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

The smoke of the great victory in the northern frontier had not yet dissipated when an urgent military report from Jiuyuan County poured ice water on the court, which had just begun to warm up.

"Your Majesty! Urgent report from Jiuyuan County! Winter is approaching, and although winter clothing has been replenished, provisions are critically low! Not a single grain transport ship from Jiangnan has arrived in Tongzhou, causing a delay of half a month!"

The report was submitted by Wei Xiao, the Minister of War.

After the Yumen massacre a few days ago, Wei Xiao seemed like a different person, acting decisively and efficiently. But at this moment, fine beads of cold sweat were seeping from his forehead.

Xiao Chen sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression calm, as if he were only listening to a trivial matter.

He turned his head to look at Grand Secretary Han Yu: "Prime Minister Han, the grain transport in Jiangnan has always been coordinated by the Ministry of Revenue, with the Ministry of Works assisting in the management of the waterways. Why are these grain ships so late in arriving?"

Han Yu frowned, pondered for a moment, and then bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I received an urgent joint memorial from the Ministry of Revenue and the Grand Canal Transport Office yesterday. It is said that this year's autumn floods were too severe, with many breaches in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, and the Grand Canal is severely silted up, making it impossible for grain transport boats to pass. Grand Canal Transport Governor Chen Yan is organizing laborers to carry out emergency repairs, but... the project is enormous and cannot be accomplished in a short time."

"Oh? The Yellow River has breached its banks?"

Xiao Chen tapped his fingertips lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne. "I remember the river map submitted by the Ministry of Works last month clearly marked the entire canal as unobstructed. How come it breached its banks after only half a month?"

Wei Xiao couldn't help but interject, "Your Majesty, I believe there's something fishy about this! The soldiers on the northern frontier are waiting for this batch of provisions to get through the winter; how can it be delayed because of an excuse like 'river siltation'? I request that an order be issued to immediately send people to thoroughly investigate!"

"A thorough investigation?" From the shadows in the corner of the palace, an elderly minister with white hair and beard stepped forward, leaning on a cane.

It was Zhou Xianzong, the regent and Minister of Rites.

"Minister Wei, do not act rashly."

Zhou Xianzong's voice was old, yet carried an undeniable authority: "The Yellow River's flow is unpredictable, and breaches of its banks during the autumn floods are nothing new. If we launch a large-scale investigation now, it will only delay the opportunity for emergency repairs. In my opinion, the most urgent task is to have the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner find a way to dredge the river. As for accountability, we can discuss that after the winter transport arrives."

As soon as he said this, many civil officials in the hall nodded in agreement.

While it may seem like they are acting in the best interests of the country, everyone can tell that they are actually covering up for the Grand Canal transport authorities.

Xiao Chen watched coldly, a sneer in his heart.

These old guys are deeply entrenched; their fortunes are intertwined, and they share both prosperity and adversity.

The lives of the soldiers in the northern frontier were far less important to them than maintaining the superficial peace of the officialdom.

"Since the river channel is silted up, repairs will require manpower and money."

Xiao Chen suddenly spoke up, "Issue my decree that the Ministry of Revenue shall immediately allocate 300,000 taels of silver as a special fund for dredging the canal, under the supervision of the Imperial Commissioner, to ensure that grain ships can sail within ten days."

"His Majesty!"

Upon hearing that money was required, Minister of Revenue Zheng Huaijin turned pale and hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "The national treasury has just been emptied after the Northern Expedition, and 300,000 taels... we simply cannot produce it!"

"Can't you get it out?"

Xiao Chen's gaze flashed like lightning, fixed on Zheng Huaijin. "I remember yesterday, the embezzled funds from Consort Hui's family, plus the silver saved from the imperial treasury, amounted to a total of 1.5 million taels. I only asked you for 300,000, and you can't even come up with that?"

Zheng Huaijin was speechless, cold sweat pouring down his face.

"I don't care what methods you use."

Xiao Chen's tone left no room for argument, "The silver must be delivered to Tongzhou within three days. If the grain supplies for the northern frontier are delayed, I will use your head, Minister Zheng, as a sacrifice to the flag!"

"Your subject... obeys the decree!" Zheng Huaijin slumped to the ground, his face ashen.

After the court session ended, Xiao Chen did not return to the palace. Instead, he changed into a blue scholar's robe and quietly left the palace through a side gate with only Mo Qi, the commander of the inner guards.

Tongzhou Wharf.

The air was filled with the fishy smell of river water and the stench of silt.

The dock, which used to be bustling with thousands of sails and resounding boatmen's chants, is now unusually deserted.

Only a few cargo ships were anchored, while the grain transport ships that should have been fully loaded with imperial grain were nowhere to be seen.

On the dock, several well-dressed men who looked like managers were arguing heatedly with an official who was dressed in official robes but of low rank.

"Lord Zhang! It's not that we don't want to transport it, it's just that the riverbed is silted up! Look at that riverbank, it's all mud and sand, any boat that goes in will run aground! Our brothers in the canal gang also need to eat, this risk is too great, we need to pay more!" A burly man with a face full of scars, holding walnuts in his hand, looked impatient.

The official surnamed Zhang wiped his sweat and said with a forced smile, "Captain Wang, please understand my situation. The imperial supplies can't be delayed! The higher-ups said that as long as the ship can move, the payment is negotiable..."

