My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 102 He must be rewarded with something.

The three of them quickly clasped their hands in a gesture of respect.

"Meet the Khan."

Anagui, all smiles, even stood up to greet him. He walked to the entrance of the Khan's tent, ignoring Daxi Wu and Shedi Gan standing to the side, but very affectionately took Gao Yu's arm and personally led him to the seat of honor prepared for him.

Gao Yu felt flattered, but inwardly he was cursing.

Anagui returned to his seat, laughed heartily, and said, "We've finally waited for Gaolang. How can this be a victory celebration if there isn't someone who made the greatest contribution in this battle?"

"Come! Gentlemen, let us toast Gao Lang together. If it weren't for Gao Lang's bravery in fighting the enemy, we would probably be prisoners of the Gao Che by now."

Everyone raised their glasses, and Gao Yu followed suit, but instead of remaining seated, he stood up.

Speak first.

"This great victory is not entirely due to my efforts alone."

"Firstly, the Great Khan is the master of the grasslands, blessed by Heaven and blessed with boundless good fortune, so this victory was destined for him. Secondly, it was the bravery of all the chieftains and comrades that led to this victory. What merit have I made? How dare I claim credit for Heaven's work?"

"It is I who should toast you all. If it weren't for the help of you all, I would probably have become a lonely ghost on the grassland long ago."

"Please accept my bow!"

Gao Yu first bowed respectfully to everyone before raising his golden wine cup, saying, "I'll drink this first as a sign of respect!"

Gao Yu always kept this in mind.

The teachings of 'Ancestor' Lü Fang in 'Da Ming Dynasty 1566'.

Think twice.

The world's order has not been broken yet, nor does he have the power to break it, nor is he the one who sets the order. Since he is in an order set by others, he must be cautious.

Only when one has fully developed one's power, and is even able to set the rules, can one act without restraint.

Anagui treated him with such high regard and even claimed that he was the greatest contributor. If he were to take all the credit, he would be in trouble.

Wouldn't that put me on the opposite side of everyone?

This was a resounding victory.

Who didn't contribute?

If one were to accept it willingly, that would be a real disaster.

Anagui was clearly surprised by Gao Yu's quick reaction, and her expression was slightly unnatural, but she quickly composed herself and raised her glass.

"Come!"

Everyone raised their glasses and drank their drinks.

Yuan Fu was content to be the mascot, but Cui Jie couldn't help but glance at Gao Yu.

He was also a seasoned official who had served in the imperial court in Luoyang for many years, so he could naturally see through some of the clues.

No wonder the father had such a high opinion of this son.

Judging people is not difficult for seasoned veterans of officialdom who have seen it all, especially for someone as young as Gao Yu. Although young, Gao Yu possesses a composure and prudence that is beyond his years.

He made great contributions, yet he remained humble and unyielding.

It is really rare.

If the young people Cui Jie usually interacted with had performed such extraordinary feats as Gao Yu, they would probably be incredibly arrogant and look down on everyone else.

Yang Jun had a lot of dealings with the Gao brothers, so it wasn't surprising.

Everyone knows Huai Shuo.

Gao Jia Dalang is meticulous and adept at social maneuvering.

Gao Erlang was unparalleled in riding and archery, and his bow and horsemanship were unmatched.

But only someone like him, who frequently interacts with the Gao brothers, knows that... Gao Er has made rapid progress in recent years and has deeply grasped the essence of his brother's way of dealing with people.

After a few drinks, Anagui began the most important part of the victory celebration.

Reward!

What were the motives of these grassland tribes who surrendered to them?
That's exactly why.

Such matters should ideally be discussed after the army has settled in the royal court, but the current location of the army camp in Luhunhai is actually on the edge of the Rouran royal court.

The Rouran royal court was not a fixed city like the capital of the Central Plains dynasties.

It is a region.

The entire Genhe River Valley can be regarded as the royal court of the Rouran. This place is surrounded by mountains and rivers, with fertile land, making it a land of plenty.

"Earth Gate, Room Points are dense."

The two brothers who were called out immediately stood up.

They were the first tribe to respond to the Khan's banner and come to join him.

"The Ashina tribe followed Gao Lang in breaking through the enemy lines and made great contributions. Originally, it was promised that a fertile land near the royal court would be allocated to the Ashina tribe as a pasture, but I see that you two brothers seem to admire Gao Lang very much."

"How about this."

Anagui laughed and said, "Originally, the Ashina tribe had been 'blacksmith slaves' of my Rouran royal court for generations. Now that you have made great contributions, I will free you from your slave status."

Tumen and Shidian exchanged a glance, their faces filled with barely concealed excitement.

Isn't this precisely why they offered help in times of need?
He immediately knelt down and thanked them.

"Thank you, Great Khan, for your divine grace!"

"Please be patient, I haven't finished yet."

“If you are willing to serve Gaolang, then I will allocate an area near Huaishuo for the Ashina tribe to use as pasture.”

