"We are willing! We are willing to follow General Ning and earn it back!"

"We are willing!"

"We are willing!"

The eastern frontier army shouted it in one voice.

Ning Chen looked at them. "You were good men of my Great Xuan to begin with, men of iron. That old rogue Prince Rui led you into a great wrong."

"The emperor of the Great Xuan is a benevolent ruler for the ages. Ask your own hearts. You followed that old rogue Prince Rui into rebellion — is there really more of a future in being a rebel than in being a soldier of the Great Xuan?"

"This prince will take it that you have turned back from the wrong road, and will give you one more chance... If you do not value it, do not blame this prince for showing no mercy!"

With that, Ning Chen looked at Sun Gaohan. "Sun Gaohan, receive my order!"

"This officer is here!"

"The usual rule. Break these men up and fold them into our own ranks. Any who are truly sorry are to be rewarded. If any of them are not honest, I give you the right to execute first and report afterward."

Sun Gaohan bowed. "This officer obeys!"

"Wu Tiezhu!"

"This officer is here!"

Ning Chen pointed at Huang Shao. "Take him away and have that wound treated. If there is any treachery in him, cut him down."

"Yes!"

Ning Chen said gravely, "Leave some men to clear the battlefield. The rest of you come into the city with me."

The army came sweeping into Linhai City in force.

Both sides of the street were packed solid with commoners.

Before they entered, officers and men had already gone through the city proclaiming that Ning Chen was bringing his army in.

The first reason was to keep the road clear.

The second was to keep the commoners from panicking.

Ning Chen had given the order that once they were inside, not one commoner was to be harmed.

The commoners had heard of Ning Chen's great name long ago, and they came crowding out…