The battle in the southwest was like a clap of thunder that shook the entire capital!
While everyone was hoping that the new Annan Protectorate Protector-General Xianyu Zhongtong would lead 180,000 Tang dynasty elites to defeat Mengshe Zhao and punish Gelofeng, the battle in the southwest dealt a heavy blow.
Emperor Gelofeng of the Mengshe Zhao Empire had mobilized all his forces, leading all 340,000 soldiers of Mengshe Zhao to engage in a decisive battle with the 180,000 Tang dynasty elites of the Annan Protectorate on the plains of the Erh River!
The disparity in numbers had resulted in the Annam Protectorate's defeat. The long journey meant that no further information was available for the time being.
But the preliminary results were already extremely unsettling.
In the northeast, Youzhou, Anxi's Suiye, Longxi's Jishi, and the Yin Mountains of the north … the Tang Dynasty had always held the upper hand, or at least the upper hand. But in the southwest, the Tang Dynasty had rarely mobilized an army of 180,000 soldiers at a time.
Furthermore, losing a battle on such a scale was something that had never happened before!
Ever since the Imperial Court had received the news, it had dispatched hundreds of its most experienced spies to the southwest, traveling day and night to gather more information.
And the Imperial Court was also discussing the issue of reinforcements!
Whether it was Anxi, Andong, Anbei, or Longxi, the Tang Dynasty was facing a powerful empire, a powerful foe. It was simply impossible to casually withdraw reinforcements.
If it acted rashly and revealed a flaw, it would be an even greater crisis. Thus, reinforcements could only be sent from other parts of the interior.
"The Imperial Court sent out the second wave of reinforcements two days ago. This army is being led by the rising young general of the army, Li Zhengyi. It totals 60,000 soldiers, and they are carrying a large number of bows, ballistae, weapons, and rations for the southwest.
"You might not understand Li Zhengyi very well, but he's a leading figure of the younger generation in the army. He has participated in many major battles, and his performance is extremely eye-catching. Moreover, he became famous very early on in the army, and his reputation in the army is probably even above that of your big brother, Wang Fu. "
The King of Song said.
The King of Song's expression had always been extremely grave, and when he spoke of the defeat in the southwest, it became even more somber. But when Li Junzheng was mentioned, the King of Song's expression was clearly much more relaxed. It was clear that he held Li Junzheng in high regard!
Wang Chong's complexion turned extremely unsightly.
"History is repeating itself!"
Wang Chong murmured. At this moment, he felt an indescribable pain in his heart.
How could Li Zhengyi not know?
Li Zhengyi had indeed made a name for himself earlier than his elder brother, Wang Fu. In terms of talent, he was also publicly acknowledged to be formidable.
He had first joined the Anxi Protectorate, taking up a post in the distant Suiye City to the west. There, his performance had been so dazzling that even Gao Xianzhi had praised him.
Later on, he was transferred to Beiting, where he conquered the Turks many times, his performance even surpassing some of the generals in the army.
In the army, Li Zhengyi was publicly acknowledged to have the potential to become a Great General. The army had also chosen him as a promising leader of the younger generation, one who could replace the likes of Wang Zhongsi and Zhang Shougui and become the cornerstone of the empire.
But no matter how formidable the Imperial Court was, no matter how talented Li Zhengyi was, he could never have imagined that their true opponents were not the people of Mengshe Zhao, not Gelofeng, not Fengjiayi, but the Ouzan Empire's Huoshu Huizang and Dalun Ruozan.
The former was the number one general of the Ouzan Empire's Ngari Royal Lineage, possessing incredible offensive power. In the past, he had been appointed the Invincible Great General of the Ouzan Empire, second only to the likes of Li Siye.
The latter was a famed strategist of the Ouzan Empire, possessing unparalleled ability to grasp opportunities.
When the two of them worked together, even the 180,000 Tang dynasty elites under Zhangchou Jianqiong's command would be in grave danger.
