Around Wang Chong, Li Siye, Su Shixuan, Cheng Sanyuan, Zhang Que, Sun Zhiming, Chen Burang, and Zhuang Buping couldn't help but be moved by this sight. Feng Changqing's name was like a thunderclap to their ears. For many of them, he was a lofty and unreachable figure that they would never be able to come into contact with in their entire lives.
But now, in front of so many people, Feng Changqing had put down his dignity and come to beg Wang Chong, who was far younger than him, in an extremely humble manner. This was a massive blow to all of them.
But Feng Changqing seemed to not notice, and he continued to bow. The situation in the Western Regions was getting tenser and tenser, and after almost two months of darkness and despair, Wang Chong was the only hope he could see, the only chance of survival for the thirty thousand soldiers of the Anxi Protectorate army trapped at Talas.
"Lord Feng, be at ease. Although the Arabs are powerful, they are far from being invincible. To borrow the words of Han Great General Chen Tang, those who openly offend my mighty Han will be executed no matter how far away they are! The Tang Dynasty is not weak, and the last thing the Arabian Empire should have done was collude with the Shi Kingdom and covet Anxi. In this battle, I will not only rescue Lord Gao Xianzhi and the soldiers of the Anxi Protectorate army, I will also make the Arabs pay the heaviest price for their recklessness! This is also the true reason I have come here! "
Wang Chong's eyes were bright as he slowly raised Feng Changqing up, his expression abnormally solemn.
Each of Wang Chong's words was like a heavy weight, causing Feng Changqing and the surrounding Anxi Protectorate army soldiers to tremble in shock. Feng Changqing had been bursting with anxiety and unease, and when he saw Wang Chong, his eyes turned red and tears almost came out. But at this moment, he inexplicably felt at ease. Slowly, Feng Changqing raised his head. For the first time, he was carefully examining the young Protector-General before him.
This was a youth of sixteen or seventeen, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. It was easy to associate him with the scions of the great clans of the capital, but he exuded a steadiness and steadiness that no scion of his age could possess. His expression was wise and his manner was calm, causing others to unconsciously pay attention to every word he said and deeply believe him.
Not only that, but Feng Changqing could also sense an extremely strong military aura from him. He was no ordinary general, but a top-notch general who had been through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. He had a wealth of battle experience and was extremely qualified. In his ten-some years in the Anxi Protectorate army, he had only sensed this sort of aura on one person: Xi Protector-General Gao Xianzhi.
But not even Gao Xianzhi exuded such a thick aura of iron and blood.
Feng Changqing had once looked down on Wang Chong, but he had also reexamined him. But in the end, Feng Changqing had realized that he had underestimated him. This youth was far stronger than he had imagined.
"Marquis speaks the truth. This one has made a slip of the tongue. With Marquis leading the mighty army of my Tang Dynasty, Changqing is confident that the Arabs will never be able to get what they want! Changqing wishes Milord an early report of victory and a triumphant return. When the time comes, Changqing will definitely hold a banquet for Milord in the protectorate headquarters to welcome you and celebrate your achievements! "
Feng Changqing's expression also turned serious, and he turned to the side of the road and once more gave a deep bow.
It was the same bow, but the meaning behind it was completely different.
"I wish Milord an early report of victory and a triumphant return!"
Behind Feng Changqing, the four soldiers of the Anxi Protectorate army also bowed deeply.
"Wait for my news!"
Wang Chong only smiled. This time, he did not help Feng Changqing up. Mounting the White-hoofed Shadow, he set off once more. His back was straight, and there was no reluctance in his eyes.
"Pass on my order! All soldiers, move out! Speed up!"
Rumble! The army of more than one hundred thousand surged through the last stronghold of the Tang Dynasty and toward Talas, which was nearly one thousand li away. Behind him, only when the last soldier of the Qixi Protectorate had left Suiye did Feng Changqing slowly raise his head.
Under the setting sun, the more than one hundred thousand Qixi reinforcements were like a black flood, sweeping through the distance with unstoppable momentum. This sort of momentum, unstoppable and unstoppable, had been deeply imprinted into the minds of every Qixi soldier. But in Feng Changqing's mind, all he could think of was the confident and confident figure of that youth.
"It's true that a hundred rumors are not as good as a meeting, and a meeting is far better than a reputation! In the past … it was me and Milord who underestimated Marquis. For the Tang Dynasty to have Marquis is the fortune of Anxi, and the fortune of all the people of the world! I am confident that Marquis will definitely succeed in this battle! "
… …
After leaving Suiye City, Zhao Fu found himself surrounded by mountains and valleys. There were no cities or villages, and the surroundings were completely desolate.
