Yuan Long and the others sat down and took a few sips of hot tea.

Qi Yuanzhong spoke first. "My lord prince, the situation in Xiangzhou is more or less under control.

The eastern frontier army's losses weren't heavy. But there weren't a hundred and forty thousand of them, only a hundred thousand. Apart from the few thousand killed or wounded, the rest all surrendered."

Ning Chen's voice was grave. "I hear Zhang Tianlun has an island out at sea, his escape route. I'd guess the forty thousand missing men of the eastern frontier army were sent to that island.

Leave them for now. First, we take full control of the surrendered eastern frontier army.

To begin with, same as always, break them up and spread them through our army... And the officer posts in the eastern frontier army, especially the ones with real power, have to go to our own people."

Qi Yuanzhong bowed. "This officer takes the order!"

Yuan Long spoke up right after him. "My lord prince, the battlefield is about cleared... The seized supplies are still being counted. We can have the figures in front of my lord prince tomorrow."

Ning Chen gave a small mm.

Yuan Long went on. "Lei An is still searching the whole city for Zhang Tianlun and Kang Xiao, but so far there's no lead.

Don't worry, though, my lord prince. The whole city is full of our men now. They can't get away."

Ning Chen frowned slightly. "Search all you want, but when you search people's homes, watch how you go about it. Don't frighten the people, and don't stir up resentment... The people of Xiangzhou have suffered enough already."

Yuan Long took the order. "Yes, sir!"

Ning Chen's gaze fell on Feng Qizheng. "General Yue isn't back yet?"

Feng Qizheng shook his head.

Ning Chen laughed. "I wondered why you were squirming like you had hemorrhoids. Take the modao army and go have a look."

Feng Qizheng sprang to his feet. "My lord prince, I'm off, then!"

He strode out, shouting as he went, "Pass on my order! The…