Chapter 1835: Behemoth Slayers! (2/2)
Upon seeing this, the millions of Arab cavalry turned silent, all of them stunned.
These were the world-destroying beasts of Arabia, and even the powerful Sassanid Dynasty, despite its fierce resistance, had fallen under just a few Behemoths.
But now, even before the battle had fully begun, so many of these beasts had been lost. This eastern empire had even established a force specifically to deal with the Behemoths, a development that none of them had expected.
For the first time, the fearless Arab cavalry were realizing that these eastern infidels would be far more frightening than imagined, even with their overwhelming advantage in numbers.
”Kill!”
”Everyone, charge with me!”
”The Behemoths have already made an opening! Hold the Tang back! Tear them to shreds! Attack!”
At this moment, Arabic war cries resounded through the air. As the Behemoth Army offensive was being pushed back, the galloping of hooves came from behind them. Weapons clanged, their edges flashing with cold light, and an army of two-hundred-thousand-some Arab cavalry charged out, the general leading them pointing his sword straight into the air.
As Khatabah's most outstanding vanguard general, Apolis had a sharp intuition for spotting the best chance to strike so as to increase the advantage for his own side. From the very beginning, Apolis had been watching the battle from the rear.
While the enemy had been more prepared than expected and the Behemoth Army's attack had been thwarted, the objective had been reached. The Behemoth Army had successfully opened up the center of the Tang defense line.
”Kill!”
The Arab cavalry roared and sped up, and the distance rapidly shrank from six thousand feet to four thousand feet. At this distance, the Arab cavalry suddenly split in two, circling around the Behemoths before continuing their charge.
”Focus! They're about to attack! The enemy commander is extremely formidable. He plans to use the power of the Behemoths to widen the gap in our defenses!” A powerful mental wave swept out, mixing with the mental waves of the other five Tang commanders. The speaker was none other than Wang Zhongsi, atop a scarlet steed.
Wang Zhongsi was not participating in this probing assault, but as the illustrious and experienced former War God, he had been constantly observing the battlefield.
Wang Chong had always been on guard against the Arabs, starting his preparations ever since the Battle of Talas. This was probably the Great Tang's greatest advantage in this battle. In normal circumstances, if the initial assault had failed to produce the expected amount of damage, the majority of commanders would choose to temporarily retreat, but not this commander.
This man was aggressively minded. Rather than retreating, he wanted to create more opportunities on the battlefield by attacking on two flanks, thus throwing the Tang army into chaos and allowing the Behemoth Army to get more done.
Two hundred thousand cavalry assaulting the defense line paired with the Behemoth Army would massively increase the pressure on the Tang.
”Lord Zhangchou, Protector-General An, it's up to you!” Wang Chong coldly said, his expression calm and collected.
”Mm!”
On the left and right flanks, Zhangchou Jianqiong and An Sishun subtly nodded, but they remained motionless in their separate armies.
As top-class Great Generals, Zhangchou Jianqiong and An Sishun had their own analyses of the battlefield, their own understanding of the ideal chance to strike and how the strike was made. They were not like ordinary generals, who would rashly charge in the moment they spotted the enemy.
That was far from the best opportunity.
”Kill!”
”Exterminate these infidels!”
”This is a great glory! Today, we will follow the Hierophant in uniting the entire eastern world and fulfilling God's will!”
”Those who die will be eternal warriors of Arabia!”
Arabic war cries continued to ring out as the Arab cavalry coalesced into floods of steel.
The neighing of their horses was getting closer and closer.
As the tension soared, time slowed to an interminable crawl.
”First defense line! Left and right flanks! Raise shields! Hold the line!”
”Beehives! Get ready for my order!”
”Ready!”
”Ready!”
A string of orders came from the first defense line. At this time, there was no need for Wang Chong to issue the orders himself. His subordinates had been honed by numerous battles.
The commanders at the front line were Li Siye's subordinates: Kong Zi-an, Sun Zhiming, and Xue Qianjun.
Gallop!
The Arab cavalry picked up speed, and the air current created by the tens of thousands of charging Arab cavalry produced visible ripples in the air.
At this distance, it was possible to see the savage visages of the Arab cavalry, even the bristly hairs on their arms. All the Arab cavalry flowed between the steel walls like floodwaters, navigating through the gaps.