NCCnovel Chapter 761 Lai Yi Defense Line
Chapter 761 Lai Yi Defense Line
When the autumn wind of the third year of Yonghui swept across the Persian Plateau with fine sand, the crescent flag on the top of the city wall of Isfahan fluttered, and the flag fluttered in the wind, and the gold thread on the edge was worn rough, like a warrior who had experienced many vicissitudes of life.
When the sound of the Tang Dynasty's Black Armor Army's horses' hooves crushed the morning mist, the sound came from far away and was like muffled thunder rolling deep in the earth, shaking the rubble under the city wall slightly.
The Mo Dao weapons of the vanguard troops glowed with a cold blue light under the morning sun. From afar, this army looked like a black dragon made of steel, its scales like shiny armor and its sharp teeth like ferocious weapons, winding its way towards the defense line.
When the scouts galloped to deliver the news of the Tang army's arrival to the defense command center, the entire room froze in an instant.
The Byzantine general who was drawing the sand table suddenly trembled, and the quill pen in his hand broke with a "snap". The ink spread on the parchment like a sudden burst of dark clouds, making the originally clear defense line map unrecognizable.
The general stared blankly at the messy drawings, his Adam's apple rolling up and down, and he was speechless for a long time.
This steel barrier, called the "Rayi Line" by the coalition forces, is a stunning masterpiece spanning three ancient civilizations.
Starting from the city of Ray on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, the defense line extends southward like a giant dragon through the lush oasis of Isfahan, and finally reaches the prosperous Shiraz on the Persian Gulf. The defense line, which is more than a thousand miles long, divides the East and West into two.
To build this line of defense, millions of laborers worked day and night for more than 300 days.
Each giant piece of granite from the Caucasus Mountains had to be carried by an elephant and pulled by twenty strong horses with all their might.
The base of the city wall is twelve zhang wide and as solid as the backbone of the earth, and the top is wide enough to accommodate five chariots in parallel.
There is a towering arrow tower every hundred steps. The catapults on the towers are like giant beasts, which can throw fireballs weighing one hundred pounds three hundred steps away. The scorching flames seem to be able to ignite the sky.
"This is the abode of God. Not even the wind can penetrate it." At the completion ceremony, the Arab engineer stroked the rough stone surface of the city wall with trembling hands, his eyes full of pride, as if this was not a city wall, but a miracle created by his own hands.
When the vanguard of the Tang army set up camp ten miles away, the scattered tents were like will-o'-the-wisp lights in the dark night, and the engineers stayed up all night.
He held up the oil lamp and used the faint light to repeatedly measure the thickness of the city wall, and carefully calculated the range of the Tang army's catapults. Beads of sweat on his forehead dripped onto the cold stone wall and disappeared in an instant.
The atmosphere in the coalition camp behind the defense line was tense.
The elephant soldiers from India rode on majestic war elephants with ivory decorated with exquisite armor.
The Byzantine armored cavalry were wrapped in heavy armor, and their horses were also covered in sturdy horse armor.
The two sides glared at each other over trivial matters, ready to draw their swords at any time.
The Bulgarian archers and the Visigothic spearmen even engaged in direct physical conflict, with shouting and pushing sounds one after another. These former enemies were now forced to face a powerful enemy together in the same tent. The distrust and contradictions between them were like a powder keg that could explode at any time.
Caliph Muawiyah stood on the top of the tallest minaret in Isfahan, overlooking the smoke rising from the Tang army camp in the distance.
In his eyes, the rising smoke looked like the flames of war ignited by the Tang army.
This monarch who unified the Arabian Peninsula with iron-blooded means now felt unprecedented pressure.
His fingertips unconsciously stroked the ruby-studded scimitar. The gems sparkled in the sunlight, but could not dispel the haze in his heart.
The quarrels at the military meeting three days earlier kept echoing in my ears: the Byzantine emperor's envoy had smashed a gilded wine cup in public and roared angrily: "Letting the Arabs command the coalition forces is tantamount to sending lambs to wolves!"
The French prince, however, sneered with disdain, saying, "Can the Umayyad flag stop the Tang army's Mo Dao? Dream on!"
In the end, it was the mediation of the Indian Observer that managed to maintain this fragile alliance.
When night fell, Muawiyah changed out of his gorgeous robe and walked incognito into the civilian area.
In front of the bakery, under the dim light, an old woman was breaking the last piece of naan into small pieces and distributing them to three skinny children with pale faces.
The children were extremely hungry and ate voraciously, but the old woman just watched silently, her eyes full of love and helplessness.
In the blacksmith shop, the fire was blazing, and the craftsmen were sweating profusely as they made arrows. Sparks flew everywhere, splashing on their calloused hands and leaving red marks, but they were completely unaware.
In the tavern on the corner, drunken soldiers cursed the cruelty of war in different languages. But when someone mentioned the Tang army, the noisy tavern instantly quieted down, leaving only the sound of heavy breathing. After a long while, a soldier whispered, "Our ancestors have never seen such a powerful enemy."
The spice merchant, wrapping saffron in burlap, murmured, "But God blesses those who persevere."
The Tang army camp was also in turmoil at this time.
Commander Pei Xingjian unfolded a huge sheepskin map. The candlelight cast alternating light and dark shadows on his face, making his features look even more stern and resolute.
His fingers moved repeatedly on the defense diagram, his eyes sharp as an eagle.
His voice was deep and firm, remarkably clear in the silence of the tent. "Rai's water source relies on underground canals, and Shiraz's walls are buried beneath abandoned mineral veins... As long as we find the right opportunity, we can break through with one strike."
The lieutenants gathered around, their eyes flashing with excitement and nervousness.
Behind them, the cooks were simmering corn porridge, its aroma mingled with the smell of horse manure, filling the camp. In the distance, the neighing of war horses and the clash of weapons could be heard. It was the new recruits practicing armor-piercing spearmanship, their shouts echoing in the night air, brimming with fighting spirit.
As the new moon climbed to the zenith, the bright moonlight sprinkled on the earth, and the campfires on both sides of the defense line were like stars falling to the earth.
Muawiyah spread out the design of the second line of defense in the tent. The winding lines on the parchment were like snakes, full of unknowns.
He knew that if the Rayy Line was breached, these unfinished fortifications would be the last hope of the Western world.
At this moment, whispers of guards were heard outside the tent. It turned out that the Indian envoy had delivered a newly cast crossbow.
"Ten thousand Frankish cavalry have arrived in Asia Minor."
The messenger whispered in his ear, "But they demand the right to trade in Egyptian spices after the war."
Muawiyah clenched his fists, digging his nails deep into his palms, his heart filled with anger and helplessness - this war was no longer a simple fight for territory, but a bloody game for various forces to divide up the interests. Every decision was related to the fate of countless people.
At the same time, candles were brightly lit in the Linde Hall of the Daming Palace in Chang'an.
Li Zhi was staring at the sand table, on which were densely marked the territory of the Tang Dynasty and the defense line of the allied forces.
The Imperial Guard presented the latest battle report. He lightly traced the position of Lai's defense line with his finger and suddenly chuckled, "I want to see how long this so-called 'divine barrier' can hold off my Tang cavalry."
In the distance in Isfahan, the morning prayer bells pierce through the mist, melodious and solemn.
Muawiyah adjusted his turban and walked towards the city wall.
His steps were heavy and firm, and his eyes showed both worry about the unknown and the determination to fight to the death.