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

After the news came that Gao Shun wanted to "borrow a route", Xiao Chen did two things.

The first thing to do is to send Zhao Tie to Black Wind Valley for an on-site investigation.

Black Wind Valley is the only way from Dingbei Pass to Hanyuan. The valley is about five miles long, with steep cliffs on both sides and a narrow road in the middle. The widest part is no more than three zhang, and the narrowest part can only allow one cart to pass.

It's definitely a good place to set up an ambush.

The second task was to have Murong Xue write a letter to the Left Wise King of Northern Yan.

The letter was simple: Gao Shun wanted to pass through, which was fine. But he had to go through Black Wind Valley.

After the deal was done, Han Yuan was willing to do business with Bei Yan, exchanging coal and iron for horses and furs.

The letter was sent, but a reply didn't come so quickly.

From Hanyuan to the Northern Yan royal court, it's a distance of a thousand miles, and a round trip would take at least half a month.

Han Yuan has been busy for the past two weeks.

The arsenal is operating at full capacity, with the blast furnaces running day and night.

The first batch of molten steel produced was of even better quality than before.

The blacksmith, along with his craftsmen, forged three hundred steel knives, two hundred spears, one hundred strong bows, and thirty powerful crossbows.

They even manufactured tens of thousands of crossbows, which filled the armory.

The cavalry battalion's training has also begun to show results.

With a thousand warhorses, Zhang Meng selected the five hundred most elite men to form his first cavalry unit.

Every day, they gallop across the snowy plains outside the city, practicing charges, maneuvers, and archery.

The sound of hooves thundered, and the momentum was astonishing.

But the biggest change is not in the military, but in the population.

The reputation of Hanyuan City spread like wildfire.

"Have you heard? In Hanyuan, there's food to eat, work to do, and the prince doesn't bully people!"

"Really? Isn't that place supposed to be bitterly cold, and going there is practically suicide?"

"That was before! Things are different now! My cousin went there and wrote back saying that we get three meals a day, all we can eat! We even get work points for our work, which we can exchange for grain and cloth!"

"Is it really that good? I'll go too!"

"Let's go together! We can't live in this awful place anymore!"

One pass ten, ten pass a hundred.

Migrants from surrounding villages, runaways from the mountains, and even military households who escaped from Dingbei Pass all flocked to Hanyuan.

At first, there were dozens of people every day, and later there were hundreds of people every day.

By late October, more than three hundred people were entering the city every day.

Hanyuan City suddenly became lively.

Things have gotten chaotic.

The newcomers, accompanied by their families, were dressed in rags and looked emaciated.

They crowded at the city gate, staring longingly at the soldiers guarding the city, their eyes filled with desire and fear.

"Your Highness, more than three hundred people have arrived today."

Uncle Fu held the household register, his hands trembling. "If this continues, the city's food supply will..."

"There is enough food."

Xiao Chen remained calm. "The autumn harvest hasn't been touched yet, and with the previous reserves, it's enough to last for half a year. Moreover, the coal mines, iron mines, and the industrial manufacturing department all need people. More people is a good thing."

"How can we arrange for it?"

Uncle Fu looked worried. "There aren't enough empty houses in the city, and it's cold outside. We can't just let them sleep on the streets, can we?"

"establish."

Xiao Chen said, "We'll designate a piece of land in the west of the city to build 'new privately-run' houses. The houses don't need to be too nice, just enough to shelter us from the wind and snow. We'll cut the timber from the mountain and make the adobe bricks ourselves. Let the newcomers build them themselves, and they can live in them once they're finished. Whoever builds more will get more work points."

"The grain..."

"Work relief instead of work relief".

Xiao Chen said, "Once you come, there will be work to do, and if you work, you'll have food to eat. Mining, building cities, constructing houses, clearing land—you can do anything. But there's one condition—if you don't work, you won't have food to eat."

"yes!"

When the notice for the new private enterprise was posted, the newcomers were excited.

Build your own house and live in it? And after doing the work, you still get to eat?

