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

That year, in late autumn.

Under the royal banner of the capital, Xiao Chen could already sense the complex political affairs and subtle restlessness emanating from the newly expanded Central Plains. The surrender of Juqu Mengxun of Western Liang resolved the concerns on the flank, but it also marked a new stage in the world's situation—only the last remaining strongholds were still openly divided.

However, before Xiao Chen could fully focus his attention on the misty Jiangnan region or the towering mountains of Shu, battle reports and secret letters from the north swept into the capital like a north wind.

The Northern Yan, the archenemy that had occupied Youyan and Liaodong and had clashed with Han Lie's iron cavalry several times, was now facing an unprecedented and desperate situation that could lead to its annihilation.

The sudden turn of events stemmed from an ambitious but ultimately disastrous gamble by Murong Ying, the ruler of Northern Yan.

Murong Ying was a stubborn and arrogant man who harbored ambitions to conquer You and Bing and seize control of the Central Plains.

Although Han Lie's previous northern expedition was thwarted by the strong city and the sharp edge of the Han Yuan army, Murong Ying's foundation was not damaged. On the contrary, he became even more arrogant after defeating the "invincible" Han Yuan army.

Amidst the chaos of war in the Central Plains, Xiao Chen was preoccupied with vying for supremacy and had no time to look north, which gave Murong Ying an opportunity.

He was not content with living in Liaodong, but coveted the wealth of the Central Plains.

While Xiao Chen was engaged in a decisive battle with Lü Qian, Shen Fang, Han Nian, and others at Guandu, Murong Ying believed that the time was ripe. He mobilized all the elite troops in the country, joined forces with several Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes that were affiliated with him outside the Great Wall, and boasted 200,000 cavalrymen. He then brazenly marched south, intending to take advantage of the situation and directly seize You and Ji provinces, and even covet Bingzhou.

At first, progress seemed to be going well.

The Han Yuan army, which was left to guard Youzhou, was caught off guard and suffered a series of defeats. Murong Ying's iron cavalry once penetrated deep into the heart of Youzhou, and the flames of war illuminated the Yanshan Mountains.

When the news reached Longcheng, the Northern Yan court and the public were overjoyed, believing that their ambition to dominate the country was about to be realized.

However, Murong Ying seriously misjudged two points:

First, he underestimated the resilience of the Hanyuan Army in local defense and adaptability. Although the general left behind had insufficient troops, he relied on the fortified villages to resist step by step and mobilized the people to carry out a scorched earth policy, making it extremely difficult for the Northern Yan cavalry to plunder and resupply, and greatly slowing down their advance.

Secondly, and fatally, he underestimated Xiao Chen's speed in pacifying the Central Plains, as well as the determination and efficiency of the main force of the Hanyuan Army in returning north.

In the Battle of Guandu, Han Yuan's army achieved a swift and overwhelming victory. When the news reached the front lines in Youzhou, Murong Ying's vanguard had only just reached the vicinity of Ji County.

Before he could wake up from his dream that "the civil war in the Central Plains will last even longer," Han Lie had already personally led his victorious army, marching at a speed of nearly a hundred miles a day, traveling day and night to rush north to provide reinforcements.

At the same time, Xiao Chen strictly ordered Wang Dashan's elite troops from Bingzhou to march east through Jingxing and flank the Yan army's rear.

Han Lie's military strategy has always been characterized by swift and decisive action, refusing to move until the very end. The fact that his Northern Expedition failed to achieve complete success due to logistical and climatic factors has long been a source of regret.

This time, Murong Ying dared to take the initiative to go south, only to run into the main force of the Hanyuan Army, which was riding high on the momentum of a great victory and whose morale was soaring. The outcome was predictable.

On the plains of Zhuolu, the main forces of the two armies clashed.

Murong Ying, confident in the prowess of his cavalry, intended to use the traditional grassland charge to break through the Hanyuan army's lines.

However, he was facing a formidable army whose equipment, training, discipline, and morale were all at their peak, and which had just been tempered by the Central Plains War.

The Han Yuan army's infantry and cavalry coordinated closely, and their bows, crossbows, and firearms were sharp. Han Lie cleverly used chariot formations and trenches to neutralize the cavalry charge, then used heavily armored infantry to push back, while his elite cavalry flanked them.

A massive, earth-shattering battle.

The Northern Yan cavalry suffered heavy losses against the Han Yuan army's solid lines and dense long-range attacks. As they fell into disarray, the Han Yuan army's iron cavalry advanced like a wall, completely crushing their resistance.

In this battle, the Yan army suffered a crushing defeat, with corpses lying for dozens of miles. Countless people were captured or beheaded. Under the desperate protection of his personal guards, Murong Ying led only a few thousand surviving cavalrymen in a disarray as he fled north.

Han Lie was not about to give up. He led his troops in a fierce pursuit, recovering lost territory along the way. He then took advantage of the victory to invade the territory of Northern Yan, capturing key passes such as Lulong Pass and Bailang Mountain. His army once again pointed directly at Longcheng.

Wang Dashan's troops also attacked from the west, capturing several cities in succession. Within the territory of Northern Yan, a climate of fear and unease prevailed.

