At the crack of dawn the next day, the heavy city gates were slowly lowered.
A troop of riders approached the city gates.
When the garrison commander saw it was Duke Zhen, he hurried forward, cupped his fist, and bowed.
"This humble general pays his respects to the Lord Duke."
Li Liao sat atop his horse, dressed in the most common of clothes with a bundle on his back.
Behind him followed about twenty men, all of them brothers-in-arms who had traveled the realm with him through the years.
"Is the Lord Duke heading out on a long journey?"
Li Liao handed over his road guide and said, "By order of the Regent King, I am heading to the border."
The garrison commander was quite surprised.
The Regent King was about to ascend the throne. As his greatest contributor, why would Duke Zhen be transferred to the border at a time like this?
And there were no rumors of recent conflict on the border.
