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

The army did not return south directly, but instead chose "Black Mountain Marsh," a place on the southern edge of the desert with abundant water and grass and a wide open area, as its temporary camp.

This place borders the Jiuyuan County of the Great Xia Dynasty to the south and the heart of the grasslands to the north. It serves as both a defensive barrier and a stage for displaying military power.

Thirty thousand iron cavalry, escorting tens of thousands of prisoners, hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep and horses, and mountains of gold and silver, moved slowly like a winding black dragon, causing the grasslands to tremble wherever they passed.

Xiao Chen knew that military conquest was only the first step; the real test was how to transform this short-term victory into lasting peace and order.

On the one hand, he ordered Zhang Meng and Zhao Tie to reorganize the army and keep a close watch on the prisoners, especially Ashina Duoji, the Great Chanyu who was bound hand and foot, gagged, but whose eyes were still fierce and defiant; on the other hand, he ordered people to draft an edict to the tribes of the grasslands in both Han and Di languages, which was stern in wording but left room for life.

The imperial edict enumerated the crimes of the Northern Di tribe, the Duoji, in their southward invasion, detailed the great victory at Langjuxu Mountain and the destruction of the royal court, and declared that the might of the Great Heaven was inviolable.

However, it was also emphasized that the Emperor of Great Xia "raised a righteous army to punish the guilty, not out of greed for land or a love of killing." This military campaign was solely to punish the ringleaders and bring peace to the border people.

All grassland tribes, regardless of their past, can preserve their entire population and pastures, and exchange goods and resources with the Great Xia, sharing peace, as long as they sincerely submit and cease hostilities.

The imperial edict clearly required that all tribal leaders must come to Heishanze for a meeting on a designated date to discuss the grand plan for the peace of the grasslands. Those who disobeyed would be regarded as remnants of the Duji faction and would surely be punished by Heaven!

This imperial edict was delivered separately to the major tribes of the grasslands by the swift-footed night constables and the surrendered Di people.

At the same time, Xiao Chen also secretly sent a message to Prince Dashan of England in the rear, ordering him to prepare enough grain, cloth, salt, and ironware, and to send clerks and officials who were proficient in the Di language and familiar with grassland affairs to the north in preparation for the needs after the alliance.

The news spread like wildfire across the grasslands that had just undergone dramatic changes.

The destruction of the royal court at Langjuxu Mountain and the capture of the Great Chanyu were nothing short of a bolt from the blue for the various tribes of the grasslands.

The darling of the Eternal Heaven was defeated and his army was wiped out; the once invincible wolf cavalry was reduced to ashes; and the golden tent that symbolized supreme power was replaced by the black dragon banner of the Xia people... All of this proved that the emperor from the south possessed terrifying power beyond their comprehension.

Fear spread like a plague.

When the edict to the tribes of the grasslands arrived, most tribal leaders reacted with suspicion, fear, and even despair. Would the Xia people let them go? They were their enemies, having burned, killed, and plundered countless times!

But soon, other information also spread: the captured nobles and their families of the Duoji tribe were not massacred, but seemed to be under guard rather than being mistreated; the captured Han Chinese were being screened and registered in preparation for repatriation; more importantly, although the Xia army was powerful, it seemed to have only dealt a devastating blow to the core forces of the Duoji tribe, and did not take the initiative to attack other tribes that were watching or had not participated in the southward invasion.

Survival or destruction? The choice seems to be laid out before us.

The day of the Black Mountain Alliance was drawing ever closer. At first, only a few small tribes that lived nearby and had a long-standing feud with the Duoji tribe came to test the waters with a small amount of cattle and sheep hides, filled with trepidation.

They were led to a designated area outside the Great Xia military camp, where they received a fairly polite welcome and were provided with food and water.

Seeing with their own eyes that the Xia army was well-disciplined and disciplined, and that no looting had occurred, they felt somewhat relieved.

Then, some medium-sized tribes also began to waver.

They sent people to observe secretly and discovered that the legendary emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty was not as bloodthirsty as a demon. On the contrary, he often summoned the tribal chiefs who had submitted to him, inquired about their livelihoods on the grasslands, and was in a peaceful manner.

