"Flap flap flap!"
As Wang Chong's army of more than one hundred thousand soldiers rode out of Qixi, countless carrier pigeons and rock eagles took off in every direction. This large-scale mobilization of soldiers had attracted the attention of countless people. On the distant Tibetan Plateau, ten-some Tibetan horsemen looked down from their vantage point, saw that dense mass of soldiers, and immediately turned their horses around.
"They're finally moving out?"
Next to the Ouzan royal capital, in an underground prison that no one could see, there was a creaking sound as the steel bars opened. As Huoshu Huizang and Dusong Mangpoje watched, a figure slightly combed back his hair, raised his head, and slowly walked out of the prison.
"Buzz!"
All was quiet and nothing happened, but in Dusong Mangpoje and Huoshu Huizang's eyes, the entire world seemed to rumble and tremble with that person's footsteps. After a long time, the Ouzan, the Tang Dynasty, and the Western Regions were finally about to usher in a new wave of change!
… …
Awooo!
As the Qixi army departed, on the border between Qixi and the Western Turkic Khaganate, a massive blue wolf stretched its neck and howled, its shrill howl traveling ten-some li. The wolf howl continued to spread from the edge of Qixi all the way to the depths of the Turkic steppe.
Gallop!
A few moments later, twenty to thirty li from the Qixi border, five Western Turkic soldiers suddenly turned their heads and called out. Then, each of them riding a giant wolf, they hurriedly galloped off into the distance. A few hours later — — — — — —
"Neigh!"
The neighing of a warhorse resounded from the main peak of Mount Sanmi, the seat of the Western Turkic Khaganate's court. Following the loud neigh of the horse, a burly figure slowly appeared on top of Mount Sanmi like a deity. Everyone's eyes were glued to him.
At that moment, the sky darkened, and even the sunlight seemed to be obscured by this figure.
"Irjin!"
All the Turkic cavalry immediately lowered their heads, expressions of respect and submission on their faces. In the Turkic language, 'Irjin' was an honorific given to a person of extremely high status. Other than the Western Turkic Emperor Ishbara Khagan, there was only one person who could earn the respect of so many Turkic soldiers around the Khagan's court: Great General Duwusili.
Just like the Tang dynasty of the Central Plains, although the Turks were brave and skilled in battle, only a handful of them could be called 'Great Generals'. Duwusili was one of them.
The surroundings were so quiet that one could hear a pin drop!
Duwusili stood at the top of Mount Sanmi, his disdainful eyes shining like the sun in the sky. Duwusili did not say a word. He only sat on the Divine Sun Chariot. His cold gaze was like that of a god. He looked down from above and slowly scanned the land.
Hu!
Waving his right hand behind him, Duwusili leaped into the air, crossing the twenty-some zhang to descend the mountain. Rumble! The warhorse landed in a cloud of dust. At the same time, thousands of warhorses neighed and galloped behind Duwusili. Tens of thousands of Turkic cavalry galloped out from behind Mount Sanmi, leaving a trail of dust in their wake as they charged down behind Duwusili.
Each of these Turkic cavalry exuded a storm of energy. Not even the five thousand carefully selected Turkic warriors led by the Black Wolf Yabgu could compare to them. Moreover, these cavalry were completely different from the other Turkic cavalry. The steeds they rode were all taller and more muscular, clearly taller than the other Turkic steeds, each of them as handsome as a dragon.
Rumble!
The warhorses quickly vanished into the west. After the battle of the Qixi Armory, the entire Turkic steppe was finally thrown into turmoil.
… …
Flapflap!
One carrier pigeon after another flew out. The Ouzan and the Western Turks were far from the only ones to react to Wang Chong's expedition. These two sides were not the only ones paying attention to this war. In the skies of Qixi, countless birds were flying toward the interior of the Western Regions.
Gaochang, Loulan, Yue, Danhuan, Gumo, Wusun … all the kingdoms of the Western Regions, large and small, were paying attention to this war.
'A fire at the city gate will bring disaster to the fish in the moat.' Although this war was a clash between the Tang Dynasty and Arabia, two great empires of the east and west, it also concerned all the kingdoms of the Western Regions. Each country of the Western Regions needed to make its own choice in this war.
… …
The influence of this war was not limited to just the east of the Cong Mountains!
"Have you found out everything?"
Whispers could be heard in the darkness. It was not the language of the Central Plains that they were most familiar with, nor was it Arabic, but a minority of the Hu language that no one understood.
"We've found out everything. Gao Xianzhi has already given the order. In seven days, he will open the storehouses and take out all the wine, meat, and rations to reward the army. He's been very secretive about this matter and hasn't even told us about it. But based on his usual style, he's prepared to cut off all means of retreat and fight to the death with the Arabs! "
Another voice in Talas replied in a low voice.
"Bastard!"
