Chapter 58: Dawn (II)

“I shall obey!”
Duan Xiushi clasped his fists tightly and replied firmly.
Having followed General Gao for over a decade, they had traveled far and wide, fighting hundreds of battles of various sizes, but they had never encountered a life-or-death struggle like this one.
It could be said that this was the toughest and most challenging battle Duan Xiushi had fought since joining the army! But it was precisely such battles that truly tested soldiers’ fighting spirit!
Gao Xianzhi nodded slightly and patted Duan Xiushi’s arm. Duan had always been his most trusted ally; entrusting this important task to him gave him complete confidence. At this moment, no further words were needed—everything was understood without saying.
“Pass my order: the entire army, advance!”
Duan Xiushi raised his arm and issued the order firmly.
“General Duan orders: the heavy cavalry to form up, the light infantry to move forward—everyone, reorganize and assemble!”
“General Duan orders: the entire army to gather on the right wing! General Duan orders: assemble swiftly!”
“…”
The messenger took the command flag from Duan Xiushi and rushed along the path designated for him in the formation, delivering his orders to every battalion and squad.
Gradually, the 6,000 elite cavalrymen of the Anxi Army began to form up. It was noon, and the sunlight shone down, reflecting off their shiny armor like scattered gold. These were the finest among the Anxi Army’s elite, a strategic force as powerful as the Moadao Army—used only in extreme situations!
Previously, since the Anxi Army had mainly fought against nomadic tribes like the Turgesh and Western Turks, and relied on long-distance campaigns, it did have heavy cavalry, but it was mostly light cavalry.
But against the Arabs, it was different!
The Arabs were best known for their heavy cavalry, and it was precisely this force that allowed them to conquer vast territories.
Facing such a powerful opponent, relying solely on the Moadao soldiers was clearly unrealistic. The Tang Army of Anxi needed a similarly strong cavalry force to confront them head-on!
Although light cavalry could also carry out tasks of flanking, restraining, and harassing, they could never engage in direct combat with heavy cavalry.
Therefore, with the emperor’s approval, the Anxi Army was equipped with the sharpest and most elite heavy cavalry force in all of Tang. Even An Lushan, the military governor of the Three Prefectures, coveted this force greatly!

However, the heavy-armored cavalry of the Tang army differed from those of the Southern and Northern Dynasties. While they provided excellent protection for the soldiers, their warhorses had very few armor plates, covering only the chest and face! The heavy-armored cavalry of Anxi, on the other hand, had their officers and soldiers fully protected by armor similar to that of infantry. The skirt and shoulder plates of the cavalry armor were noticeably shorter than those of infantry, obviously to facilitate movement on horseback and compensate for the speed disadvantage caused by the heavy armor. To protect the riders from arrows, General Gao ordered military craftsmen to create square armor plates about one foot in size, which were secured to the legs and arms of the Anxi cavalry using belts in battle.

It could be said that this was a unique force of heavy-armored cavalry—a force exclusive to the Anxi army, one of which they were proud!

In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the cavalry formation was ready to launch an attack at any moment. But Duan Xiushi did not give the order; he was waiting for another formation to take shape—the Tang army’s light-armored infantry!

This time, General Gao brought five thousand light infantry from Kucha to undertake the crucial task of battlefield raids. Recently, the Arabs had launched probing attacks, leaving them exhausted in defense. It was mostly the heavy-armored infantry led by Siye who stood out, while the light infantry formation had been kept in reserve by General Gao, building up their strength!

This would be a sharp blade plunged straight into the heart of the Arabs!……

“Woo—woo-woo—woo!”
“Woo—woo-woo—woo!”
One short, one long, one short! The military horns sounded as the light infantry boarded their war chariots, waiting for Duan Xiushi’s orders!

Duan Xiushi nodded in satisfaction, squinting at the Arab army formation a mile away. Although these five thousand light infantry did not have the protective Mingguang armor of the Moadao soldiers, they had an advantage in speed. This speed advantage stemmed not only from the lighter armor and weapons but also from their war chariots!

To prevent the soldiers from becoming exhausted from long marches, General Gao ordered craftsmen to create chariots for the infantry to ride in. In battle, the Anxi army’s infantry always moved by chariot rather than on foot, descending from them only when they reached the battlefield to form up for combat!

One bow, thirty arrows, one heavy sword with a broken handle, one long spear, and one square cowhide shield! Although their equipment was not luxurious, it was sufficient for an assault formation. What they needed was explosive power and extreme speed! Their goal was to crush the allied forces of the various tribes in one fell swoop and scatter the Arabs’ main forces!

“Woo—woo—woo-woo!”
“Woo—woo—woo-woo!”
Two short, one long—the entire army was assembled!

Duan Xiushi leaped onto his horse, glanced at his troops. These over ten thousand Han soldiers were his comrades, his brothers—now they were about to wage a great battle that would go down in history! Taking a deep breath, he swung his eighteen-foot spear and shouted, “All troops, charge!”
“Woo—woo—woo!”
“Woo—woo—woo!”
Three short cries echoed as the entire army set off!
Carriages and warhorses rushed forward simultaneously, heading toward the allied forces of the barbarians a mile away. That was the left wing of the Arabs; if their left wing was broken, the central army would surely fall into chaos. It was like a horse race—Duan Xiushi was determined to risk it all!
Ten thousand armored soldiers raised a swirling cloud of yellow dust, advancing in a bow shape toward the Arab left wing! Infantry and chariots formed the center, while heavily armored cavalry flanked both sides! This was the most familiar tactic of the Tang army in Anxi—infantry first attacked with arrows, followed by a charge with swords. The cavalry then swiftly moved from the flanks to disrupt the enemy’s rear, encircling them from both sides! Once the enemy panicked, the cavalry would attack from behind, disrupting their main forces, while the infantry pressed forward with their sword formations! In the end, total annihilation would be achieved!
Flanking maneuvers, attacks from both front and back!
Simple yet effective—every strike was deadly!
Even if the allied forces numbered a hundred thousand, even if their own forces were only one-tenth as many, so what? The Tang army in Anxi knew fear not—they would fight for themselves, their families, and the Great Tang!
They had to make this strike!
As long as there were swords, there would be soldiers; if the swords perished, the soldiers would perish too. They would never fall until their last drop of blood was shed!
They were men, men of the Great Tang—they deserved to fight for their families and country!
With the sound of drums and horns, flags fluttering in the wind, the Battle of Talas would surely become a classic—and he would be the one to write its story!
“Go!”
Duan Xiushi whipped his horse fiercely, concentrating intensely, gripping his spear as he became a faint blue streak amidst the black ranks of soldiers.
Chaos erupted on all sides, as a hundred thousand warriors charged forward. The wind swept through the Changshan formation, while the sound of flutes filled the Xiliu camp.
The sword flashes remained cold and unyielding; the moonlight over the bows grew brighter with dawn. They would seize the land of Hezhong and use it as a fortress in the north!……