"Of course, you may also choose to graze your livestock near the royal court."

Tumen hesitated for a moment.

Grazing livestock in the fertile lands near the royal court would naturally allow the Ashina tribe to grow stronger, but it would also put them under Anagui's watchful eye.

Freeing them from slavery was not their ultimate goal.

If the Rouran could occupy this royal court, why couldn't the Turks?

This Khan's position can be held by the Rouran, and it can also be held by the Turks!
But now is not the time.

"Great Khan, this matter is of great importance. May I return to my tribe and discuss it with my people before giving you a reply?"

Anagui nodded in agreement.

Subsequently, other grassland tribes also bestowed rewards. Gao Yu observed carefully and discovered that the magnitude of Anagui's rewards was actually based on the order in which they joined him.

The earlier a tribe pledged allegiance and demonstrated its loyalty, the more generously it received rewards when it offered timely assistance to Anagui during its most vulnerable period.

As for those tribes that switched sides when they realized things were going wrong, they didn't get any real benefits.

Loyalty is not absolute, it is absolutely disloyal.

They would receive some cattle and sheep as a reward, but forget about getting a lush pasture.

For these tribes, the absence of punishment is a reward.

As for those tribes that have not yet expressed their stance, they will inevitably become the targets of Anagui's reckoning afterward.

Then Anagui looked at Yuanfu.

"The imperial court has treated me well. In this great battle, the central army and the Huai Shuo army fought bravely against the enemy. I will also give them generous gifts."

Yuanfu readily accepted.

At last.

Anagui's gaze lingered on Gao Yu, a complex look flashing in her eyes, before she spoke.

"Although you are modest, you deserve the greatest credit for this great victory over the Gao chariots. I have prepared a small gift for you, and I hope you will accept it."

"Could it be that Gao Lang wants me to become the kind of heartless and ungrateful person who doesn't reward merit?"

This time, Gao Yu did not refuse.

Everyone has already received their rewards, so even if Anagui's reward to him is the most generous, it won't cause too much envy.

What he feared was that Anagui would immediately label him with all sorts of accusations, and then directly offer a generous reward, even if he would reward others afterward.

But the situation is different.

"Thank you, Khan!"

………………

Inside the Xibai Hall of the Imperial Palace in Luoyang.

Xibai Hall was built to the west of Taiji Hall. Initially, when Empress Dowager Hu had just joined forces with Yu Zhong to launch a coup and eliminate Gao Shi's faction, she had Yuan Yong reside here to help with government affairs.

Later, Empress Dowager Hu favored Prince Yuan Yi of Qinghe, and Yuan Yi became the owner of Xibaitang.

at the moment.

Yuan Yi held immense power in the court and executed the faction of Prince Qinghe, Yuan Yi. Naturally, he moved into Xibaitang.

A series of hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, approaching from afar, and then a handsome man dressed in the finest armor of the Imperial Guard appeared at the door.

"I've met the king!"

After Erzhu Rong entered, he bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.

He had originally feigned illness and returned to Xiurongchuan to train his followers in preparation for any eventuality. However, after only a few months, Yuan Yi repeatedly sent people to invite him back to Luoyang. Helpless, he had no choice but to comply with Yuan Yi's wishes and return to Luoyang.

But it's not a bad thing.

After all, Luoyang was the center of power, and only by being close to the center of power could one obtain the latest intelligence.

"Tianbao is here?"

Yuan Yi smiled and said, "There's no need to be so formal."

Erzhu Rong saw that Yuan Yi was holding an official document and asked, "I wonder if the King has summoned me here because he has something to instruct me on?"

Yuan Yi valued and trusted him greatly; otherwise, he wouldn't have sent someone to Xiu Rongchuan to invite him repeatedly. Upon hearing this, he smiled and handed him an official document and another secret letter.

"It's a secret of the imperial court; how could this humble general dare to..."

"I grant permission. Look."

Erzhu Rong then took the official document with both hands and glanced at it briefly.

This is an official document sent back from Yuanfu's headquarters, describing the decisive battle between the Rouran and Gaoche people. The record is somewhat detailed because Yuanfu had Cui Jie write it on his behalf.

Erzhu Rong quickly spotted the key words.

With 50,000 against 150,000, the enemy force outnumbered us several times over, yet we utterly defeated them!
Winning with fewer troops?

How could they win when the military strength of both sides was so disparate?
Are the people of Gaoche really this despicable?
wrong……

Previously, the Gaoche had decisively defeated the Rouran army led by the Brahmins. Not long ago, they had won so easily against the Rouran. How come they couldn't win this time despite having more people?
See the next part.

Erzhu Rong then understood the reason and blurted out instinctively...

"Gao Liang?"

Yuan Yi smiled and said, "Take a look at this."

He gestured for him to look at the secret letter sent by Shedigan.

Yuan Yi placed She Digan and Da Xi Wu'an in the central army so that his trusted confidants could take command of the central army and at the same time understand the latest situation on the front line, so as not to be deceived by others.

