alexander

Leadership Process One: Reframing Problems 45
10: Crossing the River Hydaspes
Near the end of ten years of campaigning, Alexander faced
Porus, a king in India, at the River Hydaspes, which was turbulent
and would drown unprepared soldiers laden with heavy
armor and weapons. Normally, horses would help infantry
cross a river because horses are such excellent swimmers. Recall,
however, that the far side was defended not just by an
overwhelmingly bigger army, but by elephants, whose scent
kept Alexander’s cavalry at bay. Brute force could not produce
a crossing. The problem had to be reframed—the original problem
displaced.
Before the battle at the River Hydaspes, Alexander had to
cross this powerful tributary of the River Indus—the major
river that drained all of the western Himalayas. This river
will catch your arm and drag you downstream to your
death.
Upon arriving at the riverbank, Alexander had his men
establish camp, and the very next morning, he took half the
army and marched up the river. Porus, the king and general
of the local Indians, had no choice but to take half of his
army and march opposite Alexander’s army to deter a
crossing. By midday, Alexander stopped for lunch and then
returned to camp. Porus’s army did the same. The next day,
Alexander’s army marched down the river (to further reconnoiter
a possible ford). Porus had to follow to make sure
Alexander did not cross. Porus followed the army opposite
him when it returned to camp. This went on for day after
day, week after week, maybe month after month.