After the corrupt officials were dealt with, the common people clapped their hands in approval and declared it a cause for great rejoicing.
The Third Prince began distributing relief money and food, building houses, settling displaced citizens, organizing young and strong men to construct reservoirs, digging canals, and developing terraced fields.
In the south, the common people were working with great zeal, and the popularity of the Third Prince Xuanyuan Jinxing among the Nanyang people soared.
The news reached the Capital City, and the shock resonated through the Imperial Court, as it came to light that the Third Prince Xuanyuan Jinxing was brilliant, multi-talented, and decisive. Otherwise, who would have thought that terraced fields could be carved out of the mountains to grow crops? This move solved the southern people's food and clothing needs for the second half of the year, relieving the worries of the Imperial Court and His Majesty.
This act caused those in the Imperial Court who previously overlooked the quieter Third Prince to reassess him, simultaneously forming a preliminary evaluation in their minds. His Majesty began to take notice of this son whom he had once ignored.
In the twenty-first year of the Saintly Prosperity Dynasty, in the eleventh month, the area around Youzhou in the northern part of Nanyang Country experienced a snow disaster, the likes of which hadn't been seen in a century. Transportation was blocked. Many citizens - the old, weak, sick, and children, who were poor and without clothes - froze to death, while others who had spent their money on clothes due to the cold perished from hunger as they could not afford food.
Because the Capital was close to Youzhou, the Imperial Court received the news quickly. However, due to last year's floods in the south and the resulting tax exemption, there was a severe shortage of national revenue.
The Third Prince Xuanyuan Jinxing submitted a petition, voluntarily donating clothes and, apart from some silver taels reserved for household expenses, used all his assets to aid the disaster area and headed north to inspect the situation. It was the first time the Emperor heard of such a donation and immediately approved it. In addition to opening the imperial granaries, the Third Prince's gesture encouraged the nobility and officials in the Capital to follow suit.
When the time came, the Third Prince set off with twenty-six carts of clothing and over twenty carts of unidentified stones, accompanied by a group of trusted soldiers, all in their teens, heading north.
As they approached Youzhou from the south, progress became exceedingly difficult, so the Third Prince ordered his men to begin clearing the snow, commanding that these stones be burned. Once burned, the ashes were scattered on the roads. The ice and snow began to melt, allowing them quick access to Youzhou where they rapidly distributed the clothing and silver, saving many people on the brink of freezing to death.
The popularity of the Third Prince Xuanyuan Jinxing once again surged.
The fact that burning the stones could melt snow and ice was unheard of. Indeed, the Third Prince was amazingly knowledgeable and extraordinarily intelligent.
In the recent two years, the Third Prince has been offering plans and strategies for the welfare of the people, gradually gaining the affirmation of the ministers and the attention of the Emperor. This disaster relief effort further elevated his prestige, with the Right Prime Minister, Xiao Chengguang, holding him in even higher regard.
In the twenty-third year of the Saintly Prosperity Dynasty, in the eighth month, the Northern Zhao Kingdom began amassing troops at the border between Liangzhou and Yongzhou, intent on attacking Nanyang Country.
In recent years, Nanyang Country, under the guidance of the Third Prince Xuanyuan Jinxing regarding the state of affairs, periodically introduced reform measures. These included agricultural and land reforms, reducing the burden of labor and miscellaneous taxes on farmers, promoting trade to develop the national economy, and increasing the income of the common people. A new conscription system was implemented, first enlisting young men between the ages of 15 to 35, and providing subsidies to their families during their service to compensate for the loss of labor. Those who had served for three years could choose whether to continue their military service or return home. However, those who chose to return home were obligated to take up arms without delay in times of war to defend the nation and protect the people...
After just four short years of development, Nanyang Country had become a land of wealth and strong military power, making the monarchs of other countries emulate its practices enviously yet fail to grasp the key principles to implement them, leaving them with no option but to sigh in admiration at Nanyang's rise.
