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

It was the end of September in the second year of Xuanji.

While the turmoil surrounding the Crown Prince of Wu in the capital city had not yet completely subsided, and the cleansing and reconstruction in Jiangnan were proceeding in an orderly manner, in the vast mountains at the southernmost tip of the Great Xia territory, another silent but equally brutal war was quietly engulfing the vanguard of the Hanyuan Army, which was pursuing and annihilating the remnants of Zhao Hui's forces.

Chen Dao was ordered to pursue and intimidate the remnants of Zhao Hui's forces along the Xiang and Li waterways, and to control key locations such as the Ling Canal.

Initially, progress was quite smooth.

Wherever the army went, a few powerful families and strongholds along the way who had ties with Zhao Ben surrendered without resistance, either offering intelligence about the passage of Zhao Hui's remnants or binding the few remaining people he had left behind to plead guilty.

Following Han Lie's instructions to "focus on deterrence and reconnaissance, without forcing a complete annihilation," Chen Dao did not pursue Zhao Hui deep into the barren lands. Instead, he proceeded steadily, setting up outposts at key passes and waterways to block Zhao Hui's return north. At the same time, he dispatched a large number of scouts to penetrate deep into the Wuling Mountains to investigate the exact whereabouts of Zhao Hui's remaining forces.

According to reports from scouts and confessions from surrendered soldiers, Zhao Hui, along with Zhao Pan and less than two thousand remaining soldiers, abandoned most of their supplies and fled in a sorry state into the primeval forest known as "Baiyue Ruins" between Qitian Ridge and Mengzhu Ridge.

That area is the heart of the Nanling Mountains, where Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Jiangxi provinces meet in later generations. It is characterized by high mountains, dense forests, and crisscrossing ravines. Since ancient times, it has been the territory occupied by the Baiyue tribes, making it difficult for government forces to penetrate. It can be considered an uncivilized place.

Liu Chuang, a renowned and valiant lieutenant under Chen Dao, seeing Zhao Hui reduced to a defeated foe and hearing of the harsh, malaria-ridden south, which dampened the morale of his soldiers, petitioned Chen Dao: "General, Zhao Hui's remaining troops are like frightened birds, trembling with fear like stray dogs. I am willing to lead my three thousand elite troops deep into the Baiyue wilderness to search for and pursue this scoundrel, and bring him back to your command! This will prevent him from escaping into the depths of Minyue and causing future trouble!"

Having spent a long time in Jiangnan, Chen Dao was familiar with the geography and climate of the south. He also knew Han Lie's intention not to let the army get bogged down in the Nanling Mountains too early. Upon hearing this, he shook his head: "General Liu's courage is commendable. However, the depths of the Nanling Mountains are no small matter. Not only are the mountains high and the roads treacherous, but there are also miasma, poisonous insects, and unpredictable barbarians."

Our army consists mostly of northerners who are not accustomed to the local climate and water. Zhao Hui is already a desperate enemy; if we push him too hard, he might resort to desperate measures, perhaps fleeing to even more treacherous places or inciting the barbarians to rebel, which would be counterproductive.

We have already secured the key route, preventing them from returning north, which is a great achievement. We will temporarily station our troops here and await the imperial decree—whether to offer amnesty or launch a campaign—before making further plans.”

Liu Chuang, however, disagreed: "Commander, you are overthinking it! This is merely a desolate place with a bit of miasma; what is there to worry about? Zhao Hui is nothing but a cowardly dog. We can capture him in one fell swoop and eliminate any future trouble! This humble general is willing to sign a military pledge: if I fail to capture and kill Zhao Hui, I am willing to accept military punishment!"

Seeing that Zhao Hui was determined to fight, and that some of his generals were also eager to fight, Chen Dao thought it over again and again. He also received a report from the scouts that Zhao Hui's remnants did not seem to have gone too far. They had only stopped temporarily in a valley called "Poison Dragon Valley" on the edge of Baiyue Market, where they seemed to be collecting food and had made contact with a small Yue tribe.

