Chapter 29: Removing the Saddle (II)

“Yes, General Gao! I’ll send someone to handle it right away!”
Duan Xiushi bowed to Gao Xianzhi and turned to leave.
“Wait!”
Gao Xianzhi waved him back, telling him not to rush. “Xiushi, only you and I know about this. Under no circumstances must you tell anyone else. Do you understand?”
Having served Gao Xianzhi for so many years, Duan Xiushi naturally understood his intentions. He patted his chest and said, “General, do you still doubt my ability? That man won’t see the contents of the letter, and I’ll make sure he never speaks again!”
Gao Xianzhi nodded in satisfaction. “Remember, treat his family well. Hmm, go and bring here Geluo Ye Hu Mou La E Luo and King Ashilanda of Bahana. I have some specific matters to discuss with them!”
“As you command!”
Duan Xiushi bowed firmly and turned to leave.
“Come inside the tent!”
Gao Xianzhi sighed deeply and entered the command tent with his hands behind his back.
Li Siye, who was waiting nearby, seemed preoccupied and hesitated for a while. It wasn’t until Gao Xianzhi entered the tent that he realized what to do and followed in, lifting the curtain.
Li Siye was extremely strong and was considered the bravest general in the Anxi Army. He had always been a trusted right-hand man of Gao Xianzhi. However, he only had the talent of a general but lacked the skills of a commander. He often failed to consider things comprehensively and, in battle, focused solely on fighting bravely without thinking about retreat strategies. This was why Gao Xianzhi chose to train Feng Changqing as his successor—knowing when to act was far more important than leading by example to boost morale.
Brave and formidable, invincible among thousands—these were Li Siye’s proud strengths, yet they also became the main obstacles preventing him from advancing further.
“General Gao, do we really have to wait for that so-called Lord of Baishui City’s reply? As the ancients say, speed is key in warfare!”
Li Siye had long been dissatisfied with this approach. Earlier, he had held back out of respect for his friend Duan Xiushi. If he didn’t intervene now, General Gao might truly seek an alliance with that Lord of Baishui City.
“Indeed, Siye. You’ve started reading military books lately!”
Gao Xianzhi, unfazed, handed Li Siye a copy of The Art of War by Wei Gong.
Wishing to test Li Siye’s knowledge of military strategy, he deliberately provoked him with a smile. “Then tell me, should I form an alliance with the Lord of Baishui City?”
“Of course not!”

Li Siye took the military treatise and said firmly, “The barbarians have always been fickle. Which of these barbarian states along the rivers truly respects our Tang Dynasty? When the Arabs arrive, they side with them; when our Anxi army comes, they submit to the Tang Dynasty again. How can such barbarians earn trust?”
“You’re right!”
Gao Xianzhi nodded at first but then changed his tone. “But did I ever say I wanted them to fully submit to the Tang Dynasty?”
Hearing this, Li Siye’s mind went blank. He murmured, “But you just said you wanted Old Duan to send people to negotiate with Baisui City…”
“It’s just for show!”
Gao Xianzhi shook his head with a bitter smile. “Even if we count all the men in Baisui City who can ride a horse, young or old, can they exceed five thousand? With the combat strength of the soldiers from the Western Regions’ barbarian states, they’d likely be wiped out by a single thousand-strong Arab cavalry unit!”
“But you clearly… Ah! Forget it, forget it. There are so many twists and turns—I really can’t figure it out!”
The more Li Siye thought about it, the more confused he became. Eventually, he waved his hand in frustration and said, “General Gao, just give me a clear answer. You know I hate these strategies and military tactics—ah!”
“Alright, I won’t make things difficult for you.”
Gao Xianzhi cleared his throat and said, “Actually, whether or not the ruler of Baisui City allies with us is terrible news for the Arabs. If he allies with us, we gain an additional force that can at least hold off the Arabs’ main army, preventing them from launching a full-scale attack on our central forces!”
After a pause, Gao Xianzhi continued, “If he refuses our offer, with my envoys already in Baisui City, won’t the Arabs become suspicious? Once suspicion arises, it won’t just affect Baisui City. If the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions feel the Arabs no longer trust them, will they still willingly fight for them? So, whether this plan succeeds or not, it will have a significant impact on the Arab coalition!”
“I see. That’s truly brilliant!”
After Gao Xianzhi’s explanation, Li Siye couldn’t help but marvel. But after a while, he asked, “Then why did you sigh outside the tent earlier, saying that if the ruler of Baisui City agrees to ally with you, it would be heaven’s blessing for the Tang Dynasty?”
Suddenly recalling Gao Xianzhi’s strange words earlier, the confusion in Li Siye’s mind returned once more.
“Speak to people as people, and to ghosts as ghosts! Those words were just for others to hear!”

