"What's going on here? Wasn't the Ngari Royal Lineage wiped out by us? How could there still be a white yak flag with a black background? "
A voice muttered from the side, voicing the question on everyone's mind.
Chen Bin had personally experienced the war of the southwest. That battle had been so bitter that the Annam Protectorate had almost been completely wiped out. In the end, it had been Wang Chong who had turned the tide and routed the Mengshe – Ü-Tsang army. Dalun Ruozan had returned to the plateau with less than ten thousand cavalry, and Wang Chong's plague had wiped out all of the cattle and sheep of the Ngari Royal Lineage, turning it into a land of famine and almost deserted.
Dalun Ruozan had disappeared without a trace, and the Ngari Royal Lineage only existed in name. The white yak and black Ouzan war banner had also vanished. No one had expected to see the war banner of the Ngari Royal Lineage at a time like this.
In a flash, everyone turned to Wang Chong.
It's him! No wonder …
Wang Chong narrowed his eyes and mentally muttered to himself. Although he had not personally participated in Zhang Que's patrol area, he had been the one who had given the general direction. To be able to silently remove all the spies and ears in the periphery and break into the range of ten miles, this was definitely not something that an ordinary person could do.
But if this person was Dalun Ruozan, then everything could be explained.
Wang Chong had never imagined that he would appear at the Battle of Talas! This was something that had never happened in his last life. There was no doubt that this was yet another domino effect that he had triggered.
"Is it for revenge?"
Wang Chong closed his eyes, his mind in turmoil. Although he couldn't see anything, Wang Chong could sense that behind Talas, a figure was leading thousands of cavalry from the Western Regions. A fire blazed in his chest, just like himself.
The time had changed, the location had changed, but he and Dalun Ruozan had once more met, and at the most crucial moment of the Battle of Talas. Wang Chong was certain that this timing had been meticulously calculated by the general of the Ngari Royal Lineage.
Even so, Wang Chong was fearless.
"Report! Marquis, we've spotted enemy troops behind us. They're less than eight li away! "
Just as Wang Chong was thinking to himself, a cloud of dust rose as another scout rode over on a warhorse, looking extremely nervous.
"Buzz!"
As soon as the scout finished speaking, the atmosphere immediately became more and more tense. This time, it was not just Wang Chong and the others who sensed the abnormality. Even the other armies felt somewhat uneasy. With the speed of the cavalry, the distance of eight miles was covered in the blink of an eye. There was not much time left. They had to make a decision as soon as possible.
"Marquis, look!"
At this moment, the armored Kong Zi-an, standing next to Li Siye, suddenly turned to the front and pointed at the Arab army.
Everyone turned their heads and saw that the Arab army had raised black war banners in the first rays of dawn. More than two hundred thousand elite Arab cavalry were like an endless flood of black steel slowly surging toward the City of Talas.
This sudden movement attracted everyone's attention, and many Anxi Protectorate army soldiers began to appear on the walls of Talas.
With the Arabian soldiers in front and the Ouzan cavalry led by Dalun Ruozan in the rear, the more than one hundred thousand Qixi reinforcements were instantly caught in a pincer attack. Not only that, the Arabs were clearly trying to restrain Wang Chong's Qixi reinforcements, creating an opportunity for the Ouzan army in the rear.
"Rumble!"
While everyone was staring at the Arab army, in the rear of the battlefield, a cloud of dust was rising into the heavens, and a faint tremor could be felt from the earth beneath their feet.
The Ouzan army was advancing faster than they had imagined. In just a few moments, they were about to reach the City of Talas!
"Milord!"
Everyone sensed the intense danger, and they all turned to Wang Chong, the mood extremely tense. The current situation was as perilous as an egg. Wang Chong had to make a decision as quickly as possible. If the Arabs and Ouzan attacked from the front and rear, the more than one hundred thousand Tang soldiers would be completely wiped out, all their efforts for naught.
Rumble! The trembling intensified, and in just a few moments, the Ouzan army had advanced once more, getting closer and closer to the City of Talas. Everyone had nervous expressions on their faces.
"Milord, time is of the essence. Should we enter the city?"
At this moment, a tall and somewhat elderly figure behind Wang Chong's older brother, Wang Fu, broke the silence. It was none other than Chen Shusun, an old subordinate of the Wang Clan. Chen Shusun had followed Wang Chong's father for many years, and later on, he had been sent by Wang Yan to protect Wang Fu. He had a very deep relationship with all three generations of the Wang Clan.
In the war of the southwest, he had fought side by side with Wang Chong and had always addressed Wang Chong as Young Master. But now that Wang Chong was Qixi Protector-General, Chen Shusun addressed Wang Chong as Milord.
