Chapter 1210: The Third Major Battle! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Rumble!
The army was getting closer and closer like the rising tide. In just a few short moments, everyone was able to see it.
This was an army of hundreds of thousands, devouring everything in its path. Even though the coalition army had exchanged blows with the Arabs many times, it was still greatly alarmed by this sight.
Moreover, from the powerful auras rising from the army, it was clear that the Arabs had gathered even more powerful governors than last time.
”Attack!”
A powerful Arab governor with an aura as vast as an ocean pulled out his sword and pointed it at the imposing walls of Khorasan.
”Kill!”
With this order, the Arab cavalry turned into a flood of steel as they swept past the Arab governor and into the distance. At this moment, all other sound was drowned out and the entire world seemed to pale.
After a long period of preparation, the Arabs had finally managed to gather another army and launch an attack on the coalition army in Khorasan.
Boomboomboom!
Thirty thousand feet, twenty thousand feet, ten thousand feet… Right when the army had reached the shores of the Tigris River, there was a creaking of gears as a large black metal bridge extended out of the Arab army, crossing dozens of feet to slam onto the opposite shore of the river. There was a chorus of shouts as the warhorses stepped onto the metal bridge and began to charge across the river.
The neighing of horses, the clattering of armor, and the shouting of soldiers mixed into a single din.
A somber air hung over the battlefield.
One bridge, two bridges, three bridges, four bridges… As more and more of the sturdy metal bridges fixed themselves onto the opposite shore, a wide path appeared across the Tigris River.
A massive stampede of horses surged across it.
Five hundred paces, four hundred paces, three hundred paces… The shuddering of the earth intensified, yet there was still no sign of activity from the walls of Khorasan.
One hundred and fifty paces, one hundred and thirty paces, one hundred paces… As the distance shrank and the Arabs were preparing to fire off their metal ropes…
”Ready!”
There was a loud and bright cry, cutting through the sky like a sharp sword, shattering the silence on the walls of Khorasan. With this voice, the walls of Khorasan exploded with metal banging and clattering. And this sound made all the Arab generals extremely uneasy.
A moment later, to the consternation of the Arabs, gaps opened up in the wall of Khorasan, and from these gaps appeared thousands of large metal machines. Each of these machines was loaded with a sharp metal bolt that glimmered in the light of the early morning.
”Ballistae!”
A cry of panic rang out through the heavens. Some soldiers who had participated at the Battle of Talas instantly recognized what these machines were. They were the Great Tang ballistae, which had made all the Arab cavalry on the battlefield of Talas shiver in fear.
In the Battle of Talas, there had only been five thousand ballistae, and that had been enough to give the hundreds of thousands of Arab soldiers nightmarish memories. But the number of ballistae positioned behind those gaps in the walls of Khorasan exceeded ten thousand.
The entirety of the walls seemed to be packed with these unstoppable machines, these reapers of souls.
Tens of thousands of ballistae bristled from the walls, converting Khorasan into a fortress that was armed to the teeth. Even the most resolved Arab horseman would crumbled at this sight.
”Withdraw!”
The Arab cavalry who had taken part in the Battle of Talas immediately called out, fleeing without hesitation.
They had reacted quickly, but not quickly enough. These soldiers had barely begun to run when the air exploded, and then ballista bolt after ballista bolt howled through the air like dragons as they shot down from the walls of Khorasan.
”Ah!”
Screams and thuds filled the air as tens of thousands of Arab soldiers, caught by complete surprise, were nailed to the ground along with their horses.
”Release!
”Release!
”Release!”
Su Hanshan stood atop the walls like a god, swinging down his sword again and again. His eyes were cold and his expression aloof, making him seem like the god of death who had come from the underworld to pronounce the fates of the Arabs down below.
Boomboomboom!