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

Just past midnight, at the Zhenbeicheng Post Station.

Fifty carefully selected fine horses, fully saddled and bridled, snorted loudly.

Five specially made light carriages carried packaged medicinal herbs and five resolute-looking medical officers.

Liu Yidao and fifty elite cavalrymen, each with a short sword at their waist, a crossbow on their back, their faces smeared with antifreeze grease, and sharp eyes.

"Let's go!" Liu Yidao waved his hand and mounted his horse.

"drive!"

More than fifty riders, protecting the carriage, shot out of the west gate of Zhenbei City like an arrow released from a bow, disappearing into the deep night.

The horses' hooves pounded on the cement road, making a rapid and rhythmic "tap-tap" sound that carried far in the quiet night.

Our first stop was Shili Pu.

It only took a quarter of an hour to get there.

The post station was brightly lit, and three spirited horses were ready to go.

The riders didn't even have to stop completely. With the help of the post station officials, they quickly changed into new horses, threw the food and water they needed onto the horses' backs, took the road permits stamped with the post station's seal, and continued galloping!

Xifengyi, Heishiyi, Yinmaheyi...

One post station after another was quickly left behind in the darkness.

Every post station has received the highest-level urgent order and is ready.

The process of changing horses was compressed to its limit.

Liu Yidao personally carried Xiao Chen's royal decree and the crimson flag of the 800-li urgent dispatch. All checkpoints and patrols along the way immediately let him pass upon seeing the flag, and sent people ahead to clear the way.

As dawn broke, they had already rushed out of the western section of the Goods and Trade Road and entered the Grassland Post Road.

The road here is not as smooth as the cement road, but the superior performance of the Tayan horse and the riders' superb riding skills ensure that the speed is not reduced at all.

The sun was high in the sky, and six hours had passed since we set off, having traveled over four hundred li! The men and horses were exhausted, but no one fell behind, and no one complained.

Everyone knew that what they carried on their backs was the hope of being saved.

"Captain! Canglang Post Station is just ahead!"

The deputy pointed ahead to a post station where the flag of the Canglang tribe was flying and shouted.

This is the last post station at the border between Hanyuan and Canglang tribe.

"One last horse change!"

Liu Yidao's voice was hoarse, "Tell the post station to prepare a guide and take us straight to the royal court!"

At Canglang Post Station, they not only changed to their best horses, but also had a guide from the Canglang tribe join them.

As Director Xiang looked at the dusty but determined Han Yuan cavalry and the cartloads of medicinal herbs, his eyes instantly reddened.

"May the Eternal Heaven protect us... Your Highness... has really sent someone..." the guide said, choking back tears in broken Chinese.

"Enough talk, lead the way!" Liu Yidao lashed the horse's rump with his whip.

The last hundred miles of grassland road are the most difficult.

But when the familiar outline of the Canglang tribe's royal court appeared in the distance, all fatigue was thrown to the winds.

The royal court of the Canglang tribe was shrouded in gloom and despair.

Outside the yurt, piles of straw burned to ward off disease, emitting pungent smoke.

Crying and groans of patients could be heard intermittently. Batu paced back and forth in front of the golden tent like a trapped beast, his eyes bloodshot.

"Report—!"

A scout scrambled over, shouting, "Chief! Han Yuan... Han Yuan's cavalry! They're flying red flags, bringing medicine!"

"What?"

Batu turned around abruptly, almost unable to believe his ears, "How...how fast?"

"We set off from Zhenbei City last night, and now...we've arrived!" the scout exclaimed excitedly.

"The Eternal Heaven!"

Batu was startled. "Quick! Come with me to greet them!"

He led the tribal chiefs and hurried out of the camp to greet them.

In the distance, amidst rising dust, a weary but still orderly cavalry unit, escorting several carriages, appeared in sight as if divine warriors had descended from the heavens.

The leading general was none other than Liu Yidao, the fierce general of Hanyuan whom he had met a few times!

"General Liu!"

Batu ran forward, his voice trembling.

"Chief Batu!"

Liu Yidao reined in his warhorse, his face covered in dust but his back straight. "By order of my lord, I have come to deliver epidemic prevention medicines and a physician! Please arrange for their immediate reception and treatment of the patients!"