"Discuss what?!"

The burly man, known as Chief Wang, glared. "In this world, even money isn't enough! The lords of Jiangnan have said that if this year's 'Jiangnan tax' isn't reduced, the canal will just silt up like this! Nobody can transport grain smoothly!"

Xiao Chen and Mo Qiyin, who were standing nearby, heard everything clearly.

"Are the gentry of Jiangnan colluding with the grain transport gangs to use the suspension of grain transport as leverage to coerce the imperial court into reducing taxes?" A cold glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes.

Mo Qi whispered, "Your Majesty, there's a lot more to this canal gang than meets the eye. They're said to have connections with some bigwigs in the court."

Xiao Chen smiled slightly, stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "Gentlemen, this leader, I have heard that rice prices in Tongzhou are low, and I would like to smuggle some north. I wonder when the canal will be open? So that I can make plans in advance."

The leader of the detachment glanced at Xiao Chen, seeing that he looked like an ordinary, down-on-his-luck scholar, and said irritably, "It's a long way off! Don't even think about it for at least a month! What, you want to transport imperial grain or something?"

Xiao Chen feigned surprise: "Imperial grain? Wasn't it said the river was silted up? Could it be... there's something else going on?"

Seeing Xiao Chen's reckless words, Magistrate Zhang, fearing trouble, quickly pulled Xiao Chen back: "Sir, watch your words! Watch your words! Matters concerning the river are to be decided by the imperial court; we lowly officials dare not speak presumptuously!"

Xiao Chen seemed not to hear him, leaning closer to Chief Wang and lowering his voice, "Chief, to be honest, I own some land in Jiangnan. If the 'Jiangnan tax' is truly reduced, it would be a good thing for us. However... isn't using imperial grain as leverage a bit too risky?"

Upon hearing that Xiao Chen was also a stakeholder, Chief Wang's expression softened slightly. He chuckled and patted Xiao Chen on the shoulder: "Young man, it's good that you understand things. It's alright to tell you, our Jiangnan 'Protective Association' is not to be trifled with. As long as the tax isn't reduced, these grain ships won't be able to pass through easily! As for the waterway... hehe, that's just a pretext."

Xiao Chen understood.

The claim that the riverbed is silted up is just a smokescreen.

The real crux of the matter lies with the Jiangnan gentry group, who want to use the grain supplies from the northern frontier as leverage to force the imperial court to make economic concessions.

He casually struck up a conversation with the man, managing to extract information about the inn where the Canal Gang regularly contacted the Jiangnan "Protecting the Hometown Association," as well as the nicknames of several key figures.

Upon returning to the palace, Xiao Chen immediately summoned Mo Qi.

"Issue the order to establish the 'Military Affairs Bureau'." Xiao Chen picked up his brush and wrote four large characters on a blank sheet of bright yellow silk.

"The Grand Council?" Mo Qi was taken aback. This name sounded even more domineering than the Cabinet.

"That's right."

Xiao Chen tossed the silk scroll to Mo Qi. "This is my private secret agency, directly responsible to me and not subject to the cabinet's control. You are appointed as the first Grand Councilor. I'm giving you three hours. Take my token and go to Tongzhou to extract confessions from that Grand Canal Gang leader, Wang, and all the relevant personnel at the docks! Copy all the letters and accounts involving the gentry and officials of Jiangnan!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

Mo Qi accepted the order and left, like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath.

Three days later, a thick secret report, along with more than a dozen secret letters and several ledgers containing falsified accounts, was placed on Xiao Chen's desk.

The secret report was well-organized and contained a complete chain of evidence: from how the canal gangs received funding from the gentry of Jiangnan to deliberately create the illusion of "river siltation"; to how the Grand Canal Governor Chen Yan accepted huge bribes and allowed the canal gangs to delay grain ships; and then to how the core members of the Jiangnan "Protecting the Hometown Association" were actually the Qian family, one of the most powerful families in Jiangnan.

What chilled Xiao Chen the most was a very subtle signature at the end of an intercepted letter—a simplified version of the character "Han".

Although there is no direct evidence pointing to Grand Secretary Han Yu, this letter, written by the head of the Qian family, mentions that "a consensus has been reached with influential figures in the capital, and we can be assured of safety."

Who else in the capital could reach a consensus with a powerful figure like the Qian family in Jiangnan, besides the current prime minister?

"What a fine prime minister Han!"

Xiao Chen stroked the secret report, a cold smile curving his lips. "First, there's the withholding of pensions in the northern frontier, then there's the obstruction of the canal transport in the south. You, the regent, have quite the appetite."

He picked up his pen and wrote eight characters on the secret report:

"Swift and decisive action, wiping them all out in one fell swoop."

Immediately, he summoned Mo Qi: "Issue an imperial decree ordering the Imperial Guards of the capital to seal off the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner's office. Order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to secretly take control of all personnel related to the Qian family's businesses in the capital. What I want is to uproot them completely."

"As for Han Yu..."

Xiao Chen paused, his eyes revealing a murderous intent.

"Let him live for now. I want him to see with his own eyes how his carefully constructed Jiangnan chess game will collapse step by step."

The fog surrounding Tongzhou is finally about to be lifted.

This time, Xiao Chen's goal is to reach the pinnacle of power in the imperial court.