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

The Regent's golden seal reflected a dazzling light on the Chengtian Gate tower of the capital, just like a boulder thrown into the seemingly calm chessboard of the world, stirring up layers of turbulent and unpredictable undercurrents.

When Xiao Chen "reluctantly" accepted the "public recommendation" of the officials and the "earnest request" of the deposed emperor to ascend to the position of "Regent" and take charge of all military and political affairs of the Great Xia Dynasty, along with the victory report announcing the execution of Zhao Chong, the restoration of Chang'an, and the destruction of the false dynasty, it was sent to the world.

Those feudal lords who had sworn an oath of blood with the Prince of Jingbei to jointly punish the "traitor Zhao Chong" felt not the joy of the alliance being reached, but a chilling cold and increasingly heavy pressure.

The rise of the Prince of Jingbei was too fast, too fierce, and too unstoppable.

From raising an army to quell the rebellion, to establishing his capital in the capital, to conquering the false emperor in the west and welcoming back the deposed emperor, and now he has rightfully ascended to the position of "Regent" and is exercising imperial power... all of this has happened in just over a year.

What they once regarded as a "vassal king ally" from the harsh borderlands, whom they considered a useful tool, has in the blink of an eye become a behemoth that entrenched itself in the north, eyeing the Central Plains, possessing half of the country, and exercising the power of the emperor.

In contrast, what did these "allies" do in the war against Zhao? Apart from waving flags and shouting slogans on the border, having occasional small-scale skirmishes, or simply remaining inactive and preserving their strength, they made almost no substantial contributions.

The original "Anti-Zhao Alliance" was a hastily assembled alliance of interests based on the fragile goal of "jointly punishing the traitors of the state."

Now, our common enemy, Zhao Chong, and his puppet regime have vanished into thin air.

The very foundation upon which the alliance existed crumbled in an instant. What remained was only suspicion, vigilance, and a deep unease and...ambition arising from the drastic shift in the balance of power.

Jinling, the Palace of the King of Wu.

Inside the ornately decorated pavilion, the fragrance of incense wafted, yet it could not dispel the somber atmosphere that permeated the space.

King Xiao Rui of Wu, a prince known for his literary talent and refined taste but actually a cunning and scheming man, was no longer as carefree as he used to be.

He put down the official gazette in his hand, which detailed the grand ceremony of the "Regent" being conferred the title in the capital and the imperial edict issued by Xiao Chen, which required all prefectures and counties to "carefully guard their territories, remain in their positions, obey the Regent's orders, and jointly support the nation."

"The Regent...wields the imperial axe, is granted the privilege of being addressed without being named, enters the court without hastening his departure, and wears a sword and shoes in the palace..."

Xiao Rui repeated these words, which symbolized the ultimate power of a subject, in a low voice, a cold smile appearing on his lips. "My seventh brother is truly skilled and has great ambition."

That old scoundrel Zhao Chong, despite all his scheming, could only create a false emperor and live in a corner of the country.

He, on the other hand, has remained silent. His true intention, ostensibly to purge the court of corrupt officials, was to seize control of the emperor and command the feudal lords. Now, he's even acting as the emperor's successor, just one step away from the throne. And we…”

He glanced around at the strategists and generals standing solemnly below. "We, his former 'allies,' are probably no different from those warlords waiting to be subdued, aren't we?"

The strategist Gu Yong stroked his beard and said, "Your Highness is wise."

With Xiao Chen's ascension to the throne as regent, his official position was established, and his authority grew daily.

Their next step will inevitably be to integrate the north, accumulate strength, and then look south.

His order for us to "guard our territory and obey orders" seemed like appeasement, but it was actually a warning.

If we make the slightest move, it will be considered disobedience, giving them a perfect pretext for attack.

General Ling Tong snorted coldly: "What's there to be afraid of! My Jiangdong has hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers, a powerful navy, and the natural barrier of the Yangtze River! No matter how powerful Xiao Chen's northern iron cavalry is, can they fly across the Yangtze River?"

"otherwise."

Another strategist, Zhang Zhao, shook his head. "General Ling is commendable for his bravery, but Xiao Chen should not be underestimated."

This man was a brilliant strategist, with his subordinates Han Lie, Chen Dao, Wang Dashan, Murong Xue, and others all capable of taking on ten thousand men. In addition, the soldiers from the north were valiant, and with Guanzhong under his control, his power was already established.

Now that he holds the title of "Regent" and occupies the moral high ground, if we openly defy his orders, he can use the name of the court to launch a campaign against us. At that time, Jiangdong will lose the moral high ground from the start.

Judging from his actions, he proceeds step by step, planning carefully before acting, and is by no means a reckless person.

Rather than confronting the enemy head-on, it would be better to…

"How about we do something else?" Xiao Rui asked Zhang Zhao.

"It would be better to outwardly comply while inwardly resisting, and observe the situation quietly."

Zhang Zhao slowly said, "On the surface, Your Highness can submit a memorial to the capital to congratulate the Regent on his ascension to the throne, thus demonstrating your loyalty as a subject and your obedience to orders."

