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

Everyone looked at Xiao Ce, completely bewildered.

After all, Xiao Ce is clearly in a situation where he is attacked from both sides, so how can it be said that "heaven is helping me"?

Even Yin Pan'er, who was standing next to Xiao Ce, thought that Xiao Ce must have misheard her to say that!

"Your Highness, are you sure you heard correctly? They said the Turks are already gathering their troops and preparing for a major attack!"

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "That's right! I know."

With that, Xiao Ce began to answer their questions.

"First of all, there's no rush regarding the food! I will have the Turks obediently send it to us!"

Everyone stared wide-eyed at Xiao Ce, their expressions as if they were looking at a madman.

However, no one dared to interrupt Xiao Ce.

"Secondly, there's the situation in Kyoto. They're not really aware of the situation here! You should reply to them as heads of the family, and try to appease them by saying that you've been following their demands and have trapped me, refusing to give us food. Keep them calm and put everything under their control! I'll deal with the Turks first, and then we can deal with them when I have more free time!"

The group nodded after listening to Xiao Ce's words.

"However, Your Highness, if you hang their heads at the city gate, the news that you killed the four family heads will probably not be able to be concealed!"

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "There's no need to hide anything. Just reply to their letters normally. They'll think these are all rumors. I'll also spread some misleading information. When the true and false news reaches the capital, they won't be able to distinguish between them. They'll naturally accept your message."

"Also, we must complete the population census and ID card registration as soon as possible! I will send someone to coordinate with you on the rules for issuing ID card numbers. With ID cards, the guards at the city gates will be able to effectively identify spies. Anyone without an ID card will be a spy."

Kan Shanyue asked from the side, "Your Highness, what does this ID card look like? Couldn't it be forged?"

Before Xiao Ce could speak, Yin Pan'er explained, "Patriarch Kan, this ID card has multiple layers of anti-counterfeiting measures! Our ID card number contains secrets; it can be distinguished by each person's birthplace, gender, and other numerical values. If someone forges it, they certainly wouldn't know its meaning, allowing investigators to conduct a preliminary screening!"

"Secondly, even if someone knew this secret and forged it, there are multiple registrations and records! Everyone's identity information is filed in the government office and the archives. If an investigation is conducted, it will be known whether it is forged!"

Finally, the numbers above are not something that just anyone can understand!

As she spoke, Yin Pan'er took out an ID card with a row of numbers on it.

These numbers are not written as I, II, III, IV as they are written here, but rather using the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, 4...

"Family heads, can you understand those numbers above?"

The head of the family stepped forward: "Are these patterns numbers?"

Yin Pan'er nodded, saying with a hint of pride, "These are characters created by the Prince himself. They're much simpler than the usual writing system. This one represents 3, this one represents 6, this one represents 9..."

As Yin Pan'er taught these Arabic numerals, everyone exclaimed in disbelief...

Xiao Ce said, "Using these numbers can simplify many things! You can send some people here to learn. I'll have the Princess arrange things for you later!"

Everyone nodded.

Although the dishes at this state banquet were ordinary, everyone enjoyed the meal very much.

Needless to say, those from prominent and powerful families knew that they could leave after finishing this meal.

For them to escape alive from Xiao Ce, this 'murderous maniac,' was a stroke of luck.

After all, even the heads of the four powerful families in the northern desert, and Bao An, who ruled over a region, had all been killed by Xiao Ce. If Xiao Ce wanted to kill them, it would be as easy as playing a game for him.

The new four family heads reaped even greater rewards, having admitted that their promise to Xiao Ce involved an element of gambling.

Now, after getting to know Xiao Ce, I've truly discovered his abilities.

They felt that Xiao Ce's ingenious ideas were beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

As a result, Xiao Ce's entire army completed a circuit.

This state banquet was already coming to an end.

Xiao Ce put on this 'military parade' mainly for these noble families and the common people to watch.

His goal was achieved!

At least, these people had a neat and orderly formation and a spirited demeanor, which they had never seen in ordinary soldiers.

"Alright! From now on, follow the Princess for anything you need to do. If the Princess has any decisions she can't make, she'll come and ask me! If there's nothing else, go back and get on with it as soon as possible."

"And Cai Yong, take all the wealth you brought from Cai Tianming's residence back and add it to your prefecture's treasury as funds to improve people's livelihoods. The same goes for the other families!"

The four family heads bowed in unison.

"Your Highness obeys."

Xiao Ce said with a serious expression, "I'm telling you, don't think about making money now. Once things stabilize here, I will lead you to make money. And let me be frank with you, if you dare to embezzle the people's hard-earned money, I will not forgive you!"

Everyone bowed.

"Your Highness, should we allocate some of your money to you? After all, you have so many disaster victims to feed and such a large army to support. The daily expenses are a considerable sum! After all, you want to make money, but now your connection with the Central Plains has been severed..."

Xiao Ce waved his hand and said, "No need. Let me tell you, I have plenty of money!"

Yin Pan'er looked at Xiao Ce with a strange expression and looked at him with concern.

Although she didn't say anything, she still had some reservations about Xiao Ce's actions.

