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

Inside Zhuojun City, the mansion that originally belonged to the prefect and was now requisitioned as the headquarters of the Northern Expeditionary Army was filled with a heavy atmosphere, as if frozen.

Outside, the cold wind howled, swirling fine snowflakes that tapped against the windowpane, making a rustling sound that added to the somber atmosphere.

Inside, the charcoal brazier burned bright red, but it couldn't dispel the bone-chilling cold.

Qin King Xiao Rui and Jin King Xiao Ming sat facing each other. On the table in front of them was a rough map of the northern border, on which several supply lines and several locations that had just been attacked were sketched in cinnabar ink.

Both of their faces were as gloomy as the winter sky, so somber they looked like they could be wrung out of water.

"...Another five hundred carts of grain were burned to the ground thirty miles south of Gu'an! The three hundred soldiers protecting the grain, along with two hundred laborers, were all killed!"

Prince Xiao Ming of Jin slammed his fist on the table, causing the teacups to bounce and spill tea, wetting a corner of the map and spreading a dark water stain, like the ever-expanding shadow of defeat.

"This is the sixth incident this month! If this continues, even without Xiao Chen taking action, all 200,000 of us will starve or freeze to death in this Zhuojun City!"

King Xiao Rui of Qin did not respond immediately. He just stared intently at the few alarming red crosses on the map, as if he wanted to burn the map through.

His fingers unconsciously rubbed the hilt of the sword at his waist, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

North of Zhuojun, the Hanyuan Army adopted a scorched-earth policy, leaving behind a desolate wasteland where supplies could not be replenished locally.

The army consumed enormous amounts of food and resources daily, both for the men and horses.

The supply line behind them, stretching for hundreds of miles from Shenjing, seemed to be bitten by countless invisible venomous snakes, constantly bleeding and riddled with holes.

At first, it was just sporadic small-scale raids, stealing a few carts of grain and killing a few lone scouts.

They didn't pay much attention, assuming it was the work of defeated soldiers and bandits, and simply increased the number of guards.

But soon, the scale of the attacks grew larger, the frequency increased, and the methods became more ruthless and precise.

From small teams of dozens of men, they grew into elite cavalry assaults of hundreds; from simple looting, they evolved to burning provisions, destroying bridges and water sources, assassinating messengers and guides, and even disguising themselves as defeated soldiers or friendly forces to infiltrate camps, create chaos, and spread rumors.

Each attack was like a precise scalpel, cutting into the most vulnerable part of the supply line.

The escorting troops were mostly a hastily assembled, weak force or conscripted laborers. They were almost powerless against the attackers who were swift, ruthless, and well-equipped.

What's most chilling is that these attackers are like ghosts, knowing everything about the supply lines—which grain convoy departs at what time, which route it takes, how many guards it has, and even the personality and habits of the generals leading the convoys.

They always manage to launch the most devastating attack at the most unexpected time and in the most opportune place, and then disappear swiftly into the vast wilderness or forests without leaving a trace, before reinforcements arrive.

"Not a bandit, absolutely not."

The King of Qin finally spoke, his voice hoarse, filled with suppressed anger and deep exhaustion, "The bandits don't have such sophisticated equipment, such tight organization, and it's impossible for them to know our supply routes and troop deployments so well! These are Xiao Chen's cavalry! His most elite scouts and rangers!"

"Scouts? Rangers?"

Prince Xiao Ming of Jin's eyes were bloodshot. "What kind of scouts and cavalry could have such abilities? Appearing and disappearing like ghosts, striking with deadly accuracy, leaving no trace! The cavalry we sent out to wipe them out couldn't even catch a glimpse of them! Instead, they ambushed us, causing the loss of several squadrons!"

The King of Qin remained silent.

He already had a more terrifying suspicion in his mind, but he was unwilling, or rather, dared not say it aloud.

That was not just an elite cavalry unit; behind it must have been a vast, sophisticated, and all-pervasive intelligence network, secretly watching their every move and continuously transmitting their strengths, weaknesses, and movements to those ghostly attackers.

It's a night owl.

That legendary, mysterious, and omnipresent intelligence organization under the command of Prince Jingbei, Xiao Chen.

This name, like a cold shadow, swept across the King of Qin's heart.

If it really was the Night Owl coordinating with the cavalry... then they were facing not just enemies on the battlefield, but omnipresent eyes and blades.

"Report—!"

A piercing shout shattered the deathly silence within the Marshal's Mansion.

A general, covered in blood and with his armor askew, practically tumbled in, collapsing to the ground. His voice, distorted by extreme fear and exhaustion, cried out, "Marshals! No...nothing's wrong! The Zhangshui ferry crossing...is lost!"

"What?!"

The King of Qin and the King of Jin stood up abruptly at the same time, knocking over their chairs with a loud bang.

The Zhangshui Ferry was one of the most important supply hubs connecting the Zhuojun camp with the rear!

Large quantities of grain and supplies had to be transported across the river from there! What would it mean if the ferry crossing were lost?

"It was midnight last night..."

The officer was panting heavily, his face full of horror. "An enemy army that appeared out of nowhere, all dressed in black armor, numbering no less than two thousand!"

