After this snowstorm, in less than two or three years, an unprecedented cold wave would sweep down from the far north, creating an unprecedented cold winter.
This was a dreadful cold that occurred once every several hundred years. It would not last for one or two months, nor would it last for five or six months. It would last for more than ten months.
All the plants in the lands beyond the Great Wall would freeze to death, and millions of livestock would perish. Only a scant few would be able to survive this harsh cold.
And it was precisely this harsh cold that led to an even greater calamity, a series of upheavals and darkness.
This series of events was known in history as the Little Ice Age.
Other than those who had experienced it, no one else knew just how frightening this cold was.
Kaclack!
As they were speaking, the temperature dropped once more, and everyone standing in front of Wang Chong's room could hear a massive boom. This was the sound of another thick layer of ice forming on the walls of Khorasan, a sound that would make anyone's heart tremble in fear.
"Lord Protector-General, the temperature is dropping extremely rapidly. Take all the soldiers of the Anxi Protectorate army and hurry into the underground caves and cellars."
Wang Chong suddenly turned his head to Gao Xianzhi.
"What!"
Everyone was dumbfounded by Wang Chong's words. Underground caves and cellars? Wang Chong had even prepared these things? But Wang Chong had never mentioned them before.
"I've already taken care of everything. If Milord didn't come, Kong Zi-an and the others would have already gone to inform you. In addition, I've already had Banahan, the King Gangke, and Cui Piaoqi pass down the order. All the wool and cotton clothes have been distributed to the soldiers. After putting them on, they can enter the underground caves and cellars. The temperature there will be much higher and warmer than on the surface. "
Wang Chong indifferently said to the Anxi generals.
Before he could finish speaking, Cheng Qianli, Xi Yuanqing, Lou Shiyi, and the other Anxi generals had their mouths wide open, so shocked that they couldn't speak. Even Go Seonji was visibly moved.
No one had expected such a terrible cold. That was why Gao Xianzhi, Cheng Qianli, and the others hurriedly went to find Wang Chong. But they didn't expect that while they were still thinking about how to deal with it, Wang Chong had already arranged everything properly.
"… In addition, Bahram should have already sent people to inform the people of the city. This severe winter will be much more terrifying than what we can imagine and what we can see right now. It will also last for a much longer period of time. This is just the beginning! "
Wang Chong solemnly said.
Gao Xianzhi, Cheng Qianli, and the other Anxi generals were so shocked that they couldn't speak. Not even the sages of ancient times could determine victory from a thousand li away. But Wang Chong had already surpassed the realm of the sages. For a moment, all of them felt a supreme reverence, like the person standing before them was not a person, but an unfathomable god.
Gao Xianzhi quickly left with his generals, and all the arrangements that Wang Chong had made were swiftly carried out. The howling of the blizzard grew louder and louder, filling the entire world. And in the midst of the raging blizzard, all of Khorasan was abnormally quiet.
"Marquis!"
A few moments later, a voice came out of the blizzard. Li Siye, with his massive sword on his back, swiftly walked out of the blizzard with Cui Piaoqi, Kong Zi-an, the King Gangke, and Su Hanshan. In just a few moments, the temperature had plummeted.
Their hair, beards, shoulders, and arms were covered in a thick layer of frost, and the temperature had already dropped to negative forty-some degrees. Even people like Li Siye and Su Hanshan felt a slight chill, let alone the others.
The Zi Period of the Day was when the temperature dropped the most and was also the coldest. Almost all the blizzards and hail began to sprout at this time.
In this bitter cold, even ordinary soldiers could not withstand it. Although they had also cultivated astral energy, that level of astral energy simply could not withstand this cold for a long time.
Almost all the ordinary soldiers were wearing cotton-padded or woolen clothes and hiding in the cellars. Those that could still move on the ground were the elites.
"… All the soldiers have been recruited and are ready to go. Marquis, when are we going to attack? "
Li Siye's body was as straight as a mountain, his eyes suffused with a strong desire to fight.
Soldiers were trained for a thousand days to be used in a single moment. This blizzard was simply unprecedented, and everyone was trying to avoid it. But this also provided the army with an excellent opportunity. In the art of war, the right time, the right place, and the right people were all working together. This was something that Wang Chong had always taught them, and this sudden blizzard was the best opportunity to attack the Arabs.
Li Siye's words instantly silenced everyone. Kong Zi-an, Su Hanshan, Huang Botian, and the King Gangke all turned to Wang Chong, awaiting his order. As they waited, the surroundings grew quieter and quieter. The panicked shouts of the Arabs could be clearly heard through the high walls, and not even the blizzard could suppress them.
The Arabs had been too careless. This abrupt change in weather had left them completely dumbfounded, and their army of hundreds of thousands had been caught completely unprepared. The panicked shouts and neighing of their horses were the best proof of this.
