With these final words, Dalun Ruozan's eyes constricted, his eyes shining with the light of loathing. In this war, Wang Chong had actually dispatched a group of soldiers to the plateau to spread the plague.
The lands of the Ngari Royal Lineage were now a living hell, covered in corpses and ruined tribes. An unprecedented disaster was currently creeping over the plateau.
And this plague was still spreading, with no one knowing when it would ever end.
Even Dalun Ruozan was inwardly shocked at the ruthlessness, resolve, and boldness that Wang Chong had showed. And these massive losses made Dalun Ruozan clench his teeth in hatred. It was quite the show of self-restraint to only voice this question now.
To his surprise, Wang Chong smiled at this question.
"The righteous do not grasp for wealth, and the kind do not command soldiers," Wang Chong declared. "As long as I can win this war, what do I care if I suffer the retribution Great Minister speaks of?"
Ministers did not seek wealth and generals did not mind death. Dalun Ruozan was still looking down on him. If he cared about his safety, well-being, or reputation, he would not have expended all his fortune, rushed across a thousand li, and thrown himself into this war in which he was bound to be hopelessly outnumbered.
When he left the capital, he had harbored no hopes of coming back alive. Dalun Ruozan was speaking to him of benevolence, Confucianism, and retribution, but what meaning did these things have to Wang Chong?
A general had to support the ruler and repay the kindness of the people. If one cared about reputation, how could one be a general?
The blustery winds caused the banner to snap in the air. Wang Chong stood beneath the banner, his expression clear and fearless. For a moment, even Dalun Ruozan was transfixed by this expression.
He had imagined all sorts of possible reactions, but he had never imagined that Wang Chong would be so composed and easygoing.
Chapter 621: The Decisive Battle! The Final Battle!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
"For some reason, I suddenly feel that you're right."
Huoshu Huicang's eyebrow rose as he looked to the summit.
"If we can't kill him in this battle, this person will become a great trouble for us."
Dalun Ruozan had once said that even if they had to let the entire Annan Protectorate army go, they had to kill Wang Chong. At the start, Huoshu Huicang had not treated this proposition very seriously, but at this moment, his view of Wang Chong had completely reversed.
In comparison to that callousness and cruelty he had shown just now, his intelligence and mastery of the art of war were secondary. Even Huoshu Huicang had been deeply affected by this display.
If this person were allowed to mature and receive official power, he was certain to be a mortal affliction that could threaten the livelihood of the Ü-Tsang Empire, an existence on par with Wang Zhongsi and Su Zhengchen.
"Since this is the case, we can't let him leave alive," Dalun Ruozan said, a cold glint in his eyes.
"Young Master Wang, there is no benefit in further chatter. Let us meet on the battlefield."
With these final words, Dalun Ruozan waved his feather fan. The chariot quickly turned around and vanished into the dense ranks of the army.
Meanwhile, Geluofeng and Duan Gequan stood together, both giving a profound glance at the summit before following Dalun Ruozan.
"Prepare for battle."
On the summit, Wang Chong coldly watched Dalun Ruozan and Geluofeng vanish. With a wave of his sleeve, he headed back.
Bong bong!!
As the drums began to thunder, the atmosphere suddenly turned tense. The Great Tang, the Tibetans, and the Mengshe Zhao all began to exude a fierce fighting intent.
This battle was bound to be extremely cruel, and many people were bound to fall on this mountain, never to rise again.
This was a battle for survival.
No one could retreat, and everyone had to fight for themselves!
……
"It's finally begun."
In the center of the vast Mengshe Zhao army, a pair of eyes hidden in the shadows quietly watched the summit.
"Gequan, it will depend on you."
Geluofeng turned to that stalwart figure beside him, hope and anticipation in his eyes.
"Others might be able to lose, but our Mengshe Zhao cannot. The Tibetans have already been defeated, so we can only rely on ourselves."
The plague had completely disordered Dalun Ruozan's mind, but Geluofeng had not said this in front of Dalun Ruozan. Mengshe Zhao had nowhere to go and had already paid a great price of many soldiers. If they had to retreat in defeat, Mengshe Zhao would never be able to recover from the setback.
This was a price that no one could bear!
Neither Geluofeng nor Duan Gequan felt it possible to back out from this battle.
"This battle truly was my blunder. I didn't think that the child from the Wang Clan would be this formidable. But be at ease, Your Majesty—I have already grasped that child's weakness. Everything has already been arranged. No matter what, that child will never be able to leave alive. The history of the Annan Protectorate army will come to a close today."
Duan Gequan's voice was very soft, so soft that anyone who was just a little far away wouldn't be able to hear a word.
"Gequan, I pass the fate of Mengshe Zhao to you. We believe in you!"
Geluofeng patted Duan Gequan on the shoulder and left.
……
Bwoooom!
The rows of yak horns began to blare. The earth began to rumble at this signal to attack, the tens of thousands of Mengshe Zhao soldiers and Tibetan cavalry charging toward the mountain in a great wave.
Unlike the first time, everyone knew what they were facing, and they knew what fate awaited them. With nowhere else to go, everyone was putting in their all.
