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

Seven days after the temple fair ended, the first rain of autumn fell in Hanyuan City.

The rain was light, just a light drizzle, but the chill was penetrating to the bone.

The people stayed indoors, watching the rain outside the window, but their hearts were warmed—the autumn harvest had been stored, the shadow of the plague was gradually fading, and life seemed to be back on track.

But Xiao Chen stood on the city wall, looking at the city wall that was slightly blurred in the rain, his brows furrowed.

The walls of Hanyuan were expanded on the foundation of the earthen walls left by Scarface Liu.

It is two zhang high and one zhang thick, made of rammed adobe bricks, with a layer of lime plastered on the outside.

It's fine for dealing with small groups of bandits, but if a large army comes to attack, such a city wall won't hold.

"Your Highness," Wang Dashan said, walking over in a raincoat, "the rain is getting heavier, let's go back inside."

Xiao Chen didn't move, pointing to the city wall: "This wall needs to be rebuilt."

"Rebuild?"

Wang Dashan was taken aback. "Your Highness, this wall was only built less than six months ago..."

"Not sturdy enough."

Xiao Chen said, "Look over there, the rain washes away the plaster. And over there, the corners are cracked. Walls like that can't stop catapults, battering rams, or gunpowder."

Gunpowder was not yet widely used in this era, but Xiao Chen knew it would come sooner or later.

Moreover, although the Northern Yan and the grasslands did not have gunpowder, they had battering rams, catapults, and sufficient brute force.

A truly fortified city must be built.

"How does Your Highness wish to have it repaired?"

"Use bricks."

Xiao Chen said, "Use blue bricks and glutinous rice mortar to build the walls. The walls should be four zhang high and three zhang thick, with parapets, ramparts, corner towers, and barbicans—nothing can be missing. We also need to dig a moat and draw water from the White Water River to fill it. I want Hanyuan City to become the most fortified fortress in the northern border, so that all invading enemies will sigh in despair at the sight of the city."

It is four zhang high and three zhang thick, built of blue bricks, and has a moat.

Such city walls are among the best in northern border towns.

But the cost...

"Your Highness, how much will this cost?" Wang Dashan couldn't figure it out.

Money is not a problem.

Xiao Chen said, "The saltworks can produce 300,000 catties of salt a month. Each catty of salt sells for 50 wen, which is 15,000 taels. The coal mine produces 200,000 cartloads of coal a month. Each cartload of coal sells for 100 wen, which is 20,000 taels. Add to that the profits from ironware, horses, and cloth, and we can earn 50,000 taels a month. That's enough to build the city wall."

Fifty thousand taels a month.

This number made Wang Dashan gasp in shock.

He knew Han Yuan was rich, but he didn't expect him to be this rich.

"But...building the city wall requires manpower and time. The autumn harvest has just ended, and the people are free now, so there are enough people. But it's getting cold, and the ground is frozen, so it's not easy to start work."

"Then let's start now," Xiao Chen said decisively. "While the ground isn't frozen solid, while the people still have their strength, and before the enemy arrives. I want to see the city wall completed in three months."

"Three months?" Wang Dashan smiled wryly. "Your Highness, this..."

"It's feasible," Xiao Chen said. "Hanyuan currently has 25,000 people. Excluding the elderly, weak, women, and children, at least 15,000 can contribute. Divided into three shifts, working day and night, three months should be enough."

"Yes……"

"In addition," Xiao Chen added, "have the Construction Department rush to make a batch of wheelbarrows to transport soil and bricks, which will save a lot of manpower. Also, build a few lime kilns to burn lime and make glutinous rice paste. Furthermore, go to Beiyan and the grasslands to buy cattle and horses to pull carts and transport materials."

"yes!"

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

Building city walls is a major undertaking, and also a good thing.

With work comes food and money. When the people heard that the city wall was to be repaired, they were eager to sign up, as the work points were doubled and meals were provided. All 15,000 slots were filled in just one day.

The project commenced the following day.

Xiao Chen divided the city wall into twelve sections, each one li long, and assigned a team to each section. The team leader was a veteran of the Hanyuan Guard, and the supervisor was an official from the Civil Affairs Department. Materials were centrally allocated, and progress was uniformly assessed.