"well!"

Batu looked at the cartloads of medicinal herbs, and at the Han Yuan medical officers who quickly got off and began examining the patients. This grassland warlord actually had tears in his eyes. "Your Highness's great kindness, our Canglang tribe... will never forget it!"

"Quickly, prepare the medicine as instructed by the physician! Distribute it!"

The physicians of Hanyuan immediately got to work.

They brought not only medicine, but also a complete set of scientific epidemic prevention procedures: isolating patients, disinfecting water sources, cremating corpses, distributing medicinal soup...

For the first time, smoke rose from chimneys used for brewing herbs on the grasslands; the bitter aroma of the medicine replaced the stench of death and despair.

That evening, after the first batch of critically ill patients drank the medicinal soup, their high fever actually began to subside!

When the news spread, the entire royal court of the Canglang tribe erupted in cries of relief and cheers of those who had survived the catastrophe!

"Hanyuan! Hanyuan!"

"Prince Jingbei! Eternal Heaven!"

Countless herders, young and old, stepped out of their yurts and knelt down facing the direction of Nanfangzhen Beicheng, bowing repeatedly with the most devout grassland etiquette.

Their tears fell on the newly green grassland.

This time, it wasn't fear or despair, but heartfelt gratitude and submission.

"General Liu," Batu said, his voice choked with emotion, as he grasped Liu Yidao's hand, "please go back and tell the Prince. From this day forward, the Canglang tribe's swords will be sharp for the Prince; the Canglang tribe's horses will gallop for the Prince; and the Canglang tribe's men will shed their last drop of blood for the Prince!"

"This kindness will be forever remembered by the grasslands, and the wolf will forever honor it!"

Liu Yidao led the cavalry who had completed their mission and the medical officers who needed rest back to Zhenbei City. They used the same relay system along the way, and although the speed was not as urgent as when they went there, the efficiency was still extremely high.

"Your Highness, the medicinal herbs have been safely delivered, and the epidemic is under initial control. Chief Batu is deeply grateful and has sworn allegiance," Liu Yidao reported to Xiao Chen.

"it is good."

Xiao Chen nodded. "You've all worked hard. Everyone involved in this 'urgent' mission, whether riders, couriers, doctors, or the clerks coordinating from the rear, will be richly rewarded!"

"In addition," Xiao Chen said to Han Lie, "the entire process of delivering medicine to fight the epidemic should be recorded in detail and published as 'Records of Emergency Relief on the Post Road,' distributed to all armies, government offices, and post stations, and spread to all directions through caravans."

"I want the whole world to know that my Hanyuan post station can not only deliver documents and transport goods, but also outrun the King of Hell in life-or-death situations, delivering hope and life!"

"I want the whole world to see that befriending me, Han Yuan, not only brings benefit but also salvation!"

"Yes!" Han Lie replied excitedly.

Sure enough, the story of "Eight Hundred Li Jia Emergency Rescue Grassland" served as the best advertisement, quickly spreading throughout the northern border, reaching the Central Plains, and entering the Western Regions.

All the tribes on the grasslands, whether they had already submitted or were still observing, were shocked and moved upon hearing this news.

What they saw was Han Yuan's terrifying organizational ability and rapid progress, but what they saw even more was the "trust" and "righteousness" that the Prince of Jingbei showed to his allies—a true "kingly way" that transcended the exchange of interests.

In a short time, more grassland tribes sent envoys to request submission, trade, and the establishment of Hanyuan's post stations and clinics within their territories.

The influence and soft power of Hanyuan, along with the post road paved with sweat and speed, penetrated deep into the grasslands and took root firmly in the hearts of every herdsman.

"Your Highness," Wang Dashan exclaimed, "this matter is worth more than ten thousand soldiers."

"yes."

Standing on a high point in the palace, Xiao Chen looked north and seemed to see the grasslands that had regained their vitality. "Swords can conquer the land, but only the hearts of men can truly conquer the hearts of men."

"This post road is the arm that Han Yuan extends to all directions, delivering not only orders and goods, but also civilization, order and hope."

"With such arms, though the world is vast, where can't we reach? Though hearts may be far apart, who can't we return to?"