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

The news of the Northern Yan peace delegation arriving in Zhenbei City was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up violent ripples in the upper echelons of Hanyuan, and soon evolving into a storm that swept through the entire power center.

Xiao Chen's handling of the situation was decisive and consistent with his usual style.

He ordered the Northern Yan delegation to be housed in the highest-ranking inn in the city, treated with the utmost courtesy, provided with the best food and drink, and under tight security. However, he also demarcated a strict area for their activities, forbidding them from leaving the inn at will or contacting any unrelated persons. In short, he left them to their own devices for now.

This "exposed" situation made the days feel like years for Tuofa Yuan and others from the Northern Yan government office, and also caused the debate in Zhenbei City to quickly escalate, spreading from whispers in private rooms to the upcoming joint military and political meeting.

The meeting was held in the newly renovated and more magnificent council hall of the Jingbei Prince's Mansion.

Those present included Xiao Chen's core civil service staff, Han Lie and Zhou Tong; key military officers Wang Dashan, Zhang Meng, and Liu Yidao; Zhao Tie, who was stationed at Dingbei Pass, was also ordered to return; in addition, there were several newly promoted mid-level generals who had performed outstandingly; and officials in charge of key departments such as finance, supplies, crafts, and intelligence. The atmosphere was heavy with the gathering of people.

Even before Xiao Chen arrived, a turbulent undercurrent was already swirling beneath the surface. The military officers mostly huddled together, whispering amongst themselves, their brows furrowed with barely suppressed excitement and murderous intent. The civil officials, on the other hand, looked worried, exchanging glances frequently.

As the bell tolled three times, Xiao Chen, dressed in a black casual robe, strode steadily into the hall and ascended the main seat. Everyone bowed in unison and greeted him with "Your Highness."

"Please sit down."

Xiao Chen waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, and cut to the chase, "The Northern Yan has sent envoys to sue for peace, and their letter has arrived. You have all surely heard of this. The reason I have summoned you all here today is to discuss whether I, Han Yuan, should accept this goodwill from the Northern Yan, or not? If I accept it, how should I do so? If I don't accept it, what should I do?"

After a brief silence, a loud voice rang out first, like the fuse of a powder keg being lit.

"Your Highness! In my humble opinion, peace is absolutely out of the question!"

Wang Dashan suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open, his voice booming like a bell. He had just achieved a brilliant victory at Dingbei Pass and was in high spirits.

"Northern Yan has just suffered a defeat, losing troops and territory. Its ruler is young and the country is in turmoil, with internal strife raging. This is a golden opportunity! That old man Murong Chui must be like a stray dog, living in constant fear! My Han Yuan, riding high on the momentum of our great victory, with well-trained troops, ample supplies, and soaring morale, is poised to launch a decisive northern expedition!"

He grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, walking to the massive map of the northern border hanging in the hall. He slammed his finger heavily on the area north of Dingbei Pass: "Our army can march out of Dingbei Pass, up the Langhao Mountains and the Blackwater River, and strike directly at the key border towns of Northern Yan! Even if we can't directly attack their royal court, we must seize three or five more cities and expand our territory by hundreds of miles! This battle is to completely break Northern Yan's backbone and crush their ambition to graze their horses southward! Let the wolves of the grasslands tremble at the mere mention of my name, Hanyuan! Only in this way can we secure at least twenty years of peace for our northern border!"

"General Wang is absolutely right!"

Zhang Meng and his fellow young generals echoed his sentiments, all eager for battle and brimming with fighting spirit. "Your Highness," they said, "speed is of the essence! If we don't fight now, when will we? Are we going to wait until Northern Yan has recovered before gathering a large army to march south and seek revenge?"

"That's right! The Helian tribe surrendered at the first sign of fear, which shows that all the tribes of Northern Yan are terrified! Our army, armed with the might of the 'Thunderclap,' can wipe them out once and for all!"

The military generals were filled with fervor, and the calls for a northern expedition grew louder and louder. Their reasons for advocating war were also compelling: the enemy was weak, we were strong, morale was high, and the opportunity was too good to miss.

At this moment, a calm yet worried voice rang out; it was Han Lie. He stood up, cupped his hands in greeting to Xiao Chen and the other generals, and then turned to Wang Dashan: "General Wang's ambition is commendable; however, those who plan for the country must consider the overall situation and the long term."

