Chapter 4: A Rare Opportunity (Third Update)

  There's an overtime shift in the wee hours!

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  Geshu Han was somewhat taken aback, and after a moment's pause, he reminded him, "General, isn't this not quite right? Gao Xianzhi has defeated the Small Balur, no matter what, this is a great event for the Tang Dynasty. The envoys from the Anxi Protectorate who reported their victory have come to pay their respects to the General via Longxi; it's necessary to return their courtesy."

  "Is this a courtesy call?" Wang Zhongxi sneered and said, "This Li Changguo is using the pretext of visiting me to actually persuade me to send troops to attack Shibao City."

  He looked at Geshu Han and said, "Think about it, as the four-township military governor, apart from defending against Tubo, I am also the rear shield of the Anxi Protectorate. If the Anxi Protectorate is in a tight spot, I will have to send troops to reinforce."

  Wang Zhongxi sat in the northwest, both a preventive measure against Tubo and a rear shield for the Anxi Protectorate. If the Anxi Protectorate was not an opponent, he would have to send troops out. Geshu Han nodded lightly, deeply expressing his approval.

  "In the first year of Tianbao, Tubo and Dashi formed an alliance to attack Xiaobulü. The Anxi Protectorate was in a precarious situation. I set out from Longxi and fought for thousands of miles, defeating the allied forces of Tubo and Dashi. You are aware of this matter." Wang Zhongshi furrowed his brow and changed the subject, saying: "If the Anxi Protectorate were unable to withstand the attack, I would certainly send troops, without any excuse. But this Li Changguo is here as an envoy, and I don't want to see him."

  In ancient times, although there was no saying "the enemy of my enemy is my friend", the ancients understood this principle. In order to deal with the Tang Dynasty as a common enemy, Tubo and the Arab Empire got close, and in the first year of Tianbao, the two countries even formed an alliance army to attack Xiaobolu, wanting Tubo to enter the Western Regions to harass the Anxi Protectorate.

  The Anxi Protectorate was under attack from east and west, and the situation was extremely critical. Wang Zhongsi led his troops out of Longxi, fought several thousand miles, and finally defeated the coalition forces of the two countries, proclaiming the mighty Tang army in a foreign land thousands of miles away, which is a glorious event for the Tang Dynasty.

  In this battle, General Li Guangyi performed extremely well, and Wang Zhongshi discovered his talent and promoted him to a position of heavy responsibility.

  Wang Zhongxi sneered, "A small school lieutenant actually dares to have wild ambitions, truly delusional!"

  He was the first famous general of Li Longji's court, a strategist, Li Long's adopted son, and the emperor's protégé... with numerous halos and favors throughout his life, he really didn't take Li Changgui, this small jiao, seriously.

  Sat down, re-started reviewing military affairs, Geshu Chao several times wanted to speak, but did not say a word, shook his head in regret and turned away.

  Geshu Han came out of the mansion, his personal guard led a war horse over to him. Just as he was about to mount it, he saw a tall man standing outside the mansion gate. The man was eight feet tall, with an air of majesty and power that seemed to emanate from him naturally. He stood there like a crouching lion, his eyes gleaming fiercely as he looked around.

  "Good! Good! What a heroic figure!" Geshu Han's eyes flashed with excitement, and he threw the reins to his personal guard, jogging over to ask: "Is that the brave Captain?"

  This man was indeed Li Changguo, waiting for Wang Zhongxi's reply. He took a glance at Gesu Han and saw that he was majestic and extraordinary, with a body like an iron tower, and his movements were full of vigor, involuntarily praising him with a good word, saying: "It is indeed you. Who are you?"

  "In the lower ranks, I have seen the brave and valiant Colonel. Geshu Han rushed to Li Changguo, made a fist and bowed, extremely delighted, with a sharp glint in his tiger-like eyes, he carefully examined Li Changguo."

  "Kushan?" Li Changguo almost bit his tongue off.

  "Good! Good! Good!" Geshuhan applauded continuously, his hands clapping lightly, making a crisp slapping sound.

  "Xiaoyong Xiaowei's great name is like thunder in my ears, today I see him for the first time and realize that his reputation far exceeds what I've heard. I'm extremely fortunate to have seen Xiaoyong Xiaowei's heroic appearance! Extremely fortunate!" After praising him a few times, Geshu Han still felt it wasn't enough and continued to praise him again.

  Listening to his words of praise, Li Changguo didn't know whether he should be surprised or delighted.

