Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
“I’ve just received some information. I don’t know if the rest of you noticed, but at sunset, a giant cauldron suddenly appeared at the highest point of the Arab base. It’s several dozen meters high and surrounded by thirty-some giants that protect and move it.
“Twenty-some days have passed since the start of the war. In this time, all of our ballistae and supplies have arrived, and even the Arabs have finished bringing their catapults and Behemoths to the front. Given all this time and Khatabah’s legendary reputation, it doesn’t make sense for something to arrive so late.”
Wang Zhongsi scanned the room.
The hall fell silent. Everyone, including Wang Chong, pensively creased their brows.
This truly was strange. Wang Chong had received the same report from Zhang Que, but for the moment, he couldn’t tell what was in that massive bronze cauldron.
But regardless, this bizarre, massive cauldron did not mean anything good for the Great Tang.
“Khatabah is no ordinary person. I sense that something that would make him so cautious as to send several dozen giants to slowly escort it cannot be a minor object. It might be a pivotal object the Arabs will use in tomorrow’s battle!” Wang Zhongsi firmly declared.
No one doubted Crown Prince’s Junior Guardian Wang Zhongsi. As the former War God, at his prime, Wang Zhongsi had a reputation and status that far surpassed Gao Xianzhi, An Sishun, and Zhangchou Jianqiong. The giant cauldron in the Arab base had to be extremely important if it had earned his attention.
“Is there a way to investigate what it is?” An Sishun asked. This was a battle that would affect the fate of the two greatest empires of the east and west. No mistakes could be permitted.
“No!”
Someone suddenly spoke. It was not Zhang Que, but Gao Xianzhi’s subordinate, Cheng Qianli.
“After today’s battle, I rode a horse out of the camp to patrol, hoping to find something by surveying the enemy base, perhaps even a weakness. I also noticed the giant cauldron that Lord Junior Guardian spoke of.
“When I went to take a look, that giant cauldron was guarded by several hundred thousand Arab cavalry, and the inner circle had several dozen giants. Moreover, the skies were guarded by the giant bird army and the hunting falcons. It was impossible to approach, whether by sky or land.”
There were many commanders in the army like Cheng Qianli. Although they had not taken part in the battle during the day, they had not just sat back in the rear.
Each one had their own way of probing the enemy camp and analyzing intelligence. With their various abilities, they made various plans and did all they could to contribute.
“If that’s the case, this giant cauldron is even more important than I thought.”
An Sishun frowned. During the day, he had been fighting with Zhangchou Jianqiong against the Arabs, and after the battle, he had been reorganizing his army and preparing for tomorrow’s battle, so he had not had time to observe the enemy army.
The duties in an army were clearly spelled out. There were naturally others who would carry out such tasks.
Several hundred thousand cavalry and several dozen giants were a formidable defense that was essentially impenetrable. This level of defense was a clear indication of just how important that cauldron was.
The mood in the air turned grim and oppressive.
“Leave this matter to me,” Wang Chong suddenly said. “Although the Arab base is tightly guarded, that doesn’t mean that there are no ways to scout it. I’ll try my best to see what’s inside that giant cauldron.”
With Wang Chong volunteering, the matter was put to rest for the moment. Everyone trusted in Wang Chong’s abilities, and they could rest easy now that he had taken the job.
Moreover, in previous conflicts, no matter how formidable his opponent was, Wang Chong always managed to find a way.
“Let’s continue to tomorrow’s battle,” Wang Chong said. He extended a finger and quickly drew everyone’s attention to the model.
“The Arabs claim an army of 3.8 million, but the number that can truly fight is 2.8 million. If we deduct the soldiers we killed during the day, they have 2.6 million soldiers left, four times more than us. This massive army will undoubtedly strike from the flanks as well as the front.
“For this reason, in the southwest direction, we have to reinforce the triangular gap on the Tibetan Plateau to guard against any possible attacks.”
Wang Chong then turned to the Turkic steppe to the northeast.
“In comparison to the triangular gap, the northeast is much more difficult to defend. Although I’ve done my best, as long as they make a large enough detour, they can still deal us a heavy blow. No matter what, we can’t be encircled!” Wang Chong sternly said.
As he described the strategic layout, he no longer exuded any of that youthful aura. His entire body exuded the energy of the Grand Marshal from the apocalyptic era. Even an extremely experienced leader like Zhangchou Jianqiong appeared to slightly dim in front of Wang Chong. The only person who could rival him was the previous War God of the Great Tang, Wang Zhongsi.
