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

Three days after the walls of Hanyuan were completed, Murong Xue led a team of Hanyuan guards and quietly headed south.

Xiao Chen personally escorted him to the pavilion ten miles outside the city.

"Your journey to Jiangnan is fraught with peril; be sure to proceed with caution."

He handed Murong Xue a brocade pouch, "There are three pills inside: red for antidote, white for saving lives, and black... for use in emergencies."

Murong Xue accepted it and carefully put it away.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will return safely."

"Also," Xiao Chen paused, "come back after you've investigated the plague. I'll handle the situation in Jiangnan; don't take any risks."

"I see."

The carriage drove away and disappeared at the end of the official road.

Xiao Chen stood still for a long time.

"Your Highness," Zhao Tie reminded him in a low voice, "it's time to go back."

Xiao Chen nodded, mounted his horse, and headed back to the city.

Han Lie rushed over as soon as he entered the city lord's mansion.

"Your Highness, there's new progress from the Construction Bureau."

"What's the progress?"

"It was Master Ou. He made the new crossbow according to the blueprints given by the prince."

New type of crossbow.

Xiao Chen's eyes lit up.

These are the blueprints he drew three months ago; they depict an improved version of the "God Arm Crossbow."

The original crossbows were slow to draw, had a short range, and poor accuracy.

Referring to his memories from his previous life, he improved the crossbow arm structure by adding a pulley system, allowing him to fire the crossbow by stepping on it, which saved him half the effort but increased the range by fifty paces.

"Let's go take a look."

In the backyard of the workshop, the blacksmith Ou was testing a crossbow.

The new crossbow is larger than the original, with a steel-wood composite arm and a mechanism made of high-quality steel.

The bowstring is made of twisted ox tendon and steel wire, giving it excellent tension.

Most notably, a wooden stock was added to the crossbow, allowing it to be fired from the shoulder, greatly improving stability.

"Your Highness, look." Blacksmith Ou handed Xiao Chen a crossbow bolt.

The arrows are specially made, with triangular arrowheads, blood grooves, straight shafts, and neat fletching. They are clearly high-quality.

Xiao Chen took the crossbow, stepped on the string, and with a click, the string was cocked.

Then aim at the target a hundred paces away and pull the trigger.

call out--

The crossbow bolt pierced the air, hitting the bullseye and exiting through the target.

"Great!" the surrounding craftsmen cheered in unison.

Xiao Chen went over to check.

The target was covered with three layers of cowhide to simulate leather armor.

The crossbow bolt not only pierced through the wall but also embedded itself three inches into the wooden wall behind it.

This power is enough to pierce armor.

"How far is the range?" Xiao Chen asked.

"He can maintain his accuracy even after 150 paces."

"Any further, it'll drift," the blacksmith said excitedly. "But within a hundred paces, it's incredibly accurate. And it's quick to cock; with practice, you can cock it in ten breaths. One crossbowman, equipped with three crossbows, can take turns firing, providing uninterrupted firepower."

One hundred and fifty steps, ten breaths to raise the moon.

Such a crossbow was already considered a divine weapon in this era.

"Can it be mass-produced?"

"Yes, it's possible," the blacksmith nodded, "but it's slow. It takes three days to fire one crossbow. The bolts are simple; we can fire a hundred a day."

Playing one game every three days, or ten games a month, is too slow.

"Improve the process," Xiao Chen said. "Use molds to cast the crossbows and assemble them on an assembly line. Break down the process so that one person can specialize in one thing, which will increase efficiency tenfold. I want to see one hundred crossbows like this and ten thousand arrows in a month."

"yes!"

"Also," Xiao Chen thought for a moment, "make another type of small crossbow, which can be held with one hand and has a range of fifty paces, but it must be able to fire in bursts. It should hold five arrows at a time, firing one arrow with each pull of the trigger. It will be used for close combat when defending the city."

Repeating crossbow?

The blacksmith was taken aback, but what the prince said must make sense.

"This old man... will give it a try."

"This isn't a 'try,' it's a must-do," Xiao Chen said. "You have one month. If you succeed, you'll be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver and awarded the title of 'Master Craftsman.' If you fail, you'll lose your position as head of the Construction Department."

