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

Regent Xiao Chen's "mild" but actually menacing "letter of surrender" was delivered by fast horse to the turbulent Jiangling City without any hindrance.

The messenger, carrying a scepter and escorted by knights of the Cold Abyss Army, swaggered through the newly occupied territory, which had just been ravaged by war and had not yet fully recovered its order, and went straight to the north bank of the Han River.

Facing the surging river and the heavily fortified garrison on the opposite bank of Xiangyang, the messenger remained calm and loudly proclaimed the Regent's decree, requesting to cross the river and meet the King of Chu.

At this time, Xiangyang was an isolated city.

Chen Dao's main force besieged Fancheng and deployed defenses along the north bank of the Han River, advancing by both land and water, with cavalry roaming in all directions, completely severing Xiangyang's connection with various places north of the Yangtze River.

Wang Dashan's troops swept across the eastern part of the Nanyang Basin, their advance pointing towards Jiangxia, posing a flank threat to Jiangling.

North of Jiangling, the gateway is wide open, and apart from the natural barrier of the Han River, there is almost no other defense.

Meanwhile, on the Han River, the Han Yuan army was working day and night to build boats and rafts and recruit soldiers familiar with swimming, showing a strong momentum to cross the Han River and directly attack Jiangling.

Under immense military pressure and a "courtesy first, force later" approach, the garrison commander of Xiangyang dared not be negligent, much less harm the messenger. He had no choice but to arrange boats to transport the messenger and his entourage across the Han River and overland to Jiangling.

Jiangling, the Chu King's Palace.

The palace, once a place of revelry and bustling activity, is now eerily silent, filled with the strong smell of medicine and an atmosphere of impending doom.

After receiving a series of bad news from the front lines, especially the tragic news that Wen Yang had escaped with only a dozen or so heavily wounded cavalrymen and lamented the annihilation of the entire army, King Xiao Han of Chu fell ill and never recovered.

In recent days, he has been experiencing high fever and delirium, talking incoherently. At other times, he is lucid for a moment, then roars in fury, cursing Xiao Chen, rebuking his subordinates for their incompetence, and regretting his rash decision.

In just over a month, this once powerful and arrogant warlord, who dominated Hubei, has been tormented by illness, fear, and regret, becoming emaciated with sunken eyes and barely breathing.

When the Regent's messenger was led into the palace, which was filled with the aura of death, this was the scene he saw: King Xiao Han of Chu was half-lying on his sickbed, covered with a brocade quilt, but it could not hide his emaciated figure.

Several high-ranking officials and princes (Xiao Rong, the eldest son of Xiao Han, and Xiao Min, the second son) stood to one side, all with ashen faces and shifty eyes.

The messenger, neither humble nor arrogant, first bowed, then unrolled the silk scroll bearing the Regent's name and seal, and read it aloud.

The clear, melodious voice echoed in the empty hall, each word like a cold whip lashing at the hearts of the Chu court's ruler and his ministers.

"Brother King of Chu, please take heed: Since the rebellion of Zhao, the world has been in chaos... However, you, my brother, have disregarded our kinship and the suffering of the common people. You have readily believed slanderous words, recklessly provoked a border conflict, broken the alliance, and launched a surprise attack on Luoyang, resulting in the deaths of your soldiers and widespread devastation... Fortunately, thanks to the might of Heaven and the valiant efforts of your soldiers, you have successfully recovered seventeen cities north of Xiangyang. All of this is due to your own fault."

However, considering that we both come from the Xiao clan and are connected by blood, and out of pity for the innocent people of Jingzhou suffering, I, the King, have always been benevolent and do not wish to commit further atrocities.

Now that the Han River forms the boundary and the city has been acquired, it should be returned to the king's rule. If my brother can repent, submit a memorial to apologize, relinquish his title of king, become a vassal and pay tribute, carefully guard the remaining territory of Jingzhou, and refrain from causing further trouble, then I will not pursue the past mistakes, and the two families can reconcile and jointly safeguard peace on the border.

Otherwise… my Frost Abyss Iron Cavalry will soon be drinking from the Yangtze River, and then it will be too late for regrets! Brother, please think carefully about what to do!

After the messenger finished reading, he respectfully placed the silk scroll on the tray held by the eunuch, then stood at attention with his hands at his sides, saying nothing more.

Inside the main hall, there was an eerie silence; you could hear a pin drop.

Only Xiao Han's heavy and labored breathing was particularly jarring.

"puff--!"

When Xiao Han, lying on his sickbed, heard words such as "betraying the alliance," "bringing his own fault," and "abandoning the title of king, becoming a vassal and paying tribute," his whole body trembled violently, his face changed from sallow to an abnormal flush, his throat made gurgling sounds, and suddenly he spat out another mouthful of blood, staining the brocade quilt on his chest red.

His finger trembled as he pointed at the rolled-up book, his eyes filled with endless humiliation, anger, and despair.

"Xiao...Xiao Chen...you brat! How dare...how dare you humiliate me like this! Cough cough cough..."

Xiao Han struggled to sit up, but collapsed weakly, hissing, "I... would rather... die in battle! I will never... beg for his mercy! Issue... issue the order! Assemble... all troops! I... will personally lead the army! To fight that traitor... to the death!"

"Father!"

"Your Highness!" The ministers and princes rushed forward, some to help him up, others to dissuade him.

"Father, please calm your anger! Take care of your health!"

With tears in his eyes, the eldest son, Xiao Rong, advised, "Now... now the situation is beyond our control. The northern army is powerful, our army has just suffered a defeat, and morale is low. Although Jiangling has the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, we have lost everything north of the river, and the northern army could arrive any day... A head-on confrontation is probably not a good strategy!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The strategist Fan Zeng was also in tears, and knelt down on the ground. "In the current situation, war will surely lead to our destruction, and both the good and the bad will be destroyed. The century-old foundation of Jingchu will be ruined in an instant, and the people will suffer terribly."

The Regent...though his words were arrogant, he did, after all, leave room for maneuver.

Abandon your royal title, submit to the emperor and pay tribute, protect the borders and keep the people safe... Though it is humiliating, at least the ancestral temple can be preserved, and the people can be protected, Your Majesty! As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn!

"I implore Your Highness to consider the ancestral temples, the state, and the people of Jingchu, and to endure this temporary humiliation!"

"Endure? Hahahaha!"

Xiao Han, seemingly driven mad, let out a bitter laugh. "Endure this humiliation for a moment? And then what? Beg for food like a dog, wagging its tail before Xiao Chen? Watch his grovele and grovel for a living? I... would rather die a glorious death than live a shameful life!"

"Father!"

The second son, Xiao Min, was only sixteen years old and full of youthful vigor. At this moment, his eyes also reddened, and he sobbed, "Your subject is willing to lead the brave warriors to escort Father King out of the siege! We will go to Jiangdong, to Shu. The world is vast, there is always a way..."

"Foolish!"

Fan Zeng interrupted sharply, "In the current situation, who can take us in? The King of Wu? He'd love for us to fight to the death with the north! The King of Shu? He can barely protect himself! As for breaking out... His Highness is seriously ill, how can he break out? Even if he does break out, what then? He'll be like a stray dog, only to be laughed at!"

An atmosphere of despair, like a cold tide, engulfed the entire hall.

To relinquish the title of king and submit to the tribute is a great disgrace; to continue resisting is a dead end, and may even bring disaster upon the entire tribe.

Where to go?

The messenger, observing coldly, saw that the time was ripe and stepped forward, calmly and clearly stating, "The Regent also has an oral decree: My patience is limited. If there is no clear reply within three days, it will be considered that the King of Chu has rejected my goodwill. At that time, the army will cross the river; do not say you were not warned. Furthermore, out of consideration for the King of Chu's illness, the Regent has specially ordered me to bring a royal physician to treat him. Whether to fight or make peace, to live or die, is entirely up to the King of Chu."

After speaking, the messenger bowed again and slowly withdrew, leaving the hall in deathly silence and the King of Chu's increasingly heavy and painful breathing.

That night, deep within the Chu King's palace, in Xiao Han's sleeping quarters.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating Xiao Han's ashen and despairing face. He dismissed everyone except his eldest son, Xiao Rong.

Looking at his son, who was already an adult but still had a childlike and fearful look on his face, Xiao Han's cloudy eyes revealed a complex and indescribable emotion: pain, resentment, regret, and a final determination.

"Rong'er..."

Xiao Han's voice was hoarse and weak, "Your father... has failed our ancestors, failed the people of Jingchu... and failed you... and your brother..."

"Father..." Xiao Rong sobbed uncontrollably.

"I... can't go on."

Xiao Han gasped for breath, "The Northern army... is too powerful to defeat. Xiao Chen... will not let me go. If I surrender, I will be a prisoner, suffering humiliation until I die. It's better... better to end my own life, perhaps... to save your brothers' lives, to save... the ancestral temple sacrifices..."

Xiao Rong was shocked: "Father! No! Absolutely not! There must be a way. Mr. Fan said, endure the humiliation for now..."

"shut up!"

Xiao Han shouted with all his might, a fierce glint in his eyes, "I, Xiao Han, a hero of my generation, how could I wag my tail and beg for mercy, to live a wretched life! Xiao Chen wants me to relinquish my title and submit to him, that is to destroy my spirit! I would rather die than suffer such humiliation!"

With difficulty, he pulled a small jade bottle from under his pillow and handed it to Xiao Rong with trembling hands: "This...this is poison. It is colorless and tasteless, and it will kill you upon contact with blood. After your father dies, you...you must immediately, as the Crown Prince of Chu, summon all the ministers and announce...that your father has fallen ill from worry and fear and has died suddenly."

Then...then you personally...no, you had Fan Zeng draft a surrender document for you, begging Xiao Chen...to surrender. Abandon the title of king, abandon the title of state, the land of Jingchu is willing to become a vassal state of Great Liang, paying tribute annually and coming to court every year.

I only beg... I only beg the Regent to show mercy and preserve my Xiao family line... to protect... the people of Jingchu... from the ravages of war..."

Xiao Rong held the cold little jade bottle as if it were a red-hot iron, trembling all over, tears streaming down his face, but he couldn't utter a single word.

"remember!"

Xiao Han gripped Xiao Rong's hand tightly, his nails almost digging into his son's flesh. His eyes held a final, desperate plea: "Live! No matter what, you must live! Only by living can you have a future! Xiao Chen… Xiao Chen won't forgive me, but perhaps… perhaps he will forgive you. Endure! Bear the brunt! Wait for… the opportune moment!"

After saying that, he seemed to have exhausted his last bit of strength. He slumped down, lay back on the couch, and closed his eyes. Only his chest was still rising and falling slightly.

Xiao Rong knelt before the bed, weeping uncontrollably. He knew that his father's mind was made up.

The next morning.

Tragic news spread from the Chu royal palace: King Xiao Han of Chu, due to setbacks in the war, fell ill with worry and fear, and died from his illness.

On his deathbed, he summoned his son, Xiao Rong, and other ministers, and dictated his last will and testament. He felt deeply ashamed of failing the court and implicating the people. He ordered his son to immediately submit a memorial to the capital, plead guilty to the regent, relinquish his title of King of Chu and the name of his kingdom, offer up the land of Jingchu, and pledge allegiance to the Liang dynasty, remaining forever obedient and only seeking to preserve the ancestral rites and bring peace to the people.

When the news spread, Jiangling City was in an uproar. Some were shocked, some were grieving, but most breathed a sigh of relief—finally, there was no more fighting, finally, there was a way to survive.

Crown Prince Xiao Rong of Chu, dressed in mourning clothes, with the support of Fan Zeng and other veteran ministers, suppressed his grief and ascended the throne before the coffin. Then, immediately, in accordance with his father's last wishes, he affixed the seal of the King of Chu to the surrender document drafted by Fan Zeng.

The letter of surrender was extremely obsequious, attributing all the blame to the late King Xiao Han of Chu, who "listened to slander and was bewitched," "offended the emperor's face, and presumptuously provoked border conflicts," and "deserved to die a thousand deaths."

Crown Prince Xiao Rong was "heartbroken and filled with fear and dread," and "respectfully obeyed his late father's dying wish," and "was willing to relinquish his title of king and strip himself of his royal rank." He declared that the land of Jingchu would "be completely under the king's rule," and "become a vassal state forever, paying tribute every year without ever rebelling."

They only begged the Regent to "be benevolent and merciful to the innocent people of Jingchu, to pardon the sins of the Xiao family, and to allow them to surrender so that they may save their lives."

At the same time, Xiao Rong sent Fan Zeng as an envoy, carrying a letter of surrender, the seal of the King of Chu, as well as a list of treasures from the Jiangling Treasury and household registers, to cross the river to Chen Dao's camp to formally surrender.

Chen arrived at the main camp.

Chen Dao received news of the King of Chu's "sudden death" and the Crown Prince's surrender, along with a surrender document written in extremely humble terms.

After carefully examining the seals and maps and confirming their accuracy, he dared not delay and immediately sent a letter of surrender and detailed information to the Regent of Shenjing via express courier. At the same time, he ordered all frontline units to suspend all military operations but remain on high alert and await the king's orders.

Several days later, the order from Shenjing arrived.

Regent Xiao Chen, showing "consideration" for Prince Xiao Rong of Chu's "commendable filial piety and sincere repentance," and "pity" for the people of Jingchu's "weariness of war and longing for peace," granted his request.

Command:

First, the title of King of Chu and the name of the State of Chu were abolished. The former Jingchu region was divided into three prefectures: Jingzhou, Yingzhou, and Xiangzhou, which were directly under the jurisdiction of the imperial court and governed by officials such as governors and prefects dispatched by the Regent's Palace.

Second, Xiao Rong, the former heir apparent of the King of Chu, was posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Guiyi and given a residence in Shenjing. He was to depart immediately for the capital to "retire".

Third, former members of the Chu royal family and former officials who wish to enter the capital may accompany the Marquis of Guiyi, and the court will employ them according to their abilities; those who wish to remain in their original hometowns must register, behave themselves, and refrain from causing any further trouble.

Fourth, the original Chu army will be disbanded on the spot, with the best selected to be incorporated into the various armies of the imperial court, and the rest will be given travel expenses and sent back to farming.

Fifth, a general amnesty was granted to Jingzhou, and the taxes of the three newly attached prefectures were reduced or exempted for one year, as a sign of the imperial court's benevolence.

The edict was also sent to the feudal lords of Wu, Shu, Jiao, and Guang, to "highlight" the regent's "benevolence" of being "magnanimous and reluctant to kill too many people," and to warn all parties to "carefully uphold their duties as subjects and not repeat the mistakes of the King of Chu."

Thus, the Jingchu regime, which dominated the south and commanded hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers, came to an end in a humiliating manner under the rule of its son, Xiao Rong, after Xiao Han's reckless advance resulted in a disastrous defeat and his death from fear.

Without a fight, Xiao Chen captured Jiangling and gained control of the entire Jingchu region. His southern expedition achieved its perfect political and military objectives.

The news spread, and the world was once again shaken.

This time, the tremor was accompanied by a bone-chilling cold.

Xiao Chen won not only the military victory, but also the political victory.

The King of Chu died and his kingdom was destroyed. His crown prince was taken to the capital as a hostage. His territory was annexed and his army was absorbed. All of this was a declaration to the other feudal lords: those who submit to me may temporarily preserve their wealth and honor; those who oppose me will face death and the destruction of their kingdoms, which is just around the corner!

Jinling, the Palace of the King of Wu.

After receiving the detailed battle report and Xiao Chen's "proclamation," Xiao Rui remained silent for an entire afternoon.

Finally, he sighed deeply and said to his trusted confidant Gu Yong, "Even a fierce tiger that has devoured a sheep still has the strength to lick its claws. Xiao Chen... has already become a force to be reckoned with. Tell the troops below to increase the defenses along the river by another 30%. Also, increase the gifts for the envoys sent to Sichuan and Jiaozhou by another 30%."

Chengdu, the Shu King's Palace.

Xiao Zhang locked himself in his study for a day and a night. After emerging, he issued an order: the garrison at passes such as Jiange and Jiameng should be doubled, and enough grain and fodder should be stockpiled to hold out for three years. At the same time, he secretly dispatched someone with generous gifts and "sincere greetings" to the capital.

The governors of Jiaozhou and Guangzhou, almost simultaneously upon receiving the news, sent even more "respectful" congratulatory messages and even more "generous" tributes to the capital.

The King of Chu begged for surrender, and his son offered up the land.

Without losing a single soldier, Xiao Chen conquered the entire Jingchu region, greatly expanding his strategic depth, acquiring abundant resources and manpower, and even advancing his army to the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, creating a commanding and oppressive position for Jiangdong downstream.

After this battle, Regent Xiao Chen's prestige and power reached a new peak.

No longer did any of the southern warlords dare to openly question his authority.

The global landscape is now clear—the north is unified, and the south is trembling with fear.

Who will be Xiao Chen's next target? Beneath the surface calm, the undercurrents are even more turbulent.

Everyone knows that once the wheels of unity start turning, they will never stop easily.