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

The welcoming banquet ended unhappily, at least for Xiao Jing.

His carefully prepared attacks were all defused by Xiao Chen with ease, and in the end, he was shut down by Xiao Chen's words, "Don't talk about state affairs." One can imagine how frustrated he felt.

However, Xiao Jing had been immersed in the power arena for many years and knew how to advance and retreat.

After the banquet, he did not immediately lash out. Instead, for two consecutive days, he simply used the pretext of "inspecting the border towns and understanding the people's conditions" to walk around Hanyuan City and its surroundings, and his attitude seemed quite amiable.

He even took the initiative to visit salt fields and coal mines, and showed great interest in waterwheels and newly reclaimed farmland, frequently asking about details, as if he were truly an imperial envoy prince who cared about the people's suffering and investigated the actual situation.

Xiao Chen knew perfectly well that his elder brother was definitely not just sightseeing.

He instructed Zhao Tie to send more Night Owls to keep a close watch on Xiao Jing and his entourage around the clock. At the same time, he ordered all core workshops, armories, and new army training grounds to be on high alert and to strictly prohibit Xiao Jing's people from approaching.

Beneath the calm surface, the undercurrents are growing increasingly turbulent.

Murong Han, the Left Wise King of Northern Yan, seemed to have sensed something unusual. He used the excuse of "catching a cold" to close his doors to guests, but in reality, he was secretly observing Xiao Jing's every move.

On the afternoon of the third day, Xiao Jing suddenly sent someone to report that he had "important matters" to discuss and invited Prince Jingbei to the post station for a meeting.

"Your Highness, this may be a trap," Wang Dashan said in a deep voice. "Perhaps I should go in your place?"

"No, since he's using 'discussing important matters' as an excuse, if I don't go, it will only give others something to say."

Xiao Chen remained calm. "Besides, I also want to see what 'important matter' he has prepared. Wang Dashan, Zhang Meng, you two come with me. Zhao Tie, have your men keep a close watch on the area around the post station. Even if a bird flies in, make sure you can tell if it's male or female."

"yes!"

Xiao Chen arrived at the inn where Xiao Jing was staying, accompanied only by Wang Dashan, Zhang Meng, and ten personal guards. The inn had already been taken over by Xiao Jing's guards, and the atmosphere was tense.

Upon entering the main hall, one sees Xiao Jing sitting upright in the main seat, his face somber, a far cry from the "warmth" of the previous two days.

Standing beside him were several trusted civil and military officials, one of whom was a burly man with eagle-like eyes. He was Cao Yong, the younger brother of Cao Bin, a general under Xiao Jing, and the leader of the guards.

On both sides of the hall stood more than twenty armored and armed guards from the Prince Yong's mansion, exuding a murderous aura.

"Seventh Brother is here, please sit." Xiao Jing gestured to the seat below him, his tone calm but carrying an air of superiority.

Xiao Chen sat down as instructed, with Wang Dashan and Zhang Meng standing behind him with their hands on their swords. Ten personal guards stood at the entrance of the hall, subtly confronting the Prince of Yong's assassins.

"I wonder what important matter Your Majesty has summoned me for?" Xiao Chen asked, getting straight to the point.

Xiao Jing did not answer immediately. Instead, he picked up his teacup, slowly blew away the foam, took a small sip, and then put it down. He raised his eyelids and looked sharply at Xiao Chen: "Seventh Brother, what I have seen and heard in Hanyuan these past two days has left me with many thoughts. Seventh Brother has indeed governed this place very well. The army is strong and the granaries are full. You have also created many novel things, which have even attracted the Left Wise King of Northern Yan to come here."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone turning cold: "However, I also have a few doubts in my heart, which I must express. I hope my seventh brother can enlighten me."

"Please speak, Your Majesty. I will answer whatever I know," Xiao Chen said, his expression unchanged.

"good!"

Xiao Jing slammed his hand on the table, his voice rising, "First, without the court's permission, you arbitrarily changed the military system, implemented that so-called 'military merit-based land grant,' and further privately expanded the army. Han Yuan originally had only three thousand soldiers, but now it's probably close to ten thousand, isn't it? This is usurpation!"

"Secondly, you monopolized the salt and iron industries, imposed private market taxes, and exploited merchants and travelers. All the profits went into your own pocket, and not a single penny was turned over to the national treasury. This is embezzlement!"

"Third, you have colluded with foreign vassals, fraternized with the Khan of the steppes, and maintained close ties with the Left Wise King of Northern Yan, even sharing banquets with him. What are you plotting? This is treason!"

"Fourth, you killed an official appointed by the imperial court without authorization! Even if Li Biao, the deputy general of Dingbei Pass, was guilty, he should have been handed over to the imperial court for prosecution. What right did you have to execute him first and report later? This is a perversion of justice!"

With each point Xiao Jing made, his tone grew increasingly forceful, until finally his voice was stern and stern, as if he were the embodiment of justice, judging a sinner.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly plummeted to freezing point. The hands of the Prince Yong's assassins were already on their sword hilts, waiting for the order.

Wang Dashan and Zhang Meng tensed their muscles, their eyes blazing with anger.

The ten guards behind Xiao Chen also subconsciously took a half step forward.

Faced with Xiao Jing's barrage of accusations, Xiao Chen suddenly laughed.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a mocking air of seeing through the trickery.

"Your Majesty's four 'crimes' are truly piercing to the heart."

