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

Winters in the capital are exceptionally cold. But even colder than the weather is the atmosphere in the imperial court.

As silver ships carrying the Jiangnan tax reform sailed into Tongzhou Wharf one by one, as the dust settled on the witchcraft case in the harem, and as batches of former officials, idle members of the imperial family, and remnants of Jiangnan were purged or imprisoned, the court of Great Xia underwent an unprecedented "blood transfusion".

Han Yu, the Grand Secretary who once had disciples and friends all over the country, is now an ordinary citizen in the malaria-ridden Lingnan region; the once powerful Qian family of Jiangnan has been destroyed; and the once arrogant princes of the imperial clan are either living in retirement in Muqinfang or worrying about their performance evaluations.

The power vacuum urgently needs to be filled.

The only one who can fill the void is the Emperor, Xiao Chen.

On this day, the morning court session began.

The bells and drums sounded in unison, but there was none of the usual clamor and disputes.

Civil and military officials stood in formation, each holding their breath, their eyes lowered, not daring to look directly at the young figure on the throne.

Xiao Chen did not sit on the dragon throne and wait as usual.

He stood on the steps of the imperial palace, behind him was the huge, newly completed "Map of the World," on which the territory of the Great Xia Dynasty was outlined in vermilion ink, making it particularly eye-catching.

"Rise, my lords." Xiao Chen's voice broke the deathly silence.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The crowd rose, still standing with their hands at their sides, their posture almost humble and subservient.

Xiao Chen's gaze slowly swept across the area below.

The newly appointed Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet are mostly young and capable, but lacking in practical experience; the Ministers of the Six Ministries are either technocrats or scholars from humble backgrounds whom he personally promoted; the Privy Council and the Ministry of War are now completely controlled by Gao Su and Wei Xiao; and the Directorate of Ceremonial, which once even had to give orders to the emperor when he went out, is now only left with the obsequious Li Dequan.

Everything is different now.

"I will not discuss state affairs today."

Xiao Chen spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, "What I want to talk about is the rules."

rule?

The entire court felt a chill run down their spines. Was another upheaval imminent?

"Since the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu, the establishment of the cabinet and the six ministries were originally intended to be a system of shared governance between the emperor and his ministers, with checks and balances on power."

Xiao Chen's tone was as calm as if he were narrating someone else's story. "However, in recent years, powerful ministers have seized power, eunuchs have monopolized authority, relatives of the empress have interfered in politics, and members of the imperial clan have become arrogant and unruly, to the point that the court has fallen into disarray, the national treasury is empty, border troubles are frequent, and the people are living in misery."

He paused, his gaze suddenly sharpening, like a tangible blade slicing across the face of every minister.

"I no longer want to be an emperor who is merely a figurehead."

"What I want is not 'co-governance,' but rather—absolute rule."

These four words struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

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This is an attempt to completely reclaim the power of the prime minister and concentrate all power in one person's hands!

As expected, Xiao Chen continued, "Effective immediately, the Cabinet shall abolish the power of 'drafting proposals.' All major military and national affairs shall first be drafted by the Six Ministries and the Privy Council, and then submitted to the Grand Council."

"The Grand Council?"

A commotion broke out below.

This new term is even more baffling than the previous "Jinyiwei" (锦衣卫).

Xiao Chen looked down at a middle-aged official below him, dressed in a purple python robe and with a calm expression—Yu Yun, the former Grand Master of the Palace, and Xiao Chen's tutor when he was a prince, known for his quick wit and loyalty.

"Yu Yun, heed the imperial decree."

Yu Yun stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your subject is here."

"I hereby appoint Yu Yun as the Chief Grand Councilor of the Grand Council. The Grand Council is located in the western side of the Qianqing Palace. It has no official staff or rank, and all its personnel are personally selected by me and are directly responsible to me."

Xiao Chen's voice was unquestionable.

