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

The newly built drill ground is located in the west of Zhenbei City.

It was late autumn, the sky was high and the clouds were light, and the north wind carried a biting chill, but it could not dispel the almost solidified, iron-blooded, murderous aura that hung over the training ground.

The vast training ground was divided into different training areas by crisscrossing roads, ditches, low walls, and barricades. At this moment, tens of thousands of soldiers, fully armored, stood in solemn formation.

This was no ordinary drill; it was the first full-scale exercise of the reorganized and expanded Hanyuan Standing Army, ordered by Prince Jingbei, Xiao Chen himself.

The objectives are threefold: first, to examine the results of the training over the past six months; second, to clarify the organizational structure; and third, to boost morale and demonstrate strength to all sides.

Xiao Chen sat high on the newly built command platform, his black armor covered by a dark cloak, his gaze calmly sweeping over the boundless army formation below.

Wang Dashan, Zhao Tie, Liu Yidao, Zhang Meng and other key generals, all fully armed, stood solemnly behind him with their hands on their swords, their faces flushed, their chests puffed out, and their eyes burning with fierce flames.

Below the stage stood the steel backbone of Hanyuan, 12,000 regular combat soldiers who had just undergone a complete transformation.

"Reporting to the Prince!"

The officer ascended the high platform, his booming voice cutting through the howling north wind, "The Hanyuan Standing Army is fully assembled! Please give your orders, Your Highness!"

Xiao Chen nodded slightly. Han Lie, who was standing to the side, stepped forward, unfolded the brand-new military uniform booklet on the gold-lacquered wooden tray in his hand, and read it aloud:

"Order of the Prince of Jingbei: Effective immediately, the Hanyuan standing combat force will be established with a strength of 12,000 men, divided into four guards!"

"Vanguard, main attack force, charging into the enemy lines! Three thousand soldiers! Commander: Wang Dashan!"

"Left Guard, responsible for flanking support and flanking attacks! 2,000 troops! Commander: Liu Yidao!"

"Right Guard, coordinate with the commander to launch a surprise attack! Two thousand troops! Guard Commander: Zhao Tie!"

"The Central Guard is responsible for the central army's defense, archery support, and weaponry operations! Its strength is two thousand men! The Guard commands a five-hundred-strong crossbow battalion and a five-hundred-strong thunderbolt battalion! The Guard's commander is Zhang Meng!"

"The Imperial Guard Battalion will protect the central army and serve as the vanguard and training ground for the entire army! It will have a strength of one thousand men! The battalion commander will be temporarily led by the King himself, and the two deputy commanders will be promoted from among those who excel in military competitions and performance evaluations!"

"Another directly subordinate scout battalion of 500 and a supply and engineering battalion of 500 will be established, assigned to various guards for deployment, but each will be solely responsible for its own duties!"

"Each of the four guards and two battalions will be headed by a deputy general, military advisor, military commander, centurion, squad leader, and fire chief, all selected and appointed according to the newly revised 'Hanyuan Military System'! These twelve thousand men are the pillars of Hanyuan; only those who have undergone rigorous selection, battle training, and proven loyalty shall be included!"

Every time Han Lie read out the name of a guard and its commander, the corresponding military formation below the stage would erupt in a thunderous roar of response.

"Avant-garde! Congratulations!"

"Left Guard! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Right Guard! Frost Abyss Iron Cavalry! Advance without retreat!"

"Center defense! Wind! Wind! Strong wind!"

Especially when the "Thunderbolt Battalion" under the Central Guard was named, the five hundred elite soldiers who had been rigorously selected and specially trained in "Thunderbolt" and various firearms, explosives, and engineering equipment puffed out their chests so high that their armor seemed to burst open.

They are the most technologically advanced and most watched new force in the Hanyuan Army, and another trump card in Xiao Chen's hands besides the cavalry.

"Imperial Guard Battalion! Fight to the death! Protect our Prince! Protect Hanyuan!" The roar of a thousand imperial guards was filled with fanatical worship and resolute loyalty.

They are the absolute elite selected from various armies and numerous bloody battles. Not only are they exceptionally skilled in martial arts, but they are also completely devoted to Xiao Chen. They are the embodiment of the Han Yuan Army's spirit and the cradle of future junior and middle-ranking officers.

