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

The earth-shattering roar not only collapsed the city wall of Anxing Gate, but also shattered the last shred of resistance of the Chang'an garrison, and destroyed the last spiritual pillar of the pseudo-Liang "Restoration" court.

When the black, icy iron torrent surged into Chang'an through the breach and the open city gates, the resistance crumbled instantly.

Most of the defenders were already so hungry that their limbs were weak, and they were terrified by the apocalyptic scene. They either knelt down and surrendered, or threw down their weapons, took off their uniforms, and mingled with the panicked civilians.

A few of Zhao Chong's loyal followers attempted to organize resistance in the streets and alleys, but under the fierce vanguard led by Han Dang and the lightning-fast cavalry of Murong Xue, they were quickly submerged and crushed like withered grass before an avalanche.

"Surrender and you will not be killed! Those who lay down their weapons and kneel will be spared!"

"Only the ringleader Zhao Chong will be executed; those who were coerced will be spared!"

"Those who resist will be killed without mercy!"

The roars of the Hanyuan soldiers, along with the clang of clashing weapons, the short, mournful cries of the dying, and the terrified screams of the common people, echoed through the streets and alleys of Chang'an.

The black armored wave, centered on Anxing Gate, quickly spread throughout the city, controlling major transportation routes, occupying government offices and treasuries, and extinguishing any remaining sparks of resistance.

Their strict military discipline meant that, apart from pursuing and killing those who resisted, they did not harm the soldiers who knelt in surrender or the panicked civilians, which further accelerated the collapse of order within the city.

The pseudo-imperial palace, a former Sui dynasty palace temporarily serving as the "court," is now in complete chaos.

The palace maids and eunuchs cried and ran away in all directions, and most of the guards also abandoned their armor and weapons, either fleeing or surrendering.

When Chen Dao, surrounded by his personal guards, stepped through the palace gates littered with debris and entered the palace that symbolized the power center of the puppet dynasty, he encountered minimal resistance.

"Report—General! The false emperor Xiao Yu, along with his concubines and princes, are all in the side hall and have been taken into custody by our troops!"

"Report! Zhao the traitor has died on the palace wall, vomiting blood in a fit of rage! His body is here!"

"Report—Most of the officials and civil servants of the puppet dynasty have been captured; the rest are being pursued!"

One piece of good news after another came in.

Chen Dao's face was stern, showing little joy; he simply nodded slightly.

Zhao Chong's death was within his expectations; such a perverse and treacherous old villain deserved this end.

He was more concerned about the person with a special identity—the false emperor, Xiao Yu.

Inside the side hall, the candlelight was dim.

The former eldest prince, later the "Restoration Emperor" Xiao Yu, sat alone on the cold throne, wearing a slightly oversized and ill-fitting bright yellow dragon robe.

His face was pale, his eyes were empty, and he seemed to be deaf to the faint sounds of shouting and footsteps coming from outside the hall.

He had no guards or eunuchs by his side. Even the concubines and young princes and princesses who usually surrounded him were separated in another side room and guarded by Han Yuan soldiers.

The palace doors were pushed open, and Chen Dao strode in, protected by armored soldiers.

The clanging of the armor finally made Xiao Yu's eyes flicker slightly.

He looked at the Han Yuan general before him, clad in black armor and still exuding murderous intent. His lips moved, as if he wanted to display some imperial majesty, but in the end, they only turned into a bitter smile.

"You... are General Chen?" Xiao Yu's voice was dry and hoarse, almost inhuman.

Chen Dao clasped his hands in a respectful but not arrogant manner: "This humble general, Chen Dao, was ordered by the Prince of Jingbei to quell the rebellion and recover Chang'an. Zhao Chong has been executed. You all should surrender immediately and await His Majesty's judgment!"

Upon hearing the words "false emperor," Xiao Yu's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

He closed his eyes, then opened them again after a moment, a strange calmness appearing in them—a sense of relief after reaching the depths of despair.

"Seventh brother...he wants me...he wants me dead, doesn't he?"

He used the word "朕" (zhen, meaning "I" or "the emperor"), then immediately changed it, his tone complex and difficult to understand.

Chen Dao frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "His Highness has ordered that only the ringleader Zhao Chong and his core henchmen be executed, and the rest will be dealt with according to the circumstances."

Although you are a false emperor, you are actually being held hostage by the traitor Zhao and have no control over your own destiny.

If you are willing to relinquish your false title and surrender naked, you may be able to save your life. The king is benevolent and may make appropriate arrangements.

This statement was partly a statement of fact and partly an attempt to persuade the other party to surrender.

After all, Xiao Yu's identity is special; he is Xiao Chen's elder brother. How to deal with him must be decided by Xiao Chen himself; Chen Dao will not act on his own initiative.

"Save their lives? Or arrange for them to be placed in a more lenient manner?"

Xiao Yu murmured repeatedly, then suddenly laughed softly. The laughter was initially suppressed, then became somewhat mournful. "Haha...haha...as a prince, I cannot protect the country; as...the emperor, I cannot defend against powerful enemies."

First deposed, then coerced by treacherous officials to ascend this false throne, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, walking on thin ice, enduring the scorn of the world… Now, with the country destroyed and his family ruined, he has become a prisoner, and must rely on his seventh brother… the “benevolence” and “placement” of the Prince of Jingbei?”