"The powers of the Grand Council are threefold: first, to 'receive imperial edicts,' which are made in accordance with the Emperor's will; second, to 'advise and plan,' which are involved in confidential matters and to devise strategies; and third, to 'investigate and examine' the administration of the Six Ministries and the Cabinet, and to impeach those who violate the law."

"In other words," Xiao Chen's gaze swept over the newly promoted Grand Secretaries who had not yet settled into their positions, "from now on, the memorials you draft will first be sent to the Grand Council. If the Grand Council deems them unacceptable, they will be sent back. If they deem them acceptable, then they will be presented to me. Only those that I approve with my red seal are imperial edicts."

"this……"

A newly appointed Grand Secretary couldn't help but step forward, his voice trembling, "Your Majesty, the Grand Council's authority is too great; I fear... I fear this is not a long-term solution! Since ancient times, the power of the emperor and the power of the prime minister have needed to be checked and balanced..."

"Checks and balances?"

Xiao Chen sneered, interrupting him, "Is my sword enough to keep things in check?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of orderly footsteps came from outside the hall.

A group of Imperial Guards dressed in flying fish robes and with embroidered spring knives at their waists entered silently in formation and lined up on both sides of the main hall.

Their gazes swept coldly over each official, as if they were looking at a flock of lambs to the slaughter.

The Grand Secretary turned deathly pale and knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty misspoke! I know my crime!"

Xiao Chen stopped looking at him and continued to Yu Yun: "The Grand Council has 'Grand Council Secretaries,' selected from officials of the Six Ministries and compilers of the Hanlin Academy, who take turns on duty. All matters concerning the army, finances, administration, and criminal cases, no matter how small, are collected here for my inquiry."

"Furthermore, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has officially broken away from the jurisdiction of the Governor-General's Office and the Directorate of Ceremonial, and is now directly under the command of the Grand Council, specializing in arrests, criminal cases, and intelligence, reporting only to me!"

The imperial edicts, like thunderclaps, struck the entire court, leaving officials dizzy and disoriented.

The Grand Council has rendered the cabinet powerless!

The Embroidered Uniform Guard (Jinyiwei) reports directly to the Emperor!

Imperial power was centralized like never before!

Looking at the officials prostrate below, Xiao Chen felt no pride, only a cold clarity.

He knew this was not the end, but the beginning.

The concentration of power means the sole assumption of responsibility.

The road ahead will be even more difficult.

"My lords," Xiao Chen's voice softened slightly, yet carried an undeniable force, "I know this is sudden and severe. But I have no other choice."

"Although the Northern Barbarians have been defeated, the grasslands are not yet pacified; the South Seas have not been opened up, and maritime trade has not yet flourished; tax reform in Jiangnan still faces resistance; although the imperial clan has been subdued, their remaining influence still exists."

"I need money, I need soldiers, I need obedient ministers, and even more so, I need a court that can make quick decisions and execute them efficiently!"

"Anyone who disagrees, anyone who outwardly complies but inwardly defies, anyone who still wants to engage in factionalism and cronyism..."

Xiao Chen's gaze swept over everyone, as if he saw Han Yu's desperate old face and Consort Hui's twisted, sinister smile.

"My sword and the Imperial Guard's prison are ready at any time."

"Court adjourned!"

This time, no one dared to utter a single word.

The officials left the hall like a tide, their steps hurried and their backs disheveled.

Inside the main hall, only Xiao Chen remained, standing before the enormous map.

Mo Qi appeared silently behind him: "Your Majesty, the Grand Council has been arranged according to your wishes, and Yu Yun is waiting in the duty room. The Embroidered Uniform Guard has also conveyed the decree, and both the Northern and Southern Garrison Commands have expressed their loyalty."

Xiao Chen nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the map, on the distant land marked "Japan", "Southeast Asia" and "Western Regions".

"The first step is complete."

He murmured to himself, "Now, it's time to let the world witness the true power of the Great Xia."

The emperor ruled with absolute authority, and imperial power returned to its rightful place.

But this was only the beginning of the empire's rise.

The real storm is yet to come.