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

Before the Prince of Yong's memorial arrived, the reorganization of the Hanyuan Guard was completed.

The three hundred Cold Abyss Guards were all equipped with the latest style of gear: Cold Abyss Blades, hard bows, leather armor, and each of them also carried a round shield.

The shield was made of wood and covered with cowhide; it was lightweight and sturdy. Although not as good as an iron shield, it was sufficient for protection against arrows and knives.

Xiao Chen personally inspected it.

On the drill ground, three hundred people were arranged in three square formations, and there was not a sound.

The only sounds were the fluttering of flags in the wind and the occasional neighing of warhorses.

"The Cold Abyss Guard is officially formed today."

Standing on the reviewing stand, Xiao Chen's voice was not loud, but everyone could hear him clearly: "You three hundred men were chosen from among four thousand civilians. You are the strongest, the most loyal, and the most daring. From today onward, you are the blade and the shield of Han Yuan. The safety of Han Yuan rests on your shoulders."

Three hundred people stood tall with firm eyes.

"The Cold Abyss Guard has three military regulations."

Xiao Chen held up three fingers. "First, loyalty. Loyalty to Han Yuan, loyalty to the people, loyalty to yourself. Those who defect will be executed."

"Second rule: Courage. Those who retreat in the face of battle shall be executed. Those who fail to come to the rescue of those in distress shall be executed."

"The third principle is benevolence. Do not kill those who surrender, do not plunder the people, and do not bully the weak. Those who violate this principle shall be beheaded."

Three military rules, simple, but strict.

"Did you understand?"

"Understood!" the three hundred men roared in unison.

"Alright." Xiao Chen nodded. "Now, present the flag."

Wang Dashan walked onto the command platform holding a flag.

The flag was dark blue, with two large characters embroidered on it in silver thread: Han Yuan.

The flag is edged with flame patterns, symbolizing the eternal fire of the cold abyss.

"Zhang Meng!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Catch the flag!"

Zhang Meng stepped forward, took the military flag with both hands, and waved it forcefully. The flag unfurled, fluttering in the wind.

"Victory to the Cold Abyss Guards!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!"

The shouts were deafening.

After the flag presentation was completed, Xiao Chen began assigning tasks.

The Cold Abyss Guard consists of three hundred men, divided into three teams.

One team, named "Sharp Edge," consisted of one hundred men, directly commanded by Zhang Meng. They were all veterans, skilled in horsemanship and swordsmanship, and were responsible for assaults, charges, and field battles.

One team, called "Fortified Wall," consisted of one hundred men and was led by Zhao Tie. Most of them were miners and craftsmen, strong, with good endurance, and skilled in defending cities, building fortifications, and constructing fortifications.

One team, named "Swift Wind," consisted of one hundred men and was led by Wang Dashan. They were young, clever, and quick on their feet, and were responsible for patrolling, reconnaissance, and relaying orders.

The three teams each performed their duties and cooperated with each other.

"Starting today, practice for four hours every day."

Xiao Chen gave the following orders: "One hour in the morning for drills and physical training. One hour in the late morning for swordsmanship and archery. One hour in the afternoon for formations and teamwork. One hour in the evening for literacy and military strategy."

"yes!"

Training begins immediately.

In the morning, the formation requires one to stand straight like a pine tree and move swiftly like the wind.

Three hundred men, marching in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized. The slightest mistake, and the squad leader would lash them with a whip.

Although it hurt, no one complained. Because they knew that on the battlefield, one mistake meant death.

The knife skills taught this morning were personally taught by Blacksmith Ou. He is an old blacksmith and also knows knife skills.

Chop, hack, flick, stab—each movement must be practiced thousands of times until it becomes muscle memory.

My thumb and forefinger split open, so I wrapped it with a cloth and kept practicing. My arm was swollen, so I applied a hot compress and continued practicing the next day.

The afternoon's formation was taught by Wang Dashan. He came from the border army and knew about battle formations.

Wedge formation, cone formation, square formation, mandarin duck formation—taught them one by one. They worked in groups of three, providing mutual cover.

Ten men form a team, integrating offense and defense. A hundred men form a unit, moving as if they were extensions of their own limbs.

Xiao Chen personally taught them literacy and military strategy in the evenings.

Learn to read, starting with the simplest characters.

Heaven, Earth, Man, Sun, Moon, Stars.

Then teach commonly used military words: command, flag, drum, advance, retreat, attack, defend.

Military strategy, teaching "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, but in the simplest terms.

"Warfare is based on deception. What does that mean? In war, you must use trickery and deception to keep the enemy guessing what you are trying to do."

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. What does that mean? It means you need to know how many soldiers and how much food you have, and you also need to know how many soldiers and how much food your enemy has. Only by knowing this can you win."

