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

The deal for two thousand warhorses from the grasslands had just been finalized when bad news arrived.

The owl sent back urgent reports from three directions simultaneously.

"Your Highness, there's been a movement from Prince Yong's side!"

Zhao Tie's face turned ashen. "He submitted a memorial to the court, saying that the prince was 'colluding with Northern Yan and the grasslands to plot treason.' He even produced 'evidence'—copies of the account books of our transactions with Northern Yan and the grasslands, which bore the prince's seal."

Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed.

A copy of the ledger? And it even has his seal on it?

"Where did it come from?"

"It's...it's a traitor."

Zhao Tie gritted his teeth, "There's a clerk in the Civil Affairs Department named Zhou Wen who fled from Dingbei Pass three months ago. He stole the account books, escaped from the city overnight, and delivered them to the Prince Yong's residence."

Traitor.

They were from the Civil Affairs Department.

Xiao Chen's face darkened.

The Department of Civil Affairs is in charge of household registration, taxation, and accounts, and is one of the most crucial departments.

The presence of an internal traitor indicates that there are loopholes in Han Yuan's management.

"Has Zhou Wen been caught?"

"No. He disappeared as soon as he left the city. It's estimated that Prince Yong sent someone to pick him up."

"What about the other members of the Home Affairs Department? Are there any accomplices?"

"The investigation is ongoing. Night Owl has taken control of all officials in the Civil Affairs Department and is interrogating them one by one."

"Investigate thoroughly," Xiao Chen said, uttering only two words.

"yes!"

Before I could even process the first piece of bad news, the second arrived.

"Your Highness, things aren't peaceful in Northern Yan either." Wang Dashan rushed in. "Murong Han has amassed 30,000 troops at the border, claiming it's an 'autumn hunt,' but their destination is the Baishui River. Moreover, he sent word that the grassland cavalry have been frequently crossing the border to plunder, and Northern Yan is going to 'defend and counterattack.' If the war escalates to Hanyuan, please 'understand,' Your Highness."

understanding?

This is a case of trying to win favor first, then resorting to force.

Murong Han has found an excuse—the steppe cavalry crossed the border, and Northern Yan is defending itself, which is perfectly reasonable. If they "accidentally" hit Han Yuan, then they can only blame Han Yuan for being too close.

"What about the grasslands?" Xiao Chen asked.

"The grasslands..." Wang Dashan smiled bitterly. "Arutai from the Canglang tribe sent someone to say that several small tribes have recently 'disobeyed orders' and have been raiding south on their own. He is currently 'rectifying' the situation, but it will take time. Please, Your Highness... be patient for now."

endure?

When the Northern Yan army attacks, why should we tolerate it?

Xiao Chen understood.

Yongwang, Northern Yan, grassland.

The three parties are working together to surround and kill Han Yuan.

Prince Yong pressured the court to convict him of "colluding with foreign enemies".

The Northern Yan army is amassed on the border, looking for a pretext to start a war.

The grasslands stabbed them in the back, creating friction.

Surrounded on three sides, a deadly situation.

"Your Highness, what should we do?" Zhao Tie asked anxiously. "We only have six thousand soldiers now, and we can't possibly defend three sides!"

It was indeed impossible to hold on.

Although Hanyuan now has a city, soldiers, and food, its foundation is too weak. Six thousand soldiers can only defend a city, let alone simultaneously deal with the pressure from the Yong King's court, the 30,000-strong army of Northern Yan, and the raids from the grasslands.

"We can't defend, we have to attack," Xiao Chen said.

"Attack? Attack where?"

"A psychological attack." A cold glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. "Prince Yong wants to convict me because I 'colluded with foreign enemies.' But what if those foreign enemies aren't enemies, but friends?"

"Your Highness means..."

"We will formally ally with Northern Yan and the grasslands," Xiao Chen said, enunciating each word clearly. "This isn't a clandestine business deal; it's an open and aboveboard alliance. We'll sign a treaty, exchange official credentials, and announce it to the world. Then, if Prince Yong accuses me of 'colluding,' it will be a slap in the face to Northern Yan and the grasslands. Will he dare?"