He worried that if Zhao Hui truly colluded with the local barbarians and gained a foothold, it would be even more difficult to eliminate him in the future.

Ultimately, Chen Dao agreed to Liu Chuang's request, but repeatedly instructed him: "You are only allowed to lead three thousand elite troops, carrying guides and antidotes, primarily for reconnaissance and driving away enemy forces. Do not advance rashly. If you encounter barbarians, do not easily provoke them, and absolutely do not venture deep into barren lands. If Zhao Hui flees far away, do not pursue him relentlessly. You must return within half a month, regardless of whether you have achieved any success!"

Liu Chuang was overjoyed and accepted the order.

He carefully selected three thousand veteran soldiers who were skilled in mountain warfare and physically strong, most of whom were from the south or had long lived in Jiangnan. He also recruited two native hunters who were said to be familiar with the edge of Baiyue Market as guides. They carried some herbs, realgar, lime and other items that were said to ward off miasma, which were kept in reserve in the army and collected in Jiangnan. They marched into the vast mountains with great enthusiasm.

At first, everything went smoothly.

Although the mountain road was rugged, Liu Chuang's troops were all elite, and they marched at a fast pace, cutting through the thorns and brambles.

Scouts also discovered fresh traces left by Zhao Hui's remnants, and even encountered several groups of stragglers, capturing several people. They learned that Zhao Hui was indeed active in the Poison Dragon Valley area, causing panic and shortages of food.

Liu Chuang's confidence soared, and he urged his troops to speed up their advance, intending to strike directly at Poison Dragon Valley.

However, as they ventured deeper, the surrounding environment began to become eerie and dangerous.

The towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, making the forest dimly lit, damp, and stuffy. A strange, sweet, rotten smell permeated the air, making one feel dizzy and lightheaded.

Underfoot lies a thick layer of humus, accumulated over countless years, soft and slippery to the touch. Occasionally, brightly colored, strangely shaped poisonous insects dart out from among the fallen leaves or hang from the branches overhead, making it impossible to guard against them.

Swarms of mosquitoes buzzed around, and their bites immediately caused redness, swelling, intense itching, and even pus formation.

Even more terrifying is the ubiquitous "miasma".

In low-lying river valleys, shady mountain hollows, and stagnant pools, patches of mist, some thick and some thin, and in various colors, can often be seen, shimmering with an eerie luster in the sunlight.

The commander's expression changed drastically, and he repeatedly warned, "General, you must not approach! That's the Mother of Miasma! Touching it will surely make you sick!" Some soldiers, disbelieving or exhausted from the march, approached the water source to rest briefly, inhaling the seemingly harmless mist. Soon after, they felt dizzy, vomited, had diarrhea, developed a persistent high fever, and shivered all over. Within a day or two, their faces turned ashen, and they were barely breathing. The army's medical officer was helpless; the herbs he brought seemed to have no effect whatsoever.

"Avoid those foggy areas! No drinking raw water! All water must be boiled!" Liu Chuang ordered urgently. But how could an army marching through the mountains avoid low-lying areas at all times? And how could they constantly light fires and boil all the water they needed?

Non-combat casualties began to appear at an alarming rate.

At first, there were only a few people, but later there were a dozen or even dozens.

The symptoms are largely the same: high fever, chills, severe headache, vomiting and diarrhea, followed by bruising on the skin, loss of consciousness, and finally death in agony.

The bodies of the deceased often turned black and rotted rapidly, a horrifying sight, which the army called "black water plague" or "malaria".

Panic, like the plague itself, spread through the military.

The soldiers became paranoid, and were terrified at the slightest sign of something amiss.

House seemingly endless rain.

Just as Liu Chuang's troops were suffering from malaria, their marching speed was greatly reduced, and their morale was low, Zhao Hui's remnants seemed to have sensed the pursuers' discomfort and began to take advantage of their familiarity with the terrain to launch frequent small-scale raids.

