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

The biting wind, sharp as a knife, whipped up the withered grass and lingering snow on the plains, lashing at everything in its path. North of Zhuojun and south of Jicheng, a relatively open plain was now shrouded in a suffocating atmosphere of desolation and deathly silence.

This land, known as "Juma Plain," is named after the Juma River that meanders nearby. It has always been a strategic location fought over by military strategists and has witnessed countless clashes of swords and horses.

Today, it is destined to be soaked in blood once again.

In the end, Prince Xiao Rui of Qin and Prince Xiao Ming of Jin dragged the 200,000-strong "Northern Expeditionary Army" out of the cold, empty city of Zhuojun and drove them northward slowly and heavily, like herding a herd of livestock toward the slaughterhouse.

Behind them were severed supply lines, burned granaries, and the ever-present, relentlessly gnawing black phantom.

Ahead lies the legendary, impregnable city of Ji, and within it lies the hope of food supplies that may or may have already been moved away.

There was no way out, or rather, retreating meant an even faster death.

Only by moving forward, by using our flesh and blood to break through that barrier between life and death, might there still be a glimmer of hope for survival.

The soldiers walked with faltering steps, their eyes vacant.

Hunger and cold had worn down most of their physical strength, while fear of the future and numbness to death had drained their last bit of spirit.

Armor was askew, weapons dragged on the ground, and the ranks were in complete disarray.

The generals' desperate shouts and even the lashing of their swords could hardly restore any order to this army on the verge of collapse.

They were like a turbid, slow-moving mudslide, yet forced to flow forward, carrying an aura of despair as they swept across the withered fields.

Scouts were sent out in waves, but the reports they brought back were always unsettling.

The flags in the direction of Jicheng were clearly visible, and the defenses were tight, indicating that the garrison had been prepared for a long time.

The hills and forests on both sides seem to be hiding countless malicious eyes, but when you look closely, they are empty, with only the whistling of the cold wind blowing through the bare branches.

This ever-present sense of being watched, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled around the heart of every soldier.

Just as the vanguard of the Northern Expeditionary Army had crossed the dilapidated pontoon bridge over the Juma River, and the main force was still slowly assembling on the south bank of the river in a chaotic state—

Suddenly, a thin black line rose on the horizon.

At first, the thin line was very faint, almost indistinguishable under the gray winter sky.

But soon, it began to thicken and intensify, like the horizon at high tide, carrying a heavy and terrifying force, silently yet irresistibly pressing down on Juma Plain and the chaotic "Northern Expeditionary Army" camp.

"Enemy attack—!!!"

The shrill, distorted warning cries rang out almost simultaneously from several watchtowers, instantly shattering the oppressive silence of the plains.

Then came more, more chaotic, and more fearful screams.

"Cavalry! It's cavalry!"

"The Northern Wolf Riders! They are the wolf cavalry of the Prince of Jingbei!"

"So many! My God! They're everywhere!"

The thin black lines transformed into black waves.

That was not a scattered band of bandits, nor a small group of cavalry, but a real, overwhelming torrent of armored soldiers! Countless cavalrymen clad in black armor and carrying wolf-headed battle banners appeared simultaneously from the north, east, and west of Juma Plain, like demons emerging from hell!

They were silent, with only the sound of horses' hooves breaking the frozen earth and striking the ground. At first, it was a muffled rumble like thunder, then it grew louder and more intense, finally converging into a deafening roar that shook the earth and shattered people's hearts!

Banners fluttered like a forest, and spears and halberds stood like reeds.

The black armor reflected a cold and dangerous light under the bleak winter sun.

The formation was well-organized, maintaining a near-perfect wedge or arrowhead formation even while traveling at high speed.

There were no shouts, no clamor, only the all-consuming sound of horses' hooves and a chilling, silent killing intent that froze the soul.

At the forefront of this black wave, beneath an exceptionally tall and ferocious black wolf-head banner, a magnificent black warhorse reared up. The rider, clad in black armor with a long sword at his waist, had his face concealed by a visor, revealing only a pair of deep, icy eyes that burned with cold flames.

He is the soul of this black iron torrent, Prince Jingbei—Xiao Chen.

He came in person.

Without defending fortified cities or relying on advantageous terrain, on this open plain, on the battlefield he chose, he confronted the "Northern Expeditionary Army" that had come from afar, exhausted and demoralized, in the way he was most skilled at and that most frightened the enemy.

