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

The banner proclaiming "Purge the court of corrupt officials and punish the traitor Zhao" flies high in the north, like the first beacon fire lit in the dark sky.

Its light not only illuminated the path for those struggling to survive in the old order, but also formed an invisible and powerful centripetal force.

Initially, there were only sporadic, tentative responses, like undercurrents surging beneath the ice in early spring.

However, as time went by, with the Jingbei Prince's Mansion's overt and covert encouragement, commendation, and "guidance" to various "righteous armies," and with the growing decline of Zhao Chong's forces in Shenjing under internal and external difficulties, this undercurrent finally converged into a river and began to seek a more symbolic "convergence point" that could better unite forces.

Xiao Chen chose Youzhou as the location.

Youzhou, a newly annexed territory, guards the vital passage from the north to the Central Plains, and is itself a region that has suffered from war and urgently needs reconstruction.

The location of the alliance meeting was chosen for several reasons: First, it demonstrated Xiao Chen's control over the newly acquired territory and his determination to rebuild it, thus stabilizing the hearts of the people in Youzhou. Second, the location was not too far from the capital, which was enough to put great pressure on the court, but it did not delve too far into the Central Plains, thus avoiding prematurely provoking the sensitive nerves of the powerful southern vassals. Third, holding the alliance meeting at the "front line" would better highlight the determination and strength to "punish the rebels".

The Jingbei Prince's Mansion issued a formal invitation to a "meeting" to all "righteous army" leaders, local powerful figures, and officials who publicly responded to the proclamation and expressed their willingness to obey the orders.

The invitation was written in earnest language, calling on everyone to "discuss the great plan to save the people from suffering and the nation from collapse," and promising to ensure the safety of the participants and provide them with convenient access.

In a short time, those who responded sprang into action. Those with strength personally led a small elite guard; those who were far away or weak sent their sons, nephews, or trusted confidants as representatives.

They set off from Jingxiang, Huaixi, the mountain strongholds occupied by defeated soldiers in Hebei, the turbulent prefectures and counties of Henan, and even from the hidden manors of some "loyal and righteous men" near the capital, carrying different purposes, apprehensive feelings, and curiosity and awe for the legendary Prince Jingbei, and converged on Youzhou.

Youzhou, Jicheng.

This northern stronghold, damaged in the war and quickly taken over and rebuilt, is experiencing its most bustling period since the great victory at Juma Plain.

The once somewhat desolate streets became bustling with the arrival of representatives from various "righteous armies" and their entourages.

People with different accents and attire moved among them, bringing news from all over the world, as well as all sorts of ambitions, expectations, and schemes.

The Jingbei Prince's Mansion made meticulous arrangements for the reception.

All arriving representatives, regardless of rank or size of their troops, received courtesies befitting their status—they were provided with special lodgings, guided by officials, and served food and drink regularly.

It is neither too extravagant to avoid criticism, yet sufficiently demonstrates respect and importance.

At the same time, the city defenses of Youzhou were significantly strengthened, and the number of patrolling Xuanjia soldiers increased significantly. Their solemn and unyielding military might constantly reminded every visitor that the master of this place was the Northern King who buried 200,000 troops at Juma Plain.

The formal alliance ceremony was held at the former Youzhou military governor's office, which has now been temporarily converted into the venue for the "Anti-Rebel Alliance Meeting".

Inside and outside the government office, banners fluttered and soldiers stood at attention.

The delegates were led into the spacious main hall and seated in a pre-arranged order.

Zhang Kui from Jingxiang, Zhou Ping, the eldest son of Zhou Wang from Huaixi, Li Gan, the leader of the Hebei rebel army, a former prefect of the imperial court who had defected... there were as many as thirty or forty people in total.

They sized each other up, whispered among themselves, and while the atmosphere seemed lively, they were each lost in their own thoughts, their eyes occasionally glancing at the empty tiger-skin chair at the head of the table.

"The Prince of Jingbei has arrived!"

With a loud and clear announcement, the previously noisy lobby instantly fell silent. All eyes turned to the side door.

Xiao Chen was not wearing full armor, but rather a black robe embroidered with gold pythons, a jade crown on his head, and a long sword at his waist. Surrounded by core civil and military officials such as Han Lie, Chen Dao, Murong Xue, and Wang Dashan, he slowly walked in.

His steps were steady, his gaze calm, and his face, weathered by the winds and frosts of the north and the fires of war, was even more angular and imposing.

As he entered, an invisible pressure quietly spread, causing many delegates who had initially harbored some contempt or ulterior motives to involuntarily hold their breath and sit upright.

Xiao Chen walked to the main seat, but did not sit down immediately. Instead, he slowly swept his gaze over the people below.

That gaze wasn't particularly sharp or intimidating, yet it seemed to pierce through all pretense and reach the depths of one's heart.

Those whose gaze swept over him involuntarily lowered their heads or looked away, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Gentlemen," Xiao Chen began, his voice not loud, but clear and powerful, echoing in every corner of the hall, "Today, I am very pleased to be able to gather here in Youzhou with all the loyal and righteous people of the world."