What excited them even more was that some members of the Xia army began exchanging tea, salt, and coarse cloth for mare's milk and cheese from the herdsmen, and the prices... seemed fair.

Three days before the alliance meeting, representatives from dozens of tribes had gathered around the Black Mountain Marsh. Herds of cattle and sheep and tents dotted the landscape, creating a peculiar atmosphere that was a mixture of tension and anticipation.

The meeting was a grand yet solemn affair.

On the banks of the Black Mountain Marsh, on a vast grassland, 30,000 iron cavalry of the Great Xia Dynasty were arrayed in a strict formation. The dark square formation, the cold swords and spears, and the forest of banners exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.

Before the battle, a high platform was erected. Xiao Chen was not dressed in military uniform, but in a black embroidered gold casual dress, with a crown reaching to the sky on his head. He sat calmly in the center of the high platform.

On both sides, generals such as Zhang Meng and Zhao Tie stood with their hands on their swords. Although the Shenji Battalion's firearms units were not in formation, their presence was felt everywhere.

Below the stage stood a dense, dark mass of tribal leaders from the grasslands. They wore various fur robes and felt hats, their expressions varied: some were arrogant yet fearful, some humble yet resentful, and many more were bewildered and awe-inspiring.

Behind them were representatives of their respective tribes and a small number of guards. Although they numbered many, they were like lambs facing tigers in front of the elite army of the Great Xia.

Ashina Duoji was specially "invited" to a conspicuous spot at the front of the high platform. Of course, he was bound hand and foot and guarded by several fierce Iron Falcon guards. His once arrogant face now only showed humiliation, resentment and a trace of barely perceptible fear.

Xiao Chen's gaze slowly swept over the crowd below the stage, and he began his declaration in clear and steady Chinese, with the help of an interpreter.

He first listed the crimes of the Northern Di Duoji tribe, including their betrayal, invasion, burning, and killing, and declared that their royal court had been destroyed and the Chanyu had been captured. He said this was the cycle of heaven, and retribution was inevitable.

Then, changing the subject, he elaborated on the Great Xia's ambition to win over distant lands with virtue.

"...I have brought troops here not to expand our territory, but to punish the wicked and pacify the border peoples. Now that Duji has been beheaded, what will become of his people?"

Xiao Chen's gaze fell upon the noble representatives from the core tribe of Duji below the stage, whose faces were now deathly pale.

"Duoji was the chief culprit, and his crime is unforgivable. However, most of his followers were coerced into joining him."

My intention is to disperse their followers and set them apart in places like the southern desert and the Hexi Corridor, granting them land and oxen so that they may learn to farm, enjoy a peaceful life, and be freed from the hardships of nomadic life forever.

The sons of noble families could accompany the emperor to the Imperial Academy in the capital for advanced studies, learning poetry, literature, and etiquette. In the future, they might be entrusted with official positions to jointly govern the empire.

These words caused an uproar in the audience.

Dispersing the tribes and relocating them from the grasslands is a fundamental solution! Sending noble sons to the capital, ostensibly for further studies, is actually...hostage!

Before anyone could react, Xiao Chen continued, "As for your various tribes..."

He looked at the other tribal leaders and said, "If they can repent and change their ways, end the war forever, and turn to China for civilization, I will emulate the ancient sage kings and govern them according to their customs."

He announced specific appeasement policies:

I. Conferring Titles and Ranks: Recognizing the rule of the existing leaders of each tribe, granting them official titles such as governor, prefect, and county magistrate, incorporating them into the Great Xia's tributary system, and nominally making them subjects of Great Xia.

II. Demarcation of Pasture Boundaries: Clearly define the traditional grassland boundaries of each tribe, issue "pastoral contracts," and prohibit mutual attacks and plundering of grasslands. In case of disputes, arbitration will be conducted by an institution established by Daxia.

III. Establishing Border Markets: Border markets will be opened at designated locations along the border to exchange tea, salt, cloth, ironware, and medicinal herbs from the Great Xia for horses, furs, dairy products, and livestock from the grasslands. The smuggling of weapons, sulfur, saltpeter, and other contraband is strictly prohibited.

