Chapter 559: The Decisive Battle! Prelude! (1/2)
Chapter 559: The Decisive Battle! Prelude!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Geluofeng, Duan Gequan, and Fengjiayi quickly took their leave. In the tent, Dalun Ruozan and Huoshu Huicang were also getting ready to depart. The roughly one hundred thousand soldiers of the Annan Protectorate army and their various associated forces had already left Lion City. By cutting them down, they would succeed in cutting down the last barrier to the southwest.
Without Xianyu Zhongtong's soldiers holding them down, the southwest would belong completely to Mengshe Zhao and Ü-Tsang.
This war involving three countries would come to an end!
And both of them had already decided that the Great Tang youth could not be allowed to leave this place, no matter what.
Once Geluofeng had left with the Mengshe Zhao generals, Huoshu Huicang suddenly turned his head and asked Dalun Ruozan, ”Great Minister? Why did you want to tell all that to Geluofeng?
”Don't tell me that you didn't think Geluofeng would get any ideas after hearing about this matter.”
”Hahaha, stupid people have their uses, as do smart people. Didn't you realize? Ever since he managed to defeat Xianyu Zhongtong by accident by the Erhai, Geluofeng hasn't regarded our Ü-Tsang with much importance.”
Dalun Ruozan's smile faded as his gaze suddenly became extremely profound.
”This—”
Huoshu Huicang was dumbstruck for a few moments. He truly hadn't thought of this problem before. He was a general, a soldier, so the things he pondered were strategies and tactics, victory and defeat on the battlefield. The questions that Dalun Ruozan brought up concerned the aspects of the human mind, things that he never truly wasted his energy thinking about.
”At this stage, Geluofeng can no longer turn back. Does he really dare to betray us?”
”Ha! Who knows? Didn't that shining Son of Heaven in the Great Tang's capital also think that Geluofeng wouldn't betray him?” Dalun Ruozan said as he waved his fan. As he lightly took a step forward, an invisible energy emerged from his feet and covered the area.
”The hearts of men are the most unfathomable of all. Geluofeng is burning with ambition, and I'm afraid that the southwest alone won't be enough to satisfy him. Since he isn't willing to submit to the Great Tang, there's naturally no guarantee that he would be willing to submit to our Ü-Tsang. This being the case, now is the time to let him understand the threat the Great Tang represents. There are no downsides to this, only upsides… Don't forget that we need his three hundred thousand Mengshe Zhao troops to deal with the Great Tang.”
”But what about the brat?”
Huoshu Huicang furrowed his brow as he said, ”Although I clashed with him last night, I don't think he's as formidable as you say. But if he really does have some secret military text on him, Geluofeng is the type of person who would attempt to snatch it for himself or simply kill the brat. Either option is of no benefit to us.”
”Hahaha, it seems like you're the smart one. I spoke of that military text as an offhand comment. Whether it actually exists is a whole other matter. And we'll find out soon, at any rate. As for Geluofeng and his son… since we're allies, there's no difference between a military text ending up in our hands or in their hands. If it falls into Geluofeng's hands, we'll ask for it from him, as if Geluofeng is a wise person, he won't refuse. And if there is no military text, what difference is there if that child lives or dies?”
Dalun Ruozan chuckled as he waved his feather fan.
Huoshu Huicang helplessly shook his head at Dalun Ruozan. He had worked with Dalun Ruozan for several decades as a minister and general pair. In terms of command abilities, the pair were even praised as existences on the same level as Zhangchou Jianqiong.
Yet Huoshu Huicang still found it difficult to get used to Dalun Ruozan's thinking style and demeanor.
”Let's go! No matter what, the Annan Protectorate army and that child called Wang Chong must die today! It's about time this war came to an end!”
Huoshu Huicang stretched out his hands. Clangclang! Two cold lights suddenly flew out from a place along the edge of the tent. As Huoshu Huicang snatched these two Tibetan scimitars out of the air, he strode out.
Boom!
When Huoshu Huicang walked out of the tent, a massive gale suddenly stirred, and within and without the tent seemed to become two different worlds. The entire camp was boiling with killing intent, and the entire army was on the verge of moving out to scorch the heavens with their fire.
”Begin! Quickly!”
”The army is about to move out. Bring out the supplies.”
”Cavalry, get ready! Inspect your weapons, armor, and rations!”
……
The vast Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army packed the Erhai plains, suffusing the land with a bleak aura.
As Huoshu Huicang looked forward, he waved his hand and asked without turning his head, ”Have you found the tracks of the Tang army?”
The clopping of hooves came from behind Huoshu Huicang as an elite scout rode up and respectfully gave his report.
”Reporting to Milord: although the Tang army attempted to pull a few tricks, we have already succeeded in finding their tracks. They're on a mountain to the north!”
”Excellent! Pass on my order. The army… will soon move out!!”
”Yes, Milord!”
The elite scout turned around and quickly galloped off, the clopping of hooves fading into the distance.
As Huoshu Huicang gazed up at the dark clouds overhead, his eyes turned harsh and cold. Regardless of the political situation, the job of a soldier was to fight, destroy, and annihilate his opponent.
The rest had nothing to do with him!
”Zhangchou Jianqiong, you've lost!”
As his eyes glowed with harsh light, Huoshu Huicang mounted his horse and quickly began to ride north.
Bwoooom!
The horns began to blare, their sounds reaching toward the horizon, accompanied by a chorus of war drums and neighing horses. The Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army, the most powerful army in the southwest, began to move northward.
The dark clouds of war had reached their absolute limit.