Chapter 926: Wang Chongs Warning! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”Wang Chong?”
A faint light flitted through Abu Muslim's eyes, but no reaction could be seen on that craggy face of his, brimming with cruelty and determination.
”Speak, Tang—what do you want?”
He stared at Wang Chong across the battlefield, taking up no stance and yet exploding with an intimidating energy.
As the Abbasid Governor of the East, the strongest existence east of Khorasan, Abu Muslim had an authority only second to the Caliph's.
He had crushed countless states in the east underneath his hooves, with countless generals of the Abbasid Caliphate looking to him as their guide. In all the world, very few generals were worth Abu Muslim's regard.
In the Great Tang Empire, only Anxi Protector-General Gao Xianzhi had this honor; the rest were not even worth thinking about.
Abu Muslim would never step forward to speak with an enemy commander. He had only responded because Wang Chong, despite being a Tang, could speak the noble Arabic language. In replying, Abu Muslim was bestowing a rather large gift on Wang Chong.
”Abu Muslim! As Qixi Protector-General of the Great Tang Empire of the east, I will give you one last warning!”
Wang Chong's resounding voice echoed across the battlefield, his expression grim and solemn. He was an unsheathed sword, its edge so gleaming and sharp that no one could ignore its existence.
”Take your army and leave this place!!
”No matter how many countries the Arabs conquered in the past, they should have never encroached upon the Western Regions and made an enemy of the Great Tang!”
The battlefield was still, Wang Chong's rumbling voice continuing to echo in the air. At this moment, even Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli had fallen silent.
”Tang man, this is impossible!”
Abu Muslim's reply was firm and concise.
”On this continent, there is no country that can stop the iron hooves of the Abbasid Caliphate, not even the Great Tang!”
His reply was as cold and tough as steel.
All was quiet. Although many people couldn't understand Arabic, Abu Muslim's cold and stubborn face said enough.
The atmosphere was growing tenser and tenser.
”Ha!”
Wang Chong suddenly began to laugh. Clang! The air hummed with the clear cry of a sword.
As the Arabs, Tang, and even the Tibetans and Western Turks watched, Wang Chong pulled out his sword, revealing the enchanting and dazzling curves of its cold Wootz Steel blade. He pointed it at the sky, allowing it to shine with a brilliant light.
”Since this is the case, listen clearly to my every word!
”This battle is far from over. This is merely the beginning. The location of this battle is not merely Talas, nor the Western Regions.
”Starting from now, Samarkand, Khorasan, even the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, Baghdad, and all the way to the western border will become the fields for this battle!
(TN: The Abbasid Caliphate's capital was actually based in the city of Kufa at this time, south of Baghdad. Baghdad was only made capital in 762, eleven years after this historical Battle of Talas and seven years after Caliph al-Mansur had Abu Muslim assassinated.)
”This will not merely be a battle between you and me, nor will this just be a war of the Western Regions. This will be a war between the empires of the east and west. Starting from now, if the Abbasid Caliphate cannot conquer the Great Tang, the Great Tang will conquer the Abbasid Caliphate. All Arabs will have their language changed to that of the Tang, all of the Abbasid Caliphate acknowledging the Great Tang as the ruler of the world!
”Li Siye, repeat my words in the language of the Great Tang!”
……
Boom!
Wang Chong's words immediately sent a wave of turmoil through the Arab army, inciting an uproar.
When Li Siye repeated these words in the Tang language, even the distant Dalun Ruozan, Duwu Sili, Huoshu Huicang, and Dusong Mangpoje paled in shock.
”This fellow really dared to make such a claim!!”
A strangle look passed through Duwu Sili's eyes. The Turks were a nomadic people who had left their marks across the Western Regions, Arabia, and Charax Spasinu. They were fully aware of the power of the Arabian Empire.
Otherwise, he would not have brought his forty thousand men to assist them.
It was precisely because he knew of their power that not even the Celestial Wolf Great General Duwu Sili would ever dare to recklessly say such things to the Arabs.
”I'm afraid that these might not just be empty claims,” Dalun Ruozan emotionlessly said, a strange look in his eyes as well, but he said no more.
The Arabs wouldn't need to care if anyone else said those words, but no one could disregard the words of this youth.
No one had believed that some teenager at the head of a few thousand soldiers would be able to alter the situation in the southwest, defeating an army of four hundred thousand!
This seventeen-year-old Protector-General never just made claims.
Wang Chong paid no attention to the reaction his words had elicited. After saying his piece, he turned his horse back around and slowly rode back to his side.
”You're too conceited!”
Abu Muslim finally spoke. His first words instantly left everyone dumbfounded, because he had chosen to speak in the language of the Great Tang.