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

The Night Owl's dark web spread silently in the shadows, providing the Cold Abyss with the "eyes" and "ears" to make decisive victories from afar.

Deep within the sunlit Black Mountain Range, another earth-shattering discovery concerning the very foundation of the Cold Abyss Kingdom, one that could alter the nature of warfare and the fate of the nation, is quietly unfolding.

The rise of Hanyuan is inseparable from steel.

From the steel swords and crossbows in the hands of soldiers, to the plowshares in the hands of farmers, to the machinery in workshops and the cement used for building cities, all of them required large amounts of iron.

However, the iron ore mines within the Hanyuan region are mostly low-grade and small-scale, making mining difficult and smelting costs high.

Although they obtained some iron ore from the Northern Yan and the grasslands through trade, they were subject to external control and could not meet the ever-growing demand.

Iron deficiency remains a Damocles' sword hanging over Han Yuan's head.

To this end, Xiao Chen repeatedly ordered the "Industrial Construction Department" and the "Academy of Geology" to jointly form a "Mineral Exploration Team," equipped with the latest compasses, geological hammers, and simple drilling tools, and to recruit experienced old miners, hunters, and even mountain bandit prisoners to go deep into the northern mountains to find new mineral resources.

The Black Mountain Range is characterized by its steep terrain, dense forests, and sparse human presence.

A 30-person exploration team, led by veteran miner "Liu the foreman" and Chen Yan, a student from the Academy of Natural Sciences, has been trekking here for half a month.

They endured wind and rain, climbed cliffs, and traversed dense forests, all in search of the legendary "black gold."

On this day, the group arrived at the foot of a cliff called "Soul-Severing Cliff".

The terrain here is treacherous, with cliffs as if cut by a knife and axe, making it difficult for even monkeys to climb.

However, the experienced foreman Liu discovered several dark, heavy, and obviously magnetic pieces of rock in a crevice.

"This is... magnetite!"

Liu cradled the rubble in his hands, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Moreover, judging by its quality, it has an extremely high iron content; it's a rich ore deposit!"

"Quick, try it with the compass!" Chen Yan immediately took out the compass.

Sure enough, the compass needle swung wildly and lost its direction as it approached the rock face.

"The vein is right behind this cliff!" The two exchanged a glance and said in unison.

The cliff face was steep and difficult to clear by human effort. Chen Yan made a decisive decision to use gunpowder to open the mountain.

This is the latest "mountain-opening gunpowder" developed by the Gewu Institute. Its power far exceeds that of previous black powder and it is designed specifically for mining and engineering blasting.

The exploration team risked their lives to drill holes in the cliff face, fill them with gunpowder, and install fuses.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Several loud explosions shook the earth, sending rocks flying and dust billowing everywhere.

When the smoke cleared, the scene before them stunned everyone.

Behind the blasted cliff face was not the narrow mine shaft one might imagine, but a huge, naturally formed open-pit mine.

Under the sunlight, the crimson rocks shimmered with a dazzling light, like burning flames.

Deeper inside, there is a dark, shiny, and pure magnetite. Picking up a piece at random, it is heavy and has an extremely high iron content.

"Oh my god... this... this is..."

Liu knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face. "This...this is the legendary 'Crimson Dragon Vein'! Heavens, you've opened your eyes!"

Chen Yan suppressed his excitement, took out his tools, and began a preliminary survey of the mineral vein.

The results nearly suffocated him: the veins were exposed and easy to mine; the reserves were enormous, with preliminary estimates exceeding tens of millions of tons; the grade was extremely high, with iron content generally above 60%, and some rich ores even reaching 70%; and it was accompanied by useful minerals such as copper, sulfur, and phosphorus.

This is not just a mine; it is an ocean of steel, an inexhaustible treasure trove!

The message was delivered to Zhenbei City via the urgent courier service, traveling day and night.

When Xiao Chen saw the ore samples and preliminary survey report returned by the exploration team, even with his resolute will, he couldn't help but slam his fist on the table, look up to the sky, and roar: "Heaven is helping me! Heaven is helping Han Yuan!"

"Your Highness, the richness of this mine is unparalleled in the world!"

Ironsmith Ou, the head of the Construction Bureau, held the ore, his beard trembling with excitement. "With this ore, our Hanyuan Iron ore can be self-sufficient, and we can even export it in large quantities!"

"It's not just iron," added the head of the Mining and Metallurgy Department at the Institute of Natural Resources, "the associated copper ore can be used to mint coins; sulfur can be used to make gunpowder; and phosphate rock can be used to make fertilizer. It's a case of one mine supporting a hundred industries!"

Xiao Chen immediately gave the order:

1. Information Blockade: Strictly block information about the Black Mountain mine; violators will be executed without exception.