He suddenly looked up, his eyes brimming with murky tears, yet also filled with an almost insane obsession. "I, Xiao Yu, though incompetent and cowardly, was once a prince personally appointed by my father, a prince of the Great Xia! I may die, but I will never beg for mercy and suffer such a humiliating 'placement'!"

"You..." Chen Dao's expression changed, sensing something was wrong, and he took a step forward.

But it was too late.

Xiao Yu seemed to have used all his strength to suddenly stand up from the throne, but instead of rushing towards Chen Dao or the palace gate, he staggered and lunged at a thick golden dragon pillar in the palace!

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" exclaimed the guards behind Chen Dao, trying to stop him.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud, and blood splattered everywhere.

Xiao Yu's forehead slammed solidly against the hard, gilded pillar, and blood gushed out instantly, staining his pale face and the bright yellow dragon robe that symbolized his brief and humiliating imperial throne.

His body slid limply down the pillar, collapsing to the ground. He twitched twice, then fell silent. His eyes, once filled with cowardice and fear, yet flashing with a resolute glint in their final moments, quickly lost their light, staring blankly at the magnificent coffered ceiling of the palace.

Inside the side hall, all was deathly silent. Only the heavy stench of blood quickly filled the air.

Chen Dao stood there, staring at Xiao Yu's suicide corpse, remaining silent for a long time.

He never expected that this false emperor, who had always appeared in intelligence and rumors as a coward and indecisive figure, would choose such a violent way to end his absurd and tragic life at the last moment.

Perhaps this was the only and last time, under the manipulation of fate, that he made a choice according to his own will—even if it meant death.

"Sigh..." In the end, Chen could only sigh almost inaudibly.

It is both a lament for the loss of a life and a lament for the cruelty of royal infighting and power struggles.

"Collect his body and temporarily bury him with the rites due to a prince. Keep his concubines and children under proper care and do not neglect them, awaiting the king's decision. All other captured members of the royal family and officials of the false dynasty shall be imprisoned and strictly guarded, awaiting their disposal."

"Yes!" The guard accepted the order and stepped forward to handle the situation carefully.

Stepping out of the side hall, the shouts of battle outside had largely subsided, replaced by the shouts of Han Yuan soldiers maintaining order, as well as the sounds of gongs and announcements to reassure the people.

Chen Dao ascended a high platform within the palace and looked out. He saw that most of Chang'an City was already covered with black banners.

There were still sporadic fires and disturbances, but they were quickly quelled under the effective control and suppression of the Hanyuan Army.

The setting sun, like blood, stained the horizon and the ancient capital that had just undergone dramatic changes with a tragic and solemn golden-red hue.

The smoke of battle has not yet cleared, and the stench of blood still lingers in the air, but a new, iron-clad order is being established.

"Issue the order to the entire army," Chen Dao commanded in a deep voice, his voice carrying through the twilight. "Purge the remaining enemy forces, pacify the people, seal the treasury, and conduct a thorough inventory of the households. Anyone who takes advantage of the chaos to loot, commit adultery, or kill, whether soldier or civilian, will be executed without mercy! Issue proclamations to reassure the people, announcing the restoration of Chang'an, the fall of the false dynasty, the execution of the traitor Zhao, and the suicide of the false emperor. From this day forward, Chang'an returns to the rule of the king!"

"I obey the General's order!"

As the order was given, the Hanyuan Army, this highly efficient war machine, quickly switched from siege mode to takeover and cleanup mode.

Squads of soldiers, led by officers, patrolled the streets and alleys, extinguished the remaining fires, gathered the surrendered soldiers, and transported cartloads of grain from the puppet regime's granaries to set up soup kitchens throughout the city to provide relief to the starving people.

Proclamations were quickly posted throughout the streets and alleys, announcing that the false emperor was dead, the traitor Zhao had been executed, Chang'an had been restored, and that the righteous army of the Prince of Jingbei would only punish the ringleaders and not disturb the good people.

The people of Chang'an gradually recovered from their initial extreme fear.

They witnessed the annihilation or capture of Zhao Chong's "Shence Army," the arrogant and domineering officials of the puppet regime, being imprisoned by the fierce and ruthless Hanyuan soldiers, and the steaming soup kitchens and the patrolling soldiers who, though serious, did not commit any atrocities.

The fear and resentment that had accumulated over the past few months began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of bewilderment at surviving a catastrophe, as well as a wait-and-see attitude and a faint expectation for the new rulers.

The "Restoration" court officially collapsed on this day, with Zhao Chong dying from vomiting blood and Xiao Yu committing suicide by hitting his head against a pillar.

It began with a hasty westward escape and ended with being trapped in a lonely city. Like a fleeting moment, it left only an absurd and brief footnote in the dust of history.

Several days later, detailed battle reports and news of Xiao Yu's suicide were sent to Shenjing at the fastest speed.

In his report, Chen Dao detailed the course of the Battle of Chang'an, the details of Xiao Yu's suicide, and the handling of the puppet dynasty's imperial family and officials.

At the same time, he requested further instructions from Xiao Chen, especially regarding Xiao Yu's funeral arrangements and how to appease and govern the newly acquired Guanzhong region.

Chang'an, this ancient capital steeped in history, ended its brief and chaotic chapter as the capital of a puppet dynasty under the blood-red setting sun, and ushered in its new destiny.

Its restoration also signifies that Prince Jingbei, Xiao Chen, has cleared away the biggest and last stumbling block from within the old court on his path to the throne.

The global landscape has now become completely clear.