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

Zhenbei City, Jingbei Prince's Mansion, Council Hall.

The air was filled with a slightly somber atmosphere, quite different from the usual military and political discussions.

Beside the huge map of the northern border, a rough map of the southern part of the Great Xia was hung, marking the lands of several states such as Jiang, Hu, and Yue, as well as several winding rivers and their tributaries that were now conspicuously circled in vermilion ink and marked with symbols of breached dikes.

Xiao Chen stood with his hands behind his back in front of the map, his gaze lingering for a moment on the red-marked area symbolizing famine and chaos, before slowly shifting away to sweep over the assembled officials standing solemnly below—Han Lie, Wang Dashan, Zhou Tong, Chen Wen, as well as the newly appointed Director of the Ministry of Works Zheng Qu and the Director of the Department of Commerce responsible for trade with the south.

"Gentlemen," Xiao Chen's voice broke the silence, clear and steady, "several southern states have been devastated by floods, millions of people have been displaced, forced to eat their own children, and plagues are on the verge of breaking out. This is a human tragedy. Although the imperial court has provided relief, its resources are insufficient, and distant waters cannot quench immediate thirst. Although my Hanyuan is located in the remote north, it is still part of the Great Xia Dynasty. How can we stand idly by?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the crowd: "Moreover, the northern border has just been pacified, and the people yearn for peace. Although the imperial court is temporarily unable to attend to the north, Han Yuan must also demonstrate to the world that we are not a separatist regime that only knows how to wage war and does not care about the people's livelihood. Good neighborliness is the way to lasting peace."

The head of the Commerce Department, a lean and capable middle-aged man named Sun Bu'er, immediately bowed and said, "Your Highness is benevolent! This act will not only save countless lives and accumulate merit for our Hanyuan, but also spread Your Highness's benevolent reputation throughout the world, letting the people of the South know that our Northern Territory is not a bitter, cold, and war-torn land, but truly a land of peace and prosperity! It will greatly benefit the attraction of refugees and trade! However..."

He changed the subject, his face showing difficulty, "However, our northern border has many newly annexed territories, and our own expenses are tight. Although the treasury has some reserves, suddenly allocating a large amount of grain to the south may..."

Chen Wen, the head of the Household Department, stepped forward immediately, speaking cautiously: "Your Highness, what Chief Clerk Sun said is true. The harvest from the military farms last year and this year, plus the profits from the trade and monopoly, means that the treasury does indeed have grain stored up."

However, our territory already has a population of over 150,000 and more than 10,000 soldiers, and our daily expenses are already considerable. Moreover, the newly annexed cities last year relied heavily on relief efforts, and with spring planting approaching this year, seeds, farming tools, and rations all need to be prepared.

The sudden transfer of large quantities of grain and fodder southwards may affect the livelihoods of people within our borders and shake our very foundations. Furthermore, floods in the south have disrupted roads, making transportation extremely difficult and inevitably resulting in huge losses.

Zheng Qu, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Works, also said, "Your Highness, with the canal transport cut off and the land routes muddy, large grain convoys heading south will not only suffer losses, but will also require a large number of laborers, carts, and guards, incurring enormous expenses. Moreover, there are likely to be predators in the prefectures and counties along the way who covet our supplies..."

As for the military officers, while Wang Dashan had no objection to the disaster relief itself, he was more concerned about practical issues: "Your Highness, how can we guarantee that the grain will reach the disaster victims after it's transported there? We can't let those corrupt officials and local tyrants embezzle it! Our grain didn't just fall from the sky!"

The ministers' concerns were reasonable. Han Yuan's treasury was indeed quite full, but it was far from being able to be squandered at will.

Food is the lifeblood, the foundation for stabilizing the northern border and supporting expansion.

Using their own precious grain reserves to help disaster victims thousands of miles away, while risking embezzlement and huge losses, seems like a losing proposition.

Xiao Chen listened patiently to everyone's opinions, his face showing no displeasure, but rather a hint of approval: "Gentlemen, your consideration of this matter is truly wise and insightful. Indeed, provisions are the foundation of our northern border and should not be lightly compromised. However, this disaster relief effort is neither a matter of indiscriminately scattering pepper nor a matter of unconditional charity."

He returned to the head seat and sat down, gesturing for everyone else to sit as well, before slowly revealing the strategy he had already carefully considered:

"First, the quantity doesn't need to be large, but the scale must be impressive."

The Ministry of Revenue ordered the allocation of 20,000 shi of aged grain, 5,000 bolts of coarse cloth, and 500 dan of common northern medicinal herbs such as Bupleurum, Saposhnikovia divaricata, and Artemisia argyi from the government treasury.