They did not engage in direct combat, but instead hid deep in the forests and on cliffs, launching sneak attacks with poisoned arrows, blowguns, and rolling logs and rocks, striking and retreating without ever lingering.

Sometimes they would even deliberately leave behind soiled clothes and rotten food on the roads that the Xia army was bound to take.

Liu Chuang's troops not only had to deal with unpredictable attacks, but also had to care for an increasing number of patients and trek through harsh conditions, causing their morale to plummet.

Of the three thousand elite troops who set out, less than ten days after entering Baiyue Ruins, fewer than two thousand were still capable of fighting, and most of them looked sick and listless.

To make matters worse, one of the two guides, who had been recruited at great expense, accidentally inhaled miasma while fetching water and died that very night.

The other person was terrified and fled under cover of night, disappearing without a trace.

Liu Chuang's troops completely lost their familiarity with the terrain, wandering aimlessly like headless flies in the maze-like primeval forest.

"Withdraw! Withdraw the troops!"

When yet another captain of his personal guard convulsed violently and died vomiting black liquid in front of him, Liu Chuang finally snapped out of his frenzy of capturing and killing Zhao Hui, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He finally understood Chen Dao's warning, and realized that this wild land was far more terrifying than any enemy.

If they continue deeper, Zhao Hui won't even need to lift a finger; this miasma-ridden land will devour his three thousand men completely!

The retreat was equally difficult.

The road they had taken had been partially washed away by flash floods, forcing them to detour through more treacherous and damp valleys, where they encountered denser miasma and more frequent attacks.

Soldiers kept falling, either from malaria, from poisonous insect bites, or from slipping and falling into the abyss.

When this once-spirited pursuing force finally retreated in disarray to Chen Dao's camp near the Lingqu Canal, only 1,500 of the 3,000 elite troops remained, and most of them were sick, emaciated and looking like ghosts. Countless weapons and armor were lost.

Liu Chuang himself also contracted malaria, developed a persistent high fever, and was carried back to the camp unconscious.

Upon seeing this, Chen Dao was both shocked and furious, and heartbroken.

On one hand, he urgently ordered the military doctors to do their best to treat the patients. On the other hand, he wrote an urgent military report on the rampant malaria in Baiyue Ruins, the heavy non-combat casualties, and the fact that Zhao Hui's remnants had already colluded with the local barbarians. He sent the report to Han Lie in Yingcheng and the imperial court in Shenjing with the fastest speed of six hundred li.

After this setback, Chen Dao completely abandoned his plan to pursue Zhao Hui in depth in the short term.

He strictly ordered all tribes to hold fast to the passes and waterways they had already controlled, strengthen patrols, and guard against attacks from the remnants of Zhao Hui's forces or barbarians. At the same time, he ordered the purchase of large quantities of medicinal materials, research on methods to prevent and control malaria, and dispatched more scouts to continue to investigate the situation in the Nanling and Minyue regions, especially their geography, climate, and tribal distribution, in order to prepare for possible future campaigns or pacification.

After Zhao Hui's remaining forces inflicted heavy losses on the Xia army's pursuers by taking advantage of the terrain and miasma, they seemed to realize the "protection" of this wild land and became even more determined to flee south.

Like drops of water falling into the ocean, they disappeared into the vast forests and mountains deeper in the Nanling Mountains, making their arduous journey into the heart of the Minyue region, which was said to be even hotter and more humid, teeming with poisonous insects and home to numerous Yue tribes.

This defeat of the Xia army undoubtedly gave them a chance to catch their breath, and also allowed the "remnants of Zhao's rebellion" to take deeper root in the body of the empire's southern border, becoming a stubborn problem that they would have to face in the future.

The word "malaria" was deeply etched into the memory of the invincible Hanyuan Army during the Northern Expedition, at the cost of countless soldiers' lives, reminding them that there was an enemy more terrifying than swords and spears in the mountains and forests of the south.