Blacksmith Ou stiffened: "Yes! I will certainly do it!"

After leaving the Bureau of Works, Xiao Chen went to the gunpowder workshop.

The gunpowder mill was located in a valley west of the city, far from residential areas, and was directly controlled by Night Owl. It produced Cold Abyss's top secret—black powder.

The recipe was given by Xiao Chen: one part saltpeter, two parts sulfur, and three parts charcoal. The saltpeter was scraped from the walls of the toilet and stable, the sulfur was mined from a volcano, and the charcoal was made by himself. Although it was crude, it was usable.

"Your Highness, a new batch of gunpowder has arrived." The person in charge of the gunpowder workshop was an old Taoist priest named Xuanzhenzi, whom Night Owl had "invited" from Longhu Mountain. This man was obsessed with alchemy and had considerable knowledge of gunpowder.

Looking at the barrels of blackened gunpowder, Xiao Chen asked, "How powerful is it?"

"It's 30% better than last time," Xuanzhenzi said. "I adjusted the proportions and added... something else. Now, this gunpowder makes a louder sound, produces more smoke, and is more powerful when ignited. It's just... a bit unstable and prone to spontaneous combustion."

Instability was the fatal flaw of gunpowder.

"Keep improving it," Xiao Chen said. "I need stable gunpowder that can be stored for a long time and transported safely. Also, try putting the gunpowder into an iron can, leaving a fuse, to make a 'bomb.' When defending the city, drop it, and it will explode in one go."

bomb.

Xuanzhenzi's eyes lit up.

"Your Highness's idea is ingenious; I admire it. I will go and try it now."

"be safe."

"Yes."

After leaving the gunpowder workshop, Xiao Chen went to the cavalry camp.

Zhang Meng was training the Cangyun Cavalry. Five hundred cavalrymen, divided into five teams, were practicing charges, flanking maneuvers, and mounted archery. The sound of hooves thundered, and dust flew everywhere.

Upon seeing Xiao Chen, Zhang Meng quickly came over and bowed.

"Your Highness, what brings you here?"

"Come and see," Xiao Chen said, pointing to the cavalry. "How's the training going?"

"Your Highness, we have been training for three months. Our horsemanship, swordsmanship, and archery are all pretty good. But we still lack real combat experience. We haven't fought in a real battle, so we're not confident."

Real-world application.

Xiao Chen nodded.

We need to find an opportunity to let the Cangyun Cavalry shed blood.

"What's been happening in the north lately?"

"Yes," Zhang Meng said. "The Canglang tribe of the grasslands has been quite restless lately. Their cavalry frequently cross the Baishui River and loiter in our territory. Although they haven't made a move yet, their provocations are quite obvious."

The Azure Wolf Tribe.

Arutai saw Hanyuan building city walls and assumed it was going to be fortified, so he dared to provoke them.

"Since they want to fight, let them fight," Xiao Chen sneered. "Zhang Meng, take the Cangyun Cavalry and take a trip to the north bank of the Baishui River. If you encounter any Canglang tribe cavalry, don't be polite, kill them. But remember, don't cross the river, and don't chase them too far. Hit them once and run, just let them know the pain."

"yes!"

Zhang Meng accepted the order, mustered five hundred Cangyun cavalry, and left the city that afternoon.

Xiao Chen returned to the city lord's mansion to continue handling official business.

After approving several reports and reviewing a few account books, it got dark.

Uncle Fu brought in dinner, a simple meal of two dishes and a soup. Xiao Chen ate quickly, his mind still preoccupied with other things.

The city walls were repaired, the weapons were being upgraded, and the cavalry were training.

But one thing is still missing.

Online trolls.

The Jiangnan region is crisscrossed by waterways, and a navy is essential for any southward expansion. However, Hanyuan is inland, lacking major rivers, making it impossible to train a navy.

"Your Highness," Zhao Tie rushed in, "Night Owl sent word from Jiangnan that Miss Murong Xue... has arrived in Jinling."

So fast?

"Is she safe?"

"It's safe. Night Owl has a base in Jinling and has already made contact. Besides, Miss Murong is disguised as a traveling doctor, so no one suspects anything."

"How's the investigation into the plague going?"