"Its speed is like the wind, its stillness like the forest, its attack like fire, and its immovability like a mountain."

What does that mean? "When you're fast, be as fast as the wind; when you're slow, be as orderly as a forest; when you attack, be as fierce as fire; when you defend, be as solid as a mountain."

The children couldn't understand, but the soldiers of Hanyuan Guard could. They were all veterans and knew that what the prince said was a profound truth.

The training was tough, but the benefits were good.

The soldiers of the Hanyuan Guard received twice the pay of ordinary soldiers. They were provided with three meals a day, all of them full, and meat every three days.

If you are wounded, the clinic will treat you for free. If you die in battle, you will receive a pension of twenty taels of silver, and your family will be supported by the city lord's mansion.

Moreover, the Han Yuan Guards hold a high position in Han Yuan.

When the common people saw him, they all respectfully called him "Soldier." When the children saw him, their eyes were full of admiration.

This gave the soldiers of Hanyuan Guard a strong sense of belonging and honor.

They were no longer vagrants, deserters, or hooligans.

They were soldiers, soldiers of Hanyuan, soldiers of the prince.

The training lasted ten days and yielded remarkable results.

Three hundred people were completely transformed.

There is a proper way to stand, a proper way to sit, a methodical way to move, and a disciplined way to advance and retreat.

Although it cannot yet compare to elite forces like the Imperial Guards, it is already a respectable army.

That day, Xiao Chen was watching the "Sharp Edge" team practice their charge at the training ground when Zhao Tie rushed over.

"Your Highness, Night Owl has an urgent report."

"explain."

"The Prince of Yong's memorial has arrived."

Zhao Tie's expression was solemn. "His Majesty has decreed that the Prince... must come to the capital immediately to defend himself in person."

We will proceed to Beijing immediately.

These four words carry immense weight.

Prince Yong is trying to force the emperor to abdicate; he wants to remove him in front of the entire court.

"Your Highness, you can't go!"

Wang Dashan said urgently, "The capital is Prince Yong's territory. If you go there, it will be like a lamb entering a tiger's den!"

"Yes, Your Highness," Zhang Meng added, "Prince Yong has surely laid a trap, just waiting for you to walk into it."

Xiao Chen remained silent for a moment.

"What does the imperial edict say?"

"The imperial edict states that the prince has committed three major crimes: 'privately manufacturing weapons, instigating border conflicts, and colluding with foreign enemies,' each punishable by death. The prince is ordered to relinquish his military power and travel to the capital alone to await judgment."

Zhao Tie's voice trembled, "The imperial envoy who delivered the decree has arrived at Dingbei Pass and will reach Hanyuan tomorrow."

It will arrive tomorrow.

What a great speed.

It seems that Prince Yong can't wait any longer.

"Your Highness, let's...let's rebel!"

A young soldier couldn't help but shout, "Since Prince Yong is going to kill us anyway, why not strike first!"

"Yes! It's backwards!"

"Strike into the capital and kill Prince Yong!"

The sentiment is indignant.

Xiao Chen raised his hand to quell the commotion.

"Rebel? With what can we rebel?"

He calmly asked, "Hanyuan has four thousand civilians and three hundred soldiers. The capital has one hundred thousand imperial guards and three hundred thousand border troops. If we rebel, it's like throwing an egg against a rock."

"Then... what do we do? Are we just going to wait to die?"

"Waiting to die?" Xiao Chen laughed. "My life, Xiao Chen's life, isn't so easy to take."

He looked at the crowd.

"The imperial envoy will arrive tomorrow. Let's give him a proper welcome. Zhao Tie, take your men to make preparations and receive him with the highest honors."

Wang Dashan, you take men to keep watch and ensure safety.

"Zhang Meng, you take the Han Yuan Guards and have them line up in the drill ground. I want the Imperial Envoy to see what the soldiers of Han Yuan look like."

"yes!"

The group accepted the order and left.

Xiao Chen stood alone on the reviewing stand, gazing in the direction of the capital.

Prince Yong, do you want me to come to the capital?

Okay, I'll go.

But how we go, when we go, and how many people we bring are all up to me.

The imperial envoy arrived the next day.

The one who came was an old eunuch surnamed Liu. He was a veteran of the palace and had served the emperor for thirty years.

Although he was a eunuch, he had an extraordinary bearing, and was followed by a hundred Imperial Guards, their helmets and armor gleaming, exuding an imposing aura.

"Prince Jingbei, receive the imperial decree—" Eunuch Liu drawled.

Xiao Chen knelt on one knee: "Your subject Xiao Chen receives the imperial decree."

Eunuch Liu unfolded the imperial edict and began to read it.

The contents were exactly as the owl had reported: three major crimes, each punishable by death.

