Chapter 857: Intimidation! Kill the Chicken to Warn the Monkeys! (1/2)
Chapter 857: Intimidation! Kill the Chicken to Warn the Monkeys1!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Bang!
The Gangke watched on in awe as the two thousand Saka clashed with the five thousand soldiers of the Qixi Protectorate army in a massive boom, two black waves colliding against each other. ”Ah!” Wretched cries filled the air, and the Saka fell into chaos as they were knocked from their horses.
The Saka might have been the strongest of the mercenary tribes in the Western Regions, but they were still no match for a fully-equipped Tang army. Wang Chong had not even needed to exert any of his own strength, just have his soldiers charge, immediately scattering the two thousand Saka. By the end, only several dozen had survived.
The ground was carpeted in corpses.
The strength of the Qixi Protectorate army could not compare to Wang Chong's Wushang Cavalry, but they were still well-trained and tempered through battle. Dealing with mercenaries was a simple task for them.
”Run! Report to the leader!”
”You Tang will regret this!”
The surviving Saka scattered.
”Don't chase a hard-pressed foe! Everyone, come back!” Wang Chong lightly said.
”Lord Marquis! The Gangke leader is coming over!” a Qixi scout suddenly whispered into Wang Chong's ears.
Wang Chong turned his head in response and saw that the Gangke territory was quiet and still, countless pairs of eyes staring at Wang Chong and his soldiers.
Meanwhile, a middle-aged man with a searing pair of eyes was currently walking toward Wang Chong.
”Why did you help us?”
These were the first words the Gangke King spoke to Wang Chong as his eyes cautiously inspected the youth. From his expression, he was apparently not as happy as one would expect.
Yuan Shusong's mouth opened and closed in hesitation.
”Do you know that by helping, you've made more problems for me?” the Gangke King continued. As he looked at Wang Chong, his mouth surprisingly spat out several lines of fluent Han. The Qixi officers around Wang Chong instantly reacted to these words.
”Impudent! We helped you, and you actually blame us.”
”Truly someone who returns favor with enmity!”
No one expected this sort of result from helping the Gangke kill the Saka.
Wang Chong smiled and raised an arm to silence his officers.
”Since this is the case, then why did Chief still strike back? Just let the Saka take away all your cows and sheep. Why try to resist?”
”This is our own problem. There is no need for your concern,” the Gangke King said in agitation.
”Chief has truthfully already made a choice, so why deceive yourself?” Wang Chong rested his hands on his saddle as he continued unperturbed, ”The Tang are friends, not enemies, so why is Chief so nervous? And moreover, Chief speaks such fluent Han that you probably studied abroad in the capital in your early years. Chief should understand the style of us Tang. If the Gangke wish to take their fate in their own hands and throw off the yoke of the Saka, we are Chief's best option.”
”!!!”
The Gangke King's eyes widened at the mention of studying abroad, clearly surprised. He once more began to inspect Wang Chong, viewing this young Tang general in a new light.
Wang Chong only smiled. One of the reasons for his conclusion had been that the Gangke could not possibly produce such a heroic man, but the main reason was that token of translucent jade on his belt.
That was a typical Han jade token.
This was one of the primary reasons Wang Chong wanted the Gangke to be his allies.
”I don't know what you're talking about, but the affairs of the Western Regions are not as simple as you Tang imagine. The Saka have tens of thousands of soldiers. You really should not have let them go. They will bring even more people with them,” the Gangke King said.
”Hah, then I'll just kill all the people they bring,” Wang Chong leisurely declared, his tone oozing with contempt.
The Gangke King trembled all over as he continued to take measure of this youth. This was an incredibly young person, sixteen, seventeen at most. It was extremely rare for a Tang to be a general at such a young age. The Gangke King truly had studied in the Great Tang capital for a spell, and he had gotten to meet many influential individuals, but very few of them had been this young.
What attracted most of his notice were the eyes. They were deep and proud, confident that the entire situation was under control. This temperament, like that of an immovable mountain, was not something any ordinary general could possess.
”You can't kill them all. The Saka will keep coming. They have enormous forces in this area…” the Gangke King said.