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

As dawn broke, Hanyuan City awoke.

When the people opened their doors, they saw bloodstains everywhere, scattered weapons, and a dark mass of prisoners kneeling in front of the city lord's mansion.

They were initially startled, but then burst into cheers.

You've won! Your Highness has won!

"Long live the Prince!"

"Long live Han Yuan!"

Cheers erupted one after another.

Xiao Chen stood at the entrance of the city lord's mansion, looking at the excited people below, but his face showed no joy.

He raised his hand to suppress the cheers, his voice calm: "Last night, thieves attacked, trying to steal our grain and kill our men. We fought them off, killed their leader, and captured prisoners. But we also lost twelve brothers and suffered more than thirty wounded."

The crowd quieted down.

"These twelve brothers died protecting Han Yuan."

Xiao Chen said, "Their names will be engraved on a monument so that future generations will remember them. Their families will be cared for by the City Lord's Mansion. This is what I said, and I mean it."

Some people started wiping away tears.

"But simply remembering it isn't enough."

Xiao Chen raised his voice, "We need to become stronger. The city walls need to be higher, the moats deeper, the weapons more numerous, and the training more rigorous. Only in this way can we reduce our casualties and ensure that the next time the bandits come, they will never return!"

"Your Highness is right!"

"We'll listen to the Prince!"

"Practice! Practice like crazy!"

The sentiment is indignant.

Xiao Chen nodded and said to Wang Dashan, "Bring the prisoners up."

With a wave of his hand, Wang Dashan brought forward more than 130 prisoners and made them kneel in a row.

Most of them were emaciated and dressed in rags, clearly refugees who had been coerced into fleeing.

A few of them were remnants of Black Wind Stronghold. Although they were also in a sorry state, their eyes still held a fierce glint.

"Who was the mastermind behind last night's events?" Xiao Chen asked.

No one spoke.

"Not going to tell?"

Xiao Chen sneered, "Then kill them all."

"Your Highness, spare my life!"

A thin, small prisoner scrambled out, shouting, "I said! It was Liu San! It was Liu San from Black Wind Stronghold! He tricked us by saying there was grain in Cold Abyss, and we could eat as much as we wanted, so we..."

"Liu San is dead."

Xiao Chen interrupted him, "Besides Liu San, who else?"

"There's still... there's still a gust of wind."

The prisoner said in a trembling voice, "He's a bandit from the north. He gave me the weapons and horses. He said... he said if we conquered Hanyuan, we'd split the spoils in half."

"Even a gust of wind dies."

Xiao Chen said, "Now, it's either you live or you die. Those who want to live, stand on the left. Those who want to die, stand on the right."

The prisoners looked at each other, then suddenly all moved to the left.

Nobody wants to die.

"it is good."

Xiao Chen nodded. "If you want to live, you have to work. From today onwards, you will be assigned to the labor camp to mine, build city walls, and reclaim wasteland. If you do well, you can become permanent employees, receive work points, and have food to eat. If you don't do well, or if you try to run away—"

He paused, then his voice turned cold: "Kill them without mercy."

"Thank you, Your Highness, for sparing our lives!" The prisoners kowtowed repeatedly.

Xiao Chen said to Wang Dashan, "These people are yours. Divide them into three teams: one to mine, one to build the city, and one to reclaim wasteland. Keep a close eye on them and don't let them cause trouble."

"Yes."

After dealing with the prisoners, Xiao Chen began to take stock of the spoils.

The spoils of war were piled up in the open space in front of the city lord's mansion, like a small mountain.

Weapons: 120 swords, 80 spears, 30 bows, and 2,000 arrows. Although most were crudely made, it was better than nothing.

Horses: Fifty, mostly inferior horses, but still usable.

Gold and silver valuables: These were found in a gust of wind's camp, including silver ingots, broken silver, copper coins, and several pieces of jewelry. A rough estimate puts them at several hundred taels of silver.

Food supplies: Not much, only twenty shi (a unit of dry measure), it seems the bandits are also struggling to make ends meet.

Xiao Chen picked up a knife; the blade was rusted and the edge was bent.

He picked up another bow, but the bowstring was loose and broke as soon as he pulled it.

"This is the kind of city you dare to attack?" He shook his head.

"Your Highness," Zhang Meng said, "these weapons may be broken, but they can be melted down and reforged to produce good iron. The horses may be inferior, but with training they can be used. It's better than nothing."

"That's right."

Xiao Chen threw the knife back. "Old Han, send all the weapons to the Imperial Workshop and have Master Ou take a look. Use the ones that are usable, and melt down the rest. Send the horses to the military camp and have someone knowledgeable about horses train them. Put the gold and silver into the tents and the grain into the warehouse."

"Yes."

