The hundred thousand troops assembled.

Ning Chen, with Pan Yucheng, Feng Qizheng and the others, rode to the front of the ranks.

Yue Congyun led the Ning'an Army out of the city to meet them.

"Your subject, Yue Congyun, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty into the city!"

When Yue Congyun saw Ning Chen, she knelt with the Ning'an Army to receive him.

Ning Chen smiled. "Everyone up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Once they were on their feet, Ning Chen called out, "Into the city!"

Ning Chen led the army into the city.

The hundred thousand at once split into four groups and headed straight for the four city gates.

Ning Chen and his party made for the Liangzhou army camp.

The whole Liangzhou army had laid down its weapons and surrendered.

"Your subject Yuan Long (Lei An) greets Your Majesty!"

Ning Chen raised a hand. "Everyone up. We'll talk inside."

With that, Ning Chen strode into the tent that had been made ready for him.

The army's key generals were there, along with Prince Xiang and others.

Ning Chen sat down and got straight to it. "Yuan Long, tell me where things stand."

Yuan Long bowed. "Your Majesty, as you ordered, our army has routed Nanyue's fifty thousand and captured more than thirty thousand prisoners, with Prince Wu's men guarding them.

And the seventy-some thousand troops in Liangzhou City have all surrendered."

Ning Chen couldn't keep the smile off his face. "Very good," he said softly. "The people will be spared the misery of war.

Yuan Long, Lei An... this emperor is keeping track of every one of your merits. You'll all be richly rewarded later."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Ning Chen said, "Yuan Long, same as before... Break up the Liangzhou army and spread its men through our own.

Send word to Prince Wu to bring the prisoners back to Liangzhou.

And send word to Kang Luo that we're exchanging prisoners... Thirty thousand Nanyue prisoners for the hundred thousand of our Great Xuan's soldiers he's holding. It's not up for negotiation... If he doesn't like it, this emperor will lead…