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

South bank, Allied forces camp.

An atmosphere of anxiety spread through the camp like a plague.

With food supplies dwindling and news of constant attacks on rear supply lines, ordinary soldiers began to worry about where their next meal would come from.

With insufficient winter clothing and a biting wind, soldiers huddled together, waking up in the night from the cold, cursing the damned weather and the endless war.

Inside the central command tent, the argument had been going on for a whole day, the tension even stronger than the chill outside.

"We can't wait any longer!"

Han Nian, his beard and hair bristling, slammed his fist on the table, causing the water bowl on it to jump. "The army's rations are less than ten days' worth! The soldiers are freezing and starving, and complaints are everywhere! That old scoundrel Han Lie is clearly trying to wear us down without a fight! Today we must cross the river and fight him to the death!"

Lu Qian's eyes were bloodshot, like a gambler who had lost everything. He hissed, "Brother Han is absolutely right! We are all gathered here, with many soldiers and generals. How can we sit idly by and wait to die? We should press on, force our way across the Yellow River, and fight the Han Yuan army to the death! As long as we defeat Han Lie's main force, the situation in the Central Plains can still be salvaged!"

As a newly defeated general, he was eager to avenge his defeat and was even more afraid that if he delayed any longer, his remaining prestige and troops would be completely depleted.

Shen Fang's face was gloomy. He also wanted a quick victory, but he was more aware than Han and Lü of the dangers of crossing the river and attacking the enemy.

With their fortified camps at their backs, Han Yuan's army was well-rested and ready to fight. Their bows, crossbows, and firearms were sharp. They forced their way across the river and attacked halfway across, causing incalculable casualties. Moreover... He glanced at the indignant Han Nian and Lü Qian and sneered inwardly: These two, one reckless and the other a disgruntled man, probably both harbored the idea of ​​having his Huainan soldiers lead the charge.

"A direct attack across the river is exactly what Han Lie wanted."

Shen Fang suppressed his agitation and tried to analyze the situation calmly. "The north bank is heavily defended, and our army lacks sufficient boats. A hasty crossing would result in heavy casualties. It would be better to wait a few more days. I have already dispatched additional troops to clear the supply lines in the rear. Once we have sufficient provisions, we can proceed..."

"Wait? Wait until how long?"

Han Nian interrupted rudely, "Wait until the soldiers mutini? Or wait until Han Lie's reinforcements arrive in four directions, trapping us here to death? Lord Shen, if you're afraid, the men of Qingzhou are willing to be the vanguard! You only need to lead your troops to the rear to provide cover, and watch how I crush the Han Yuan army's camp!"

"You!" Shen Fang was furious. Han Nian's words were practically an accusation that he was a coward.

His Huainan army excelled in naval warfare, though slightly inferior in land warfare, but they were not to be underestimated! The other leaders of the smaller, affiliated forces in the tent also whispered among themselves, some echoing Han Nian, others secretly worried, and the morale of the people was wavering.

Ultimately, under the strong demands of Han Nian and Lü Qian, and the restlessness of most of the generals, Shen Fang had no choice but to compromise.

He knew that if the suppression continued, the allied forces would likely collapse without a fight.

A flawed yet unavoidable attack plan was born amidst arguments and compromises:

At dawn tomorrow, with Han Nian's troops from Qingzhou as the main force, they will take the lead in crossing the Yellow River from the Baimajin area, where the current is slower and the ice layer is thinner, to establish a bridgehead and cover the subsequent crossing of the main army.

Shen Fang led the Huainan army in the center, while Lü Qian led the remnants of Yanzhou on the left. Once Han Nian opened up the situation, the entire army would immediately advance to fight the Han Yuan army in a decisive battle!

To boost morale, Shen Fang gritted his teeth and took out the last of his stored grain and money, promising a generous reward after defeating the enemy.

However, the moment the plan was decided, it seemed to be shrouded in an ominous shadow.

