Chapter 1042: The Mo Saber Unit Takes Form! (1/2)
”What's going on?”
Wang Chong frowned as he glanced in the direction of the noise, at the same time calling over a soldier of the Anxi Protectorate army.
”Milord, it is the people of the Qiluo Tribe. Several lambs froze to death last night, and the Qiluo people say that lambs freezing to death before winter is an inauspicious sign and they want to leave,” the Anxi Protectorate army soldier reported.
The Anxi Protectorate army had spent many years in the Western Regions, and the majority knew a few Hu languages and understood the tribes of the Western Regions. When Wang Chong's army arrived at Talas, he had entrusted the coordination of the Western Regions tribes to the Anxi Protectorate army.
”Lambs froze to death?”
Wang Chong's brow creased.
”We also found it rather strange. Lambs freezing to death isn't too big of a concern, but the Qiluo people regard lambs very highly. They say that with the care of the mother, lambs would never freeze to death under normal circumstances. In the past, the lambs have always been able to survive, with only two or three occasionally freezing to death. But this year, snow hasn't even fallen, yet ten-some lambs have already died. The Qiluo say that this is an ill omen.”
The Anxi Protectorate army soldier lowered his head and bowed.
Wang Chong's brow creased even more tightly. A thought came to him, and those ideas in his mind became clearer and clearer. But Wang Chong said nothing.
”How are you prepared to handle this matter?” Wang Chong said.
This was a crucial period in the war preparations, and these tribes of the Western Regions were responsible for the resupplying of the Qixi Protectorate army and Anxi Protectorate army. This tribe could not be allowed to leave at this time. If the Qiluo Tribe were allowed to leave, the other tribes would also begin to demand to leave, which would have a massive effect on the two protectorate armies.
”General Cheng has already brought Ferghanan Chief Banahan with him to resolve the matter. Banahan has a significant reputation in the Western Regions, so this matter should be settled soon,” the Anxi Protectorate army soldier said.
Wang Chong gave a slight nod at these words, and his creased brows unfurled. It seemed like Gao Xianzhi had also realized the severity of this problem and had dispatched Cheng Qianli and Banahan to handle it. With these two important figures stepping forward, the problem of the Qiluo people would be quickly resolved.
”Tell General Cheng that if this situation happens again, tell the tribes of the Western Regions that the Great Tang will pay compensation for any livestock that have frozen to death,” Wang Chong said.
”Yes, Milord!”
The Anxi soldier froze for a few moments, but he soon bowed and went off to deliver the message.
The Anxi Protectorate army and the Qixi Protectorate army were currently administering their own armies, but in order to improve communication and coordination, they had stationed soldiers in each other's camp to accept any assignments from the other side. This soldier of the Anxi Protectorate army standing outside Wang Chong's door had been dispatched by Gao Xianzhi to Wang Chong's side.
After sending off the Anxi Protectorate army soldier, Wang Chong whistled over the White-hoofed Shadow and rode off toward the training ground in the western part of the city.
Talas had three training grounds, which could hold two hundred thousand people in total. The first training ground was occupied by the Wushang Cavalry while the second training ground had been taken by Wang Chong to train the most unique kind of soldiers in all of Talas.
Hwooooo! The cold winds howled around Wang Chong as he rode toward the second training ground, but before he had even arrived, he could sense an intense shaking. Unlike the rumbling of a cavalry charge, this was a shaking that came like the beating of waves, carrying a certain cadence. At the same time, it was also accompanied by shouting.
”Ho!”
”Ha!”
These shouts were bursting with vigor and energy, all of them imbued with a fearless resolve that would never retreat.
The Mo Saber Unit!
Wang Chong faintly smiled as he urged his horse forward, and he soon arrived at the second training ground.
This enormous training ground was paved with gray brick, its edges lined with wooden mannequins. On the training ground, nearly ten thousand elite soldiers had divided themselves into three human walls and were in the middle of bitter training. Each of them wielded a thick iron cudgel more than seven feet long, and each of them was repeating the same three simple actions: hack, slash, sweep.
Although these actions were simple, the sensation of these ten thousand soldiers performing the same action in unison was truly intimidating to behold.
”Hey!”
”Ha!”
All these soldiers' faces were red, their backs caked with sweat. All their strength was put into repeating these simple actions.
”Milord!”
Upon seeing Wang Chong, the Gangke King, Xi Yuanqing, and Lou Shiyi went up to welcome him.
”The Mo Saber Unit has already begun to take form. Milord, please inspect!”