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

Lu Qian was defeated at Juye and barely escaped with his life. He fled back to his stronghold in Changyi in a sorry state, with less than three thousand wounded soldiers left with him. Their morale was extremely low.

The news of Peng Chao's suicide in Xiapi spread like the fiercest north wind, instantly sweeping across the entire eastern part of the Central Plains.

Chen Dao's army to pacify the people and Wang Dashan's iron cavalry were like two indestructible iron pincers. They not only crushed the two largest separatist forces in the Central Plains, but also laid bare the cold reality of "prosperity for those who obey and ruin for those who resist" to all the small and medium-sized lords who were still watching, hesitating, or harboring wishful thinking.

Panic, like a plague, spread at an unprecedented speed among the remaining separatist forces in the Central Plains.

"Even Peng Chao and Lü Qian have been defeated... defeated so quickly and so miserably..."

"Chen Dao and Wang Dashan are brilliant strategists, but even more terrifying is Xiao Chen's method of governing the army and pacifying the people... Wherever he goes, the people are so eager to offer him food and drink!"

"Only punish the ringleaders, leave the accomplices unpunished... open the granaries and distribute grain, restore order... Is this simply fighting a war? This is clearly winning over the hearts and minds of the people, cutting off their lifeline!"

"With our limited troops and territory, are we even enough to satisfy the Cold Abyss Army? If we continue fighting, forget about conquering the land; we might not even survive!"

"But... but if we surrender, given Xiao Chen's ruthlessness and the fate of the King of Chu when he annexed Jingchu... will he let us go?"

"Foolish! Didn't you see the proclamation and the actual actions? What Xiao Chen wants is to quickly pacify the Central Plains and reduce losses."

He needed to establish an image of "mourning the people and punishing the guilty, without being fond of killing" to appease the people of the newly conquered lands and also to set an example for Wu and Shu in the south! Killing Peng Chao and Lü Qian was to establish his authority and eliminate the biggest obstacles.

"For us small fry, as long as we sincerely submit and offer up our land and troops, he will most likely not exterminate us. He might even give us a nominal title and keep us around!"

"Indeed, the King of Chu actively resisted, and his son surrendered the land, yet he still received the title of 'Marquis of Guiyi' and lived a life of luxury in the capital. It's better than dying and having his clan wiped out!"

"I've heard that many of the surrendered prefects and magistrates in southern Yuzhou, as long as they weren't particularly wicked, were retained or even given their original positions! Chen Dao and Wang Dashan's armies have also taken in quite a few surrendered soldiers!"

"This is a golden opportunity! Once the Han Yuan army is at our gates, we'll be the 'chief culprits' for 'stubbornly resisting,' and by then it will be too late to surrender!"

Various discussions, weighing of options, fears, and calculations were taking place fiercely in the remaining prefectures, fortified villages, and military towns in the Central Plains.

Xiao Chen's combined approach of military deterrence, political division, economic appeasement, and winning over public opinion was now culminating in a powerful and decisive victory. Continuing to resist seemed like a dead end, a pointless and ultimately infamous death.

While voluntarily surrendering might mean losing power, it at least preserves one's life, family, and even potential wealth.

The "smart people" have started to take action.

The first to formally submit a petition to surrender was Feng Tai, the garrison commander of Rencheng.

He was originally a small warlord in Yanzhou, who attached himself to Lü Qian and occupied Rencheng. When news of Wang Dashan's defeat of Lü Qian's main force arrived, Feng Tai did not hesitate. He immediately killed the supervisor sent by Lü Qian, closed the city gates, and then sent his trusted confidant with a letter of surrender, household registers, military seals, and other documents to descend the city walls and head straight for Wang Dashan's camp.

The letter of surrender was written with extreme respect and sincerity, lamenting that "I was forced by Lü Qian to follow the rebels in the past, but my heart was with the court and I thought of the king's rule every day." Now, "thankfully, thanks to the might of the emperor, the royal army is pointing east and the rebel chief has been beheaded." He said that he "has suddenly realized his mistake and is willing to lead the entire city's army and people to surrender to the court and surrender the city." He also said that he "is willing to be the vanguard to punish the disobedient."

