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

Great Xia, Divine Capital, Imperial City, Zichen Palace.

The autumn sunlight streamed through the tall, carved vermilion windows, casting bright beams of light onto the gleaming gold brick floor of the main hall. Yet, it could not dispel the somber, oppressive, and even faintly fearful atmosphere that permeated the air.

The once solemn and dignified court assembly was now filled with an eerie silence. Only the wisps of ambergris rising silently from the gilded crane incense burner beside the throne twisted and changed, mirroring the emotions of many courtiers at that moment.

Emperor Jinglong, over fifty years old, with graying temples and a face showing obvious weariness and illness, sat upright on the high dragon throne with difficulty.

His elaborate bright yellow dragon robe seemed unable to conceal his slightly hunched shoulders and back.

His gaze swept over the civil and military officials lined up in two rows below the imperial steps.

The civil officials were led by the Grand Tutor and Minister of Personnel, who was white-bearded and mature, and Zhang Tingyu, the Minister of Revenue and Grand Secretary of the Dongge Pavilion, who was in his prime, with a lean face and sharp eyes.

The military officers were led by Zhu Yong, the Left Commander of the Five Armies and Duke of Cheng, who was tall and dark-skinned but whose eyes revealed shrewdness and a hint of barely perceptible unease, along with several nobles and generals.

However, at this moment, everyone's gaze, whether civil or military, was focused, openly or secretly, on Cui Wenhuan, the Northern Frontier Camp Commander and Deputy Envoy of the Pacification General, who was kneeling below the jade steps, covered in dust, his face filled with grief and fear.

To be precise, the focus was on the urgent military report he held high above his head, covered in dust and even faintly stained with dark brown dirt, and his tearful accusations.

"...We, your humble servants, were ordered to supervise the army, intending to mediate border disputes and strengthen ties between the two states. However, we have learned that Murong Chui of Northern Yan harbors wolfish ambitions, brazenly breaking the peace agreement and launching a 100,000-strong army to invade the south! Prince Jingbei... Xiao Chen,"

When Cui Wenhuan mentioned this name, his voice paused noticeably, as if carrying great fear and some indescribable complex emotions. "Although we fought valiantly, the enemy's forces were overwhelming, and Dingbei Pass was once in grave danger! Your Majesty and I personally went to the front lines to urge the soldiers to fight to the death, but the Northern Yan cavalry was fierce and stubborn, and there were even demons assisting them. Thunder struck from the sky, and our army suffered heavy casualties..."

He choked up as he described the “tragic” battle, portraying Murong Chui’s army as if demons had been reincarnated, and the resistance of Han Yuan’s army as a tragic defense under the “supervision” of the imperial court’s military supervisors. As for things like the “heaven-shattering thunder,” he was vague and attributed them to “Northern Yan sorcery” or “abnormal celestial phenomena.”

Finally, his voice suddenly rose, filled with the trembling of someone who had survived a close call and the impassioned declaration of "unwavering loyalty":

"Fortunately, thanks to the Emperor's divine protection and the soldiers' valiant efforts, coupled with the internal turmoil within Northern Yan, the rebel leader Murong Chui was killed on the battlefield! The rebel army was thus routed!"

Taking advantage of the situation, Prince Jingbei, Xiao Chen, launched a surprise attack, pursuing the fleeing enemy to the north. He actually managed to recapture Longquan Pass in one fell swoop, and then advanced northward, capturing several strongholds of Northern Yan, forcing their new ruler to send envoys to sue for peace!

However, Xiao Chen, without the imperial decree, arbitrarily provoked conflict on the border and privately negotiated peace with Northern Yan. The terms he demanded were appalling! Ceding territory, paying reparations, opening markets, and sending hostages... making him practically a vassal state!

He also took in rebels from Northern Yan and recruited many refugees. His army now numbered in the tens of thousands and occupied all the fertile lands of the north. His power was so great that people in the north only knew of the Prince of Jingbei and were unaware of the imperial court!

