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

On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Dingbeiguan was established.

After the snow cleared, the fortress appeared exceptionally majestic in the morning light.

The city wall, three zhang high with blue bricks, was topped with fluttering banners and a formidable array of soldiers.

The city gates were tightly shut, and the drawbridge hung high, creating an atmosphere of heightened vigilance.

Xiao Chen led fifty riders to a stop three miles from the pass, where he reined in his horses.

"Your Highness, something's not right," Zhang Meng whispered. "The pass is too quiet, abnormally quiet."

That's definitely unusual.

Today is the day of peace talks between the Left Wise King of Northern Yan and the King of Jingbei. Even if there are no lanterns or decorations, there should still be some activity.

At this moment, the gates of Dingbei Pass were tightly closed, and there were only a few sentries scattered on the city wall. There was no one to greet them.

"What did Night Owl say?" Xiao Chen asked.

Zhao Tie rode forward: "Last night's news confirmed that Gao Qiu is indeed inside the pass. But he has divided his three thousand troops into three groups: one on the city wall, one in the barbican, and one at the pass garrison. Judging from his posture, it doesn't seem like he's there to escort the peace talks; it seems more like he's trying to trap them like turtles in a jar."

"Where are the men of the Left Wise King?"

"They set up camp five li outside the North Gate, with five hundred cavalrymen, claiming they were escorting the envoy."

"Five hundred against three thousand..." Xiao Chen sneered, "Gao Qiu really thinks highly of me."

"Your Highness, shall we retreat first?" Wang Dashan suggested, "and wait for the Left Wise King to arrive before we talk about it."

No refund.

Xiao Chen shook his head. "Now that we're here, we can't retreat. If we back down, we'll lose our momentum. Order us to advance to one mile from the pass and set up camp."

"yes!"

The fifty riders stopped a mile from the pass and set up camp on the spot.

Although there were only fifty people, their camp was neat and their flags were bright, showing no sign of weakness.

At noon, the North Gate finally opened.

A troop of cavalry, about a hundred men, galloped out, carrying a flag with the character "Gao" on it.

The leader was a general in his thirties, with a fair complexion and sinister eyes; it was Gao Qiu.

"This humble general, Gao Qiu, is here by order of the Prince of Yong to protect the peace talks."

Gao Qiu, mounted on his horse, clasped his hands in a fist salute, his attitude arrogant. "Prince Jingbei, you have come a long way and must be tired. Please enter the pass and rest."

Xiao Chen sat upright on his horse and said calmly, "I appreciate General Gao's help. However, I am used to staying in my own camp, so I will not enter the pass. Please invite the Left Wise King out; let us talk here."

Gao Qiu's face darkened: "Your Highness, this is against protocol. Peace talks are a matter of state and should be held in the main hall of the Guan Shou Mansion. What kind of decorum is it to hold them in the open?"

"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible," Xiao Chen said. "I don't trust the walls of Dingbei Pass, and I trust the knives of certain people even more. Let's talk here; it's safe and you can rest assured."

These words were directed directly at Gao Qiu, without any attempt to conceal their true intentions.

Gao Qiu's face turned ashen, and he was about to lash out when the sound of horns came from afar.

The cavalry of Northern Yan have arrived.

Five hundred riders, all clad in black armor and riding black horses, pressed down like a dark cloud. Leading them was an old general in his fifties, with graying hair and beard, but standing ramrod straight; he was none other than Murong Han, the Left Wise King of Northern Yan.

"Prince Jingbei, I have long admired you." Murong Han clasped his hands in greeting from his horse, his voice booming like a bell.

"I have long admired the Left Wise King," Xiao Chen returned the greeting.

The two looked at each other, sizing each other up.

A hint of surprise flashed in Murong Han's eyes—this sixteen-year-old prince was younger and more composed than he had imagined. To dare to set up camp with fifty horsemen in front of the pass against three thousand ambushers—that courage was extraordinary.

Xiao Chen was also sizing up Murong Han—this military genius of Northern Yan truly lived up to his reputation. Although over fifty, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and his aura as imposing as a mountain. Such a person would not be easily manipulated, much less bow down.

"Since Your Highness is unwilling to enter the pass, let's talk here." Murong Han said decisively, "General Gao, please clear the area."

Gao Qiu gritted his teeth: "Left Wise King, this..."

"Clear the area." Murong Han's voice turned cold. "My blade knows no bounds."

Gao Qiu's expression shifted, but he finally waved his hand: "Retreat!"

The three hundred soldiers retreated to the gate, but did not enter; instead, they formed ranks and stood guard.

Murong Han's five hundred cavalrymen dispersed, forming a semi-circle around the peace negotiation area. Xiao Chen's fifty cavalrymen also dispersed, facing off against the Northern Yan cavalry from a distance.

In the center of the venue, only Xiao Chen, Murong Han, and their respective translators remained.

"Your Highness has quite the nerve," Murong Han spoke first. "You dare come with only fifty riders? Aren't you afraid I'll turn against you?"

"If I were afraid, I wouldn't have come," Xiao Chen said frankly. "The Left Wise King is a smart man and wouldn't do anything foolish. If he kills me, Han Yuan will be thrown into chaos, and the Northern Border will be thrown into chaos. Chaos will not benefit Northern Yan, and it will be even less beneficial to the Left Wise King."

"Oh? How so?"

"If Han Yuan falls into chaos, the Prince of Yong will surely seize the opportunity to invade. Once the Prince of Yong gains power, he will inevitably march north to attack Yan. At that time, the Left Wise King will have to face a Prince of Yong who has unified the northern border and whose army is strong and well-equipped. Which is more troublesome, that or facing someone like me who only wants to farm and do business?"

Murong Han narrowed his eyes: "Your Highness sees things clearly."