New grain is unnecessary; old grain will suffice, but it must be thoroughly sifted and free of mold. The cloth need not be of fine quality; it only needs to provide adequate warmth and cover. Medicinal herbs must be of authentic origin.

Twenty thousand bushels of old grain, five thousand bolts of coarse cloth, and five hundred dan of medicinal herbs—this amount is nothing more than a drop in the ocean for the millions of disaster victims.

But for Han Yuan, it was an expenditure that he could afford and that was sufficient to show his "heartfelt intentions." In particular, the use of old grain and coarse cloth had a smaller impact on him.

"Secondly, transportation will not take the official roads or the canal."

Xiao Chen's finger traced a rather inconspicuous route on the map. "Take the Wuguan Road, pass through Heishuiyu, enter Shangzhou, and then distribute the supplies to the border area between Jiangzhou and Huzhou, where the disaster was most severe."

Although this route is rugged, it avoids the main areas of the breached dikes and the chaotic official roads. Moreover, along the way are many bandit groups and local forces that my Night Owl has already infiltrated or can establish connections with.

The grain convoy will be escorted by 500 elite soldiers of the Hanyuan Militia, equipped with sufficient vehicles and packhorses. Furthermore, Night Owl is instructed to make arrangements along the route to ensure the convoy's unimpeded passage.

Using the banner of "Protecting the People's Army" instead of a regular border army allowed them to project power while avoiding excessive provocation to the imperial court.

The "Night Owl" making arrangements along the way is key to ensuring safety and efficiency.

"Third, the relief efforts will not be handled by the government, but by a special person I will send to be in charge."

Xiao Chen looked at Han Lie. "Chief Secretary Han, this matter requires a calm, capable, and efficient person who is proficient in administrative affairs and can make decisive decisions on the spot. Who do you think is suitable for this position?"

Han Lie pondered for a moment, then bowed and said, "Your Highness, Registrar Zhou Tong is meticulous and knowledgeable about the people's conditions. He has overseen the resettlement of displaced people and is quite methodical in his scheduling and allocation. Moreover, he is upright yet flexible, making him suitable for this position."

Xiao Chen nodded: "Very well. Appoint Zhou Tong as the 'Jingbei Prince's Neighborly Relief Envoy' for this mission, in charge of the grain convoy's southward journey and relief efforts. Also, select ten quick-witted students from the academy and five skilled physicians from the medical officers to accompany the convoy. This is not only for disaster relief but also to understand the conditions of the people in the south and to promote the benevolent governance of Hanyuan."

Fourth, the relief method is mainly work-for-relief, supplemented by direct grain distribution.

Xiao Chen continued, "In the disaster area, select higher, more easily controlled locations to set up soup kitchens and medicine sheds. However, the daily distribution of soup and medicine will require the disaster victims to exchange their labor for tasks such as clearing roads, building dikes, and assisting with epidemic prevention. The elderly, weak, women, and children who are unable to do so may be directly relieved as appropriate. The roads and dikes that are built must be marked with steles to clearly state that they were built by the Prince of Jingbei out of compassion for the disaster victims in the South, and that he donated funds and grain to carry out the work-for-relief program."

Work-for-relief programs can not only avoid the proliferation of lazy people from simply distributing food, but also do something practical for the recovery of disaster areas. Furthermore, they can inscribe Hanyuan's "kindness" on the land in the most tangible way and pass it on to the people.

The erection of the monument was the finishing touch, a blatant attempt to win people's hearts, but at this time and place, no one could criticize it.

"Fifth, wherever the grain convoy goes, notices should be posted widely, stating that this is because the Prince of Jingbei heard of the floods in the South and the displacement of the people, and was deeply saddened. He has specially tightened his belt and brought grain, cloth and medicine from the harsh north to provide assistance from afar. Although it is only a drop in the ocean, it is a gesture of camaraderie, and we hope that the people of the South can overcome the difficulties and rebuild their homes as soon as possible."

Xiao Chen's tone was calm, but the wit in his words was immediately understood by everyone present.

This is a propaganda war, a public opinion offensive, designed to create a stark contrast between the court's incompetence and the corruption of local officials and Han Yuan's "benevolence" and "responsibility."

"Finally," Xiao Chen looked at Chen Wen and Sun Bu'er.

"The grain convoy's southward journey is not merely about giving. We can have the accompanying merchant caravans carry our northern goods such as furs, felt, medicinal herbs, and salt blocks, and exchange them for local specialties along the way and in disaster-stricken areas, such as tea, bamboo ware, herbal seeds, and even... recruit various artisans from among the refugees, offering them generous treatment. Those who wish to go north can return with the convoy. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement."

