Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

"Ghost's Bane" was reduced to scorched earth, "Poison Scholar" Sun Bu'er was killed, and the remaining bandit leaders were scattered overnight. The hunting team's precise, ruthless, and efficient strikes were like several sharp daggers, instantly piercing through the bandit alliance's seemingly fierce exterior and reaching its heart.

Panic, like a wildfire, spread wildly among the surviving bandits.

What alliances, what resistance, crumbled in an instant before the absolute fear of death.

The few bandits who were lucky enough to escape the hunting party immediately abandoned their hideout, took their valuables, and scattered like birds and beasts, desperately fleeing into the deeper mountains and more distant wilderness, wishing they had two more legs.

The bandit alliance, after only a little over a month of existence, declared its substantial collapse.

But the "purge" operation did not stop there.

Guided by Night Owl, the hunting party relentlessly pursued the known, larger groups of remaining bandits, like a persistent leech.

Instead of pursuing total annihilation, they continuously exerted pressure, constantly sniping its leaders, harassing its camps, and burning its looted supplies, forcing it to be unable to stay or catch its breath, and to be constantly on the run under the threat of cold, hunger, and imminent death.

Meanwhile, Zhang Meng's eight hundred elite cavalrymen, like wolves that have smelled blood, began a ruthless hunt along the possible escape routes of the bandits.

They split into small teams, using the speed advantage of their horses to block the passes, patrol the wilderness, and intercept bandits who were trying to escape from the mountains.

In the wilderness, one could often see small groups of cavalry chasing and shooting desperate bandits. The sound of hooves and the screams of the dying became a new and chilling footnote to this land.

For those small groups of bandits who were impossible to catch or who were hiding too deep, the hunting party and cavalry would leave "marks"—perhaps a few bandit corpses hanging from trees, or warnings written on rocks in the bandits' blood. Fear is a more effective weapon than swords.

In just over ten days, the bandit alliance that had been rampant on the northern border and caused chaos in the rear of Hanyuan was completely wiped out.

Of the thirteen major and minor factions, their leaders were either dead or had fled, most of their core members had been lost, and their henchmen had scattered.

Even the few who managed to escape were terrified and either fled to other places or laid down their weapons to mingle with refugees or hide in the countryside, no longer daring to call themselves bandits.

The results of the "purge" operation were quickly compiled and publicized. The list of bandit leaders and chiefs killed in action, the number of dens burned, and the amount of supplies seized were posted on notice boards in Hanyuan and surrounding towns, military camps, and markets.

In particular, the head of the soldier sent by Liu Biao, nicknamed "A Gust of Wind," to provoke them was recovered and, along with the heads of He Biao, Sun Bu'er, and several other bandit leaders, was hung outside the south gate of Hanyuan and displayed to the public for three days.

Undeniable facts are more powerful than any words.

The people of Hanyuan, the refugees who had surrendered, and the merchants who came and went, were all shocked to see those names that had once struck fear into the hearts of others turned into ink on notices and filth on the city walls. Then, a strong sense of security and pride arose spontaneously.

The rumors were dispelled on their own, and people's hearts quickly settled down and even became more united.

"Long live the Prince! The Han Yuan Army is mighty!"

"Well done! These bastards deserved to be dealt with long ago!"

"From now on, we won't have to worry about traveling trade routes anymore!"

The morale of the people was greatly boosted. Construction sites, transportation routes, and mines and salt fields in Zhenbei City resumed efficient operation, and were even more efficient due to the reduced threat of bandits.

However, this "purge" did not bring any relief to the higher-ups of Hanyuan. Everyone knew that this seemingly overwhelming victory was merely a superficial fix. The real threat was far from over.

Liu Biao, the founder and nominal leader of this bandit alliance, miraculously disappeared from the "Ghost's Lair" during the night of the hunt, and was not found in any of the other attacked lairs.

He vanished as if he had evaporated from the face of the earth, along with his core dozens of loyal followers, disappearing without a trace.

Despite deploying a large number of people to search, the owl only found some scattered and unconfirmed traces, indicating that it may not have escaped far, but rather was using its familiarity with the terrain to lurk in some extremely hidden corner.

Liu Biao's continued existence poses a threat. He is ruthless, ambitious, and still wields considerable influence among bandits. If he lives, there's no guarantee he won't rise again or secretly plot even more insidious revenge.

"Your Highness, Liu Biao must be eliminated," Wang Dashan said solemnly. "This humble general requests permission to lead troops into the mountains and search the entire northwestern region to find him!"

"No."

Xiao Chen shook his head. "The northwestern mountains are vast and the terrain is complex. A large-scale military operation would be much less effective and would only make us vulnerable to their tricks. If he is determined to hide, it will be difficult to find him in a short time. But..."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Since he chose to lie low rather than flee, it means he's unwilling to give up and may still be waiting for an opportunity to strike. Order Night Owl to narrow the search area and focus on monitoring the areas where Liu Biao might be hiding, as well as all possible channels of communication between him and the outside world. At the same time, strengthen the security of the Zhenbeicheng construction site, key departments, and even my surroundings. This man is a menace; we must be patient and wait for him to slip up."

"Yes." Zhao Tie accepted the order.

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen looked at the south on the map, "although the banditry has been quelled, this incident has served as a wake-up call for us. Our expansion has been rapid, but our foundation is not yet solid enough, and our control over the peripheral areas is insufficient. Old Master Han."

"I am here."

"Seize this opportunity to issue the 'Order for Pacifying the People and Protecting the Territory.' Reaffirm the laws of Hanyuan, encourage the people to report bandits, smuggling, and other illegal activities, and reward those who make meritorious contributions. Conduct a thorough investigation of household registration, land ownership, and population in the resettlement areas for displaced people and the three newly established towns, and establish a more comprehensive system of collective responsibility. Implement verification of 'travel permits' and 'goods manifests' for traveling merchants, which will facilitate management and prevent spies. We must turn this crisis into an opportunity to strengthen internal governance and consolidate the foundation of our rule."

"Your Highness is wise; I will take care of it immediately." Han Lie was completely convinced.

A sudden bandit attack and a swift and decisive counterattack—on the surface, Han Yuan appeared to have won a resounding victory, his prestige even greater. But Xiao Chen knew that the weaknesses exposed and the hidden crises beneath the surface also required vigilance.

The bandit alliance has collapsed, but the real challenges may have only just begun. Internally, it needs consolidation and reform, while external enemies are also watching with predatory eyes. Liu Biao's disappearance is like a thorn embedded beneath the seemingly peaceful surface of the northern border.

The path to Han Yuan's rise is destined to be anything but smooth.

But after this battle, this machine of war and construction has undoubtedly become more precise and resilient.

Its gaze has already crossed the northern mountains and the southern flames of war, and is now directed toward a more distant and magnificent future.