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

Chapter 21 Recruiting the Remnants of the Army to Form a Core Unit

Scarface Liu's body was hung on the city gate tower for three days.

For three days, the people of Hanyuan City would stop to watch whenever they passed by.

Some people spat, some threw stones, and most just watched silently with complicated expressions.

But on the fourth day, Xiao Chen had the body removed.

"Find a place to bury him," he said.

Uncle Fu was puzzled: "Your Highness, this kind of scum should just be thrown into a mass grave to feed the wolves, why bother..."

"Debts are settled upon death."

Xiao Chen shook his head. "He committed numerous evils and deserved to die. But killing him is enough; there's no need to desecrate his body. If Hanyuan City is to come back to life, it cannot continue to live in hatred."

Uncle Fu seemed to understand, but he did as instructed.

Scarface Liu was buried in a mass grave outside the city. No tombstone was erected; only a wooden stake was driven in, with three words carved on it: "Sinner Liu."

After dealing with Scarface Liu, Xiao Chen began to reorganize the city's defenses.

The city wall is basically complete. Although it is still an earthen wall, it finally looks like a city.

The barricades, trenches, and traps were all in place. What we lack now is manpower—manpower that can actually fight.

Only a little over a hundred veterans remain, and most of them are wounded.

There are a considerable number of surrendered soldiers and militiamen, but they lack training. It's hard to say whether they can hold their own in a real fight.

Xiao Chen thought of another group of people.

The abandoned military camp in the north of the city.

There lived more than thirty old soldiers there, all of whom were retired border troops. Because they had nowhere else to go, they settled in Hanyuan City.

When Scarface Liu was alive, these people were ostracized and oppressed, and could only shrink into the military camp, making a living by doing odd jobs and collecting scraps.

Xiao Chen decided to go and take a look.

He didn't bring many people with him—Zhao Tie, Uncle Fu, and two veterans.

He carried no weapons, only a few cloth bags filled with grain.

The military camp was dilapidated.

Several sections of the earthen wall had collapsed, and the roof was letting in drafts.

There were piles of broken copper and iron in the yard, and several old men were gathered around a bonfire, roasting something—upon closer inspection, it was a few rats.

Upon seeing someone approaching, the elderly people stood up warily.

The leader was an old man with one arm, sharp eyes, and a straight back. Although his clothes were tattered, he had the air of a soldier.

"Who are you looking for?" the one-armed old man asked.

Xiao Chen stepped forward: "My name is Xiao Chen, and I am the new Prince of Hanyuan City."

"The Prince?"

The old man sized him up, his eyes full of disbelief. "A prince in this wretched place like Hanyuan?"

"We didn't have that before, but we do now," Xiao Chen said frankly. "May I ask your surname, sir?"

"My surname is Wang, Wang Dashan."

The old man paused for a moment, then said, "However, everyone calls me 'Old Wang with one arm'."

Wang Dashan?

Xiao Chen was taken aback.

This name is the same as that of Wang Dashan, one of his subordinates.

"What a coincidence," he said, "I also have a Wang Dashan under my command, who used to be in the Shenwu Army."

Old Wang, with the one-armed arm, had his eyes light up: "The Divine Martial Army? Which battalion?"

"Scout Camp"

"Scout Camp..."

"Is there a scar on his left leg, from a Northern Yan armor-piercing arrow?" Old Wang muttered, then suddenly asked, "Is there a scar on his left leg?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

Old Wang, with his one-armed arm, suddenly stood up, his single arm trembling: "He...he's still alive?"

"Live in the City Lord's Mansion."

Xiao Chen looked at the old man. "Do you know him?"

"More than just acquaintances..."

Old Wang, with his one-armed arm, had tears in his eyes. "He's my nephew! During the battle at Yumen Pass in the seventh year of Yanxi, we all thought he was dead..."

It turned out to be the case.

Xiao Chen felt more confident.

He sent someone back to the city to fetch Wang Dashan, while he himself sat down and chatted with the veterans.

These veterans range in age from seventy to over fifty.

They all served in the border army for twenty or thirty years, and after retiring, they had nowhere to go and ended up in Hanyuan.

When Scarface Liu was in power, they were severely oppressed—because they were veterans who knew how to fight, Scarface Liu was afraid they would band together and rebel, so he deliberately suppressed them.