They might even send envoys to offer tribute as a sign of submission.

Secretly, they intensified their military preparations, built river defenses, and contacted Chu, Shu, and even Jiaozhou and Guangzhou to exchange information and form a secret alliance of mutual support.

At the same time, they conducted a household registration check, rectified official corruption, and stockpiled money and grain to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.

With Xiao Chenfang having pacified the north and Guanzhong initially settled, internal integration would take time, and he would likely be unable to launch a large-scale southward offensive in the short term.

This is precisely the opportune moment for Jiangdong to bide its time and accumulate strength.

Xiao Rui pondered for a moment, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "Zibu's words are those of a wise and experienced strategist."

However, if they remain passive, it might demoralize the troops and make Xiao Chen underestimate them.

We must let the capital know that Jiangdong is not to be trifled with.

It is acceptable to submit a congratulatory letter, but the wording should be neither humble nor arrogant.

Sending envoys to pay tribute is acceptable, but the tribute should not be too lavish, lest it appear cowardly.

As for the river defense, Ling Tong, you are in full charge of building an impregnable fortress for me!

In addition, they secretly sent people to contact the King of Chu and the King of Shu to gauge their opinions.

The "anti-Zhao alliance" is gone, but the desire to resist Xiao may still exist.

"Your Highness is wise!" The crowd bowed.

Jingzhou, the Chu King's Palace.

The atmosphere was different from the solemn elegance of the Wu King's Palace; it was more rugged and restless.

King Xiao of Chu was as fierce as his name suggested; he was as fiery as a raging fire, brave and skilled in battle, but his strategic acumen was somewhat lacking.

He slammed the official gazette to the ground, roaring, "Regent? Xiao Chen doesn't deserve that title! Back then, we allied against Zhao, promising to support the nation together, but he just kept quiet and made a fortune, taking all the benefits! Now he's using his position to command me? He's dreaming!"

The strategist Fan Jian cautiously advised, "Your Highness, please calm down. Xiao Chen's power is too great to be defeated by force."

Now that they are wielding the authority of the imperial court, if I openly oppose them, I fear they will give others grounds for criticism.

It would be better to follow the example of the King of Wu, outwardly submitting while secretly accumulating strength.

Jingzhou is located in a strategic position, bordering the Central Plains to the north, Sichuan and Chongqing to the west, and Hunan and Hubei to the south. It is a place of constant warfare.

The most urgent task is to stabilize the internal situation and secure external support.

Domestically, he pacified the barbarian tribes and reorganized the military; internationally, he forged alliances with Wu and Shu, forming a mutually supportive relationship.

If Xiao Chen dares to head south, he'll be utterly humiliated!

"Form an alliance? That King of Wu is incredibly cunning; he's probably planning to sit back and watch the tigers fight! And the King of Shu is even more holed up in his tortoise shell in Yizhou, rarely venturing out!"

Xiao Han, still furious, said, "In my opinion, we should strike first! While Xiao Chen's position is still unstable, we should join forces with Wu and Shu to launch a northern expedition into the Central Plains and catch him off guard!"

"Absolutely not!"

Fan Jian quickly tried to dissuade him, "Your Highness, how easy is it to launch a northern expedition to the Central Plains? Food, weapons, and popular support cannot be obtained overnight."

Moreover, Wu and Shu may not be of one mind. If I were to march north alone, my chances of victory would be slim.

Xiao Chen, having been at ease and waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out, can then use the righteous cause of the imperial court to launch a campaign against him. At that time, my Jingzhou will be in grave danger!

For now, the only option is to bide our time and wait for the right opportunity. Xiao Chen's ascension to the position of regent may seem glamorous, but in reality, it is fraught with hidden dangers.

The northern regions and Guanzhong, having only recently been incorporated into the Central Plains, are bound to experience internal conflicts and instability as they try to integrate.

Moreover, with such power, how can the southern lords feel at ease? Given time, something is bound to happen. Only then will our opportunity arise.

Although Xiao Han was irritable, he knew that Fan Jian's words made sense. Suppressing his anger, he said in a low voice, "Then let's do as you say, sir! Send a memorial to the capital, saying some nice things! But for me, intensify the training of the troops, and raise the city defenses of Jiangling and Xiangyang by three feet! Also, send more spies to keep a close eye on every move in the north!"

Yizhou, Chengdu, the Shu King's Palace.

King Xiao Zhang of Shu was cautious and even somewhat suspicious.

After receiving the news, he pondered alone in his study for a long time.

Yizhou is surrounded by mountains, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. It has long been known as the "Land of Abundance," but it is also prone to isolation and self-defense.

Xiao Zhang had no great ambitions; he only sought to protect his territory and its people and establish a regional power.

"The Regent..."

Xiao Zhang sighed softly, "Nephew Xiao Chen, you are truly remarkable. Zhao Chong was such a cunning and treacherous old man, yet he was eliminated so swiftly... Now that he holds great power, will we uncles and elders be next?"

The trusted advisor said, "Your Highness's concerns are absolutely correct."

