Chapter 943: A Long-Distance Clash! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
After a few moments, Ziyad suddenly spoke.
”But there is one other matter. The newly-arrived Tang commander apparently had a conflict with Wanhe Peiluo. Moreover, the Karluks have still not fulfilled their end of the deal and opened the gates of Talas. With these things unresolved, we cannot trust the Karluks.”
They were too far from the battlefield, and the more than one hundred thousand Tang soldiers lay between them and Talas. Thus, Abu Muslim and Ziyad only knew that a quarrel had broken out at the gates of Talas, but they did not know the specific details.
”If they can't be trusted, then we'll just kill them all!”
Abu Muslim waved his head, his expression callous and cruel.
”That's right. When will the two armies His Majesty dispatched arrive?”
”I've already sent a letter asking about this,” Ziyad said. ”They're currently en route and aren't far. They should arrive on the battlefield by sunrise.”
”Excellent. Perhaps we won't even need the Karluks. When those two armies arrive, we can annihilate the Tang along with Talas!”
Abu Muslim's eyes flashed with a light that not even the darkness could drown out.
Slowly, everything calmed down, but a hidden danger continued to swell.
……
Bwoooom!
As a yak horn blared, dawn broke in the east, casting sunlight over the horizon. As the morning sun dispelled the darkness, it shone over the battle-scarred Talas as well as the camps of the Tibetans and Turks.
Thousands upon thousands of Tibetans surged out of their tents and took up formation, their highland steeds valiant and vigorous, bursting with the will to battle.
The sunlight washed away all the scars from last night's battle, and the entire Tibetan army seethed with killing intent.
In the distance, the Tang army was packed between the two steel defense lines in front of Talas, all of them taking up defensive positions.
The scent of war and the murderous intent that had been obscured by the darkness once more began to seep through the air.
Bongbongbongbong!
War drums began to thunder over Talas. The city gates opened, and countless soldiers surged out: infantry, archers, ballista men, axemen, cavalry… The soldiers divided themselves neatly by type as they took up formation.
Phweeet!
As the mood over the battlefield turned tense, an arrow shrieked through the air, flying out from the Tibetan camp. Its shrill whistle could be heard for ten-some li.
”Wang Chong! Do you dare to come out for a meeting?” a stentorian voice called out from the Tibetan camp. It spoke in such proficient Han that it was difficult to imagine that a Tibetan was saying these words.
Three figures rode out of the Tibetan camp in the direction of Talas.
While still around a thousand zhang from the walls, Dalun Ruozan stopped and raised his head to silently wait. His eyes squinted in anticipation.
All was silent, and even though the mood behind the steel defense lines grew tense, the Tang camp remained quiet and still, with no one responding.
After some time, just when Huoshu Huicang and Dusong Mangpoje were starting to get impatient, a young and vigorous voice called out.
”Dalun Ruozan, I hope that you are well!”
A pure-white steed rode out with a bright cry, leaping forward with a young rider on its back as it appeared on the northeast corner of the walls of Talas.
”Wang Chong!”
Dalun Ruozan squinted his eyes and turned his head. He had not expected Wang Chong to appear there, but he quickly began to smile.
”After a parting of half a year, I did not think that Lord Protector-General's art of war would ascend to an even higher level. I have only heard of beasts learning from man, but never of man learning from beasts. Lord Protector-General has opened my eyes!”
Dalun Ruozan clasped his hands, a look of 'sincere' admiration on his face.
”Haha, no matter how high it is, I can't compare to Great Minister. Even though you knew that I was prepared, you still sent more than three thousand people to throw themselves on my sword!”
Wang Chong heartily laughed.
In a flash, Dalun Ruozan, Huoshu Huicang, and Dusong Mangpoje turned gloomy. Wang Chong was clearly jeering at them for the fact that their raiding party had suffered grievous losses at Wang Chong's hand. Both sides had sent out raiding parties disguised as the other side, but Dalun Ruozan had clearly come out the loser.
But Dalun Ruozan managed to rapidly regain his composure.