"Old Zhang froze to death last winter."

The one-armed old man pointed to a tattered straw mat in the corner, "He used to be a swordsman and shield bearer in the Tiger Legion. He broke three ribs while guarding Yumen Pass, but he didn't die. In the end, he froze to death in the Cold Abyss."

His voice choked with emotion: "We people have shed blood and sweat for the Great Xia all our lives, and in the end... we can't even get a hot meal."

The other veterans also lowered their heads, some wiping away tears, others gritting their teeth.

Xiao Chen listened quietly, and only spoke after he finished speaking: "Elder Wang, esteemed seniors, I have come today to invite you to come out of seclusion."

"Coming down from the mountains?"

Old Wang, who had lost an arm, was taken aback. "What can we old bones still do?"

"There are many more things I can do."

Xiao Chen stood up, looked around at the veterans, and said, "When it comes to building city walls, you know how to build the strongest ones. When it comes to training militia, you know how to train them to be the most effective fighters. When it comes to defending the city, you know how to defend it with the least effort. When it comes to fighting, you know how to fight the most effectively."

He paused, then raised his voice: "Hanyuan City is currently short of manpower, especially people who truly understand warfare. You seniors have served in the border army for many years and are highly experienced; you are exactly the kind of talent Hanyuan needs most."

The veterans looked at each other in bewilderment.

Some were tempted, while others were skeptical.

"Your Highness," a lame old soldier asked, "do you really want us old, weak, and disabled soldiers?"

"want."

Xiao Chen said firmly, "So what if I'm old? So what if I'm injured? As long as I have experience and heart, I can still be useful."

"And... what about the compensation?"

Another one-eyed veteran asked, "Back then, Scarface Liu made us work, he only provided food, but didn't pay us."

Xiao Chen smiled.

He took out grain from the cloth bag—not moldy grain, but newly captured grain, pure white millet.

"From today onward, all those who work for me will be provided with two full meals a day and one shi of grain a month. Those who achieve merit in battle will receive additional rewards."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, I promise that once Hanyuan City is firmly established, I will allocate land and houses to you, so that you can live out your old age in peace."

land!

houses!

These two words hold a fatal allure for these homeless veterans.

"Is what the Prince said... true?" The one-armed old king's voice trembled.

"I, Xiao Chen, never go back on my word."

Xiao Chen said seriously, "Moreover, I can draw up a written agreement."

He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, on which the promise was already written: Anyone who serves Hanyuan City for a full year will be granted five mu of land and a house. Those who serve for three years will be granted ten mu of land and three houses. Those who have rendered meritorious service in battle will be rewarded separately.

Below the document was the seal of the Prince.

The veterans passed the document around, their hands trembling.

What are they risking their lives for? Isn't it just so they can have food to eat and a place to live when they get old?

But the imperial court ignored them, the government ignored them, and even local thugs like Scarface Liu bullied them.

Now, finally someone is taking care of it.

"Your Highness..."

Old Wang, who had lost an arm, knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face. "My life, Old Wang's life, is now yours!"

The other veterans also knelt down.

"I am willing to die for the Prince!"

Although the voice was old, it was still strong and resonant.

Just then, Wang Dashan arrived.

He rushed into the yard, saw the one-armed old man, and froze.

"Third...Third Uncle?"

"Dashan!" Old Wang, who had lost an arm, rushed over, hugged his nephew with his one arm, and burst into tears.

The uncle and nephew embraced and wept bitterly.

Other veterans also gathered around, recognizing their former comrades and fellow soldiers.

In an instant, the courtyard was filled with the sound of weeping.

Xiao Chen stood aside, watching quietly.

When the crying subsided, he finally spoke: "Wang Dashan."

"Your humble servant is here!" Wang Dashan wiped away his tears and stood at attention.

"From today onwards, these thirty-three seniors will be incorporated into your team. You will be responsible for settling them in and assigning them tasks."

Xiao Chen said, "Remember, they are seniors, they are heroes, and they should be respected."

"yes!"

"Also," Xiao Chen looked at the one-armed old Wang, "Old Wang, you are very experienced, and I would like to ask you to be my advisor. I will need to consult you more on matters of city defense and troop training in the future."

The one-armed old king was flattered and overwhelmed: "Your Highness is too kind! I am but a cripple, how could I dare..."

