Chapter 1016 - 239: Emperor Meets Emperor

Chapter 1016: Chapter 239: Emperor Meets Emperor

Tarsus.

Bahram paced back and forth anxiously in his sleeping quarters.

A Sogdian eunuch walked in with his head lowered, hearing the sound of his footsteps, Bahram hurriedly looked over and asked urgently:

"How’s the battle on the front line, has any news come back? Why haven’t we heard anything since clashing with the enemy."

Bahram handed the army to Ali, but it wasn’t to let things go unchecked.

Mazdak, Jilani, and the commander of the Undead Army all had treasures capable of direct contact with the court, yet the news from these treasures mysteriously ceased just before they were to engage the Frankish troops.

"No news yet."

The eunuch forced a smile: "The battle is intense, it’s normal to be too busy to send messages. Maybe General Ali has already routed the enemy and is busy collecting the spoils. You know, the armor and weapons of the Franks are treasures on par with the Eastern Dynasty’s silk in Baghdad and Tarsus."

The Sogdian eunuch’s words slightly eased Bahram’s anxiety, and he complained: "At the very least, some news should be sent back first. This way, I’m always worried that what will come back is bad news."

"Your Majesty, Ali Atabeg comes from a family of famous generals, personally leading nearly seventy thousand troops to crush the opposition, with masters Jilani and Mazdak assisting. I say you actually don’t need to worry so much."

The eunuchs were unable to understand Bahram’s recent worries, in their eyes, defeating the Frankish vanguard was practically inevitable, the real challenge lay in the upcoming showdown with the main forces of the Franks and the Tatars.

"Of course, it’s not that I think Ali will lose to a mere Frankish vanguard army of only thousands."

Bahram rubbed his brow: "I just worry that Ali might lose too many troops, leading to a force inadequate for the confrontation with the main forces of the Franks and Tatars later."

"Your Majesty!"

Urgent footsteps echoed from outside the door.

"Has the news come back?"

Bahram instinctively stood up and asked.

"No, Your Majesty."

The messenger eunuch looked terrified, his head bowed: "But someone has returned?"

"Someone returned? While the battle is ongoing, how could someone have returned?"

Bahram was shocked, a sense of foreboding welled up in his heart.

If it was just for reporting, magic communication would have sufficed, why was there a need to send a person back?

"It’s Mr. Tansar, he’s Master Mazdak’s student."

"Bring him up quickly."

As Tansar walked through the door, seeing the tear marks on his face, Bahram’s heart sank: "Quick, tell me what happened, why did Master Mazdak send you back? How is the battle?"

"Your Majesty, Master Jilani has fallen, my teacher used his last resort at the cost of his life to resist the Frankish Demon Dragon—sob, I wanted to live and die together with my teacher, but he forcibly sent me back."

His tearful voice struck Bahram’s chest like a heavy blow, causing him to stagger back and collapse into his seat, gasping for breath.

The eunuchs beside hurriedly tried to soothe his back, but he shoved them away.

"Leave!"

His eyes were bloodshot, staring directly at Tansar: "Tell me, did we win or lose?"

Tansar was so frightened by Bahram’s rage that his tears stopped. He stammered: "We didn’t necessarily lose, the teacher’s final resort could transform into the world’s strongest Demon Dragon, even if the Frankish three-headed monster dragon comes out, it might not be a match for the teacher."

"It’s just that, even if we win, it will be a pyrrhic victory. So the teacher instructed me to tell you, the Grand Vizier’s suggestion is the only way for the Empire to survive right now, hoping you won’t hesitate any longer."

As Tansar spoke more fluently, it seemed he truly conveyed his teacher’s words completely.

His words seemed to drain all of Bahram’s strength, he slumped in his throne, weakly gesturing: "I understand, you may leave."

"Send my decree, summon Mustafa to see me immediately!"

Tansar, somewhat dazed, was dragged away by the attendants.

Looking at the empty and desolate hall, Bahram fell into a long silence.

The eunuchs beside him could clearly feel the murderous anger emanating from their master, shrinking back, afraid to make a sound.

In the hall, only Bahram’s heavy breathing, like the bellows, could be heard.

"Withdraw, everyone withdraw!"

He practically gritted his teeth as he spoke.

Bahram was not a fool, he knew, as a monarch, every time he broke down hysterically in front of his subordinates, he was showcasing his own failure, but such an outcome was unacceptable to him.

Defeat, or Pyrrhic victory?

What a joke!

I entrusted the Empire’s last mobile forces entirely to you, and what you give me is this kind of answer?

"I’m utterly blinded by the grease of a short-nosed elephant to believe your incompetent, foolish, damnable, hell-bound nonsense!"

With bare feet, he kicked the carpet into a crumpled mess, smashed expensive porcelain on the ground, wielded his sword to chop the exquisite murals as if the face of Ali Atabeg was painted there.

He cursed Ali with the nastiest words, venting his emotions.

But ultimately, all the fury turned into a tragic shout: "Ali, give me back my legion!"