My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 258 General, may I borrow your armor?

Gao Yu's guess was indeed correct.

Chen Qingzhi, being extremely cautious, led another thousand of his own troops to follow after them.

however……

Before they even reached Yamato Valley, they saw fleeing soldiers, their faces filled with fear, running non-stop toward the military camp.

broken!

Chen Qingzhi's heart skipped a beat. Riding on his horse, he glanced at the fleeing soldiers and noticed that there were few white-robed soldiers among them. He quickly ordered his personal guards to bring back a white-robed soldier who had run back.

"What happened?"

"General, our troops were ambushed in the forest ahead. The enemy soldiers who ambushed us were all exceptionally brave, as if they had descended from the heavens. Our troops were simply no match for them and could not withstand a single blow... Many of our brothers have perished in the attack."

Chen Qingzhi clenched his fist.

Upon closer inspection, the white-robed soldier, covered in dust and wounds, stood in stark contrast to the other routed soldiers who were merely disheveled but unharmed.

It must have been a fierce battle, and they were simply unable to fight back, which is why they had no choice but to run away.

"You did well. This defeat was entirely due to my oversight, and the blame lies with me..."

"General!!"

Chen Qingzhi himself was not brave, not even as good as an ordinary soldier. He couldn't even fire a crossbow. But the reason he was able to make his soldiers serve him wholeheartedly was that...

That's what they relied on.

He enforced strict rewards and punishments, taking responsibility for any mistakes while sharing credit with his soldiers.

It sounds simple: any general who can do this can inspire his soldiers to fight and die for him. But throughout history, very few people have been able to do it.

Chen Qingzhi quickly rallied the defeated troops and led them toward Yamato Valley once again.

The sun had already set, and the setting sun was like blood. Looking at the corpses on the ground, Chen Qingzhi felt extremely sad. They were all his White Robe Army soldiers who had died!

Of the two thousand white-robed soldiers who went out to camp, less than four hundred returned.

They would either be killed or captured.

Since Chen Qingzhi launched his northern expedition, he has fought more than forty battles, large and small, and captured more than thirty cities. He can be described as invincible in every battle!

The total number of troops lost was greater than in this battle.

Only then did he understand why Yuwen Luosheng had specifically emphasized this to him.

"Gao Lang's bravery is comparable to that of the ancient overlord Xiang Yu reborn. His Xuanjia soldiers are just as fierce as Xiang Yu's army back then. General, you must be cautious."

Reflecting on Gao Yu's series of actions today.

They brought several men to lure the enemy in, and then set up an ambush.

Courage, bravery... luck, all are indispensable.

"Could it be that the fate of the pseudo-Wei dynasty has not yet run its course? That is why such a divine general was sent down from heaven to continue its reign?"

Such a thought couldn't help but arise in Chen Qingzhi's mind.

This terrified him. If even he thought this way, what would his soldiers think?
Luoyang will probably not be so easy to take.

………………

Yuan Ziyou learned of Gao Yu's departure from the city immediately.

He wasn't afraid that Gao Yu would run away on her own, but rather worried that something might happen to her.

Gao Yu was his source of security. Inside Xianyang Palace, he was restless and would ask Gao Yu from time to time if he had returned to the city.

Upon stepping outside the palace, Yuan Ziyou saw that it was already sunset. Unable to sit still, he decided to leave the palace and personally go to the armory to wait for Gao Yu to return to camp.

The armory and granary were actually built right next to the East Palace. Since Yuan Ziyou had no children at the moment, the East Palace was naturally left unused.

"Your Majesty, we do not yet know whether there are enemy spies within the city. Your Majesty is of noble status; how can you risk your life?"

"Go away!"

Yuan Ziyou pushed aside the imperial guards blocking his way, saying, "The people and soldiers are all fighting to protect Luoyang. How can I remain peacefully in the palace?"

This was not the first time Yuan Ziyou had left the palace.

