Chapter 1155: The Sassanid Dynastys Great General! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
'While we have courage, we must pursue the cornered enemy, not emulate the Hegemon King1.' Abu Muslim and Ziyad were only so weak right now because they had given all their energy to the now-deceased Qutaybah. Thus, their only option was to flee. But if they were allowed to recover their energy, the battle would not be so easy.
”Let's go!”
Gao Xianzhi was much more straightforward than Wang Chong. With a single order, he led his soldiers in pursuit of the fleeing Abu Muslim.
After they had traveled for several dozen li, Banahan rode up on his red steed. ”Milord, ahead of us is the Black Forest. Once we pass through the Black Forest, it will just be several hundred li to Samarkand!”
Almost no one in Wang Chong's circle had been to Arabia, and they had little understanding of the surrounding area, but Banahan was different. As the chief of the Ferghanans of the Western Regions, in his youth, Banahan had gone to Samarkand several times. Although it had been some time since those visits and he no longer remembered the exact route, he still had a rough grasp of the direction.
Creee!
A shrill cry suddenly came from overhead. A massive rock eagle unfurled its wings and began to circle in the air, drawing out strange patterns with its movements. After repeating this several times, it made a massive arc in the air and flew back to the front.
Zhang Que drew back his gaze from the sky and rode up to Wang Chong. ”Milord, there's news from ahead. A battle seems to have taken place in the Black Forest!”
The rock eagles trained by Zhang Que's eagle team all had a special language, and different flight patterns would convey different meanings. The rock eagle just now had conveyed the message 'battle ahead'.
”But how could that be? Ahead of us will be Arab territory. Besides us, who else could be capable of fighting the Arabs!”
Xi Yuanqing was the first to speak, the shock visible in his eyes.
The strength of Arabia was undisputed to the west of the Cong Mountains, and almost no power could contend against it. They had long ago exterminated anything that could pose a threat to them, so how could anyone be hindering Abu Muslim at this time?
Even Gao Xianzhi appeared pensive.
”Hah, that's not certain!”
Wang Chong seemed to think of something, his eyes flashing as he spoke.
”Have you forgotten about that Khorasani?”
Wang Chong's words were like a lightning bolt to the rest. After an initial shock, all of them began to understand.
Before the last battle, the Khorasani had sent a messenger indicating a willingness to ally with the Great Tang. Based on what those Khorasani had promised, as long as the Great Tang could emerge victorious in the battle over Talas against Abu Muslim and his vast army, they would send their strongest force of cavalry to work with the Tang to impede the Arab retreat.
The Aswaran Cataphracts!
Everyone shared the same thought.
”Let's go!”
Gao Xianzhi urged his horse into a gallop, the twenty-thousand-some Tang soldiers following behind him in a flood toward the Black Forest.
When they reached the edge of the Black Forest, only a few moments later, ten-some heavily-armored cavalry in neat formation rode toward them. These people had bodies, appearances, and armor similar to the Arabs, but also very different.
”It's the Khorasani!”
Xi Yuanqing and Lou Shiyi rejoiced.
When the Khorasani had last visited Talas, the pair had personally received them, so they could tell at a glance the large difference between the Khorasani and the Arabs.
”Is it Great General Wang Chong before us?!”
Several hundred paces away, a hawk-eyed and high-nosed Khorasani spoke in rough Tang language.
”I am him!”
Wang Chong's eyes flashed, and he soon waved his hand at the rear.
”Someone, go to the rear and bring Yuan Shusong, Senior Yuan, over.”
One of Wang Chong's personal guards went to deliver the order. A few moments later, Yuan Shusong rode up on a glossy-maned white Turkic steed.
Knowing that the circumstances were unique, Yuan Shusong exchanged only a few pleasantries with Wang Chong before stepping forward to converse with the Khorasani cavalry. Although he appeared weak and scholarly, when it came to languages, Yuan Shusong immediately became energetic and confident, seemingly an entirely different person.
Gallop! A few moments later, Yuan Shusong returned.
”Milord, the Khorasani says that they know of Milord's victory, and according to their promise with Milord, they ambushed the retreating Arab army in the Black Forest, killing the Governor of Cairo, Osman. The leader of the Khorasani, Great General Bahram, has sent word desiring to meet with Milord and discuss how to deal with the Arabs!” Yuan Shusong excitedly said.