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

When the last vestige of resistance was extinguished like a candle flickering in the cold wind on the frozen soil on the north bank of the Juma River, this "Northern Expedition," which was filled with haste, contradictions, greed, and despair from the very beginning, finally came to an extremely tragic and thorough end under the iron hooves of the Prince of Jingbei.

However, this was not the sweeping victory that Zhao Chong and the three kings had imagined. Instead, their own 200,000-strong army, along with their last unrealistic fantasies, was ruthlessly crushed, shattered, and reduced to dust.

The clamor of the battlefield has faded away, replaced by a deathly silence unique to the aftermath of a great battle, a mixture of blood, charred remains, and icy cold.

The wind was still fierce, whipping the tattered banners and unburnt ashes, making a mournful sound.

But the sound of the wind now sounded more like a deep and weary sigh from this land that had just swallowed countless lives.

Juma Plain, a battlefield that was not long ago filled with noise, killing and screams, is now completely under control.

Squads of Frost Abyss soldiers in black armor and helmets were silently and efficiently clearing the battlefield.

Their movements carried an almost cold sense of order, a stark contrast to the brutal fighting that had just taken place.

This is not mercy towards the enemy, but respect for the fruits of victory and a manifestation of the will of the supreme commander.

Xiao Chen's orders had already spread throughout the army: "Take inventory of the battlefield, gather prisoners, and treat the wounded. Our own wounded must be properly cared for. Enemy wounded, those with minor and treatable injuries, should be assessed, given travel expenses, and sent home. Those with serious and incurable injuries should be executed, buried in a suitable place, and not left to rot in the wilderness."

Thus, a peculiar scene unfolded on this vast, blood-soaked battlefield of carnage.

On one side, soldiers from the Cold Abyss were collecting the remains of their fallen comrades, carefully preparing their bodies, wrapping them in clean cloths they had captured or brought themselves, and placing them together to await a proper burial.

Military medical officers moved swiftly and professionally among the wounded soldiers of Hanyuan, providing emergency treatment.

On the other hand, there was the task of dealing with an even larger enemy force.

Those imperial soldiers who knelt and surrendered in the final collapse were now being held in custody in batches.

Most of them were ragged, emaciated, and their eyes still held lingering fear and confusion. They huddled together, shivering in the cold wind.

No one resisted, not even the strength to speak loudly; they simply followed the orders of the Hanyuan soldiers and were driven to the designated open area.

Although the Han Yuan army was cold and hard, they did not subject the prisoners to any additional mistreatment. They even distributed some captured, still slightly cold, dry rations and water, which rekindled a faint glimmer of hope in the eyes of many prisoners—the instinct for survival.

Meanwhile, the wounded soldiers lying on the battlefield were being screened.

The army's medics and auxiliary soldiers would quickly examine their injuries.

Those with minor injuries were given simple bandages to stop the bleeding and then taken to the prisoner-of-war camp.

Those with severe and difficult-to-treat injuries would be given a bowl of thin porridge mixed with pain-relieving herbs, and then taken aside by a special soldier to give them a relatively "decent" end—usually a clean and swift cut to end their suffering.

The process was brutal, but in the present moment, it can be considered a "blessing".

Their bodies would then be gathered together and, along with the remains of those who had fallen in battle, transported to a large, pre-dug pit at the edge of the battlefield for burial.

Xiao Chen issued a strict order forbidding the desecration of corpses and requiring them to be buried to prevent the spread of plague after the spring.

"Report! Your Highness, the initial count of the battle results is complete!"

The atmosphere inside the central command tent was solemn.

Han Lie strode in, still fully armored, his face showing exhaustion, but his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Behind him, several clerks held up thick volumes.

Xiao Chen had removed his armor and changed into a set of black casual clothes. He was standing in front of a huge map of the northern border, deep in thought.

Hearing this, he slowly turned around, his gaze calm: "Speak."

"yes!"

Han Lie took a deep breath and reported in a loud voice, "In this battle, our army killed about 43,000 enemy soldiers, most of whom were trampled by each other during their retreat, drowned in the Juma River, or were killed by cavalry pursuit."