"Kiiiill!"
No one knew who gave the first roar, but thousands quickly followed, the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army unleashing a fierce shout that could tear down mountains and sunder the earth.
"Get ready!"
On the mountain, the outermost perimeter of the Tang lines began to raise their large shields, the cold light of the sun reflecting off them. The sixty thousand soldiers began to move according to some set rule, and a somber energy began to rise.
Although the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army, numbering three hundred thousand soldiers, still far outnumbered the sixty thousand Tang soldiers, the Annan Protectorate army gave off the feeling of a most cold and terrifying machine.
This machine had already ground two hundred thousand soldiers to death, and it was about to kill even more.
This was Wang Chong's Myriad Stars Formation!
Boom!
Countless Mengshe Zhao and Tibetan warriors charged in from every direction. There was no attempt to test the defenses, no vanguard. The Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army had committed its entire force from the very start.
"Kill! We've already torn down half their walls! If we reach the summit, their loss will be assured."
"Don't be afraid. We outnumber them, and they've basically used up all their ballista bolts and arrows."
"White Elephant Corps, forward! Break their defenses and we win!"
"Carry out a combined assault and tear down their steel walls! Make a path for the Tibetan cavalry!"
"His Majesty has ordered that anyone who retreats will be killed and their entire clan executed!"
……
All the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang soldiers showed red eyes and bulging veins as they charged up the mountain, brandishing sabers, spears, swords, and halberds.
Boom!
Wang Chong stepped forward, and the air reverberated as invisible ripples began to spread from the summit. The level-three Bane of the Battlefield Halo wound itself around all the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang soldiers like countless chains.
In an instant, all the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang soldiers felt their strength drop three levels. W
ang Chong's Bane of the Battlefield was already enough to alter the course of a battle.
Bang! A right foot stomped against the ground, the impact causing the ground to quake.
To deal with Wang Chong's terrifying Bane of the Battlefield Halo, Huoshu Huicang was finally forced to release his halo of the Saint Martial realm. A dazzling golden light swept through the army like a hurricane, shrouding his entire army.
If one looked down from the sky, one would see the steely halos of the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army flicker between light and shadow, recovering from the extreme dimness but still unable to reach their original level.
The power of the Saint Martial realm rested in terrifying strength and martial skills. However, one could easily imagine the threat of the Bane of the Battlefield Halo that it required Huoshu Huicang, an Ü-Tsang Great General, to use his own abilities to weaken it.
"Fire!"
Far in the rear of the army, a messenger swung down a flag. "Graaar!" The giants of the Skyquaking Army roared as they lifted up massive rocks and placed them on the siege weapons.
Bang bang bang!
The mechanisms were released, unleashing a wave of stones against the mountain. More of these rocks were piled up next to these siege weapons, carpeting the ground.
In the several days without battle, the Skyquaking Giants from Sindhu, raised by Ü-Tsang and the Abbasid Caliphate, had played the role of stonemasons under the supervision of Mengshe Zhao.
Their massive strength was perfect for cutting up rocks.
In these last few days, the Skyquaking Giants had managed to gather a large pile of stones for the siege weapons.
Boom! A boulder toppled over one of the steel walls. Horses neighed and people looked up at the incoming barrage: one, two, three… Massive boulders descended in an endless shower.
"Careful!"
Screams could be heard all over the mountain as the soldiers attempted to dodge. However, after just a few moments, figures began to leap into the air and shatter these rocks into powder.
"Old Eagle, have Generals Sun Liuyue, Luo Ji, and Lin Wushou come over. Have them deal with the Skyquaking Giant's rain of stones."
As he spoke, Wang Chong handed over three Wootz Steel swords.
The stones were plummeting from the sky with enormous power. If one relied on pure strength to smash against them, one would consume a great deal of energy. But Wootz Steel swords were different. These weapons could easily cut the stones apart, allowing the user to conserve energy while still dealing with the threat.
"Order the ballista soldiers to get ready to attack!"
Wang Chong's eyes coldly flashed as he continued to issue orders.
"Yes!"
A messenger quickly left.
In the last major battle, the Annan Protectorate army had paid the price of twenty thousand soldiers and the destruction of its water supply, while the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army had consumed an enormous amount of resources to dismantle nearly half of the steel walls on the mountain.
With so much ground opened up, there was now plenty of space to use ballistae.
"Archers, stand ready!"
Wang Chong's eyes shone with an icy light as he stared down the mountain. Stones were continuing to rain down from the sky, but Wang Chong remained calm and composed, acting as though none of this was related to him.
One hundred paces, fifty paces, thirty paces, ten paces…
At the base of the mountain, the black flood of steel that was the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army was getting closer and closer, faster and faster. Finally…
Boom!
The tens of thousands of Mengshe–Ü-Tsang soldiers crashed against the Annan Protectorate army's final defensive line. In this moment, the entire mountain trembled.
"Archers, first unit, two hundred fifty paces to the left!
"Archers, second unit, five hundred sixty paces to the right!
"Archers, third unit, fire straight ahead!"
