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

The heavy snow lasted for seven days before finally stopping.

After the snow cleared, the sun shone on the snow, reflecting a dazzling white light. Hanyuan City was like a place covered with a thick quilt, quiet and peaceful.

But Xiao Chen had no time to appreciate the snow scene.

Land is the foundation. With land, people can feel secure and take root.

We were busy fighting, building the city, and training the army, so the land issue was put on hold. Now that the snow has stopped, it's time to get on with it.

"Uncle Fu, call Uncle Chen over," Xiao Chen said.

Uncle Chen arrived quickly, rubbing his hands and breathing out white puffs of air: "Your Highness, you wanted to see me?"

"How's the land survey going?"

"Your Highness, the land survey of the entire city has been completed."

Uncle Chen pulled a booklet from his pocket. "There are a total of 12,000 mu of arable land outside the city. Of these, 3,000 mu are high-quality fields, 5,000 mu are medium-quality fields, and 4,000 mu are low-quality fields. There are approximately 2,000 mu of residential land within the city."

Twelve thousand mu.

Hanyuan City currently has four thousand people. Assuming three mu per person, it needs twelve thousand mu. That's perfect.

Land was allocated according to the number of people in the household.

Xiao Chen said, "Everyone aged sixteen to fifty, regardless of gender, will be allocated three mu of land. The elderly and children will each receive one mu. Military households, craftsmen, and miners, because they do not farm full-time, will each receive two mu, but their work points will be doubled."

Uncle Chen quickly wrote it down.

"In addition," Xiao Chen added, "we will implement a system of granting land based on military merit. All those serving in the Han Yuan Army will be granted additional land according to the magnitude of their military achievements. One mu of land will be granted for each enemy killed. Those wounded will be granted land according to the severity of their injuries. Those who die in battle will have their families granted ten mu of land and will be permanently exempt from taxes."

"Your Highness, isn't this...isn't this too much?" Uncle Chen asked with some concern. "Twelve thousand acres of land, once it's all distributed, it's gone. What if new people come later..."

"There will be," Xiao Chen said. "After spring, we'll organize people to clear the wasteland. There are large tracts of wasteland along both banks of the Baishui River, which can be transformed into fertile fields. Moreover, after the war is over, there will be even more land."

Uncle Chen understood. The prince wanted to use land to win over people's hearts and boost morale.

"That land deed..."

"Issue it," Xiao Chen said. "Use the best paper and stamp it with the seal of the Prince. Make it clear to each household. With the land deed, the land belongs to them, generation after generation, passed down to their sons and grandsons."

"yes!"

The news of the land distribution caused a sensation throughout the city.

"Really? Three mu of land per person?"

"And a land deed? Stamped with the prince's seal?"

"Military merit can earn you more land? Then I want to join the army too!"

"My son is in the Cold Abyss Army. He killed two bandits in Black Wind Valley last time. Does that mean he'll get two more acres of land?"

There was much discussion and everyone was excited.

Land is the lifeblood of farmers. With land, they have roots and hope.

Registration began on the second day.

A long tent was erected in front of the city lord's mansion, where officials from the Civil Affairs Department sat to register people, issue land deeds, and distribute land certificates. The people lined up in long queues, stepping forward one by one to state their names, the number of people in their household, and receive their land deeds.

The land deed was red, written with a brush pen, listing names, number of people, acreage, and location, and stamped with the official seal of the Prince of Jingbei, bright red and eye-catching.

Those who received the land deeds held them carefully, as if they were precious treasures. Some wept on the spot and knelt on the ground, kowtowing towards the city lord's mansion.

"Long live the Prince!"

"Long live the Prince!"

The calls rose and fell.

Standing atop the city wall, Xiao Chen looked down at the jubilant people below and felt a surge of emotion.

In his past life, he was born and raised under the red flag, and his feelings for the land were not as deep as those of people in this era. But now, he understands.

The land is the root, the life, and everything.

Only when they have land will the people truly consider Hanyuan their home and fight to the death to protect it.

"Your Highness," Murong Xue walked over and bowed, "I also wish to receive land."

Xiao Chen was taken aback: "You? Farm?"

"I want to learn," Murong Xue said earnestly. "I am a princess of Northern Yan, and I have been pampered since childhood, unable to distinguish between grains. But now in Hanyuan, I want to be an ordinary person, to learn to farm, and to learn to support myself."

Xiao Chen stared at her for a long time.

Murong Xue's eyes were clear and firm.

How much do you want?

