Side Story Chapter 23 (1/2)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

“I underestimated him.”

Huoshu Songren’s eyes glinted with savagery as he looked at Li Taiyi’s smiling face.

Hiding his strength!

Huoshu Songren had thought that Li Taiyi was just a slightly smarter Prince, and from how he had surrounded that Tibetan raiding party, he was, at most, a Prince who was good at warfare. But after Li Taiyi had given pointers to that Tang general, Huoshu Songren once more had to change his view of Li Taiyi.

This was someone very capable at commanding men, someone who could threaten Ü-Tsang.

If a single order could assist that general in escaping his predicament, the generals on the Great Tang side would have already spoken instead of waiting until now to say it.

At this moment, Ormu slunk back to the Tibetan ranks, a nasty scowl on his face.

He did not dare to look at Huoshu Songren, for he had lost and affected the Tibetan morale.

Ormu lowered his head and closed his eyes, preparing to take Huoshu Songren’s rage. A rumbling voice spoke.

“You’re dismissed. Don’t repeat this next time.”

Ormu was startled, and raised his head. All he saw was Huoshu Songren’s imposing figure walking to the rear.

At that moment, Ormu’s eyes were even more filled with determination, and he said with utmost loyalty, “Yes! This general will do everything in his power to defeat the Great Tang!”

Ormu turned his horse around and rode back to the front, his body tensing as he prepared for battle.

A loss at the pre-battle duel did not count for anything!

The real show was afterward.

“General Guo, when armies clash, each person works for their own master! On this day, I will not show mercy!”

As Huoshu Songren spoke, his voice gradually turned cold.

The Tibetan army unfurled its banners and began to radiate a threatening and intimidating aura.

On the other end, Guo Dingguo looked at his subordinates and gave a slight nod.

“Get ready!”

Any more talk was meaningless. The outcome would be decided on the battlefield!

Li Taiyi looked around at the reorganizing Tibetan army and mentally remarked, Now is the time for the real battle!

Shaking the reins, Li Taiyi turned his horse around and headed to the rear of the Tang army.

Bwoooom!

Horns blared from both armies. The battle was imminent.

Song Yi returned to the Tang ranks and mounted his horse. As the general who had won the duel and raised the morale of the soldiers, he raised his horse-slayer saber with his right hand and shouted a forceful order.

“All soldiers, prepare for battle!”

As his cry resounded through the air, the air tensed, and everyone turned their attention to the front.

Rumble!

At almost the same time, red-bearded Ormu waved his hand, and three thousand Tibetan cavalry immediately came forward like a demon god emerging from the underworld.

These Tibetan horsemen were clearly elites, wearing full armor and with savage looks in their eyes. Even their highland steeds were outfitted with heavy armor.

Though their challenger had lost, this had only stimulated the Tibetans’ will to fight. Their bodies radiated a heavy energy, and even at this distance, the Tang soldiers could still feel the pressure.

A vigorous voice came from the rear of the army. “Break open the crates!”

Li Taiyi was the one who had issued this order, his face stern. Through the retraining, Li Taiyi had gained some authority, and quite a few soldiers respected him.

Upon hearing Li Taiyi’s words, the soldiers shook themselves out of their stupor, and a moment later, boom! The thirty large crates were broken open.

Wooden shards flew everywhere as the savage war machines beneath were exposed.

These war machines were taller than an adult man and had a metallic sheen. In order to make them easier to move around, they had two wheels installed beneath them. Atop these wheels was a giant crossbow, much bigger than ordinary crossbows. Loaded on the crossbow was a bolt that was ten feet long. In fact, there were at least three bolts loaded on each crossbow, with the most being five.

These war machines exuding a sharp light were none other than the ballistae.

From the initial designs to production to the test firing, they had taken a lot of Li Taiyi’s time and effort, but it could be seen that Li Taiyi had succeeded.

“What is this?”

On the other side, in the rear of the Tibetan army, Huoshu Songren saw the ballistae scattered throughout the Tang army and was perplexed.

For some reason, he felt a vague unease.

Swoosh!

Suddenly, at the front of the army, Ormu took out his curved saber with his right hand and raised it high in the air.

This unique scimitar used by the Tibetans gleamed with a cold light.

“All soldiers, prepare to move into Echelon Formation!”

Boom!