Disaster relief is political and a form of propaganda, but it can also take into account economic interests and talent attraction.

The floods in the south displaced not only farmers, but also various artisans.

This presents an excellent opportunity for Hanyuan, which is currently experiencing rapid development and urgently needs various talents.

After listening to Xiao Chen's comprehensive and meticulous plan, which considered both the overall situation and far-sighted calculations, all the ministers in the hall were full of admiration.

Your Highness is trying to turn what appears to be a "loss-making" disaster relief effort into a multi-faceted operation that benefits politics, diplomacy, propaganda, and even the economy and talent!

It not only demonstrated "benevolence" and gained fame, but also actually helped some disaster victims, stabilized the border, promoted Hanyuan, undermined the court, and even managed to do some business and bring back some talented people.

What they gave up was nothing more than some old grain, coarse cloth, and medicinal herbs commonly found in the north, as well as some manpower.

"Your Highness's wisdom and foresight are beyond our reach!" Han Lie bowed first, completely convinced.

The others echoed their agreement, their previous doubts vanished, and they began to enthusiastically discuss the specific details of the execution.

A few days later, a team carrying the banner of "Prince Jingbei's Neighborly Relief" quietly set off from Zhenbei City.

The convoy was not large, but the vehicles were well-maintained and the guards were highly skilled.

Carrying 20,000 shi of aged grain, 5,000 bolts of coarse cloth, 500 dan of medicinal herbs, and some goods from the north for exchange, the train, escorted by the Hanyuan "People's Protection Army" and secretly watched over by the Night Owl, wound its way south along the route designated by Xiao Chen.

Along the way, they avoided the chaotic official roads and dangerous places where dikes had collapsed, and traversed mountains and valleys.

Wherever they went, they distributed small amounts of food and medicine to treat the wounded and sick, but more importantly, they recruited disaster victims to carry out work relief, repairing destroyed roads and bridges, and reinforcing dikes.

Upon completion of each project, a stone tablet was erected in a prominent location, inscribed with the words "Donated by Prince Jingbei".

As the disaster relief envoy, Zhou Tong acted meticulously, employing both kindness and severity. The accompanying physicians treated the sick, the students recorded the people's conditions, and they publicized the "new policies" of the north.

In secret, Night Owl's men were active among the disaster victims, local powerful figures, and even minor officials, gathering information, spreading rumors, and even secretly recruiting artisans and scholars who were disappointed with the court and possessed skills.

The news spread like wildfire through the chaotic southern states.

"Have you heard? The Prince of Jingbei from the north has sent people to deliver grain!"

"Really? The imperial court can't even provide porridge, would a prince from the north really be so kind?"

"Absolutely true! In my third maternal uncle's hometown, the Prince of Jingbei's men are repairing the road, providing meals—two bowls of thick porridge a day! They're even giving us coarse cloth to make clothes!"

"They even erected a monument, saying it was built with grain donated by the Prince of Jingbei..."

"Sigh, the imperial court... let's not even talk about it. Who would have thought that in the end it would be the prince in the north who would be thinking of us..."

"I heard that the north is now peaceful and there is no more fighting. The prince is benevolent, distributing land and reducing corvée labor..."

"I wish we could go north..."

The imperial court's relief efforts were slow to materialize, or merely a drop in the ocean, and were further embezzled at each level. Local officials were either helpless or lined their own pockets.

Just then, a group from the far north, bearing the banner of "Prince Jingbei," brought real food, cloth, and medicine. Although not much, it was enough to save some lives. They provided work relief, giving the disaster victims hope and dignity. They erected a monument and inscribed the three characters "Prince Jingbei" deep into the land of the disaster area and into the hearts of countless desperate disaster victims.

The contrast is so stark, the impact so intense.

When the team finally arrived in the disaster-stricken area and began setting up soup kitchens and medicine stalls to carry out relief work in an organized manner, the reputation of "King Jingbei's Benevolence" had already spread like wildfire throughout the disaster area.

Although the Han Yuan government kept a low profile, only saying that it was "a small contribution and a gesture of camaraderie," the political and public opinion impact it generated far exceeded the 20,000 shi of grain and 5,000 bolts of cloth themselves.

Inside the Jingbei Prince's Mansion, listening to the constant stream of messages from the south carried by the Night Owl, Xiao Chen knew that this move had been the right one.

He leveraged limited resources to generate enormous influence.

The floods in the south were a disaster for the imperial court, but for him, it was a golden opportunity to spread the name of Han Yuan's "benevolent rule" to a wider land.

This southward campaign, ostensibly for "disaster relief" but in reality a political infiltration and a struggle for popular support, has only just begun.