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

A month after the opening of the Heroes' Market in the south of Hanyuan City, the Khan of the Grasslands, Batu, sent a letter of state to Hanyuan, inviting them to jointly open the "Grassland Market" on the north bank of the Baishui River.

"Your Highness, Batu is trying to emulate us."

Han Lie held up the official letter and laughed, "He saw how thriving our market was and got envious. He wants to set one up on the grasslands too, to make money from the various tribes there."

Xiao Chen took the letter and glanced at it. The contents were very polite, but the meaning was very clear: the grasslands were willing to provide the site, manpower, and protection, while Han Yuan would provide the goods, management, and technology, with profits split 50/50.

"Can."

Xiao Chen nodded. "Tell Batu that we agree. But the market should be located at the border between the two sides to facilitate the movement of merchants from both sides."

Management rights belong to Hanyuan. The grassland is responsible for maintaining order, but may not interfere with transactions.

Profits can be split 50/50, but for the first three years, Han Yuan will take 60% and Cao Yuan will take 40%.

Three years later, it'll be a 50/50 chance again.

"Your Highness, can Batu agree to these conditions?"

He will agree.

Xiao Chen said, "The grasslands lack salt, iron, cloth, and medicinal herbs."

Only Han Yuan can provide these things in large quantities.

Moreover, although the various tribes of the grasslands have now submitted to Batu, they still harbor rebellious intentions in private.

If the market opens, all departments will benefit and will be more supportive of Batu.

For Batu, this is a sure-fire way to make money. He won't refuse.

"yes!"

The messenger went to the grasslands with a reply and returned three days later, saying that Batu had agreed to everything except one request: the market should be named "Baishui Market".

Baishui Market.

This name not only indicates the location but also symbolizes the friendship between the grassland and the cold abyss, like the White Water River, which flows on and on.

"Okay," Xiao Chen decided.

Two weeks later, the Baishui Market officially opened.

The location was chosen on a flat grassland ten miles north of the Baishui River.

The grassland people fenced off a piece of land with wooden fences and set up hundreds of tents as shops.

The people of Hanyuan brought goods and set up stalls. Both sides dispatched five hundred soldiers to maintain order.

The opening day was an unprecedented success.

Every tribe on the grassland, as long as they had some wealth, would drive their cattle, sheep, and horses, and bring their furs and cheeses to the market to trade.

Merchants from Hanyuan also brought mountains of salt, iron, cloth, medicinal herbs, tea, and porcelain.

Even merchants from the Central Plains, upon hearing that a market had opened on the grasslands, risked their lives to come and bring silk, jewelry, and spices.

If you don't speak the same language, use gestures. If you have different currencies, barter.

A cow can be exchanged for 100 catties of salt, a horse for 500 catties of iron, a cowhide for a piece of cloth, and a barrel of mare's milk wine for a catty of tea.

Although it was messy, it was lively.

"Your Highness, look over there," Zhao Tie said, pointing into the distance.

A group of grassland children surrounded a merchant from the Cold Abyss, watching him perform magic tricks.

The merchant took out a few copper coins from his pocket, rubbed them in his palm, and they turned into a flower, which he then gave to a little girl from the grasslands.

The little girl accepted it with delight and said in broken Chinese, "Thank you."

Nearby, several elderly people from the grasslands sat in front of their tents, drinking tea given to them by the Hanyuan merchant, their eyes half-closed, looking completely content.

Further away, a group of grassland youths gathered around a blacksmith's shop, watching Han Yuan blacksmith forge knives.

The blacksmith heated a piece of iron until it was red-hot, swung his hammer, and with a clang, quickly forged a dagger.

The young men on the grasslands had their eyes light up and were pulling out furs and cheese to exchange for the dagger.

"This is true peace."

Xiao Chen sighed, "It wasn't won by fighting with swords and spears, but by trade, by exchange, and by mutual need. The grassland people needed our salt and iron, and we needed the horses from the grasslands. When each gets what they need, peace naturally prevails."

"Your Highness is wise."

Zhao Tie said, "According to reports from the people on the grassland, since the market opened, the support for Batu from all the tribes on the grassland has significantly increased."

Because the market has brought tangible benefits to all the tribes, and it was jointly established by Batu and Your Highness. Having benefited, they naturally remember Batu's kindness and Your Highness's kindness.

That's enough.

Xiao Chen said, "Tell Night Owl to keep an eye on all the tribes on the grasslands, especially those who are dissatisfied with Batu. If anyone dares to cause trouble, report to me immediately. The market must be peaceful. It's the link between the grasslands and the Cold Abyss; it cannot be broken."

"yes!"

"in addition,"

Xiao Chen thought for a moment, "Send a few doctors to the market to provide medical services. The grasslands lack doctors and medicine, so we'll offer free medical care and medicine. Although it will cost some money, we'll win people's hearts. People's hearts are more important than money."

"clear."

"Furthermore, we should set up a school in the market to teach the children from the grasslands to read, do arithmetic, and also teach them Mandarin. Once they understand each other's languages, the barriers will be reduced. In the future, the children from the grasslands might be able to come to Hanyuan to study and become officials. Only then can the grasslands and Hanyuan truly become one."

"Your Highness is a man of great foresight."

After making these arrangements, Xiao Chen strolled around the market.

He dressed like an ordinary merchant, and no one recognized him. He bought whatever he liked.

He bought Murong Xue a grassland-style necklace, Han Lie a grassland scimitar, Wang Dashan a cowhide, and Zhang Meng a saddle.

Around noon, I got hungry, so I found a stall and ordered a bowl of mutton soup and two steamed buns.