They fought independently, lacking unified and effective command; the vanguard ventured deep into enemy territory alone, raising concerns about subsequent coordination; most importantly, their knowledge of the North Shore Cold Abyss Army's defensive strength, especially regarding a certain "new weapon," was almost zero.

On the north bank, in the main military tent of the Hanyuan Army.

Han Lie did not rest. He stood on a towering watchtower, wearing a cloak, gazing at the bright lights of the allied camp on the opposite bank and the faint sounds of commotion.

The wind was biting cold, but he was completely oblivious.

"General, the Southern bandits are brightly lit, and there are shouts and neighing horses. They seem to be planning something big," the adjutant beside him whispered.

Han Lie's lips curled into a cold smile: "With supplies running low and internal strife raging, what other choice do they have but to gamble everything and force their way across the river?"

He descended from the watchtower and returned to the warm and quiet central command tent.

Inside the tent, several core generals and Mo Heng, the commander of the Divine Machine Battalion, were already waiting.

"Mr. Mo, how are the preparations going?" Han Lie asked Mo Heng.

This man was about forty years old, with a thin face, rough fingers, but unusually bright eyes.

Mo Heng bowed, his voice calm yet tinged with suppressed excitement: "Reporting to the General, the 'Heavenly Thunder' and 'Ten Thousand Enemy' have been laid as planned at several of the most likely landing points, such as Baimajin and Yanjin, as well as key sections along the coast, covered with loose soil and withered grass, and the fuses are properly concealed."

The "Divine Fire Flying Crows" and "Swarm of Bees" arrow formations have been set up behind the front-line barriers and are ready to be fired at any time.

The "Sky-Bomb Cannon" is not easy to maneuver and has been set up on a high slope behind, covering the pre-set kill zone.

Everything is ready; we just need to wait for the southern bandits to die.

Han Lie nodded in satisfaction: "Good! In this battle, we must let the world witness the power of the divine weapon that Your Highness has painstakingly developed!"

The order was given: all units of the vanguard should nock their bows and crossbows and draw their swords, but no attack was permitted until the enemy reached the pre-set minefield and before receiving the order!

Give up the beachhead and let them come ashore!

"Any news from Han Qinhu's side?"

"Reporting to the General, General Han Qinhu's 20,000 elite cavalry have, as planned, outflanked the enemy and cut off several of their supply lines, and are making the appearance of launching a surprise attack on Shouchun. There are already multiple urgent alarms coming from Shen Fang's rear."

"very good."

A cold glint flashed in Han Lie's eyes. "Tomorrow will be the day Lü Qian, Shen Fang, and Han Nian are beheaded!"

November 4th, dawn.

Before dawn, the Yellow River was shrouded in a thick morning fog, with visibility extremely low. The wind was biting cold, and the river murmured.

On the south bank, the gates of the Allied forces camp were wide open.

Han Nian, fully armored and wielding a long sword, personally supervised the battle.

Tens of thousands of Qingzhou soldiers, spurred on by "generous rewards" and the promise of "fighting to the death," carried simple wooden planks and leather rafts, pushed hastily assembled small boats, and, driven by their officers, silently and restlessly surged toward the Baima Ferry.

The icy river water made their teeth chatter, but the will to survive and the desire for reward overcame their fear.

The first group of soldiers boarded small boats and rafts, and some even clung to planks, and began to row vigorously toward the north bank.

The thick fog provided them with excellent cover; the opposite bank was quiet, with only the sound of the cold wind blowing through the withered grass.

"Heaven is helping me!"

Han Nian, seeing everything clearly from the south bank, was overjoyed. "The Han Yuan army must be caught off guard! Quick! Row fast! Ten taels of gold will be awarded to anyone who lands!"

More and more Qingzhou soldiers began to cross the river, forming a dense, dark mass that filled the not-so-wide river surface.

Shen Fang and Lü Qian also urged their respective troops to assemble in the rear, preparing to launch a large-scale crossing of the river once Han Nian succeeded.

