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

On the third day after they reached the coal mine, the team finally set off again.

With coal, life became much better.

After setting up camp each day, the fire could burn all night, and no one froze to death anymore.

The wounded can also drink hot water and eat hot food.

Zhao Tie's injuries began to improve, and he was able to sit up.

But a food crisis is imminent.

The dry rations are completely gone.

The last bit of rice was cooked into a thin porridge and distributed to the wounded and the elderly.

The rest of the people had to rely on hunting to fill their stomachs—but where could they find any prey in this icy wasteland?

Occasionally, a wild rabbit or a snow chicken would be hunted and divided among three hundred people, leaving each person without even a sip of soup.

"Your Highness, if this continues, we'll starve to death before we even reach the Cold Abyss," Wang Dashan said worriedly.

Xiao Chen remained silent.

He looked at the map—it was still 150 li to Hanyuan.

At the current speed, it will take at least four more days.

Four days without food, how do we get on?

Just then, the outpost returned and reported:

"Your Highness, we've spotted smoke ahead!"

Xiao Chen's spirits lifted: "How far?"

"About three miles away, in a sheltered mountain hollow."

Judging from the size of the smoke rising from the chimneys, it seemed to be a small tribe, with no more than ten tents.

Grassland herdsmen?

Xiao Chen immediately ordered, "The troops halt. Send five men with me to investigate. The rest of you remain in place and stand guard."

He led Wang Dashan and four veterans, riding horses towards the mountain valley.

After crossing a ridge, we indeed saw seven or eight felt tents in the valley.

The tent is in the prairie style and made of thick felt, which can keep out the wind and cold.

Dozens of sheep and several horses were tethered between the tents. Several herders were busy preparing winter supplies.

But Xiao Chen's gaze was immediately drawn to something else—

Not far from the tent, seven or eight herders were gathered in a circle, holding wooden sticks and lassoes, shouting at the outside of the circle.

Outside the circle, a dozen pairs of green eyes gleamed in the twilight.

It's a pack of wolves.

"The wolves of the steppe, driven mad by hunger in winter, dare to attack the camp."

Wang Dashan said in a low voice, "It looks like there are more than twenty of them. The herders won't be able to hold out for long."

Xiao Chen narrowed his eyes.

The herders had clearly been fighting for a while; two dead horses and the carcasses of several wolves lay on the ground.

But the wolf pack did not retreat; instead, they gathered in ever-growing numbers.

Several herders, bearing injuries, moved increasingly slowly.

"Your Highness, do you need any help?" an old soldier asked.

Xiao Chen did not answer immediately.

He was weighing the pros and cons.

Helping might expose their whereabouts or incur the hostility of the herders—the relationship between the grassland tribes and the Xia Dynasty was delicate, sometimes war and sometimes peace.

If we don't help, we'll just watch these people get torn apart by the wolves...

Just then, the wolf pack launched a general attack.

The three largest male wolves led the charge towards the herders' circle.

A young herdsman swung his stick and struck a wolf in the waist. The wolf howled and rolled away, but two other wolves had already pounced on it.

Blood was about to be drawn.

"Zhao Tie!" Xiao Chen called out as he turned around.

Lying on the makeshift stretcher, Zhao Tie struggled to sit up and picked up a crossbow from beside him—a military crossbow captured at Yingchou Gorge, which he had been maintaining these past few days.

"Can I shoot?"

"Yes!" Zhao Tie gritted his teeth, picked up the crossbow, and aimed.

Whoosh!

The crossbow bolt pierced the air, striking a male wolf squarely in the eye socket. The wolf howled and collapsed.

Almost simultaneously, Xiao Chen also drew the iron-framed bow that Han Lie had given him.

The bow was heavy; he used all his strength to draw it only halfway, but the arrow still shot out with great force.

The second male wolf was shot through the neck.

The wolf pack was thrown into chaos.

The herders seized the opportunity to fight back, killing several more wolves. Seeing the situation was dire, the remaining wolves picked up the carcass of their companions and quickly disappeared into the night.

The battle is over.

The herdsmen, panting heavily, looked in Xiao Chen's direction.

After a brief silence, an old man came out and said in broken Daxia Mandarin, "Thank you for your help, friend. Please come into the tent to talk."

Xiao Chen dismounted and asked Wang Dashan to wait outside with his men, while he led Zhao Tie and Amu into the largest tent.

The tent was warm, with thick felt on the ground and cow dung burning in the fire pit in the middle, the firelight illuminating the weathered faces.