The construction site was bustling with activity.

Those digging the foundation, those transporting the soil, those firing bricks, those burning lime, those mixing mortar, and those building the walls—each performed their duties in an orderly manner.

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

Digging the foundation was the hardest part; each strike of the pickaxe left only a white mark on the frozen ground. But no one complained, because the prince was digging too. When the prince's hands were blistered, he wrapped them in a cloth and kept digging. When the prince's feet were frozen, he stamped them and kept digging.

With a prince like this, what reason is there not to fight desperately?

The project is progressing rapidly.

On the first day, the foundation was dug.

On the third day, the first layer of bricks was completed.

On the fifth day, the second layer of bricks was completed.

On the tenth day, the city wall had been built to a height of one zhang (approximately 3.3 meters).

But then a problem arises.

We're running out of bricks.

The original brick kilns in Hanyuan produced only 10,000 bricks a day. Building such a city wall would require 100,000 bricks a day. Ten times the demand, and the brick kilns couldn't keep up.

"Expand the brick kilns," Xiao Chen said to Han Lie. "Build ten more brick kilns and increase production to 100,000 bricks per day. You decide how many people, how much coal, and how much soil are needed."

"yes!"

The brick kiln was expanded, but new problems arose.

There isn't enough coal.

Making bricks requires coal, and good coal at that. Although the coal mines in Hanyuan have a large output, the good coal is used for iron smelting and heating, not all of it for making bricks.

"Let's go to Beiyan to buy coal," Xiao Chen said. "Beiyan's coal isn't as good as ours, but it's enough for making bricks. We can trade it for salt—one pound of salt for ten pounds of coal. They'll definitely agree."

"yes!"

The coal problem was solved, but new problems arose.

We're running out of glutinous rice.

Glutinous rice mortar is crucial for building the city walls. Glutinous rice is boiled into a paste, mixed with lime and sand, and after drying, it becomes harder than stone. However, Hanyuan does not produce glutinous rice; the rice stored there was obtained through trade with Jiangnan, and its quantity was limited.

"Go to Jiangnan to buy it," Xiao Chen said. "Isn't Liu Jin rebelling? The trade routes to Jiangnan are cut off, but there must still be transactions in secret. Have Night Owl find a way to smuggle the glutinous rice over. Double the price, cash settlement."

"yes!"

The problem with glutinous rice was solved, but a new problem arose.

We don't have enough people.

Although 15,000 people were working, building the city wall was physically demanding, and many people collapsed from exhaustion. Moreover, as the weather grew colder, more and more people suffered from frostbite.

"Shift work," Xiao Chen said. "Three shifts a day, four hours each. Work one day, rest one day. Anyone who is injured or sick will be relieved immediately and sent to the clinic for treatment. Work points will still be paid, and meals will be provided."

"yes!"

Although the shift system slightly reduced efficiency, it greatly reduced the strain on human resources. Those who were injured or sick received timely treatment and were able to return to work quickly.

And so, stumbling and struggling, the city wall grew taller little by little.

A month later, the city wall was built to a height of two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters).

Two months later, it grew to be three zhang tall.

Three months later, it grew to be four zhang tall.

The last section of the city wall is at the East Gate.

The wind was biting cold that day, but the sun shone brightly. Xiao Chen stood on the East Gate tower, watching the last blue brick being laid on the wall, and a great sense of accomplishment welled up in his heart.

"Your Highness, the dragon has joined together!" Wang Dashan shouted excitedly.

"It's closed! It's closed!" The people at the construction site cheered with joy.

The city wall, four zhang high and three zhang thick, made of blue bricks, resembles a giant dragon, encircling Hanyuan City. Parapets, ramparts, corner towers, and barbicans are all present. Outside the city wall is a moat three zhang wide and two zhang deep, with the water of the Baishui River flowing slowly, shimmering in the sunlight.

Such a city is enough to deter any enemy.

"Open the city gates!" Xiao Chen ordered.

The east gate slowly opened, and the drawbridge was lowered, spanning the moat.

