Chapter 1823: Return to the Northwest! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Putting aside the Confucian Sect for now, Wang Chong was finding that the cement road he had worked together with the great clans to build was proving critical.
The cement roads throughout the Great Tang were like the blood vessels of the empire, and at every moment, soldiers, weapons, and supplies were traveling along these roads to the northwest.
The turning of wheels was constant. Wang Chong's goal of saving time for soldiers marching to the northwest had truly been realized.
An endless stream of supplies and soldiers in open-top wagons drawn by numerous warhorses traveled from the capital to Qixi, and the entire realm was gripped by a somber air.
……
At this time, winds howled across the triangular gap, and thousands of warhorses stood atop the Tibetan Plateau, facing north.
Plumes of thick smoke and gouts of flame were rising from the northeast. Thousands of craftsmen were hard at work, and in front of them, rows of steel walls formed a long defensive line to protect the Great Tang.
This firm defensive line appeared like a grandiose 'dam', extending for a length of several hundred li.
Past those bright silver walls, far to the northwest, the rumbling of warhorses could be heard.
Far on the horizon was a massive, domed fortress, built in the Arabian style.
At the top of this fortress was a massive black banner depicting a crescent moon, exerting a massive pressure upon all who looked at it.
In front of this fortress was a force of tens of thousands of Arab cavalry, all of them wrapped in black armor, drawn up in a long line and ready to charge.
It had been some time now since the Arabs had defeated the Anxi Protectorate army. More and more soldiers were arriving, and the sharp neigh of horses had almost become background noise.
Even though the war had yet to begin, the entire region was on a hair trigger, the tension so thick that it could be cut with a knife. No one knew when the Arabs would attack and thus when the next war would begin.
At the front of the tens of thousands of soldiers arrayed at the triangular gap, Su Hanshan suddenly asked, ”Has His Highness sent his order?”
A young man came out from the rear and said, ”Milord, His Highness has ordered you to hold back for now and await further orders.
”However, his Highness has also said that as long as it's not a direct clash, Milord can do as you please. In addition, there are no restraints with regards to the Shi Kingdom Prince and the other kingdoms of the Western Regions who yielded to Arabia.”
Su Hanshan seemed to understand something, and a smile formed on his lips.
”Kong Zi-an, you heard His Highness's order, yes?”
”Your subordinate understands!” Kong Zi-an sternly said.
While they couldn't engage in a direct clash, they could still raid and harass. And while the Arabs might be powerful, the same could not be said for the Shi Kingdom's forces.
They could use this chance to make a night raid. This could both restrain the Arabs and intimidate the kingdoms of the Western Regions. They needed to do as much as possible to tip the balance in the Great Tang's favor, and if possible, it would be best if they could lure the Arabs to the triangular gap.
The triangular gap was already watertight, and no matter how many soldiers the Arabs sent, they would find it hard to accomplish much.
Gallop!
After taking one last glance at the massive, domed fortress on the horizon, Su Hanshan led his men away. He had more important matters to handle.
Boom!
A few moments later, there was a massive boom. The Qixi Armory, the only armory in the northwest and the largest in the realm, rumbled open.
With the entire process overseen by numerous grounds, numerous ballistae, swords, sabers, spears, and suits of armor were brought out.
As the armory of the imperial household, it could only be opened on orders of the Sage Emperor.
In the Battle of Talas, Wang Chong had only dared to utilize a portion of the resources within, but this time was different. All of the weapons within, particularly the numerous ballistae, were taken out and transported to the triangular gap or the City of Steel.
When he had last taken inventory, Wang Chong had found there to be at least one hundred thousand ballistae in the armory. This was a number that the Sage Emperor had achieved through thirty-some years of constant production and accumulation, all in preparation for a war like this.
Even though the tribulations of time had left some of the ballistae damaged, and some of them had been sent back from various areas to be repaired, even after deducting these, there were still seventy thousand ballistae that could be used in battle.
This was an immense and influential power on the battlefield.
……
Ten-some days went by in the blink of an eye. More than one million Arab soldiers had now arrived in the northwest, with more on the way.