……
Wang Chong shouted out a string of orders. The archer units had used up more than half of their arrows, leaving them with little ammunition.
Wang Chong had to be careful with every order and maximize the effectiveness of each volley.
"Uncle Chen, Xu Shiping, go and reinforce the southeast. You have to stop Longqinba no matter what!
"Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, I leave Senior Zhang Shouzhi to you. No harm is allowed to come to him!
"Messenger, inform General Yang that there are no more soldiers available on the mountain. We don't have enough shield soldiers. No matter what, he has to hold! I don't care what price he has to pay, but he can't let the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army break through there!
"Order General Zhang and General Duan to merge their forces. Saber and axe soldiers, get ready to receive my order!
"Myriad Stars Formation, get ready to move!"
……
With this last order, the last sixty thousand soldiers of the Annan Protectorate army began to work like some revolving machines, sweeping up the surrounding Mengshe–Ü-Tsang soldiers and swallowing them.
Chapter 622: The Decisive Battle! Xianyu Zhongtong's Unease!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
The Myriad Stars Formation was growing more and more terrifying as it was refined through gruesome battle. As the soldiers grew accustomed to the operation of the formation, the formation gradually began to grow in power.
The united strength of the sixty thousand Tang soldiers had a most terrifying killing effect. At every moment, an astonishing number of Mengshe–Ü-Tsang soldiers was dying.
"Kiiiill!"
The fighting had been extremely intense right from the very start of the battle. War cries filled the air, and corpses of Tibetan, Mengshe Zhao, and Great Tang soldiers, as well as warhorses, covered the mountain slope.
Blood gushed down the sides of the mountain in waterfalls, producing a most hair-raising sight.
This was a clash of will against will!
At the base of the mountain, in the rear of the army, rows of sabers shone brightly, inclined toward the sky and ready to slash down at any time. This was the first time since the start of this war that Mengshe Zhao and Ü-Tsang had worked together in establishing an execution squad.
Anyone who cowered from this battle or attempted to flee would be immediately executed.
The simple surprise attack that had started the war of the southwest had led to this prolonged siege. By this time, both sides were thoroughly worn out. Even the fierce and pugnacious Tibetans, after suffering from the shortage of food and the consumption of Mengshe Zhao food, were anxious to conclude the war and return to the Tibetan Plateau.
The people of Mengshe Zhao were even more aware that by breaking off relations with the Great Tang, they no longer had any way to back out. If they could not win this war, all that awaited them was punishment from the Great Tang, the entire Erhai transformed into scorched earth.
All their parents, wives, and children would become sacrifices offered to iron hooves.
Only by winning would they have the space for negotiation.
Moreover, Mengshe Zhao, Ü-Tsang, and the Great Tang were already mortal foes. So many people had died on both sides that all three were anxious to fight!
Clangclangclang!
Under the dark clouds, the clash of sabers, swords, shields, halberds, and arrows mixed together in a massive din, and the entire mountain flashed with cold glints of light. People were dying in every moment, warhorses neighing as they collapsed.
In this intense battle, even the thickly armored Erhai elephants were being felled under frenzied assaults, much less other people.
"Congratulations to user for killing 6780 soldiers of the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army!"
"Warning! The Great Tang has lost 1327 soldiers!"
"Congratulations to user for killing 12400 soldiers of the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army!"
"Warning! The Great Tang has lost soldiers! Your forces are rapidly decreasi
ng!"
"Congratulations to user for killing 25600 soldiers of the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army!"
"Warning! The Great Tang has lost 3500 soldiers! Your numbers are continuing to fall!"
……
The blustery winds on the summit were causing the banner to snap, while in Wang Chong's mind, the Stone of Destiny was alternately congratulating and warning him with a veritable waterfall of messages.
But Wang Chong had no mind for these messages.
The battle was already at an extremely tense and ferocious stage, and Wang Chong himself was on edge. Order after order burst from his lips, with messengers rushing up and down the mountain to deliver them.
"Have General Li Nian and General Zhang Chao reinforce the front line! Use sonic attacks to stop the Erhai elephants! They can't be allowed to charge up to the summit!
"Dispatch Chen Bo and his saber-axe soldiers to deal with the Tibetans. Tell him to first cut the legs of the horses and then kill the horse!
"Cavalry, get ready to move out!
"Pass on my order that those who retreat will be executed!"
……
By the time he had reached this final order, Wang Chong's eyes were completely red. He was not that sort of cruel and callous general who regarded his soldiers as weeds, but the millions of people of the Central Plains, the fate of the Great Tang for the next century, and the people of the southwest… all of them were tied to this battle.
Wang Chong had no other choice.
There were times when one had to learn how to make choices!
"Hold!"
All the Great Tang commanders were bellowing orders with all their energy, their eyes red. This was the final battle, and the lives of everyone were on the line. Everyone could feel the powerful scent of death.
This scent was so thick that it made their blood freeze and their bodies tremble.
But no matter how much they fought and killed, the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang soldiers pressed forward in an endless tide, and it seemed like they would never run out.
The Human Emperor c1-2382 Page 390
