Chapter 1016: Khorasan (1/2)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Many nobles and ministers in Baghdad were currently demanding Abu Muslim's execution, which was very poor news for him. No one knew what the Caliph's will was at the moment, but the Sword of Damocles would come down eventually.

”Ziyad, is there any way to seek out information on the High Priest?” Abu Muslim suddenly asked.

”Milord?!”

Ziyad was dazed. He had never expected that Abu Muslim would bring up the High Priest instead of worrying about the Caliph's rage and his future punishment.

”Ziyad, Masil was the High Priest's disciple. His Majesty favored Masil as well because of his relationship to the High Priest. Thus, from start to finish, the most crucial figure in this matter… has always been the High Priest. The Caliph has said nothing because the High Priest has said nothing.

”The Tang getting control of the Behemoths and making them defect at the most crucial moment was the largest variable in this battle. Masil's death was also tied to this. If we inform the High Priest of this matter, perhaps… it will help us endure this disaster, maybe even get us some assistance. The eastern world has far too many mysteries. Talas is only the beginning. I sense… that if we want to conquer the eastern world, we will need the High Priest's assistance.”

Abu Muslim's words left Ziyad speechless.

After the severe defeat at Talas, everyone knew that Abu Muslim was facing a calamity, but no one had ever associated this topic with the most enigmatic existence in the empire, the High Priest. Besides, the High Priest resided high above, his enigmatic nature engendering respect and fear, and normal people never even had the chance to interact with him.

But when carefully considered, Abu Muslim's words were not entirely unreasonable.

For a moment, Ziyad was frozen as his mind tossed and turned in thought.

”But Milord, the High Priest always moves very secretively. He most often appears at the Temple, but even the people of the Temple don't know where he goes, much less us. Moreover, His Majesty the Caliph long ago decreed that no one was allowed to disturb the Temple and the High Priest, with execution for those who did. Even the Third Prince was not able to do such a thing, much less us.”

Abu Muslim immediately frowned at these words. He knew the incident Ziyad spoke of. Back then, the Caliph had treated the Third Prince extremely well, but one day, this naughty youth strayed into the Temple. When the Caliph found out, he had the Third Prince immediately executed. A prince was a lofty status that had the right to inherit the throne. Nobles, ministers, and governors would have to bow in their presence, let alone the common folk.

From this incident, the entire empire knew of the Caliph's resolve, and no one dared to approach the Temple. Moreover, ten thousand heavily armored guards had been stationed around the Temple.

Abu Muslim thought quietly for a very long time, but he was eventually forced to admit that using this method to find the High Priest was almost impossible. If it were just a matter of the Temple being heavily guarded, Abu Muslim could just force his way through, but even if he did get in, he might still find it difficult to find the High Priest.

The High Priest was far too mysterious. In the last ten years, he had only appeared three times. It appeared almost impossible for him to gain the aid of the High Priest.

”We'll put this matter to the side for now. Let me ask you, what is the status of the Mamelukes?” Abu Muslim asked. As he spoke these words, a strange look appeared in his eyes.

”Milord, the rebellion of the old nobles in Khorasan has been completely suppressed. I have already received word that the Khorasan rebels lost more than three hundred thousand men. I am confident that they won't be able to stir any trouble for a very long time. In addition, the Mamelukes have already been informed of what happened at Talas. Commander Aybak has sent a letter saying that once he has finished with Khorasan, he will await the arrival of Governors Qutaybah and Osman, and travel with them to Talas to assist Lord Governor.

”Aybak has expressed great interest in this eastern army that can defeat both the Behemoth Army and the Skyquaking Army,” Ziyad sternly said.

Ziyad clearly appeared energized when he mentioned the Mamelukes.

In this Battle of Talas, the Mamelukes were a force that should have been deployed in the east, and the Caliph had promised that they would assist Abu Muslim in his conquest, in quashing the formidable powers of the eastern world. But the Mamelukes had been called away to the rebellion in Khorasan, and they never ended up arriving on the battlefield.

The loss at Talas was inextricably linked to the lack of the Mamelukes.

If the Mamelukes had been available, everything might have turned out differently. At the very least, that force of Wootz Steel cavalry on the ground would not have been so unstoppable.

”However, even though the Mamelukes are strong, in terms of equipment, they can't compare to the Tang Wootz Steel soldiers. Those weapons are too sharp, and even the God Armor of the Skyquaking Army, the best equipment the empire could provide, the crystallization of the knowledge of the empire's best smiths, was still cut through by those Wootz Steel swords wielded by the Tang. I sense that these Wootz Steel swords will become the Mamelukes' greatest weakness. If we don't address this weakness, the Mamelukes will find it very hard to exhibit their full might,” Ziyad sternly said.

Abu Muslim said nothing, but the shift in his expression indicated that he understood the problem. Although they had both been caught up in the intense battle, they had also been keeping a close eye on the battlefield.

Although the Skyquaking Army was no Behemoth, it could definitely be considered the number two force in all of Arabia. In their plans, the Skyquaking Army with their formidable armor would have thrown the Tang lines into complete chaos. But when those five thousand Wushang Cavalry charged, everything had changed.

If they had not seen it for themselves, they would have found it very difficult to believe that the God Armor forged by the best smiths of the empire had been so fragile before the Tang swords.