Chapter 1853 - The Opening of the Deciding Battle!

“It’s too early to relax. The Arabs only lost two hundred thousand soldiers. They still have 3.6 million men. This is barely anything to them. Things still aren’t looking good for the King of Foreign Lands and the Crown Prince’s Junior Guardian.”

A few people in the crowd managed to remain rational.

“What?! You’re saying that the King of Foreign Lands and the others are still in danger?”

“The enemy in the northwest has yet to be eliminated, and the Arab Hierophant Khatabah is still presiding over their army. There’s nothing to relax about! The outcome in the northwest and the Great Tang’s survival all depend on the King of Foreign Lands and the others.”

“But that’s as it should be! I believe in the King of Foreign Lands! He could defeat the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army in the southwest, and kill nearly one million Tibetan, Western Turkic, and Arab soldiers at Talas. In this second war, he’s definitely capable of defeating Arabia again. No matter what, I believe in him!”

“That’s right! I also believe in the King of Foreign Lands! Since he was able to defeat the Arab cavalry on the first day, he could wipe out the rest of them. And besides, he has the Crown Prince’s Junior Guardian, the Tiger of the Empire, and also the Beiting Protector-General at his side.”

“Regardless, the Arabs are no ordinary foe. What I wouldn’t give to be a powerful warrior so that I could rush to the northwest to join the King of Foreign Lands and fight for the Great Tang!”

……

In the taverns, restaurants, streets, and alleys of the capital, there were the optimistic and the worried. The war in the northwest had everyone’s attention.

At the same time, the Inner Court of the Imperial Palace was also brightly lit, and just as fraught with tension as outside, if not more so.

Seventy percent of the Imperial Army had been sent to the northwest, an unprecedented situation for the capital. Most of the Imperial Army now guarding the Imperial Palace consisted of reserve soldiers.

“Grand Marshal Bai, Grand Marshal Li, Marshal Zhao, Marshal Wang… almost all the upper echelons of the Imperial Army were sent to the northwest. I wonder how they’re doing? I just hope that they can win in a single battle and the northwest can be settled.”

At a high point in the palace, the Imperial Army officers stood side by side and worriedly looked toward the northwest.

Unease and fear permeated the Imperial Palace. No one knew what path this unprecedented war would take. They could only wait and believe.

At the highest point of the Imperial Palace, at the cold jade steps in front of Taiji Palace, two figures stood, their robes blown about in the wind. As the master of the empire and its most supreme existence, the Sage Emperor had also not slept tonight.

“The sun’s coming up.” The Sage Emperor suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

“Yes. The decisive battle will soon begin,” Gao Lishi said, immediately understanding the Sage Emperor’s meaning.

Arabia had come with all its power, and the Great Tang had also committed all its resources. This battle would not drag on for very long. Both of them understood that today would be the day when the Great Tang and Arabia decided who was the better.

There was a hint of tension in Gao Lishi’s voice.

“Gao Lishi, Khatabah is a not an ordinary person,” the Sage Emperor said.

“Yes, but neither is the King of Foreign Lands. He is the Supreme Marshal favored by Your Majesty!” Gao Lishi immediately replied.

“Heh, you really haven’t changed.”

The Sage Emperor smiled.

Master and servant, sovereign and subject, had worked together for several decades, and their hearts were practically linked. Gao Lishi was always able to tell what he was thinking.

Wang Chong truly was someone he had taken a liking to. The southwest, the northwest, the Rebellion of the Three Princes—Wang Chong had exhibited his strength and passed all his trials.

This was the successor he had selected for the Great Tang. Over the last decades, perhaps even the last centuries, there had been no better successor than Wang Chong.

“What a pity that he was born several decades late! Otherwise, We would have truly been able to live a life without regrets!”

The Sage Emperor gave a deep sigh.

Gao Lishi fell silent for a moment, a gloomy light in his eyes.

“Your Majesty, the heavens assist the worthy. No matter what you desire, you can personally realize it. This is how it was in the past and present, and so it will be in the future. There is no need to use another,” Gao Lishi said.

“Heh!”

The Sage Emperor chuckled and shook his head. He understood his situation more than anyone else. Gao Lishi was just trying to comfort him.

“For this northwest campaign, they’ll have to rely on themselves. We are unable to personally join the campaign and cannot help them.”

The Sage Emperor looked toward the northwest, his words spoken with great regret.

Gao Lishi appeared greatly concerned by these words.