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen thought for a moment, "starting today, Han Yuan will implement a military merit system. Killing one enemy will earn one merit, a reward of one tael of silver, and ten work points. Those who are wounded will receive rewards of silver and work points depending on the severity of their injuries. Those who die in battle will receive a pension of ten taels of silver, and their families will be supported by the City Lord's Mansion. The specific regulations will be drafted by the Military Affairs Department and made public."

Military merit system!

Everyone's eyes lit up.

When soldiers are fighting, the worst thing is to die in vain.

Now, with the military merit system in place, there are rewards for killing enemies, rewards for being wounded, and support for the families of those who die in battle.

What's there to be afraid of? Just go all out!

"Your Highness is wise!" the crowd exclaimed in unison.

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen added, "everyone who participated in the battle last night, whether officers or soldiers, will be rewarded with two taels of silver and twenty work points. Those who died in battle will receive double the reward."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

The crowd cheered.

After dealing with these matters, Xiao Chen returned to the courtroom and began handling government affairs.

The battle was won, but there were many follow-up problems.

The twelve soldiers who died in battle need to be compensated and buried.

More than thirty wounded soldiers need to be treated and recuperated. The damaged sections of the city wall need to be repaired.

The disturbed people should be appeased.

A multitude of issues.

Xiao Chen was busy until noon before he could barely finish dealing with the situation.

Uncle Fu brought lunch: a simple dish, a soup, and two steamed buns.

Xiao Chen was eating and reading documents when he suddenly remembered something.

Where is Murong Xue?

"Helping out at the clinic."

Uncle Fu said, "There were many injured people last night, and she was busy all night. She's still there now."

Xiao Chen put down his chopsticks, got up, and went to the clinic.

The clinic was located in the west of the city, in a converted private house, and was very simple.

There were more than thirty wounded people lying inside; the lighter ones had been bandaged up, while the more seriously injured were still groaning.

The two old doctors were so busy they barely had time to breathe, while Murong Xue assisted them, decocting medicine, changing dressings, and feeding them water.

Her face was covered in dust and her hands in blood, but she moved nimbly and her eyes were focused.

She doesn't look like a pampered princess at all.

Upon seeing Xiao Chen, she paused for a moment, put down the medicine bowl, and bowed, saying, "Your Highness."

"Thank you for your hard work," Xiao Chen said.

"It's not hard work."

Murong Xue shook her head, "It's Your Highness who has had a hard time."

Xiao Chen checked the condition of the wounded. Most of them were stable, with only a few seriously injured and still in critical condition.

"Do everything you can to save them."

He said, "Tell Uncle Fu what medicine you need and he'll go buy it."

"Yes."

Murong Xue followed him out of the clinic.

"Your Highness, I have something to report."

"explain."

"There's someone among last night's prisoners you need to be careful of," Murong Xue said in a low voice.

"Who?"

"A man named Ma Liu was originally a soldier at Dingbeiguan, but he deserted and joined a band of 'Feng'."

Murong Xue said, "When I was changing his dressing, he secretly told me that Gao Shun had not only contacted a gust of wind, but also contacted Northern Yan."

Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed.

"Gao Shun contacted Northern Yan? What for?"

"I don't know."

Murong Xue shook her head. "Ma Liu is of low status and only knows this much. But he also said that Gao Shun has recently been stockpiling grain and training new recruits at Dingbei Pass, as if he is preparing for war."

Preparing for war?

To whom? To Northern Yan, or to Han Yuan?

"understood."

Xiao Chen nodded. "Keep an eye on things. Report back to me immediately if you hear anything."

"Yes."

Murong Xue returned to the clinic, while Xiao Chen stood there, lost in thought for a long time.

Gao Shun, a confidant of the Prince of Yong, trained troops and stockpiled grain at Dingbei Pass, and also maintained contact with the Northern Yan.

What does he want to do?

Should we join forces with Northern Yan to attack Han Yuan?

No, Prince Yong wasn't that foolish. He wouldn't dare invite a wolf into his house.

So that means... using one tiger to devour another?

Let Northern Yan attack Han Yuan, and he will reap the benefits.

possible.

But why should Northern Yan listen to him?

Unless, he offered Northern Yan a condition that they could not refuse.

Xiao Chen's heart skipped a beat.

"Zhao Tie!"

Zhao Tie emerged from the shadows: "Your Highness."

"Send men to Dingbei Pass to investigate Gao Shun. I need to know who he has met recently, what gifts he has received, and what orders he has issued."

"yes!"

"Also," Xiao Chen paused, "send someone to the grasslands to contact Batu. Ask him if the Canglang tribe has been acting strangely lately, for example, whether they have been in contact with the people of Dingbei Pass."

"yes!"

Zhao Tie accepted the order and left.

Xiao Chen stood at the entrance of the clinic, gazing northwards.

