Chapter 1027: The Great Tang Marches into Battle! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
The wrath of the Sage Emperor had to be considered, but the two generals still found it somewhat unbearable that a single letter from the Wang Clan boy was enough to compel them into sending reinforcements.
”Haha, threats? You view that boy too highly.”
Zhang Shougui grinned.
”We naturally have to send soldiers, but not because of that boy. Zhao Kan, Baizhen Tuoluo, remember this: Great Generals do not compete on just martial cultivation and strength, but also bearing. Will our Andong Protectorate army lose out to some immature brat?
”Didn't that boy ask for us to send him four thousand soldiers? Zhao Kan, Baizhen Tuoluo, pick six thousand elites. In addition, report to the Imperial Court that even though Zhang Shougui is in Youzhou, he is deeply concerned about the court and country and is willing to send six thousand soldiers to reinforce Talas!”
With these last words, Zhang Shougui narrowed his eyes and thumped his right hand on the table.
Zhao Kan and Baizhen Tuoluo were dazed and confused, but as aides to Zhang Shougui for so many years, they soon understood.
If Zhang Shougui directly sent Wang Chong six thousand soldiers, that would be considered a private matter between the two, but if he sent the soldiers while also writing to the Imperial Court, it would be a matter between Zhang Shougui and the court, an expression of the Andong Protectorate army's absolute loyalty to the court and the Sage Emperor. Although this matter had been started by Wang Chong's letter, it already had very little to do with him.
The two had also thought of another benefit. Talas was currently in great peril. If the Andong Protectorate army became the first to answer the call and send reinforcements, it would end up fine whether the eventual battle resulted in victory or defeat. At the same time, it would have proved its loyalty to the Imperial Court.
In doing this, they would be able to shift from passive to active.
Moreover, their lord had always wanted to become Prime Minister of the Great Tang, and the greatest obstacle to this was the venerable Duke Jiu. By offering assistance to Talas, their lord might face less opposition in the future.
”Yes! This general understands!”
”Your subordinate will carry out your orders!”
……
Of the six Protector-Generals of the Great Tang, Zhang Shougui was far from the only one to receive a letter from Talas. In the Beiting Protectorate, all the generals had gathered in the hall, presided over by the heroic figure of Beiting Protector-General An Sishun.
”Have all of you read Gao Xianzhi's letter?”
An Sishun's eyes were half-closed, but his gaze swept like lightning over the gathered generals.
”Lord Protector-General, forgive me for speaking frankly. Of all the border protectorates, our Beiting Protectorate has the most soldiers, but it also guards the longest border and faces the most enemies. Besides the Western Turkic Khaganate, we must also defend against the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. Their combined armies total nearly one million soldiers! In addition, it would be fine if Gao Xianzhi wanted just ordinary soldiers, but he wants our elite Dragon Stallion Soldiers! Our Beiting Protectorate has tens of thousands of soldiers, but only several thousand Dragon Stallion Soldiers! Thus, this general believes that we cannot accept this request!”
”Lord Protector-General, this general does not agree. The Dragon Stallion Soldiers are precious, but the situation at Talas cannot be disregarded. The Arabian Empire to the west of the Cong Mountains is backed by a furious momentum. If Gao Xianzhi cannot hold them back, we will be the one to bear the brunt of the wave. When the time comes, will our several thousand Dragon Stallion Soldiers be able to resolve the problem? By helping the Anxi Protectorate army, we really help ourselves. Without the lips, the teeth will grow cold!”
”That's right! Other than the Arabs, the Celestial Wolf Great General of the Western Turks is also at Talas. This is a powerful foe of our Beiting Protectorate. If we send the Dragon Stallion Soldiers to deal with Duwu Sili, we'll really be helping our own cause!”
”Ridiculous! Did you not see the memorial Gao Xianzhi sent to court? The Arabs are coming with an army of four hundred thousand. The forces that Gao Xianzhi has in hand simply aren't enough. In the end, Talas will still be lost. If we send the Dragon Stallion Soldiers, won't we just be sending them to their deaths?”
Voices of opposition and support echoed through the hall in fierce debate. An Sishun sat above the fray, his eyes closed as he silently listened to the arguments, his thoughts inscrutable. But at this moment…
”Reporting!”
Taptaptap! A Beiting messenger rushed in from outside, a letter in his hand.
”A letter from Talas! Milord, please examine it!”
Bzzz! These words instantly plunged the hall into silence. Gao Xianzhi had just sent a letter, so why had another one come so quickly?
”Bring the letter over!”