To make matters worse, seeing Murong Ying suffer a crushing defeat and lose his main force, the latent conflicts within Northern Yan suddenly erupted.

Duan Kan, the leader of the Duan tribe of Xianbei, who had always been dissatisfied with Murong Ying's aggressive military campaigns and suppression of his own people, first raised an army in western Liaoning to establish his own independent regime. He intercepted and killed the defeated troops of Northern Yan, seized the government treasury, and openly raised the banner of rebellion.

The Gongsun clan, who had been entrenched in Liaodong and had long been dissatisfied with the Murong clan's claim to the throne, seized the opportunity to declare their independence from Northern Yan, proclaimed themselves Duke of Liaodong, and sent troops westward to seize cities.

Even more deadly was the dagger from behind—Murong Ying's younger brother, Prince Murong Ke of Yidu, launched a coup in the capital, Longcheng!

Murong Ke had long been dissatisfied with his elder brother's stubbornness and the fact that he had dragged the country into a desperate situation, and secretly colluded with a group of nobles and generals who were disappointed in Murong Ying.

Upon learning of Murong Ying's crushing defeat and uncertain fate, he immediately seized control of Longcheng, placed Murong Ying's sons, wives, and concubines under house arrest, declared Murong Ying deposed, and proclaimed himself the ruler of Northern Yan. He also sent envoys to seek peace with Han Lie.

Defeat, foreign invasion, internal rebellion, usurpation by the royal family, and the approach of a powerful enemy... The once mighty Northern Yan, which dominated the Northeast, fell into a desperate situation of disintegration and imminent demise within just a few months.

Upon fleeing back to western Liaoning, he discovered that his stronghold had been lost, Han Lie's army was in front of him, Duan Kan's rebel army was behind him, and his younger brother, Murong Ying, had usurped the throne. He nearly vomited blood. He gathered some remaining troops and retreated to the isolated city of Tuhe, surrounded by enemies on all sides.

Just when he was at his wit's end and had been betrayed by everyone, Murong Ying made a desperate and helpless decision.

He rejected the suggestion from some generals to "retreat to the border and submit to the Rouran," and instead summoned his confidants, weeping bitterly:

"I... regret not heeding loyal advice and engaging in reckless military campaigns, which has led to this calamity! Duan Kan, that scoundrel, and Gongsun Yuan, that wild dog, betrayed their master and established themselves; they deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

Murong Ke is a traitor who murdered his brother and usurped the throne; he is unforgivable! However... Han Lie's army is pressing in, and the Han Yuan army is a ferocious force that we cannot defeat.

Now, beset by internal and external troubles, the nation is on the verge of collapse. To ensure the continuation of the Murong clan's ancestral temple, and to prevent the Han and Hu people of Liaodong from suffering the ravages of war and slaughter... there is only... only...

He closed his eyes in anguish, and after a long while, he squeezed out the words through clenched teeth: "I beg the Prince of Zhenbei... no, I beg His Highness the Regent... to surrender!"

I am willing to relinquish my imperial title and submit to the entire nation, but I beg... but I beg the royal army to swiftly dispatch its troops to annihilate the traitors Duan Kan, Gongsun Yuan, and Murong Ke, and avenge me... no, avenge me!

"To cleanse the house of our Northern Yan! After this is accomplished, the land of Yan...will all be under the rule of our king!"

This is no longer a plea for help from equal allies, but a desperate surrender, offering up territory and status in order to use someone else to kill and buy the clan a chance to survive.

Murong Ying's handwritten letter of surrender, along with the Yan Kingdom's imperial seal and maps of the remaining counties under his control, was led by his most trusted cousin and general, Murong Han, along with the last group of loyal guards. They risked their lives to cross the border between Duan Kan and Gongsun Yuan's forces, bypassed Longcheng, and after many hardships, finally arrived at Han Lie's camp at the Yuguan front.

Han Lie's central command tent.

Looking at the travel-worn, ragged Murong Han before him, who was forcing himself to maintain his composure, and at the humble, tearful surrender petition, Han Lie's usually calm face revealed a barely perceptible ripple. His generals, however, were abuzz with discussion, some excited, some disdainful, and some skeptical.

"General, Murong Ying is at his wit's end and is resorting to this feigned surrender to buy time. We must not believe him!" a general stepped forward and said.

"Indeed, such fickle villains, though they surrender to me today, will surely cause trouble again tomorrow if given a chance to catch their breath! We should seize this opportunity to wipe them out in one fell swoop and eliminate the threat forever!"

"This humble general disagrees," said another strategist-like civil official. "While Murong Ying is despicable, his surrender presents our army with a golden opportunity to rightfully sweep through the entire territory of Northern Yan, and even seize Liaodong! We can feign acceptance of his request, first eliminating Duan Kan and Murong Ke, then forcing or annihilating Gongsun Yuan. Once the rebels are pacified, Murong Ying will be all alone; whether he prevails or perishes will be entirely at the General's mercy. This is a strategy of using a pretext to conquer Guo, and securing the Northeast in one fell swoop!"

As Han Lie listened to the argument among his subordinates, his gaze fell on the rough map of Northern Yan that marked the territories of various forces.