He walked to the map and pointed to the territory currently controlled by Han Yuan: "General, please look. Since the establishment of my Han Yuan Prefecture, we have fought one battle after another. First, we destroyed Black Wind, then we wiped out Chuan Lin, and now we have defeated Murong Chui, expanded our territory by two hundred li, and recovered the Dingbei Pass."

This is indeed a great victory, but how much has been spent in these successive battles? Can the treasury's funds and provisions still support the army on its long march for several months? Have the compensation for the fallen soldiers and the resettlement of the wounded been calculated? With spring planting imminent, a large number of laborers have been conscripted to transport grain and build passes; how can this year's harvest not be affected?

He paused, then pointed to the newly acquired Dingbei Pass and the grasslands ceded by the Helian tribe: "In these newly acquired territories, the people's hearts are not yet won over, the displaced people need to be appeased, the surrendered soldiers need to be reorganized and assimilated, fortresses need to be built, roads need to be repaired—there are countless tasks to manage. General, you speak of sweeping away the enemy's strongholds. May I ask, if my army were to launch a northern expedition, how many troops would be needed to garrison these newly acquired territories to ensure their safety? If the rear is unstable, wouldn't a large army be attacked from both sides during a distant expedition?"

Then, he moved his finger deeper into the territory of Northern Yan: "Northern Yan has a vast territory. Even if our army wins several more battles and captures a few border cities, then what? The supply lines will be stretched for hundreds of miles, deep into the grasslands, where the terrain is unfamiliar and the climate is unpredictable. Although Northern Yan has been defeated, its foundation still exists. If we push them too hard, and they unite as one, holding their fortified cities and harassing our supply lines, how long can our army, far from our rear, hold out? At that time, the outcome will still be uncertain, and our Han Yuan will inevitably suffer a great loss of strength."

Han Lie turned to Xiao Chen, speaking earnestly: "Your Highness, Sun Tzu said: 'War is a matter of vital importance to the state; a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.'"

It is also said: The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances; the next best is to attack their army; and the worst is to besiege their cities. Now our army has achieved a great victory in its military campaign, and its might has shaken the northern frontier.

Taking advantage of this victory, we should launch a campaign of strategic maneuvering and diplomatic maneuvering to force them to sign a treaty under duress and gain tangible benefits—either by ceding border pastures, demanding huge reparations, or opening trade routes to our advantage.

This would allow for a three-to-five-year period of rest and recuperation, to consolidate the gains of the war, to reorganize domestic affairs, to promote agriculture and sericulture, to accumulate funds and grain, and to train a new army.

Once our treasury is full, our troops are well-trained and our provisions are plentiful, and the newly annexed territories are as solid as a rock, then the initiative—whether to fight or make peace—will be entirely in our hands. This is a strategy of buying time and securing our foundation through peace negotiations!

"A nation, however large, will perish if it loves war; a world at peace, will be in danger if it forgets war."

Zhou Tong also spoke in support of Han Lie, "Your Highness, our army has just won a victory and its morale is high. However, it is true that the troops are exhausted from the continuous battles. Moreover, the Northern Yan is seeking peace, and its prime minister, Yuwen Hu, is a cunning and shrewd man. Seeking peace at this time is nothing more than a delaying tactic to stabilize our Han Yuan and consolidate our internal forces."

If our army is not swayed by them, we can use this peace treaty to force them to agree to harsh conditions and weaken their strength. If we rashly launch a northern expedition, we will play right into their hands, forcing them to unite internally against us—wouldn't that be unwise?

"Chief Clerk Han and Registrar Zhou are mistaken!"

Wang Dashan retorted, "Haven't you heard the saying 'Strike while the iron is hot'? This is precisely when Northern Yan is at its weakest and most chaotic. If we give it a chance to catch its breath, and once its new ruler is in power and the powerful ministers consolidate their power, it will surely become a major threat!"

So-called peace agreements are nothing but a piece of waste paper! Only by thoroughly inflicting pain and fear upon them, breaking their backbone, can we achieve true peace! A little loss of money and provisions, and the exhaustion of soldiers, cannot compare to eliminating future threats forever.

"General Wang! Completely annihilating Northern Yan is no easy task!"

Han Lie refused to yield an inch, saying, "Even if our army wins again, penetrates deep into the northern border, destroys its country, and occupies its land, then what? The grasslands are vast, with numerous tribes and diverse customs. The difficulty of governing them is a hundred times greater than that of warfare!"

