Chapter 1093: The Nine Dragon Blood War Banner! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Wang Chong smiled and nodded. ”We shall not fail!”
”Good!”
The black-armored guard was clearly invigorated by these words, and the energy rising from his body became much gentler.
”Then I must trouble General with this matter!”
His attitude toward Wang Chong completely reversed and his entire body began to exude respect and deference.
The smiling Wang Chong quickly turned his eyes to the war banner in the black-armored guard's hand.
I didn't think that His Majesty would send out this legendary war banner. With this banner, everything will be completely different. I can finally use that formation.
Wang Chong's mind was whirring as he gazed at the old and mottled banner. Back then, he had spent enormous amounts of time and energy in search of this banner, but his efforts had turned up nothing. When the Sage Emperor passed, the most legendary war banner of the Central Plains had vanished with him, and no one else was able to find it. This was a tremendous loss for both Wang Chong and the entire Central Plains.
This time around, Wang Chong had wanted nothing more than to find this war banner. But the Central Plains was as vast as the sea and Wang Chong had no idea where to start. Finding it was far easier said than done. But Wang Chong had never expected that at the crucial moment of this war, the banner that he had so longed for would appear before his eyes.
The Nine Dragon Blood War Banner!
This was one of the strongest war banners of the Central Plains. This war banner was rumored to have originated more than one thousand years ago in the era of the Great Han Emperor Wu. At the time, the renowned Champion Marquis Huo Qubing1 had used this banner in a formation as he led the army in conquering the Xiongnu to the north. Over a thousand years, this formation had been modified through the generations, growing stronger and stronger. In the era of Emperor Taizong, it became the world-famous formation known as the Dragonspear Tiger Leopard Cavalry.
The Nine Dragon Blood War Banner was the core of this formation. In Taizong's era, it was the most powerful ritual tool of the Central Plains and the highest symbol of the Great Tang army's power.
These were the reasons Wang Chong had so tirelessly sought out this war banner.
”Li Siye, pass on my order. The Dragon Stallion Army, the Divine Martial Army, the Divine Prison Army, and the Tongluo Cavalry… have them all assemble at Talas's second training ground! General, time is short, so I must trouble you to go as well.”
These last words were spoken to the black-armored guard holding the banner in one hand.
The guard stepped forward and resolutely declared, ”This general will do everything in his capabilities to fulfill this duty!”
……
Outside Talas, between the two defense lines, cold and bleak winds howled through a world of stillness. The cavalry had been sent to the first defense line, and even the Mo Saber Unit had been deployed for defense. But the second training ground of Talas was a hive of activity, brightly lit. The Dragon Stallion Army, Divine Prison Army, Divine Martial Army… all the top-class armies had gathered and were undergoing intense drilling. There was only one day to complete this training, so Wang Chong could only rely on his superb abilities to prepare his men as quickly as possible.
Rumble!
An entire night was spent in training, the rumbling ceaselessly resounding through the city.
……
At the same time, the Arab camp was also tightly guarded. The battle during the daytime had been extremely intense, and even the Revelation Army had been deployed, yet the Tang had still emerged victorious, even inflicting more than two hundred thousand casualties. To the conceited Arabs who believed that victory would eventually be theirs, this was undoubtedly a massive psychological blow.
After experiencing the dreadful fighting power of the Great Tang, all the Arabs were acting as if they were facing a powerful foe, with tens of thousands of torches illuminating the Arab camp until it was as bright as day. More than one hundred teams were out on patrol, another sign that Arabia was taking the Great Tang very seriously.
Whoosh!
On the outermost perimeter of the Arabian camp, there was no wind, but a torch suddenly flickered, its flame shrinking as if someone had blown on it. A group of patrolling soldiers saw this sight and slowed down, their eyes widening.
”It's too cold. Even the torches are starting to be affected.”
”What's going on here? I feel like tonight is colder than usual.”
Based on normal circumstances, it would be two months until the first snow, but right now, it felt even colder than if it had snowed!
The Arabs suddenly began to chat amongst themselves.
The change in weather had actually started several days ago, but for some reason, the temperature was beginning to drop even more rapidly.
An Arab horseman noticed something and pointed at another horseman, his voice fraught with shock. ”Rafur! Look at your armor!”
These words attracted the rest of the horsemen, and all of the Arab cavalry around the torch turned to look at Rafur.