My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 49 How unfair!

When they marched north to the grasslands, they were slow and sluggish, but on the way back, they were all quick and agile!
Especially the central army group, they couldn't wait to rush back to Luoyang.

They have captured the son of the previous Khan of the Rouran and achieved a great victory over the Rouran army, causing the Rouran royal army to flee in panic and escape into the depths of the northern desert!
Anyway, that's what the Grand Commander said in the proclamation announcing the victory, which was sent by fast horses.

Having made such an unparalleled contribution, instead of hurrying back to the court to claim the reward, are you going to stay in the northern desert and keep up with these stinking beggars from the Six Garrisons, eating sandstorms every day?
Gao Huan's 'Jade-faced Golden Buddha' was indeed effective.

Several dozen days passed without anyone in the army mentioning the Po Liu Han Baling incident, presumably because Li Chong had taken money to suppress the matter.

Even if Po Liuhan Baling was extremely unhappy, could he still bring people to Huai Shuo to forcibly demand people?
Let alone a low-ranking tribal chief like him, even if the people of Woye Town came, the Duan Chief would deal with them with a tough attitude. Capturing Anagui was a real achievement, how could he allow people from other towns to touch it?
In the customs of grassland tribes, whoever has the biggest fist is considered to have the truth.

Not convinced?

Come on over and let's fight if you dare.

Li Chongyi issued a military order to the soldiers of Woye and Wuchuan to return to their homes to avoid causing any trouble.

The central army followed the soldiers of Huai Shuo southward, and stayed in Huai Shuo for 'several days'.

As Li Chong left, he said to Duan Changdao, who had come to see him off.

"The Gao brothers are truly outstanding individuals! General Duan has the discerning eye to recognize talent and has made great use of these two brothers, which has enabled the northern expedition to proceed so successfully. Upon our return to the capital, I will certainly report your achievements truthfully, and the court will reward you fairly!"

"Haha, then I'll trouble the Grand Commander to speak well of my Huai Shuo soldiers."

After saying this, the section chief gestured with his eyes, and his personal guards brought over a carriage with several wooden boxes piled on it.

Li Chong smiled from the bottom of his heart and kept patting the section chief on the shoulder.

"Thank you for your kind offer, General Duan. I will take my leave now!"

"Respectfully seeing off the Grand Commander!"

The section chief remained where he was, respectfully watching Li Chong's army depart into the distance.

The guard standing nearby said, "Even if the general presents such a generous gift, we don't know how much of the credit for this northern expedition will actually go to us."

The guard on the other side laughed and said, "What does it have to do with us? The general will leave this place sooner or later anyway. Even if the soldiers and civilians of Huai Shuo have objections, it won't bother the general."

The commander didn't speak, but simply turned and led his troops back to Huai Shuo.

Gao Yu did not go to Gao Huan's side immediately.

As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Lou Zhaojun wanted to spend half a day with Gao Huan, so she didn't want to be an eyesore as a third wheel.

Instead, they first visited Wei Jing's home.

"Second Brother, I heard that you have made great contributions in the army this time, defeating the three Heba brothers bravely?"

Wei Jing asked.

Gao Loujin, standing to the side, felt a pang of heartache. "What courage and setbacks, what meritorious service? Isn't it all Erlang risking his life? I'd rather Erlang be safe..."

"A woman's perspective."

Gao Yu laughed and said, "Sister, there's no need to worry. I'm perfectly fine. Look! Aren't I just the same as before?"

"It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright. I suppose Erlang is hungry. You wait here, I'll go and prepare some food for you right away."

Gao Loujin immediately got up to prepare food.

Wei Jing took the opportunity to ask Gao Yu many questions about military affairs, and Gao Yu gave him a general overview.

After resting there for one night, Gao Yu did not return to Gao Huan's place until noon the next day.

Upon receiving the report from a servant, Gao Huan and Lou Zhaojun immediately came out to see him.

Ok.

Lou Zhaojun was radiant and had a very happy smile on her face, indicating that she had received plenty of care.

