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

Less than three days after the notice announcing the expansion of the saltworks in Hanyuan was posted, crowds began to flock there.

Not tens or hundreds, but tens of thousands.

As dawn broke, a dense crowd of people surged onto the official road east of the city.

They were carrying the elderly and children, with their families in tow, dressed in rags, their faces pale and emaciated.

They came from Dingbei Pass in the south, from the wilderness in the west, and even from the more distant Jiangnan and Central Plains.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Uncle Chen practically stumbled into the courtroom, crying, "More...more people! This time even more, at least five thousand!"

Xiao Chen put down the military report in his hand and walked up to the city wall.

Below the city walls stretched an endless sea of ​​people.

They were densely packed, like a migrating swarm of ants. Cries, pleas, and the wails of children blended together, deafeningly loud.

"Where did it come from?" he asked.

"I asked, and they all came from the south fleeing famine."

Chen Bo gasped for breath, "There was a great flood in Jiangnan, inundating more than a dozen prefectures and counties, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. The imperial relief grain was delayed, and countless people starved to death. Those who couldn't survive fled north. And in the Central Plains, there was a locust plague, and crops failed, so people also fled north."

Natural disasters and man-made calamities are always the catalysts for the emergence of refugees.

Xiao Chen looked at the desperate eyes below the city and felt a heavy weight in his heart.

Han Yuan currently has 12,000 people, and the food supply is barely enough.

If another 5,000 people flood in, there definitely won't be enough food. And where will they live? Where will they work? How will we maintain order?

"Open the city gates and let them in," he said.

"Your Highness!" Uncle Chen cried out anxiously, "Our grain..."

"If we don't have enough grain, we'll buy it or exchange it."

Xiao Chen interrupted him, "The expansion of the salt fields and the increase in coal mine production both require people. These people are labor, they are wealth, not a burden."

Let them in, register them, and send those with skills to the workshops.

Those with strength, go to the mines. Those who know nothing, go clear the land. The Cold Abyss can afford it.

"But……"

"No buts."

Xiao Chen turned to Zhao Tie and said, "Have the Han Yuan Guard maintain order. The elderly, children, and women should enter the city first, and the able-bodied should enter last. Anyone who dares to cause trouble will be dealt with according to military law."

"yes!"

The city gates opened, and refugees poured in like a tide.

The staff of the Civil Affairs Department were extremely busy, and even after setting up twenty registration tents, it still wasn't enough.

Name, age, place of origin, special skills, number of family members, all recorded.

Then they issued temporary identity cards, which entitled the holders to a bowl of thin porridge and two steamed buns.

"Don't rush, line up, everyone gets a share!"

"Register first, then collect your grain rations!"

"Elderly people and children, come this way!"

Despite the large number of people, the event was orderly.

Soldiers from the Cold Abyss Guard, spears in hand, patrolled the crowd, their eyes cold. No one dared to cause trouble.

Registration continued from early morning until late at night.

The final count was 5,321 people.

With the original population added, the total population of Hanyuan exceeded 17,000.

But it's not over yet.

The next day, more than 3,000 people arrived.

On the third day, there were more than two thousand people.

On the fourth day, there were more than a thousand people.

By the tenth day, the total population of Hanyuan officially exceeded 25,000.

Twenty-five thousand people.

Three months ago, there were only 10,000 people here.

Three months later, it became a medium-sized city.

Hanyuan truly became one of the major cities in the Northern Territory.

But with more people comes more problems.

First is accommodation.

Although an outer city was built before, it only had 10,000 mud-brick houses, which was the limit for cramming 10,000 people into it.

Now another 15,000 people have poured in, and there's simply not enough room for them all.

Many people have no choice but to sleep on the streets or under the eaves.

Although the weather is getting warmer, it is still chilly in the spring, and it is cold at night.

Secondly, there's food.

Twenty-five thousand people consume three hundred bushels of grain per day.

Although Hanyuan has 50,000 shi of grain, it's only enough to last five months. And that's based on the bare minimum.

Next is order.

With more people, things become more chaotic.

Theft, fighting, and robbery occur frequently.

Although the security team patrols day and night, it is impossible to prevent all threats.

"Your Highness, we must think of a solution."

