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

Deep within the White Tiger Hall of the Jingbei Prince's Mansion lies a secret room never open to outsiders.

There were no windows, and the walls were all made of hard granite. Only a few huge tallow candles illuminated the room as bright as day.

The air was filled with the distinctive scent of the North, a mixture of leather, steel, and cold dust.

In the center of the secret room was a huge solid wood table that occupied most of the room. On the table were not ordinary books and writing implements, but a meticulously crafted and breathtaking sand table depicting the state of the world.

The sand table is sculpted with delicate clay, outlining mountains, rivers, cities, and passes.

The magnificent landscape of the Great Xia Dynasty, the vast snowfields of the northern border, the Gobi oasis of the Western Liang, the winding coastline of the East China Sea, and even parts of the deserts of the Western Regions and the water network of the south are all vividly depicted on it.

Different regions are marked with miniature flags, fortresses, and terracotta warrior models to indicate their spheres of influence.

At this moment, the black wolf flag representing the Cold Abyss is firmly planted in the "Zhenbei City" and surrounding key locations in the core of the Northern Territory. The flagpole is straight, exuding a stern and unassailable aura.

The Azure Wolf Banner, representing the Western Liang, and the Blue Scale Banner, representing the Eastern Sea, are located in the northwest and northeast respectively, forming a triangular formation with the Black Banner, and are connected by golden silk threads symbolizing an alliance.

In the south of the sand table, the capital city representing the heart of the Great Xia Dynasty and the vast, prosperous lands surrounding it are a scene of terrifying chaos.

The bright yellow dragon flag symbolizing the crown prince, the red flame flag of the Qin king, the black stag flag of the Jin king, and several other small flags of various forces were intertwined and tangled together.

Between the flags, there were countless red short arrows and broken weapon models representing conflict, confrontation, and troop movements. Especially around the capital, the red arrows were so dense that they almost submerged the miniature model of the imperial capital.

An invisible sense of unease and turmoil seemed to emanate from this sand table.

Xiao Chen stood with his hands behind his back in front of the sand table, his posture as upright as a pine tree. He was dressed in a black casual robe, which made him appear particularly profound in the candlelight.

He leaned slightly forward, his deep gaze slowly sweeping over every inch of land and every mark on the sand table, finally lingering on that chaotic southern region.

Standing beside him were the three most core members of Han Yuan:

Han Lie, dressed in a blue robe, with a lean face and wise and calm eyes, habitually held a scroll of the latest intelligence summary in his hand. He was Xiao Chen's brain and the mastermind behind Han Yuan's internal and external affairs.

Wang Dashan, with his towering figure, habitually stood straight as a spear even indoors. The wrinkles etched on his face by the elements looked as if they had been carved by a knife and axe in the candlelight. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and when he swept them across the sand table, he did so with the instinctive scrutiny of a professional soldier regarding the terrain and troop positions.

He was Xiao Chen's right-hand man and the cornerstone of Han Yuan's martial prowess.

Murong Xue stood slightly behind Xiao Chen on the other side, dressed in a moon-white outfit with a silver fox fur vest over it. Her black hair was simply tied up, and her beautiful face had lost the gentleness of a new bride, replaced by a cool and focused expression.

She held a slender wooden staff in her hand, which was a "scepter" that Xiao Chen had specially given her to participate in the council.

As a new member of the core circle, she is not only a princess, but also a partner who demonstrated extraordinary strategic vision in devising a plan on a snowy night.

"Did you see it clearly?"

Xiao Chen's deep voice echoed in the silent chamber, carrying the sound of metal and stone, clearly drawing the three people's attention back from the sand table.

"The capital city has become a boiling pot. The three Xiao brothers, along with the forces behind them, are putting this ancestral foundation of three hundred years on the fire and boiling it fiercely, wishing they could smash the pot and divide it up."

His finger lightly pointed towards the dense red area, his tone flat yet laced with cold sarcasm.

Han Lie nodded slightly and replied, "What Your Highness says is absolutely right."

According to the latest intelligence report, three days ago, a small-scale conflict broke out between a part of the Shence Army under the command of the King of Qin and the Five Cities Garrison under the control of the Crown Prince outside Yongding Gate in the south of the city, resulting in over a hundred casualties.

The Prince of Jin intensified his efforts to contact his former subordinates in the Beijing garrison, seemingly preparing to forcibly enter the city.

Grain prices in the city have tripled, rumors are flying, and people are filled with anxiety.