The opening remarks were simple and direct, without much small talk or formalities.

"Zhao Chong, a traitor, seized power, bringing disaster to the country and its people, causing chaos and immense suffering. His crimes are countless and arouse the wrath of both heaven and man!"

Xiao Chen's voice rose slightly, carrying an awe-inspiring righteousness, "As a descendant of the founding emperor, and enfeoffed in the northern frontier, I am heartbroken to see this scene. Therefore, I am willing to risk my life to raise an army to punish the rebels, solely to cleanse the court of corrupt officials, eliminate the traitors, return power to the emperor, and bring peace to the world!"

"Thanks to the blessings of our ancestors and the bravery of our soldiers, we achieved a minor victory at Juma Plain and thwarted the fierce advance of the rebels."

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming sincere, "However, the traitors have not been eliminated, the national villains have not been eliminated, and the world is not yet at peace. My power alone is ultimately insufficient. Today, all of you have gathered here with hearts of loyalty and righteousness, and with aspirations to save the world. This is truly a blessing for the nation and a boon for the people!"

He surveyed the crowd once more, his gaze lingering briefly on the faces of several of the more powerful representatives: "The task of suppressing the rebellion is arduous and long-term, and cannot be accomplished by one person or one army. It requires the loyalty and righteousness of the people, united in heart and mind, to advance hand in hand. Therefore, we have gathered here today to swear an oath of blood to jointly punish the traitor! What do you all think?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent. Everyone knew that the real show was about to begin. The most crucial step in today's alliance meeting was to establish a "leader," clarify the hierarchy, and unify commands.

After a brief silence, Zhang Kui of Jingxiang was the first to stand up.

He was a burly man with a booming voice. He clasped his hands in a fist and bowed to Xiao Chen, saying loudly, "Your Highness, Prince Jingbei! You are a member of the Liang imperial family, a brilliant strategist, and your benevolence and righteousness are known throughout the land! What's even more commendable is your concern for the nation, leading the charge to quell the rebellion. You are truly a model for the world! This humble general, Zhang Kui, is willing to serve Your Highness as our leader! I will follow Your Highness's lead without hesitation, even at the cost of my life! This position of leader belongs to Your Highness alone!"

With Zhang Kui taking the lead, other representatives who already had a tacit understanding or were simply opportunistic also stood up and echoed him:

"The Zhou family of Huaixi is willing to accept the Prince of Jingbei as our leader! We will jointly punish the traitors of the state and obey your orders!" Zhou Ping followed closely behind, his attitude respectful.

"Li Gan of Hebei, leading his three thousand followers, is willing to follow in his footsteps and obey the orders of our leader!"

"Liu Wen of Yuzhou is willing to acknowledge the Prince of Jingbei as our leader, to eliminate the traitor Zhao, and to reclaim our land!"

"Yanzhou..."

"Qingzhou..."

Shouts rose and fell, and the vast majority of representatives stood up, bowed to Xiao Chen, and expressed their support.

A few individuals may have had other ideas, but given the prevailing trend and the public's scrutiny, they had no choice but to follow the crowd and express their opinions.

Looking at the crowd below who had all expressed their support, Xiao Chen showed little smugness. He simply nodded slightly and gestured for them to rise, saying, "Please rise, everyone. Since you all trust me and have elected me as the alliance leader, it is my duty to accept!"

He paused, and after everyone had sat down again, he continued, "As the leader of the alliance, I should establish three rules with you all to clarify the commands and set the regulations, so as to prevent future chaos and betray the oath we have made today."

Everyone perked up, knowing that the crucial moment had arrived, and listened intently.

"Firstly," Xiao Chen held up a finger, his voice resolute, "As a righteous army to punish the rebels, our sole purpose should be 'to purge the court of corrupt officials and eliminate the traitor Zhao.' All our allied forces must not launch unauthorized attacks, harass the people, or plunder the local area. In marching and fighting, they must obey orders. Those who disobey will be condemned by the entire world, and our allied forces will unite to defeat them!"

"Secondly, rewards and punishments will be clearly distinguished, and merits and demerits will not be concealed. Anyone who makes meritorious contributions in suppressing the rebellion, regardless of their background, will be generously rewarded by this king. Land, money, and official positions will all be granted according to their merits. Anyone who retreats in battle, colludes with the enemy, betrays the alliance, or harms the common people will be severely punished without exception!"

"Thirdly, we must keep in touch and provide mutual support. All parties should maintain communication, and if one party is in trouble, those nearby should lend a helping hand immediately upon receiving the leader's order. Information and intelligence must be shared promptly and must not be concealed."

The three agreements are concise and clear, yet they encompass the most basic and crucial principles of alliance operations: unified objectives, unified discipline, and unified coordination.

This approach grants each party a degree of autonomy while clearly defining the supreme authority and power of reward and punishment of the alliance leader, laying the foundation for future integration and command.

"Does anyone have any objections to these three chapters?" Xiao Chen asked in a deep voice.

"Our leader has made a wise decision! We have no objections!"