Han Lie held the account book, his face full of worry. "We only have enough food for four months. There aren't enough houses, and half the people are sleeping on the streets. If this continues, there's bound to be chaos."

Xiao Chen stood in front of the sand table, looking at the model of Hanyuan City.

The city is square, measuring four li from east to west and three li from north to south.

Officials, soldiers, and artisans lived in the inner city, while ordinary people lived in the outer city.

The inner and outer cities are now full, and further expansion is necessary.

"Expand," he said.

"Expand further?"

Han Lie smiled wryly, "Your Highness, we've already expanded it once. If we expand it again, the city wall will be too long to defend."

"Do not expand the city walls, but expand the markets and neighborhoods."

Xiao Chen pointed to the sand table, "Build another 'new district' outside the outer city."

Instead of building city walls, they built houses, workshops, and markets.

Separated by roads and enclosed by fences, it serves as a residential area in peacetime and a buffer zone in wartime.

"Will this... will this work?"

"It can be done."

Xiao Chen was very confident. "Uncle Chen, you'll be in charge of the planning. The new district should be square, the streets should be straight, and drainage ditches and firebreaks should be provided. Houses should be built in blocks, ten households per block, and one hundred households per li. Each block should have a well, a public toilet, and a fire pit."

"Yes……"

"Old Han, you're in charge of the materials: bricks, tiles, lime, and timber. Double the size of the brick kiln and the lime kiln. Cut timber from the mountain, but leave a firebreak; don't cut the mountain bare."

"yes!"

"Wang Dashan, you're in charge of security. Expand the security team to one thousand men, patrolling day and night. Anyone who commits a crime will be severely punished. Anyone who engages in fighting will be severely punished. In times of emergency, we must use severe measures."

"yes!"

"Zhao Tie, you're in charge of recruitment. Select able-bodied men from the refugees to form an engineering team. Dig soil, mix mud, build walls, and transport materials. Work points will be doubled, and meals will be provided. Those who do a good job will be given priority for housing."

"yes!"

As orders were issued, the entire Cold Abyss came to a standstill.

The next day, the new district project commenced.

More than 20,000 people were divided into 200 engineering teams.

Each team consists of one hundred people and is responsible for a section of street or a group of houses.

The tools were readily available—there was plenty left over from expanding the saltworks.

The materials were readily available—brick kilns and lime kilns operated day and night.

The construction site was bustling with activity.

The men, shirtless, dug the foundation, mixed the mud, and built the brick walls.

The women boiled water, cooked, and transported materials.

The elderly and children were also busy, collecting pebbles, paving roads, and planting saplings.

Xiao Chen also went down to the construction site, rolled up his sleeves, and worked alongside the people.

If even the prince is like this, who would dare to slack off?

The project is progressing rapidly.

On the first day, the foundation was dug.

On the third day, the first batch of houses was completed. Although they were just mud houses, they could provide shelter from the wind and rain.

On the fifth day, the street was completed and the drainage ditches were dug.

On the tenth day, the new district began to take shape. Rows of houses stood, roads crisscrossed, and wells, public toilets, and fire pits were all available.

More than 20,000 people moved into their new homes.

Although it was cramped and simple, at least we had a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and a home to settle down in.

The people were overjoyed and spontaneously organized themselves to celebrate moving to their new home.

Standing on the inner city wall, Xiao Chen looked at the myriad lights of the new district and felt a surge of pride.

In three months, the income increased from 10,000 to 25,000.

Han Yuan has truly stood up.

"Your Highness," Uncle Fu said excitedly, holding the latest household register, "the latest statistics show that Hanyuan has a total population of 25,837. Among them, there are 9,200 able-bodied adults and more than 16,600 elderly people, children, and women."

Twenty-five thousand people.

Xiao Chen took a deep breath.

With these 25,000 people, Han Yuan had a foundation.

With these 25,000 people, he can do much more.

"Pass on the order," he said to the crowd behind him, "starting tomorrow, Han Yuan will implement a new policy."

"A new policy?"

"right."

Xiao Chen nodded. "First, land reform. All landless peasants will be allocated land according to the number of people. Each person will receive three mu (approximately 0.2 hectares), which will be their permanent property. However, they may not buy or sell the land, nor may they abandon it. Those who abandon their land will have their land confiscated."

