Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

The next day.

Xiao Ce got up early and practiced a set of Eight Vajra Skills.

This was his favorite exercise in his past life, coordinated with his breathing. It's very beneficial for strengthening the body.

In his previous life, he had even visited Master Zhang to learn the Eight Vajra Technique.

This body is too weak; after focusing on one set of moves, he was already drenched in sweat.

"Your Highness, what kind of martial art are you practicing? It looks so interesting!"

Da Lei appeared beside him without him even noticing.

Xiao Ce wiped his sweat and started doing push-ups.

Because the original owner's physical condition was too weak, he could only start with these simple tasks.

While doing it, he said to Da Lei Hu on the side, "That set of exercises is called the Eight Vajra Technique. I learned it from a wandering Taoist priest. It has the effects of strengthening the body and prolonging life."

Da Lei looked suspicious, as if he had been tricked.

Clearly, this body is not convincing.

Xiao Ce didn't explain, but changed the subject and said, "Da Lei, Uncle Jiu said your team has twelve people. Where are the others? Bring them to meet me."

Da Lei clasped his hands in agreement.

A whistle blew, and eleven people suddenly appeared from nowhere I could have imagined, not far from me.

They were agile and covered themselves up completely.

They stood in a row in front of me, knelt on one knee, clasped their hands in a fist and said, "Greetings, King of the Northern Desert."

These people seemed to be much more skilled than his bodyguards in his previous life.

Xiao Ce was very satisfied with their neat and uniform appearance.

"Alright, all of you take off your masks and let me see," Xiao Ce said, looking at them.

They acted very decisively, removing their masks.

They all looked quite young, around 17 or 8 years old.

However, they did not look childish.

You could tell from their sharp eyes.

They have definitely killed people.

"I'll be relying on you all from now on. Let's all introduce ourselves and get to know each other," Xiao Ce asked the group.

More than ten people did not respond.

Da Lei said, "Your Highness, we assassins do not have names."

"So even though you're not a suicide squad member, you still have a name, don't you?"

Da Lei continued bowing: "Because I am the captain. This name was bestowed upon me by the old prince."

Xiao Ce looked at the assassin and muttered, "Assassins are people too. Even cats and dogs need names. How can you just call them by their numbers?"

"Go and think of your own names. If you really can't, I will bestow a name upon each of you."

After listening to Xiao Ce's words, these people showed no expression or emotional change; they were as cold as ice.

He mechanically cupped his hands and said, "Yes, sir!"

Xiao Ce had thought they would be somewhat happy about their difference in status.

However, they were like cold, emotionless machines, devoid of any emotional fluctuations.

Judging from the looks of it, the training of these suicide squad members must have been extremely brutal, to the point that they had lost all independent thought.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce waved his hand dismissively, abandoning any intention of mobilizing them.

"Alright, you guys can go back to hiding."

The assassins dispersed and then went into hiding again.

A moment later, Lin Zhong walked in from outside.

"Your Highness, you're up so early?"

Xiao Ce wiped his sweat and stepped forward: "Uncle Zhong, weren't you here earlier? How did things go?"

Lin Zhong said to Xiao Ce, "I have already purchased everything you need from the merchants. To be on the safe side, I have them deliver it directly to Pingliang City, the capital of Mobei, to avoid the risks of transportation."

Xiao Ce nodded in satisfaction and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Zhong!"

"Your Highness is too kind. These are all just my duties. I just don't understand why you want to make money from these things."

Xiao Ce said, "That's a secret. You'll find out once we get to the Northern Desert! Have you arranged everything else?"

Lin Zhong nodded and said, "Everything has been arranged! The invitations have already been sent out."

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go change my clothes now."

...

Half an hour later, Lin Zhong hurriedly found the man who was writing and drawing at the table.

"Uncle Zhong, what's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"I'm here!" Lin Zhong replied with a rather unpleasant expression.

Xiao Ce asked in surprise, "Has what Father promised arrived?"

Lin Zhong nodded.

"Uncle Zhong, why do you have that expression?" Xiao Ce asked, puzzled.

Lin Zhong said with a grim expression, "Your Highness, you'll know once you go out and take a look."

Xiao Ce put down his pen and paper, pointed to the sketches he had drawn on the table, and said to Da Lei, who was standing to the side, "Da Lei, put all these things away and keep them with you at all times."

After saying that, he followed Lin Zhong out.

As soon as I stepped outside, I saw that the area outside the house was bustling with people.

Xiao Yang stood not far away with a mocking expression on his face.

Seeing Xiao Ce walk out, Xiao Yang rushed up to him, his face full of eager anticipation to see me make a fool of myself: "Your Highness... no, you are no longer the Crown Prince."

"Xiao Ce, I have been ordered by His Majesty to bring you three thousand elite soldiers, as well as the promised funds and provisions!"

When Xiao Yang said this, his mouth was harder to control than an AK.

Xiao Ce then looked at the so-called three thousand soldiers behind Xiao Yang.

These are clearly three thousand prisoners, all still in shackles and wearing their prison uniforms.

The so-called "money and grain" consisted of a cartload of grain and two large boxes of copper coins.

This is at most ten bushels of grain, and those copper coins, converted into silver, would be at most one hundred taels of silver.

Is this some kind of beggar's getaway?