At that time, my limited military and financial resources will be dragged into a bottomless quagmire. How can I cope with the changes in the Central Plains? How can I accumulate strength and seek greater development? This is not the best policy!

Both sides stuck to their own versions of events and argued endlessly.

The pro-war faction was passionate and fervent, advocating seizing the opportunity to expand the gains and achieve a permanent victory. The pro-peace faction, on the other hand, was more mature and prudent, emphasizing consolidating the foundation, digesting the gains, and planning for future advances.

Inside the council chamber, the atmosphere was heated, even bordering on tense. The military officers spoke in booming voices, arguing that opportunities in battle were fleeting; the civil officials cited classical texts, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages. Both sides had their points, and neither could completely convince the other.

Xiao Chen sat upright, listening quietly, his face calm and composed, revealing neither joy nor anger. He would nod slightly at times, and at other times his gaze would sweep over the map, lost in thought. Only when the clamor of the argument subsided and both sides looked at him expectantly, awaiting his final decision, did he slowly speak.

"What you all say makes sense. There are opportunities for war; there are benefits for peace."

Xiao Chen's voice was calm, yet clearly reached everyone's ears: "However, the most important matters of state are sacrifice and war. Whether to fight or make peace concerns the fate of Hanyuan, and must not be ignored or taken lightly. Empty talk about advantages and disadvantages is not as good as empirical evidence."

He turned his gaze to the officials in charge of specific matters: "Chief Secretary Han, Registrar Zhou."

"Your humble servants are here." Han Lie and Zhou Tong stood up.

"The government treasury's income and expenditure, and current surplus, from last autumn's harvest to the present, have been listed in detail, categorized by category. In particular, the military rations, pay, and arms inventory, the funds and rations needed to compensate wounded and injured soldiers, and the minimum monthly expenses for maintaining the existing army, officials, and workshops should all be clearly calculated and reported to me."

"Yes, sir!"

"General Wang, Lieutenant Zhao."

"Your subordinates are here!" Wang Dashan and Zhao Tie stepped forward.

"Provide a detailed report on the actual number of combat-ready troops in our army, categorized by garrison location, branch of service, training level, and equipment status. What were the casualties of our army in the Battle of Dingbeiguan? What is the recovery status of the lightly and seriously wounded? How many of the newly formed reclamation battalions are currently usable? What is the assessment of morale and loyalty?"

"This subordinate obeys!"

"Lieutenant Liu."

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Your troops, together with Night Owl, must thoroughly investigate the latest developments of the Northern Yan royal court. What is the temperament of its new ruler, Wuwei? What is the relationship between Chancellor Yuwen Hu and Left Wise King Murong Han? What is the current situation of the eldest prince and Murong Chui? What changes have occurred in the attitudes of the various tribes towards the change of royal court and towards our Hanyuan? Have there been any adjustments to the border troop deployments?"

"yes!"

"The Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, the Directorate of Crafts..."

Xiao Chen called on the heads of seven or eight departments in a row, "and submit a detailed report within three days on the preparations for spring plowing, the progress of resettlement of refugees in newly occupied areas, the actual situation of the reorganization of surrendered soldiers, the production capacity of artisan workshops, the progress of new recruit training, the manpower and materials required for the construction of roads and passes... all specific data, difficulties and estimated time required for civil affairs, military equipment and engineering projects."

With clear and specific instructions being issued, the originally passionate debate-filled council chamber quickly transformed into a pragmatic task assignment site.

Everyone realized that the prince did not make a decision immediately, but wanted to see the most real and concrete situation.

"Gentlemen," Xiao Chen concluded, his gaze sweeping across the room, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority, "to wage war requires the resources and certainty of victory; to make peace requires the confidence and contingency plans. All decisions must be based on irrefutable facts and data, not on mere speculation or emotional arguments. We will discuss this further in three days."

"We will obey Your Majesty's command!" the crowd solemnly replied.

The heated debate over war and peace was temporarily suppressed, and in its place, the entire Hanyuan military and political machine operated at high speed and with precision.

Everyone understood that three days later, when those detailed data and clear assessments were placed on the desk of the Prince of Jingbei, it would be the moment that would determine the fate of Hanyuan, and even the entire Northern Territory, for the next few years, or even decades.