"Form ranks! Form ranks now!"

"Spearmen, advance! Archers, prepare!"

"No retreat! Anyone who retreats will be executed!"

King Xiao Rui of Qin and King Xiao Ming of Jin roared at the top of their lungs, trying to organize an effective defense.

The generals brandished their swords, kicking and punching, even cutting down several panicked soldiers who tried to escape, barely managing to gather the chaotic troops together near the riverbank, hastily forming circular or square formations of varying sizes and riddled with holes.

The spearmen were pushed to the outer perimeter, the crossbowmen drew their bows and nocked their arrows in the center, and the shield bearers raised their makeshift wooden shields in an attempt to withstand the impending onslaught.

However, it was too slow and too chaotic.

Prolonged hunger and exhaustion, coupled with the sudden and overwhelming cavalry charge, had already terrified most of the soldiers.

The formation was crooked and shaky, the soldiers were pushing and shoving each other, and the archers' hands were shaking so that the arrows were fired sparsely, most of them landing weakly on the open ground in front of the charging cavalry, not even enough to tickle them.

Fear, like a plague, spread wildly through every formation.

Five hundred steps... three hundred steps... two hundred steps...

The black cavalry wave drew ever closer; the menacing wolf helmet plumes, the gleaming sabers and lances were now clearly visible, and the suffocating aura of death emanating from them was palpable.

Just as they entered within a hundred paces, the crossbows reached their maximum killing range, and some of the bolder officers in the "Northern Expeditionary Army" were preparing to order a volley—

The black cavalry's charging formation suddenly changed!

The elite Xuanjia heavy cavalry, positioned at the very front of the charge, maintained their speed but slightly tightened their formation, like a clenched iron fist.

The large number of light cavalry that followed closely behind spread out like outstretched wings, suddenly maneuvering and spreading out to both flanks!

Instead of charging directly into the hastily assembled, spear-lined square formation of the Northern Expeditionary Army, they moved like two enormous black scythes, slicing through a smooth yet deadly arc, and ruthlessly cleaving the more chaotic and vulnerable infantry and supply trains on the flanks and rear of the Northern Expeditionary Army's formation!

"Not good! They're going to encircle us!" The King of Qin shouted hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot. But it was too late.

The Xuanjia heavy cavalry, like iron spikes, slammed into several relatively solid square formations on the front of the "Northern Expeditionary Army".

Shouts of men and neighing of horses, the shattering of bones, and the ear-piercing sounds of weapons breaking erupted instantly.

The heavy cavalry's powerful impact instantly smashed the spearmen at the front, shattering them and their spears, and wedged them deep into the phalanx.

Immediately following behind were light cavalry surging forward like a tide, wielding sabers, maces, and short spears, frantically hacking, stabbing, and trampling the disorganized infantry.

The light cavalry flanking from both sides were like tigers among sheep.

The flanks and rear of the "Northern Expeditionary Army" were mostly composed of conscripted laborers, local miscellaneous troops, and deserters who had broken away from their main force out of fear.

They offered almost no decent resistance, falling in droves under the hooves and blades of the cavalry.

Screams, cries, and pleas for mercy instantly echoed throughout the entire Juma Plain.

The collapse began on the flanks and rear, spreading rapidly like an avalanche across the entire Northern Expeditionary Army's lines.

"Hold on! Hold on!" Prince Jin, Xiao Ming, with red eyes, personally led his personal guards in an attempt to plug a gap that had been breached by cavalry.

His personal guards were all battle-hardened elites with considerable combat power, and they temporarily stabilized a small section of the front line.

But looking around, the entire battlefield had become a one-sided slaughterhouse.

The black-clad cavalry, like a meat grinder, swept through the massive and chaotic ranks of the "Northern Expeditionary Army," leaving a trail of corpses and rivers of blood in their wake.

What's even more terrifying is the psychological crushing.

The silence of Han Yuanjun was more terrifying than any shout.

They were like a group of precise and efficient killing machines, silently charging, silently hacking, and silently reaping lives.

Meanwhile, the Northern Expeditionary Army was already in complete disarray, with cries of despair filling the air.

The soldiers abandoned their armor and weapons, wishing they had more legs, and fled for their lives, running towards the Juma River and in any direction they deemed safe.

The generals' desperate shouts were drowned out by endless screams and the sound of horses' hooves.

