Chapter 588 The Ruined City of Nanluo

The shore was deserted and even a bit dilapidated.

Ning Bao frowned.

"Isn't it said that the south is rich and the north is poor?"

This is supposed to be the southeasternmost part of the Dragon Yuan Kingdom, how can it be so poor?

Shen Muyang sighed softly.

"This place is by the sea, with a humid climate and high temperatures, which is theoretically more suitable for crop growth than the north."

However, the land here is infertile, and the sandy soil makes it impossible to grow crops.

In addition, frequent raids by pirates and sea bandits led those with connections to move inland, causing the area to become increasingly dilapidated.

Ning Bao frowned.

“That shouldn’t be the case. Before we came here, my senior brother said that Nanluo City is located in the most important coastal city. In the future, it will definitely become a major commercial center, and the people here should be prosperous.”

.......................

"General! Please forgive my lateness."

At this moment, a man dressed in tattered official robes came running from the shore.

Shen Muyang raised an eyebrow.

"Chen Jiangtao?"

The Prefect of Nanluo City?

Chen Jiangtao nodded excitedly. He never expected that he, a down-on-his-luck prefect, would be remembered by the Great General Protector of the Nation.

"Reporting to the General, it is indeed your humble servant."

General, Madam, Old Madam, and all the young masters, you must be tired from your journey. This Nanluo City is a bit more dilapidated than other places.

The garrison headquarters where the general will live will need some renovations before he can move in. My residence has already been prepared.

If the general doesn't mind, please stay at my humble abode for now.

Shen Muyang glanced at Ning Bao, then shook his head.

Chen Jiangtao led Shen Muyang and his group to a dilapidated courtyard. Ning Bao looked at the crooked walls and drafty roof of the house.

"Lord Chen, is this the garrison headquarters?"

Ning Bao was indeed a little confused when she saw the dilapidated mansion in front of her; she had seen the garrison's mansion before.

Gu Zheyuan was a garrison commander when he was in Yunlu City.

The garrison headquarters in Yunlu City was quite high-end and beautiful. She originally thought that even if the garrison headquarters in Nanluo City was dilapidated, it would still be barely habitable.

Chenchen and Momo have never been spoiled since they were little. As long as the house is habitable, they are fine with it. They never expected that there wouldn't even be a complete house here.

If she had known this would happen, she would have let her mother-in-law and children stay in Chuyun Village for a while.

Gu Yunrou frowned as she looked at the room in front of her.

"Lord Chen, it's really inconvenient for so many of us to stay at your residence. Do you know if there are any inns in Nanluo City?"

As long as it's clean, hygienic, and habitable, it's fine.

"An inn?" Chen Jiangtao shook his head.

"Madam, you may not know this, but there are no inns in our Nanluo City now."

"No inn?"

Chen Jiangtao nodded.

"No, no."

There used to be an inn in the city, but in recent years the pirates have become more and more rampant. The city's garrison was wiped out, and the garrison commander resigned and went back to his hometown.

There was really no other way, so I petitioned the Emperor to send a city guard with high martial prowess.

I never expected the Emperor to send the Grand General. I was so excited when I heard the news that I couldn't sleep all night.

"I've heard of the General and the Old Marquis's heroic deeds, and I firmly believe that with the General's arrival, Nanluo City will be saved."

Ning Bao raised an eyebrow.

"From what Lord Chen said, Nanluo City is now devoid of both officials and soldiers."

...................

Ning Bao and the others originally did not want to disturb Lord Chen, but there was no other way, as the mansion was simply uninhabitable, so they had no choice but to follow Chen Jiangtao to the prefectural government office.

Chen Jiangtao's family lived in the backyard of the prefectural government office. To welcome Shen Muyang's family, Chen Jiangtao's family members squeezed into three side rooms.

The best rooms in the mansion were all reserved for Ningbao's family. When Ningbao discovered that her family was staying in the backyard, she quickly said...

"Lord Chen, how can we, as guests, stay in the main house?"

"You can stay in the main house; we'll stay in the side rooms."

At this moment, a woman of similar age to Gu Yunrou walked in.

"This humble woman greets the General, the General's wife, and the Old Madam."

I am the wife of Prefect Chen, and this house was given to me voluntarily.

My parents and I are getting old, so we just need a place to live. My wife's children are still young...

After some back and forth, Ningbao and the others finally settled down in the main house.

That night, Ning Bao and Shen Muyang went to Gu Yunrou's room.

Because of limited rooms, Chenchen, Momo, and Gu Yunrou slept in one room.