Just a few months ago, he was at the city gate of Luoyang clearing up the backlog of wrongful convictions and exonerating the people who came to appeal their grievances.

Unable to dissuade them in the face of the danger, the Imperial Guards had no choice but to follow Yuan Ziyou, fully armed, out of the palace and into Luoyang.

The news that the Southern Liang army was about to arrive caused widespread panic in Luoyang.

Yuan Ziyou walked out of the main gate of the palace, Changhe Gate, which faced Tongtuo Street, the most prosperous street in Luoyang, but now it was no longer as bustling as it used to be.

At this moment...

A commotion broke out in the streets as many people gathered together and rushed towards the east of Luoyang City, in the direction of Dongyang Gate.

People in the crowd were still talking about it from time to time.

"I heard that the General of Chariots and Cavalry has achieved a great victory over the enemy!"

"We captured quite a few White-Robed Soldiers."

"White robe?"

"Haven't you heard of it? The famous general Mo Zilao, whose white robes command thousands of troops. He was under the command of that white-robed general."

"General Chariot and Cavalry is indeed valiant!"

"Of course! Hurry, the General of Chariots and Cavalry is about to enter the city!"

The people's discussion startled Yuan Ziyou, and just as he was in shock, someone caught up from behind—an acquaintance.

Wen Zisheng, known as one of the "Three Talents of the North," was the scholar who refused to write the abdication edict for Erzhu Rong outside Heyin.

After learning about this, Yuan Ziyou gave Wen Zisheng an important position, appointing him to the Secretariat as a drafter.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!!"

Wen Zisheng rushed over, panting but with a joyful expression, and handed a report of victory to Yuan Ziyou.

"A great victory! The General of Chariots and Cavalry personally led the army and utterly defeated the Southern Liang coalition forces!"

Yuan Ziyou happily took the report that Gao Yu had sent back ahead of time from his hand and saw that it was indeed as Wen Zisheng had said.

"Excellent! General Chariot and Cavalry truly deserves to be called a world-renowned general, comparable to the ancient overlords!"

"Go! Pengju, come with me to see the general!"

Yuan Ziyou affectionately took Wen Zisheng's arm and headed towards Dongyang Gate.

Outside Dongyang Gate! The city's garrison had already opened the gates and lowered the stone bridge.

Gao Yu and the others rode on horseback, their armor stained with blood, while the red cloaks behind them appeared exceptionally 'vibrant'. Upon closer inspection, a strong smell of blood could be detected.

We walked to the bottom of the city gate.

Liu Yi knew Gao Yu's ultimate purpose in leaving the city.

He then ordered the soldiers on the city wall to shout in unison.

"General, you are mighty! General, you are incredibly brave!!"

"General, you are mighty! General, you are incredibly brave!!"

The soldiers of the Xuanjia Army all shouted loudly, and their cheers echoed throughout every corner of Luoyang City.

Gao Yu sat on his horse and walked through the city gate into the city, only to find that countless people had already gathered there to watch.

Gao Yu reined in his horse and looked at the people in front of him, and said loudly.

"I personally led my troops to a great victory over the White-Robed Army in the Valley of Great Harmony, killing over a thousand and capturing hundreds. Our army has won a great victory!!"

They just stated the battle report directly.

Many people are illiterate, so there's no point in lecturing them with grand principles!
Just like the soldiers.

There's no need for so many complicated steps.

All we need to do is tell them directly that our army has won a great victory.

Gao Yu raised his hand.

The Xuanjia soldiers behind him then brought over several cloth bags, from which they poured out left ears cut off from enemy corpses as evidence.

Countless ears were knocked to the ground with a whooshing sound.

An extremely thick and pungent smell of blood filled the air, creating a terrifying scene that shocked and terrified countless onlookers!
But the more this is the case, the more it proves that what he said is true!