2. A hefty reward will be given to the exploration team: the team will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold, and Liu, the team leader, and Chen Yan will be named "Mineral Exploration Masters". All other team members will also receive a hefty reward.

3. Immediate Development: Mobilize 3,000 engineers and 5,000 refugees to immediately proceed to Black Mountain to build roads, barracks, and workshops.

4. Military protection: Deploy a portion of the Panshi Battalion to guard the mining area and strictly prohibit outsiders from approaching.

The Black Mountain mining area instantly transformed into the largest construction site in the Cold Abyss. Tens of thousands of people, like ants, busied themselves with great enthusiasm on this land that had slumbered for millennia.

Engineers blasted open the road, and refugees leveled the roadbed. A three-zhang-wide "Black Mountain Avenue," paved with gravel, stretched out of the mountains at an astonishing speed, connecting to the official road.

The open-pit mine required no deep excavation. Engineers used explosives to loosen the rock strata, and migrants transported the ore out using wheelbarrows and oxcarts. The efficiency was extremely high, with thousands of tons of ore extracted daily.

Establish a "mineral processing plant" in the mining area, use a hydraulic crusher to crush the ore, and then use water washing and magnetic separation to separate waste rock and improve the ore grade.

Near the mining area, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, the "Black Mountain Iron Smelting City" was planned and constructed. Dozens of giant blast furnaces were built using water-powered blast furnaces and coke smelting.

Three months later, the Black Mountain Ironworks City was taking shape. Dozens of blast furnaces, each five zhang tall, stood like giant chimneys among the mountains, spewing black smoke and flames day and night.

"Open the furnace!" With the blacksmith Ou's command, the taphole of the blast furnace was opened.

The molten iron, hot, golden-red, and dazzling, surged out of the furnace mouth like raging lava, flowing into the huge ladle and splashing sparks that illuminated half the sky.

"It's done!" The craftsmen cheered, tears welling in their eyes.

The first batch of pig iron was processed using the wrought iron or crucible steel methods to become highly refined steel. Swords, armor, and farm tools made from this steel were of far superior quality than before, and the cost was significantly reduced.

The discovery and development of the Black Mountain iron ore mine was like giving the fierce tiger of the Cold Abyss wings of steel.

The Han Yuan Army began a complete re-equipment change. Ordinary soldiers donned iron-trimmed leather armor, while elite troops donned half-plate armor. Steel swords, powerful crossbows, and spears were continuously transported to the camps. The Han Yuan Army's equipment level instantly became the best in the world.

Cheap ironware flooded the market. Farmers could afford iron plows, hoes, and sickles; craftsmen used steel chisels, saws, and rulers; and every household had iron pots, scissors, and locks. Productivity increased dramatically, and the quality of life improved.

Ironware from Hanyuan became a form of hard currency. High-quality, inexpensive "Black Mountain Iron" was exported to the grasslands, Northern Yan, the Western Regions, and even the Central Plains, in exchange for large quantities of gold, silver, horses, grain, and cloth. The ironware trade became the second largest pillar of Hanyuan's finances.

Abundant steel resources spurred a boom in machinery manufacturing. The production of complex machines such as water-powered forging hammers, gears, bearings, and prototype steam engines became possible. Hanyuan's industrial capabilities entered the "Steel Age."

Although the news of the Black Mountain iron mine was kept strictly confidential, the outflow of a large number of high-quality iron artifacts still aroused the vigilance and panic of surrounding forces.

Northern Yan, various tribes of the grasslands, and even the imperial court all realized that Han Yuan possessed an almost limitless capacity for steel production. This meant that Han Yuan could arm a large, well-equipped army with unfathomable war potential.

"The Cold Abyss... is invincible." This was the common thought in the minds of all the leaders of the surrounding forces.

Many tribes and fortified villages that were previously wavering have taken the initiative to submit to the Cold Abyss and seek its protection.

Border conflicts have decreased significantly, and there has even been an effect of "subduing the enemy without fighting".

Standing on the highest observation platform in Black Mountain Iron City, Xiao Chen looked down at the scorching iron smelting workshops below, which resembled a molten lava hell. He listened to the deafening roar of machinery and smelled the heavy sulfur and metallic odor in the air, his heart filled with pride.

"Steel is the skeleton of industry, the lifeblood of war, and the cornerstone of national strength."

He addressed his assembled ministers, "With the Black Mountain Iron Mine, Han Yuan now possesses the resources to contend for supremacy. From this day forward, no one in the world will surpass us in equipment. We will use this torrent of iron to forge Han Yuan's eternal dynasty!"

The discovery of the Black Mountain iron ore mine was a turning point for the Cold Abyss.

It signifies that Hanyuan has completely broken free from resource constraints and possesses an independent, self-sufficient industrial system.

A mighty torrent of steel is quietly taking shape across the northern lands, poised to sweep across the world with unstoppable force.