Chapter 1178: Prepare, Another Battle! (2/2)

The Three Titans of Black Radiance listed out the names of ten-some more Arab governors. Hular noted each of them down, and a few moments later, an Arabian hunting falcon rose into the air, flying toward Baghdad.

”Hular, pass on my order! Tomorrow, when the steel bridges arrive, immediately begin the assault across the river. Kill every Tang and Khorasani in the city!”

”Yes!”

……

As darkness settled in, Khorasan began to calm down. The weather was getting colder and colder, and nobody noticed that a thin sheet of ice was slowly forming on the steep walls of Khorasan. It was now even colder than it had been at dawn.

At this moment, however, Khorasan was brightly lit and raucous. The Tang had made a small sacrifice for an enormous victory, but the battle was far from over.

”Lord Protector-General, what should we do next? Although the Arabs have withdrawn, their losses are still far from serious.” Xi Yuanqing spoke up from a corner of the hall as he gravely looked at Wang Chong.

”And based on how the Arabs have usually fought, after their loss in today's battle, they will be even more prepared for the next assault, and it will be even more ferocious. Not only that, I worry that they will gather even more experts and soldiers. After all, Baghdad isn't that far away.” Cheng Qianli also offered his opinion, his expression extremely grave.

This was not their first clash with the Arabs. At the Battle of Talas, they had believed that they had vanquished the Arabs, but it turned out that the Arabs still had an endless stream of reinforcements, one wave after the next, each one stronger and stronger.

”In addition, there were originally supposed to be more rebel soldiers arriving at Khorasan to assist us, but I have learned that all the rebel armies on the border of Arabia have recently been harshly suppressed. I sense that Arabia is currently thinking of ways to mobilize more of its border armies to come and deal with us. Arabia and the Caliph have probably begun to regard us as a lethal danger,” Bahram sternly said.

”With just two hundred thousand soldiers, it is impossible for us to oppose all of Arabia! General, without reinforcements from the Great Tang, we cannot hold out. Do you truly plan to defend against the next assault?”

Bahram turned to Wang Chong, his eyes fraught with concern.

The Great Tang was too far from Khorasan. Wang Chong had told him long ago that the Great Tang reinforcements would never arrive so quickly. And yet Wang Chong had not only stated several times that they would hold out against the Arab assault, he had done so with complete confidence and surety.

But Bahram truly could not understand what Wang Chong was basing this conclusion on. He had originally believed that Wang Chong was just being cautious and keeping his plan a secret from him, but he hadn't expected that not even Gao Xianzhi and Cheng Qianli knew anything about it.

Buzz!

At this moment, everyone in the hall turned to Wang Chong, even the black-armored guard. Everyone stared at Wang Chong, trusting and believing in him.

By now, Wang Chong had become their backbone. Even Gao Xianzhi, the Anxi Protector-General, had unconsciously placed a great amount of trust on Wang Chong.

”Haha, I've already taken care of everything. You'll understand tomorrow at daybreak.”

Wang Chong faintly chuckled.

Everyone in the room appeared stunned by Wang Chong's words.

There were so many Arab soldiers and Great Generals outside the city, and even holding them off once was extremely difficult. And yet Wang Chong claimed that the Arabs would be dealt with by daybreak. This was simply unbelievable.

If any other person had said this, they would be regarded as a madman, but even if Wang Chong stated something even more absurd, everyone would believe that Wang Chong was serious.

The conference quickly ended. Their trust in Wang Chong meant that once they learned that he had already arranged everything, they questioned him no further. Time slowly passed, and the temperature continued to drop. Even though both sides had ceased fighting, both sides of the Tigris River only became more fraught with tension.

In the southeastern part of Khorasan was a domed and sumptuous hall, dimly lit by a single lantern. Within, Wang Chong was seated cross-legged, motionless. Khorasan was still, and there were no sounds except the rushing of the Tigris River and the neighing of horses.

As time flowed by, even though Wang Chong could see nothing before him, he could sense that all eyes in the city were silently watching him, waiting for him.

But few people knew that Wang Chong was also waiting for something.

Bongbongbong!

As he was thinking, there was a knocking at his door.

”Enter.”

With a deep breath, Wang Chong awakened from his stupor.