  "The Big Dipper is high, Geshu wears a sword at night", this ancient Tang poem has been admired by countless people, and Geshu Han is indeed a hero. Li Changguo never expected that he would meet Geshu Han here, and Geshu Han's first words were full of praise.

  "General Geshu's praise is undeserved, Li Changguo is ashamed and dare not accept." Li Changguo was modest.

  Ge Shuhan waved his hand, took a step forward, grasped Li Changguo's right hand, and patted the back of it gently, saying intimately: "Let's go! Let's go drinking!"

  Li Changguo was surprised that Ge Shuhan and Li Siye had a lot in common. As soon as they met, they wanted to drink together.

  "My brother Geshu Han has made friends with heroes all over the world, and he has met many people, but there is no one as heroic as this Xiaoyong school lieutenant. If we don't drink a hundred cups, it will be a regret for life!" Geshu Han said, pulling Li Changguo to leave, looking like he wanted to drink a thousand cups.

  Ge Shuhan was a famous knight-errant before he joined the army, known for his chivalrous spirit and willingness to help those in need. He loved nothing more than befriending heroes from all over the world. Heroes like Li Changguo, who were both brave and clever, were rare, so even though they had just met, Ge Shuhan wouldn't let him slip away.

  Geshu Han's bold and generous manner won over Li Changguo, who was eager to drink with him. However, meeting Wang Zhongshi and explaining the pros and cons of sending troops to Shigucheng was more important. Li Changguo had to suppress his desire for a drinking session and said: "General Geshu, I have urgent business to attend to the commander, please help me get an audience."

  Geshu Han's face turned difficult to look at, and he let out a light sigh without saying anything.

  "Does the Grand Marshal not see me?" Li Changguo's eyebrows rose, sharp as a sword.

  "Brother, the commander is busy with military affairs and has gone out to inspect the troops. He's not in the command center. Let's drink heavily first, and I'll think of a plan." Geshu Han was a clever person, of course he wouldn't say that Wang Zhongyi didn't see Li Changguo.

  "This fake son, is this giving me a warning!" Li Changguo, what kind of person is he, how could he not understand, secretly thought: "Without you Wang Zhongshi, can you still eat hairy pigs? If your Wang Zhongshi doesn't go to attack Shigubao City, someone else will. The day when Geshu Han 'west kills Shigubao and takes the purple robe' is not far off."

  A cold smile spread across his face: "Wang Zhongyi, you gave me a warning shot, but unknowingly gave me a rare opportunity! The battle of Shigubao City is led by Gesu Han, and he is eager to make friends with me. This is the chance. I will first make friends with Gesu Han, then think of ways to participate in this war, establish greater military merit, and enhance my status. Only in this way can my weight in the court be heavier, and it may be possible to stop the Anshi Rebellion."

  The Anshi Rebellion was not only a turning point for the Tang Dynasty, but also for China. Over 1,000 years have passed and China has never regained its former prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. If it were possible to stop the Anshi Rebellion and prevent the decline of the Tang Dynasty, that would be an immense merit, and no praise would be excessive.

  But it's not easy to stop the outbreak of the An Shi Rebellion.

  An Lushan was good at flattering, won the favor of Yang Guifei, and was adopted as a godson by Yang Guifei. He gained great trust from Emperor Xuanzong. Li Changgui went to Chang'an to advise Emperor Xuanzong that An Lushan had rebellious intentions and would lead to the decline of the Tang Dynasty, but Emperor Xuanzong absolutely refused to believe it.

  Not only will he be disbelieved, but Li Changguo's crime will also be punished, and it is possible that he will be beheaded.

  Li Changguo had achieved considerable military merit and could have become a general. However, in the Tang Dynasty where martial arts were extremely popular, generals like Li Changguo were as common as hairs on an ox's hide. To exaggerate a bit, if you threw a bamboo stick into a military camp and hit ten people, nine of them would be generals like Li Changguo.

  Think of Li Bai, with talent as high as eight Dou, his poetic name spread all over the world. He had discovered An Lushan's disloyal heart early on, but no one believed him.

  Li Changguo's current status is far inferior to that of Li Bai, and he cannot stop An Lushan from rebelling. He must seize every opportunity to elevate his own status, ideally with great power in hand. To achieve this goal, accumulating military merit is the fastest route.

  What lies ahead is a rare opportunity, Wang Zhongxi will not attack the Stone Fortress City, but Geshu Han will. More importantly, Geshu Han has great admiration for him, this is a rare chance that cannot be missed.