Chapter 875: Vicious Battle, Clash of East and West! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”Impossible! Since when did the East have such powerful cavalry!?”
In the rear of the Arab army, Umar felt his breathing stop, and his eyes narrowed. These tens of thousands of cavalry were the best men under his command and had accompanied him in conquests across the world, in suppressing numerous rebellions and revolts. They had even accompanied him in his battles against the Sassanid Empire1 and other ancient cultures.
But Umar had never imagined that such a skilled force of cavalry would be so thoroughly wrecked by a cavalry force from the east.
”Everyone, follow me!”
Almost at the same time, in the rear of the five thousand Wushang Cavlary, Sun Zhiming called out, gathering nearly ten thousand Qixi cavalry to take advantage of the gap in the Arab cavalry and slice through. Under this charge led by Sun Zhiming, the Arab cavalry were thrown into even greater turmoil.
On the other end, Chen Burang, Zhuang Zhengping, Chi Weisi, and the other 'future general stars' of Deflecting Blade Manor were leading the cavalry of the Annan Protectorate army and the mercenaries in their own separate charges. After more than a year of tough and bitter tempering, although they had still not reached the levels of Li Siye and Su Hanshan, they had slowly begun to mature, the insight, experience, and understanding of strategy they had developed in Deflecting Blade Manor allowing them to show the nascent forms of generals.
These skills that they had learned were far more effective on this battlefield than their personal strength, which was why Wang Chong had called them over from Deflecting Blade Manor.
Thudthudthud!
The constant charges of the Tang army chose the weakest and most lethal points of the Arab formation. 'The art of war is the art of chess.' Whether it was Sun Zhiming, Chen Burang, or any of the others, all of them had been influenced by Wang Chong and had a thorough understanding of the art of war, as well as an extremely sensitive nose for opportunities on the battlefield.
One 'War Saint' in Wang Chong was already difficult enough to deal with, and now with all these future generals, the army of one hundred thousand displayed a strength far above normal.
This was the Great Tang's most valiant and most beautifully deployed army!
Boomboomboom! Screams continued to rip through the air, accompanying countless crashes and collisions. The tens of thousands of Arab cavalry were swiftly pulverized. Even though the Arabs were muscular and natural fighters, this war was not a competition between individuals, but a battle between groups.
Once the Arabs were cut and divided into small groups, even the strongest of them was insignificant.
Bangbangbang! Fierce collisions rang out as the Arab cavalry were attacked from multiple angles, charged against time and time again, and slumped down, dying upon their horses. In a few seconds the Arabs had suffered seventeen to eighteen thousand losses, the speed of their defeat leaving them stunned and dismayed.
Led by the future general stars of Deflecting Blade Manor and the future Invincible Great General Li Siye, the cavalry and their Arrow Formations had a might that was nigh impossible to imagine!
Neigh!
Fierce neighing cut through the battlefield. While Sun Zhiming and the others were leading repeated charges through the Arab cavalry, Li Siye had already punched through the whole of the formation. Together with his Ferghana steed, he savagely smashed into the Arab shield wall.
”Careful! Raise the shields! Stop that Tang!”
”Kill them! All who retreat will be executed!”
Urgent orders rang out over the battlefield, suffused with fear and panic. Bangbangbang! Metal clanged on the eastern edge of the Talas battlefield as countless Arab soldiers tensed their muscles and put all their strength into holding fast their massive metal shields.
But what came in reply was a metallic bang…
Clang! Li Siye's massive Wootz Steel sword had cut that massive shield and the Arab soldier behind it into two, striking fear into the hearts of the surrounding soldiers. The Abbasid Caliphate was an empire founded on war, and their armor and weapons were forged to the highest standard. Those heavy shields had been forged from the best iron. Not only were they capable of withstanding the full charge of enemy cavalry, but even the sharpest Arab swords found it difficult to shave even a sliver off them. The reputation of these shields was known throughout the Western Regions.
No one had expected this giant of a Tang general to cleave through this shield like it had been made of paper.
”No matter the price, hurry and stop him!”
”Axemen, shieldmen, archers, hurry!”
”Don't let him charge over!”
The Arab infantry formation fell into turmoil, awed and intimidated by Li Siye's apparently divine might. Countless Arabs rushed forward with their shields to stop Li Siye and cover up the gap, but they were too late.
”Charge!”