According to Wang Chong's orders, the most elite soldiers had already been recruited and were ready to charge out at any time to deal a fatal blow to the hundreds of thousands of Arab soldiers outside the city in this extremely rare weather.
"There's no rush."
To everyone's surprise, Wang Chong waved his hand and rejected their proposals.
"Wait a little longer. Now is not the time to strike."
These words were completely different from what they had expected, leaving them all dumbfounded.
"But Marquis, based on what we've seen, the Arabs are already preparing to retreat after this sudden change. If we don't move now, we might lose this golden opportunity. We might just watch as they flee and lose our best chance to attack."
Kong Zi-an argued, an unwilling expression on his face. The duty of a general was to fight. If they did not use this chance to deal with the Arabs outside the walls, once the winter passed, they might come back. At that time, the Tang Dynasty might not have a chance to defeat them.
Although Su Hanshan and Cui Piaoqi said nothing, their eyes were also filled with doubt. Speed was paramount in war, and the longer they waited, the more Arabs would flee.
"It's not that simple. The Arabs won't be able to escape!"
Wang Chong's eyes focused and became sharp. His every movement exuded a powerful confidence, as if nothing in the world could escape his control.
"To the east of Khorasan is a blizzard, and the ground is frozen. Even if they want to escape, they won't be able to get very far. An army of six to seven hundred thousand won't be that easy to escape. Moreover, the longer we wait, the more they will die, and the weaker their resistance will be. Moreover, their formation will fall into disarray. That will be the best time for our attack!"
Everyone was stunned by Wang Chong's words.
"This general will deliver this order!"
They quickly bowed and acknowledged the order. In this aspect, they were still far inferior to Wang Chong in the art of war.
Li Siye and the others quickly withdrew, leaving Wang Chong alone in the blizzard.
… …
Time slowly passed, and while Khorasan was quiet, the Arab camp was in chaos.
"Milord, this storm is too strong, and the temperature is dropping too fast and too low. The soldiers simply can't hold on!"
"The provisions we brought with us have all been frozen, and the warhorses are all stiff and paralyzed!"
"Milord, we can't hold on any longer!"
… …
Amidst the raging blizzard, the generals were panicking and shouting at the top of their lungs. However, their voices were completely scattered by the blizzard. This development had come too quickly and abruptly, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
At the very front of the army, the Three Titans of Black Radiance stood side by side, an invisible barrier of energy exuding from their bodies, repelling the blizzard and the bitter cold. The three of them said nothing. Although they did their utmost to maintain their composure, the gloominess and grimness in the depths of their eyes revealed their true emotions.
"How could this be?"
Fadi's eyes flashed as he stared at the nearby and majestic city, his mind in disarray.
They only had one night. As long as the sun rose, they could mobilize their army and use their overwhelming strength to completely conquer the city that was occupied by the cultists. However, this unprecedented cold and stormy weather had completely disrupted their plans.
The combined assault of the storm and the rapid drop in temperature had thrown the army of hundreds of thousands into chaos, no longer as majestic as before. The neighing of horses and the screams of soldiers filled their ears, causing their hearts to drip blood. The three of them grimaced even more.
"Empress Dowager, requesting retreat!!"
"Milord, requesting retreat!!"
The panicked cries of the generals came from behind them. The situation was dire. If this continued and they did not retreat, the army would be completely wiped out.
"Buzz!"
The three of them stood motionless as they looked across at Khorasan, which was also shrouded in snow and still like a dead city, their minds conflicted. In a flash, countless thoughts surged through their minds.
"Hular, can we try to attack the city?"
Fadi suddenly said, his voice tinged with a final sliver of hope.
"Milord, it's impossible! I've already sent people to try. Khorasan is completely covered in a thick layer of ice. Our ropes can't pierce through the ice. Moreover, even the ropes have been frozen and can't be stretched. We can't attack the city. We can only retreat, retreat to Shandar. "
Hular's voice came from the side, brimming with unwillingness.
How could Hular not have considered what the Three Titans were thinking? The temperature was still plummeting, and in this bitter cold, the tents alone were not enough to hold out. Everything had been taken into account in the Arabian war plan. The only thing that had not been taken into account was this bitter cold.
Only by hiding in cities and houses could they just barely resist the cold. Otherwise, the army of more than six hundred thousand would be defeated without a fight, suffering unprecedented losses. At this moment, the closest city was Khorasan. But the ice over Khorasan had become an insurmountable moat for the army of hundreds of thousands. Moreover, there were still two hundred thousand Tang people, Khorasani, and rebel soldiers in the city. No one knew if the enemy had predicted this or if they had set up an ambush.
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