Chapter 1050: Three Sides Gather! (1/2)
To the west of Talas, in the distant Black Forest…
Flapflap! Countless birds took off into the air in fright as an enormous Arab army marched toward the Black Forest. The three massive banners of the army were visible from a great distance. They were a black crescent moon, a long and narrow river, and a burning black hell flame.
Thump thump thump!
The thundering of the war drums made all the Black Forest tremble before the might of this army.
”They're here!”
In front of the Black Forest, Ziyad stood up and looked to the rear, his eyes glowing with joy. Behind Ziyad, Abu Muslim also stood up. His expression appeared calm but his eyes revealed all.
The Arabs required a victory in this war, and Abu Muslim and Ziyad had been waiting far too long for this day to come. To break Talas and conquer the eastern world had always been the greatest desire of Abu Muslim and all the other Arab governors.
As the Governor of Iron and Blood, Abu Muslim could not endure a loss to a puny army of infidels, nor could his deputy Ziyad.
”Hahaha, Abu Muslim, we meet again!”
A vigorous laugh came out of the army as Governor Osman of Cairo rode out to meet Abu Muslim and Ziyad.
”Lord Osman, we've been waiting for you for a long time.”
Ziyad laughed and rode his own horse forward to meet him, a warm and amiable look on his face. Ziyad had also participated in the war with the Sassanid Dynasty, and he had even worked with Osman to kill a Sassanid Great General. They could be considered old friends.
”Welcome!”
Abu Muslim also rode his horse forward, but he only calmly spoke a single word.
”Abu Muslim, you're still your old self, still with that same foul expression. What's wrong? Are the Tang at Talas really that formidable? Such that even you are no match for them?”
Osman gently smiled while his eyes shone with curiosity.
Abu Muslim was practically a symbol of invincibility in the Arabian Empire. In the last few decades, there had been no empire that he had not been able to conquer. But this time, not only had he failed to conquer, but he had been defeated as well. Osman had to admit that he had been rather stunned when he had first heard this news, even believing it to be some sort of joke.
”Osman, don't get careless. This Tang army is different from any opponent we've ever faced. Their weapons, equipment, strategies, formations, and their commanders are all extremely formidable. In addition, eastern martial arts are completely different from ours. It was precisely because Masil was too careless that he died at their hands,” Abu Muslim grimly said.
”Is that so?”
An indifferent voice spoke, tinged with disdain and a tyrannical air.
”That makes me want to try even more. I'd like to see if there's an army in this world that our Mamelukes can't defeat!”
Aybak slowly rode out from the army upon a pure white steed.
”Milord!”
Ziyad's expression became slightly apprehensive at the sight of Aybak and he immediately bowed.
The Mamelukes were an army with supreme fighting power. All of Arabia knew this. As the leader of the Mamelukes, Aybak wielded immense influence. Even Ziyad had to show him a great deal of respect.
”Aybak, if that's what you want, you can try my army.”
An icy voice came out from the rear, accompanied by the clopping of hooves. A figure shining with a dazzling golden light appeared, riding on an abnormally large Arabian steed.
Qutaybah!
Abu Muslim, Osman, Ziyad, and Aybak all turned serious and immediately shut their mouths. The Governor of War Qutaybah almost certainly commanded the most unique army in all the Arabian Empire.
Qutaybah craved battle so much that he started wars even more frequently than Abu Muslim. He was an out-and-out battle maniac. This was one of the few people who surpassed Abu Muslim in status, and the formidable strength and authority he wielded made even the Caliph think about ways to restrain him.
This madman!
A hint of anger flashed through Aybak's eyes, but he did not dare to voice his opinion. At its full strength, the Mamelukes only had ten thousand men, but Qutaybah's elite soldiers were more than ten times this number. The Mamelukes were used to break defensive positions on the battlefield, not for large-scale combat. Even if the Mamelukes could break through Qutaybah's formation, they would still end up in a bitter melee from which they would emerge with severe casualties.
Most importantly, Aybak was no match for Qutaybah.
Qutaybah was known as the War God of Arabia, a title that well reflected his level of strength. If it was not necessary, Aybak did not want to make enemies with this battle maniac.