Chapter 751: Before the Battle! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”Inform General Huang Botian to pick up the pace and clear the path to the summit as quickly as possible,” Wang Chong said.
”Yes, Lord Marquis.”
”In addition, Zhang Que, have your eagle team keep the skies above of us clear of any surveillance birds.”
”Yes, Lord Marquis.”
As order after order was issued, the five thousand Wushang Cavalry moved with unprecedented efficiency and speed through the meandering path.
Whoosh! The gentle breezes brought with them the chill of the plateau. If one turned their heads at this moment, one would only see thick clouds. All the mountains had become extremely small, and even the Heaven Pillar Mountain that they had come through looked like an ant.
Starting from last night, they had already traveled along this path for eight to ten hours. The altitude was now around three to four thousand meters, and they weren't far from the plateau.
Time slowly passed as Wang Chong led his five thousand soldiers along this forgotten path, silently advancing toward the plateau. An hour later, a muscular Turkic warhorse neighed, its mane waving in the wind as it leapt onto the plateau.
One after another, countless Wushang Cavalry followed, stepping onto the plateau. The last was Wang Chong, his cape flapping in the wind.
We've finally arrived!
Wang Chong sat on his horse, allowing the winds to buffet him as he breathed the unique air of the Tibetan Plateau with a long sigh in his heart.
After so long, he had finally stepped onto the Tibetan Plateau for the first time since his reincarnation.
As Wang Chong raised his head to the sky, this scene began to meld with the scenes in his memories.
In his last life, Wang Chong had only been able to step onto the plateau after the calamity, but now that he had reincarnated, everything was foreordained to be different.
”Hahaha, Lord Marquis, we've finally stepped onto the Tibetan Plateau.”
Around him, the soldiers couldn't help but heartily laugh as they took in the view.
From yesterday to now, Wang Chong had never indicated where the army was marching to. Now, when these soldiers stepped onto the plateau and saw these never-before-seen sights, they all felt a sincere admiration for Wang Chong.
Since ancient times, there were only four paths from the Great Tang into the Tibetan Plateau. The first was in the southwest, the Tea Horse Road guarded by Zhangchou Jianqiong. The second was the path guarded by Geshu Han in Longxi, the third was guarded by Fumeng Lingcha in Qixi, and the last was guarded by Gao Xianzhi and his Four Garrisons of Anxi.
There were no other paths except these four.
No one had expected that deep within the mountain forests of Longxi, another path had been hidden, and that Wang Chong would lead them through this hidden path to the Tibetan Plateau.
”Zhang Que, lead the way,” Wang Chong said.
”Yes, Lord Marquis.”
The excited Zhang Que immediately rode forward with his horse. Cree! With a sharp cry, that foot-long rock eagle stretched its wings and shot into the air.
”Hyah!”
The galloping warhorses left trails of dust as the soldiers quickly formed into ranks and followed behind the rock eagle, swiftly advancing into the Tibetan heartland.
A journey of several hundred li went by in a flash. The five thousand Wushang Cavalry showed no hesitation, drawing a straight line toward the Zhangzhung Recruit Traning Camp in Tsongkha.
Dawn was when people were at their most relaxed, the least on their guard. The army's progress of several hundred li attracted no notice. After several hours, creee! Sharp cries filled the air as rock eagles, gyrfalcons, and hunting hawks suddenly appeared in the air.
”Lord Marquis, we've been discovered. Those are the birds the Tibetans use for surveillance,” Zhang Que nervously said as he looked up at the birds.
”It's fine. If they've discovered us, they've discovered us. There's no need for us to hide anymore.”
Wang Chong looked up at the sky and smiled. He had already seen the dense mass of tents on the distant horizon. From the center of those tents rose a massive black banner, fluttering in the wind.
Tsongkha, Zhangzhung Recruit Training Camp!
Everything was exactly as he remembered. Not even that legendary Great Minister of Ü-Tsang could have possibly predicted that he would appear here.
”Get ready! We have a tough battle in front of us!”
Wang Chong gazed into the distance, a sharp light in his eyes.
……
Creee!
When Wang Chong's army appeared on the edge of Tsongkha and noticed the Tibetan surveillance birds, the Tibetans also noticed Wang Chong's army. A rock eagle flew into the large black tent in the center of the camp.
A guard in the tent kneeled on the ground and said, ”Reporting! The scouts say that an unknown force has appeared on the outskirts!”