Chapter 729: Cavalry Attack! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Wang Chong skeptically took the letter and began to read it.
Although his brow was creased at the start, it slowly began to relax, his eyes growing brighter and brighter. Eventually, he put down the letter and gave the youth an extremely odd look.
In the letter, Old Eagle had given a detailed introduction of his disciple, bursting with praise for this unimpressive youth and even claiming that the boy could carry on his legacy and would be of great help to Wang Chong in Wushang.
Old Eagle had particularly mentioned that those who trained birds were completely different from what ordinary people imagined. This was especially the case for those people who gathered intelligence. The more ordinary one was, the less likely they were to attract anyone's notice.
In this aspect, Old Eagle's disciple was a perfect fit.
”Your master said that the eagle on your shoulder is completely different from ordinary eagles. It's a new breed recently produced from your master's hidden chamber and specializes in hunting and killing other birds. Can you give a demonstration?” Wang Chong said.
He was truly rather curious. Old Eagle had always bought his birds from bird sellers and then used a special method to train them into the best and most outstanding hunting birds.
But now things were different. Old Eagle had opened up a hidden chamber where he bred birds through his own special methods to develop unique and specific traits.
Such a thing had never happened before.
”Yes, Lord Marquis!” the youth responded, and stood up. As his head turned to the eagle on his shoulder, his eyes flashed with an astonishing light. In that moment, he appeared like a sword leaving its sheath, a sight so unforgettable that even Wang Chong found himself a little moved.
”Little Sha, strike!”
The youth patted the eagle's back and suddenly gave a sharp whistle. In an instant, the turbid-eyed and dispirited old eagle shook its feathers, and its gaze became incredibly sharp and intimidating.
Wang Chong had seen many birds, including the rock eagles of the Western Regions, the gyrfalcons of Goguryeo, and the Turkic hawk-eagles, but none of them had such an intimidating gaze, sharper even than a sword.
Creee!
An almost metallic whistle could be heard as the eagle shot into the air like a lightning bolt. Boom! A hole appeared on the opposite wall. The sandalwood boards threaded with metal had been punched through and left shattered and broken. Countless claw marks had been left on them, each of them several inches deep as if the owner of these claws had cut through the boards as easily as tofu.
Creeee! There was another sharp cry as the eagle returned, shattering yet another wall as it flew back into the room and onto the boy's shoulder. As it drew back its metallic wings and drooped its eyes, the eagle returned to its turbid-eyed and dispirited self.
It was like nothing had happened. Only the shattered wood, the holes in the walls, and the deep claw marks served as evidence for what had happened.
”Not bad!” Wang Chong praised, his eyes bright. He finally understood why Old Eagle had dispatched this disciple and this bird.
”You may go now! I need you to watch the movements on the Qixi and Ü-Tsang border. This is the map. In addition, I've written out your instructions here.”
As Wang Chong spoke, he took out a prepared map as well as a silk bag and handed them over.
”Yes, Lord Marquis!” the youth affirmed, and took both items before quickly leaving.
……
Time slowly passed, and night fell.
The winds howled across the vast plains, traveling from the Tibetan Plateau into the skies. The night grew late and the starlight dimmed. This was the moment when everyone tended to fall asleep, when they were at their drowsiest.
Gallop! Suddenly, the earth began to tremble as the sound of galloping hooves came out of the starry night. While almost inaudible at first, it quickly became a thunderous rumbling.
In the dim starlight, one could see thousands of cavalry, wave after wave sweeping forward. These cavalry were fully armed and armored, all of them quiet. They were like demon gods walking through the underworld, and the air was so oppressive as to be stifling.
”We're here!”
A harsh shout could be heard. At the very front of the cavalry was a pure-white steed with four hooves of blood. The Tibetan general on its back raised an arm, his body exuding vast waves of energy that caused the space in a radius of several dozen zhang around him to twist and contort.
His eyes looked forward, his expression cold.
”Ahead of us are the lands of the Great Tang. The people from the Qixi Protectorate have already withdrawn, so now is the time for us to move. Does everyone understand tonight's mission?”
”Yes!” all of the soldiers replied in frightening unison.
”Remember, kill Wang Chong and destroy the City of Steel, and tonight will be the night we wash away our Ü-Tsang's shame!”
The Tibetan general unsheathed his scimitar and howled, immediately taking the lead as he plunged down the plateau.
Neigh!
Thousands of highland steeds neighed as they flooded down the plateau, leaving behind thick clouds of dust. They galloped toward the City of Steel with an unstoppable momentum.
……
In the City of Steel, the light of thousands of furnaces blazed, making the sky as bright as day. Amongst the furnaces, tens of thousands of workmen were busying themselves on the walls.
This place was currently the busiest and most active place in all the Western Regions.
”Careful of the crane!”