Zhao Tie and Wang Dashan looked at each other in bewilderment.

A formal alliance has been formed with Northern Yan and the grasslands?

This...this is insane.

The Northern Yan was the sworn enemy of the Great Xia, and the grasslands were a border threat. To ally with them was tantamount to rebellion.

"Your Highness, this...this will be condemned by the whole world," Wang Dashan said.

"Scorn?" Xiao Chen sneered. "Is it better to be scorned while alive, or to be praised after death? I choose to live."

"But……"

"No buts," Xiao Chen interrupted him. "Go and prepare. I will personally go to the Northern Yan royal court to see Murong Han. I will also go to the grassland royal tent to see Arutai. We will talk and sign in person."

"Your Highness, this is too dangerous! What if they detain you..."

"They wouldn't dare," Xiao Chen said with certainty. "If they detain me, Han Yuan will surely rebel. Then, Northern Yan and the grasslands will have to face a Han Yuan who has gone mad. They can't afford it."

"Can……"

"Execute the command."

"……yes!"

Zhao Tie and Wang Dashan accepted the order and left, but their faces were filled with worry.

Xiao Chen knew what they were worried about.

But he knew even more that this was the only way out.

To defend is to die.

Attacking offers a glimmer of hope.

That afternoon, Xiao Chen began preparations.

He instructed Han Lie to prepare gifts: 10,000 catties of refined salt, 1,000 catties of refined iron, 10,000 catties of coal, ten Cold Abyss Blades, ten hard bows, and 1,000 arrows. These were for Northern Yan.

The grasslands received the same things, but with an extra hundred bolts of cloth and a hundred jars of wine.

"Your Highness, this gift... is too much." Han Lie said with heartache.

"You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub," Xiao Chen said. "Besides, these gifts can be exchanged for something more important."

"What?"

"Time and space."

With the gifts prepared, Xiao Chen wrote another letter and asked Night Owl to send it to his father, the Emperor, in the capital as quickly as possible.

The letter contained very simple information:

"Your subject is in the northern border, uniting with Northern Yan and the grasslands to resist the Prince of Yong. This is not out of rebellion, but out of self-preservation. If the court trusts your subject, your subject is willing to guard the northern border for Your Majesty and never cause chaos again. If the court does not trust your subject, your subject can only... declare himself king."

This letter is both a showdown and a threat.

Either acknowledge my position, or watch the North become independent.

Xiao Chen believed that his father would make the right choice.

Because the current court is dominated by the powerful Prince Yong, the emperor needs someone to check and balance him, and Xiao Chen is the best candidate.

After sending the letter, Xiao Chen led a hundred Cangyun cavalrymen to the Northern Yan royal court.

He didn't conceal his whereabouts; instead, he made a big show of it. Along the way, he entered cities and towns whenever he encountered one. Wherever he went, he proclaimed, "The Northern Yan, the Grasslands, and the Cold Abyss have formed an alliance to jointly protect the peace of the northern border."

The news spread like wildfire throughout the North.

The people were skeptical, but they all breathed a sigh of relief—if an alliance could really be formed, war would not break out.

At the Northern Yan royal court, Murong Han received the news, his face darkening.

"This Xiao Chen, what audacity!" he said to his advisor. "He's putting me in a very difficult position. To ally with him is to make an enemy of the Great Xia. To not ally with him is to break faith with the world. Moreover, if I detain him after he spreads this around, I will be a traitor and be condemned by the world."

The strategist bowed and said, "Your Highness, since he has come, why not meet him and hear what he has to say before making a decision?"

"That's all we can do."

Three days later, Xiao Chen arrived at the Northern Yan royal court.

Murong Han received him in the royal tent with high honors and meticulous etiquette, but the atmosphere was subtle.

"Your Highness Jingbei has come a long way and must be tired," Murong Han said calmly, sitting in the main seat.

"You're too kind, Left Wise King." Xiao Chen said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I've come here today to formally form an alliance with you, Left Wise King."

