Chapter 880: Wang Chong, Exchanging Blows Through the Air! (1/2)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Wang Chong smiled and said nothing, his eyes glancing at the other Anxi generals.

After a few moments of thought, Cheng Qianli sternly rebuked, ”Xu Yang, speak more carefully! The situation on the battlefield is constantly changing, and the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers are at stake. Do you really think things will develop a certain way just because you want them to? Protector-General Wang is correct. When facing a formidable foe like the Arabs, we can't act carelessly!”

Although he also dearly wished that they could kill all the Arabs in one go, even he had to admit that Wang Chong's judgment was correct. The Arabs had only suffered a minor difficulty, and if that was really all they had been capable of, they would have never been able to force the Anxi Protectorate army and its Protector-General into such desperate straits.

The Protector-General had even been preparing to bring the Anxi Protectorate army to have one final showdown with the Arabs, sacrificing himself for the empire.

Proud soldiers were bound to lose!

It wasn't just the lives of the Anxi Protectorate army on the line here, but also the ownership of the Western Regions, the safety of Qixi, Longxi, and even the capital. One couldn't allow emotions to decide something as important as this!

Wang Chong glanced at Cheng Qianli, a hint of admiration in his eyes. He had never interacted with Cheng Qianli, nor did he understand him very much, but from these words, he could already see that not only was this Brigadier General of the Great Tang an outstanding martial artist, but also had quite the strategic mind.

At the very least, he did not make decisions according to emotion or impulse.

”Ha, in truth, besides what I said just now, I have another reason: their banners and flags!”

Wang Chong chuckled as he confidently turned his head to the battlefield.

Astonished, all the officers turned to look in the direction the Arabs had fled and saw those black Arab banners thrusting up in the midst of the army. But this only left all of them confused, none of them understanding what Wang Chong was talking about.

”Regardless of what sort of plan Abu Muslim has, this doesn't look anything like an army in a state of collapse! If he really wanted to try something, he should put in a little more work and intention!”

Wang Chong had a self-assured and all-knowing look on his face, and his eyes seemed to be those of some wise sage.

Boom!

These words immediately sent ripples through the crowd, stunning both the Anxi generals and Wang Chong's own subordinates. They only knew that Wang Chong had specified that they should withdraw after pursuing the Arabs past a certain point, but not the reason.

And they certainly did not know what sort of mysteries lay behind the Arab war banners.

But now they could see it! Wang Chong's reminder had made them reexamine those black flags, and they now noticed that all of them were thrust straight into the air, and even in the midst of a retreat, they still exuded a sense of order and discipline.

Putting everything else aside, this did not seem like an army that was retreating in complete panic and chaos!

Hiss!

Their eyes widened at this sudden insight, and all of them took in sharp breaths as they struggled to find the words to speak.

”Qianli, Protector-General Wang is correct. Abu Muslim is not that easy to defeat. He's already laid a trap for us. Pass on my order. All soldiers should withdraw!”

Gao Xianzhi spoke in his dignified voice as he looked into the distance.

”A trap?”

His subordinates were flabbergasted.

”Lord Protector-General is wise!”

Wang Chong gave a faint smile and a nod. Gao Xianzhi lived up to his reputation as Western Regions War God. As a veteran of countless battles, he was extremely sensitive to the changes on the battlefield, and it was clear that he had also noticed Abu Muslim's plans.

”Xu Keyi, pass on my order. Have all soldiers withdraw and cease the pursuit.”

Xu Keyi assented and hurriedly left.

In the distance, the more than one hundred thousand soldiers of Qixi and the Anxi Protectorate army began to slowly withdraw and stop. With this, the two sides were completely disengaged.

……

Meanwhile, several li to the west of Talas, in an unnoticed area, the Arabs had long ago stationed a force amidst the uneven terrain, creating an arc of soldiers ready to ambush the enemy. Nearly one hundred thousand Arab cavalry were ready to descend the moment the trap was triggered.

These cavalry were the first to withdraw from the battlefield, and the terrain made it impossible to notice them from a distance.

”Why haven't they come yet?”