While we were eating, a few men from the grasslands came to the next table, drinking mare's milk wine and laughing loudly.

They were speaking the grassland language, which Xiao Chen couldn't understand. But judging from their expressions, they were very excited and satisfied.

"What are they saying?" Xiao Chen asked Zhao Tie.

Zhao Tie understood a bit of the grassland dialect. After listening for a while, he said in a low voice, "They're saying that life will be better now that there's a market."

Previously, a cowhide could only be exchanged for ten catties of salt, but now it can be exchanged for twenty catties.

A horse that used to be worth 300 jin of iron can now be worth 500 jin.

They say that Batu Khan and Hanyuan King are lucky stars bestowed upon the grasslands by the Eternal Heaven.

Xiao Chen smiled.

This is enough.

What ordinary people want is actually very simple: food to eat, clothes to wear, things to exchange, and hope for the future.

They will support whoever can improve their lives.

"Your Highness," a night owl rushed over and whispered a few words in Zhao Tie's ear.

Zhao Tie's expression changed slightly, and he said to Xiao Chen, "Your Highness, something has happened in the capital."

"What is it?"

"The Crown Prince... has fallen ill. The imperial physician says it's poisoning, but they can't identify the poison. Prince Yong seized the opportunity to launch an attack, accusing the Crown Prince of feigning illness to evade his responsibilities as regent. Now the court is in chaos, with those supporting the Crown Prince and those supporting Prince Yong almost coming to blows."

The crown prince is "sick".

This was done by Night Owl at Xiao Chen's behest. But unexpectedly, Prince Yong reacted so quickly and launched an attack.

Where is Yu Qian?

"Yu Qian is in Jiangnan and has already learned of the news. He is assembling his troops in preparation for marching north. However, supplies are insufficient, and the soldiers are weary of war. I'm afraid... a battle may not break out."

If a fight doesn't break out, that would be troublesome.

If Yu Qian and Prince Yong were to confront each other and restrain one another, it would be most advantageous for Han Yuan.

But if Yu Qian backs down, Prince Yong will be able to free up his resources to deal with Han Yuan.

"Let the Night Owl spread the word in Jiangnan that Prince Yong murdered his father and brother, an act against all reason. As the Crown Prince's tutor and the Governor-General of Jiangnan, if Yu Qian does not go north to purge the court of corrupt officials, he will be aiding and abetting evil, and the whole world will condemn him. Force Yu Qian to send troops."

"yes!"

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen's eyes flashed with a cold light, "have Wang Dashan intensify his military training. Three months from now, regardless of whether Yu Qian sends troops or not, we must march south. Prince Yong must die."

"yes!"

After finishing the mutton soup, Xiao Chen left the market and returned to Hanyuan.

He kept thinking about it on the way.

The Crown Prince is "ill," Prince Yong launches an attack, and Yu Qian hesitates.

The imperial court is on the verge of collapse.

It's time for Han Yuan to make his move.

"Your Highness," Zhao Tie said in a low voice, "Night Owl also reported that Murong Han of Northern Yan has been mobilizing troops recently, and it seems... he has some scheme in mind."

Murong Han.

That old fox, as expected, couldn't sit still any longer.

With internal strife in the imperial court, the grasslands pacified, and the south of the Yangtze River unstable, this was the perfect opportunity for the Northern Yan to invade southward.

"Tell Night Owl to keep a close eye on Murong Han. Also, send an envoy to Northern Yan to tell Murong Han that Han Yuan is willing to form an alliance with him to share the world. Hebei will belong to him, and Henan to me. But if he dares to attack Han Yuan, the 100,000 iron cavalry of the grasslands will be his example."

"yes!"

Upon returning to Hanyuan, Xiao Chen immediately summoned his generals for a meeting.

"Gentlemen, the world is about to descend into chaos; this is the time for us to make our mark and achieve great things."

Xiao Chen stood before the map, pointing to the capital. "Prince Yong murdered his father and brother, a crime that arouses the wrath of both gods and men. Yu Qian is indecisive and unlikely to achieve anything significant. The court is beyond saving. This empire needs a new master."

The generals were filled with excitement.

"Your Highness, we'll fight however you say!"

"Yes, follow the prince and conquer the world!"

"it is good."

Xiao Chen nodded. "Three months later, we will march south. Wang Dashan, you will be the vanguard, leading 5,000 troops to take Dingbei Pass directly. Zhang Meng, you will lead 3,000 cavalry to outflank and cut off the Prince of Yong's retreat. I will lead the main force and arrive shortly after. In this battle, we must take the capital in one fell swoop, kill the Prince of Yong, and restore peace to the world."

"yes!"

"Furthermore, send someone to the grasslands to tell Batu to gather 30,000 cavalry and stand by at the border. Once we move south, he will send troops to contain Northern Yan. Tell Murong Han that if he dares to make a move, the grassland cavalry will crush Northern Yan."

"yes!"

"Old Master Han, the Ministry of Works must ramp up the production of military equipment. Crossbows, bows and arrows, armor, swords and spears—the more the better. The gunpowder workshop must also speed up the production of 'bombs.' We'll need them for this battle."

"yes!"

"Zhao Tie, Night Owl needs to operate at full capacity. I need to know every move the Prince of Yong makes, the court's troop deployment, Yu Qian's movements, and Murong Han's plans. Intelligence is the eye of war. If the eye is blind, the battle cannot be fought."

"yes!"

With each order issued, the entire Cold Abyss was like a fully drawn bow, poised to be released.

Three months.

Three months from now, the world will change.

Han Yuan will be the protagonist of this transformation.