The blood-stained armor and the ears scattered all over the ground were telling everyone one thing!
The White-Robed Army, which was known as "invincible in attack and undefeated in battle," was nothing more than a "rabble" in front of Gao Yu's Black Armor Army!
Gao Yu then continued shouting!

"Victory is assured in this battle!!"

"I will surely lead my troops to crush all invading enemies!"

"Must win!"

The soldiers of the Xuanjia Army drew their weapons, raised them high above their heads, and shouted in unison!

This atmosphere quickly spread to the hearts of the surrounding people.

They all looked at Gao Yu on horseback and shouted, "Victory! Victory!"

Gao Yu then made a very high-profile show of having his soldiers drive the captured white-robed soldiers around Luoyang City, so that all the people in the city would know!

What does "Even renowned generals and great commanders should not be complacent, for thousands of troops will avoid those in white robes" mean?
He wanted to shatter the myths people held about the White-Robed Army and about Chen Qingzhi!
News of Gao Yu's great victory quickly spread throughout Luoyang.

From high-ranking officials and princes to ordinary people, everyone marveled at the General of Chariots and Cavalry, who was truly a peerless and valiant warrior. The mythical "white robe" was gradually replaced by "black armor"!

Gao Yu arrived at the training ground next to the armory.

He originally intended to interrogate him.

Upon entering the training ground, he saw numerous imperial guards, and then he saw Yuan Ziyou waiting for him at the entrance.

"General!!"

Yuan Ziyou personally came to greet him.

Gao Yu quickly dismounted and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"I have met His Majesty!"

The soldiers behind him also dismounted and knelt down to pay their respects.

"Everyone get up!"

Yuan Ziyou personally helped Gao Yu up, and then helped Gao Ang, Peng Le and others up as well. Looking at the soldiers in front of him who were covered in blood, he was not used to the smell of blood, but he did not show any disgust. Instead, he kept encouraging them.

"I will never forget the merits you have made in your bloody battles!"

"On behalf of the officials, ministers, and common people of Luoyang, I would like to express my gratitude to all the soldiers!"

He waved his hand!

The imperial guards brought out the fine wine he had prepared beforehand and distributed it to the soldiers.

"You have all made outstanding contributions in battle. I would like to offer a toast to all of you!"

With that, he downed the drink in his glass in one gulp.

A surge of heroic spirit welled up within him. Looking at the valiant soldiers before him, he shouted, "Victory is assured in this battle!!"

"Victory is certain! Victory is certain! Victory is certain!!"

Gao Yu couldn't help but glance at Yuan Ziyou. Yuan Ziyou's performance truly deserved to be called a 'restoration ruler,' if the situation in the Great Wei hadn't deteriorated to this extent...

His soldiers were even more excited, their faces flushed.

The Emperor!

For these ordinary soldiers, it still held a great deal of 'sacredness' in their eyes.

To be personally bestowed wine by the emperor is a rare honor in one's lifetime.

Yuan Ziyou then returned to Gao Yu's side.

He looked Gao Yu up and down, reached out and touched Gao Yu's armor, and suddenly spoke.

"General of Chariots and Cavalry, I wish to ask you for something. I wonder if you would be willing to part with it?"

"What does Your Majesty desire?"

Yuan Ziyou smiled and pointed at his body.

"I would be grateful if the general would remove his armor and present it to me. I intend to take it back to the palace and place it in the Taiji Hall so that all the officials and ministers can see it during their daily court assemblies, witnessing the brutal battles the general and his soldiers endured to protect Luoyang!"

"This is to warn the officials and all ministers, and also to warn me!"

interesting.

Gao Yu couldn't help but look at Yuan Ziyou with even greater respect.

With such a 'restoration leader', he could indeed be a great help in winning the battle to defend Luoyang!
P.S.: I've written two chapters today, totaling over 7000 words, so I won't split them into separate chapters. Don't worry... I won't deliberately drag it out.

I'll definitely finish writing the climax in the next couple of days.
(End of this chapter)