Fourth, establish a Protectorate: In the strategic location of southern Mongolia, establish the "Southern Mongolia Protectorate" and station elite troops there, both to deter conflict and to mediate disputes among various tribes, protect trade markets, and promote education.

"...When barbarians enter China, then China becomes part of it."

Xiao Chen's voice clearly reached everyone's ears: "If you can diligently cultivate your internal affairs and gradually learn etiquette and music, a hundred years from now, what distinction will there be between Xia and Di? You will all be my subjects."

These words combined soft and hard tactics, using both carrots and sticks.

Destroying the core, dividing and conquering, economic entanglement, and cultural infiltration—this series of combined measures left the leaders of the various tribes on the grasslands with dissatisfaction and fear, but more than anything, a sense of relief, and... confusion and calculation about the future.

Resist? Look at what happened to Duji. Submit completely? Resentful.

However, the conditions Xiao Chen offered seemed to be the best possible solution in the worst-case scenario.

In particular, the opening of the border markets meant that they could exchange grassland specialties for much-needed salt, iron, and tea, which was crucial for the survival of the tribes.

After a long silence, finally, a tribal chief with greater power and a strained relationship with the Duoji tribe stepped forward and shouted in broken Chinese: "Your Majesty the Emperor of Great Xia! May the Eternal Heaven protect us! Our 'White Cloud Tribe' is willing to obey the imperial decree and forever remain a vassal state of Great Xia!"

This lead is like a dam breaking.

One after another, more and more tribal leaders, whether sincerely, under duress, or after weighing the pros and cons, stepped forward to express their submission.

They presented surrender documents written in leather and gold leaf, bearing blood-red handprints or tribal totem markings.

Finally, even the few remaining nobles of the Duoji tribe who had initially been hesitant, seeing that the situation was hopeless and that Xiao Chen had not immediately executed them, dejectedly stepped forward and presented their surrender.

On the high platform, Xiao Chen accepted everything expressionlessly.

He knew that this surrender and oath might be fragile at the moment, but as long as the army of the Southern Protectorate was stationed there, as long as the ties of interest in the border markets existed, and as long as the power of the Great Xia continued to grow, this bond would become stronger and stronger.

The meeting has concluded.

The Great Xia army began an orderly withdrawal from Black Mountain Marsh, escorting prisoners and supplies, carrying the glory of victory and weighty promises, and marching south.

What remained was a garrison force composed of elite infantry and a small number of cavalry, along with the soon-to-be-appointed officials of the Southern Protectorate, who began to work on establishing a new order.

Xiao Chen himself led the main force of the army, escorting the once arrogant Great Chanyu Ashina Duoji, along with countless spoils of war, back to the capital in a grand procession.

The road to victory was even more spectacular than the journey to war.

The counties and prefectures along the way welcomed them with food and drink.

The people spontaneously provided food and water to the army, and cheers resounded through the sky.

The shouts of "Long live! Long live! Long live the emperor!" were not only a hymn to the emperor, but also a yearning for peace and a pride in the nation's strength.

Xiao Chen's reputation reached a new peak after the victory of this expedition across the grasslands.

He not only eliminated the greatest threat to the northern frontier, but also expanded his sphere of influence, secured a stable source of warhorses, and brought the grasslands under the influence of the Great Xia through a policy of appeasement.

More importantly, this victory greatly boosted the confidence of the empire, which had been dampened by years of border troubles, and accumulated valuable resources, experience, and unparalleled prestige for possible future expansion into the Western Regions and even more distant plans.

As the army marched to the border, looking back at the vast grassland, Xiao Chen reined in his horse for a long time.

He knew that the war was not truly over, the loyalty of the steppe needed to be tested by time, and internal challenges still existed.

But at this moment, he was filled with a tremendous power to control history.

"Go back to Beijing."

He gave the order calmly.

Horse hooves trampled the border markers, marching resolutely towards the bustling capital, towards the pinnacle of power and glory.

The era of the Great Xia Dynasty seems to have only just begun.