“Leave this direction to me. No matter how many soldiers they send, I’m confident that I can break them!”
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To everyone’s surprise, it was Tongluo Great General Abusi who spoke.
Wang Chong slightly nodded in reply. Even though Abusi only had ten thousand cavalry, a seemingly insignificant number in this war involving millions, if Abusi said he could do it, he could do it.
“At present, we have several hundred thousand steel walls at the central army that could block an assault of one million soldiers. But these walls can only block the enemy. If we can’t wipe out their soldiers, then the war will drag on, and under the constant attacks of the Arabs, our defense line will slowly crumble.
“We can’t place too much hope on our ballistae in this battle. Tomorrow, they will definitely be heavily targeted by the enemy. Probably around the middle of the battle, the ballistae will find it hard to exhibit their initial power, upon which we will have to rely on ourselves. No matter what, we have to be on the offensive so that we can break the main Arab force. We have to kill at least one million soldiers to have a chance at victory,” Wang Chong sternly said.
War was not a matter of simple arithmetic. When half an army was killed, its morale would plunge, and the soldiers would begin to break in fear and panic. At that point, it didn’t matter how many soldiers the other side had. But reaching that point was easier said than done.
“Leave that to me!” Wang Zhongsi declared. His expression was calm, as if he had volunteered for a very common task.
“In tomorrow’s battle, I will choose the right moment to lead my army on the offensive. You don’t have to worry about anything else. I have confidence in throwing the enemy’s central army into complete disarray.”
These words were spoken in an incredibly domineering tone. His opponent was the strongest cavalry army in the world, numbering in the millions. Only Wang Zhongsi could so confidently declare that he could break through the enemy’s central army.
All the others were deeply shocked, but nobody doubted Wang Zhongsi’s words. If he dared to make this claim, he could naturally pull it off.
“But before that, there are some things I need your assistance on.”
Wang Zhongsi looked around at the Great Generals.
“In tomorrow’s battle, the enemy assault will undoubtedly be extremely fierce. I need you to hold out against the most intense first wave. In addition, Zhangchou Jianqiong, Gao Xianzhi, I’ll need your cooperation.”
“Mm.”
Zhangchou Jianqiong and Gao Xianzhi nodded.
This war for the Great Tang was not a simple defensive war. What the Great Tang wanted was not to fend off this first attack and then welcome wave after wave of invasions from the west for the next several hundred years.
Passive defense was not in the Great Tang’s character. Aggressive assaults that knocked the opponent to the floor, branding upon them a painful lesson that their opponents would never forget, was the Great Tang’s style. This was an understanding that Wang Zhongsi, Gao Xianzhi, Abusi, and all the other Great Generals shared.
Wang Zhongsi nodded and said no more.
“There’s another matter.”
As Gao Xianzhi spoke, he glanced at Wang Chong.
“I spotted a familiar figure in the invasion force.”
“Oh?”
Wang Chong raised an eyebrow, a questioning look in his eyes.
“I saw Abu Muslim amongst Khatabah’s Great Generals. He was the Arab commander in the last war, and he has a deep understanding of us. But in the first battle, he did not enter the field, which makes no sense. I sense that he will come out tomorrow. We can’t underestimate this man,” Gao Xianzhi said.
In the Battle of Talas, all of the top Arab commanders, including Qutaybah, had been killed by Wang Chong. Only Abu Muslim had managed to escape. This person was extremely strong and had a deep understanding of the east. In the last war, if not for Wang Chong’s prompt arrival, Gao Xianzhi would have probably died at his hands.
“Mm.”
Wang Chong nodded. He had a very deep impression of Abu Muslim, but that was then and this was now. The war of the northwest was not Talas, and the Great Tang’s opponent was Khatabah now, not Qutaybah.
“I’ll be careful!”
After this, the group began to play out scenarios on the model, simulating how the assault and defense would go.
Tomorrow’s battle not only decided whether the army would live or die, but whether the Great Tang Empire would continue to exist, the fate of the millions of people living in the Central Plains. Defeat was not an option!
None of them dared to show the slightest neglect.
After a long while, after calculating every possibility in tomorrow’s battle so thoroughly that even the Great Generals felt rather tired, they ended the meeting.
Once everyone was gone, Wang Chong turned his head.
“Senior, come in!”
After a few moments of silence, a figure came in from outside. This man was as short as a dwarf, but he exuded pride and experience. It was none other than the Formation Elder.