Dingbei Pass, Gao Shun, Prince Yong, Northern Yan...

This line is becoming clearer and clearer.

The Prince of Yong wanted to use the Northern Yan as a tool to eliminate him.

Gao Shun was the one who handed over the knife.

"You want to kill me?"

Xiao Chen sneered, "Then let's see whose blade is faster."

In the following days, Hanyuan City entered a period of high-speed operation.

The city wall was repaired day and night, and its height was increased to three zhang (approximately 10 meters). Four corner towers were also built.

The trench was dug to a depth of ten feet, filled with water, and then frozen into ice, making it so slippery that one could not walk on it.

The manufacturing division is working at full capacity to produce weapons and armor.

The Jingbei Battalion intensified its training, especially in night fighting and city defense.

Coal production has reached a new high, with 2,000 truckloads produced per day.

The iron ore also yielded its first batch of steel, which was forged into fifty steel knives, exceptionally sharp.

The caravan set off again, but this time it didn't go through Dingbeiguan. Instead, it detoured through the grasslands and went directly to the Hexi Corridor.

The leader was Han Lie, and the guards were Zhang Meng's hundred cavalrymen.

Everything was in good order.

But beneath this calm surface, turbulent undercurrents are brewing.

On the fifth day, Zhao Tie brought back the news.

"Your Highness, the investigation is complete. Gao Shun recently met with three people. One is a merchant from Northern Yan named Hu Shang, who runs a fur shop in Dingbei Pass. Another is a man from the Canglang tribe of the grasslands named Batel—not Batel from the Bailu tribe, but someone with the same name. The third is a messenger from the capital who comes every three days, each time carrying a secret letter."

"What was the contents of the letter?"

"I intercepted one." Zhao Tie took out a letter.

The letter was written in cipher, but Zhao Tie had someone in his men who understood cipher and deciphered it.

"King Yong decrees: Hanyuan must not be allowed to remain. We should ally with Northern Yan, using coal and iron as bait to lure them into attacking. After the matter is accomplished, we will cede a hundred li of land north of Hanyuan to Northern Yan. As for the Canglang tribe, we can promise them salt and iron to make them move south to contain us. We must resolve the Hanyuan issue before the beginning of spring."

What a fine Prince Yong!

In order to get rid of him, they did not hesitate to cede territory or invite foreign enemies.

Xiao Chen was so angry that he laughed instead.

"Fine, very well. Since you're going to play this high game, I'll play along to the end."

"Your Highness, what should we do?"

"Use their plan against them."

Xiao Chen said, "Doesn't he want to ally with Northern Yan? Let's let him. Doesn't he want to cede territory? Let's let him. However—"

A cold glint flashed in his eyes: "What you're cutting isn't land from Hanyuan. It's land from Dingbei Pass."

"Your Highness means..."

"Have Murong Xue write a letter to the Left Wise King of Northern Yan, saying that Gao Shun is willing to offer Dingbei Pass in exchange for Northern Yan's support. But Northern Yan must first send troops to make a show of attacking Hanyuan. Once Hanyuan and Dingbei Pass are both exhausted, he will then surrender the pass."

Zhao Tie gasped.

This is going to drag Gao Shun and Prince Yong down with them.

"But will Northern Yan believe it?"

"With Murong Xue's letter and the Frost Moon Blade as proof, they will believe it."

Xiao Chen said, "Moreover, Northern Yan has long wanted to take over Beiguan, but they are wary of Han Yuan on their flank. Now that they have an inside man and an excuse, they will be tempted."

"But what if Northern Yan really attacks..."

"We can't beat them."

Xiao Chen shook his head. "Dingbei Pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Gao Shun isn't stupid; he won't actually surrender the pass. If Northern Yan sends troops, it'll just be for show. We'll just watch the show and see how Prince Yong cleans up this mess."

Zhao Tie understood.

The prince is trying to use someone else to do his dirty work, and he wants both the knife and the person to get covered in blood.

"I'll take care of it right away."

"etc."

Xiao Chen stopped him, "Send a letter to Batu as well, tell him that Gao Shun wants to join forces with the Canglang tribe to attack Hanyuan. Ask him whether he wants to cooperate with Gao Shun or with me. If he chooses me, I can give him more."

"yes!"

Zhao Tie withdrew, and Xiao Chen stood alone in front of the map.

Dingbei Pass, Northern Yan, Canglang Tribe, King Yong...

This game is getting bigger and bigger.

But the bigger you are, the more opportunities you have.

He stroked the Frost Moon Blade; the blade was icy cold, but his heart was burning with passion.

"Fourth Brother, you had a very good opening move in this game."

"But I'll be the one laughing last."

Outside the window, the cold wind howled.

But inside Hanyuan City, the furnace fire was burning brightly.