However, in my Yizhou, the passes and mountains are treacherous, and the plank roads are difficult to traverse. The northern troops are not good at mountainous terrain. Even though Xiao Chen has great power, it will be difficult for him to launch a long-distance expedition in the short term.

The best course of action now is to close ourselves off from the world, focus on domestic development, and allow the people to rest and recuperate.

Towards the capital, one can send a polite memorial to offer congratulations, and the tribute may be slightly more generous to show respect and eliminate any pretext for conquest.

At the same time, we must guard the passes strictly, especially key places such as Jiange and Jiameng, and send more elite troops and store more grain and fodder.

As long as my internal defenses remain stable and my strategic passes are not breached, even if Xiao Chen has ambitions to conquer the world, he will find it difficult to do anything to me.

Furthermore, it is advisable to maintain communication with Wu and Chu through messengers, but it is unnecessary to form a deadly alliance, lest one be dragged into a quagmire.

Xiao Zhang nodded slowly: "That suits me perfectly. In Shu, we do not seek to conquer the world, but only to protect ourselves."

When submitting a memorial to the capital, one should write it in a humble and respectful manner, and choose local specialties such as Shu brocade and medicinal herbs as tribute, which will show sincerity without being too conspicuous.

As for Wu and Chu... just keep in touch, there's no need to get too close.

From this day forward, without my personal order, no one is permitted to travel to or from the North! All commanders of the passes, be on your guard at all times!

Similar scenes are also playing out in places like Jiaozhou and Guangzhou.

After the initial shock and unease, the southern lords quickly made their own choices.

Regardless of their outward attitudes, their core thinking was surprisingly consistent: outwardly compliant to the "Regent Court" of Shenjing, but in reality wary; outwardly, they severed the already fragile connection of the "Anti-Zhao Alliance," began to act independently, and even secretly suspected and guarded against each other; inwardly, they intensified their efforts to integrate their forces and consolidate their rule in order to cope with the enormous pressure that might come from the north in the future.

The so-called "anti-Zhao alliance" became defunct the moment Zhao Chong died and the puppet dynasty collapsed.

Now that Xiao Chen has ascended to the position of regent and taken full power, the last remaining formal bond of this alliance has completely vanished.

The political landscape quickly evolved from the "Jingbei Prince's Allied Forces to Punish the Rebellion" to a nascent north-south confrontation between the "Regent Dynasty Court" and the "Southern Separatist Warlords."

However, in this standoff, the new court in the north was integrating and growing stronger at a visible speed, exuding vigorous vitality and imposing pressure; while the southern princes harbored different intentions and were wary of each other, unconsciously moving towards de facto separatism under the banner of "self-preservation".

Shenjing, the Regent's Palace.

Xiao Chen listened to Murong Xue's secret report on the movements of the southern lords, his face showing no surprise, only cold indifference.

"The King of Wu outwardly complied but inwardly defied him; the King of Chu was irritable and wary; the King of Shu closed his doors and defended himself; and the states of Jiao and Guang wavered between two sides..."

He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips. "Just as I expected. An alliance? Hmph, a mere rabble, bound by interests. As soon as Zhao Chong died, they scattered like birds and beasts. Now, they're probably all busy building high walls, stockpiling grain, and thinking about how to carve out their own territories and confront me for a long time."

"Your Highness, should we issue a warning or apply pressure?" Han Lie asked.

"No need."

Xiao Chen shook his head, his gaze sharp as a knife. "The more they act independently and distrust each other, the more advantageous it is for us. Forcing them to join forces might actually compel them to temporarily unite."

Now, our focus is on the North and Guanzhong. We must consolidate our newly acquired territories, reorganize our internal affairs, train a new army, stockpile provisions, and restore the livelihood of the people. Once we are united internally, with well-trained troops and sufficient supplies…”

He didn't finish his sentence, but the fleeting glint of cold light in his eyes said it all.

"Pass down the order," Xiao Chen said in a deep voice, "towards the South, on the surface, in the name of the Regent's Palace, to appease them, acknowledge their current status, and require them to abide by their duties as subjects and pay tribute on time."

Some honorary titles and rewards may be given appropriately.

Secretly, Murong Xue, your "Listening" should be driven into every town in the south like nails!

I need to know everything about their troop deployments, food reserves, internal conflicts, and the movements of the other warlords!

"As for their little schemes..."

Xiao Chen's lips curled into a cold smile. "Division? This world has been divided for far too long. It's time to reunify. However, one must take things one step at a time. Let them enjoy their freedom for a few more days."

Following Xiao Chen's orders, the newly established Regency regime, like a precision machine starting to run at full speed, focused its main efforts on internal integration and development.

As for the South, it maintained a stance of "observing from the sidelines and waiting to make its move."

On the surface, the North and South appear calm, but invisible cracks are deepening and barriers of suspicion are rising.

Everyone knows that the temporary calm is just a lull before the next, bigger storm arrives.

Once the regent has fully consolidated the north and sharpened his claws, his gaze will inevitably turn to the south once again.

At that time, how will these warlords, who now harbor different ambitions and rule their own territories, face the unstoppable black torrent from the north?