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

When news of the alliance between Hanyuan, Beiyan, and the grasslands reached the capital, the imperial court was in an uproar.

In the Taiji Hall, civil and military officials lined up on both sides, but today's focus was not on the emperor on the dragon throne, but on Prince Yong, Xiao Jing, standing on the steps.

"Father!"

Xiao Jing's voice was filled with grief and indignation as he held up a memorial to the throne. "Seventh Prince, in the Northern Border, colluded with Northern Yan and the Grasslands, secretly forming an alliance. This is treason! This is rebellion! If he is not severely punished, where is the law of the land? Where is the majesty of Heaven?"

He knelt down and raised the memorial with both hands.

The eunuch took it and presented it to the emperor.

Emperor Xiao Yan is fifty-three years old this year, but looks like he is over sixty.

His face was pale and his eyes were sunken, a result of years of indulgence in sex and elixirs.

He took the memorial, flipped through it, and then put it down.

"I have also read the seventh prince's memorial."

Xiao Yan's voice was somewhat weak. "He said that the alliance was for self-preservation and to check the Prince of Yong. He also said that if the court trusted him, he was willing to guard the northern border forever and never rebel. If the court did not trust him, he could only... declare himself king."

The last four words struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

He declared himself king.

This is an open threat.

"Father!"

Xiao Jing suddenly looked up. "This is blackmail! This is a coup! The Seventh Prince has amassed a powerful army in the Northern Border and is now colluding with foreign enemies. His intentions are despicable! Your subject requests permission to send troops to punish the rebels and uphold the law!"

"I second that proposal!"

The Minister of War stepped forward, saying, "The Prince of Jingbei has secretly allied with foreign powers, which is tantamount to rebellion. If we do not punish him, all the regional warlords in the land will follow suit, and where will the imperial authority be?"

"I second that proposal!"

"I second that opinion!"

Members of Prince Yong's faction stepped forward and knelt down in droves.

But another group of people didn't move.

Led by Zhang Qian, the Vice Minister of War, and several other censors and officials, they stood there in silence.

Xiao Yan looked at them.

"Minister Zhang, what do you think?"

Zhang Qian stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that what Prince Yong said makes some sense. However, it is indeed not easy for Prince Jingbei in the northern border. The northern border is bitterly cold, and the people are suffering. Prince Jingbei was able to bring Hanyuan back to life in just a few months, allowing the people to live and work in peace. This is a great achievement. As for the matter of forming an alliance..."

He paused, then continued, "Northern Yan and the grasslands are both external threats. The Prince of Jingbei's alliance with them may be for self-preservation or to maintain a balance of power, and it is not necessarily treason. Moreover, the Prince of Jingbei stated in his letter that he is willing to guard the northern border forever and never rebel. This is a heart of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, and Your Majesty should understand this clearly."

"Minister Zhang, you are mistaken!" a member of Prince Yong's faction stepped forward. "Forming an alliance is treason! What self-preservation, what checks and balances, are all excuses! Prince Jingbei is clearly hoarding troops and plotting rebellion!"

"Then what does Lord Li think we should do?" Zhang Qian countered. "Send troops to attack? The northern border is three thousand miles from the capital. Where will the provisions and soldiers come from for such a long expedition? Moreover, the Prince of Jingbei has allied with Northern Yan and the grasslands. If the court sends troops, Northern Yan and the grasslands will surely come to the rescue. At that time, it will be a three-way coalition against the court. Does the court... have a sure chance of victory?"

Lord Li choked.

Everyone knows the current situation of the imperial court.

To the north, the Northern Yan dynasty looms menacingly; to the west, the Qiang people are restless and ready to rebel; and to the south, local chieftains are causing trouble. The national treasury is empty, and the army is exhausted. If a war were to break out, victory is not guaranteed.

"Then... then let's just leave it at that?" Another member of the Yongwang faction was unwilling to give up.

"It's not about giving up, it's about taking a more gradual approach," Zhang Qian said. "Your Majesty can issue an edict to commend Prince Jingbei for his meritorious service in securing the border, bestowing upon him gold and silk, and granting him a new title. At the same time, send an imperial envoy to inspect the northern border and investigate the situation. If Prince Jingbei is indeed rebellious, it will not be too late to launch a campaign against him. If Prince Jingbei's loyalty is evident, then the court will gain a capable general, and the northern border will gain a protective shield. This is a win-win solution."

