At the hour of Shen (3-5 PM), the sun was setting outside the Uyghur Black Tiger City.
The afterglow of the setting sun poured down like gold onto the vast Gobi Desert outside Black Tiger City. Where the sand and sky blended into one, the purplish-red sunset and the undulating sand dunes intertwined to create a magnificent and beautiful picture.
Turhun, the Arab general who was trapped in Black Tiger City, ultimately failed to see the autumn rain he had been hoping for, the torrential autumn rain.
Fortunately, Emperor Chen Huai'an of the Tang Dynasty, who was besieging the city, accepted Turhong's challenge and agreed to end the protracted war with Turhong by dueling on horseback.
creak—
With a series of creaking sounds as the gates of Black Tiger City were pushed open from within, Turhun, the first warrior of the Abbasid Caliphate and the Grand General of the Arab Empire's Eastern Expedition, riding a camel-colored warhorse, slowly emerged from the city, wearing a cloak embroidered with a golden crescent moon.
In his hand, Turhun carried a rukhm lance, a traditional weapon of the Arab Empire's cavalry, and a straight sword was tied at his waist. His eyes revealed an unwavering determination and resolve.
Following closely behind was Bisuma, the captain of Turhong's personal guard, who held aloft the woolen banner symbolizing General Turhong's command flag.
The two men, one in front and one behind, urged their warhorses forward with resounding strides, walking step by step to the outside of Black Tiger City.
Meanwhile, on the Gobi Desert outside Black Tiger City, Chen Huai'an, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, was already waiting on horseback.
Chen Huai'an was still wearing the golden armor left by the late Emperor Chen Polu, dragging the halberd that had followed him from the beginning of his rebellion in Longcheng and helped him step by step to the throne, and the Longquan sword that could cut iron like mud was tied to his waist.
His mount was a pure white Akhal-Teke horse.
Behind Chen Huai'an stood Xiao Po, the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness of the Tang Dynasty and Commander of the Golden Guard, dressed in golden armor.
Riding on horseback, Xiao Po's eyes were sharp and his figure was as upright as a javelin. He held a flagpole tightly in his hand, on which a scarlet Tang Dynasty royal flag was fluttering in the wind.
When the two commanders faced off on the battlefield, they made neither grand pronouncements nor wild talk.
They didn't even have the most basic communication or language.
There was only a direct eye contact, a battle of wills.
Thump, thump, thump—
Suddenly, a deep and powerful drumbeat rang out from the Tang army camp outside the city, which was waiting in full battle array. The sound instantly ignited the previously silent battlefield, and the atmosphere became tense and exciting.
The people beating the drums to cheer were none other than Lan Yu, Marquis of Anxi, and Guo Dingfang, Marquis of Zhenxi, from the Great Tang Dynasty.
Woo, woo, woo—
The next moment, on the ruined walls of Black Tiger City, Caesar, the right vanguard of the Arab Empire's eastern expeditionary army trapped inside the city, also blew the traditional Arab horn, not to be outdone. His deputy, General Haiti, even released the magnificent falcon perched on his shoulder.
The mournful sound of horns mingled with the shrill cries of falcons circling low overhead, creating a cacophony of sounds.
Immediately, Turhun, the first warrior of the Abbasid Caliphate and the great general of the Arab Empire's eastern expedition, gently pulled on the reins. His warhorse immediately understood and raised its front hooves slightly, emitting a series of neighing sounds from its nostrils.
Even the warhorse seemed to sense the impending battle, and began to secretly gather its strength, ready to charge at its master's command at any time.
Turhong first raised his head and closed his eyes, as if he were praying to God to the sky.
The next moment, he suddenly opened his eyes, raised the Rukhm spear he was holding tightly in his hand, and the sharp tip of the spear gleamed coldly in the afterglow of the setting sun, which also reflected Turhong's resolute face.
On the other hand, Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, remained as immovable as a mountain, his face calm and composed. He sat steadily on his horse, casually lifting the halberd that was dragging on the ground. He pointed the tip of the halberd with domineering power, his eyes revealing the kingly aura of looking down on the world.
Chen Huai'an glanced around, his eyes revealing both a desire for victory and respect for his opponent.
The two men, standing a hundred paces apart on horseback, faced each other as if an invisible line connected this duel between top generals from two super empires of the East and West.
drive--
drive--
Thump thump thump!
