Chapter 1280 Victory Parade 1

9:00 AM sharp.

As the last note of the stirring "Battle Song of Zhongzhou" faded, the huge golden-red battle flag in the center of the square rose to the top of the pole, fully unfurling and fluttering in the morning breeze.

"Comrade Gu Chengyuan, the Supreme Military Commander of the Theater and Chairman of the Emergency Military Committee of the Zhou Dynasty, shall inspect the troops!"

Lieutenant General Chen Haitao, the parade's commander-in-chief, delivered a powerful voice that resonated clearly to everyone through the loudspeakers that filled the square and Fuxing Avenue.

In an instant, everyone's gaze was drawn together by an invisible magnet, focusing on the highest point of the reviewing stand.

Gu Chengyuan slowly rose from the main seat.

Instead of acting immediately, he first stood at attention and solemnly saluted the soldiers and civilians standing below the platform, and the city silhouette in the morning light in the distance.

This gesture, though unhurried, carried immense power, instantly elevating the atmosphere to an even more solemn peak.

After the ceremony, he lowered his arms, turned around, and walked down the red carpet steps specially laid behind the reviewing stand with steady and firm steps.

A specially modified Mengshi 3rd generation armored assault vehicle was already waiting quietly in the passageway behind the reviewing stand. The vehicle was painted with solemn dark green and digital camouflage, and the front of the vehicle was decorated with a conspicuous license plate "JV.00001".

The 12.7mm heavy machine gun that was originally on the roof weapon station has been removed and replaced with a carefully designed microphone array with a windproof cover, as well as a special railing for easy standing and gripping.

Gu Chengyuan walked to the car, where a guard officer, also dressed in formal attire, was already standing by and opened the side armored vehicle door for him.

He boarded the vehicle nimbly and stood in the reserved spot on the roof platform.

At this moment, he was dressed in a crisp, dark green general's uniform, the golden stars, sash, and insignia gleaming in the sunlight, his posture as upright as a javelin.

A morning breeze gently stirred the hair on his forehead, which only accentuated his calm expression and sharp, far-reaching gaze.

"salute--!"

At the command of the honor guard commander beside the passage, all the escorting honor guards and guards raised their right hands in unison towards the parade vehicle.

Gu Chengyuan stood on the car and nodded slightly to the guards.

hum-

The next second, the engine let out a deep and powerful roar, and the Mengshi parade vehicle with the number "JV.00001" slowly started up, smoothly drove out of the passage behind the reviewing stand, turned, and then drove onto the straight and brand-new Fuxing Avenue that everyone was looking forward to.

When this special parade vehicle, carrying the legendary young commander, finally appeared clearly on both sides of Fuxing Avenue, in the sight of tens of thousands of spectators—

"boom!"

A silent yet more powerful tremor than any cheer seemed to sweep across the entire viewing area in an instant.

Before this, for most people, "Gu Chengyuan" was a name, a symbol, a legend, a distant and majestic figure in propaganda posters and radio broadcasts.

And at this moment, he was truly standing less than a hundred meters away, on that slowly moving armored vehicle, so clear, so real.

"A dragon's bearing and a phoenix's grace, a countenance as bright as the sun and the moon!" This phrase seemed to instantly materialize in the minds of countless people.

It was a kind of grandeur that transcended mere handsomeness, blending the ultimate in youth, astonishing majesty, and something indescribable, as if connected to the destiny of this newly born land.

The sunlight generously gilded his entire body with a faint golden edge, and the stars on his epaulets reflected a dazzling light.

He lightly gripped the railing with one hand, his posture as steady as a mountain. His gaze calmly swept across both sides of the road, his eyes seemingly not sharp, yet carrying a weight of a thousand pounds and a clarity that pierced through all fog.

Tens of thousands of eyes, like the most sophisticated radar, followed the slowly moving parade vehicle intently, locking onto the young figure inside.

Excitement, reverence, curiosity, shock, and even a slight sense of disorientation... all sorts of emotions intertwined on countless faces.

The emotional turmoil was particularly intense in the front row of the area for the families of leading cadres.

Gu Chengyuan's mother, Wen Wan, clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

Her eyes were already wet with tears, and her vision blurred as she watched her son standing on that tall car, receiving the attention of the masses.

Her lips trembled slightly; she wanted to shout, but no sound came out. Only hot tears silently slid down her cheeks.

That was her son, the flesh and blood she carried for ten months and gave birth to! And now he was standing at such a dizzying height!

Pride overwhelmed her like a tidal wave, and with it came a deep-seated heartache and concern for her son, a feeling only a mother could understand, for the heavy burden he bore.

Sitting next to Wen Wan was Xiong Yuting, who was wearing a plain white dress.

She was still breathtakingly beautiful, otherworldly, her delicate face almost transparent in the sunlight.

Her expression remained characteristically empty and wooden. Her purple eyes reflected the parade vehicle and the figures on it, yet seemed to be separated by an eternal icy fog, devoid of any emotional ripples.

She sat there quietly, forming an eerie and stark contrast with the excited crowd around her, like a delicate but soulless porcelain doll unintentionally placed in a boiling oil painting.

In the middle of the Fuxing Military Academy cadet formation, near the front, stood a tall, upright young man in a cadet uniform whose features bore a striking resemblance to Gu Chengyuan. He was so excited that his whole body trembled slightly.

Watching his elder brother stand on the parade vehicle, slowly passing by under the rising sun and surrounded by thousands of gazes, Gu Chengyun felt a surge of hot blood rush to his head, and his heart pounded so hard it felt like it was going to shatter his ribs.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, barely managing to control the urge to jump up and shout at all his classmates, at the whole world—

"That's my brother!!!"

"See that? That's my brother! Gu Chengyuan!!" He roared wildly in his heart, his chest heaving violently.

He had never felt so clearly the almost dizzying sense of honor that came with being connected by blood.

At the same time, an unprecedented determination took root in his heart—he wanted to become like his older brother! Even if he could only look up at his back, he would do everything in his power to catch up!

The parade vehicles continued their eastward journey along Fuxing Avenue at a steady pace. Wherever they passed, they were met with rows of solemn figures and countless pairs of excited, following eyes.

Gu Chengyuan's gaze calmly swept across both sides. He saw familiar and unfamiliar faces, and the light in their eyes.

The corners of his mouth curved upwards in an almost imperceptible, extremely slight arc. It wasn't a smile, but more like a warm confirmation, a silent response.

Then, his gaze swept past the crowd and landed ahead.

There, the marching troops had already lined up in formation, like a steel forest awaiting inspection.