Chapter 21: One Move to Cross the River

  Gao Xianzhi was the soul of Anxi Protectorate, deeply trusted by his soldiers. It can be said that the soldiers had blind worship for him, and they believed in whatever he told them without any doubt.

  That night, the soldiers ate and drank their fill, and although they slept in the mud, they slept especially soundly, snoring like thunder, with an energy that surpassed even the rushing floodwaters.

  Listening to the thunderous snoring sound, Li Changguo couldn't help but feel a sense of awe: "A great general like Gao Xianzhi is rarely seen in this world! Such is life, what more could one ask for?"

  If a person lives to the point where others even believe his lies, and still so many people trust him without doubt, what regret is there?

  The next day, the soldiers got up early and listened carefully. The sound of the flood was still as loud as thunder, without any signs of weakening. However, due to their trust in Gao Xianzhi, the soldiers did not have any doubts, but instead got dressed and prepared to cross the river.

  According to their idea, Gao Xianzhi said that if you can cross the river, then you can cross the river!

  Li Changguo furrowed his brow, somewhat worried about Gao Xianzhi. He had already spoken loudly, and if he couldn't cross the river, how would he save face?

  What Li Changguo did not expect was that Gao Xianzhi, dressed in armor, came with the imperial guards, taking big strides, majestic and dignified, without any sign of being disheartened by his inability to cross the river.

  "What's going on here? Is there really a way to cross the river?" Li Changguo looked at Gao Xianzhi with an air of confidence, and his heart was somewhat apprehensive.

  According to Li Changguo's view, such a big flood, still in the Congling Mountains, not to mention ancient times, even modern troops want to cross over, also have to go to great lengths. If under this situation, Gao Xianzhi still has a way to cross the river, then he is not a famous general, but a god.

  "You all wait and don't cross yet, let me cross the river first!" Gao Xianzhi waved his right hand with great authority, shouting to the eager soldiers.

  He is risking his own life, how can the soldiers agree? It's not a request for fame, but a willingness to be the vanguard.

  Li Changguo stepped forward and said: "Deputy Capital Protector, I am the vanguard of the opening road. This trial crossing should be done by me!"

  "Right!" Bian Lingcheng immediately echoed, saying: "Deputy Commander, as the commander-in-chief, how can you take risks! If you want to take risks, you must first get my approval as the supervisor! If I don't approve, you can't take risks!"

  He put on a stern face and his tone was extremely severe, making that duck's voice even more unpleasant.

  "Since I'm the commander, what I say goes!" Gao Xianzhi also set his face, saying in a deep voice, as if he must try to cross.

  "Vice Commander, let us cross first!"

  With a swish, Li Siye and Duan Xiushi, these generals stood in front of him, like mountains, immovable.

  A fierce light burst forth from Gao Xianzhi's eyes as he swept his gaze over the crowd of generals, bellowing out orders: "Heed my command! Roll aside at once! Do not block me from achieving great things here!"

  As they spoke, his left eye flashed with a hint of intention, as if there was another meaning behind it.

  Li Changguo watched with a look of sudden understanding, his mind racing as he grasped the situation. He couldn't help but burst out laughing and admire Gao Xianzhi, who would stop at nothing to boost morale.

  Upon reflection, under current circumstances, if it weren't for this, it would be hard to stabilize the morale of the troops!

  A famous general is indeed a famous general, who would have thought of such a plan!

  Li Siye and Duan Xiushi did not understand, they just stood there motionless.

  Li Changguo said loudly: "Yes sir!" and quickly walked away to one side.

  Li Siye and Duan Xiushi were dissatisfied with what they saw, and a flash of anger appeared in their eyes. Li Changguo was the pioneer who opened the way, this matter should be his business, but he walked away, even Li Siye, who was on good terms with him, couldn't help but erupt.

  Gao Xianzhi's eyes flashed with a hint of sharpness, appearing and disappearing in an instant. Except for Li Changguo, no one else noticed it. He nodded heavily and said, "Li Huo Chang is following military orders, very good! Very good!"