"We're getting a lead," Zhao Tie said in a low voice. "Miss Murong said that the plague in Jinling is indeed strange. The outbreak occurred exactly one month before Liu Jin raised his army. Moreover, the areas most severely affected by the epidemic are all territories of Liu Jin's enemies. She suspects that Liu Jin deliberately released the plague to weaken his opponents and create panic."

really.

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes.

Using plague to kill people, Liu Jin, you are truly inhuman.

"Furthermore," Zhao Tie continued, "Miss Murong discovered several Northern Yan people in Jinling. They were disguised as merchants, but they are actually Northern Yan spies. They seem to be in contact with Liu Jin, discussing some kind of deal."

Did the Northern Yan's spies make contact with Liu Jin?

Murong Han is hedging his bets on both sides.

"Have Night Owl keep a close eye on them and see what they talk about. If necessary, we can... create a surprise."

"yes!"

Zhao Tie withdrew, and Xiao Chen sat alone under the lamp.

Jiangnan, Liu Jin, Northern Yan, plague, secret agents.

This game is getting increasingly chaotic.

But the more chaotic things are, the more opportunities there are.

"Your Highness," Wang Dashan rushed in, "Zhang Meng is back."

"So fast?"

"Yes, and they also brought back... more than a hundred heads."

Xiao Chen was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

It seems that the Cangyun Cavalry achieved a good result in their first battle.

"Let's go take a look."

On the training ground, Zhang Meng and five hundred Cangyun cavalry stood solemnly. Though covered in dust, their eyes were sharp and filled with murderous intent. Bloodstained cloth bags hung in front of their horses.

"Your Highness," Zhang Meng knelt on one knee, "this humble general has lived up to expectations. Thirty li north of the Baishui River, we encountered a thousand-strong cavalry unit of the Canglang tribe. This humble general led his troops in a surprise attack, beheading one hundred and thirty-seven enemy soldiers and capturing two hundred warhorses. Our army suffered three minor wounds, but no casualties."

Level 137, 200 warhorses, zero casualties.

A resounding victory.

"Good!" Xiao Chen clapped his hands. "All participating soldiers will be rewarded with ten taels of silver and recorded as one merit. Those who kill three or more enemies in battle will be promoted one rank. Zhang Meng's command was meritorious, and he will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver and recorded as a major merit."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

The soldiers roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

This battle showcased the might of the Cangyun Cavalry and the domineering spirit of Hanyuan.

"Send the head to the Canglang tribe," Xiao Chen said to Zhao Tie. "Tell Arutai that this is the consequence of provoking Hanyuan. If he still wants to fight, Hanyuan will fight to the end. If he doesn't want to fight, he should just do business honestly and stop making trouble."

"yes!"

After sending away the head and spoils, Xiao Chen kept Zhang Meng behind and inquired in detail about the battle.

"How strong are the cavalry of the Azure Wolf Tribe?"

"They're not weak," Zhang Meng said honestly. "Their horses are fast, their swords are fierce, and their horsemanship is excellent. But they're too disorganized and undisciplined, fighting individually. As soon as we charge, they fall into disarray. Moreover, their equipment is inadequate; their leather armor can't stop our swords, and their arrows can't penetrate our armor."

Advantages in equipment and discipline.

This is why Han Yuan's army was able to win.

"But we can't be careless," Xiao Chen said. "They underestimated us this time, but they won't be like that next time. Besides, the Canglang tribe has 20,000 cavalry. If they really come out in full force, we won't be able to handle it. So, if we're going to fight, we have to hurt them badly so they won't dare to come again."

"This subordinate understands."

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen thought for a moment, "starting today, the Cangyun Cavalry will be expanded to a thousand men. You will train another five hundred men, using the best soldiers and the best horses. In three months, I want to see a thousand-strong iron cavalry capable of traveling three hundred li a day, fighting in the field, raiding, and attacking cities."

"yes!"

Zhang Meng accepted the order and left, while Xiao Chen stood alone on the training ground, gazing northward.

The Canglang tribe is just a minor threat.

The real enemy is in the south, in Jiangnan.

Liu Jin, you just wait.

Once Han Yuan is ready, he will head south to take your head.

A memorial service for the people who died in the plague.

A tribute to the fallen heroes of this land.