In his ten-some years in the Southwestern Protectorate, Zhangchou Jianqiong had never once attacked the Ouzan Plateau. It wasn't that he was worried about Mengshe Zhao taking advantage of the situation, but that he wasn't confident that he would be able to defeat Huoshu Huizang and Dalun Ruozan even if he left the South of Rosy Clouds.
Although Li Zhengyi was powerful and talented, he couldn't compare to figures of the level of Huoshu Huizang and Dalun Ruozan.
And the soldiers he could muster from the interior were also incapable of dealing with the elite cavalry of the Ouzan Empire.
In a direct confrontation, Li Zhengyi's strength was already lacking, and he had been completely unprepared. One could easily imagine the fate that awaited him.
Wang Chong had never imagined that the tragedy that had occurred back then would repeat itself.
"Your Highness …"
Just as Wang Chong opened his mouth, a voice suddenly rang out.
"A turning point in the world. A major event: Ouzan has intervened in the war between Tang and Mengshe Zhao. The Tang dynasty has been defeated, with 80,000 soldiers remaining. From now on, user is forbidden from revealing any information related to Ouzan.
"From now on, if the army of the Southwestern Protectorate falls below 10,000 soldiers within two months, user will be considered to have failed the mission and will be killed. If the army of the Southwestern Protectorate is completely wiped out, user will be considered to have failed the mission and will be killed as well.
"User will not leave any traces in this world, including the memories of others!
"The countdown begins now!"
… …
Weng!
A jolt of electricity coursed through Wang Chong's body, causing him to tremble in shock. He couldn't utter a single word of what he wanted to say.
"Wang Chong, what's wrong?"
The King of Song asked with concern. Wang Chong's complexion didn't look too good.
"It's nothing."
The pale-faced Wang Chong shook his head, his mind in disarray.
Xianyu Zhongtong had been defeated. Not in battle, but in utter defeat. The Ouzan had intervened in the war much earlier than he had expected.
The 180,000 elites of the Tang dynasty were already no match for the 340,000 elites of the Mengshe Zhao Empire. Now that there were more than 200,000 cavalry from the Ouzan Ngari Royal Lineage, the fate of Xianyu Zhongtong and the 180,000 elites of the Tang dynasty could be easily imagined.
"I didn't think that it would still be too late …"
Wang Chong's heart sank to the bottom. Of the 180,000 elites of the Tang dynasty, only 80,000 were left. The death toll had reached more than 100,000.
The Annan Protectorate had finally suffered an unprecedented blow since its founding!
When the last 80,000 elites of the Tang dynasty were annihilated by the combined might of Mengshe Zhao and the Ouzan Empire, the 180,000 elites of the Tang dynasty, the Annan Protectorate would become the first protectorate in the history of the empire to be disbanded because of war.
But only Wang Chong knew that this was only the beginning!
Without the 180,000 elites of the Tang dynasty guarding the gates of the Tang dynasty, the millions of citizens of the Tang dynasty at the southwestern gate would be reduced to bones under the hooves of the iron hooves.
And the Eastern and Western Turks, Goguryeo, the Abbasid Caliphate, Charax Spasinu, the various kingdoms of the Western Regions … countless foreign countries would be encouraged to move.
The borders of the Tang dynasty would no longer have a day of peace!
As these countless thoughts flitted through his mind, the various memories of his last life floated to his mind. Gradually, the dazed look in his eyes faded. Wang Chong clenched his fists, his eyes slowly hardening.
What had already happened could no longer be changed, but at least he could still fight for the future.
If he was still unable to change the past after two rebirths, unable to prevent it, and had to watch as this tragedy repeated itself, then what need was there for him to exist?
"Your Highness, take me away from here!"
Wang Chong indifferently said as he looked ahead, his voice tinged with a unique tone.
The King of Song stared blankly at Wang Chong in surprise. The current Wang Chong looked very different from usual, but he couldn't say what was different. It was as if something special was being released from his body.
But King Song still quickly gave a grunt of acknowledgement and nodded.
Taking Wang Chong away had always been his goal.
"Boom!"
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