The first man to speak clenched his fists. In the dim starlight, one could vaguely make out that the speaker had long and narrow eyes, fierce and vicious. Above his lips were two thick mustaches, and it was clear at a glance that he was a man brimming with ambition.
Most shocking of all was the aura and light of a ruthless and ruthless ruler that his eyes exuded.
In all of Talas, besides Gao Xianzhi and a few elite Han generals, there was only the mercenary leader of the Karluk Tribe, Wanhe Peiluo. In the Karluk language, this name had only one meaning: 'King of Kings'. Wanhe Peiluo had always been the strongest and most outstanding leader of the Karluk Tribe.
In his hands, the Karluks had become the strongest mercenary tribe on the steppe, possessing an extremely high status. In the Western Regions, they possessed an extremely high status.
"The Tang army is doomed. Gao Xianzhi has dominated for so many years, but this time, he's found the wrong opponent. The Anxi Protectorate army is doomed. He's preparing to drag us down with him! But he won't get the chance … "
Wanhe Peiluo's fierce voice resounded through the air.
"Guli, have the Arabs replied?"
"They've replied. The Arabs have promised to take care of our safety. In addition, as long as we act as spies and open the gates, they will give us another eight hundred thousand taels of gold. In addition, all the gold Gao Xianzhi plundered in the Shi Kingdom belongs to me. The Arabs have also promised that they will support us in ruling over the other tribes in the Western Regions! "
The Karluk general called Guli said in a hoarse voice, his voice tinged with a special meaning.
"Good!"
Wanhe Peiluo coldly smiled, a frightening light in his eyes.
"Gao Xianzhi and the Anxi Protectorate army will fight the Arabs to the death in seven days. We'll move tomorrow night and lure the Arabs into the city. Gao Xianzhi … might not get the chance! "
"Yes! Your subordinate will immediately give the order for our brothers to prepare. Starting tomorrow, Gao Xianzhi and the Annam Protectorate will become history. They won't get another chance. The Western Regions will be the world of Milord and our Karluk. "
The Karluk general called Guli immediately said.
Wanhe Peiluo chuckled and gave a satisfied nod. The Anxi Protectorate army and Gao Xianzhi were renowned throughout the world as the War God of the Western Regions. If he could personally bury this lion of the Western Regions, he would be able to add a dazzling stroke to Wanhe Peiluo's and the Karluk army's record books. This would be the best gift for their Karluk tribe to rule over the Western Regions.
"Reporting!"
Just as Wanhe Peiluo was feeling the most pleased with himself, the sound of footsteps suddenly rang out in the darkness. Wanhe Peiluo and the Karluk general turned their heads and saw a Karluk mercenary rushing toward them.
"What's going on? What's all the fuss about? Don't you know the rules of the army? "
Wanhe Peiluo frowned. Gao Xianzhi had been extremely strict in managing his army. Even though he had already made up his mind to betray Gao Xianzhi, before truly moving, Gao Xianzhi still had to abide by the iron law of neutrality.
"Leader, it's bad! We just received a message from the tribe behind us. Our tribe has been surrounded by the Qixi Protectorate, and all the women, children, and the elderly have been captured. Even the tribe's cows, sheep, and warhorses have been brought to the Cong Mountains. "
The Karluk mercenary's breathing was ragged, his expression one of extreme panic.
"What!"
Wanhe Peiluo and the general at his side widened their eyes, their bodies trembling as if they had been struck by lightning.
"Bastard, how could such a thing happen? Give me the letter! "
Wanhe Peiluo was enraged as he snatched the letter from the tribal soldier's hands. The Karluk tribe had many people, and the majority of the men would usually leave the tribe to fight in the field, leaving the elderly, women, and children to stay in the rear. This was also for the safety of the Karluk tribe.
In this way, no matter how many men the Karluks lost in the field, the tribesmen in the rear could still reproduce and receive compensation from their employers.
In addition, for the safety of the rear, Wanhe Peiluo had left a special eagle in the rear. This was a mutant beast that he had purchased from an Arab merchant at a high price. It could fly extremely fast. If something happened in the rear, this eagle could be used to notify Wanhe Peiluo at the front as quickly as possible.
In this way, they could take care of each other and avoid being ambushed in the rear.
But this sort of thing had never happened before, given the prestige and illustrious fighting power of the Karluks. Yet Wanhe Peiluo had never imagined that while he was with Gao Xianzhi and the Anxi Protectorate army, his home would be attacked, and it would be the army of the Tang Dynasty.
When he opened the letter, he saw that it was written entirely in Karluk, and it was marked with a symbol that only his tribe knew.
"Bastard!"
A thunderous roar resounded through the skies, shattering the tranquility of Talas. Wanhe Peiluo threw the letter to the ground, his entire body seething with rage.
"Get ready! I'm going to see Gao Xianzhi!"
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