Military law? Supervisory teams? Faced with such a wave of total collapse, even the supervisory teams themselves were swept away and fled backward.

"It's over...it's all over..." Qin King Xiao Rui was being desperately protected by his personal guards as he retreated.

He watched helplessly as a unit of his most elite Shence Army melted away like snow under the sun under the repeated attacks of the Xuanjia Heavy Cavalry.

Watching the King of Jin's banner sway and fall amidst the chaos of the army.

Watching that ferocious black wolf-head banner, like a symbol of death, move slowly and steadily across the battlefield, it was invincible.

The Juma River has been dyed dark red.

Countless corpses blocked the river. Soldiers who managed to escape to the riverbank cried out and jumped into the icy water, trying to swim to safety, but were dragged by their heavy armor or shot or hacked to death by the pursuing cavalry.

The battle—no, it should be called a massacre—lasted for less than two hours.

As the sun began to set slightly in the west, casting a blood-red glow over the chaotic scene, the clamor gradually subsided.

The 200,000-strong "Northern Expeditionary Army" completely collapsed.

Countless people were killed, trampled, or drowned; their corpses littered the Juma Plain and blocked the Juma River.

Those who surrendered knelt down in a vast, dark mass, stretching for miles, heads bowed, faces ashen.

Only Prince Qin, Xiao Rui, and Prince Jin, Xiao Ming, under the desperate protection of their most elite personal guards, led a small number of defeated soldiers and fled south in panic, abandoning all their banners, supplies, and even seals, like stray dogs.

Xiao Chen reined in his warhorse and stood on a slightly higher earthen slope in the center of the battlefield.

His black cloak fluttered in the cold wind, and his black armor was stained with blood, but he himself was spotless and calm, as if he had just been conducting an ordinary hunt.

His cold gaze slowly swept over the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood, over the prisoners kneeling and begging for surrender, and finally turned south, towards the direction in which the "two kings" had fled.

He did not order a pursuit.

Do not pursue a defeated enemy, especially one that has completely lost its courage and is disorganized; pursuing such a routed army is pointless.

The Night Owl's scouts and the surrendered Youzhou light cavalry will drive them far away from the northern border like sheep, so that they can bring the terror of today back to the capital and back to the south.

"Pass on the order," Xiao Chen's voice was calm and even, yet it clearly reached the ears of every general around him, "Take inventory of the battlefield, gather the prisoners, and treat the wounded."

Our wounded soldiers must be properly cared for.

Enemy wounded...those with minor, treatable injuries were identified, given travel expenses, and sent home.

Those who are seriously injured and die should be executed, their bodies buried in a suitable place, and not left to rot in the wilderness.

"Yes, sir!" The generals responded in unison, their gazes toward Xiao Chen filled with awe and fervor.

This is their king! He doesn't act unless absolutely necessary, but when he does, it's with overwhelming force. On the battlefield of his own choosing, he crushed two hundred thousand invading enemies with minimal losses! How domineering! How masterful!

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen's gaze fell on the black wolf-head banner that still stood proudly in the wind, and he slowly said, "Pack up the Qin and Jin banners captured in this battle, along with the discarded generals' seals and halberds, and send someone... to the imperial court and that Duke of Zhao to return them."

He paused, a cold and mocking smile curving his lips.

"Just say that the North is bitterly cold and has no special products. The few spoils we have captured are nothing but a token of our gratitude to the court for sending troops to punish us. We hope that the 'court' will... take good care of itself."

The cold wind howled, carrying the smell of gunpowder and blood, and also whipping the ferocious wolf-head banner, making it flutter loudly, as if issuing a silent but awe-inspiring declaration to the whole world.

In the Battle of Juma Plain, the imperial army of 200,000 men in the Northern Expedition was completely wiped out.

The remaining troops who fled back to the capital numbered less than 20,000, and their organization was completely lost; they were utterly terrified.

Although Qin King Xiao Rui and Jin King Xiao Ming escaped with their lives, one was seriously injured and the other was so frightened that he fell ill and never recovered. His elite troops were almost completely wiped out, and he never recovered.

What they brought back, besides defeat and shame, was the captured banner that was returned, symbolizing a complete break and merciless mockery.

This battle completely shattered the "Imperial Court's" backbone in its attempt to militarily intervene in the north. It also revealed a cold and cruel truth to the entire world:

The North already has a ruler. And his will brooks no challenge.

The direction the wolf flag points marks the border.