Chapter 867: Talas, the Army Departs! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”We've just about discussed everything that needs to be discussed. Father, Big Brother, let's give the order to move out.”
”Mm.”
Wang Yan immediately gave a grim nod.
”Speed is of utmost importance in war, and the matter of Talas cannot be delayed for too long. Since everything is ready, we should head out. Fu-er, go and handle it.”
”Yes, Father.”
Wang Fu very quickly left to give the orders.
”Chong-er, you will be the commander of this operation. I, your big brother, and your second brother will work with you. Don't get any misgivings. Military affairs are vital to a state and cannot be treated lightly. The thirty thousand lives of the Anxi Protectorate army and the entire structure of the Western Regions are at stake in this operation, so we cannot be careless in the slightest. Before we set out, let's play out the scenario one last time!” Wang Yan sternly said.
”Yes, Father.”
Wang Chong nodded, taking the role of leader without much ceremony, and then he began to carefully explain. There were no fathers and sons on the battlefield. This was a battle that would decide the fate of tens of thousands of soldiers and the course of the Central Plains for the next one thousand years. Either the empire would fall into internal discord after its outward expansion was thwarted, or the Great Tang and the Han race would continue to enjoy a glorious status as the strongest people of the continent. All of it hinged on this battle!
……
A few moments later, after the last simulation was played out, Wang Chong finally walked out of the hall. As the wind buffeted his hair, he felt much calmer.
There's still seven days until the fall of a Great General, which means that Talas will only fall in seven days! Seven days! That's enough!
A sharp light flickered through Wang Chong's eyes as he stood at the door, and then he began to move.
”Bang the drums!”
The drums quickly began to thunder over the City of Steel, and then the earth began to tremble and buzz as the city awakened like some massive beast. Countless soldiers of various types proceeded into the massive City of Steel: the Qixi Protectorate army, combined units of infantry and cavalry, the Annan Protectorate army, the Wushang Cavalry, ballista units, Gangke mercenaries, the Western Regions mercenaries, the regular soldiers of Greater and Lesser Balur… an army of more than one hundred thousand had gathered in this place, a wondrous sight to behold.
Next to these soldiers were convoys of carriages loaded with steel, supplies, and craftsmen, as well as shepherds from various tribes.
The stench of war swept over the earth!
The world was silent as Wang Chong climbed up the walls of the City of Steel to appear before the countless soldiers. The sunlight appeared to make Wang Chong seem taller, his black silhouette the most visible figure between the heavens and earth.
”The purpose for which I've gathered you here does not need to be repeated! I'd like to use this opportunity to warn everyone against holding evil intentions and making an enemy of the Great Tang, for those who offend the Great Tang… will be punished, no matter how far away they are!”
Clang! Following this clear proclamation, Wang Chong unsheathed his sword and pointed west.
”Move out!”
Roooar!
The heavens trembled as the army roared, then this mixed army of Han and foreigners majestically left Wushang's City of Steel like a surging river. It swept over the cement road toward the distant Talas, alarming the entire Western Regions with its procession.
The Great Tang's largest expedition to the west had begun!
……
”Hanshan, I leave Qixi to you!”
Wang Chong stood upon the massive tower situated on the walls, his hands held behind him as he watched the army march toward the horizon.
There was only silence around him, with no answer to these words. Just when one would think that Wang Chong was talking to himself, a cold and emotionless voice finally grunted in assent.
Silence once more.
Wang Chong mentally chuckled at this icy voice.
He's still the same Su Hanshan!
One would have to look with new eyes upon another after a parting of three days, but who could have imagined that while Su Hanshan had only been at the True Martial realm in their first meeting, he had now broken into the Imperial Martial realm, a result that most could not achieve even if given five or six years. No one knew what had happened to him in this intervening year or how he had managed to reach this cultivation level.
But while Wang Chong would have been somewhat surprised if this had happened to anyone else, he found it quite normal with Su Hanshan. Since Su Hanshan had, in his last life, been acknowledged to have the 'qualities of a Great General' and had even reached the rank of Brigadier General, it was of little surprise to Wang Chong that he had improved so rapidly.
Su Hanshan's strength might still not have reached the level that Wang Chong remembered, but his intelligence and eye for strategy were unquestionable. Moreover, after his half a year of training in Beiting, Su Hanshan was both thinner and sharper, like an unsheathed sword. He was also much more composed, which was why Wang Chong had called for him.
”The Battle of Talas is of major importance. Once I'm gone, Qixi will essentially be empty, so Ü-Tsang and the Western Turks will definitely try something. I can only leave for you eight thousand Hu soldiers and one thousand Han soldiers, as well as eight thousand bandits. This is the most help I can give you. No matter what, you have to hold on. Qixi is the gateway to Longxi, and if this place is lost, the door to Longxi will be wide open and all its innocents will be exposed to the iron hooves of the enemy, with unthinkable consequences. I will also be threatened on the front lines.”
When fighting abroad, one had to first ensure that the domestic situation was stable. If his rear were threatened, Wang Chong would truly find it difficult to battle in the front without worry, so the rear had to be kept safe.