Chapter 611: The Decisive Battle! Deliberations! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”Great Minister, what did the brat mean? Things have already reached this state; could he still have some tricks up his sleeve?”
Longqinba turned to look at Dalun Ruozan.
His battle with Sun Liuyue had exhausted a great deal of Longqinba's Stellar Energy, and his armor was covered in scars. At many places, it had even been hacked open, revealing the mangled blood and flesh beneath.
Even so, Longqinba still maintained a vigorous fighting intent.
Dalun Ruozan said nothing, and Huoshu Huicang slightly furrowed his brow. In the past, he might not have treated Wang Chong with contempt, but he would only give him an extra glance, just a single glance.
The situation now was different. Wang Chong's war halos were even powerful enough to affect his Vairocana Buddha. Moreover, if Wang Chong truly did feel that he could still win this war, then Huoshu Huicang could no longer maintain his calm.
Although he did not care for Wang Chong's individual strength, he had to care about the outcome of this war. After all, as a general, his mission was not to defeat his opponent, but to obtain victory.
Under Longqinba's flabbergasted gaze, Huoshu Huicang opened his mouth and asked, ”Dalun Ruozan, what do you think his words mean?”
”Milord, do you really think he can still win?” Longqinba yelped, an incredulous look on his face.
”It would be better to believe than to not.”
Dalun Ruozan's brow was deeply creased, a pensive look on his face.
”You saw that boy's abilities. Although his words might not all have been real, there's no guarantee that all of them were false. In addition, at this stage in the battle, he has no need to play small tricks…
”Pass on my order to keep the entire army ready. For this period of time, arrange for ten groups of soldiers to keep a rotating watch on the Tang. In addition, use kerosene to set up campfires around the camp. I want all the blind spots clearly lit. All patrols, including if the Mengshe Zhao soldiers approach, are required to use secret signals. We can't give them a single chance.”
It hadn't been too long ago that Wang Chong had disguised the Tang soldiers as Mengshe Zhao soldiers and attacked the Tibetans. Dalun Ruozan did not want any sort of flaw to appear at this time. If Wang Chong were allowed to raid the camp again and steal enough water to delay another day, the chance that the Tibetans would fail would increase by another percent.
Wang Zhongsi had already departed the Great Tang capital. The situation was completely different from what it had been at the start. Right now, Dalun Ruozan was even more worried than Geluofeng.
”Yes, your subordinate will go.”
Several Tibetan messengers quickly left to carry out Dalun Ruozan's orders.
……
”Great General, what do we do now?”
On the other side, in a camp very far from the Tibetans, two figures were meeting. One was the King of Mengshe Zhao and the other was the Great General of Mengshe Zhao. Not even Crown Prince Feng was privy to this meeting.
”In today's battle, Your Majesty already witnessed the fighting power of the Tang. If we continue to force the assault, our casualties will be grievous. Even if we succeed, the massive price we would have to pay would not be worth it. Dalun Ruozan has already destroyed their water stores. In this point, I agree with Dalun Ruozan. We should halt the fighting for three days. Although we no longer have much time, we have to wait out this period.”
Duan Gequan's voice could be heard within the tent.
The sole general of Mengshe Zhao had always remained behind the curtain, rarely speaking. Only now was the truth exposed. The true commander of this battle had been Duan Gequan, not Geluofeng.
”The crucial point is still that youngest son of the Wang Clan. If not for him, we would have won long ago,” Geluofeng said.
Right now, whenever he thought of that brat, that son of the Wang Clan, Geluofeng would feel like there was a dagger at his back. Sometimes, he even found it hard to swallow his food. In terms of strength, a martial artist of Wang Chong's level was an ant to Geluofeng, not even qualified to carry his shoes.
At any other place, Geluofeng would have easily squashed him to death.
However, Wang Chong's expertise did not lie in martial arts, but the art of war which was so crucial on the battlefield. In addition, while the two armies were fighting, the sides were clearly divided. Wang Chong standing on the summit would be surrounded by an impenetrable defense, protected by countless experts including Wang Yan and Xianyu Zhongtong.
Thus, no matter how much Ü-Tsang or Mengshe Zhao wanted to kill him, none of them could do anything against him, not even the wise and intelligent Dalun Ruozan.
It was no easy task to kill the opposing commander.
”Be at ease. Wait for three more days. In the final battle, the Annan Protectorate army will be wiped out, and Wang Yan's youngest son naturally won't be able to escape,” Duan Gequan indifferently remarked.
”Did Great General notice something today?” Geluofeng hurriedly asked, noticing something.
”Although it is not to the level that Your Majesty has imagined, it is not far.”
Duan Gequan nodded.
”That son of the Wang Clan might have an almost absurd grasp of the art of war, even surpassing Zhangchou Jianqiong, but he is not the true commander of the Annan Protectorate army, nor did he train it up. For him to raise the Annan Protectorate army to be such a powerful fighting force in such a short time is enough to leave a deep impression.
”However, there are some flaws that cannot be covered,” Duan Gequan indifferently said, a frightening light in his eyes. However, this light quickly died away, all returning to stillness.
And the tent also fell back into silence.
……