"Lord Gao, you also know that the majority of our soldiers are infantry. In truth, the strongest force of the Tang Dynasty was also infantry, although they also had a considerable number of cavalry. But in terms of cavalry, other than the Wushang Cavalry, there are very few cavalry that can compare to the Arab cavalry. "
Wang Chong sincerely said. He had thought about this plan for a very long time, but he still needed Gao Xianzhi's agreement to actually push it forward.
"This truly is the case. The Anxi Protectorate army is already the elite of the Tang Dynasty protectorates. But it doesn't have much of an advantage against the Arabs. If not for the City of Talas behind us, we would have never been able to last so long in the wilderness against so many Arabs. "
Gao Xianzhi sternly said.
Whether it was the Arabs, the Western Turks, or the Ouzan, they were all people who lived on horseback. In this aspect, the Tang Dynasty, as a people of agriculture, could not compare to them. This was already public opinion, and there was no need to deny it.
"When fighting against other races, we actually rely more on infantry, cavalry, and ballista soldiers to fight together. In this aspect, we are different from the Arabs and the Western Turks. Both sides fight in different ways, so it's not easy to make a direct comparison. But on the plains and in the wilderness, cavalry still has the absolute advantage. "
Gao Xianzhi said.
Wang Chong nodded. Gao Xianzhi's final words had revealed the true situation of the Tang Dynasty. To the Tang Dynasty, which was dominated by infantry, the open plains of Talas were the most unfavorable terrain. In this place, the mobility of the cavalry far surpassed that of the infantry. Furthermore, the boundless flat terrain also allowed the cavalry to better arrange their formations and charge at maximum speed.
If not for the two steel defense lines Wang Chong had erected around Talas and the threat of the Tang Dynasty ballistae, the Tang Dynasty's infantry would have found it very difficult to defend against the charge of so many elite Arab cavalry.
"This is also what I've always wanted to change. If the situation really is as the Khorasani have said, then four hundred thousand elite soldiers and three Arab governors will be a challenge we've never encountered before. Moreover, Abu Muslim has fought with us for so long that he has experience. The two steel defense lines won't be able to stop him for long. "
Wang Chong said.
He would never underestimate any opponent, much less one of the most outstanding Great Generals of the Arabian Empire. Even in the southwest, Dalun Ruozan had thought of using ropes and elephants to deal with the steel wall, let alone Arabia, which was even stronger and had even more resources to spare.
"If that's the case, we can only retreat to Talas …"
Gao Xianzhi said, frowning unknowingly.
"But if we retreat into the city, we will completely lose the initiative and fall into the opponent's rhythm. More importantly, when enemies meet on a narrow path, only the courageous will emerge victorious. This is the first large-scale conflict between Arabia and the Tang dynasty. We don't understand Arabia, and Arabia doesn't understand the Tang dynasty. As long as we retreat into the city, we will be showing weakness to the enemy. Given the Arabian Empire's ambitions, there will be endless wars in the future. "
Wang Chong finished the second half of what Gao Xianzhi had left out.
This battle was not just a struggle for power, but also a struggle for momentum. This was why Wang Chong had insisted on the two steel defense lines outside the city, to defend against the enemy from the outside and not from the inside. It was also why Wang Chong and Gao Xianzhi had not retreated from Talas even though they had defeated the Arabs!
"… Not only that, if the Arabs have learned their lesson from last time and surround Talas without attacking, we won't even need three months. In less than three months, when our rations are exhausted, we will lose without a doubt! "
The study was quiet. Gao Xianzhi's brow was tightly furrowed, and the atmosphere was oppressive.
Abu Muslim was a valiant general, but he was not lacking in strategy. The first time, he had believed that he could force his way through, but after two whole months, he had made no progress. This time, if the Tang Dynasty wanted to rely on the City of Talas, it would not be so simple. Even more dangerous was that once the two steel defense lines were lost, the Ouzan, the Western Turks, and the Arabs would gather together. With seven Great General experts, the three empires would probably choose to use the strength of their Great Generals to crush the Tang Dynasty.
"What do you plan to do?"
Gao Xianzhi broke the silence a few moments later.
Wang Chong faintly smiled, knowing that Gao Xianzhi had already thought it through.
"I want to form a new type of soldier, the Mo Saber warriors!"
"Mo Saber warriors?"
Gao Xianzhi raised his head and looked at Wang Chong, a hint of confusion in his eyes. Gao Xianzhi was experienced and well-read, but he had never heard of this sort of square formation.
"What is the meaning of this? Have you even changed your weapon?"
Gao Xianzhi had acutely extracted the words' Mo Saber 'from Wang Chong's words. The Tang Dynasty had all kinds of sabers, but he had never heard of the Mo Saber.
"Haha, I just knew that I couldn't hide it from Milord."
Wang Chong faintly smiled, no longer intending to keep him in suspense.
"Someone, bring the item in!"
"Yes, Marquis!"
