangpoje a grin and then rode off. Dusong Mangpoje turned his head in a daze and realized that Dalun Ruozan had already put away the map and ridden away.
He's truly hard to predict!
Dusong Mangpoje looked up at the sky and sighed, a sense of relief washing over his mind.
The Dalun Ruozan that had emerged from prison was erratic and unconventional, his actions impossible to fathom. Dusong Mangpoje had never worked with this sort of Dalun Ruozan before, but he understood that this was a blessing, not a curse, for the Ü-Tsang Empire.
As for whether Dalun Ruozan's clever determinations were wrong or right, he would soon find out.
Caw!
The vultures flew through the night sky like ghosts while the Tibetan officers on the ground faithfully carried out Dalun Ruozan's plan. The flocks of vultures assaulted those points that had been marked on the map, and with shrill cry after cry, rock eagles plunged to the earth, their feathers slowly drifting down behind them.
Before these rock eagles even had a chance to flee, they were beset by the vultures and swiftly eliminated.
One, two, three, four…
The vultures opened up the path in the sky, allowing the tens of thousands of Tibetan cavalry on the ground to rapidly advance toward Talas.
Forty li, thirty-seven li, thirty li, twenty-five li…
The Tibetan army was getting closer and closer to Talas, with Dalun Ruozan's plan proving effective in keeping the Tang from noticing its approach. Most shocking of all was that Dalun Ruozan's judgment had been perfect. He had predicted every single point of the Tang defense.
Even Dusong Mangpoje could tell that Dalun Ruozan had found their weakness, accurately determining where the Tang had positioned their surveillance birds.
If this continues, we really might be able to launch a night raid on the Tang without them having a single chance to react, Dusong Mangpoje quietly said to himself.
In all his years battling with the Great Tang, Dusong Mangpoje had never had a plan proceed so smoothly. This time, he could be sure that the Tang would not have any time to react. Only twenty-five li remained and the Tibetans had still not been noticed—a truly impressive feat.
”There's just an hour left. We have plenty of time before daybreak. We just need to advance another ten li undetected to catch them completely unawares!”
Dalun Ruozan sat upon his Tibetan steed, his eyes twinkling as he looked to the east and mentally calculated. Daybreak was getting closer and closer, but the Tibetans still had a chance. The period closest to daybreak was precisely when people were most liable to let down their guard. If they could avoid detection by the Tang scouts and launch a raid at that time, they could deal a serious wound to the Tang.
”Pass on my order. All soldiers should dismount and wrap the hooves of their horses. In addition, leave behind the supply wagons and advance at full speed!”
Dalun Ruozan waved his hand and gave the order.
”Yes! Great Minister!”
A few moments later, the army was off once more, traveling at even faster speeds than before.