But even so, Nanyang Country only had five hundred thousand troops, which was still far from enough in terms of military strength. Yet now, with Northern Zhao Kingdom waging war on Nanyang Country, His Majesty at the Imperial Court commanded the ministers to devise strategies. Some said that with Nanyang's current strong military, they could confront Northern Zhao head-on, while others argued that the disparity in forces was too great for a direct confrontation and suggested seeking a peaceful solution, such as an alliance through royal marriage or tribute.
The Third Prince remained silent in the Imperial Court, and as the Emperor grew annoyed by the incessant debates, a sudden quietness fell. At that point, Right Prime Minister Xiao Chengguang asked the Third Prince if he had any strategies. The Third Prince said he had a plan. Xuanyuan Jinxing slowly elaborated on his strategy of avoiding the solid and attacking the weak.
And this strategy later came to be known as the "Encircle North to Rescue South" strategy.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor and the ministers approved. The Emperor said, execute this plan, and decreed the Third Prince Xuanyuan Jinxing be appointed Grand Marshal, directly taking charge of military deployment. Three days later, the Third Prince Xuanyuan Jinxing, in full Grand Marshal's regalia, set off with a fifteen-year-old lad.
Three months later, Xuanyuan Jinxing returned victorious, to the fervent welcome of the common people, while for the first time Emperor Xuanyuan Aotian led the Crown Prince, Princes, and ministers to receive him at the city gates.
The Third Prince Xuanyuan Jinxing had become the god of homeland protection in the hearts of the people; whenever the nation was in trouble, his unparalleled wisdom would resolve dangers imperceptibly. His prestige was unmatched, and his deeds were passed on by all.
On the third day of the third month in the twenty-fourth year of the Saintly Prosperity Dynasty, it should have been a perfect day for a spring outing in Nanyang Country. However, the streets were in chaos, with everyone holding eggs, bringing chickens, rushing to the Third Prince's residence.
The reason was simple, news had spread that two days ago, the Third Prince had been ambushed by an assassin and was seriously injured. The common folk collectively petitioned the Imperial Court, demanding that the truth be uncovered and the assassin be severely punished. Ten days later.
The truth was revealed. It turned out that the Crown Prince Xuanyuan Jinri, out of jealousy and fear for his status, had plotted the assassination. When the people learned of this, they once again submitted a joint petition, demanding the removal of Xuanyuan Jinri's status as Crown Prince, or else they would kneel at the palace gates and not rise.
All the ministers of the Imperial Court, except for the faction of the Crown Prince and Right Prime Minister Xiao Chengguang, unanimously reported that Crown Prince Xuanyuan Jinri had attempted fratricide and should be severely punished. With no other choice, the Emperor had Xuanyuan Jinri thrown into prison, only for the news of the former Crown Prince's suicide in jail to spread the following day.
The populace celebrated while cursing that Xuanyuan Jinri's death was well-deserved.
However, Right Prime Minister Xiao Chengguang, who usually showed great concern for the Third Prince, did not visit Xuanyuan Jinxing at his residence to inquire after his injury.
On the eighth day of the sixth month in the twenty-fourth year of the Saintly Prosperity Dynasty, the Fifth Prince Xuanyuan Jincheng, along with Minister of War Zhang Shicheng, launched a palace coup. Fortunately, the Third Prince Xuanyuan Jinxing received the news promptly and immediately mobilized his troops, storming into the Imperial Palace, capturing the rebels, and rescuing the Emperor.
Outnumbered, the Fifth Prince was captured, while Zhang Shicheng was killed by the Third Prince in the fight.
Thus, the palace coup came to an end, and Emperor Xuanyuan Aotian, deeply distressed by these events and after falling ill, issued a sacred decree appointing the Third Prince Xuanyuan Jinxing as Crown Prince, entrusting him to oversee the affairs of state temporarily.
Although the Imperial Physician tried various treatments ten days later, the medicine was ineffective, and in the end.