"Oh? How does the alliance work?"

"The Three Kingdoms Alliance," Xiao Chen said. "Northern Yan, the Grasslands, and Han Yuan shall become brotherly states. We shall not invade or interfere with each other, but shall exchange goods and resources. The White Water River shall be the boundary; the river north of it belongs to Northern Yan, and the river south belongs to Han Yuan. The tribes of the Grasslands shall not move south. If any foreign enemy attacks, the three kingdoms shall unite to resist it."

"An external enemy? Who?"

"Prince Yong," Xiao Chen said bluntly, "Prince Yong wants to destroy Hanyuan, and he also wants to destroy Beiyan. If he destroys Hanyuan, Beiyan will be next. Therefore, we are interdependent; if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold."

Murong Han remained silent for a moment.

"Your Highness is right. But if, after the alliance is formed, Prince Yong uses this as an excuse to join forces with the court to attack Northern Yan, what will Your Highness do?"

"If Prince Yong dares to come, Han Yuan will definitely send troops to help him." Xiao Chen said decisively. "Moreover, I can assure the Left Wise King that I will never march south in my lifetime. Han Yuan's troops will only guard the northern border and will not attempt to invade the Central Plains."

These words are both a statement and a promise.

I won't fight you for the throne, and you shouldn't mess with me. Let's join forces and take care of Prince Yong first.

Murong Han was moved.

He wasn't actually afraid of Prince Yong; what he feared was Prince Yong uniting with the court to launch a pincer attack from the north and south. If Han Yuan could restrain Prince Yong, the pressure on Northern Yan would be much less.

"Very well." Murong Han finally nodded. "I hereby conclude this alliance. But the alliance must be made public and announced to the world. Everyone must know that Northern Yan and Han Yuan are brothers."

"That suits me perfectly," Xiao Chen said.

The treaty was signed that day.

Murong Han, the Left Wise King of Northern Yan, and Xiao Chen, the Prince of Hanyuan Jingbei, swore an oath of brotherhood by the Baishui River.

The news sent shockwaves throughout the world.

Prince Yong smashed a cup in the capital, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Upon hearing the news, Arughtai of the grasslands sent men overnight to also seek an alliance.

Thus, the alliance of the three kingdoms was formally established.

The Northern Yan, the grasslands, and the Cold Abyss formed an alliance to jointly protect the northern border.

Encircled from three sides, they became a triangular alliance.

The crisis in Hanyuan has been temporarily averted.

But Xiao Chen knew that this alliance was fragile.

Once a conflict of interest arises, the relationship could break down at any time.

Therefore, Han Yuan must take advantage of this time to develop rapidly.

So powerful that even allies dare not betray them.

So powerful that enemies dare not covet it.

On the way back to Hanyuan, Xiao Chen said to Zhao Tie, "From today onwards, Hanyuan will enter a state of war. We will prepare for war with all our might and develop with all our might. I want to make Hanyuan the strongest force in the Northern Territory within a year."

"yes!"

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen gazed into the distance, "send people to Jiangnan, to Sichuan, to every place they can go, to recruit refugees, to recruit artisans, to recruit scholars. Hanyuan needs people, a lot of people, to grow stronger."

"yes!"

"Tell Old Man Han that the Ministry of Works needs to expand its recruitment and research new weapons. Tell Uncle Chen that farmland needs to be expanded and yields increased. Tell Wang Dashan that the army needs to be expanded and training strengthened. Tell Murong Xue that the schools need to be expanded and more literate and reasonable people need to be taught."

With each command issued, the machine that was Han Yuan began to operate at full speed.

The crisis of being surrounded on three sides has been transformed into a driving force for development.

Xiao Chen stood atop the northern border.

But he knew this was not the end.

Prince Yong will not give up, the court will not sit idly by, and Northern Yan and the grasslands will not remain peaceful forever.

The real challenge is yet to come.

But he wasn't afraid.

Because Han Yuan has already stood up.

Moreover, it will stand higher and higher.