In several southern regions, governors and prefects have openly intercepted taxes and recruited soldiers, preferring to observe rather than await imperial decree.

"Good chaos!"

Wang Dashan snorted, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. "Let them fight like dogs. The fiercer they fight, the easier it will be for us to deal with them later! Your Highness, our men are all itching to fight!"

As the commander of the army, he was most aware of the Han Yuan Army's strong desire for battle and its formidable strength.

Murong Xue did not speak immediately. Her clear gaze followed Xiao Chen's finger as she carefully examined every detail on the sand table, especially the borders between the various forces and key transportation points.

Xiao Chen looked at the three of them, his gaze sweeping over each one, and slowly spoke. His voice was not loud, but every word carried immense weight, striking the hearts of each of them:

"The world is like a game of chess, and we have now reached the middle stage of the battle. My Han Yuan has been lying low in the north not to avoid the world, but to accumulate strength. Now, that strength is about to be realized. The reason I have summoned you here today is to determine the course of the world's chess game for the next ten years, and perhaps even longer."

He held out three fingers:

"Firstly, a short-term strategy—strengthening the foundation and cultivating vitality, while observing from the sidelines."

Xiao Chen's finger first touched the dark area representing the Cold Abyss. "The chaos in the Central Plains cannot be quelled in a year or two. This is a godsend, the last window of opportunity. What we must do is use this precious time to solidify our foundations like never before!"

"Regarding domestic affairs," he looked at Han Lie, "Chief Secretary Han, the implementation of the new policies, especially those concerning agriculture, industry, commerce, and education, needs to be accelerated!"

In agriculture, new farming tools, composting methods, and seed selection must be popularized throughout the region as soon as possible. Soil moisture conditions for this winter and next spring must be predicted in advance, and irrigation works must be repaired as soon as possible. I want the granary of the northern region to increase reserves by another 30% within three years!

Workshops, especially those in the military, metallurgy, and machinery industries, must quickly mass-produce all verified blueprints from the Institute of Physics, while strictly controlling quality!

In trade, taking advantage of the chaos in the Central Plains and the obstruction of trade routes, we will increase trade with Xiliang, Donghai, and even the Western Regions, using our salt, ironware, furs, and medicinal herbs to exchange for grain, warhorses, copper, and even people!

The schools, military academies, craft academies, and elementary schools should be expanded in scale, and talents should be recruited without being bound by convention!

If there's not enough money, allocate from the treasury; if there's not enough manpower, transfer from various prefectures and counties; if there's resistance, I'll resolve it!

Han Lie's expression was solemn as he quickly took notes, saying in a deep voice, "Your subject understands. The Swift Wind Plan has been drafted, with all matters detailed, assigned to officials, deadlines set, and regular assessments conducted. It will certainly not delay Your Highness's important affairs."

Xiao Chen nodded and turned his gaze to Wang Dashan: "In terms of military affairs, Commander Wang, the reorganization, drills, and re-equipment of the army cannot be stopped for a moment!"

The training of officers at the military academy should be intensified, and they must thoroughly understand the new drill manuals.

Joint exercises between the armed forces should be routine. Border defense should be relaxed on the outside but tight on the inside, leaving no opportunity for the grasslands to exploit. Furthermore,

He paused, his voice lowered but sounding even more solemn, "The establishment and training of the Xuanjia Guards is of paramount importance! Provide them with manpower, resources, and land as needed!"

As for Black Wind Gorge, we must isolate it from the outside world. The training syllabus can be expanded as needed! What I need is not three hundred elite soldiers, but three hundred divine weapons that can decide the fate of the world with a single strike at the most crucial moment!

"I want to see initial results within a year, or at most a year and a half!"

Wang Dashan puffed out his chest, his eyes gleaming: "Your Highness, rest assured!"

Black Wind Gorge is now completely closed. The first batch of three hundred "seeds" have been preliminarily selected according to the strict standards set by the prince and are undergoing hellish initial training.

The instructors are all top veterans from various armies and elites drawn by Night Owl, as well as extraordinary people and talents recruited from the martial arts world and the common people.

In terms of equipment, the guys from the Institute of Physics were being pressured so much that they were practically living in the military workshop.

"One year! This humble general pledges that one year from now, I will deliver to Your Highness a 'Black Armor Guard' that can be deployed, stand up to the challenge, and win battles!"

Xiao Chen nodded slightly, seemingly unsurprised by Wang Dashan's assurance.

He continued, "Externally, we will continue to deepen our alliance with Xiliang and Donghai, and the conditions can be even more favorable."