The crowd responded in unison. These three points were reasonable and did not excessively deprive them of their power. On the contrary, they gave them the legitimacy to "act according to the leader's orders" and the expectation of "rewards for meritorious service".

"Okay!" Xiao Chen nodded, gesturing to Han Lie.

Han Lie stepped forward and proclaimed loudly, "I beseech our leader to swear a blood oath with all of you righteous warriors!"

Wine jars and daggers, which had been prepared beforehand, were brought up.

Xiao Chen took the lead and used a dagger to cut his fingertip, dripping the blood into the largest wine jar.

Then, each representative stepped forward in turn to swear an oath of blood into the jar. The wine, mixed with the blood of dozens of people, was poured into large bowls and distributed to each person.

Xiao Chen raised the blood-stained wine, faced south, and proclaimed loudly: "Heaven and Earth bear witness! Today, Xiao Chen, together with all the righteous men, swear an oath of blood to cleanse the court of corrupt officials, punish the traitor Zhao, restore power to the emperor, and bring peace to the world! Those who break this oath will be condemned by gods and men alike, and will be condemned by Heaven and Earth!"

"Purge the court of corrupt officials, execute the traitor Zhao! Return power to the emperor, and bring peace to the realm!"

"May those who break this oath be condemned by both gods and men!"

Everyone raised their large bowls, swore an oath, and then drank the blood wine in their bowls.

The strong smell of alcohol mixed with the stench of blood filled the hall, creating a climax in the atmosphere.

After drinking the blood wine, Xiao Chen, in his capacity as "Leader of the Anti-Rebel Alliance," issued his first decree: "Effective immediately, the Anti-Rebel Marshal's Office is hereby established. I, the King, will serve as Grand Marshal, with Han Lie and Chen Dao as Deputy Marshals, to oversee the anti-rebel military operations. All forces must report their troop strength, garrison locations, and provisions to the Marshal's Office for record-keeping. Specific strategies will be issued to all parties in due course."

"We will obey the leader's orders!" The crowd bowed again in agreement.

Thus, the "Anti-Rebel Alliance" was officially established in Youzhou, and Xiao Chen was elected as the alliance leader, nominally gaining supreme command over this massive "alliance".

Although the alliance remains loose and divided, at least on the surface, a banner of "purging the emperor's inner circle" centered on "Prince Jingbei" has been raised and has gathered the first batch of forces from all directions.

After the alliance meeting concluded, Xiao Chen hosted a banquet for the representatives from all sides.

During the meeting, he maintained a calm demeanor, expressed concern for the difficulties faced by the various "righteous armies," and made vague but enticing promises of future "rewards," further appeasing and winning over the hearts of the people.

As night deepened, the guests departed.

Xiao Chen stood alone on the high pavilion of the government office, gazing at the scattered lights in the city and the deep, boundless darkness further south.

"Your Highness," Han Lie quietly approached from behind and whispered, "Although today's alliance has gained momentum, these people are of mixed quality and each has their own ulterior motives. I'm afraid they can hardly be relied upon as pillars of the state."

"I know."

Xiao Chen said calmly, his gaze still fixed on the south, "I never expected them to accomplish anything. What they wanted was a title, a backer, and hope. And what I gave them was just a title, a banner, and a reason for them to stir up trouble and wear down the enemy."

"Your Highness is brilliant."

Han Lie sincerely said, "With the title of leader of this alliance, when the royal army marches south in the future, it will be to punish the rebels, mourn the people and punish the guilty, and at the request of the allied forces, to relieve the suffering of the people."

The righteous cause is beyond reproach. As for these so-called "righteous armies," those who obey can be incorporated and reorganized; those who disobey or harbor ulterior motives... can be eliminated by the traitor Zhao or other feudal lords, or we can clean house ourselves.

In any case, this pool of water has been thoroughly muddied.

"good."

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. "When the waters are murky, it's easier to fish. Issue the order: the alliance meeting is over. Each 'righteous army' may operate within its own territory as previously instructed, harassing Zhao's rebel forces and spreading the righteous cause of overthrowing the rebels. However, closely monitor the movements of all parties, especially their private communications with Shenjing, Wu, and Chu. As for us..."

He turned around, his tone resolute: "Proceed as planned, accelerate military preparations. The land reclamation in Youzhou, the military industry in the north, and the naval drills must not be neglected for a moment. Once spring planting is complete and supplies are plentiful..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Han Lie already understood.

The alliance was just the beginning, a tool for building momentum.

The true decisive blow will always be in the hands of the Han Yuan Army itself.

When that truly invincible army marches south, Zhao Chong of Shenjing, the southern lords, and even these "allies" who have just drunk the blood wine will truly understand who the sole ruler of this chaotic world is.

News of the alliance meeting in Youzhou spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the land.

Amidst the global uproar, more people began to seriously consider their own stance.

Xiao Chen, the rising overlord of the North, after "defeating the government army" and "purging the court of corrupt officials", also gained the halo of "leader of the righteous army alliance".

His figure appeared increasingly imposing and enigmatic in the eyes of the world.

The road south seemed to become smoother, yet also more shrouded in mystery, amidst this chorus of "support."