"Ten mu," Murong Xue said. "It doesn't have to be good land, just ordinary fields will do. I'll cultivate it myself, and if it doesn't turn out well, I won't blame anyone else."

"Okay." Xiao Chen nodded. "I'll give you ten mu of farmland, right next to the new private farm. But farming is hard work, can you handle it?"

"I can bear it." Murong Xue smiled. "No matter how bitter it is, it's better than the infighting in the palace."

Xiao Chen smiled too.

"Go and register with Uncle Fu."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Murong Xue left, and Xiao Chen continued to watch down below.

There was a familiar figure in the group.

It's Aliya—no, it's Murong Xue. She now has two identities: one is Princess Murong Xue of Northern Yan, and the other is Aliya, an orphan girl from the grasslands. In Hanyuan, she uses the name Aliya.

She stood in line, waiting quietly like any other ordinary person. When it was her turn, she gave the name "Aliya" and received the land deed for ten acres of land. Holding the deed, she looked at it for a long time, her eyes flashing with a complex light.

Xiao Chen didn't know what she was thinking, but he could sense that she had developed feelings for this land.

Perhaps, this is the allure of the Cold Abyss.

No matter where you come from, no matter who you were before, here you can start over.

"Your Highness," Wang Dashan hurriedly came up, "the list of those to be awarded land for military merit has been drawn up, please take a look."

Xiao Chen took the list, which was densely covered with names, military merits, and the amount of land granted.

Zhang Meng killed five enemies and was awarded five mu of land.

Zhao Tie killed three enemies and was awarded three mu of land.

Wang Dashan, for his meritorious service in command, was granted five mu of land.

……

Behind every name lies blood and fire.

"Proceed accordingly," Xiao Chen said. "In addition, the families of the twelve brothers who died in battle will be granted ten mu of land and permanently exempted from taxes. An additional ten taels of silver will be added to their pensions."

"yes!"

The announcement of the list of those awarded land for military merit has sparked another wave of excitement.

Soldiers, now with land, are even more motivated. Those who haven't joined are filled with envy and eagerly sign up to enlist.

Long queues formed at the recruitment office of the Cold Abyss Army.

"I want to join the army! I also want to be awarded land for military merit!"

"Me too! I'm strong, I can kill the enemy!"

"Your Highness, please accept me!"

Wang Dashan personally selects his clients; as long as they are physically fit and of the right age, he will accept them all.

In just three days, they recruited another 500 people.

The total number of Han Yuan Army soldiers has exceeded two thousand.

But then a problem arises.

"Your Highness, we have too many men, but not enough weapons," Han Lie said with a worried expression. "Even if the armory works day and night, we still can't keep up with the demand. Besides, we're running out of iron ore."

"I'll figure out a way to get the iron ore," Xiao Chen said. "Weapons will be prioritized for the standing army, and new recruits will use captured weapons. Training will focus on drills and discipline, and new weapons will not be issued for the time being."

"Yes."

"Also," Xiao Chen thought for a moment, "have Master Ou improve the process and increase efficiency. Just let us know what you need."

"Yes."

Han Lie left, and Xiao Chen stood alone on the city wall, gazing northward.

Iron ore is a big problem.

While the ore in Blackrock Mountain is of good quality, its reserves are limited. Newly discovered veins also have low yields. Supporting an army and a city requires a large amount of iron.

Iron is a strategic material.

The Prince of Yong would not sell it to him, the Northern Yan would not sell it to him, and the grasslands would not sell it to him either.

You'll have to find it yourself.

"Your Highness," Zhao Tie hurriedly came up, "the prospecting team is back, they've made a discovery."

"explain."

"Upstream of the White Water River, a hundred miles from the Cold Abyss, an open-pit iron mine has been discovered. The vein is very large, with the exposed portion stretching for hundreds of feet. Moreover, there is a river nearby, so waterwheels can be used to blow air and build blast furnaces to smelt iron."

An open-pit iron mine! Waterwheels blowing air!

Xiao Chen's eyes lit up.

"Let's go take a look."

A hundred li (approximately 50 kilometers) can be covered in a day on horseback.

It was a river valley where the Baishui River made a bend, carving out an open space. On both sides of the riverbank, dark red rocks were exposed, gleaming with a metallic sheen in the sunlight.

Xiao Chen dismounted and picked up a stone. It was heavy, dark red, and high-quality hematite.

"What is the estimated reserve size?" he asked.