Upon receiving the surrender document, Wang Dashan laughed heartily and said to his attendants, "Your Highness's strategy is brilliant! These people indeed surrendered without a second thought!"

He personally received the envoy, offered kind words of comfort, and, following Xiao Chen's prior instructions, immediately promised: Feng Tai, for his meritorious service in surrendering the city, would be appointed as Zhaoxin Colonel, still commanding his own troops, and his family and property would be preserved. Officials of Rencheng who wished to remain would be considered for future employment, while those who wished to leave would be provided with travel expenses.

When the news spread, the gates of Rencheng were opened wide, and Feng Tai personally went out of the city for ten miles, crawling along the roadside to welcome the royal army.

Wang Dashan's army entered the city and, as expected, did not commit any offenses. They immediately took over the defense, inventoried the treasury, and reassured the people, and everything proceeded in an orderly manner.

Feng Tai and his subordinates, seeing that their lives and property had been spared, and that they had even received rewards, were all moved to tears of gratitude and secretly exclaimed how lucky they were.

The power of example is endless.

Feng Tai's smooth surrender was like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, triggering a huge chain reaction.

Immediately afterwards, Li Fu, the governor of Shanyang, Zhang Sheng, a powerful figure in Jiyin, Cui Liang, the chancellor of Langya, and other small and medium-sized forces that were originally wavering or self-reliant, rushed to send envoys with surrender documents, household registers, and maps to Chen Dao's or Wang Dashan's army to surrender.

Their surrender petitions were increasingly earnest, their repentance increasingly profound, and their expressions of loyalty increasingly ornate.

"Your subject, so-and-so, bows and kowtows twice, and presents this to Your Majesty: I am but a mediocre person, and I have received great favors from the country. However, living in a chaotic world, I have no choice but to hold military power in order to protect the borders and the people. This is not my true intention."

Now, observing the celestial phenomena and examining the hearts of the people, I know that Heaven's mandate rests on Xiao. The royal army, in its mighty glory, will mourn the people and punish the guilty, and will be invincible. Though I am foolish and dull, I too know the difference between obedience and rebellion.

Now I am willing to surrender the entire prefecture and return the land to the court. The troops, horses, money and provisions are all at your disposal.

"I only beg Your Highness to consider that I have realized my mistake and returned to the right path, to preserve our leader, and to allow me to live as a citizen in peace. Then I will have no regrets even if I die..."

Chen Dao and Wang Dashan strictly followed Xiao Chen's strategy: accept all comers and offer them generous comfort.

Anyone who sincerely submits and hands over their land and troops will be treated with great favor.

Those at the prefectural or county magistrate level were often granted honorary titles such as General of the Central Army or Colonel, and transferred away from their localities to the capital for "honorable retirement" or "employment".

Those who were powerful local lords or fortified village chiefs were given positions such as Commandant or Military Commander, depending on their military strength and influence. Their followers were dispersed and incorporated into various armies, and their families were given certain land and houses for resettlement.

Most existing officials, unless they committed serious misdeeds, were retained in order to maintain local stability.

For those with slightly larger forces and more territory, but whose attitudes were somewhat ambiguous and who tried to bargain, Chen Dao and Wang Dashan were ruthless. Their armies immediately pressed forward, adopting an offensive posture, while sending envoys with an ultimatum: "Surrender, and your wealth and honor will be preserved; fight, and all will perish. You have one day to go, or you will not be allowed to return."

Faced with the terrifying might of the Hanyuan Army and the tragic fate of those who "stubbornly resisted," almost no warlord could remain defiant to the end, and they all ultimately chose to open their cities and surrender.

For a time, a strange phenomenon appeared on the Central Plains: the black banners bearing the character "Xiao" were often not directed towards fierce sieges, but rather towards areas where "the siege was quelled by a mere proclamation" or "they surrendered at the mere sight of the enemy."