This isn't fleeing a disaster, this is coming to enjoy a life of luxury!

The new private enterprise started construction that very day.

More than two thousand people were divided into ten teams.

One team cut down trees, one team mixed mud, one team made adobe bricks, and one team built walls.

The elderly and children were also busy, boiling water, cooking, handing out tools, and gathering firewood.

Despite the freezing weather and the rudimentary tools, their enthusiasm was high.

Because everyone knows that this is about building a home for themselves.

In just ten days, the new private sector has begun to take shape.

Rows of adobe houses rose from the ground; though simple, they were sturdy and warm.

Each household has one room, one kang (heated brick bed), and one stove. Although it's crowded, at least it provides shelter from the wind and snow.

Once the houses were built, household registration was carried out simultaneously.

The staff of the Civil Affairs Department were extremely busy, registering names, ages, places of origin, and special skills.

Those with skills were assigned to the manufacturing department. Those with strength were assigned to coal mines and iron mines.

Those who know how to farm will be assigned to farms. Those who know nothing will be assigned to building cities and clearing wasteland.

Everyone has work to do, and everyone has food to eat.

The population of Hanyuan City grew like a snowball.

In early October, there were 2,500 people.

In mid-October, there were three thousand people.

In late October, there were 3,500 people.

By early November, the number had exceeded four thousand.

Among them, there were more than 1,500 young and middle-aged people, and more than 2,500 elderly people, children and women.

The ratio wasn't ideal, but at least we had manpower and resources.

"Your Highness," Zhao Tie said, holding the latest household register, his voice trembling with excitement, "four thousand people now. Our Hanyuan has become a major city in the Northern Border."

The northern border is harsh and sparsely populated.

Apart from Dingbeiguan, which had a garrison of 3,000 troops, most of the surrounding cities had only one or two thousand soldiers.

With four thousand people, Hanyuan is indeed a "large city".

But Xiao Chen was not satisfied.

"Still a long way off."

He said, "What I want is a city of ten thousand people, a city of one hundred thousand. Four thousand people is just the beginning."

"But what about food..." Zhao Tie worried.

"There will be food."

Xiao Chen walked to the map and pointed to the lower reaches of the Baishui River. "There are large tracts of wasteland there that can be cultivated in the spring. As long as we have seeds, land, and farming tools, food will not be a problem."

"But spring is still a long way off, and this winter..."

"There are different kinds of work to do in winter."

Xiao Chen said, "Mining, smelting iron, forging weapons, building city defenses. Once the spring battle is over, we'll have time to farm."

Zhao Tie said no more.

The prince knew what he was doing; all he had to do was carry it out.

With a larger population comes more problems.

The newcomers are a mixed bag.

There were honest farmers, cunning scoundrels, and even deserters and fugitives.

Although they concealed their identities during registration, they would eventually be exposed over time.

That day, something happened to the newly established private enterprise.

The two groups got into a fight over tools, and blood was drawn.

By the time the security team arrived, seven or eight people had already been injured.

"Your Highness, what should we do?" Wang Dashan asked.

"public trial."

Xiao Chen said, "Right here in the new private camp, in front of everyone. Let the newcomers see the rules of Han Yuan."

The public trial was held on an open space in the newly established private sector.

The two groups of people who assaulted the victim knelt in front, surrounded by a large crowd of onlookers.

Xiao Chen sat behind the makeshift desk, with Wang Dashan and Zhao Tie standing on either side. The security team maintained order.

"What happened?" Xiao Chen asked.

A tall, thin man spoke first: "Your Highness, they attacked first! I was working peacefully when they tried to take my shovel. When I refused, they beat me!"

"Bullshit!" roared another dark-faced man. "That shovel is mine! You stole it from me!"

The two were about to fight again when the security team subdued them.

Xiao Chen looked at the witnesses beside him—a group of people who had worked together.

"Tell me, whose shovel is it?"

The group looked at each other, none of them daring to speak.

"To be honest, I'm fine."

