Chapter 1173: Surrender? (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
It wasn't that Bahram doubted Wang Chong, but Wang Chong seemed so self-assured, as if this Arab assault posed no threat to Khorasan whatsoever. However, other than telling everyone that they only needed to resist the Arabs for half a day, Wang Chong had divulged nothing else. Bahram truly couldn't understand why Wang Chong was so confident.
”Haha, you'll understand when the time comes!”
Wang Chong grinned. There were some matters for which explaining too much was detrimental. The more people that knew, the greater the possibility of the secret being leaked and the higher the chance of failure would become.
”Su Hanshan, get ready!”
”Yes!”
Su Hanshan bowed and quickly withdrew.
Kaclack!
A few moments later, following Su Hanshan's order, the walls of Khorasan began to creak with the turning of gears.
After so many days of constant labor, Zhang Shouzhi's craftsman team had managed to repair thirty thousand ballista bolts gathered from the battlefield of Talas. In addition, there were twenty-thousand-some damaged bolts. These no longer had the power of regular ballista bolts, but the fifty to sixty percent that they could exhibit could still play an enormous role on the battlefield.
The walls fell silent. Wang Chong, Gao Xianzhi, Cheng Qianli, Wang Yan, Wang Fu, the Demonic Emperor Old Man, the Wushang Village Chief, and the rebel leaders all stood in a row as they observed the opposition.
The world was gray and overcast, the only sounds the bleak howling of the frigid winds and the quaking of the earth.
Neigh!
The almost metallic neighing of a horse came from the distance, and in the blink of an eye, a black warhorse charged up, leading tens of thousands of Arab cavalry to Khorasan. This surprising action immediately captured everyone's attention.
”The Tang and Sassanid remnants on the wall, listen well! This is your last chance! Open the gates and immediately surrender. Otherwise, when the city falls, all of you will die!” the brown-bearded Arab general on the black warhorse loudly called out, his tone extremely stern and vicious.
Creeaak! The Arab general suddenly retrieved a golden bow from his back, nocked an arrow, and loosed it at the walls of Khorasan.
Boom! In a bright flash and a gust of wind, the arrow streaked across the Tigris River and thudded into the walls, only a few feet from the top.
Buzz!
The wall slightly caved in where the arrow landed, and the arrow shaft vibrated from the force of the impact. A letter had been clearly tied to the end of the arrow.
”Interesting!”
Wang Chong faintly smiled as he stretched out his hand. The golden arrow thrust into the wall immediately flew up and into Wang Chong's hand.
With a light flick of his finger, Wang Chong shattered the golden arrow and then proceeded to open the golden letter.
The contents of the letter were extremely simple, but each word exuded an aggressive and domineering aura.
”General, the Arabs demand that we immediately disarm, give up the city, and surrender. Otherwise, once the city falls, we'll all be killed together with the Khorasani in the city. The Arabs want to massacre all the residents of the city!” Bahram said from behind Wang Chong. Although Wang Chong knew a little Arabic, he had to rely on Bahram to fluently translate this Arabic letter.
After reading the contents of the letter, Bahram turned to Wang Chong to await his decision.
Wang Chong placed his hands behind his back and asked, ”Bahram, how much time did the Arabs give us?”
”One hour! If they haven't received a reply in one hour, they will commence the assault on the city. In addition, for this assault, they have dispatched the Three Titans of Black Radiance,” Bahram said, his voice tinged with deep concern.
Rumble! As if in response to Bahram's words, the distant Arab army suddenly parted, allowing three muscular warhorses clad in heavy armor to trot out of the sea of soldiers.
The three riders said not a word, but their bodies exuded an immense and suffocating pressure. In a flash, the walls of Khorasan became much quieter. The trio did nothing, but even the most ordinary of warriors could sense their vast and dreadful auras.
The Three Titans of Black Radiance!
Bahram had recognized them with a glance. The trio possessed a thunderous reputation, and in terms of reputation and strength, the Three Titans of Arabia even surpassed Bahram, having forged their reputations long before he had.
”Heh!”
Although Bahram had a dour expression, Wang Chong was carefree and relaxed.
”Didn't the Arabs give us an hour to consider surrender? Tell them that we will seriously consider our options.”
”!!!”
Everyone on the walls was left dumbstruck by this reply, even Bahram.
”Lord Marquis!”
At a moment like this, even Chen Bin didn't know what to say.
”…In addition, tell them that one hour isn't enough. I need to discuss this matter with all the rebel leaders, so I need at least six hours!” Wang Chong added.