Chapter 931: Predicting the Enemy I (1/2)

Chapter 931: Predicting the Enemy (I)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Wang Chong stood on the walls, his clothes blown about by the blustery winds. As he looked into the distance, he exuded an air of confidence and grace.

”Light the torches!”

Wang Chong made a gesture, and in an instant, torches were rapidly lit along the walls. Clingclingcling! Oil lamps were let down from the walls along chains, lighting up all the shadowed corners and niches of Talas. Whether the Arabs and Tibetans wanted to make a sneak attack on the steel defense lines or climb the walls of Talas under the cover of darkness, they no longer had any blind spots to use.

Time slowly passed, but the Tibetan, Tang, and Arab camps were all quiet. All three sides seemed extremely restrained and concerned with their own affairs. This state of affairs lasted deep into the night, all the way until the Zi Period.

But the mood around Talas did not relax, only grew tenser and tenser. To the east, west, and in Talas at the very middle, the soldiers on guard were completely focused, growing even more cautious as the night went on.

As the Zi Period passed, the darkness grew deeper, and the drowsiness hung heavier.

Everyone knew that this was when night raids most frequently took place.

Caw!

At the edge of the eastern battlefield, the cries of vultures came from above the blazing bonfires. Around six thousand Tibetan soldiers were patrolling along the perimeter formed by the bonfires. The area they patrolled was crossed by newly constructed fences and dotted with tall sentry towers.

It was difficult to imagine that a nomadic civilization in Ü-Tsang had been able to pick up the tactics of the Central Plains so quickly.

A Tibetan commander stood in front of a sentry post and loudly ordered, ”Stay focused! The Great Tang commander loves sneak attacks! Keep your eyes sharp! Don't let a Tang get through the gaps.”

”Yes!”

The Tibetan soldiers sounded off from the various sentry points. Their wary eyes peered like hawks at their surroundings. In these circumstances, no one could break the Tibetan defense line without being discovered. Gallop! Tibetan cavalry kicked up clouds of dust as they patrolled through the dark night.

The tight patrols of cavalry and the multiple sentry posts created an airtight defense that ensured the safety of the Tibetan and Turkic camps.

Time marched on. Dark clouds obscured the moon, casting the surroundings into an even deeper gloom.

After some time…

Gallop!

Outside the southern defense line of the Tibetan camp, rumbling hooves immediately raised the vigilance of the Tibetans.

”Who goes there!”

Creaking could be heard from a high sentry post as a Tibetan suddenly turned and pulled on a large bow, the sharp arrow pointed toward the direction of the noise. At almost the same time, all the patrolling cavalry within a radius of several hundred zhang began rushing toward the location in a din of clattering armor and neighing horses.

Countless eyes peered out of the darkness in the direction of the approaching horse hooves. Through the light of the fires, one could see innumerable figures rapidly approaching.

”Don't attack! We're on your side!”

A voice spoken in panicked Tibetan came out of the darkness. At the sound of these familiar words, the sentry grew only more worried, not less. Thwish! The arrow let out a piercing whistle as it landed in front of those approaching figures.

”Stop immediately! Get off your horses and remove your helmets! I want to see your faces!

”This is Great Minister's order! Any who defy it will be executed!” the sentry soldier shouted. As he spoke, he threw a torch from the sentry tower.

The torch drew a dazzling arc through the air, but then there was the thwish of an arrow as the torch was shot down in mid-air.

”Hahaha, Dalun Ruozan is truly formidable to have already prepared for this. Brothers, retreat!”

The voice cheerfully spoke in Tibetan before the figure swung his hand down and led the soldiers away, not even entering the light of the bonfires.

”After them!”

The Tibetan still hadn't figured out what was going on when he heard furious bellows and the sounds of horses galloping off in pursuit.

”Stop! Come back right now!”

A Tibetan officer riding a muscular highland steed galloped forward and stopped the other soldiers. ”The Great Minister has ordered that there is to be no pursuit! Remember that they might have set up an ambush!”