Dusk, a light rain fell on the main street.
A squad of twenty riders galloped across the slippery Greenstone Avenue, their horses' hooves leaving no trace of water. At the head of the group was a young colonel. Leading his men, they arrived at the strictly guarded city gate, where a row of soldiers stood watch.
"Open the gate!"
The colonel flashed a token, and the soldiers, not daring to delay, hurriedly opened the gate. The twenty riders sped off into the rain.
By now, the chaos of war in the provinces had mostly subsided, and order was largely restored. Besides, the capital city itself, as a vital center, had remained untouched. As they traveled forward, they saw countless farms, fields, and rising cooking smoke, a scene of peace and prosperity.
"Halt!"
After traveling dozens of miles, the colonel reined in his steed before a countryside manor and turned back to say, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived at the private estate. The lord is inside."