"Second, household registration reform."

Everyone was re-registered and organized into households. Ten households formed a "jia," ten jia formed a "li," and ten li formed a "fang." A system of mutual responsibility and supervision was implemented.

Third, tax system reform.

All miscellaneous taxes are abolished, leaving only land tax and commercial tax. Land tax is 1/10, and commercial tax is 1/20. Newly reclaimed land is exempt from tax for three years. Immigrants are exempt from tax for the first year.

Fourth, military system reform.

The Fubing system was implemented. All men aged sixteen to fifty were required to register. They farmed during agricultural seasons, trained during slack seasons, and served as soldiers during wartime. During their service, they were exempt from taxes and corvée labor.

Four new policies, each one significant.

Everyone was deeply moved.

This is the true strategy for governing a country.

"Your Highness," Wang Dashan couldn't help but ask, "can you afford to support 25,000 people?"

"able."

Xiao Chen was certain, "Hanyuan has coal, iron, salt, and horses. These things can all be exchanged for money and grain. Moreover, with more people, productivity will be higher. Clearing land, farming, mining, and working can all create wealth. As long as it is managed properly, 25,000 people will not be a burden, but an asset."

Everyone was convinced.

What the prince says is always right.

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen added, "starting tomorrow, Hanyuan Academy will expand its enrollment. It will accept not only children but also adults. Children will attend school during the day, and adults will receive literacy training at night. I want Hanyuan to be a place where no one is blind."

"yes!"

"The clinic should also be expanded. Build one in the inner and outer city and one in the new district, equipped with enough doctors and medicine. I want Hanyuan to be a place where no one can't afford medical treatment."

"yes!"

"The Bureau of Works should continue to expand its recruitment. It should not only manufacture agricultural tools and weapons, but also research new technologies. I want Han Yuan to always be at the forefront of the Northern Frontier."

"yes!"

Each order, like a seed, was sown into the soil of the frigid abyss.

Xiao Chen believed that as long as these seeds were nurtured with care, they would eventually grow into towering trees.

At that time, Han Yuan will not only be the pearl of the North, but also the true king of this land.

But that very night, the owl brought bad news.

"Your Highness, there's been some activity in Jiangnan."

Zhao Tie's expression was grave. "When Liu Jin heard that the Prince of Yong had fallen, he not only didn't restrain himself, but intensified his actions. He secretly contacted several powerful families in Jiangnan, preparing to launch a rebellion. His pretext was... to purge the court of corrupt officials and eliminate Xiao Chen."

Purge the court of corrupt officials and execute Xiao Chen.

What a big hat!

"Furthermore," Zhao Tie continued, "Liu Jin sent people to contact the Japanese pirates and agreed to launch an uprising in the autumn. The Japanese pirates would attack from the sea, while he would attack from the land, launching a pincer attack from the north and south, and heading straight for the capital. After the success, he would cede the three provinces south of the Yangtze River to the Japanese pirates, and he would declare himself emperor."

Selling out one's country for personal gain is like inviting a wolf into the house.

This Liu Jin is even more hateful than Prince Yong.

Is the news reliable?

"It's reliable; it was reported by Night Owl's informant within Liu Jin's inner circle. Liu Jin has secretly trained 30,000 private soldiers, well-equipped. The Japanese pirates have also agreed to send 5,000 troops, all elite."

Thirty thousand private soldiers, plus five thousand Japanese pirates, make a total of thirty-five thousand people.

Add to that the local garrison in Jiangnan; if they all side with Liu Jin, that would amount to an army of 100,000.

An army of 100,000 men would be enough to sweep across Jiangnan and threaten the capital.

"Your Highness, what should we do?" Wang Dashan asked.

"What should we do?"

Xiao Chen sneered, "If he wants to rebel, I'll quell it. If he wants to invite a wolf into the house, I'll trap it and beat it. Issue the order: prepare for war. Three months from now, I'm heading south to Jiangnan to meet this Liu Jin."

"yes!"

Han Yuan has entered a state of full combat readiness.

These 25,000 refugees will become the most important source of soldiers and labor in this war.