"… The City of Talas can hold hundreds of thousands of people. If we retreat into the city now, we can avoid being attacked from both sides. There's still time!"
The Qixi reinforcements didn't have many choices. They could either stay where they were and be attacked from both sides, or they could retreat into the city and use the sturdiness of the City of Talas to resist the combined army of Arabs and Ouzan.
Although the gates of Talas had been on the verge of destruction, the craftsmen that Wang Chong had brought had completely repaired them and even strengthened them, making them even sturdier than before. If they wanted to retreat into the city, this was the best opportunity.
As a matter of fact, this was the best choice for all of them!
Wang Chong said nothing, only slightly raised his head and slowly closed his eyes.
The quaking of the earth intensified as Dalun Ruozan's army got closer and closer to Talas, and the dark cloud over the more than one hundred thousand soldiers of Qixi only thickened. Everyone around Wang Chong was holding their breath, waiting for Wang Chong's final decision.
Even Wang Yan was the same!
Whether it was in the war of the southwest, the battle of the triangular gap, or the battle with the Black Wolf Yabgu, Wang Chong had amply proven his abilities and won everyone's trust. Whether they fought or stayed, if there was one person who could win everyone's trust, it was Wang Chong.
"Rumble!"
Dust churned in the distance as massive tremors shook the entire battlefield. Dalun Ruozan's army could appear at any moment. In the rear, the black tide of Arab soldiers was advancing faster and faster, each clattering of hooves seemingly stomping on the hearts of the Qixi Protectorate soldiers. Time was fleeting. Whether they stayed or left, fought or retreated, Wang Chong had to make a decision as quickly as possible.
At this moment, the lives of the more than one hundred thousand Qixi reinforcements were in Wang Chong's hands.
"Boom!"
There was a metallic clattering as the nearby gates of the City of Talas opened. A group of Anxi Protectorate army officers appeared, anxiously marching toward Wang Chong. Leading them was the Vice Protector-General of the Anxi Protectorate army, Cheng Qianli. His lips trembled as if he was about to say something to Wang Chong.
Almost at the same time, in the distance, the neighing of war horses could be heard. Billowing smoke and dust rose into the air from the distant hills. Although nothing could be seen, a huge commander's flag with black and white stripes appeared in everyone's vision amidst the intense neighing of the horses. On top of the Commander Flag, there was a muscular and strong white yak. In an instant, a strong pressure came crashing down on them.
Dalun Ruozan's soldiers were about to arrive!
"Ha!"
Just when everyone was in an extremely disadvantageous position, Wang Chong faintly smiled and opened his eyes, a dazzling light bursting from them. "You're right, you're right," Wang Chong said.
"Pass on my order! All craftsmen are to move out and construct the second defense line to the east of Talas as quickly as possible!"
"Yes, Milord!"
"All infantry, shieldmen, and the Gangke people, as well as the soldiers of Greater and Lesser Balur, are to immediately take up the first defense line. Work with the City of Steel to defend against the Arab attacks. No matter how great the price, you must hold them down! "
"Yes, Milord!"
"Chen Bin, divide the ballista army into two groups. One thousand and five hundred ballista groups will form one group. One group will remain and use the transport carriages to fire from the high ground. Work with the infantry to defend against the Arab cavalry in the west! Give the other group to Xu Keyi and have him block the Ouzan Empire in the east. "
"Yes, Marquis!"
… …
In a few short moments, Wang Chong had issued a string of orders, each one extremely clear. With this final order, Wang Chong turned to the massive figure of Li Siye.
"Li Siye, get ready. In a little while, you will come with me to see … an old friend of Ouzan's!"
At the mention of 'old friend', Wang Chong's eyes exploded with an intimidating light.
"Yes!!"
Li Siye's eyes lit up when he heard this. He let out a furious roar, and a powerful battle intent burst forth from his mountainous body. Although Wang Chong had not explicitly said it, everyone understood his final decision. In front of them was the Arabian army and behind them was the Ouzan army. They were being attacked from both sides and were in an extremely disadvantageous position. But so what?
Fight, fight, fight! That was all!
The southwest army had not retreated, the triangular gap had not retreated, and they would not retreat this time!
This was the true style of the Tang Dynasty!
On this continent, there was nothing that could make the Tang Dynasty retreat, and certainly nothing that could make the Tang Dynasty submit!
"Rumble!"
Xu Keyi, Chen Bin, Zhao Jingdian, Chen Burang, Sun Zhiming, Chen Shusun, the King Of Gangke, Huang Botian, Kong Zi-an, Xue Qianjun, and the others galloped off on their warhorses. There was no doubt or argument. At this moment, all of them felt like a flame was burning in their hearts and their blood was boiling. The entire Qixi army was like an enormous machine that began to move.
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