Forming an alliance and forming an alliance with the Tang dynasty at its head were two completely different concepts. The Tang dynasty could not submit to any other faction. If they formed an alliance, it had to be led by the Tang dynasty.
But this matter required the willingness of Bahram and the others. But according to Wang Chong's expectations, even if Bahram and the other rebel leaders agreed, they would have to wait until they had completely defeated the Arabs and survived this crisis. That Bahram had so quickly proposed an alliance with the Tang dynasty at its head was truly unexpected.
Bahram said nothing, his mind churning with countless thoughts. The matter of forming an alliance with the Great Tang had revolved around his mind for a very long time, and Bahram had also considered whether he should wait until he had successfully withstood the Arab assault before making a decision.
After all, if they couldn't hold Khorasan and force back the Arabs, any alliance would be meaningless. But after much consideration, Bahram made his decision.
He had personally witnessed the power of the Tang people. If there was one country in the world that could resist the Arabs and help them rebuild the Sassanid Dynasty, it could only be the Tang dynasty. Now, in the future, and in the next several hundred years, if the Sassanids wanted to survive the Arab assault, they would need the help of the Tang people.
Moreover, in his time with Wang Chong, the strength of character, strategy, bearing, courage, and insight that Wang Chong exuded had left an extremely deep impression on Bahram. This was a true genius, a Saint of the Art of War completely different from the God of War Qutaybah.
For a seventeen-year-old youth to possess such astonishing talent, Bahram felt a heartfelt admiration and respect. This was also an important reason why Bahram had made this decision ahead of time.
Rather than saying that Bahram had chosen the Tang dynasty, it was more accurate to say that Bahram had chosen Wang Chong and believed in Wang Chong!
"We believe in General!"
Bahram stared at Wang Chong and said a few simple words.
Boom! These six words seemed to possess an extraordinary power, causing the entire hall to fall silent. Not even Bahram realized that the moment he said these six words, the power structure of the western Cong Mountains, from Samarkand all the way to the distant Arabian capital of Baghdad, would be profoundly altered.
This was the firmest alliance on the continent. The Sassanids had also become the firmest ally of Wang Chong and the Tang dynasty. From the beginning to the end, his determination was unwavering.
A day later, in Khorasan, Wang Chong, Bahram, Gao Xianzhi, and the other rebel leaders swore an oath of blood, establishing a powerful alliance with the Tang dynasty at its head.
…
Time slowly passed, the weather growing colder by the day. During the day, many parts of Khorasan were covered in a thick layer of frost, and even the surging Tigris River was covered in a thin layer of ice in the early morning.
With the arrival of winter, the entire world became somber. From the Cong Mountains to Baghdad, there were very few people on the Silk Road, including the Arabian Empire. Everyone had gone into hibernation.
In a place five to six hundred li from Khorasan, in stark contrast to the somber and desolate atmosphere of the world, a dense mass of people spread out for several hundred li under the cold and gloomy sky. In the center of this mass of people were large black banners that blotted out the sun and covered every corner of the world.
"Is everyone here?"
Outside a massive tent, the Empire's White Corpse, Hular, rode a white warhorse and coldly said. His gaze was like a bolt of lightning sweeping across the earth. The Arabs were well-trained and well-trained. After a great deal of time, the Arabs had finally gathered their forces on this land.
One enormous aura after another soared into the sky from the vast army. Many governors and generals had already gathered in this region, a force that would make anyone apprehensive.
"Milord, the last Governor of Jia Nan has arrived, and the last group of soldiers has been gathered. All the soldiers have arrived!"
Hular's aide respectfully bowed at the waist as he spoke from the side.
"Buzz!"
Hular's eyes exploded with light, many times brighter than before. But Hular quickly calmed down.
"Hular, are you ready?"
At that moment, a dignified voice rang out from behind him. The voice contained boundless authority and dignity, as well as a tone of condescension. Hular's body trembled at this voice, and he turned around to look at the source of the voice.
"Milord, the seven hundred and fifty thousand soldiers have been gathered, and all the governors have gathered here. We can advance on Khorasan at any time and attack those remnants!"
Hular lowered his head and bowed.