Your Majesty, I risked my life to break through the encirclement and endured countless hardships before finally returning to the capital to meet Your Majesty and report this earth-shattering change!

The Northern Territory… the Northern Territory is likely no longer part of the nation! Xiao Chen may become a major threat to the court, Your Majesty!

Cui Wenhuan's performance was vivid and expressive. He attributed the defeat to the "fierceness of the Northern Yan" and "unfavorable timing," described Xiao Chen's victory as "lucky" and "abuse of power," and characterized his subsequent actions as a prelude to "separation and independence."

However, which of these distinguished officials wasn't a shrewd individual? Despite Cui Wenhuan's best efforts to conceal and distort the truth, some crucial information still pierced their ears like ice picks, bringing a chilling sensation:

Murong Chui's 100,000-strong army invaded the south, but was defeated, and his commander-in-chief died suddenly on the battlefield.

Xiao Chen not only defended the pass, but also launched a counterattack and recaptured Longquan Pass.

Was Northern Yan forced to sue for peace, ceding territory and paying reparations?

Xiao Chen already commands tens of thousands of troops and has occupied the entire northern border?

Every piece of information was enough to throw a boulder into the calm court.

When this information is combined, it doesn't cause shock, but panic.

Who is Murong Chui? He is the God of War of Northern Yan, the dark cloud that has hung over the northern border of Great Xia for more than a decade, and a name that strikes fear into the hearts of Great Xia's border troops!

With 100,000 Northern Yan cavalry marching south, according to everyone's expectations, even if Xiao Chen could hold out for a while with the city fortified, he would inevitably suffer heavy losses and eventually need the imperial court to send troops to rescue him, and there was even a possibility that the city would fall and people would die.

But now… Murong Chui is dead? The army of 100,000 has been defeated? Xiao Chen has won? And won so decisively, so… unbelievably?

How is this possible?!

Xiao Chen, who was half exiled and half tested by the court and thrown into the harsh northern lands, given only the empty title of prince and a few thousand remnants of his army? The prince who was known in the capital for his "absurdity" and "playboy"?

He actually has such abilities?!

Was Cui Wenhuan exaggerating, or was there something else going on? What about the "heavenly thunder" and the "demon's assistance"? Where did Xiao Chen conjure up tens of thousands of elite soldiers?

Thinking hard!

If what Cui Wenhuan said is true, even if only 70% of it is true, it means that in the northern border, a corner that the court had almost abandoned, and when no one was optimistic, a prince who was deliberately marginalized actually built a powerful army in just over two years that could defeat the Northern Yan war god head-on and force him to cede territory and sue for peace!

Furthermore, they seized the opportunity to annex almost the entire northern border, possessing tens of thousands of troops and sufficient funds and provisions, effectively establishing a separatist regime!

This is no longer a simple case of a border general achieving merit; this is raising a tiger to cause future trouble! It's a major threat!

A muffled thud shattered the suffocating silence in the hall.

It was Duke Zhu Yong of Cheng. He was clearly shocked by the news, and subconsciously clenched his fist until his knuckles turned white.

As the commander of the Five Armies Commandery, he was extremely sensitive to military matters. The defeat and fall of Murong Chui and the rise of Xiao Chen meant that the military landscape of the northern border had been completely overturned.

The imperial court's already weak influence in the northern border region has now likely vanished completely.

What's even more terrifying is that a commander capable of defeating Murong Chui and an army capable of forcing Northern Yan to make peace are located not too far north of Shenjing... This threat is far more direct and more uncontrollable than that of Northern Yan!

There was also a low commotion in the ranks of civil officials.

A look of surprise and uncertainty flashed in the Grand Tutor's senile old eyes.

Minister of Revenue Zhang Tingyu frowned, his fingers unconsciously twirling the court beads. He was thinking more deeply: Where did Xiao Chen get the money and provisions to support tens of thousands of troops?