"It's hard to say." The head of the prospecting team was an old miner surnamed Hu. "But judging from the outcrops, this vein is enough for us to mine for at least a hundred years. Moreover, the ore has a high iron content and few impurities, making it easy to smelt."

"Alright!" Xiao Chen decided, "Let's build an iron city right here!"

"Iron City?"

"Yes." Xiao Chen pointed to the valley. "We'll build blast furnaces here, using waterwheels to blow air. We'll build workshops here, forging iron and smelting steel. We'll build barracks here, housing craftsmen and miners. We'll build city walls here, stationing troops here. I want this place to become the steel base of the Cold Abyss, a major military industrial stronghold in the North!"

The crowd was filled with excitement.

Iron City! A major military industrial city!

With iron, there are weapons, farming tools, and everything else.

"Your Highness, when will construction begin?"

"Now," Xiao Chen said, "we'll go back and organize the manpower. I want to see the first blast furnace ignited before spring."

"yes!"

Upon returning to Hanyuan, Xiao Chen immediately gathered his men.

Building an iron city requires people, food, and money.

There are people. Four thousand commoners, and drawing one thousand able-bodied men from among them, is enough.

Yes, we have grain. We still have enough stored grain to last for six months.

Money is a bit tight. But the caravan is about to set off again, this time to the Hexi Corridor, where the profits will be even greater.

"Let's do it!" Xiao Chen made the decision.

The Iron City Project was launched the following day.

A thousand able-bodied men, carrying tools, food, and tents, headed towards the Baishui River Valley. Wang Dashan sent a battalion of soldiers to escort them, and Zhang Meng sent a cavalry patrol.

City building, mining, and road construction were carried out simultaneously.

Hanyuan City is like a giant beehive, busy yet orderly.

With the land distributed, people's hearts were at ease.

With a stronger military, we have greater confidence.

The iron city has been built, and its foundation has been solidified.

Everything is moving in a positive direction.

That night, Xiao Chen stood alone on the city wall, gazing at the northern starry sky.

The stars twinkle, like countless eyes watching over this land.

"Your Highness," Murong Xue's voice came from behind, "What are you looking at?"

"Look at the sky," Xiao Chen said. "When will this sky truly clear up?"

Murong Xue walked to his side and also looked at the starry sky.

"In Northern Yan, there was also a starry sky like this," she said softly. "When I was little, I often sat on the roof and looked at the stars. My father said that every star represents a hero. When a hero dies, he becomes a star and continues to protect this land."

Do you believe it?

"I used to believe, but I don't anymore." Murong Xue shook her head. "When a hero dies, he's dead. Those who protect the land are the living."

Xiao Chen glanced at her.

This princess of Northern Yan has changed.

Three months ago, she was a pampered princess, full of scheming. Now, she's like an ordinary person, able to cry, laugh, farm, and look at the stars.

"What do you plan to plant on your ten acres of land?" he asked.

"Frost wheat," Murong Xue said. "Uncle Chen said frost wheat is cold-resistant and easy to grow. I'll plant some first, and once I learn how, I'll plant others."

Farming is hard work.

"I know," Murong Xue smiled, "but no matter how hard it is, it's still my own land. The food grown here is my own. This feeling is wonderful."

Xiao Chen nodded.

Yes, our own land, our own grain, our own city.

This feeling is really good.

"Your Highness," Murong Xue suddenly said, "if one day, Northern Yan and Great Xia go to war, will you kill me?"

Xiao Chen remained silent for a moment.

"meeting."

Murong Xue's body trembled.

"But I will give you a chance," Xiao Chen continued. "A chance to escape, a chance to turn back. If you insist on standing against me, I will kill you."

Murong Xue lowered her head, and after a long while, she whispered, "Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for treating me like a human being." Murong Xue raised her head, tears glistening in her eyes. "In Northern Yan, I was a princess, a pawn. In Han Yuan, I am Aliya, a human being. These past three months have been the most human days I've ever lived."

Xiao Chen remained silent.

"Your Highness, if... if one day the war ends and the world is at peace, can I stay in Hanyuan forever? Just be an ordinary person, farming, practicing medicine, and teaching children to read."

"Yes," Xiao Chen said. "As long as you want, there will always be a place for you in Hanyuan."

Murong Xue cried, then laughed.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

She bowed, turned and left.

Xiao Chen watched her retreating figure, feeling a mix of emotions.

War changed everything.

It also changed her.

Hopefully this battle will end soon.

May this land find peace soon.

He gazed at the starry sky and prayed silently.