North bank, the forward position of the Hanyuan Army.

The soldiers held their breath, lying prone behind the cold fortifications. The archers' fingers rested on the strings, their sharp eyes piercing through the morning mist as they stared at the approaching shadows on the river.

Further back, Mo Heng personally oversaw the operation, with a series of "Thunderbolt" detonation control points laid out in front of him. His expression was focused, like a hunter waiting for his prey.

The vanguard of the Qingzhou soldiers finally set foot on the soft, cold mudflats on the north bank.

There was no expected rain of arrows, no resistance. The opposite bank remained deathly silent.

"Success! The north bank is empty! Quick, send the signal! All troops land!" The Qingzhou officers who landed were overjoyed and lit the beacon fire symbolizing their success.

On the south bank, Han Nian, Shen Fang, and Lü Qian, seeing this, did not hesitate any longer and ordered the main force to begin a large-scale crossing of the river!

In an instant, boats raced across the Yellow River, and the air was filled with shouts of men and neighing of horses. The river was densely packed with the Allied forces' crossing troops.

They seemed to have already seen the dawn of breaking through the Hanyuan Army's defenses and securing victory in one fell swoop.

However, this glimmer of hope was a deadly trap deliberately set for them by Mo Heng.

Just as the vanguard of the allied forces began to assemble on the north bank beach, and the follow-up troops crowded the river surface, at the moment when the formation was at its most chaotic and dense—

"Release!" Mo Heng calmly gave the order.

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle—" The fuses that had been buried in the mudflats, shallow waters, or even the muddy ground on the shore were lit, emitting a faint, deathly sound.

Immediately afterwards—

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The earth is shaking!

A series of muffled explosions, like thunder, yet a hundred times more terrifying, suddenly erupted from the north shore beach and shallow waters!

Flames shot into the sky, thick smoke billowed, and splinters of wood, metal, stones, and even severed limbs were scattered everywhere by the violent shockwave!

It was the "Heaven-Shaking Thunder" and "Ten Thousand Enemy-Enemy" that the Han Yuan Army had been secretly preparing for a long time that were detonated! Although these black powder weapons were primitive, at this moment, in this dense crowd and limited space, they unleashed devastating power!

In an instant, the North Shore beach, which had just been filled with cheers of "victory," turned into a living hell!

Countless Qingzhou soldiers were caught completely off guard and were blown to pieces or thrown into the icy Yellow River by the shockwave.

Those who were lucky enough to survive mostly suffered from bleeding from their ears and noses, dizziness, and were then engulfed by the ensuing poisonous smoke and flames, their screams shaking the heavens and the earth!

On the river, many ferries and rafts were affected by the blast wave or hit by flying iron pieces and rocks, instantly disintegrating. Soldiers on board fell into the water like dumplings, struggling in the icy river water, and were then dragged to the bottom by the chaotic boats and their comrades.

"Divine punishment! This is divine punishment!" The surviving allied soldiers screamed in despair, their souls nearly leaving their bodies.

This terrifying attack, far beyond their comprehension, instantly shattered their fighting spirit.

However, this is just the beginning.

Almost at the same time as the explosion, a series of dense and shrill sounds of air being torn apart came from behind the North Shore Cold Abyss Army's fortifications!

Countless arrows and rockets trailing fire rose into the air like locusts, tearing through the morning mist and falling into the ranks of the allied forces that were crossing the river or still gathering on the south bank!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Another series of explosions and fires!

These simple rockets may not be very accurate, but they have a large coverage area and are highly incendiary, which would be a devastating blow to a dense, unprotected river-crossing force!

The boats were set ablaze, and the soldiers, engulfed in flames, screamed as they jumped into the icy river. The assembly point on the south bank was also engulfed in flames and chaos.

"Release them!" The commanders of the Cold Abyss Army coldly ordered.