Gao Huan didn't say much, but instead ordered a banquet to be prepared and sent someone to summon Hou Jing, Bilugu, and other of his trusted confidants.

Just as in the past, after successfully raiding the Rouran tribe, they would go to a tavern to celebrate their return, now that they have returned victorious from their northern expedition against the Rouran, they should also have a proper celebration.

Soon.

Hou Jing and his entourage then arrived together. The group sat on the ground, and the servants laid out fine wine and meat on the table for everyone to enjoy.

After a few bowls of wine...

Hou Jing laughed loudly, "In this northern expedition, Erlang captured Anagui, the son of the Rouran Khan, which is undoubtedly the greatest achievement! I wonder how the court will reward him!!"

"Such merit will surely be richly rewarded!"

"Now, who in the entire Huai Shuo, Wu Chuan, and Wo Ye region doesn't know the name of Mo He Du's bravery!"

After receiving such flattery, Gao Yu was quite pleased and took the initiative to raise the ceramic bowl, saying, "I still need to rely on all of you brothers."

Gao Huan then poured cold water on everyone's enthusiasm.

“Even if we Huai Shuo military households make great contributions, we will not receive much reward. After all… we are on the border, not like the central army in Luoyang, where we can face the court directly.”

"What merits has the central army made? They've been hiding in the rear all this time. Do they expect to take the lion's share? The imperial court shouldn't be so unfair."

"He Liuhun's concerns are not without merit. If the court were fair to us, why would it strictly forbid us military households from leaving Huai Shuo, imprisoning us in this bitterly cold place for generations?!"

Gao Yu understood Gao Huan's worries.

It's very common in the workplace.

Those who bury themselves in their work are not as good as those who fawn over the leaders and talk to them all day. The distribution of credit is essentially based on who is closer to the assigner and who gets more credit. Whoever is closer to the center of power and whoever has a voice can take the lion's share!
Gao Huan sent Li Chong a generous gift not only to quell the matter of Gao Yu killing many of Po Liu Han Baling's followers, but also in the hope that Li Chong, the Grand Commander who could return to the court to report on his duties, could put in a good word for them.

"If there is a generous reward, there will surely be results soon. Let's wait and see."

Another month has passed, and it's officially the end of June.

The soldiers and civilians of the six garrisons, who were overjoyed and eagerly awaiting the imperial court's reward, were left without any news of commendation.

On the contrary, some well-informed people heard other news!
For example, after the central army returned to the capital, the court immediately rewarded the central army, and all the soldiers of the central army who went north to fight were commended!

But the rewards for the soldiers and civilians of the six towns who made real contributions.

It only contained two simple words.

To be discussed further.

Clearly, the imperial court is using delaying tactics. It doesn't say openly that it won't reward anyone, but what exactly will be rewarded is unknown. When asked, the answer is that it's still under discussion.

As the news gradually spread, more and more people learned about it.

Complaints arose throughout the army, with many blaming the imperial court for its unfair treatment of the six garrisons!

His resentment towards the imperial court was palpable, and his discontent was building up, just waiting for a spark to ignite this powder keg.

"You need not heed the soldiers' discussions and complaints. The court is unjust, and you don't even allow others to grumble a little?"

The section chief never issued an order strictly prohibiting the army from discussing matters of the imperial court privately.

He didn't bother to care.

The lavish gift given to Li Chong was still effective.

He will soon be transferred from Huai Shuo to serve as governor of a prefecture in the Central Plains. The specific transfer order has not yet been issued, and it is unknown which prefecture he will eventually go to. But no matter which prefecture he goes to, even if it is Xiangyang or Huai River, which are on the front line directly facing the island barbarians, it is better than the harsh and cold land beyond the Great Wall.

As long as I can get away from this awful place, Huai Shuo, isn't everywhere paradise?

The section chief returned to his town general's residence.

He summoned the servants.

"Go and invite the eldest and second sons of the Gao family to my residence for a gathering. Tell them that I want to host a banquet for the two brothers."

(End of this chapter)