It was a long road from the capital to the southern frontier.

Even pressing hard the whole way, they took a full month to reach the southern frontier.

The great frontier fortress lay across the ridges like an enormous dragon.

The southern frontier was not desolate country. The water and grass here were rich, the grass tall and the orioles flying.

Apart from their daily drilling, the officers and men would spend a couple of days clearing land, so as to feed themselves.

Ning Chen saw good farmland by the thousands of acres.

Because the army was garrisoned here, the place had gradually grown to the size of a town.

Tong Yuanzhou, the commander in chief of the frontier, got word and brought his people out of camp to meet them.

Ning Chen passed the order and the army halted.

He went forward with Pan Yucheng and the rest.

He had meant not to let Pan Yucheng come, and in the end the man had left his bride behind and insisted on coming.

"Tong Yuanzhou greets my lord marquis!"

The whole body of officers bowed.

Ning Chen swung down from his horse, went forward and raised Tong Yuanzhou up. "General Tong, no ceremony!"

At the same time he took the chance to look Tong Yuanzhou over.

Tall and strongly built, forty or thereabouts, a broad square face, heavy brows and tiger's eyes, hard features, rough dark skin, a fierce air about him.

Tong Yuanzhou was looking Ning Chen over too, marveling inwardly at how young Ning Chen was.

Gold armor and a long saber, a slender figure, handsome features — a fine imposing young man.

Far away as he was on the southern frontier, Ning Chen's name had come into his ears like thunder.

"My lord marquis has had a hard road. Please!"

Ning Chen waved a hand. "General Tong, a word aside!"

Tong Yuanzhou was startled for a moment, and then followed Ning Chen off to one side.

"General Tong, I must trouble you to have my Ning'an Army make camp in the place nearest the city gate."

Tong…