“Therefore turn, and charge at the foe, to stand or fall as is the game of war; whoever shall bring Patroclus, dead though he be, into the hands of the Trojans, and shall make Ajax give way before him, I will give him one half of the spoils while I keep the other.”
~ The Iliad - Book XVII (Samuel Butler Translation. p124 / v232)
The entire chapter is about the intense fighting between the two sides for Patroclus’ body. There are various ups and downs mainly due to the gods meddling. Finally, the Greeks ensure that the body is not lost.
In Book 17 of the Iliad, Hector takes Patroclus’ armor after killing him. He urges the Trojans to fight the Greeks and get Patroclus’ body. He promises half of the spoils of war to whoever can bring Patroclus’ body into Troy.