Thump thump thump!
In the blink of an eye, Chen Huai'an and Turhong spurred their horses forward almost simultaneously.
Both of their mounts were among the finest steeds in the world. When they charged at full speed, they were like two bolts of lightning slicing through the sky. The two afterimages, one brown and one white, collided in the blink of an eye.
Whoosh!
With a whoosh, the Rukhm spear in Turhong's hand drew a beautiful arc in the air, hurtling towards Chen Huai'an on horseback.
Clang!
A loud metallic clang rang out as the tip of Chen Huai'an's halberd clashed with the tip of Turhong's Rukhmu spear.
As Chen Huai'an faced Turhong's full-force attack, he calmly flicked the tip of his halberd, easily deflecting Turhong's Lukhim spear attack.
Using the force of the blow, he thrust out with his halberd, the tip gleaming with a chilling light, aimed directly at Turhong's vital chest.
Clang!
Another loud bang was heard, the sound of the tip of Chen Huai'an's halberd piercing the "breast guard" on Turhong's chest.
With this halberd strike, Chen Huai'an used only half his strength, yet he nearly knocked Turhong off his horse.
With the help of the momentum from the charging horse, Turhong barely managed to dodge the attack.
When he finally had a moment to look down, he saw that the "breast protector" on his chest had already been shattered into pieces by the Great Tang Emperor's halberd.
If he hadn't been wearing the "chest protector" today, he would probably already be a dead soul under the halberd of Emperor Chen Huai'an of the Tang Dynasty.
The bravery of this great Tang emperor was indeed well-deserved.
With these thoughts in mind, Turhong also mustered all his strength, turned his horse around again, and once more raised his Rukhm spear to charge at Chen Huai'an.
Chen Huai'an remained calm and composed, showing no change in expression.
This time, facing Turhong's fierce and powerful thrust, Chen Huai'an used 80% of his strength, dragging his halberd to meet Turhong's Rukhm spear with a sweeping motion.
Clang, clang, clang—
In the instant the weapons clashed, Turhong felt the Rukhm spear in his hand fly out of his control.
Turhong clearly felt that if he hadn't taken the initiative to let go in time, he and his warhorse would have been swept away by Emperor Chen Huai'an of the Tang Dynasty, flying several feet away together.
My God, what incredible strength and combat power!
In just two moves, Turhong knew he was no match for Emperor Chen Huai'an of the Tang Dynasty.
Only after the warhorse had run several hundred paces further due to its momentum did Turhong rein in the horse and turn its head to face Emperor Chen Huai'an of the Tang Dynasty, who remained calm and composed, as if he had not exerted any effort at all.
Then, he took a deep breath, and a slight smile appeared on his lips, revealing a desperate and helpless expression.
Then, he slowly drew the straight sword from his waist.
Immediately afterwards, Turhong gripped his straight sword tightly with both hands, stared firmly at Chen Huai'an in front of him, and once again spurred his warhorse to charge.
Chen Huai'an no longer held back, using all his strength to face Turhong, who was charging at him with his straight sword.
In an instant, the soldiers of both armies watching the battle hadn't even seen how Chen Huai'an made his move when the tip of his halberd pierced through Turhong's armor and sent him flying several feet into the air.
Boom!
A moment later, Turhun, the first warrior of the Abbasid Caliphate and the great general of the Arab Empire's eastern expedition, who had single-handedly defeated countless enemy commanders on the battlefield, fell heavily next to his personal guard captain, Bisuma.
In his final moments, Turhun gazed at the increasingly blurred woolen banner in Bisuma's hand and closed his eyes with a heavy heart.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The next moment, shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" rose in waves from the Tang army's ranks.
Amidst deafening shouts of "Long live the Emperor!", Emperor Zhaowu Chen Huai'an slammed his halberd into the ground, then drew his Longquan sword from his waist and charged towards Turhong's personal guard captain, Bisuma.
Click!
A moment later, the woolen banner that symbolized the banner of the great general of the Arab Empire's eastern expedition fell to the ground.
All that remained in the hands of the captain of the personal guard, Bisuma, was a bare flagpole.
Emperor Zhaowu, Chen Huai'an, brandishing his sword, stood on his horse and roared angrily, "Take your General Turhong's corpse and go back to tell your Caliph Safah—"
"Submit to the Tang Dynasty, and I'll ensure your body remains intact!!!"
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