Chapter 860: Dalun Ruozan, Washed Free of Attachments! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Huoshu Huicang and Dusong Mangpoje could understand some of the symbols and words, but there were others that left them completely mystified.
Yet in the face of the enigmatic symbols and that madman in the cell, these Imperial Great Generals showed no contempt in their eyes, only a deep respect, as this madman had another important identity.
Great Minister of the Ü-Tsang Ngari Royal Lineage, Dalun Ruozan!
Ever since his defeat, Dalun Ruozan had been imprisoned deep in the prison. Other than Imperial Great Generals like Huoshu Huicang and Dusong Mangpoje, almost no one was able to meet with him.
Dusong Mangpoje and Dalun Ruozan belonged to different Royal Lineages, so they had rarely interacted. He only knew that this was an intelligent man, skilled in strategy. The first time Huoshu Huicang brought him to the cell to see him, Dusong Mangpoje dared not believe that this disheveled prisoner murmuring to himself like a madman was that elegant and refined Ngari Great Minister.
Dusong Mangpoje had come full of anticipation but returned with disappointment over this method that Huoshu Huicang said could defeat Wang Chong and the Great Tang. Only one month after, when the Battle of Talas broke out, did Dusong Mangpoje realize just how wrong he was.
”How long has Great Minister been in this state?” Dusong Mangpoje asked a prison guard.
The guard bowed and replied, ”Great General, it has been more than two hours now. He apparently can't hear anything, and he hasn't touched his food.”
Dusong Mangpoje glanced around and saw the now-cold food by the door to the cell.
”I see. You're dismissed.”
Dusong Mangpoje waved his hand, ordering to the guard to leave.
Once the guard left, the prison fell silent, other than the scratching of Dalun Ruozan's finger along the floor. Dusong Mangpoje and Huoshu Huicang remained standing outside the cell, silently watching him and doing their best to not alarm him.
If we want to defeat that young Protector-General, halt the Great Tang's influence in the Western Regions, and change the relationship between Ü-Tsang and the Great Tang, we can only rely on him.
As this thought ran through Dusong Mangpoje's mind, his gaze subconsciously turned to Dalun Ruozan's right. There was an extremely complicated map, with several inexplicable characters written on it.
Talas!
Dusong Mangpoje had recognized at a glance the city in the heart of the map.
Those who didn't know the truth might have believed that Dalun Ruozan was analyzing the current situation at Talas, but Dusong Mangpoje knew that this map had appeared a month before the Battle of Talas. Unfortunately, the words on the map were written in the lost language of the Great Bon religion. Outside of Dalun Ruozan, there was probably a vanishingly small number of people in the entire Ü-Tsang Empire who knew this ancient language.
Dusong Mangpoje was no different from the vast majority.
After the defeat in the southwest, Dalun Ruozan has been jailed for several months. He had no communication with the outside world, yet who could have imagined that before the Battle of Talas had even broken out, he had already predicted this war between the Arabs and the Great Tang, even determining where the decisive battle would take place? Unfortunately, the Tsenpo ordered that Dalun Ruozan be imprisoned. Otherwise, with his help, perhaps the battle at the triangular gap would have turned out differently and Dayan Mangban wouldn't have needed to die.
When he thought about Dayan Mangban, a flash of pain appeared in Dusong Mangpoje's eyes, one that might never fade away.
Time slowly passed, and finally, Dalun Ruozan's body shook. Dusong Mangpoje and Huoshu Huicang trembled as well, immediately recognizing that Dalun Ruozan had awoken from his stupor.
”You've come,” Dalun Ruozan said, not even raising his head.
”Great Minister, all is as you predicted. That youngest son of the Wang Clan defeated Fumeng Lingcha and took the seat of Qixi Protector-General. In addition, Anxi Protector-General Gao Xianzhi has been surrounded by the Arabs. Right now, that Great Tang youth is readying his soldiers to reinforce Talas,” Huoshu Huicang said as he stood outside the cell. ”Great Minister, are you still not coming out?”
”The time is not right…”
Dalun Ruozan's voice echoed through the cell as he raised his head, pushing aside his unkempt hair to reveal a face pale from lack of sunlight. Despite his haggard appearance, his eyes still shone with boundless intelligence and vigor.
Although he appeared a complete mess, lacking all of his former grace and refinement, Huoshu Huicang knew that this was still that farsighted strategist that he knew.
”Now is not the time for me to come out. Our opponent's intuition is far more sensitive than any of you can imagine. The slightest movements could arouse his wariness and make him perceive our plans, leading all our efforts to be in vain.”