Messengers shuttled back and forth, and memorials flew like snowflakes to Chen Dao and Wang Dajun's central army tent, and were then sent to the Regent's Palace in the capital by express courier.

Of course, not everyone is willing to give up power.

Lu Qian, who had fled back to his stronghold of Changyi, was still in shock when he heard that Rencheng, Shanyang and other places had surrendered one after another. He was so angry that he vomited blood. He knew that the situation was hopeless and he could only make a last-ditch effort to defend his isolated city.

Shen Fang, who fled back to Huainan, and Han Nian, who fled back to Qingzhou, were terrified. They quickly reorganized their troops and fortified the city's defenses. At the same time, they desperately sent envoys to Wu King Xiao Rui in Jiangdong and Shu King Xiao Zhang in Bashu, pleading for help and explaining the principle of mutual dependence.

However, distant water cannot quench a nearby fire.

King Xiao Rui of Wu was in dire straits, with Xiao Chen's three swords—"sending hostages, reducing troops, and opening ports"—held at his throat. He was in a state of utter chaos and had no spare strength to march north.

King Xiao Zhang of Shu, however, was holding the strategic pass and was more than happy for the Central Plains to be in chaos. How could he easily send troops? Their replies were nothing more than empty promises such as "hold firm and await reinforcements" and "we have already sent envoys to question Xiao Chen".

The speed of the collapse of the Central Plains exceeded everyone's expectations. In just over a month, apart from a few tough nuts to crack, such as Changyi where Lü Qian was trapped, Shouchun where Shen Fang was entrenched, and Linzi where Han Nian was holed up, as well as some remote and isolated places, large areas of land in the eastern and southern parts of the Central Plains had already changed hands and planted black "Xiao" flags.

Shenjing, the Regent's Palace.

Good news and reports of demotion came like snowflakes.

Han Lie, Murong Xue, and several young officials who had recently been promoted by Xiao Chen to be in charge of official documents were extremely busy, but everyone's face was filled with excitement.

"Report! General Wang Dashan has achieved a great victory! He has recovered Lu State, Dongping, Jibei and other places, taken in 20,000 surrendered soldiers and obtained 300,000 shi of grain! Former Lu Chancellor Chen Ji surrendered the city and was appointed as an advisor by General Wang. He has been escorted to the capital!"

"Report! General Chen Dao reports that Runan, Yiyang, Anfeng, and other prefectures have been pacified. Powerful figures such as Zheng Hun and Liang Xi have led their clans and followers to surrender. General Chen has properly settled them according to the Prince's strategy, and their troops have been dispersed and incorporated into various armies. Countless spoils have been seized and used for local relief. Many displaced people have also surrendered!"

"Report! Liu Fu of Pei, Li Tong of Liang, Yuan Huan of Chen, and others have jointly submitted a petition of surrender, presenting their household registers and military records. The envoy has arrived in Luoyang!"

"Report!..."

Xiao Chen sat in the main seat, listening to the reports of victory after victory. His expression was calm, without much joy, as if all of this was expected.

He only occasionally asked a few key details: "How were the surrendered generals settled? Were there any changes in their arrangements?"

"How much of the seized money and grain was used to pacify the people?"

"How many local officials have been retained, and how many have been dismissed? Are there any public grievances?"

After listening to the report, he nodded slightly: "Well done. Chen Dao is steady and Wang Dashan is swift; both of them understood my intentions. Winning hearts and minds is the best strategy; subduing the enemy without fighting is the highest form of skill."

"Your Highness's strategy is brilliant. The feudal lords, intimidated by the Emperor's might and moved by his virtuous rule, have submitted to you without hesitation," Han Lie flattered with a smile.

Xiao Chen shook his head: "Not entirely. They are not intimidated by the might of Heaven, but fear the sharpness of my military might; they are not moved by my benevolent rule, but greedy for the path to survival I have given them. Seeking advantage and avoiding harm is human nature. In the current situation, those who follow me seem to retain wealth and status; those who oppose me will surely die and their clans be exterminated. Unless one is extremely stupid, everyone knows which choice to make."

