Chapter 544: Confrontation! The Invisible Contest! (1/2)
Chapter 544: Confrontation! The Invisible Contest!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”Young Master, where should we attack next?”
Under the cover of the dark rainstorm, Wang Chong and Old Eagle gathered up their soaked soldiers. Wang Chong's strategy had already shown its effectiveness. The Tibetan army surrounding the mountain range was in chaos and could no longer wholeheartedly attack the Annan Protectorate army.
In all of his career, Old Eagle had never fought in such a carefree and contented manner.
It had felt like dancing on the edge of a blade. They had been fighting more than one hundred thousand Tibetan cavalry, and the slightest mistake would have resulted in instant death. But under Wang Chong's arrangements, each strike was more frightening than risky. It had felt like they had the Tibetans in the palms of their hands, stirring them into complete turmoil.
This was completely different from what Old Eagle had imagined, the cold-blooded and cruel battlefield where one could die at any moment!
For a moment, Old Eagle even had to admit that he had become intoxicated by this feeling.
”We can no longer attack!”
To Old Eagle's surprise, Wang Chong completely rejected the notion.
”Don't forget that the Tibetans have Huoshu Huicang. Our success was partially because we had the right plan, but another part was that Huoshu Huicang underestimated us. He might have ignored us earlier, but now that things have reached this point, if Huoshu Huicang doesn't come out, he'll truly be letting down his title of Great General!”
”Ah!”
Old Eagle was dumbfounded.
That feeling of playing around with the one hundred thousand Tibetan soldiers, of having a powerful opponent in the palm of one's hand, had been so intoxicating that they had momentarily forgotten that the Tibetan army had still not moved. Huoshu Huicang, as the Great General presiding over the center of the Tibetan army, had never budged from his position.
As if a bucket of water had been poured over his head, Old Eagle shivered and came back to his senses.
Individuals on the level of Imperial Great General were all influential people. Though their strength couldn't completely reverse the tides of a battle, they could still decide between victory and defeat. In their current status, they were fine if they didn't run into Huoshu Huicang, but if they did, their four or five thousand cavalry were truly useless against someone of his level.
At the very least, it was an easy task for him to deal them a heavy blow.
They could get lucky for a moment, but they couldn't be lucky forever!
”After playing so long, it's about time to put away the toys!”
Wang Chong glanced at Old Eagle and paused.
”Moreover, did you forget what our goal was?”
”Young Master's lesson is correct. I was being careless.”
Bzzt! Old Eagle shivered, his body breaking out into a cold sweat. Indeed, from the very start, Wang Chong had clearly stated that the goal of these constant harassing attacks was not pure slaughter. With their army alone, it was simply impossible to rout Huoshu Huicang's army.
Their goal had only been to hold them down!
But this was not their ultimate goal.
”Milord, what should we do next?” Old Eagle sternly said.
”Hmph! After harassing them for so long, it's time for us to move to the next step! Pass on my order and tell them to begin to move! In addition, send a message to Protector-General Xianyu on the summit. Without their cooperation, we won't be able to do this.”
Wang Chong's gaze crossed through the vast distances to rest on the summit of that mountain.
The Great Tang would engage in a decisive battle with Ü-Tsang, but that day was not today, not now. The task at hand was to lead Xianyu Zhongtong and the tens of thousands of troops under him safely out of this area. This was the true goal of this undertaking!
”Yes, Young Master!” Old Eagle firmly replied, his attitude one of absolute respect. He paused and then remembered something.
”Then, Young Master, I'll also call back the others.”
”No!”
Wang Chong shook his head, a profound look in his eyes. As he looked up at the thick thunder clouds overhead, an astonishing light flashed through his eyes.
”They have to continue. If they don't continue, how can we succeed?”
Old Eagle was flabbergasted, looking in confusion at Wang Chong, clueless as to what he was thinking. Wang Chong had just rejected his suggestion, but now he was saying that the attacks had to continue.
These were two completely different decisions, leaving Old Eagle utterly perplexed as to what Wang Chong was thinking.
“Hah!”
Wang Chong knew what Old Eagle was thinking, but he only chuckled, giving no further explanation. Slowly turning his head, Wang Chong peered into the gloom, looking toward the southwestern region of the mountain range.
Huoshu Huicang, if everything goes as planned, you should be there, right? With your intelligence, you've definitely noticed! But unfortunately…
Wang Chong's eyes shone with a fiery light as he ended this line of thought.
In this world, Huoshu Huicang was definitely one of the most elite existences. Individuals on the level of Imperial Great Generals were on a completely different from ordinary renowned and valorous generals, both in intelligence and in martial arts.
A normal general would truly be no match for Huoshu Huicang. Alas, Huoshu Huicang was facing Wang Chong. Not even this Great General of the Ü-Tsang Empire could have imagined that his opponent had been praised by the entire world as 'War Saint' in his last life!
I didn't think that we would finally contend against each other, even if it's only through this method for now… Wang Chong quietly said to himself.
In his last life, one of Wang Chong's greatest regrets was that he had missed out on that generation of greats, lost out on the chance to match wits with those dazzling Imperial Great Generals and Marshals whose reputations had been known throughout the world.
This was the generation where the stars of generals shone brilliantly in the night sky, but in his last life, when he had become the most renowned War Saint, there were no more brilliant generals to contend with.
This had always been one of Wang Chong's profound regrets.
And now, his wish had been fulfilled.
…Despite the fact that this confrontation between generals would decide the fate of the Great Tang and Ü-Tsang for the next several decades and the almost one million civilians of the southwest!
This war was one that Wang Chong couldn't lose.
”Old Eagle, come over. In a little while, I'll have an order for you to carry out!”
Wang Chong came back to his senses, his eyes regaining their focus.
”Yes, Young Master!”
Old Eagle's eyes brightened as Wang Chong whispered into his ear. In the end, he gave a deferential 'yes' and swiftly left to carry out the order.
……
The darkness at the base of the mountains seemed still, especially when compared to that earth-shaking battle taking place around the mountains, where thundering war drums resounded through the heavens.
Those Tang soldiers wearing Tibetan armor and riding highland steeds had affected the disposition of the Tibetan army, drawing away a large number of their soldiers. At the base of the mountain, all the soldiers were standing on guard, their primary mission not to deal with Xianyu Zhongtong and the Annan Protectorate army, but to deal with the phantom-like Tang army.