"Therefore, peace talks are beneficial to both sides," Xiao Chen said. "Northern Yan wants coal and iron, and we have them. I want horses and furs, and Northern Yan has them. Each gets what they need, and neither side interferes. Why fight and kill, wasting resources and manpower?"

"But the Prince of Yong will not agree."

"That's his business," Xiao Chen sneered. "If he wants to fight, let him fight. But Han Yuan won't go crazy with him. For the Northern Border to have peace, there must be a stable trade route and a non-aggression border. This border is along the Baishui River. Hebei belongs to Northern Yan, and Henan belongs to Great Xia. Whoever crosses the border is declaring war."

Murong Han pondered for a moment: "Can Your Highness make that decision?"

"In Hanyuan, I can make the decisions," Xiao Chen said. "As for the imperial court, the Left Wise King need not worry. If the peace talks are successful, I will be a meritorious official of the Northern Frontier and a capable minister of the imperial court. At that time, the imperial court will listen to my words."

"What if Prince Yong interferes?"

"Then let him cause trouble." A cold glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. "If he can cause trouble, so can I. I have my own arrangements for things in the capital."

Murong Han gave Xiao Chen a deep look, then suddenly smiled.

"Your Highness, you are even more capable than I imagined. Very well, I agree to this peace negotiation. The White Water River will be the boundary, and neither side will invade the other. After spring, a border market will be established to facilitate the exchange of goods. But there is one condition—"

"explain."

"Gao Qiu cannot be allowed to live," Murong Han said in a low voice. "As long as he remains at Dingbei Pass, the border will remain uneasy. If Your Highness can eliminate him, Northern Yan is willing to become your brotherly state."

Except for Gao Qiu.

This is a pledge of loyalty, and also a test.

Xiao Chen remained silent for a moment.

"Alright, I agree. But I need the cooperation of the Left Wise King."

"How can we cooperate?"

"Three days later, Gao Qiu will leave the pass to 'patrol the border'," Xiao Chen said. "The Left Wise King will send a cavalry force to feign crossing the border. Gao Qiu will surely pursue them. Once he crosses the border, we will attack him from both sides and make him 'die on the battlefield'."

"Brilliant!" Murong Han clapped his hands. "That's the plan!"

"A high five to seal the oath."

The two high-fived three times.

Peace talks were concluded.

In the distance, Gao Qiu watched the two high-five, his face ashen.

He knew he had been betrayed.

But he wasn't afraid.

Because he had three thousand soldiers in his hands.

Moreover, he has a backup plan.

"Give the order," he whispered to his personal guards, "to proceed according to plan."

"yes!"

After the peace talks ended, Xiao Chen returned to his camp.

"Your Highness, has the deal been reached?" Zhao Tie asked.

"It's done." Xiao Chen nodded. "Eliminate Gao Qiu in three days."

"But Gao Qiu has three thousand soldiers..."

"So we need to cooperate," Xiao Chen said. "Let Night Owl spread the news that Gao Qiu is colluding with Northern Yan and is going to surrender the pass. When Prince Yong hears this, he will definitely become suspicious. In order to prove his innocence, Gao Qiu will definitely come out of the pass to pursue him. At that time, it will be his death day."

"What if Prince Yong doesn't believe it..."

"He'll believe it," Xiao Chen sneered. "Because I'll make him believe it. Zhang Meng!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Write a letter to your father, saying that Gao Qiu is levying exorbitant taxes in the northern border, causing widespread resentment, and that he is also secretly colluding with the Northern Yan. The evidence is conclusive. Ask him to impeach him in court."

"yes!"

"Zhao Tie!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Let the Night Owl spread rumors at Dingbei Pass, saying that Gao Qiu is withholding military pay and embezzling military rations, and that the soldiers are going to mutini."

"yes!"

"Wang Dashan!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Take your men and set up an ambush outside the pass. When Gao Qiu comes out of the pass, cut off his retreat."

"yes!"

As orders were issued one by one, a vast net was quietly cast.

Gao Qiu is now trapped like a turtle in a jar.

That night, rumors spread like wildfire in Dingbeiguan.

"Have you heard? General Gao is going to surrender the pass!"

"No way? He's one of Prince Yong's men!"

"What's wrong with the Prince of Yong's men? How can this wretched place of Dingbei Pass compare to the comfort of Northern Yan? I heard that Northern Yan promised him high-ranking positions and generous salaries..."

"No wonder he's been heading north so much lately..."

The rumors spread like wildfire, and even Gao Qiu's personal guards began to have doubts.

"General, people outside are saying..." the captain of the personal guards said cautiously.

"What are you spreading?" Gao Qiu's face turned ashen.

"Your message says... you wish to surrender the pass..."

"Bullshit!" Gao Qiu slammed his cup down. "This is Xiao Chen's scheme to sow discord! You actually believe it?"

"There's no smoke without fire..."

"Shut up!" Gao Qiu roared. "If you dare to spout nonsense again, you'll be court-martialed!"

The guards remained silent, but the suspicion in their eyes was unmistakable.

Gao Qiu knew he had to do something to prove his innocence.

Otherwise, even without Xiao Chen lifting a finger, his own people would have already rebelled.

"Issue the order," he gritted his teeth, "that in three days, they will patrol the border. If they encounter Northern Yan soldiers, kill them without mercy!"

"yes!"

Three days later, at dawn.

Gao Qiu led a thousand soldiers out of the pass to patrol the border.

He wanted to use the blood of the Northern Yan people to clear his name of suspicion.

But he didn't know that once he left the pass, he would never be able to return.

Xiao Chen stood in the camp, watching Gao Qiu's troops disappear into the distance, his eyes filled with icy coldness.

"Pass down the order: proceed according to plan."

"yes!"

A hunt has begun.