The old man was the tribe's chief, named Batel, which means "warrior."

He was in his fifties, his face crisscrossed with scars, but his eyes were gentle.

"I am Batel, a shepherd from the White Deer tribe."

The old man introduced himself, "Are you the army of Great Xia?"

"I am Xiao Chen, the Prince of Jingbei of the Great Xia Dynasty."

Xiao Chen said frankly, "I was passing through this place on my way to Hanyuan to take up my fief."

"The Prince?"

Batel paused, then looked Xiao Chen over again. "Such a young prince... going to Hanyuan?"

"Yes."

After a moment of silence, Batel suddenly sighed, "That place... is not good."

"I know."

No, you don't know.

Batel shook his head. "Hanyuan is no longer the Hanyuan of Great Xia. Half the people in the city listen to Scarface Liu, and the other half listen to the Canglang tribe. If you, as a prince, go there, I'm afraid..."

He didn't finish speaking, but the meaning was clear.

Xiao Chen smiled and said, "That's precisely why I'm even more determined to go."

Batel looked at him for a long time, then suddenly laughed: "You've got guts. Come on, let's drink."

He handed me a leather pouch containing mare's milk wine.

Xiao Chen took it and took a sip—it was spicy and sour, but it warmed him up after he swallowed it.

What are you doing here?

He asked, "The White Deer tribe should be located in the grasslands further north."

"The snow was heavy this year, and the grassland was buried."

Batel's face darkened. "We migrated south in search of pasture, but we never expected to encounter a pack of wolves. If it weren't for you, there would probably be dead tonight."

He paused, then looked at Xiao Chen: "You...are you short of food?"

Xiao Chen nodded frankly: "We've run out of dry rations, and we can't survive for more than a few days by hunting."

Batel clapped his hands and shouted a few words outside.

Soon, several herders carried in a few leather bags.

"This is dried meat and cheese, enough for you to eat for three days."

Batel said, "In addition, I see that you are dressed too lightly, so I will give you twenty more fur coats."

Xiao Chen was taken aback: "This is too valuable..."

"Compared to the debt of saving my life, what are these things?"

Batel waved his hand, "Besides, I'm not giving this away for nothing."

"Speaking."

"The Azure Wolf Tribe".

A flash of hatred crossed Batel's eyes. "They annexed three of our small tribes this year and killed my son. I want revenge, but the White Deer tribe is outnumbered and we can't win."

He looked at Xiao Chen: "The Prince has gone to Hanyuan, and sooner or later he will have to deal with the Canglang tribe. When that time comes, if possible... please help me kill a few Canglang tribe bastards."

Xiao Chen was silent for a moment, then solemnly said, "If there is an opportunity, definitely."

"good!"

Batel laughed and handed over another leather bag of wine. "Just because of what you said, I'll tell you something else."

"Please speak."

"The Azure Wolf Clan has been active frequently near the Cold Abyss recently."

Batel lowered his voice, "Their young chieftain, Harbala, has set up camp with five hundred cavalrymen a hundred miles north of the Cold Abyss. It seems they intend to make another killing during the winter."

"They want to attack Han Yuan?"

"uncertain."

Batel shook his head. "Hanyuan is too poor; there's no profit to be made from taking it. I guess they're after you."

Xiao Chen's eyes sharpened.

"Someone sent a letter to the Canglang tribe, saying that a prince of the Great Xia Dynasty is going to the Cold Abyss and is bringing a lot of good things with him."

Batel said, "Harbala is greedy and murderous; he certainly won't let this piece of meat go."

It turned out to be the case.

Xiao Chen finally understood why the Fourth Prince wanted to delay—not only to wait for the experts in the capital, but also for the wolves on the grasslands.

"Do they know our exact location?"

"We don't know yet. But if you go any further and enter the edge of the grassland, we won't be able to hide it anymore."

"The eyes and ears of the Gray Wolf Tribe are everywhere on the grasslands," Batel said.

The tent fell silent.

The only sound was the crackling of burning cow dung in the hearth.

After a long pause, Xiao Chen asked, "Bater, is there a road from here to Hanyuan that doesn't go through the grasslands?"

"Yes, but it's more difficult to get there."

Batel walked to the tent and drew on the ground with a stick. "To the east are mountains, the road is treacherous, but it avoids the grasslands. However, it's an extra hundred miles, and you have to cross two mountains."

He looked up at Xiao Chen: "Can you... cross the mountain?"