Xiao Chen said, "Those who don't tell the truth are equally guilty."

A young man mustered his courage: "Your Highness, the shovel... the shovel belongs to the government. But Li Si has been using it, and Zhang San wanted to use it too, so they started fighting over it."

It turned out to be the case.

"Li Si, Zhang San, do you know your crimes?" Xiao Chen asked.

The two lowered their heads.

"According to the Provisional Regulations of Hanyuan, fighting is punishable by twenty strokes of the cane and a ten-day deduction of work points. Injuring someone and causing bloodshed is an even more serious offense, punishable by forty strokes of the cane and a one-month deduction of work points. You injured seven or eight people, which should be eighty strokes of the cane and a three-month deduction of work points. However, considering this is your first offense, we will be lenient. Each of you will receive forty strokes of the cane and a one-month deduction of work points. Any objections?"

Both of them turned pale.

Forty strokes of the cane can take half your life. A month's work points deducted is equivalent to working for nothing for a month.

"Your Highness, spare me! I know I was wrong!"

"Your Highness, I will never dare to do it again!"

"Too late." Xiao Chen waved his hand. "Execute."

The security team stepped forward, pinned the two men to the ground, and began beating them with sticks.

The crackling sounds, accompanied by screams, echoed across the open space.

The onlookers were terrified, and no one dared to speak.

After forty strokes of the cane, both men were left with raw, bleeding buttocks and barely alive.

"Take him away and treat his wounds."

Xiao Chen said, "Once you're healed, get back to work. Your work points will still be deducted."

"Yes."

The security team carried the two men away.

Xiao Chen stood up and looked at the onlookers.

"Everyone has seen what happened today. In Hanyuan, there are rules. If you follow the rules, you'll have food to eat and shelter to live in. If you don't follow the rules, this is what will happen."

He paused, then raised his voice: "I know that some of you have a criminal record, some were deserters or fugitives. But once you come to Hanyuan, I won't pursue your past. As long as you follow the rules and work hard, you are citizens of Hanyuan, and I, Xiao Chen, will treat you all equally. But if anyone dares to cause trouble, or dares to commit crimes—"

He pointed to the pool of blood on the ground: "This is an example!"

The crowd was quiet; even the children dared not cry.

"Everyone, disperse. Go do what you were doing."

The crowd dispersed, and discussions arose.

"The prince is ruthless! Forty strokes of the cane almost killed someone."

"It's better to be ruthless; otherwise, you can't control them. Back when Scarface Liu was around, he could beat people to death and no one cared."

"Exactly, although the prince is ruthless, he's reasonable. That shovel truly belongs to the public; why are they trying to steal it?"

"You won't dare cause trouble again..."

The effect is very obvious.

From that day on, the security situation in Xinminying improved significantly.

There are fewer fights and brawls, and those who steal and cheat have also become more restrained.

Because everyone knows that the prince really does hit people and really does deduct work points.

Work points are the lifeblood.

With work points, one can exchange them for grain, cloth, and anything else needed.

Without work points, you'll go hungry.

Nobody wants to go hungry.

As the new private sector gradually got on track, Hanyuan City gradually stabilized.

On November 15th, Murong Xue received a reply from the Left Wise King of Northern Yan.

The letter was very short, containing only one sentence:

"Okay. See you in Black Wind Valley."

It became.

Xiao Chen burned the letter and said to Zhao Tie, "Tell Gao Shun that Northern Yan has agreed. Three days later, at Black Wind Valley, we will pass through."

"Yes."

"Tell Wang Dashan and Zhang Meng to prepare according to plan. Set up an ambush in Black Wind Valley in three days."

"yes!"

Hanyuan City has entered its final preparations for war.

The city wall was raised by three feet, and the moat was deepened by three feet.

Logs and rocks were piled up into a mountain, and ten large pots of molten gold were boiled.

Archers guarded the city walls day and night, while cavalry were on standby at any time.

Everyone knew that a major war was about to break out.