After reading it, he closed the imperial edict and looked at Xiao Chen.

"Your Highness, please accept the imperial decree."

Xiao Chen did not answer.

"Eunuch Liu, is this imperial edict the will of Prince Yong, or of the Emperor?"

Eunuch Liu's face darkened: "Your Highness, watch your words! An imperial edict is an imperial edict; how can it have any say in anyone else's opinion?!"

"That must be what Prince Yong meant."

Xiao Chen stood up. "Please have Eunuch Liu report back to my father. I do not admit to any of these three crimes."

Privately manufactured weapons? The weapons of Hanyuan are for defending the grasslands and protecting the border.

Did you provoke a border conflict? It was Prince Yong's men who struck first; I was acting in self-defense.

Colluding with foreign enemies? The Left Wise King of Northern Yan was my defeated foe, how could there be any collusion?

"You…" Eunuch Liu trembled with rage, "You dare defy the imperial decree?!"

"It's not disobeying the imperial decree, it's pleading for help."

Xiao Chen said calmly, "Eunuch Liu has come a long way and must be tired. Please stay in Hanyuan for now. Take a look at the people, the soldiers, and the city of Hanyuan. After you have seen them, then decide how to reply to this imperial edict."

He waved his hand: "Take Eunuch Liu to rest."

"yes!"

Several Hanyuan guards stepped forward and politely, but in an unyielding manner, "invited" Eunuch Liu to the post station.

The hundred Imperial Guards tried to move, but three hundred Cold Abyss Guards had already surrounded them.

The sword was drawn, the bow was strung, and his eyes were cold.

Although the Imperial Guards were elite, they only numbered one hundred. The Cold Abyss Guards, though newly trained, had three hundred men and held a strategic advantage in terrain.

After a brief standoff, the captain of the Imperial Guard gritted his teeth and ordered, "Retreat!"

Liu Gonggong was "invited" to the post station. Although he was not harassed, he was placed under house arrest.

That afternoon, Xiao Chen led Eunuch Liu on an inspection tour of Hanyuan.

Look at the school, the children's voices are ringing out as they read aloud.

At the clinic, patients received treatment in an orderly manner.

Looking into the workshop, the furnaces glowed red-hot, and the hammers clanged loudly.

Looking at the farmland, the new green shoots are full of vitality.

The city walls are tall and sturdy, and the garrison is well-organized.

Finally, let's look at the Cold Abyss Guard.

On the training ground, three hundred Cold Abyss Guards were drilling. Their blades flashed like snow, and a murderous aura filled the air.

The formations shifted with fluid grace. Bows and crossbows fired in unison, arrows flying like locusts.

Eunuch Liu turned pale upon seeing this.

These aren't soldiers, they're tigers and wolves.

"Eunuch Liu," Xiao Chen asked calmly, "are these soldiers used for rebellion, or for defending the country?"

Eunuch Liu was speechless.

"Is such a city meant for regional separatism, or for maintaining peace and stability for the people?"

"Are these people living in dire straits or in peace and prosperity?"

After being asked three questions in a row, Eunuch Liu was speechless.

"Please ask Eunuch Liu to return to the capital and report the truth to the Emperor."

Xiao Chen looked at him and said, "The people of Hanyuan are well-fed, warmly clothed, have land to cultivate, and have access to education."

The soldiers of Hanyuan are diligent in their training and strict in their defense, but they only guard against external enemies and do not disturb the people.

The prince of Hanyuan only wished for peace and tranquility for this land and its people. If even this is a crime—”

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Then I admit to this crime. But I do not admit to the four thousand people of Hanyuan, nor the three hundred soldiers of Hanyuan."

Eunuch Liu trembled.

He finally understood that the sixteen-year-old prince in front of him was not the "good-for-nothing seventh prince" that Prince Yong had mentioned.

This is a tiger cub.

Although still young, their claws are already sharp.

"I...I understand." Eunuch Liu took a deep breath. "I will report the truth to His Majesty."

"Thank you for your trouble, sir." Xiao Chen cupped his hands in greeting.

The next day, Eunuch Liu led a hundred Imperial Guards and hurriedly left Hanyuan.

He didn't bring Xiao Chen with him, nor did he mention the imperial edict.

Before leaving, he gave Xiao Chen a deep look and said something.

"Your Highness, please take care of yourself."

Xiao Chen nodded and watched him leave.

He knew that this hurdle was temporarily over.

But Prince Yong would not give up.

What follows will be an even more violent storm.

"Pass on the order," he said to the Hanyuan Guards behind him, "Strengthen defenses and be ready to fight at any time."

"yes!"

The Cold Abyss Guards have officially stepped onto the stage of the Northern Territory.

Their first battle is about to begin.