"You are not disabled."

Xiao Chen interrupted him, "You are the backbone of Hanyuan City."

One sentence brought tears to the eyes of all the veterans.

That afternoon, thirty-three veterans moved into an empty house next to the city lord's mansion.

Xiao Chen had food, firewood, and bedding delivered. Although simple, it was at least enough to keep them sheltered from the wind and snow.

After settling down, the first thing Old Wang with the missing arm did was to go find Xiao Chen.

"Your Highness, there is something I wish to tell you."

"Please speak, Mr. Wang."

"It concerns the defense of Cold Abyss City."

The one-armed old man took out a piece of paper—a simple map marked with the terrain around Hanyuan City. "I've lived in Hanyuan for five years and know every mountain and river around here. There are a few places you should pay attention to."

He pointed to the map: "Ten miles east of the city, there is a swamp. It freezes solid in winter and is passable, but it becomes a natural barrier when it thaws in spring. We can set up a sentry post there to monitor the movements in the east."

"Fifteen li south of the city, there is a beacon tower, left over from the previous dynasty. Although it is dilapidated, it can still be used after some repairs. Once an enemy attacks, the beacon can be lit so that the city can prepare in advance."

"West of the city..."

He paused, then continued, "Your Highness, you know about the Black Stone Mountain west of the city, right?"

Xiao Chen's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm: "I know, what's wrong?"

There are treasures in those mountains.

The one-armed old man lowered his voice, "When I was young, I worked in the Ordnance Bureau and I know the mines. The black stones in those mountains can be burned, and the red stones can be used to smelt iron. The previous dynasty had mines there, but they were abandoned due to war. Scarface Liu also knows about them, but he doesn't know how to mine them, so he's never touched them."

Xiao Chen breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully, Old Wang only knew there was a mine, but not its exact location.

"Who else knows about this?"

"Just this old man and a few old brothers."

The one-armed old man said, "We've discussed it. If the prince trusts us, we'll take some men to investigate when spring comes. If there really is a mine, then Hanyuan won't have to worry about anything."

Xiao Chen nodded: "Okay, I'll leave this to you when spring comes."

The one-armed old Wang was very happy and shared a lot of his experience in defending the city—how to set up sentry posts, how to allocate troops, how to deal with night attacks, and how to prevent internal strife.

Xiao Chen listened carefully and took notes.

By the time Old Wang finished speaking, it was already dark.

As Xiao Chen saw him to the door, he suddenly asked, "Elder Wang, do you think we can defend Hanyuan?"

The one-armed old man stopped and turned to look at Xiao Chen.

Under the moonlight, the old man's eyes were clear and firm.

"Your Highness, I have served in the border army for thirty years, defending seven cities and capturing three of them."

He said, "Whether a city can be defended or not depends not on how high the walls are or how many soldiers there are, but on one thing."

"What is it?"

"Human hearts".

Old Wang, with one arm, said each word carefully, "When people are united, even an earthen wall can become an iron wall. When people are scattered, even an iron wall is just an earthen wall."

He paused, then said, "The people of Hanyuan are now united. Therefore, we can hold out."

Xiao Chen smiled: "I'm relieved to hear that."

After seeing Old Wang off, Xiao Chen returned to the courtroom.

He spread out the map and marked the key points that the one-armed old Wang had mentioned.

Swamp, beacon tower, Black Rock Mountain...

Points connect to form lines, and lines connect to form a network.

The defense system of Hanyuan City gradually became clear.

And his team gradually took shape.

Wang Dashan was in charge of military affairs, Zhao Tie was in charge of intelligence, Fu Bo was in charge of internal affairs, and Amu was in charge of reconnaissance.

Now we have veterans like Old Wang with one arm, who are in charge of advice and training.

Although there are still few people and the city is still dilapidated, at least it has a framework.

The rest is about filling the skeleton with flesh and making the city truly come alive.

Xiao Chen picked up a pen and wrote a few words on a piece of paper:

Spring plowing, mining, military training, and trade.

This is what needs to be done next.

One thing at a time, one task at a time, must be done.

And it must be done well.

Because Hanyuan City cannot afford to lose.

He can't afford to lose.

Outside the window, the north wind howled.

But inside the courtroom, the charcoal fire was burning brightly.