These 12,000 people come from diverse backgrounds, but they have all undergone the most rigorous selection and refinement process.

The core members were naturally the old guard who had followed Xiao Chen from the beginning, fierce soldiers who had survived countless battles in the early days of Zhenbei City. Many of them were now captains or centurions, the backbone of the army.

The largest proportion of the reinforcements came from the surrendered soldiers of the Battle of Dingbeiguan. Those thousands of Northern Yan prisoners of war went through a complete process of "eliminating the weak and retaining the strong, dispersing and reorganizing, grievances and training, and assessment and selection". The old, weak, rogue soldiers and those with ulterior motives were eliminated, and the remaining 18,000 young men, along with some of their families, were incorporated into the reclamation camp.

For more than half a year, in addition to their farming work, they underwent intensive military training and rigorous "instruction" and brainwashing.

Today, about four thousand of the most elite, loyal, and top-performing individuals have been added to the standing army.

They were familiar with the northern environment, skilled in archery and horsemanship, and after being trained and instilled with the discipline of the Hanyuan Army, their fighting spirit and tactical skills were now on a completely different level.

Another major source is the newly attached seven cities and the scattered tribal armed forces that have been gathered together.

These border garrison soldiers and tribal warriors were originally fierce and brave men from the border regions. After they submitted to Han Yuan, witnessed the strength of "Thunderclap" and the Han Yuan army, and were properly resettled and promised generous military pay, more than two thousand of the brave and loyal ones were selected into the regular army after passing the assessment.

They brought different fighting styles and regional knowledge, further enriching the composition of the Hanyuan Army's manpower.

Finally, the elite were recruited from the continuous influx of migrants and the able-bodied young men within the territory.

The generous military pay, land distribution, and merit-based titles policies of Hanyuan were extremely attractive to impoverished young people eager to change their fate.

After rigorous selection and basic training, nearly two thousand of these "fresh blood" were able to enlist. They were like blank slates, most easily swayed by Han Yuan's military discipline and ideology.

These 12,000 men were completely scattered and mixed into the Four Guards. Veterans led new recruits, surrendered soldiers were paired with loyalists, and southerners were mixed with northerners.

They ate and lived together daily, trained side by side, and were punished and rewarded together. More than half a year of living together day and night, rigorous training, and continuous "ideological education," coupled with real food, generous pay, and the hope of land distribution, quickly united this diverse army into a cohesive unit with "Hanyuan" as its identity, Xiao Chen as its commander, and military merit and honor as its pursuit.

At this moment, they stood solemnly, fully armored and armed. Sunlight shone on their steel armor and weapons, reflecting a chilling, gleaming light.

Looking down from the command platform, one sees a forest of spears and halberds, banners obscuring the sun, and an impeccably orderly formation, utterly silent except for the occasional snort of warhorses and the fluttering of flags in the wind. A suppressed yet powerful aura permeates the entire training ground.

"good!"

Xiao Chen finally spoke, his voice not loud, yet clearly carrying throughout the entire arena, with a metallic quality: "Over ten thousand elite soldiers, a vast army! This is the blade of my Cold Abyss, the shield of the Northern Frontier, the foundation of our nation!"

He took a step forward, his eyes flashing like lightning as he surveyed the entire army: "Among you, there are old brothers who have followed me from humble beginnings, good men who abandoned darkness for light at Dingbei Pass, border warriors who have recently surrendered and are willing to protect our homeland together, and heroes from all directions who have come to join us and wish to make a name for themselves!"

No matter where you come from or what your past is like, from the day you put on this Frost Abyss armor and take up this Frost Abyss weapon, you will have only one name—Frost Abyss Army!

There is only one commander—I, Xiao Chen!

He had only one mission—to protect the Cold Abyss, expand its territory, secure titles and honors for his wife and children, and bring glory to his family!

"Hanyuan! Hanyuan! Hanyuan!" Ten thousand people roared in unison, their voices like thunder, shaking the flags on the command platform and making the distant city walls seem to resonate as well.