All was quiet, and if one looked carefully, one would see three figures standing in a line, their bodies exuding the auras of mountains and seas. Although Hular was known as a powerful governor of Arabia, he was clearly dwarfed by these three, like a child standing before an adult.
The Three Titans of Black Radiance!
There had been many formidable governors in Arab history, but before Abu Muslim, the Three Titans of Black Radiance had been the most famous. They had been the strongest governors of the empire in the east, but they had later retired from the army. Only after they retired did Abu Muslim and Ziyad have the chance to become the most famous Governors of Iron and Blood in the east.
Although they had retired from the army, the Three Titans of Black Radiance still possessed an extremely high prestige in the army. Not even Hular could compare to them.
Qutaybah had died in battle, Aybak and Osman had been killed, and even Hular had been defeated. There was basically no one in the Arabian Empire that could contend against the Tang Dynasty's Wang Chong. Thus, they had been forced to invite these three renowned figures of the army.
"Then let's move out!"
The Head of Black Radiance, Fadi, said.
"Leave those top-class Tang Dynasty generals and Bahram to us," the Blood of Black Radiance said.
The Blood of Black Radiance, Firas, added.
"Once the city is breached, kill all the Khorasani! Leave none alive!"
The Blade of Black Radiance, Imron, said.
"Anyone who dares to collude with the infidels of the east should be prepared to die. Khorasan needs a true cleansing. "
The three of them spoke in calm and emotionless voices, deciding the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Khorasan with just a few words.
"Boom!"
With this order, the army began to move. More than seven hundred thousand soldiers, countless governors, and generals surged toward Khorasan, causing the earth to tremble.
… …
At the same time, on the western walls of the distant Khorasan, countless figures were gathered, all of them looking in the direction of Baghdad, the atmosphere solemn and respectful. Even though the other side was empty and devoid of people, all of Khorasan was fraught with tension, as if a battle was about to begin.
Whoosh!
Without any warning, the wide Tigris River outside Khorasan suddenly began to sway. As if its rhythm had been disrupted by some energy, the water splashed and splashed into discordant waves. Rumble! A few moments later, a power emerged from the ground, and everyone on the walls of Khorasan could clearly sense the walls beneath their feet shudder.
"What's going on?"
The people on the walls looked around, all of them extremely uneasy.
However, in just a short moment, not only did the tremors not weaken, but they also intensified, as if there was an invisible giant hand shaking the entire city underground.
"Look over there!"
Suddenly, a tall Khorasani cried out in alarm as he pointed into the distance. Following this person's gaze, everyone could clearly see a thin black line on the horizon approaching Khorasan.
This black line was like a strand of hair at first, but it quickly began to transform. A few moments later, it was like a black wave sweeping toward Khorasan.
"Careful!"
"It's the Arabs!"
A moment later, a horn blared from the walls, shattering the silence of Khorasan. As the war drums thundered, the mood in Khorasan grew tense. In the distance, as if in response to the cries of alarm, a massive black Arab war banner slowly rose from the horizon, its black banner flapping in the wind.
"Kiiiill!" "Charge!"
In the distance, the vast sea of Arab cavalry could see the towering walls of Khorasan. Suddenly, they unsheathed their scimitars and charged toward Khorasan like a flood of steel stretching for several dozen li.
"They're finally here?"
On the high walls, Wang Chong, wearing the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor, looked down, a faint smile on his lips.
He had arrived on the walls of Khorasan the moment he had first heard the tremors. The army before him was so vast and imposing that anyone who saw it would feel a powerful visual impact. It was like the entire world was pressing down on them, instilling a deep fear in them.
But to Wang Chong, all of this was within his expectations.
"Xu Keyi, Xue Qianjun, are you ready?"
Wang Chong said without turning his head.
"Milord, everything is ready. All the ballistae and equipment have been inspected!"
The two replied in unison.
"Remember, as long as we can hold out for half a day and don't let the Arabs break through the gates, we don't need to worry about anything else!"
Wang Chong indifferently said. His expression was confident and confident, exuding a powerful charisma that made others involuntarily trust him.
"Understood!"
The two of them bowed and accepted the order before quickly retreating.
"General, are you really sure that we only need to hold out for half a day to survive the Arab assault?"
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