But no one was afraid, because the Prince was there in Hanyuan.

Three days later, at dawn.

Blackwind Valley, shrouded in thick fog.

Xiao Chen stood on a high point at the valley entrance, looking at the mist that filled the valley, which looked like a white sea.

"Your Highness, Gao Shun's men have arrived," Zhao Tie said in a low voice.

At the valley entrance, a troop of soldiers slowly entered.

There were approximately three thousand men, their armor gleaming and their swords and spears shining.

Leading the group was Gao Shun, riding a tall, imposing horse with an arrogant expression.

Behind him were the elite troops of Dingbei Pass.

"Enter the valley." Gao Shun waved his hand.

Three thousand people, like a long snake, swam into Black Wind Valley.

The fog was very thick, with visibility less than ten feet.

The line was so long that the beginning and end couldn't keep up with each other.

Xiao Chen watched quietly, and only raised his hand after the last person entered the valley.

"Release the arrows."

hum-

The bowstring vibrated, and arrows flew like locusts.

Screams echoed through the fog.

"There's an ambush!"

"Retreat! Retreat now!"

But it's too late.

The valley entrance has been blocked by huge rocks, and the retreat route is cut off.

At the top of the valley, logs and boulders rained down.

The scalding liquid was poured down, burning people until their skin was torn and bleeding.

Three thousand people were crammed into the narrow valley, becoming sitting ducks.

"Charge out! Charge forward!" Gao Shun roared hoarsely.

But ahead of them was the army of Northern Yan.

The Left Wise King, Murong Han, personally led five thousand iron cavalry to block their path.

Caught between two forces, with no way out but to the heavens and no way to the earth.

The battle lasted for an hour.

An hour later, Black Wind Valley returned to silence.

There was only a strong smell of blood and corpses all over the ground.

Gao Shun was captured alive, tied up like a dumpling, and thrown in front of Xiao Chen.

"Your Highness, spare me! Your Highness, spare me! This humble general is acting on the orders of Prince Yong, this humble general..."

"Shut up."

Xiao Chen interrupted him, "I'll spare your life. Go back and tell Prince Yong that Han Yuan is untouchable. If he dares to lay a hand on you again, it will be his head that falls next time."

"Yes, yes, yes! This subordinate will certainly deliver the message!"

Gao Shun was released and ran away as fast as he could.

Xiao Chen looked at the Northern Yan army opposite him.

The army separated, and a middle-aged general rode out on horseback.

With a robust build and a stern face, he was none other than Murong Han, the Left Wise King of Northern Yan.

"Xiao Chen?" Murong Han looked him up and down.

"Exactly."

Xiao Chen clasped his hands in a fist salute, "Your Excellency, the Left Wise King, have come from afar. You must be tired."

"It's not hard work."

Murong Han said calmly, "When are you going to do the business you promised me?"

"Anytime is fine."

Xiao Chen said, "Hanyuan has coal and iron, while Beiyan has horses and furs. Each takes what they need, and it's a win-win situation."

"it is good."

Murong Han nodded. "I will send someone to talk after spring."

"We eagerly await your arrival."

Murong Han turned his horse around and led his army away.

They come and go like the wind, swift and decisive.

Xiao Chen watched their departing figures, feeling a mix of emotions.

This is indeed the military genius of Northern Yan, living up to his reputation.

"Your Highness, let's go back too," Zhao Tie said.

"Return."

The team returned to the Cold Abyss.

Han Yuan won a great victory in this battle.

Without losing a single soldier, they annihilated three thousand elite troops at Dingbei Pass, captured Gao Shun alive, and even established contact with the Northern Yan.

But Xiao Chen knew that the real test had only just begun.

Prince Yong will not let this go easily.

The Northern Yan were no pushovers either.

And Han Yuan will become even stronger.

So powerful that no one dares to underestimate them.

So powerful that this land truly belongs to them.

He gazed in the direction of Hanyuan City, a determined light flashing in his eyes.

The road ahead is long.

But every step was taken with a firm and steady hand.