The powerful bows and crossbows, already poised to fire, poured down like a torrential rain on the enemy army, which was in disarray and unable to advance or retreat.

Those survivors who had just landed and were still in shock were especially subjected to relentless gunfire.

"Hold your ground! No retreating! Anyone who retreats will be executed!"

Han Nian, Shen Fang, and Lü Qian watched from the south bank with eyes wide with rage, desperately trying to suppress the unrest, and even personally killing several fleeing soldiers.

But the defeat was swift and devastating, especially in the face of such a devastating blow that defied all expectations and resembled a natural disaster. Panic spread like wildfire, instantly shattering the coalition's organization.

"Run! The Cold Abyss Army uses sorcery!"

"Heavenly lightning! They will summon heavenly lightning!"

"Help! I don't want to die!"

Screams, explosions, burning, cries, splashing, and the whistling of crossbows piercing the air... all intertwined to create a symphony of hell.

The Allied forces completely collapsed, and no matter how the officers shouted for battle, they could not stop the avalanche-like retreat.

The soldiers abandoned their armor and trampled each other in an attempt to escape the terrifying northern shore and the deadly rain of fire.

Many people panicked and jumped into the icy Yellow River, only to be swept away or frozen by the rapid current.

"The time has come! All troops, attack!" From the watchtower, Han Lie swung his arm down sharply.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!" The stirring sound of war drums finally rang out from the Hanyuan Army camp, overwhelming all the chaos.

"Kill—!" The Hanyuan Army's infantry and cavalry, who had been preparing for a long time, surged out of the camp like a floodgate opening!

With the clanging of iron hooves and the clatter of swords and spears, a dark wave surged down the riverbank with overwhelming force, rushing into the river and pursuing the routed allied forces!

Han Qinhu's 20,000 elite cavalry appeared like ghosts on the flanks and rear of the allied forces, completely cutting off their retreat.

The massacre began.

This was an unequal, overwhelming battle.

The coalition forces suffered a double blow, both psychologically and physically, their morale collapsed completely, and their organization disintegrated entirely.

Meanwhile, the Han Yuan army was in high spirits, attacking the unprepared with preparedness and defeating the chaotic with discipline.

Han Nian was knocked down by the fleeing soldiers in the chaos of battle and was immediately trampled into a bloody pulp by countless horses' hooves.

Lu Qian attempted to rally his remaining troops, but was shot in the face by an arrow from Han Qinhu and fell from his horse, dying instantly.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Shen Fang, with the desperate protection of his personal guards, managed to seize a small boat and fled in panic to the south bank. However, he was overtaken by the speedboats of the Hanyuan Army's navy and was shot dead by a hail of arrows on the Huai River.

The sun rises and the morning mist dissipates.

The battlefield of Guandu was littered with corpses, and the river was stained red.

Burning shipwrecks, scattered flags and armor, and frozen corpses covered the river surface and its banks.

Most of the surviving Allied soldiers knelt down and begged for surrender, their faces ashen.

The Han Yuan army won a great victory.

In this battle, the main force of the allied forces was almost completely wiped out. The three major warlords, Han Nian, Lü Qian, and Shen Fang, all died in battle, and countless others were captured or surrendered.

The casualties of Han Yuan's army were negligible.

Gunpowder weapons were used on a large scale in field battles for the first time in this decisive battle that determined the fate of the Central Plains. They rewrote the mode of warfare in a shocking way and completely shattered the last will of resistance of the Central Plains lords.

When the news spread, the world was shocked!

The legends of "heavenly thunder" and "divine fire" spread at an astonishing speed, carried by defeated soldiers and surviving witnesses.

The terrifying image of Han Yuanjun, who "receives divine assistance and wields divine punishment," is deeply imprinted in everyone's mind.

The remaining resistance forces in the Central Plains were terrified and could no longer muster the courage to fight back.

The Battle of Guandu has come to an end.

The ownership of the Central Plains is no longer in doubt.