He stood up, walked to the huge map, and looked at the densely packed new markings that represented those that had already submitted or were about to submit. He slowly pointed to the few isolated points that had not yet been marked with black flags—Changyi, Shouchun, and Linzi.

"Lu Qian, Shen Fang, and Han Nian are the most stubborn and wicked. Lu Qian, in particular, is like a cornered beast that will fight to the death."

Xiao Chen's voice turned cold, "Order Wang Dashan not to launch a full-scale attack on Changyi. Besiege it without attacking, cut off its supply lines and water, and send surrendered generals to persuade it to surrender, thus undermining its morale. Tell Lü Qian that if he opens the city gates now, he can still save his life and move his entire family to the capital. If he waits until the city falls, his entire family will be wiped out!"

"Tell Chen Dao that the attacks on Shen Fang of Huainan and Han Nian of Qingzhou can be postponed for the time being, but their external channels should be blocked, and the import of grain, salt, and iron should be strictly prohibited. At the same time, continue to issue proclamations widely, offering rewards for the heads of these two men. Their internal strife will surely escalate."

"As for these newly acquired lands,"

Xiao Chen traced the large area already marked with black flags with his finger, his tone serious, "Pacifying the people, providing disaster relief, and restoring production are the top priorities."

When selecting capable officials and inspecting local areas, anyone who outwardly complies with orders but inwardly defies them, oppresses the people, or enriches themselves will be executed without mercy, regardless of their seniority or background!

What I can give them, I can also take back. I want the newly surrendered people to see that submitting to the court not only guarantees survival, but also a better way of life.

"Yes, sir!" Han Lie and the others responded sternly.

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen pondered for a moment, "list the names of these vassal lords and generals who have submitted to me, their merits, and the rewards I have bestowed upon them, and send copies to Jiangdong, Bashu, and Lingnan."

A cold smile crept across his lips. "Let Xiao Rui, Xiao Zhang, Liu Tan, and Chen Xian take a good look at the principles of following the right path and going against it, the rules of survival and destruction. Let them decide for themselves whether to learn from Peng Chao and Lü Qian, or from these 'pragmatic' heroes."

Divide, win over, deter, set an example.

Xiao Chen's political skills were masterful.

The surrender of the smaller vassal states in the Central Plains not only greatly accelerated the process of pacifying the Central Plains and reduced military expenditures, but more importantly, it sent a clear and cruel signal to the world, especially to the large vassal states in the south that had not yet been pacified:

Resistance will only lead to certain death.

Submitting to the emperor may preserve his wealth and status.

The Han Yuan Army's advance was unstoppable, and Xiao Chen was not simply bloodthirsty. He was willing to give those who "knew the times" a way out—a way out under his order where they could lose power but still preserve or even enjoy wealth.

This signal had an immeasurable impact and allure for the southern warlords, who were not united and each harbored their own ambitions.

The smoke of war in the Central Plains has not completely dissipated, but the overall situation is already set.

With Lü Qian, the last to resist, committing suicide by self-immolation in Changyi in despair, and with Shen Fang being assassinated by his subordinates and surrendering the city, and Han Nian surrendering in Linzi after running out of food, the vast Central Plains, after years of war, finally returned to a powerful order—although this order carried the coldness of the Xuanjia armor and Xiao Chen's personal imprint.

The swift pacification of the Central Plains, and the scene of "people bringing food and drink and surrendering at the mere sight of the enemy," struck the southern lords like a powerful shockwave, especially Xiao Rui, the King of Wu in Jiangdong, and Xiao Zhang, the King of Shu in Bashu.

They knew that the final moment was drawing ever closer.

To fight, to make peace, or to surrender? This question can no longer be avoided.

The choices made by the feudal lords of the Central Plains seem to have foreshadowed a certain outcome for them.