Xiao Yan remained silent, lost in thought.

He didn't actually want to fight.

War requires money, manpower, and even death. He's getting old and just wants to live a few more comfortable days in peace. As long as the seventh prince's antics in the northern border don't threaten his throne, he can't be bothered with them.

But the fourth brother disagreed.

"Father!" Xiao Jing spoke again, "Minister Zhang is raising a tiger to cause future trouble! The Seventh Prince only has one city now, yet he dares to be so arrogant. If he grows too powerful, he will become a major threat! It will be much harder to deal with him then!"

Xiao Yan frowned.

This is also what he's worried about.

The seventh brother is only sixteen years old, yet he already possesses such abilities. In a few more years, when he's fully grown and powerful, he might truly become uncontrollable.

"Your Majesty," the prime minister, who had remained silent until now, spoke up, "This old minister believes that what Prince Yong and Vice Minister Zhang said is reasonable. However, in matters of state, stability should be the priority. How about this: Your Majesty can issue an edict summoning Prince Jingbei back to the capital to report on his duties. If he is willing to come, it proves that he has nothing to hide, and the court can reward him handsomely to appease him. If he is unwilling to come..."

The prime minister paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Then they have a guilty conscience, and the court will have a perfectly legitimate reason to send troops to punish them again."

Xiao Chen was summoned back to the capital.

this is a good idea.

If it arrives, detain it and deal with it slowly.

If they do not come, it will be considered disobeying the imperial decree, and the court will have a reason to punish them.

"Good idea." Xiao Yan nodded. "Draft an edict to summon Prince Jingbei, Xiao Chen, back to the capital immediately to report on his duties. In addition, bestow upon Xiao Chen the title of 'Prince Zhenbei,' and grant him a thousand taels of gold and a hundred bolts of brocade as a sign of imperial favor."

Prince Zhenbei.

This means he has been promoted from a prince to a prince.

But everyone knows that this is a sugar-coated bullet.

"Father is wise!" Although Xiao Jing was dissatisfied, he could only accept it.

At the very least, if the seventh prince dares to defy the imperial decree, then there is a reason to take action.

The imperial edict was issued that very day, sent by express courier over an 800-li journey straight to the northern border.

When the news reached Han Yuan, Xiao Chen was reviewing the trials of a new batch of Han Yuan Blades.

"Your Highness, the imperial edict has arrived." Zhao Tie rushed in, "You are summoned back to the capital to report on your duties, and you are also granted the title of Prince of Zhenbei."

Xiao Chen put down his sword, took the imperial edict, looked at it, and smiled.

"What a fine 'Prince Zhenbei'! Prince Yong is impatient and trying to force me to come to the capital."

"Your Highness, you can't go!" Wang Dashan cried out urgently. "The capital is a den of dragons and tigers; if you go, you'll never come back!"

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

Xiao Chen didn't speak, he just looked at the imperial edict.

"Your Highness, let's... let's defy the imperial decree," Zhao Tie gritted his teeth. "Let's say the northern border is unstable, and Your Highness cannot leave the town. If Prince Yong dares to come, we'll fight!"

"Defy the imperial decree?" Xiao Chen shook his head. "Defying the imperial decree would give Prince Yong a reason to mobilize his troops. He's probably hoping I'll defy the decree so he can launch a legitimate attack."

"Then... what should we do?"

"Go," Xiao Chen said.

"Your Highness!"

"But I won't go alone." A glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. "I'll take the Cold Abyss Guards, the Azure Cloud Cavalry, and envoys from Northern Yan and the grasslands with me. I want the whole world to see how I, Xiao Chen, enter the capital."

"Bringing an army into the capital?" Everyone was startled. "This...this is an attempt to force the emperor to abdicate!"

"It's not a coup, it's self-preservation," Xiao Chen said calmly. "If I lead troops into the capital, Prince Yong won't dare to touch me. My father won't dare to touch me either. Because if he does, the northern border will be in chaos, and Northern Yan and the grasslands will rebel. They can't bear that responsibility."

"But...but leading troops into the capital is a capital offense!"