Xiao Chen looked at Zhao Tie, and then at the hungry and cold veterans outside the tent.

Crossing mountains means it will be colder, more tiring, and more dangerous.

But if they didn't cross the mountain, they would have to face five hundred grassland cavalry.

"turn."

Xiao Chen was resolute.

Batel's eyes lit up with admiration: "Good! I'll send someone to guide you. He knows those mountains well."

Thank you.

That night, the team set up camp next to the herders' camp.

The herders brought dried meat and cheese, and also cooked a big pot of meat soup.

This was the most substantial meal the veterans had eaten since leaving Beijing.

At night, Xiao Chen lay in the tent, but couldn't fall asleep.

He thought about Batel's words, about the five hundred steppe cavalry, and about the journey across mountains and valleys he was about to face.

"Your Highness," Zhao Tie called softly.

"Uncle Zhao, are you still awake?"

"I can't sleep."

Zhao Tie was silent for a moment, then asked, "Your Highness, can we... really reach the Cold Abyss?"

Xiao Chen had asked himself this question countless times.

Every time, the answer is the same.

"Yes," he said. "It must be possible."

Why?

"Because if even we can't get there, then the people of Hanyuan City will truly have no hope."

Xiao Chen looked at the top of the tent. "Uncle Zhao, do you know what Han Yuan is like now?"

"I've heard Old Man Han mention it."

He didn't say enough.

Xiao Chen's voice was low and deep. "I've checked the historical records. Sixty years ago, Hanyuan had 100,000 soldiers and civilians, making it the largest city in the Northern Territory. But now, only 3,000 remain. Where did the other 97,000 go?"

"Dead, escaped..."

"Why die? Why run away?"

Xiao Chen turned his head and looked at Zhao Tie, "Because the court doesn't care anymore, because the officials only know how to exploit people, because they can't survive."

He sat up, his eyes reflecting the light of the fire pit.

"Uncle Zhao, in the eyes of the imperial court, we are just abandoned soldiers. Hanyuan City is abandoned territory in the eyes of the imperial court. It seems quite appropriate for abandoned soldiers to go to abandoned territory, doesn't it?"

Zhao Tie nodded.

"But I don't think so."

Xiao Chen said, word by word, "Sacrificed pawns are still people, abandoned land is still land. As long as people live, they must fight for their dignity. If land is barren, it must be brought back to life."

"Therefore, Han Yuan must go. Not only must he go, but he must also establish himself and thrive. He must show the court what to do, make them regret their actions, and let them know—"

He paused, his voice turning cold:

"Some people and some places cannot be abandoned at will."

Zhao Tie fell silent.

After a long silence, he said softly, "Your Highness, this old servant's life belongs to you."

"No."

Xiao Chen shook his head. "Your life is your own. You're not following me to give me your life, but to fight for your own survival."

Outside the tent, the wind howled.

Inside the tent, an old man and a young boy sat in silence.

But some things are different now.

The next morning, the team packed their belongings and prepared to depart.

Batel came to see them off in person, bringing a young herdsman with him.

"This is my nephew, Batu. He's been hunting in those mountains since he was a child, so he knows the way very well."

Batel said, "With him leading the way, you can avoid taking detours."

Xiao Chen cupped his hands in thanks: "I cannot express my gratitude for your great kindness."

"Don't say that."

Batel patted him on the shoulder. "Your Highness, remember my words—the more you fear the wolf on the grassland, the fiercer it becomes. The more ruthless you are, the more cowardly it becomes."

"I've got it."

The team set off.

Batu led the way on horseback, and the group turned east, heading towards the rolling mountains.

Xiao Chen turned around and saw Batel and the herdsmen still standing outside the camp, waving to them.

These grassland people, these people whom the court regarded as "barbarians," gave them food, fur coats, and a way to survive during their most difficult time.

But his so-called "compatriots" in the capital repeatedly tried to kill him.

What an irony.

"Your Highness, look." Wang Dashan suddenly pointed to the sky.

Xiao Chen looked up.

In the east, the sun is rising from behind the mountains.

Golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on the snow-covered plains and on the traveling caravan.

It also shines ahead on the winding, rugged mountain path leading to the icy abyss.

"Let's go." Xiao Chen flicked the reins. "It's dawn."

It neighs loudly as it treads through the snow, its four hooves striding forward.

Behind him, three hundred veterans followed their prince silently and resolutely.

Facing the mountains, facing the cold abyss.

Towards that path to survival, paved with blood and fire.