Side Story Chapter 21 (1/2)

Side Story Chapter 21: Retraining the Soldiers!

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

In the tent, several armored Tibetan generals sat on chairs. Though their bodies were short, they were brimming with vigor, and they pulsed with Stellar Energy. While their skins were dark and tanned from their daily livelihood, their faces had a healthy red complexion.

Their faces sported red or yellow beards, and they all had rather grave expressions.

At this moment, a red-bearded general was raging, his face incredibly grim. It was clear that this was the general who had roared a moment ago.

A vigorous general sitting across from the red-bearded general sternly said, “Ormu, Blood Butcher might have encountered Tang soldiers. Wait a little longer.”

He was trying to soothe Ormu, but he actually wasn’t in a much better mood.

In the end, Blood Butcher had been recommended by him to command the raid. He had not expected that this man, who had been known for his swift battles, would end up fighting in Feng Village for so long!

“Reporting!”

At this moment, the galloping of hooves could be heard, and everyone instantly turned to the reporting soldier.

“After some investigation, we found that Blood Butcher’s force of cavalry arrived at Feng Village in the Zi Period (11pm – 1am), but, but…” A scout was permitted inside the tent, and he got down on one knee and began his report. But by the end, his face twisted, and he began to stammer.

“Talk!” Ormu roared.

“At the first quarter of the Zi Period, it was surrounded by Tang… and completely wiped out!”

As the scout spoke, the tent became deathly still, disbelief appearing in the eyes of the Tibetan generals.

“Has this been confirmed?” that vigorous general asked, his eyes dangerously narrowing.

“Yes. Moreover, through our investigation, we found that the Tang operation was apparently led by the Third Prince of the Great Tang,” the scout said, his head lowered and covered in sweat.

“What?!”

The generals in the tent were left dumbstruck, and even Ormu had been rendered speechless.

The Tang Empire had six Princes, and each one had his own merits. As for the Third Prince… he was well-known for being arrogant and despotic, and not just in the Tang Empire. On the day he killed the son of the King of Shan, all of the surrounding countries, including Ü-Tsang, the Turks, and Mengshe Zhao… came to know of this Prince.

Hadn’t this good-for-nothing Prince come to the border to go through the motions and gild his reputation a little?

How could he be this formidable?

“Are all of the Tang Empire’s Princes this formidable?”

The scout was quickly dismissed. Meanwhile, Ormu continued to mutter to himself.

Blood Butcher’s movements had been extremely secretive. How had the Third Prince known?

The Great Tang already had First Prince Li Xuantu, who was placing considerable pressure on the Turks. Now this Third Prince had appeared. Were all the Princes of the Tang Empire so superb?

Another Tibetan general spoke, an expression of disdain on his face. “Hmph, what are you all thinking? Don’t let someone else’s flame extinguish your own! If he were really that formidable, his reputation wouldn’t have been so foul. He might have just gotten lucky.

“A blind cat running into a dead mouse. Blood Butcher just happened to throw himself on a spear.”

He would not believe that a Tang Prince who had never before been on the battlefield would be so formidable.

“Didn’t you hear the scout say that they were surrounded? They must have been predicted. Moreover, the Turks have been recruiting soldiers recently, and everyone says it’s because this Prince exposed their scheme,” that vigorous general said.

The red-bearded general also frowned. He had clearly realized that something was wrong.

When the Turks had sought peace with the Great Tang, almost all the Tibetans had been stunned. The two sides had been fighting for ten-some years and were already at a stage where peace was impossible. Why would the Turks suddenly lower themselves and request peace talks?

Later on, even though the Tang Third Prince had exposed the Turks’ scheme to try and occupy the Yin Mountains, both Turks and Tang believed that he had managed to guess correctly through sheer luck, let alone the Tibetans.

“Regardless of who he is, anyone who dares to kill our Tibetan comrades must pay the blood price!”

At this time, in the main seat of the tent, a muscular and domineering character suddenly opened up his eyes, revealing a brilliant light that seethed with killing intent. At the same time, an energy like the blazing sun radiated from his body.

Seated on the main seat, he appeared like a towering mountain, his aura drowning out the likes of Ormu and the other Tibetan generals.

Huoshu Songren!

The Ü-Tsang Empire was separated into regions ruled by different members of the royal clan. He who held the royal city of Lhasa, Tride Tsuktsen, held paramount status. Beneath Tride Tsuktsen were the four Royal Lineages, each ruled by one of Tride Tsuktsen’s royal brothers. These were the Ngari Royal Lineage, the Lhasa Royal Lineage, the Yatse Royal Lineage, and the Yarlung Royal Lineage.

Huoshu Songren belonged to the Ngari, responsible for the southeast.

Huoshu Songren was one of Ü-Tsang’s top-class leaders. Under his leadership, Ü-Tsang had not only developed the Halo of Fortress to its greatest extent, it had also developed a new charging formation of immense power that allowed it to contend against the powerful Turks.

Huoshu Songren turned to that vigorous general and said in a rumbling and chilling tone, “Wuji, you were the one who recommended him. What do you think?”

Panic appeared in Wuji’s eyes, and he immediately got down on one knee in front of Huoshu Songren.

“Great General, please give your subordinate a chance to redeem himself. Your subordinate will not allow this plan to come to naught!”

After a few moments of silence, Huoshu Songren sternly said, “Longxi must be taken. I do not wish to see any mishaps!”

Wuji let out a sigh of relief as he sincerely said, “Thank you, Great General!”

Huoshu Songren turned to the red-bearded Ormu. “Ormu, what is the battle situation in Longxi?”

“We can attack soon,” Ormu solemnly said.

“Good! Let’s end this battle quickly!” Huoshu Huicang solemnly said.

……