The people poured out of the city, their eyes filled with pride as they looked at the fortified city they had built with their own hands.

This is their city, their home, their pride.

"Long live the Prince!"

"Long live Han Yuan!"

The cheers were deafening.

Xiao Chen smiled too.

In three months, it transformed from an earthen city into a fortified city.

Han Yuan has truly stood up.

"Your Highness," Zhao Tie hurried over, his face grave, "Night Owl has sent word from Jiangnan that Liu Jin... has captured Jinling."

Jinling, a major city in Jiangnan, was the southern capital of the imperial court.

Liu Jin's capture of Nanjing meant that half of Jiangnan was now in his hands.

What was the imperial court's reaction?

"The imperial court...the imperial court dispatched an army of 100,000 men, led by Prince Yong, to quell the rebellion in the south."

Prince Yong commanded an army of 100,000?

Xiao Chen's eyes turned cold.

This is like letting a tiger return to the mountain.

Now that Prince Yong has military power, will he still behave himself?

"Furthermore," Zhao Tie continued, "Murong Han, the Left Wise King of Northern Yan, sent an envoy to say that he wants to renegotiate the alliance with Your Highness."

"Let's renegotiate?" Xiao Chen sneered. "He's just taking advantage of Liu Jin's growing power and the court's internal strife, isn't he?"

"I guess so."

"Tell him that we can talk. But the conditions need to be changed. The Baishui River is not enough; I want everything north of Yinshan to belong to Hanyuan. If he doesn't agree, I will form an alliance with Liu Jin and divide the world together."

"yes!"

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen paused, "have Wang Dashan intensify his troop training. The city walls are repaired, but the battle is not over yet. Tell the soldiers to train hard; a major battle is coming soon."

"yes!"

Zhao Tie accepted the order and left.

Xiao Chen stood on the newly built city wall, gazing south.

Jinling, Liu Jin.

The capital city, Prince Yong.

The northern border, the Northern Yan.

The three forces are about to clash.

What role will Han Yuan play in this clash?

Xiao Chen didn't know.

But he knew that Han Yuan was already prepared.

There was a city, soldiers, civilians, and grain.

More importantly, it requires dedication.

Twenty-five thousand hearts, tightly bound together, are indestructible.

"Your Highness," Murong Xue walked over and handed him a cloak, "It's getting cold, put on another layer."

Xiao Chen took it and put it on.

"Thanks."

"Your Highness," Murong Xue hesitated for a moment, "I...I want to go to Jiangnan."

"Going to Jiangnan? For what?"

"Let's purchase medicinal herbs," Murong Xue said. "The herbs in Jiangnan are more plentiful and of better quality than those in the North. The clinic's stock is running low and needs replenishing. Also, I want to go and see what's going on with the plague in Jiangnan...

Xiao Chen stared at her for a long time.

"You know, Jiangnan is in danger right now."

"I know," Murong Xue nodded, "but I am a doctor, and a doctor's heart is like a parent's. The people of Jiangnan are suffering, and I cannot stand idly by. Moreover, I have a feeling that the plague in Jiangnan is not so simple. It may... be related to Liu Jin."

Xiao Chen's heart stirred.

"You mean...?"

"The plague might be man-made," Murong Xue said in a low voice. "Smallpox has existed in Jiangnan before, but never this rampant. This sudden outbreak, and its spread to Hanyuan, is too coincidental. I want to investigate and see what's going on."

Man-made plague.

If that's the case, then Liu Jin really deserves to die.

"Alright, go," Xiao Chen said, "but take a squad of Cold Abyss Guards with you to protect your safety. Also, have Night Owl cooperate with you to find out the truth. If it really was Liu Jin who did it..."

A murderous glint flashed in his eyes.

"I will personally go to Jiangnan and take his dog's head."

"Yes."

Murong Xue withdrew, and Xiao Chen stood alone on the city wall.

The cold wind howled, but my heart burned with passion.

Jiangnan, Liu Jin, plague, conspiracy.

This battle is becoming increasingly complex.

But he wasn't afraid.

Because Hanyuan is already a fortified city.

His knife was already sharpened.