"All soldiers, hear my order! Advance at full speed!"
"Keep up! Don't fall behind!"
"Hurry! Talas is in dire straits! Don't let the Arabs have their way!"
… …
They passed through the precipitous Cong Mountains, which looked like a giant coiled dragon, and followed the desolate mountain path west. The sounds of urging came one after another, and the entire army moved at an extremely high speed. Speed was of the essence in war, and birds were constantly flying back and forth above the army. Although they still hadn't reached Talas, they could already hear shouts in the distance.
Although they couldn't see anything, everyone could imagine that hundreds of thousands of soldiers had gathered at Talas and were engaged in a fierce battle.
Everyone's expression immediately tensed up. In the army, from top to bottom, all the generals' expressions were incomparably solemn as orders were passed down one after another. Even the Hu mercenaries, who spoke a different language from the Han, could feel the tense atmosphere. They all held their breaths, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Not only that, a day later, a new order was issued. All the hooves of the horses were to be wrapped in cloth, and the mouths of the horses and livestock were to be covered with nets to prevent them from neighing or making any noise.
The noise of the army of one hundred thousand was immediately reduced to a whisper, but in this silent environment, the atmosphere of war had only intensified. Although the higher-ups had not explicitly said it, even the slowest person could tell that an unprecedentedly fierce battle was imminent!
One hundred li!
As they got closer and closer to Talas, the shouts grew louder and louder.
Eighty li!
Talas was still nowhere to be seen, but the waves of noise completely drowned out the rumbling of the carriages and the marching of the army!
Fifty li!
The army moved faster and faster, and on the horizon, one could faintly make out a mountain range. The mountains were lush and lush, and although there were no abnormally tall trees due to the terrain, they were still covered in green vegetation. The Whitestone Ridge was the closest obstacle to Talas. Looking up from the White Stone Ridge, one could already see a huge, majestic city protruding from the top of the mountain. Thick smoke billowed above the city, and flames soared into the sky, enveloping the entire sky.
The atmosphere was getting tenser and tenser. The army of one hundred thousand had solemn expressions, none of them making a sound. Even the cattle, sheep, and other livestock that served as food for the army seemed to sense something, their mouths closed, their eyes brimming with unease.
"Hurry up!!"
Order after order was issued, the supervisors and officers of the army of one hundred thousand frantically issuing orders. All of them could sense the atmosphere of war, their hands tightly gripping their weapons as they stared forward. All of them understood that the battlefield was over there, that the enemy was there!
What awaited them next would surely be an unprecedented, most ruthless, and most intense battle!
The gates of the Tang Dynasty were right behind them, and the thirty thousand soldiers of the Anxi Protectorate army were waiting for reinforcements. There was no path of retreat!
Forty li!
The tension in the air was so thick that it was suffocating. At the front of the army, Zhang Que and the other members of the eagle team had gathered together, all of them solemn. Ever since they had entered the Western Regions and formed this team, Zhang Que and the others had experienced many aerial battles, including the battle at the triangular gap, the battle at the Qixi Armory, and the battle on the Turkic steppe. Each time, they had returned victorious.
But all of them understood that their opponents this time were completely different. They were far stronger than any of their previous opponents. Cavalry, infantry, and even the eagles in the sky.
In their last few encounters, they had not managed to gain the slightest advantage!
"Get ready!"
Zhang Que turned to look at the others, his gaze sweeping past each member of the eagle team.
"I don't need to say more about how powerful the Arabs are. We only have one chance, and no matter what, we must win. Not a single one of them can escape!"
"Understood!"
Everyone spoke successively. All of them were like bowstrings that had been pulled taut, and their expressions were extremely serious.
"Mm."
Zhang Que nodded and quickly turned to look at the western sky. His gaze swept over the sky again and again as if he was searching for something. After some time …
Creee! "Screech!"
Suddenly, a shrill cry came from the western skies. A moment later, massive Arabian hunting falcons, their eyes sharp and piercing, unfurled their massive wings and flew toward them.
"They're here! Move!"
Zhang Que's pupils constricted, and the entire eagle team tensed up. These were the hunting falcons that the Arabs had stationed on the perimeter. Although the Arabs were attacking Talas with all their might, they had never expected reinforcements to arrive. But like all imperial armies, the Arabs maintained a vigilant watch over their surroundings, even in the midst of fierce battle!
Thwish!
Without the slightest hesitation, the scarred Eagle King Xiao Sha leaped from Zhang Que's shoulder and shot into the air like an arrow.
The battle could begin at any moment!
"Go!"
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