Mountain Patrol Military Officer-Chapter 1073 - 700: Welcome Back, General!

At noon, under the deep autumn sun, a thunderous roar rolled along the official road outside the southern city gate of Jingguan City. It was the sound of iron cavalry thundering across the ground.

On the horizon, billowing dust clouds rose, a black steel torrent raising dust as it surged toward the southern city gate.

From the top of the city gate tower, the garrison soldiers gripped their spears tightly, staring into the distance. They saw a black battle flag rising from the dust in the distance, the flag was black with golden edges embroidered with mountain shapes, the wolf-tail horsetail whisk below fluttering in the wind like the tail of an ink dragon tearing through the dust.

"It’s the Main General Flag of the Ninth Mountain!"

"General Chen has returned to the mountain!"

The city garrison colonel, upon seeing this clearly, shouted hoarsely, his voice a mixture of awe and excitement.

He swung his command flag with a sharp "snap," and the huge main city gate, previously closed, was pushed open by dozens of armored soldiers with a deep "rumble," the main gate standing wide open.

At the same time, the city gate tower, the garrison officers quickly gave orders.

"Quick, quick, quick!"

"Pass my command, exit the city and line up, swiftly go to welcome the General!"

Soon, the troops on the city walls sprang into action, moving like thunder, the garrison troops on and around the gate tower surged like a tide of black, the clanging sounds of the Mystic Iron Armor clashing forming a robust symphony, the soldiers stepping on the green stone slabs, their footsteps neat and orderly, the sound of their steps causing the ground to tremble slightly.

Inside the city gate, the cavalry was even swifter than lightning, their movements as they mounted their horses were clean and efficient, the horses’ hooves clattered over fallen leaves with a dull roar, the formation like a black dragon, one unit swiftly moving through the city gate passage out of the city, another swiftly heading into the city, clearing the streets.

The sound of horse hooves clattering over the green stone slab echoed sharply, with the collision of armors startling the birds under the eaves into flight.

"The General returns to the mountain, idlers must quickly clear out!"

"Clear the streets!" the cavalry’s shout boomed through the streets.

With these shouts, the pedestrians in the streets quickly dispersed, driven to the alleys. Along the streets, the shopkeepers who knew the procedure all closed their doors and windows, but their eyes peeked out curiously through slits, filled with surprise and confusion.

Amidst this anticipation and curiosity, the thundering horse hooves outside the city gate grew nearer and nearer. The garrison troops waiting in formation outside the city gate knelt on one knee, the uniform clash of armor with city bricks echoing uniformly.

This sound spread from outside into the city, like a domino effect. As the armored soldiers at the gate knelt, the first to break into view through the city gate was a beast entirely pitch black, its form like a panther but more robust than a lion, its entire body covered with bluish-black scaly armor that shimmered under the sunlight, its forehead sprouting three blade-like horns, its four hooves kicking up dust, the white breath it exhaled like white silk, its eyes flashing with terrifying fierceness.

On Zheng’s back, Chen Yuan was clad in Five-Colored True Dragon Treasure Armor, wrapped in a black cape, the heavenly eye on his forehead closed, yet an invisible, powerful intimidation emanated from him, rendering the surroundings silent.

His figure was as stable as a mountain, his right hand lightly gripping the reins, the fierce Zheng under him steadily pacing, step by step entering Jingguan City.

Behind him, banners flapping in the wind, black armor gleaming with cold light, units of ten forming a squad, each hundred forming a company, their formation as precise as if cut by a blade, the synchronized clashing of armor leaves sounding like the earth itself was growling.

In the middle of the military column, the black, gold-edged mountain-patterned flag flapped vigorously in the wind, filled with an air of murderous intent.

At the alley entrance, the crowded citizens saw this scene from a distance and suddenly shouted excitedly,

"General Chen has returned!"

"He’s back, he’s really back."

"This Great General had just recently defeated the hundred-thousand-strong army of Beiliang at the northern front, and now he’s returned from the south, he must have gone to deal with the Demons of the Ten Thousand Mountains, truly a great hero, always fighting for our Shu on the battlefield."

"With him here in Shu, we have nothing to fear."

"Welcome back, General!"

"Welcome back, General Chen!"

"...."

Amid the crowd, someone shouted, inciting a chain reaction and a chorus of voices, soon massive numbers of people knelt down.

This momentum carried on, wherever Chen Yuan’s military formation passed, it was met with the enthusiastic cheers of the people.

The troops marched in order, the sound of armor leaves clashing interwoven with the people’s praises, forming a stunningly moving scene.

Thus, Chen Yuan led a force of two thousand elite troops, grandly heading towards Yunding Mountain.

At the base of Yunding Mountain, a large group of Overseers were already solemnly standing along the main road under the main peak, ready to welcome him.

Leading them was Gongsun Yang, tasked with overseeing all the oversees, still wearing his old armor.

Meanwhile, Lu Ming, Yun Tiansheng, Pei Yanhu, Lei from the Thunder God Clan, the Commander of the Heavenly Army, the Sixth and Seventh Colonels, were all present in line.

Simultaneously, between the mountains, dense shadows of people watched over here, a large number of young men eager to enlist in the army crowded, craning their necks, the atmosphere bustling fervently.

"The Martial Saint General has returned to the mountain!"

"Really, finally we’ll see him in person."

"The news has been relayed, he’s already entered the city, didn’t you see the grand display, the big shots of Yunding Mountain are all standing ready to welcome him at the mountain base."

"Slaying Demons, killing Heavenly People, single-handedly taking on Beiliang, supporting the entire Jiannan Road on his shoulders, that’s what a true man should do. I’m definitely joining the Ninth Mountain this time, to become a soldier under him and bring glory to my ancestors!"

"Look quickly, they’re coming!"

"Here they come, here they come."

"...."

The crowd erupted in sudden commotion.

In the distance, Chen Yuan with his troops arrived at Yunding Mountain along the mountain road.

The horse’s hooves slowed, the welcoming crowd in the front advanced, civil servants dressed in robes adorned with flying birds stood solemnly with their hands lowered, military generals held their knives and bent over, not daring to even breathe heavily.

Leading them, Gongsun Yang stepped forward quickly, standing firm in front of the gigantic Zheng, cupping his hands in salute and bending his waist, loudly proclaiming: