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

The news that Chu surrendered without a fight and that the three prefectures of Jing, Ying, and Xiang were all brought under the rule of the king was like a boulder thrown into a still lake, stirring up a thousand waves among the southern vassal states, the aftershocks of which lingered for a long time.

This was no longer a simple military defeat, but a cruel reality of regime change and the collapse of ancestral temples.

After the death of King Xiao Han of Chu, his son Xiao Rong was stripped of everything and placed under house arrest in the capital with the honorary title of "Marquis of Guiyi". Former officials of Chu were either summoned to the court or resettled on the spot. The army was disbanded and reorganized, and the government was taken over and replaced. Xiao Chen used thunderous means to quickly and thoroughly digest and absorb the vast land of Jingchu, turning it into territory directly controlled by the "court".

The whole process was breathtakingly fast and heart-poundingly steady.

There was no large-scale war, no prolonged resistance, and not even much time for other feudal lords to react or intervene.

Xiao Chen was like a skilled hunter, striking deadly with a single blow, then swiftly dismembering and devouring his prey, giving no chance for any hyenas to covet it.

Shenjing, the Regent's Palace.

Xiao Chen stood before the enormous map, his gaze calmly sweeping over the land of Jingchu, which had just been stained with the deep red color representing the direct jurisdiction of the imperial court.

Its territory expanded far to the south and west, reaching the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, facing Jiangdong across the river, forming a pincer movement against Sichuan from the east and north, and exposing the flank of Lingnan.

This is not merely an expansion of territory, but a fundamental change in the strategic situation.

"Your Highness, Marquis Guiyi Xiao Rong, along with his family and some former officials of Chu, have arrived in the capital and are being housed in the Marquis Guiyi's residence in the west of the city, under the protection of the Black Armor Guards."

Han Lie reported in a low voice, "The Ministry of Personnel has drafted a list of candidates for governors of Jing, Ying, and Xiang prefectures. Please review it, Your Majesty."

The treasuries, household registrations, and land holdings of the three prefectures are being inventoried, and preliminary completion is expected within the month.

After the old and weak were eliminated from the original Chu army, more than 40,000 strong men were obtained. They were dispersed and incorporated into various armies and stationed in different places.

Generals Chen Dao and Wang Dashan reported that the overall situation in the three prefectures had been stabilized. Occasionally, small groups of defeated soldiers or bandits might cause trouble, but these had been dealt with by dispatched troops and were no longer a cause for concern.

Xiao Chen nodded slightly, his finger tracing the Yangtze River across the map, landing on the locations of Jiangdong, Bashu, and Lingnan: "The Chu region is now pacified. What are the movements of the southern vassal states?"

Zhou Meng stepped forward and his clear, cold voice rang out: "Your Majesty, Wu King Xiao Rui has been keeping a low profile since news came from Chu. However, he has been frequently moving troops within his territory, especially along the river, where defenses have been reinforced by at least 30%."

The navy drilled day and night, and its patrol area was expanded. Its correspondence with messengers from Shu and Jiaoguang became more frequent, carrying lavish gifts. However, according to their intelligence gathering, the King of Shu and Jiaoguang held an ambiguous attitude towards the alliance, mostly engaging in empty pleasantries rather than showing genuine sincerity. The example of the King of Chu instilled fear in them, and they were even more afraid of being implicated.

"King Xiao Zhang of Shu ordered the closure of passes and checkpoints, strictly prohibiting northerners from entering Shu. At the same time, he stockpiled grain, fodder and weapons at passes such as Jiange and Jiameng. He also secretly sent an envoy with heavy gifts to the outskirts of the capital, seemingly wanting to meet the king alone to express his loyalty."

Murong Xue paused, then added, "The envoy's words revealed a great deal of resentment towards the King of Wu, implying that the King of Wu had instigated the King of Chu to cause trouble."

"Liu Tan, Governor of Jiaozhou, and Chen Xian, Governor of Guangzhou,"

Murong Xue continued, "The two submitted their memorials almost simultaneously, their words becoming increasingly subservient, their tribute doubled, and they even offered to send a hostage to the capital. Within their territory, there were no obvious military movements, as if they were observing the situation."

After listening, Xiao Chen's lips curled into a cold smile: "Fear is the best chain. Xiao Rui wanted to unite, but unfortunately, the King of Chu's 'shield' shattered, and the others were only concerned with protecting themselves. The King of Shu wanted to sit on the fence, and Jiao Guang wanted to pay money to avoid trouble. A disorganized mess, each with their own ulterior motives."

He turned and sat back in the main seat, his gaze sharp: "The Chu region has just been annexed and needs time to consolidate and digest its influence; it is not advisable to launch a large-scale war immediately. However, military might must not be diminished, and the general trend cannot be reversed. Han Lie, in the name of the Regent's Palace, hereby issue this decree."

"First, commend Chen Dao, Wang Dashan, and the soldiers who marched south, and reward the entire army. Those who have rendered meritorious service will be rewarded according to their merits, receiving generous land, money, and titles. Those who died in battle will be given substantial compensation. Let the soldiers of Hanyuan know that serving as the vanguard for the King will surely bring them great rewards!"

"Secondly, the newly annexed prefectures of Jing, Ying, and Xiang will be exempted from taxes for one year, and their corvée labor will be reduced by half. Honest and capable officials will be selected to serve in these three prefectures. Their primary task is to appease the people, restore production, punish illegal activities, and eliminate any remaining criminals. Tell the newly appointed governors and prefects that what I want is a stable territory and loyal people, not short-sighted achievements!"

"Third, establish three major military garrisons in Jiangling, Changsha, and Xiangyang, stationing elite troops permanently, under the command of Chen Dao and Wang Dashan respectively, to guard the Yangtze River, deter Jiangdong, and keep an eye on Bashu to the west. At the same time, expand the navy, recruit people along the river who are familiar with water, and build warships. From this day forward, the natural barrier of the Yangtze River will no longer belong solely to Jiangdong!"

"Fourth," Xiao Chen's gaze swept across the map of Shu and Lingnan, "the envoy of the King of Shu is permitted to have an audience. The hostages of Jiao and Guang prefectures are permitted to be sent to the capital and properly settled. Tell Xiao Zhang, Liu Tan, and Chen Xian that those who understand the times are wise. The King of Chu's example is not far off; if they diligently uphold their duties as subjects and pay tribute on time, I can guarantee their wealth and safety. If they harbor any disloyal thoughts... Hmph."

Fifth, send a proclamation to Jiangdong.

Xiao Chen's voice turned cold. "Order Prince Wu, Xiao Rui, to immediately send his heir to the capital to serve as His Majesty's study companion. Furthermore, reduce the number of newly added military units along the river by 30%, and open three ports along the river, allowing court officials and merchants to travel there. The navy shall return to its original defense zone and shall not patrol beyond the border."

Han Lie felt a chill run down his spine.

The first four points are about consolidating and digesting the fruits of victory, using both kindness and severity.

This fifth point, however, directly targets the core of Jiangdong.

Demanding the delivery of hostages, the reduction of military equipment, the opening of ports, and restrictions on the navy, was practically asking the King of Wu to disarm himself and open the gates to thieves!

How could Xiao Rui agree? This was clearly a further test and pressure, or even a pretext for future military action!

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid the King of Wu..." Han Lie hesitated before speaking.

"He can refuse."

Xiao Chen said calmly, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, "That would be harboring rebellious intentions and disobeying orders. Perfect. Once I have fully assimilated Jingchu and my navy is newly formed, I can sail down the river and bring Jiangdong to justice! I've been looking for a reason."

Han Lie suddenly realized, and bowed deeply: "Your Majesty is wise! This is an open scheme; the King of Wu is caught between accepting it and not accepting it!"

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen added, "tell Murong Xue that 'Di Ting' should intensify its efforts in the south, especially in Jiangdong and Shu. I need to know everything about the movements of the feudal lords, their troop deployments, personnel appointments and dismissals, their financial reserves, even their family preferences and conflicts among their ministers. Gold and silver are not a problem."

"Yes!" A cold glint flashed in Murong Xue's eyes.

Orders were issued from the Regent's Palace, like an invisible net cast across the south, which had just experienced dramatic changes.

Xiao Chen adopted a "carrot and stick" strategy towards the Chu region.

On the one hand, by using appeasement measures such as exempting people from taxes and corvée labor, appointing capable officials, and rectifying public order, the government quickly stabilized the people's hearts and restored order.

Many people who had been displaced by the war were able to return to their hometowns, receive land and seeds, and have hope for the future. Their resistance to the new regime quickly disappeared.

On the other hand, the establishment of the three major military towns and the expansion of the navy were like three sharp swords and a chain, firmly controlling this newly acquired land and becoming a springboard for the next step.

Chen Dao was stationed in Jiangling, overseeing the military affairs of Jing and Ying, with 50,000 elite troops under his command, eyeing Jiangdong; Wang Dashan was stationed in Xiangyang, deterring the Central Plains, while also looking westward to Bashu; Changsha military garrison controlled Hunan and Hubei, radiating outwards to Lingnan.

The abundant grain, population, and mineral resources of the Chu region began to provide continuous support for this newly emerging and massive regime.

Xiao Chen adopted a strategy of "divide and win over, and gradually pressuring" towards Sichuan and Jiaozhou.

When the envoy of the King of Shu arrived in the capital, he received a “warm” reception and was “kindly” received by the regent, who bestowed generous gifts upon him. However, the regent did not comment on the envoy’s request to “permanently guard the western border and protect the court,” but merely encouraged him to “be dutiful in his duties and loyal to the king.”

The hostages from Jiaozhou and Guangzhou were "properly housed" in luxurious mansions in Shenjing, with dedicated "caretakers" who were actually under surveillance. Behind this "hospitality" lay a silent warning and control.

The King of Shu and the Governor of Jiaoguang were restless and unable to eat or sleep. They dared not openly rebel, yet were unwilling to completely surrender. They could only continue to strengthen their defenses while sending more "loyalty" and tribute to the capital, thus becoming trapped in a quagmire of passive coping.

Towards Jiangdong, Xiao Chen made no attempt to conceal his intimidation and provocation. When the orders to send hostages, reduce the army, and open ports were sent to Jinling, King Wu, Xiao Rui, was so enraged that he smashed his beloved jade ruyi on the spot.

"This is outrageous!"

Xiao Rui roared in the warm pavilion, his usual gentle demeanor completely gone. "Sending his son as a hostage? Disarming troops? Opening ports? What does Xiao Chen want? Does he want me to bind my own hands, kneel down, and surrender the city?!"

The strategist Gu Yong said with a solemn expression, "Your Highness, please calm down. This is Xiao Chen's strategy of pressing us step by step. He has just acquired Chu and needs time to digest it, so he does not want to fight me immediately. However, he is ambitious and has his sights set on the world. Sooner or later, he will make a move against Jiangdong."

The purpose of proposing such harsh conditions now is to provoke the prince and force him to make the first move, so that he can claim the moral high ground.

If the prince refuses, he will have an excuse to accuse the prince of disloyalty; if the prince agrees, then the gates of Jiangdong will be wide open, and he can do whatever he wants with us.

"Then tell me, how should we deal with this?" Xiao Rui forced himself to calm down, but his chest was still heaving violently.

"drag."

Gu Yong said in a deep voice, "Your Highness may submit a memorial, with respectful words, to thank the Regent for his 'concern,' to state the necessity of Jiangdong's defense and the painstaking efforts of the navy in patrolling the river, and to request a temporary postponement of the dispatch of your son and the reduction of military affairs."

At the same time, they secretly accelerated naval preparations, strengthened defenses along the river, and contacted Sichuan and Jiaozhou. Even if they could not form an alliance, they should communicate with each other and provide mutual support.

Furthermore, secret agents could be dispatched to infiltrate the north, especially the newly annexed Jingchu region, to spread rumors, incite popular uprisings, or assassinate key officials, creating chaos and delaying the process of assimilation and integration.

Xiao Rui's eyes were sinister. After pondering for a long time, he slowly nodded: "That's the only way. Play along, but secretly prepare for war. Also, tell the King of Shu and Jiaoguang that if one falls, the other will be next! Let them think it through!"

However, Xiao Rui's "delaying" tactics appeared pale and powerless in the face of Xiao Chen's absolute strength and aggressive aura.

The reply from Shenjing to Jinling was "gentle" yet "firm": the Regent "understood" the King of Wu's "love for his son" and "responsibility to defend the territory," but "the laws of the court cannot be lightly abolished," and "the unification of the world is an inevitable trend." He hoped that the King of Wu would "deeply understand the greater good and set an example," and gave a clear reply within "one month."

The pressure, like the ever-rising river, relentlessly pressed down on Nanjing, as well as Chengdu, Panyu, and Longbian.

The southern lords had never felt such suffocating pressure from the north as they did at this moment.

The fall of the Chu state clearly taught them that resistance could very well mean death and the destruction of the state; submission might allow them to survive, but ultimately they would not escape the fate of being gradually devoured, digested, and swallowed up.

The south has been initially pacified, but this "pacification" is not a peaceful and prosperous state, but a temporary silence under the threat of force, an unsettling calm before a new storm.

With a clean and decisive southern expedition and a series of subsequent combined moves, Xiao Chen brought most of the south under his control or under his control, nearly doubling his territory and rapidly expanding his strength.

But everyone knew that the real tough nuts to crack were still there—Jiangdong, relying on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, with its powerful navy and relatively stable internal situation, and Bashu, with its strategically important and easily defensible terrain. As for Lingnan, it was just a fence-sitter.

Xiao Chen stood at the pinnacle of power in the capital, looking down over the vast southern lands and the lords who trembled in fear.

He knew that it would take time to digest Jingchu and integrate its forces.

But he knew even more that time was on his side.

With each passing day, his foundation becomes more solid and his power grows stronger.

Meanwhile, the southern lords, caught in fear and internal strife, were constantly draining their strength and fighting spirit.

"Pass down the order," Xiao Chen said to Han Lie, "This year's autumn imperial examinations will be expanded. Not only in the North and the Central Plains, but also in the newly annexed states of Jing, Ying, and Xiang, examination halls will be set up to select scholars. Regardless of background, only talent will be considered. What I want is not only territory, but also the hearts of the people and talent."

"In addition, the Ministry of Works is accelerating the construction of warships, especially large multi-span warships and fast naval vessels. The Ministry of War is drafting naval manuals and recruiting and training sailors and soldiers. We will have to cross the Yangtze River sooner or later. And it won't be long."

Han Lie was overwhelmed with emotion and bowed respectfully, replying, "Your subject obeys!"

The south has been initially pacified, and the north is now secure.

The prototype of an unprecedentedly vast empire is gradually emerging in Xiao Chen's hands.

The next step is to continue with overwhelming force to intimidate, divide, and disintegrate the remaining separatist forces, or to find a suitable opportunity to cross the river in one fell swoop and achieve unification. No matter which path is taken, it is destined to be anything but smooth.

But the trend has already been set, and it is overwhelming. Those who follow it will prosper, and those who oppose it will perish.

The feudal lords of the south awaited their final judgment amidst fear and struggle.

The regent of Shenjing, like a most patient hunter, surveyed his hunting grounds, waiting for the perfect moment to arrive.