Gao Xianzhi helplessly waved his hand and said, “Actually, I’m not entirely confident about this battle. Of course, I trust our own men, but if it’s outsiders, how can we make them willing to risk their lives for the Anxi Army without giving them some assurance?”
“Who is that person?”
Before Gao Xianzhi could finish speaking, Li Siye rushed to ask, fearing that if he delayed even a moment, General Gao would brush the question aside.
Footsteps were heard outside the tent, and Gao Xianzhi smirked coldly, “So, this person isn’t coming?”
“Report! The Yehu of the Göktürks, Mularo, and King Ashilanda of Baganha request an audience with the Grand Protector of Anxi, the Minister with Equal Rank to the Three Dukes, and the General Who Pacifies the Lands!”
After the guards recited Gao Xianzhi’s long list of titles, Li Siye finally understood who Gao Xianzhi meant.
Damn it, he never thought that being a military commander would require so much scheming!
With a commander like this, it’s better not to take the position at all!
Led by Duan Xiushi, Ashilanda and Mularo entered the tent one after another and bowed to Gao Xianzhi.
“I, Yehu of the Göktürks, pay my respects to the Grand Protector of Anxi. May the Eternal Heaven be with you and bless our Tang Dynasty to victory!”
“Ashilanda, the most loyal friend of the Tang Dynasty, greets the Grand Protector. May we receive the blessings of the fire god Ahura Mazda!”
Gao Xianzhi nodded slightly in return and casually gestured for them to sit down.
“I see your loyalty, and I’ll keep it in mind. After this battle, I will surely recommend you to the Emperor for rewards!”
First, Gao Xianzhi reassured them, then said, “I’ve called you here today to discuss launching a joint campaign to capture Talas City!”
Upon hearing this, Ashilanda quickly suggested, “In my opinion, we should feign an attack to lure Abu Muslim to come from Samarkand with his troops. That way, we can engage them in a field battle!”
For Ashilanda, his interests were almost entirely tied to the Tang army in Anxi. Last year’s chaos in the Stone Country was caused by him, and now the Arabs were coming aggressively under the pretext of upholding justice for the countries in the River Region. He could only rely on the Tang army to hold them off, hoping for a decisive victory. Thus, he naturally wanted to engage the Arabs in a field battle to wipe them out completely and eliminate the threat forever.

Moula Eluo simply smiled coldly and said, “The king of Bahanna is wrong in saying that. Our allied forces are already fewer in number than those of the Arabs. It’s not that I’m trying to boost their morale, but in an open battle, our chances of winning are less than 30%. In my opinion, we should launch a forceful attack on Talas City. Once we capture it, we’ll have a strong position to either advance or retreat. Even if Abu Muslim sends reinforcements, we’ll have more confidence!”
In fact, he was not optimistic about the Tang army’s attempt to advance alone. He had agreed to join the allied forces out of necessity. If the Göktürks hadn’t submitted to the Tang Dynasty and signed a contract for military service, he wouldn’t have to risk the extinction of his people to fight against those Arabs. All he wanted now was for the Tang army to capture Talas as soon as possible, forcing Abu Muslim to withdraw in the face of difficulty!
“A forceful attack on Talas City?”
Ashilanda snorted and said, “Do you really think we can capture Talas within ten days with our current numbers?”
“Why not? General Gao has brought ballistae and crossbows. For such a small city as Talas, I think it can be taken in just five days.”
Moula Eluo also refused to be outdone and raised his head proudly.
“Stop arguing!”
Gao Xianzhi glanced at the two of them coldly and said, “Moula Eluo and I think the same way—capture Talas City first, and then we can discuss further!”