The ferry guards were caught off guard and were breached in just one hour!

General Liu, the defending commander, was killed in battle, and all the grain ships and ferries were burned! The pontoon bridge was also dismantled!

The enemy...after burning the grain depot at the ferry crossing, the enemy...then retreated, their whereabouts unknown!

The ferry crossing was breached, the grain ships were burned, and the pontoon bridge was destroyed!

This means that not only was a large amount of grain that had been transported to the ferry and was waiting to be transferred burned, but more importantly, the supply route from the south bank to the north bank was completely cut off!

For at least a period of time, supplies from the rear could no longer be transported to the front lines in Zhuojun by waterway!

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"

Prince Xiao Ming of Jin trembled with rage, drawing his sword and wishing he could cleave the defeated general before him in two. "Two thousand men! Two thousand men can break through the ferry? What is Liu Cheng good for?! Are you all useless idiots?!"

The face of King Xiao Rui of Qin could no longer be described as ugly; it was ashen.

The loss of Zhangshui Ferry not only meant the loss of another batch of precious grain, but also that their already fragile supply artery had been severed at the waist!

In winter, land transport is inefficient and suffers huge losses due to constant harassment by enemy cavalry. Now that the waterways are also cut off... the army's food supply will be in dire straits!

"Where is the enemy?" King Qin asked through gritted teeth, suppressing the surge of anger in his heart.

"I...I don't know...After they burned down the ferry crossing, they disappeared into the hilly area on the north bank..." the defeated general answered tremblingly.

It's always like this! One successful strike, and they flee a thousand miles away!

The King of Qin closed his eyes and seemed to see those knights in black armor, like ghosts emerging from hell, riding away into the darkness against the backdrop of burning grain ships and towering flames at the ferry crossing.

Ruthless, efficient, and deadly.

"Report! Urgent military intelligence!"

Before the King of Qin could recover from the shock of losing the ferry, another messenger rushed in, his face even paler than the first. "Urgent report from the southern front! Night attack! Last night at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), our army's grain transport camp in Xincheng was attacked!"

The enemy troops sneaked in under cover of night, bypassed the outer outposts, and rushed straight to the central camp, setting fires everywhere!

Our army was thrown into chaos, trampling each other, resulting in countless deaths and injuries!

Most of the 50,000 shi of grain and fodder stockpiled in the camp were burned!

The grain inspector... Grain inspector Lord Wang, died in the chaos of battle!

"Fifty thousand shi...grain and fodder..." Prince Xiao Ming of Jin's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

Fifty thousand shi! That was the life-saving grain they had painstakingly squeezed out from the rear, stored in the new city, and prepared to be transported to the front lines in batches!

That was enough rations to sustain an army of 200,000 for half a month! And just like that... it was all gone in a single fire?

King Xiao Rui of Qin felt a sudden darkness before his eyes and a ringing in his ears.

The Xincheng camp, located on the relatively safe southern front, was defended by nearly 10,000 troops, yet it was so easily breached and such a huge amount of grain was burned.

How many troops did the enemy actually send? How did they manage to pinpoint the granary amidst such a vast army and strike it successfully? Were they truly heavenly soldiers?

No, they are not heavenly soldiers or generals.

It's a night owl.

It must be a night owl.

Only a night owl with a thorough understanding of the internal situation could locate the granary so accurately, know the weak points of the garrison, and launch such a deadly raid at night.

"It's over...it's all over..." The Prince of Jin slumped into his chair, utterly dejected, and muttered to himself.

The supply lines were cut off, the ferry crossings were destroyed, and the transport camps were burned down... A series of precise and deadly blows, like a combination of punches, slammed into the already fragile supply lifeline of the Northern Expeditionary Army.

With 200,000 mouths to feed on the front lines, the daily food consumption is astronomical.

The already strained food reserves were almost depleted after several attacks and burnings.

King Xiao Rui of Qin clung to his last shred of reason; he knew he couldn't wait any longer.

If we wait any longer, the army will collapse and scatter on its own, even without Xiao Chen's attack!

"Pass on the order..."

His voice was terribly hoarse. "Tomorrow morning, break camp! The entire army will march north and attack... Ji City!"

This was his last gamble.

While the army can still barely maintain its formation, and while the soldiers still have a sliver of strength and hope, concentrate all forces and launch a fierce attack on Jicheng!

If we can capture Jicheng, even just by breaking through a small gap, we can obtain the city's stored food and supplies, and turn the tide! We can... find a way out of this desperate situation!

However, even he himself felt that this order was so pale and powerless.

Attack? Send a group of hungry, demoralized, and disorganized soldiers to attack a well-prepared and rested fortified city? What's the difference between that and sending them to their deaths?

But he had no other choice.

Sitting and waiting to die is certain death, but taking a risk might... offer a glimmer of hope?

The atmosphere inside the Marshal's Mansion was cold and despairing.

Outside, the cold wind still howled, whipping up the snow on the ground and lashing against the doors and windows with a mournful sound, as if playing a final elegy for this "royal army" that was heading towards its end.