Our attitude toward all parties in the Central Plains remains unchanged: to be accommodating and impartial, emphasizing loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, and maintaining stability.

But in secret, Night Owl wanted to intensify his infiltration efforts, not only targeting the three major powers in the capital, but also to uncover the secrets of the restless local governors and powerful families in the south.

When necessary, one can secretly provide funding or sow discord, making the waters of the Central Plains as murky as possible.

Remember, before the Xuanjia Guard is fully formed and we are ready, we will never proactively invade the south, unless someone dares to extend their reach into the north!

"Secondly, the mid-term strategy—to seize an opportunity to march south, to mourn the people and punish the guilty."

Xiao Chen's finger slowly moved south from the northern border, crossing the red area representing chaos, and lightly touched the heart of the Central Plains. "When the various forces in the Central Plains are exhausted from fighting, the people are impoverished, and the hearts of the people yearn for stability; or, when a sufficiently legitimate excuse arises, such as a certain force acting perversely and incurring the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people; or, when a force is blind and actively provokes the core interests of my Cold Abyss... then that will be our time to march south!"

His fingers traced several possible routes of advance on the sand table: "At that time, what we need is not only a massive army to crush us, but also a banner that can occupy the moral high ground."

"The campaigns to quell rebellions, purge the court of corrupt officials, punish the traitors, and pacify the people and punish the guilty... there are many titles, the key is to choose the right time, identify the right target, and strike decisively!"

He looked at Murong Xue and said, "Xue'er, at that time, the role of the Xuanjia Guards will be irreplaceable."

"Decapitate the enemy chieftain, create chaos, coordinate attacks from within and without, seize strategic passes, spread rumors, sow discord among the enemy... I want you to open up countless unseen battlefields beyond the main front, so that the enemy is thrown into chaos and exhausted before the battle even begins!"

Murong Xue held a wooden pole and lightly tapped several key cities and passes on the sand table. Her clear, cold voice carried an undeniable firmness: "Your Highness, rest assured, the Xuanjia Guards will not fail in their mission once they are unsheathed. Where a thunderous strike is needed, and where a decisive blow is required, I, along with Commander Wang and Chief Secretary Han, will carefully analyze the situation and devise a detailed strategy."

"Thirdly, the long-term ambition—to unify the world and to reform and innovate."

Xiao Chen's voice suddenly rose, his gaze like lightning, sweeping across the vast territory on the sand table, finally settling on the model of the capital city, which symbolized supreme power but was now in chaos. "We are heading south not to plunder, not to establish a separatist regime, and certainly not to repeat the cycle of the old dynasties!"

What we want is to end this chaotic world, to break the web woven by powerful families, corrupt officials, and arrogant soldiers over the past few centuries, and to establish a stronger, more prosperous, and more just new order on this wounded land!

Let the laws of the Cold Abyss be implemented throughout the land; let the governance of the North benefit all living beings!

His words were not particularly impassioned, but they carried a heavy weight and an unquestionable determination, stirring the hearts of veteran officials like Han Lie and Wang Dashan, and making Murong Xue's eyes gleam with admiration.

This is not a simple change of dynasty; it is about reshaping the land!

After Xiao Chen finished speaking, he withdrew his finger, put it behind his back, and turned his gaze back to the red area that represented the chaos in the Central Plains. A cold, knowing smile played on his lips.

"The opera in the Central Plains is reaching its climax, so let them put in even more effort and sing even louder."

He seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps to the small flags representing opposing forces on the sand table, "We have plenty of patience. Let the bullets... fly a little longer."

The room was completely silent, except for the occasional crackling of the tallow candle flame.

Han Lie, Wang Dashan, and Murong Xue all took a deep breath, looking at the sand table and then at Xiao Chen's tall and powerful back.

They could almost see, amidst the biting winds and snow of the North, an unprecedentedly massive and sophisticated war machine, under the will of this young lord, quietly accelerating its operation, emitting a deep and terrifying roar.

Countless provisions were being gathered, countless swords and spears were being forged, countless soldiers were being drilled, and countless strategies were being devised.

They are waiting.

Waiting for the bloody feast in the Central Plains to come to an end, waiting for the best time to enter.

At that time, this long-dormant northern wolf will pounce on that chaotic yet fertile land with overwhelming force, to end the chaos and to create a new era that belongs to Han Yuan and to all those on this land who yearn for peace and prosperity.

The chessboard is set up; all that remains is to make a move.

Holding your hand, my heart is as steadfast as a rock.