A voice came from outside, and under Gao Xianzhi's curious gaze, a soldier of the Qixi Protectorate army strode in, his head held high and his chest puffed out, a brocade box seven or eight feet long on his shoulder.
"Crescent Moon Saber?"
Gao Xianzhi turned to Wang Chong in surprise.
The weapons of the Tang Dynasty were three feet long, with a few being four feet long. Sabers were a little longer, but the difference wasn't that great. Sabers that could reach four feet were extremely rare, and the only one that Gao Xianzhi knew of was the Green Dragon Crescent Moon Saber. It was rumored that more than five hundred years ago, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the long-haired Martial Saint of the Central Plains with the surname Guan used the Green Dragon Crescent Moon Saber.
But this weapon was only suitable for martial arts. Duels between Great Generals were also part of the scope of martial arts, so they could naturally use this weapon. But for ordinary soldiers, it was extremely inconvenient to use this weapon on such a large scale.
"Of course not!"
Under Gao Xianzhi's stunned gaze, Wang Chong chuckled and shook his head. He stood up from behind the table and walked up to the Qixi Protectorate soldier.
"Milord, take a look and you'll understand."
As he spoke, he gestured at the soldier. Clap! The brocade box opened, revealing a weapon seven or eight feet long that was completely different from any other weapon in this world, quietly lying at the bottom of the box for the first time. At the sight of the weapon at the bottom of the box, even Gao Xianzhi couldn't help but narrow his eyes, a hint of shock appearing on his face.
The weapon in the box had a perfectly straight blade, and the blade was extremely sharp. Moreover, the design of the blade and the back of the blade were extremely smooth, making it extremely easy to hack and slash. With one look, one could tell that it was an abnormally powerful weapon. Moreover, the surface of the weapon was as smooth as a mirror, its design extremely ornate. It was like a shark of the sea, savage but elegant.
This was no longer a weapon, but the most exquisite of works of art. Even something as cruel as slaughter had been raised to the realm of art.
Even Gao Xianzhi had to admit that Wang Chong had truly reached a breathtaking level in weaponsmithing!
In all the countries of the continent, not just the Tang dynasty, probably no one could compare to Wang Chong.
But the light in Gao Xianzhi's eyes only lasted for a few moments before dimming.
"This truly is a good saber! But I'm afraid that it's not suitable for use on the battlefield. "
Gao Xianzhi quickly looked away from the 'Mo Saber' and somewhat regretfully said.
"Oh?"
Wang Chong faintly smiled, took a sip of tea from the table, and then looked at Gao Xianzhi, apparently having predicted his reaction.
"Lord Protector-General, do you feel that the blade, edge, and back of this saber are too long? Although it's easy to wield, it's easy to break?"
"Correct!"
Gao Xianzhi didn't deny it. He said with some regret,
With a hint of regret, he said, "We've thought about this sort of saber before, and even before that, there were countless people who wanted to forge such a large saber or sword. But they've all failed. It's said that the hard is easy to break. Swords and sabers are designed to be three to four feet long so that they don't break. This saber is nearly eight feet long, and in a real battle, it won't even last ten slashes before breaking in two. And on the fierce battlefield, I presume that you understand what it means if a saber or sword suddenly breaks. "
Gao Xianzhi couldn't help but give a deep sigh. Wang Chong's idea was quite good, but it was simply unrealistic. Ideals and reality were two completely different things. This sort of saber … could only remain in the realm of ideals!
"Hahaha, Milord, since I designed this Mo Saber, I naturally considered this point. Since Lord Protector-General believes that it will break, why don't you try and snap it in two? "
Wang Chong grinned, his expression brimming with confidence.
"Oh?"
Gao Xianzhi froze, his eyes flickering with shock. But he quickly regained his composure. A saber breaking was a problem that had persisted for millennia. How could it be so easy to solve? But Gao Xianzhi didn't argue. Facts spoke louder than words, and it was easy to tell whether Wang Chong's saber was practical or not.
"Ding!"
Gao Xianzhi did not even turn his head. He extended a finger and gently flicked it at a spot four feet away from the Mo Saber. In that instant, a thunderous metallic sound suddenly came from the saber, reverberating throughout the entire study.
A moment later, the indifferent Gao Xianzhi instantly paled. Although he had only casually flicked his finger, Gao Xianzhi was a top-class Imperial Great General, so this flick of his finger weighed more than one thousand jin, equivalent to the fierce blow of a Profound Martial expert. Gao Xianzhi originally thought that with the length of the saber, coupled with the fact that the finger flicked the saber was the weakest and easiest to break, the Mo Saber would break easily. However, the final result was completely beyond his expectations.
Bang!
Without the slightest hesitation, Gao Xianzhi flicked his finger again, but this time, Gao Xianzhi's expression was much more solemn and serious. The strength of his finger was also many times greater than before, enough to snap many treasured sabers and swords, let alone this Mo Saber.
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