Erzhu Rong immediately picked up the secret letter.

Shedigan couldn't write, so it was obvious at a glance that it was written by Daxi Wu.

This secret letter contains even more details.

The entire process of the great battle between the Gaoche and the Rouran was recorded in detail.

This included Anagui personally leading his troops as bait to ensure the successful implementation of the "oblique attack" tactic.

of course……

The most important one is Gao Yu!
"Faced with the charge of the Gaoche cavalry, our left flank was thrown into chaos. Just when the formation was about to collapse, Gao Yu, the commander of the Huai Shuo cavalry, led his fifty armored cavalrymen in a fierce charge, repeatedly attacking and completely breaking up the Gaoche formation."

Erzhu Rong was greatly shocked.

How many?

Fifty armored cavalrymen?

"This... Gao Erlang is actually so brave and skilled?"

Seeing Erzhu Rong's surprised expression upon seeing the secret letter, just like his own before, Yuan Yi couldn't help but laugh. "Daxi Wu and Shedi Gan wouldn't lie to me; it must be true."

Erzhu Rong actually knew that Gao Yu was brave and skilled.

Before the two even met in Luoyang, he had already learned from Liu Gui that Huai Shuo had two heroes, one of whom, Gao Er, was extremely brave and had defeated the He Ba brothers, who were originally the bravest in Wu Chuan.

In Luoyang, Gao Yu once again single-handedly drove back hundreds of soldiers with his bow, leaving a very deep impression on him.

Never thought...

Just two years.

That young man who was famous in Luoyang has actually become this brave?
Erzhu Rong was also confident in his bravery, and his elite Qihu troops were equally valiant. However, he dared not guarantee that he could do better than Gao Yu in the same situation.
"Two years ago, I wanted to recruit this young man, but the Empress Dowager dissuaded me... Now that he has made another great contribution, he must be rewarded in some way!"

Yuan Yi gained power by launching a coup.

He has an extreme lack of security.

It's clear that he wasn't satisfied with controlling the Imperial Guards himself; he also wanted his trusted confidants to control the Central Army.

What he wants is to have capable people work for him.

He wished he could immediately transfer Gao Yu, a man of such bravery, into the Imperial Guard!
"Tomorrow at court, I will announce the battle report and the reward for Gao Lang, change his household registration, and allow him to enter Luoyang and join the Imperial Guard!"

"No!"

Erzhu Rong quickly raised his hand to stop him.

Yuan Yi looked at him with suspicion.

This expression.

It's as if it's saying, "Can't you tolerate him?"
"Does Tianbao have some concerns?"

Erzhu Rong quickly explained, "How could that be? I am an old friend of the Second Prince of the Gao family. Why would I be jealous of him?"

"I am doing this entirely for Your Majesty's sake, and my loyalty to Your Majesty is beyond question!"

Yuan Yi thought about it and realized that made sense, so he immediately asked, "Then tell me about it."

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten?"

Erzhu Rong explained, "Two years ago, when the King wanted to include Gao Lang in the Imperial Guard, the Empress Dowager objected. At that time, the Empress Dowager made it clear that it was absolutely impossible for the people of the Six Garrisons to change their household registration."

Yuan Yi, however, did not take it seriously, saying, "That was just the Empress Dowager settling a personal score."

The scandalous affair between Empress Dowager Hu and Empress Gao was known to almost everyone in Luoyang.

Erzhu Rong reminded him again.

"Even so, Your Majesty cannot disobey the Empress Dowager's decree, you..."

Erzhu Rong explained in a low voice.

Yuan Yi's expression changed.

"This is an oversight on my part."

Erzhu Rong spoke very directly.

Empress Dowager Hu was able to wield power because she was the birth mother of the current emperor, held a noble status, and the emperor was too young to rule personally, so Empress Dowager Hu was allowed to rule from behind the curtain.

But what about Yuan Yi?
On the surface, it appears that he became a powerful minister because he took command of the Imperial Guards.

However, the court officials gave him face and outwardly cooperated with him.

Isn't it because Yuan Yi was Empress Dowager Hu's brother-in-law?

Yuan Yi's power originated from Empress Dowager Hu.

If Yuan Yi were to openly refute something that Empress Dowager Hu had explicitly ordered, wouldn't that be tantamount to denying the source of his own power?

This situation is no less serious than Empress Dowager Hu killing the young emperor Yuan Xu, the source of her power.

No one would be that stupid.

"It is truly my good fortune to have Tianbao's help."

"You flatter me, Your Majesty."

Yuan Yi, however, was still not giving up. "I will still bring up this matter at tomorrow's court meeting. We still need to give Gao Erlang some rewards, but we will not change his household registration. We will only give him an official position."

"good!"

"This will both win over Gao Lang, letting everyone know that Gao Lang is a member of the King's faction, and not disobey the Empress Dowager's decree!"

Yuan Yi laughed loudly.

"We can deal with this matter gradually."

(End of this chapter)