Xiao Chen said slowly, "However, I suspect that my royal brother only knows one side of the story, or perhaps... he is deliberately distorting the truth?"

"What do you mean?" Xiao Jing's eyes flashed sharply.

"The policy of awarding land to soldiers for their merits was intended to encourage them to defend the land, resettle displaced people, and cultivate wasteland."

The new recruits to Hanyuan are mostly young and strong refugees and bandits who have been incorporated into the army. If they are not organized and controlled and are allowed to scatter, they will become a major threat to the northern border.

I have already reported this matter to the Ministry of War. Your Majesty will find out once you return to the capital.

Could it be that the documents from the Ministry of War have not yet reached Your Majesty's desk?

Xiao Chen's first question immediately deflected the accusation of "unauthorized alteration of military regulations"—"I reported it; it's your problem if you didn't see it."

Before Xiao Jing could refute, he continued, "The salt and iron monopoly was to prevent the smuggling of salt and iron from supplying the enemy and to stabilize prices."

All the city taxes collected were used for city construction, road repair, water conservancy projects, and the establishment of schools and clinics. The account books are all available and can be checked at any time.

"Chief Secretary Han, bring up the total accounts of income and expenditure from last year to the present, for Your Highness Prince Yong to review!"

Han Lie responded and ordered his men to bring over several large boxes, inside which account books were neatly stacked.

"As for interactions with the grasslands and the Northern Yan, the court adopted a policy of 'pacification and appeasement'."

Batu's submission brought peace to the northern border, smoothed trade routes, and increased taxes. This was a great achievement. How could it be considered "colluding with the enemy"?

To dine with Murong Han is not only to fulfill the hospitality of a host, but also to demonstrate the grandeur of our Celestial Empire.

"If Your Majesty considers this a crime, are you perhaps trying to force Batu to rebel and start a war with Northern Yan?"

Xiao Chen's second question directly accused him of damaging diplomatic relations and provoking border conflicts.

"Li Biao's smuggling is illegal, and the evidence is conclusive. According to the Great Xia Law and the border army regulations, the garrison commander has the right to execute anyone who smuggles military supplies on the spot! My brother killed him in accordance with the law to serve as a warning to others! Are we to allow such parasites to corrupt the border army's discipline and aid the enemy in treason?" Xiao Chen asked his third question, using national laws and military regulations as a shield, speaking with righteous indignation.

The three rebuttals were well-reasoned and supported by evidence, resolving Xiao Jing's accusations one by one, and even subtly implying a questioning and accountability.

Xiao Jing's face turned pale and then red. He hadn't expected Xiao Chen to be so well-prepared and to react so swiftly.

He took a deep breath, knowing that conventional accusations would be ineffective. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, and he sneered, "What a silver tongue! No matter how eloquent you are, you can't hide your ambition to amass power and plot treason! Do you really think no one knows you're keeping a private army and manufacturing prohibited weapons?"

He abruptly pulled a roll of silk from his sleeve, unfurled it, and shouted sternly, "This is a copy of the blueprints for your Hanyuan Crafts Bureau to secretly forge powerful crossbows and research gunpowder! It also contains your secret correspondence with Batu of the grasslands, agreeing to divide the northern border! Furthermore, it provides irrefutable evidence of your clandestine dealings with the traitor Yu Qian, plotting a pincer attack on the court from the north and south! Xiao Chen, what else do you have to say?!"

Blueprints? Secret letter? Ironclad evidence?

Xiao Chen's pupils contracted slightly.

The company has indeed implemented strict safeguards, making the possibility of the blueprints being leaked extremely low, but it is not impossible.

There was indeed correspondence with the Book of Basil, but there was absolutely no mention of "sharing the northern border".

As for Yu Qian... that's completely fabricated! This is clearly a frame-up!

Upon hearing this, Wang Dashan and Zhang Meng could no longer contain themselves and shouted angrily, "Slander!"

The atmosphere in the hall instantly exploded. The guards on both sides drew their swords halfway out of their sheaths almost simultaneously, the cold light blinding them!

"Your Majesty, where did these accusations of framing us come from?"

Xiao Chen's voice remained steady, but it had taken on an icy chill. "May I have the honor of seeing this so-called 'ironclad evidence'?"

"Hmph, you're about to die, and you still want to argue?"

Xiao Jing slammed the silk scroll heavily on the table. "The evidence is irrefutable; you cannot deny it! I, the King, am on behalf of Heaven, inspecting the borders and have the authority to make decisions arbitrarily! Guards, seize this traitor Xiao Chen!"

"Who dares!"

Wang Dashan and Zhang Meng led the way with their swords drawn, while ten guards formed a small formation, protecting Xiao Chen in the center. Outside the hall, the faint sounds of hurried footsteps and the rustling of armor could be heard, clearly indicating that the Han Yuan Guards had arrived upon hearing the news.

Tensions are high, and a conflict could erupt at any moment!

However, at this critical moment, an aged yet authoritative voice suddenly came from outside the hall:

"Your Highness, what has angered you so much? May I also see this 'evidence'?"

Everyone looked on in astonishment, only to see Murong Han, the Left Wise King of Northern Yan, slowly walking into the hall, surrounded by several Northern Yan guards.

He wore his usual smile, but his gaze fell directly on the rolled-up silk in Xiao Jing's hand.

Murong Han's sudden intervention made the situation even more bizarre and complicated.