He also had a keen understanding of the Sage Emperor’s condition. In the Rebellion of the Three Princes, True Lord Yellow Dragon’s arrival had forced the Sage Emperor to unleash that sword. While it was a majestic and radiant sword that made everyone, friend and foe, tremble in awe, it was like an avalanche atop a blizzard for the Sage Emperor, placing an even greater burden on his body.

The Sage Emperor no longer had the ability to use that attack again.

Moreover, the Sage Emperor needed to remain in the capital so that he could soothe the people. As long as the sovereign remained, so would the will of the people, and the millions of denizens of the Nine Provinces would continue to attend to their duties.

If the Sage Emperor departed to personally preside over the battle, the ill effects of the news on the invasion would be maximized. The people of the realm would grow uneasy and begin to fall prey to their darker side, and banditry would begin to rise. The people would panic and the country would crumble without even a battle.

This was why, even when the country was at peace, the realm stable, and the armies powerful and flourishing, even the most ambitious of sovereigns would remain and preside over their courts. This was because the moment a sovereign had a desire to personally lead a campaign, the ministers would barrage him with memorials.

“Your Majesty, there is no need for concern. The King of Foreign Lands is the man Your Majesty personally chose. This old slave is confident that he will not disappoint Your Majesty!”

As Gao Lishi spoke, he took in a deep breath and deferentially bowed to the Sage Emperor.

The Sage Emperor faintly smiled. He turned his eyes to the northwest and said no more.

……

The northwest.

As the eastern skies brightened, the night came to a close. In the light of the dawn, the entire region tensed. The time for battle had come.

Rumble! The earth quaked and dust churned as the millions of Arab cavalry once more swept over the land, their massive crescent moon banner snapping in the air and exuding immense energy.

On the Great Tang side, hundreds of thousands of steel walls gleamed like innumerable fish scales, reflecting the white light of the sun. Behind those walls, countless soldiers stood ready and waiting, muscles tensed as they staunchly stared at their foes.

The same was true for the Arab cavalry.

After one night of rest, both the Great Tang and Arabia were stronger and better than before!

Khatabah, the High Priest, Abu Muslim, Saleh, Wang Chong, Wang Zhongsi, Zhangchou Jianqiong… the top commanders of both sides clashed with their eyes across the vast distance.

The air was saturated with tension!

All of this was a sign that a most fierce and bitter battle was about to begin!

“The time to decide victory and defeat has come!”

In the middle of his army, Wang Chong, mounted atop the White-hoofed Shadow, stared determinedly at the massive elephant Behemoth.

Today was the day in which the Great Tang and Arabia would decide who was the victor and who the loser. But the closer the crucial moment was, the calmer Wang Chong became.

“Tang, you got lucky last time.” A resounding voice spoke, and the vast sea of Arab soldiers parted, allowing Khatabah to come through atop his massive elephant Behemoth.

“You won’t be so lucky this time! I will carry out my promise and make you Tang slaves for all eternity!”

“Heh, Hierophant, that’s what I was going to say.” Wang Chong had his horse trot forward as he declared, “After this battle, there will be no more wars between us. Arabia will become a full vassal of the Great Tang. There will be no second chances. I will lead my army all the way to Baghdad and conquer the western world. Arabia will forever be under the rule of the Great Tang!”

The two clashed with their words as all the soldiers watched on, neither side backing down.

“It seems that we have nothing to talk about. Let us start the battle, then!” Khatabah coldly said.

Bwoooom!

A horn blared from the rear of the Arab army as Wang Chong turned his horse around.

“Prepare for battle!” Wang Chong sternly said.

The drums began to thunder, and amidst a somber air, soldiers grabbed their shields and weapons and tensed their muscles.

But the start of the battle came much faster than any of them had expected.

Roooar!

A thunderous roar heralded the beginning of this unprecedented battle.

Boom! Boom! The Behemoths charged out with astonishing speed from the Arab side.

Dust shot straight up into the heavens. There was no probe this time. As the Behemoths moved out, the hundreds upon thousands of Arab cavalry moved up behind them.

The earth groaned as the entire world paled under this grandiose power.

“Ready!”

On the Great Tang side, Wang Chong raised his right arm. Shields were set on the ground, and gears creaked and groaned. Bolts were placed on their strings, their sharp points all aimed in the same direction.

The six hundred thousand soldiers of the Great Tang focused, their energies fusing together into an immense whole as sturdy as a mountain.

For this unprecedented battle, each of them was ready to fight until the end.