Murong Ying was trapped at Tuhe, Duan Kan occupied Liaoxi, Murong Ke occupied Longcheng, Gongsun Yuan held Liaodong, and there were also several small, wavering tribes... They were a disorganized bunch, fighting amongst themselves, and none of them were a threat.

With the momentum of a great victory, the Han Yuan Army is well-trained, well-supplied, and in high spirits. Sweeping away these forces will not be difficult for them.

The real key lies in how to bring this vast land under our control and stabilize it in the most cost-effective, fastest, and most legitimate way.

Murong Ying's surrender conveniently provided such a "righteous" pretext—at the request of the "King" of Northern Yan, to punish the rebels, pacify the local area, and ultimately accept its "annexation."

"Murong Han," Han Lie finally spoke, his voice steady and carrying an undeniable authority, "Since Murong Ying has acknowledged his crimes and repented, and is willing to surrender, this is a wise move to preserve his clan and prevent further bloodshed. I, the commander, can grant his request and send troops to annihilate the rebels Duan Kan and Murong Ke."

Upon hearing this, Murong Han was overjoyed and immediately knelt down, saying, "Great General, you are so benevolent! On behalf of my lord... no, on behalf of the people of Yan, I thank you for your divine grace!"

"However," Han Lie changed the subject, "our Heavenly Army's Northern Expedition has cost a fortune, and our soldiers have risked their lives. How can we let it all be for nothing? Since Murong Ying is willing to submit, he must show his sincerity."

First, immediately open the Tuhe city gates to welcome the royal army into the city for "defense assistance".

Secondly, all the troops under his command were registered and put to command, and handed over to the royal army for reorganization.

Thirdly, immediately issue a proclamation in the name of the "Lord of Northern Yan" to the Yan region, denouncing the crimes of Duan, Gongsun, and Murong Ke, and ordering all local generals and tribes to quickly welcome the royal army and not to resist.

Fourthly, after the rebellions are quelled, Murong Ying must personally go to the capital, surrender territory to the Regent, and await his judgment. Is this even possible?

Murong Han's face turned pale. These conditions were practically tantamount to immediately handing over all power and bargaining chips, becoming a lamb to the slaughter.

But now, do they still have the right to bargain? He gritted his teeth and kowtowed heavily: "Yes! My Lord... will certainly obey!"

"very good."

Han Lie nodded. "You may return to Tuhe to report for now. Our army will set out soon. Tell Murong Ying that those who obey Heaven prosper, and those who defy Heaven perish. This is his, and also Northern Yan's, last chance."

After sending Murong Han away, Han Lie immediately summoned his generals and issued orders:

"Order the entire army to intensify preparations for battle. Using Murong Ying's surrender and request for troops to quell the rebellion as a pretext, divide the army into three routes:"

The first route, led by the commander himself, will depart from Yuguan and head straight for Tuhe. We will first "accept" Murong Ying and control his troops, and then use Tuhe as a base to sweep away the Liaoxi Duankan.

The second route was ordered to have Deputy General Wang Dashan lead a detachment out of the pass from Gubeikou, to outflank and harass Duan Kan from the rear, cutting off his connection with the tribes outside the pass.

The third force, in the name of Murong Ying, issued a proclamation and dispatched elite light cavalry, carrying the proclamation and a large sum of money, to divide and win over the hesitant forces in Longcheng, Liaodong and other places, promising that those who surrendered would retain their wealth and honor, while those who resisted would have their cities destroyed and their clans exterminated.

After pacifying Liaoxi, riding the momentum of a great victory, we will advance by land and sea to besiege Longcheng and annihilate Murong Ke. Finally, we will march on Liaodong to force or destroy Gongsun Yuan!

"In this battle, we must not only win, but also act swiftly! We must completely resolve the Northern Yan issue before the southern vassal states and the northern barbarians can react, and firmly grasp Liaodong and Liaoxi in our hands! We must show the world that those who submit to us will have their ancestral temples preserved; those who oppose us will face national ruin and family destruction!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" The generals responded in unison, their morale soaring.

The cold autumn wind swept past the majestic city gate of Yuguan, fluttering the "Han" character banner and the black royal banner.

Beyond the Great Wall lay the chaotic land of Northern Yan, about to face its final fate.

Inside the pass, the Frost Abyss Iron Cavalry were sharpening their swords, preparing for one last large-scale northern expedition.

Murong Ying's surrender was like toppling the first domino.

The fate of Northern Yan was sealed the moment Han Lie made his decision.

This is no longer an equal war between two countries, but a final, formatted cleanup of a land mired in internal strife and awaiting takeover by a powerful empire.

The flames of war in Liaodong will be more intense than ever before, but they will also end more thoroughly.

Because the player who wields the chess pieces has changed.

The black torrent of the Hanyuan Army, under the guise of "suppressing the rebellion," will sweep across the land of Changbai Mountain and Heilongjiang River, completely staining this land, which has been home to many generous and tragic heroes since ancient times, with darkness.

Xiao Chen's territory will extend northeastward, reaching the vast Bohai Sea and the land between the Changbai Mountains and the Heilongjiang River.