Chapter 1603

Gu Yi watched Zhao Yun's departing back, the smile on his face gradually fading, replaced by a solemn expression. He knew deeply that the key to this battle lay in whether Zhao Yun's action could succeed, and he himself needed to stabilize the situation in the city during this time, not letting the enemy see any flaws.

Night fell, the moon was dark and the wind was high—the perfect time for action. Zhao Yun led a squad composed of a hundred elite soldiers, slipping out of the city without a sound, moving circuitously along the rugged paths of the back mountain. The mountain roads were difficult to traverse, but everyone gritted their teeth, with only one thought in mind—protect the grain and supplies, guard their home.

Meanwhile, Gu Yi commanded the remaining soldiers on the city gate tower, deliberately creating the illusion of chaos to make the enemy mistakenly believe they had fallen into complete panic. From time to time, he dispatched small groups of troops to pretend to break out, but in reality, it was to confuse the enemy, making them believe they had completely lost organization, thereby relaxing their vigilance around the grain and supplies.

On the other side, after several hours of arduous trekking, Zhao Yun's squad finally approached the enemy's ambush point. With the cover of the night, they approached cautiously, trying their best not to make any sound. Upon nearing the target, Zhao Yun whispered the order to attack, and the elite soldiers quickly dispersed, each finding the best attack position.

With a sharp whistle, the battle was on the verge of breaking out. Zhao Yun took the lead, holding his long spear like a silver bolt of lightning, charging straight at the location of the enemy commander. Other soldiers also displayed their strengths; some used crossbows for long-range shooting, while others held short blades, silently eliminating sentries one by one. Although the battle was intense, under Zhao Yun's meticulous planning, they succeeded in clearing out most of the ambushing enemy forces with almost no loud noise.

Just as they were preparing to withdraw, a loud bang tore through the night sky—the explosives set by the enemy were accidentally detonated. Although most of the soldiers had already withdrawn to a safe area, a few were unfortunately injured. Zhao Yun quickly organized personnel to carry out rescue efforts while ordering the remaining personnel to speed up clearing the battlefield to prevent the arrival of enemy reinforcements.

Gu Yi, on the city gate tower, saw the fire in the distance and secretly calculated the time, knowing that Zhao Yun's action had succeeded. He immediately gave the order, and the soldiers in the city stopped their feigned flight, instead quickly reforming their ranks, preparing to meet the real battle that might come.

Not long after, Zhao Yun returned with the squad; although exhausted, the light of victory flickered in everyone's eyes. Gu Yi personally went out of the city to welcome them, and the two looked at each other and smiled—no words were needed, everything was understood.

"General Gu, the grain and supplies are safe and sound, and the enemy ambush has been cleared," Zhao Yun reported briefly.

"Well done, General Zhao!" Gu Yi patted Zhao Yun on the shoulder. "Tonight, you not only protected the grain and supplies but also boosted morale, proving that our army is not to be underestimated."

Subsequently, Gu Yi gathered all the soldiers, commended Zhao Yun's heroic behavior, and announced the next plan. He emphasized that although this crisis was temporarily resolved, the real battle had just begun, and everyone must be prepared to meet even more arduous challenges.

Under Zhao Yun's leadership, the soldiers' morale was high, and they all expressed their willingness to pledge their lives to loyalty and defend against foreign enemies together. Gu Yi watched this scene, his heart filled with confidence. He knew that as long as they were united as one, there was no difficulty they could not overcome.

In the days that followed, Gu Yi and Zhao Yun led the soldiers, not only successfully defending the city but also gradually expanding the defensive line, taking back lost territory bit by bit. Every battle condensed the heart's blood and sweat of countless warriors, and Gu Yi and Zhao Yun became the spiritual pillars in the hearts of the soldiers.

Gu Yi stood on the city wall, looking at the distant, gradually whitening horizon, complex emotions surging in his heart. He knew deeply that this war was far from over, and greater challenges were still waiting for them ahead. But whenever he thought of those brothers fighting side by side, thought of their firm eyes and unyielding will, Gu Yi's heart was filled with strength.

"General Gu, what are you thinking about?" Zhao Yun walked quietly to Gu Yi's side and asked softly.

Gu Yi smiled slightly and turned to look at Zhao Yun. "I am thinking, on this journey we have taken, how many storms have we experienced, and every time we could turn danger into safety—what did we rely on?"

Zhao Yun was silent for a moment, his gaze profound. "It is faith, it is the desire for victory, and even more, it is the trust in each other. General Gu, you and I both know that there is no absolute winner on the battlefield; only by constantly challenging oneself can one go further."

Gu Yi nodded, feeling moved in his heart. He remembered his greenness and fear when he first went to the battlefield, and then compared it with his current steadiness and decisiveness; on this journey, he had grown a lot and also paid a lot. But it was these experiences that made his faith even firmer—to guard this land, to guard the people here.

"General Zhao, do you think we can eventually win this war?" Gu Yi could not help but ask.

Zhao Yun looked at Gu Yi, his eyes filled with firmness. "General Gu, as long as there is light in our hearts, nothing is impossible. I believe that as long as we are united as one, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome."

Hearing this, Gu Yi felt a warmth in his heart. He knew that Zhao Yun's words were not only an encouragement to him but also an inspiration to the entire army. What they needed was precisely this unwavering faith.