"So we can't bring too many," Xiao Chen said. "Just one hundred. One hundred Cold Abyss Guards are enough. Any more than that, and it would truly be a rebellion."

One hundred people.

Although few in number, they are all elites.

Moreover, these one hundred people represent Han Yuan's attitude.

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen added, "have the Left Wise King of Northern Yan send an envoy, and the Azure Wolf Tribe of the Grasslands also send an envoy, to accompany me. Tell them that the three kingdoms of the Northern Territory are allied and wish the Emperor of Great Xia a long life. These are envoys for congratulations, not troops, so the court has no reason to stop them."

Everyone suddenly realized.

The prince intends to use the power of Northern Yan and the grasslands to pressure the imperial court.

With envoys from the three allied kingdoms arriving in the capital together, the court had to think twice. To harm Xiao Chen would mean offending all three kingdoms—a consequence the court could not afford.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Zhao Tie exclaimed.

"Go and prepare," Xiao Chen said. "We'll depart in ten days. These one hundred men need the best equipment and the best horses. I want the people of the capital to see what Han Yuan's soldiers are like."

"yes!"

"Also, send letters to Northern Yan and the grasslands, asking them to send envoys. Tell them that this is a good opportunity to demonstrate the power of the Three Kingdoms alliance, and they shouldn't mess things up."

"yes!"

Once the order was given, the entire Cold Abyss sprang into action.

The one hundred Cold Abyss Guards were handpicked from three thousand men. Each was equipped with a Cold Abyss Blade, a sturdy bow, leather armor, and a small round shield. Their horses were fine steeds from the grasslands, tall and magnificent, sent by the Azure Wolf Tribe.

The envoy from Northern Yan was Tuoba Hong, while the envoy from the grasslands was Arughtai's younger brother, Aguda. Each of them brought twenty guards, all of whom were elite troops.

Ten days later, a team of 140 people set off from Hanyuan and headed south to the capital.

Although the team was small, its momentum was astonishing.

The Han Yuan Guards, clad in black armor, stood silently as mountains. The envoys from Northern Yan and the grasslands, dressed in fine clothes, exuded an air of extraordinary presence. Along the way, local officials dared not neglect them, coming out of their cities to greet them and provide food and lodging.

The news quickly reached the capital.

"What? Seventh Prince came with envoys from Northern Yan and the grasslands?" Xiao Yan asked in the imperial study, his face grim.

"Yes," the eunuch bowed and said, "The Prince of Jingbei has brought a hundred guards, while the Northern Yan and the grasslands have each brought twenty guards. They say they are envoys from the Three Kingdoms Alliance, here to congratulate Your Majesty on your birthday."

"Long live the Emperor? My birthday is still six months away!" Xiao Yan roared. "That's an excuse! A blatant threat!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down," the prime minister advised. "Since you're here, let's meet them. It'll be a good opportunity to see if this three-nation alliance is truly genuine."

"See him? How?" Xiao Yan pointed at the report. "He brought a hundred guards! This is an attempt to force the emperor to abdicate!"

"A hundred men are nothing; they can't cause any trouble," the prime minister said. "The capital has 100,000 imperial guards. What can a hundred men do? Your Majesty can take this opportunity to see the true strength of the Prince of Jingbei, as well as the attitudes of Northern Yan and the grasslands."

Xiao Yan remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Issue an imperial decree summoning the Prince of Jingbei... to the capital. However, he may only bring twenty guards; the rest must remain outside the city. Envoys from Northern Yan and the grasslands may bring ten men."

"Yes."

The imperial decree was issued, and Xiao Chen received it outside the city.

"Your Highness, what should we do?" Zhao Tie asked in a low voice.

"Do as ordered." Xiao Chen said calmly. "I will take twenty men into the city, and you will stay outside. But remember, if I don't come out in three days, you will attack the city."

"Attack the city?" Zhao Tie was startled.

"Yes, attack the city." A cold glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. "No need for a real attack, just make a show of it. As long as the imperial court knows that Han Yuan's troops are outside the city, they won't dare to touch me."

"yes!"

The next day, Xiao Chen led twenty Hanyuan Guards, Tuoba Hong led ten Northern Yan Guards, and Aguda led ten Grassland Guards, a total of forty people, into the capital.

We've arrived in the capital.

But the turmoil in the imperial court had only just begun.