The enemy troops captured... a total of over 116,000! They have all been taken into custody.

Another 20,000 or so people scattered and fled into the surrounding mountains and wilderness. Our army has dispatched cavalry to pursue and disperse them, and it is expected that they will be unable to reorganize into a cohesive unit.

Forty-three thousand were killed in battle, and eleven hundred and sixty thousand were captured!

This means that, apart from a very small number of soldiers who escaped with the core guards of the Qin and Jin kings and about 20,000 scattered soldiers who completely collapsed and disappeared, the rest of the so-called 200,000-strong Northern Expeditionary Army was completely wiped out!

Either become a cold corpse, or become a prisoner of the Cold Abyss Army!

This number caused all the generals in the tent, including Han Lie and Wang Dashan who were used to seeing big scenes, to gasp for breath, and a sense of indescribable shock and excitement welled up in their hearts.

What a glorious victory! It is worthy of being recorded in history and will shake the world!

Xiao Chen's face did not show much joy; he simply nodded slightly, as if he had expected this number.

He was more concerned with the actual gains and his own losses. "What are our casualties? How much have we captured?"

Han Lie composed himself and continued his report: "Our army suffered over 2,100 casualties, over 800 seriously wounded and temporarily incapacitated, and over 5,000 lightly wounded, all of whom have received proper medical treatment."

With fewer than three thousand casualties, they almost completely annihilated two hundred thousand enemy troops. This was undoubtedly an amazing and overwhelming victory!

"As for the spoils..."

Han Lie finally couldn't help but smile, a genuine joy at seeing such a huge harvest. "It's piled up like a mountain, still being counted!"

A rough estimate suggests that the captured complete and usable armor and weapons are enough to arm 50,000 new soldiers!

Countless bows and arrows!

The grain and supply wagons exceeded 8,000. Although some were burned or abandoned when the enemy fled, the millet, beans, and fodder captured were still enough for our 100,000-strong army for three months!

There were also gold, silver, copper coins, silk and other valuables, in extremely large quantities; the exact amount is still under investigation.

In addition, more than 4,000 intact warhorses and tens of thousands of pack horses and draft animals were captured!

Even with his resolute will, Xiao Chen's eyes couldn't help but gleam upon hearing of such a rich spoils.

This isn't an army of 200,000! It's practically a 200,000-headed, breathing "transportation captain"!

Zhao Chong and the three kings really went all out for this Northern Expedition, emptying their coffers, but they "gave" most of their resources, along with the lives of their soldiers, to Xiao Chen!

Armor and weapons can be immediately equipped for the new army, greatly accelerating the expansion and re-equipping of the northern army.

The grain and supplies provided much-needed relief. Youzhou, newly annexed and having undergone a scorched-earth policy, had limited grain reserves. This batch of captured grain was enough to support the Youzhou garrison and troops transferred from the north for a long time, and could even provide relief to some of the populace.

Gold and silver, as hard currency, could be used to compensate the wounded and the injured, reward soldiers, develop workshops, and replenish the treasury.

Warhorses and livestock are also valuable strategic resources.

"it is good."

Xiao Chen only uttered this one word, but the weight it carried was something all the generals in the tent could understand.

"The fallen soldiers must be properly buried and generously compensated. Their families shall be given the highest level of preferential treatment, and their children shall be supported by the Prince's Palace until they reach adulthood."

The wounded soldiers must be treated with all their might, without any mistakes.

The merits of the soldiers in this battle should be recorded in detail, and rewards should be distributed according to their merits. Han Lie, you are in charge of this matter. Ensure fairness and do not discourage the soldiers.

"Your subordinate obeys!" Han Lie solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"As for the prisoners..."

Xiao Chen walked to the tent entrance, gazing at the vast, dark prisoner camp stretching for miles in the distance, and pondered for a moment. "Over 110,000 people, a huge number. To bury them all alive would be against the will of Heaven and would also damage the prestige of our army. To incorporate them all into our forces, given that Youzhou has only recently been pacified, might lead to unrest, and our supplies may not be able to sustain us for long."

