Ning Chen led his men into the city, frowning deeply at how battered Chongzhou was.

In just two years, Chongzhou had been through two disasters.

The first was Prince Rui. He'd colluded with the Zhaohe Kingdom and led thirty thousand Zhaohe troops to occupy Chongzhou.

The Zhaohe army had gone burning and killing and plundering through the city, and all of Chongzhou's people were trampled into the mud.

Later, Ning Chen led his army to put down the rebellion. The bodies of thirty thousand Zhaohe soldiers still lay in the chasm outside Chongzhou's south gate.

After that, Chongzhou had a chance to catch its breath.

But before long, the De Emperor took the throne, and Chongzhou was occupied again, this time by Nanyue.

Kang Luo hadn't massacred the people wholesale, but plenty had still died, and Chongzhou had been stripped almost bare.

Now the city was a ruin. Broken walls and wrecked houses were everywhere.

When the people in the streets saw the Ning'an Army, all gilded spears and armored horses, their faces filled with fear, and they scattered to hide.

The Zhaohe Kingdom had occupied Chongzhou, and so had Nanyue. They had no idea whose troops these were.

Seeing this, Ning Chen gave Yuan Long an order. "The war banners!"

Yuan Long obeyed and had his men raise the war banners at once.

"Ning'an? Could this be Ning Chen's Ning'an Army—Prince Ning's?"

The people saw the words Ning'an on the war banners and whispered among themselves.

Just then, Liao Xingwen came galloping up with a detachment.

When he reached them, he swung down from his horse and came forward at once to pay his respects. "This officer, Liao Xingwen, pays his respects to the Prince Regent!"

Ning Chen raised a hand. "Rise!"

"Thank you, my lord prince!"

The people's faces lit up with joy.

It really was Prince Ning!

Prince Ning had come to Chongzhou. They were saved.

Ning Chen was the one who'd rescued them when the Zhaohe Kingdom occupied Chongzhou.

"This humble commoner—this humble commoner—greets my lord prince!"

People knelt everywhere.

Ning Chen raised a hand. "Everyone,…