Xiao Chen raised his hand, suppressing his roar, and continued, "The quality of an army is not its quantity. You twelve thousand men are the elite, handpicked from hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, survivors of countless battles! You are my courage, the backbone of Han Yuan! However, the title of elite is not self-proclaimed; it must be forged in the blood of the enemy and proven by your battle achievements! Today's drill ground formation is to let you know your unit's organization and commands. Only when you serve on the battlefield will you reveal your true heroic nature!"

"From this day forward, rations and pay will be doubled, and benefits will be generous. Those who perform meritorious service will be promoted, and those who commit wrongdoing will be punished! I will share your joys and sorrows, and we will stand together through life and death! The glory of the Cold Abyss is tied to your blades! The territory of the Cold Abyss is tied to your iron hooves!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!" The fervent shouts once again resounded through the sky. The soldiers' eyes were bloodshot as they pounded their breastplates with all their might, producing a dull thud like the beating of war drums.

Xiao Chen looked with satisfaction at the newly transformed and fiercely powerful army below the stage.

Twelve thousand regular combat soldiers may not sound like a lot, but it should be noted that this is the elite force used purely for field battles, after removing all auxiliary soldiers, laborers, and land reclamation soldiers.

Moreover, they are well-equipped—thanks to the full operation of the Crafts Bureau and the "indemnity" from Northern Yan, the rate of wearing iron armor has exceeded 40%, crossbows are fully equipped, and there is a professional "Thunderbolt Battalion" of 500 men.

The training is rigorous—daily drills, weekly mini-competitions, and monthly grand competitions. Morale is high—there are clear career advancement paths and generous rewards to look forward to, and the banner of "Prince Jingbei" unites everyone.

Loyalty and reliability – the mixed-age and training system greatly weakened the original tribal and regional barriers, and the Night Owl's surveillance was all-pervasive.

Such an army's fighting power is far more than a simple aggregation of numbers. It is a finely forged, repeatedly tempered, and newly sharpened sword, its cold gleam concealed, yearning to drink blood.

"All guards, commence according to the pre-arranged drill program!" With Xiao Chen's order, the command flag of the central army officers was waved.

Instantly, the calm drill ground erupted in cheers. The vanguard heavy infantry phalanx began to advance with orderly and heavy steps, their spears like a forest and their shields like a mountain.

The light cavalry and scouts of the left and right guards roared out, weaving and flanking, their arrows flying like locusts.

The archers of the central guard took turns firing upwards, a rain of arrows obscuring the sky; the soldiers of the "Thunderbolt Battalion" operated improved, smaller, and more mobile lightweight "Thunderbolt" projectiles, conducting simulated launches in a designated area. Although no gunpowder was loaded, the skilled operation and the dust kicked up by the simulated projectiles upon impact were still chilling. The Imperial Guard Battalion demonstrated small-scale elite assaults and defensive formations.

The sounds of battle were deafening, and billowing dust filled the air.

Although it was a real, unsharpened drill, the chilling killing intent, skillful teamwork, and strict discipline made all the onlookers turn pale.

Especially when the various branches of the armed forces advanced in unison, with infantry, cavalry, archers, and thunderbolt battalions working seamlessly together to form an unstoppable torrent of steel, the civil and military officials on the command platform, and even veteran generals like Wang Dashan who had been through many battles, all felt a pang of fear.

This is a truly powerful army! A complete transformation, a brand new look!

Xiao Chen stood with his hands behind his back, letting the north wind blow his cloak. His gaze passed over the military formations fighting and practicing on the training ground, and turned to the more distant north and south.

With 12,000 regular elite troops at its disposal, plus tens of thousands of well-trained, semi-soldier, semi-farmer settlers, and an increasingly stable rear, Han Yuan finally has the confidence to be the "Lord of the North."

With its elite troops ready, provisions plentiful, and popular support growing, the stage ahead will be even broader. Both Northern Yan and the Great Xia to the south will have to re-evaluate this behemoth that has rapidly risen to prominence on the frontier.

What Xiao Chen needs to do is continue to hone this sharp sword, accumulate strength, and wait for, or create, the opportunity that will allow the name of Han Yuan to truly resound throughout the world.

The roars and dust on the training ground seemed to foreshadow that the time was not far off.