How could they survive in the harsh, cold north? Ceding territory and paying reparations... how much wealth did he extract from Northern Yan?

With such power, how much restraint do the imperial court's taxes and salt and iron monopolies have over it?

Some well-informed officials, or those with ties to certain forces in the south, were even more alarmed.

They had vaguely heard that a "King of Jingbei" had emerged in the northern border, and that he was very capable in battle, but they never expected him to be able to fight to this extent! This had completely exceeded the scope of a "border general"; he was a regional lord, a vassal state!

Moreover, this is a powerful regional military governorship that has just achieved unparalleled merit, is riding high on its momentum, and has a strong and well-equipped army! How should the imperial court respond?

Suppress? With what means to suppress? Appease? And how? There's nothing left to reward him with, so are we really going to appoint him King of the North?

"Cough cough..." Emperor Jinglong on the dragon throne coughed violently, and an abnormal flush appeared on his pale face.

The chief eunuch standing nearby quickly stepped forward, carefully patted the emperor's back, and offered him ginseng tea.

Emperor Jinglong pushed aside his teacup, his cloudy gaze falling on Cui Wenhuan kneeling on the ground, then slowly sweeping over the assembled officials with their varied expressions. A chill ran through him, along with an indescribable sense of absurdity and...fear.

He believed Cui Wenhuan's words to a great extent.

Although this lackey exaggerated and shirked responsibility, he wouldn't dare to completely fabricate the core issues, even if he had ten times the courage.

The North has truly changed.

That son he once didn't care about, and even somewhat disliked, actually...

He recalled his unspoken plans when he sent Xiao Chen to the northern border: to use a barren land and a nominal title to get rid of this son whose background was somewhat "obtrusive" and who was "not very well-behaved" in the capital. This would not only preserve the father-son relationship but also give an explanation to the court and the public. Perhaps he could even use him to weaken Northern Yan. Regardless of success or failure, it would not harm the court.

In fact, deep down he might have even harbored the thought of using someone else to do his dirty work.

But now... the knife was borrowed, and the person was almost killed, but the person who wielded the knife has become an even fiercer and more uncontrollable tiger, entrenched in the northern border, baring its menacing teeth at the capital.

"Am I... raising a tiger that will cause trouble?" Emperor Jinglong felt a sharp pain in his heart, followed by another violent cough.

"Your Majesty, please take care of your health!" The officials hurriedly bowed.

Emperor Jinglong, catching his breath, waved his hand wearily, his voice hoarse and weak: "The matter in the northern border... I am aware of it. Minister Cui... you have had a long journey, please step down and present a detailed report on the war. The Ministry of War, the Five Military Commissions, and the Cabinet should discuss... a plan. Court is adjourned."

He had almost no energy to rebuke Cui Wenhuan's defeat, nor did he have the energy to discuss how to deal with Xiao Chen on the spot.

The news was too sudden and too shocking; he needed time to process it and to discuss it in private with his closest confidants.

More importantly, he felt a deep weariness and... fear.

Fear of his son, who was far away in the north and had already gained power; fear of the court's lost prestige; fear of the unpredictable future.

"Dismiss the court!" the chief eunuch drawled in his high-pitched voice.

The officials, each with a different expression, bowed and withdrew from the Zichen Hall. The sun was still shining brightly, but each person felt as if a heavy boulder was pressing down on their heart.

The news of the great victory in the north brought no joy or excitement; instead, it swept through the entire imperial court like a sudden cold snap.

Panic, suspicion, anxiety, scheming... all sorts of emotions spread and fermented in the silence.

Xiao Chen, a name that was once not even considered among the most dissolute young men in the capital, now looms like a huge shadow over the north of the empire, making the emperor and his officials in the Forbidden City feel a chilling cold for the first time.

They knew that the political situation of the Great Xia Dynasty, and even the overall landscape of the world, would likely undergo profound and unpredictable changes due to this unexpected and devastating victory in the northern border.

And they were not yet prepared to deal with the tiger they had released from its cage.