After all, Xiao Ce was truly not in charge of the household and didn't know the cost of daily necessities.

Xiao Ce did indeed have a considerable income, but his expenses were also enormous. The military pay for Xiao Ce's army, if placed in the Central Plains, could support an army of hundreds of thousands.

She had originally planned to recoup some of the money she had seized from Cai Tianming's family. However, Xiao Ce simply waved his hand and said he didn't want it anymore.

It should be noted that Xiao Ce's income mainly came from doing business with merchants in Anhua City's Chamber of Commerce, but now the emperor has cut off this avenue.

Xiao Ce had no further income. The only thing she could think of was selling the snow salt and frosting sugar to the wealthy families in the area.

However, the market here is only so big, far smaller than the market in the Central Plains.

Although she was anxious and worried, seeing Xiao Ce's confident expression, she suppressed her doubts.

Seeing that they were all staring at him, as if they had something else to say, Xiao Ce asked, "Is there anything else?"

Kan Shanyue cupped his hands in greeting: "Your Highness, then please choose one from each family."

Xiao Ce was bewildered by Kan Shanyue's abrupt question and looked at him with slight confusion, asking, "Choose one? Choose what?"

Liu Qi chimed in, "We'll pick one of our children and bet it on you..."

Xiao Ce was speechless and waved his hand, saying, "What are you talking about? I don't need you. My principle has always been to not use those I doubt, and to trust those I use. Besides, if any of you were to rebel against me, it wouldn't matter how many people I have here."

"Besides, I see everything you do. No one can betray me under my watchful eye! My silence is just giving you a chance. Once I speak, it will be your death day."

Although Xiao Ce was speaking to the heads of the four new major families, Nie Bing behind him had a very complicated expression.

The members of the four major families nodded respectfully.

With that, Xiao Ce announced the end of the event.

After the state banquet ended, none of the dignitaries lingered and left immediately.

Go home each.

The people of Lingxiao City were all talking about it.

Xiao Ce's speech quickly spread like wildfire, and everyone was very grateful to have such a good prince.

...

After leaving the banquet, Xiao Ce went to find Yan Jia.

"Yan Jia, how's the training of your elite troops going?"

Yan Jia cupped his hands and said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness's three thousand elite cavalry have become proficient in using all kinds of weapons, and their tactics and strategies are well-coordinated."

Xiao Ce said to Yan Jia, "Good! Go and select the 1,000 most elite cavalry! Tomorrow morning, we will march on the Turks!"

Yan Jia was taken aback when he heard Xiao Ce's words.

"Your Highness, are you saying you will send troops to the Turks tomorrow?"

Xiao Ce nodded: "That's right!"

Seeing that Xiao Ce was not joking, Yan Jia cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, how many troops should be arranged so that I can prepare the necessary provisions and supplies?"

"Didn't I say I would arrange for a thousand elite cavalry? They shall wait for me outside the city before dawn tomorrow! No need to prepare provisions or supplies; travel light!"

Yan Jia listened to Xiao Ce's words, his expression of doubt deepening: "Your Highness, you said a thousand elite cavalry, what are they going to do? Go and gather information? Your Highness, you don't need to go yourself, I can arrange professional scouts!"

After hearing Yan Jia's words, Xiao Ce laughed and said, "What do you mean by spying? I'm going to lead a thousand elite troops to attack the Turks!"

Yan Jia's expression was strange, but looking at Xiao Ce's expression, it didn't seem like he was joking.

A thought flashed through my mind: Is it crazy to send a thousand elite cavalry to attack the Turks?

Xiao Ce saw the doubt in Yan Jia's heart and continued to instruct, "Didn't I tell you to each raise six horses? Tomorrow morning, each of you will take six horses and two hundred arrows with you!"

As he spoke, Xiao Ce said to Xiao Jiu beside him, "Xiao Jiu, have you prepared a thousand leather bags filled with liquor and beef jerky?"

Xiao Jiu bowed and said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, everything is ready!"

Xiao Jiu looked at Xiao Ce with a burning gaze as she spoke.

Xiao Ce said to Xiao Jiu, "Do you want to come along too?"

Xiao Jiu knew about Xiao Ce's attack plan beforehand and had previously asked Xiao Ce for permission to attack.

Xiao Jiu nodded excitedly, "Your Highness, please let me follow you. I've already learned archery these past few days, and I promise I won't hold you back..."

Xiao Ce looked at Xiao Jiu's eager expression: "Alright! Dare to go? Aren't you afraid?"

Xiao Jiu's eyes gleamed with excitement: "Your Highness, I dare! I've been looking forward to this for a long time! Killing just one Turk is a win!"

Xiao Ce saw Yan Jia standing there in a daze, seemingly still unable to accept it!

Xiao Ce laughed and said, "Yan Jia, are you scared?"

Yan Jia then came to his senses: "Your Highness, of course I'm not afraid! Even with a thousand soldiers, without supplies and provisions, how can we possibly attack the Turkic army? They have tens of thousands of cavalry. If we were to fight with a thousand elite cavalry, no matter how strong we are, we wouldn't even be enough to fill their teeth!"

Xiao Ce revealed a confident expression: "Have you heard of blitzkrieg?"