Chapter 132: A Nameless Tang Army Approaches the City

In a sentry tower, a Tibetan soldier widened his eyes in shock when he saw a cloud of dust heading in their direction.

“What’s that?!”

“That looks like cavalrymen?” the soldier beside him murmured in uncertainty.

“Is it the Karluks? I didn’t hear anything about them dispatching troops here.”

While the two soldiers were discussing the matter, their commander rushed up the tower after hearing the sounds of the horse hooves. His eyes immediately widened.

“Tang?!” Unlike the illiterate soldiers, the commander, as a slave owner, was still learned to some degree. “Is it the Tang bandits?!”

The commander felt like he had been struck by a lightning spell.

“Why are they suddenly popping out again?”

While the commander was in shock, something even more terrifying happened. The earth started quaking. Little pebbles on the floor wouldn’t stop jumping up and down. Dust rose from the earth as if a prelude to a catastrophe.

“How many people do they have?” The commander was flabbergasted.

Even though the enemies were hidden amidst the cloud of dust, he could tell with a brief glance that the enemy was at least 100,000-men strong!

“...Quick!” the commander exclaimed with a hoarse voice. “Release the pigeons! Tell them that the Tang army is back with 100,000 troops! A whole 100,000 troops!”

The soldiers quickly got to action. They ran down the sentry tower, headed to the stallions, and leaped onto a horse each. They even fought over who should ride which horse.

“What are you doing?!” the commander roared.

“Commander, this is an urgent matter! We have to report it to the vice city lord in person!” a soldier replied.

Report in person your head! You’re obviously trying to escape!

“Hold it right there!” the commander roared in anger.

But not a soldier listened to him, which further fanned his anger.

“Atrocious! Those cowards! They are deserters! At least leave a steed for me!”

The commander was too engrossed with cursing the soldiers that he didn’t notice an army of ghost horsemen swiftly approaching them. Neither the fleeing soldiers nor those who remained would make it back to Shule alive.

Of course, not all the sentry posts were as cowardly as this one. Quite a number of them sent the intelligence over via pigeon.

That confused the vice city lord, who had temporarily taken over in Rajmaya’s absence.

“Why are all the sentry posts reporting that a Tang army is approaching our city?”

“Also... Father, we should take a trip to the city gates.”

...

At Shule’s gates, a few Tibetan guards stopped a line of carriages.

“What are you doing?!”

Before the merchants could say a thing, the guards rushed to the carriage and sliced open the bags with their spears and swords, causing the goods stored within to spill onto the floor. Then, they started taking those spilled goods for themselves.

“Sir, p-please don’t do this!”

The merchants were on the verge of crying. They even kneeled down to beg the guards not to steal their goods.

However, the guards took out their whips and clubs and started beating up the merchants.

“Sir, please spare us!”

The merchant leader quickly took out their money to bribe the guard leader. He had to top up the amount twice before the guard leader was finally satisfied.

“Mm, all right. You may pass.” The guard leader propped up his chin and gestured for the soldiers, who had made away with bags of goods, to stop. “Guys, let’s call it for the day.”

“Hehehe!”

The guards were joyfully returned to their posts, having earned a huge sum. Before leaving, they didn’t forget to either spit on the merchants or give them a good kick.

“Tsk! You’re sturdier than I thought!” one of the guards cursed as he shook his leg that had gone numb after kicking a merchant.

The merchant leader pulled up the merchant who received the worst beating as he asked, “Brother, are you fine?”

“I’m good. Don’t forget I’m half Khotanese!” the merchant replied with a smile. Beneath his clothes his skin shone with a jadelike luster. “Those Tibetans will only hurt their legs kicking me.”

“That’s good to hear.” The merchant leader nodded. “I’ll find a physician for you later.”

The storm blew over like that.

While the merchants were staggering into the city, Asudo, who was watching from the city walls, smiled. “Just as I thought. Father, my judgment was right.”

“Is there something wrong with them?” the vice city lord asked.

He didn’t think that there was anything amiss. Such things happened often.

“Father, don’t you think that there are more youths entering the city than usual?” Asudo asked.

“...” The vice city lord thought about what had happened before widening his eyes in realization. “Ah, I see!”