Chapter 1160: Forgetting Each Other Amongst the Lakes and Rivers1! (1/2)

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

While the entire Great Tang was celebrating, immersed in the joy of victory, far away, in the northeast corner of Ü-Tsang, a lonely horse bell rang out through the air.

Several thousand defeated soldiers, their armor cast away and their moods downcast, were currently traversing this winding and rugged path toward Ü-Tsang. In the center of this army was a banner depicting a white yak. These soldiers were none other than the remnants of the army that Huoba Sangye had led in retreat from Talas.

In retreating from the stone bridge, Huoba Sangye and his men had taken more than double the time that they had needed to reach it when the Tibetans had come the first time around.

The Battle of Talas was over and the news had been spread to all the kingdoms of the Western Regions. At this time, all the countries, big and small, along the route had shut their gates to these soldiers, displaying a clear hostility.

If the army had just set out and were still at its full strength, Huoba Sangye would have long ago led his troops in taking these cities and destroying these kingdoms for daring to treat Ü-Tsang in this way.

But with the Great Generals and the wise minister dead, and the remaining several thousand men on their last gasps of breath, they represented no threat to these kingdoms.

There were many times when Huoba Sangye had been forced to lead his army on a long detour to avoid any conflicts with these factions. Such an act was an unprecedented humiliation.

But Huoba Sangye no longer cared about such things.

”Great Minister, generals! Soon, you will be able to return to Ü-Tsang!”

The Tibetan Plateau was close at hand. Huoba Sangye turned his head to see the bodies of Dalun Ruozan, Huoshu Huicang, and Dusong Mangpoje being carried on the backs of horses, and his expression became extremely downcast.

When they had set off, they had been happily smiling, and their bold declarations were still ringing in his ears. It seemed like only yesterday that their grandiose army was one hundred thousand strong, vast and unstoppable. But in the blink of an eye, all this had gone up in smoke, and now he was alone, a defeated general with just several thousand soldiers at his command.

When he thought of this, Huoba Sangye couldn't help but reveal an expression of extreme sorrow. But he quickly composed himself. None of this mattered anymore. His only thought was to bring the bodies of the Great Minister and the others back to the plateau.

”General! Look ahead of us!”

While he had been losing himself in sorrow, a Tibetan soldier cried out in alarm and pointed ahead.

Huoba Sangye raised his head in shock, but he quickly saw that an army was encamped on the distant Tibetan Plateau, appearing from this distance like so many ants.

”It's the Western Turks!”

Huoba Sangye's eyes widened as if he had been stabbed, and his mind seemed to be much clearer now.

At this time, the army resting on the plateau also noticed these newcomers. Beneath the banner of a golden wolf on a blue backing, a muscular figure on his warhorse took several paces forward and then stopped.

”Milord! It's the Tibetans! They've also retreated!”

Chekun Benba rode out from the rear and gazed down at Huoba Sangye.

Duwu Sili was pale and his aura was extremely weak. His gaze passed through space to meet with Huoba Sangye's. In that moment, Huoba Sangye's eyes were brimming with rage while Duwu Sili's showed a hint of embarrassment.

At the most crucial moment of the Battle of Talas, Duwu Sili had taken a blow from Wang Chong's palm and been immediately scared out of his wits, throwing his allies aside and withdrawing. For the Celestial Wolf Great General to do such a thing was extremely shameful.

Now that he had encountered Huoba Sangye and the Tibetans once more, how could Duwu Sili not feel embarrassed?

But a moment later, Duwu Sili turned his gaze to Huoba Sangye's side, where he saw the bodies of Dalun Ruozan, Huoshu Huicang, and Dusong Mangpoje.

His expression became complicated, a hint of sorrow in his eyes.

Although his time as an ally of Ü-Tsang had been short, and there were many times when they had schemed against each other, the fox would mourn for the hare, having lost an ally against the hunter. Wang Chong and the Tang had killed Dalun Ruozan, Huoshu Huicang, and Dusong Mangpoje, and Duwu Sili and his Western Turks had fared little better.

Duwu Sili could not help but be emotionally moved at this time.

”Great General, should we meet with them before we go?” Chekun Benba asked.

”There's no need!”

Duwu Sili shook his head and quickly regained his composure.

”The Battle of Talas is over, so the alliance between us and the Tibetans no longer exists. Starting from now, we will have to fight our own battles, confront an even more powerful Great Tang that might come for vengeance at any time. There is no need for our two sides to meet each other.”