He turned around and glanced at the generals in the tent: "Issue the order: First, conduct a strict screening of all prisoners."

Generals and officers, especially the loyalists and die-hards of the Kings of Qin and Jin, were imprisoned in solitary confinement and placed under strict guard, pending further action.

For ordinary soldiers, verify their place of origin and inquire about their wishes.

"Second, those who wish to return home will be given travel expenses and dry food, and after their names and places of origin are registered, they will be dispersed on the spot."

Tell them they are free to come and go from the North and Youzhou, but if they again wield weapons and oppose me, I will execute them without mercy.

"Third, those who are homeless or unwilling to return to their hometown, and who are strong, healthy and have a clean background, can be selected and recruited into the garrison army or engineering battalion to participate in the repair of water conservancy, roads and city defenses in Youzhou through work-for-relief programs."

Those who demonstrate outstanding performance and loyalty after a year or two of observation may be gradually added to the reserve teams of various armies.

This matter is to be overseen by Chen Dao and Murong Xue; they must exercise extreme caution and exercise strict discipline.

"Fourth, all spoils shall be registered, inventoried, and stored. Armor and weapons shall be prioritized for replenishment of those lost in this battle; the remainder shall be transferred to the artisan camp for unified repair and modification for future use. Food and supplies shall be taken over and distributed by personnel appointed by the Prince's Palace."

The orders were clear and concise, demonstrating Xiao Chen's careful consideration of how to handle the battle results.

This demonstrated the victor's "benevolence" and "magnanimity," which undermined the enemy's will to resist and won their hearts and minds. At the same time, it maximized the consumption and utilization of the huge spoils of war and prisoners of war, thereby enhancing its own strength.

Slaughtering them alive is unacceptable, and blindly incorporating them into the army is a hidden danger. Providing them with travel expenses and severing them off can not only demonstrate benevolence and reduce logistical pressure, but also spread the "benevolence" of the Prince of Jingbei and the "invincibility" of the Hanyuan Army through the mouths of these returning soldiers, thus shaking the morale of other forces in the south.

Absorbing some of the able-bodied men into laborers was an even more ingenious way to transform prisoners into productive forces.

"Your Highness's considerations are thorough; we are truly impressed!" The generals were completely convinced.

This battle was not only a resounding victory with abundant gains, but the post-battle handling was also impeccable, demonstrating the demeanor and commanding skills of a king.

With such a lord, how can we not achieve great things?

Xiao Chen nodded slightly, then turned his gaze back to the outside of the tent.

As dusk fell, the setting sun, like blood, dyed the entire Juma Plain a poignant crimson-gold color.

Beside the mountains of captured supplies, the soldiers of Hanyuan were still busy; in the sprawling prisoner camps, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys—those were thin porridges cooked for the prisoners using captured enemy rations.

The remains have been buried, and the blood is freezing.

A thrilling battle had just ended, but Xiao Chen knew that this was only the beginning.

"Order all troops to rest for three days. After three days, except for the necessary garrison troops, the main army shall withdraw to Youzhou in batches, carrying the spoils."

Xiao Chen's voice rang out in the deepening twilight, calm yet firm, "Tell the soldiers that the battle is over, but things are far from over. We must hold up the sky in the north ourselves. We must stabilize the land of Youzhou ourselves. And the accounts in the south... one day, they will be settled one by one."

"I will obey the king's command!"

The generals accepted the order and departed.

Inside the tent, only Xiao Chen remained.

He walked to the desk, picked up a pen, and slowly wrote four words on a blank sheet of paper:

"Harvest, Blood Source."

This is his commentary on the battle.

The gains were substantial, both in terms of tangible spoils and intangible prestige and strategic initiative.

But this harvest was built upon mountains of enemy corpses and seas of blood, on this plain soaked in blood.

He put down his pen, his gaze passing through the tent flap to the deep, unknown twilight to the south.

There, there are more challenges, but also more opportunities.

But his journey has only just begun.