  Li Changguo gave Li Siye a stern look and scolded him. Although Li Siye didn't understand, he thought for a moment and then walked away.

  As soon as the two fierce generals left, no one else could stop Gao Xianzhi. Gao Xianzhi had someone tie him up with a rope and then jumped into the floodwaters and swam forward.

  His swimming skills were not bad, and he swam very far. Although the waves were not small, they couldn't stop him. Gao Xianzhi stabilized the military's morale by doing a few beautiful flips in the water, looking carefree.

  "Long live the Great Tang!"

  The soldiers did not understand his intention and thought they could really cross the river, so they let out a thunderous roar, eager to rush across the river immediately and kill their way to Lianyunbao.

  Gao Xianzhi took a look and thought it was about right, then swam back.

  "Vice Commander, let's cross the river!"

  Li Siye and Duan Xiushi were overjoyed, thinking that crossing the river would be a trivial matter, and they came forward to pay their respects.

  Look at them, they have everything ready, only lacking the order from Gao Xianzhi. Li Changguo couldn't help but sigh: "You still don't understand Gao Xianzhi's kindness, this is forcing him!"

  "It's not difficult to cross the river, but I think you're all too tired..." Gao Xianzhi's face was filled with joy, as if crossing the river was a trivial matter, and he scolded Li Siye and the others.

  "We're not tired!"

  "We can also fight our way into Tibet!"

  Li Siye and his men shouted with all their might.

  "You all cultivate your spirit first!" Gao Xianzhi threw down a sentence and quickly left.

  Apart from Li Changguo, no one else understood his intention. Gao Xianzhi was very clear that it was impossible to cross the river at present. However, if he didn't do so, he would be unable to stabilize the morale of the soldiers, and the morale of the Tang army would plummet, with unthinkable consequences.

  From that day on, Gao Xianzhi changed his tactics to stabilize the military morale. At first, the soldiers did not dare to have any doubts about what he said, but lies are lies after all, and there will always be a day when they will be exposed.

  Three days later, the soldiers no longer believed in his words and began to question him. As soon as they questioned him, the consequences were extremely severe, Gao Xianzhi's words became ineffective, and the soldiers' morale plummeted, each one hanging their heads in despair.

  Gao Xianzhi hid in a deserted place, desperately clutching his hair, and accidentally pulled out a few strands of white hair.

  "I think of Gao Xianzhi, who was invincible in the Western Regions, yet he was trapped by the floods of the Tarim River and couldn't find a way out!" Gao Xianzhi was so worried about this matter that his hair turned white, and he felt endless regret.

  As time went on, the morale of the soldiers had already fallen to an all-time low, and no matter how Gao Xianzhi tried to boost it, he just couldn't lift their spirits.

  XXXXXXXX

  Li Changguo looked up at the sky and saw many white clouds like tiles, his eyebrows furrowed, and a smile appeared on his resolute face.

  "Vanguard officer, what are you looking at?" Kant asked listlessly, leaning against a tree with a lack of energy.

  "We can cross the river tomorrow!"

  Li Changguo is full of confidence.

  "Hmph!" Kant burst out laughing and teased: "How many times have you said this, who would believe it? Who believes is a pig!"

  "Pigs wouldn't believe it!" Li Changguo threw down a sentence and turned around, shouting loudly: "The Vanguard Camp listens to orders: cross the river tomorrow!"

  "Cross the river? Then let's cross the river!" Ferre and the others said languidly.

  The next day, the flood indeed receded, but the river was still wide and turbulent. Conde and his men did not believe they could cross the river and ignored Li Changguo's military order.

  Li Changguo didn't say much, he was very clear that in this situation, any words were superfluous, only facts could prove it. He mounted his horse, patted its back, and the warhorse let out a loud whinny, galloping towards Terelchu River.

  Arriving at the riverbank, Li Changguo charged into the river without hesitation.