Xiao Ce was indeed somewhat prepared. He had considered that the emperor might be shameless and shortchange him. However, he never expected the emperor to be this shameless.

These three thousand prisoners, each one looking like a vicious and ruthless villain, are not sending three thousand soldiers, they are clearly sending three thousand living fathers.

"Second brother, you've got it wrong. Father didn't promise these things yesterday."

Xiao Yang said, "Yes, that's what Father Emperor said. But each government office has its own hardships."

"With riots raging everywhere, manpower is extremely scarce. Money and food are even tighter! But don't worry! These are IOUs written to you by the officials from various departments."

As he spoke, Xiao Yang took out a stack of IOUs and handed them to Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce took it and glanced at it.

It is indeed an IOU, but it doesn't specify when it will be repaid, which is clearly an attempt to renege on the agreement!

"Xiao Ce, why do you look so pale? You're not planning to disobey the imperial decree, are you?"

Xiao Ce, looking grim, shoved the IOU back into Xiao Yang's hand.

Xiao Yang's face darkened instantly, and he said sternly, "What? You don't want Father Emperor's favor? Are you defying the imperial decree?"

Xiao Ce looked around and saw that the crowd of people who had gathered to watch the show had already gathered.

He deliberately raised his voice and said, "Second brother, I appreciate Father's kindness!"

"However, since the finances of my Great Xiao Kingdom are so tight and the manpower is so scarce, it would be wrong of me to make any further demands! These IOUs will be returned to the relevant government offices! Consider this my way of doing something for the Great Xiao Kingdom before I leave."

Then Xiao Ce asked, "Uncle Zhong, go and tally up His Majesty's rewards!"

Lin Zhong didn't move, but cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, there are a total of twelve shi of grain and one hundred and thirty-six guan of copper coins."

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "Very well! Your son thanks Your Majesty for the three thousand death row inmates, twelve shi of grain, and one hundred and thirty-six strings of copper coins!"

As he spoke, he bowed in gratitude towards the direction of the palace.

"Outrageous! Xiao Ce, what do you mean! Are you trying to frame Father for withholding your rewards? Father has already given the order! A king's word is law! It's just that the various government offices can't produce them right now! And they've already given you IOUs, it's not that they won't give them to you! You're the one who refused to accept them, and now you want to falsely accuse Father of withholding your rewards?"

Seeing Xiao Yang's anxiety, Xiao Ce sneered, "Second brother, I didn't mean that. I was thinking, since the various government offices really can't afford it, I'll just give up! I'll rely on my own efforts to fight the Turks in the northern desert!"

"If you refuse the Emperor's reward, you will be disobeying the imperial decree!"

Xiao Ce asked meaningfully, "Second brother, are you sure you want me to accept this?"

Xiao Yang understood Xiao Ce's implication and thought that he should openly say that he had not received any reward from the emperor. In this way, he would have an explanation.

Xiao Yang naturally wouldn't let him succeed: "That's right! A king's word is law. Father has given you all the rewards you deserved! You've received them all! If you don't accept them, you're disobeying the imperial decree."

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Since you put it that way, Second Brother, I won't stand on ceremony."

As he spoke, Xiao Ce took the IOU, spat on his fingers, and began counting it.

He then looked at Xiao Yang and said loudly, "Second brother, is that what you said? Father Emperor ordered all government offices to give me the full amount of the reward!"

Xiao Yang quickly replied, "Of course. Father Emperor takes the threat of the Turks in the northern desert very seriously! That's why he bestowed so many troops and provisions upon you! However, the various government offices simply cannot afford it right now, so they had no choice but to issue IOUs! It has absolutely nothing to do with Father Emperor; it's all a problem of the various government offices."

Upon seeing this, Xiao Ce revealed a triumphant smile.

He then bowed towards the palace and said, "Thank you, Father Emperor, for the generous gifts of 100,000 taels of gold, 1 million taels of silver, and 500,000 shi of grain! On behalf of the people of the northern desert and the soldiers guarding the border, your son expresses his deepest gratitude to Father Emperor! Long live Father Emperor! Long live Father Emperor! Long live Father Emperor!"

After doing all this, he said to Xiao Yang, "Alright, second brother, you can go back now. Thank you for making this trip in person."

Xiao Yang never expected that Xiao Ce would accept it so easily.

He had originally planned that Xiao Ce would claim these rewards.

As long as he doesn't accept it, he'll be punished for disobeying the imperial decree, and before leaving, he'll be given another flogging.

However, Xiao Ce obediently accepted it, making his punch land on cotton.

He cursed Xiao Ce inwardly, thinking, "What a coward! How can he be so weak! What a spineless coward."

"You accepted them all? You should know that although these three thousand are death row inmates, they are already registered soldiers. They are going to the northern desert to provide support. If they desert halfway, you will be held responsible."

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Since you've said so, Second Brother! If I don't accept it, I'll be letting down Father's good intentions towards the people and soldiers of the Northern Desert! Thank you for reminding me, Second Brother. I will keep them in check."

As he spoke, Xiao Ce looked at Da Lei to the side and said, "Da Lei, go and remove the handcuffs and shackles from my three thousand fierce generals!"

Da Lei cupped his hands in agreement and stepped forward to help the death row inmates remove their shackles.

Seeing this, Xiao Yang asked, "Xiao Ce, what are you doing?"