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

Xiao Ce scribbled and drew on the Turkic map that Zhang Yunqing had given him.

I sneezed a few times for no reason.

"Which bastard is cursing me?"

Amidst the cursing and swearing, the seasonal girls spoke up, "Your Highness, Boss Zhang has arrived."

Xiao Ce stretched and said, "Let him in."

Zhang Yunqing entered with a bow, and then gave Xiao Ce a deep salute.

"Greetings, Your Highness... Long live Your Highness! Long live Your Highness! Long live Your Highness!"

Xiao Ce waved his hand: "Alright, you don't need to perform this grand ceremony anymore! Get up."

Zhang Yunqing didn't hesitate as before and got up quite readily.

"Your Highness, the cement plant you arranged is already in place. The technical advisor you sent has also arrived! I've seen the cement; it's simply amazing..."

As soon as he got up, Zhang Yunqing began to boast about the amazing qualities of the cement. As a successful businessman, he had also keenly sensed a business opportunity.

Once this product becomes widespread, the profits will be incredibly huge.

Xiao Ce watched Zhang Yunqing talking animatedly and waved his hand, saying, "I didn't call you here to talk about this."

Upon seeing this, Zhang Yunqing stopped abruptly and looked at Xiao Ce.

"I wonder why Your Highness has summoned me here?"

Xiao Ce said to Zhang Yunqing, "Do you know anything about the geography of the Turks? Was the map you gave me earlier accurate?"

Zhang Yunqing nodded repeatedly: "Your Highness, of course... I measured that map out with my own feet. I know it like the back of my hand! Every road is perfectly straight."

As he spoke, he suddenly thought of something, paused, and said to Xiao Ce, "However, Your Highness, some of these roads are narrow paths, which are suitable for a few hundred people to pass through, but not for a large army!"

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "Alright, as long as you understand! Go back and prepare, and come with me early tomorrow morning."

Zhang Yunqing looked puzzled: "Your Highness? Where are you going?"

“Go to the Turks!” Xiao Ce said calmly.

Zhang Yunqing was even more puzzled: "Tomorrow?"

Xiao Ce nodded: "Is there a problem?"

Zhang Yunqing shook his head: "Your Highness, may I ask what brings you there?"

Xiao Ce said to Zhang Yunqing, "Attack the Turks!"

Zhang Yunqing wanted to ask more questions.

Xiao Ce interrupted him, saying, "The less you know, the better!"

Zhang Yunqing nodded awkwardly: "Then, Your Highness, is there anything I should prepare?"

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, "No need, I've already made all the necessary preparations! Just take care of yourself! Alright, go back early. Wait for me outside the city gate at 3 AM tomorrow!"

Zhang Yunqing nodded awkwardly.

Xiao Ce said to Zhang Yunqing, "Zhang Yunqing, I won't let you make this trip for nothing!"

Zhang Yunqing gave an awkward smile and said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, it is my honor to serve you! However, Your Highness, have you heard that the Turks are gathering troops? It would be more prudent for us to hold our ground this time."

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "I want to catch him off guard..."

Zhang Yunqing was very curious, but he didn't ask any further questions.

"Then I shall go back and make arrangements for my men."

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "You can do this cement business with the Chamber of Commerce... do them a favor. There are many places that need cement, and you can't handle it all by yourself! Besides, the profit margin on cement is only a few percent."

Zhang Yunqing verbally agreed, but his face showed reluctance.

Xiao Ce smiled at Zhang Yunqing and asked, "What's wrong? Are you reluctant to part with it?"

Zhang Yunqing shook his head: "Of course not, I'm willing to part with it! I'm willing to part with it! This property was originally given to me by the Prince!"

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "What do you think of that fine wine?"

Zhang Yunqing was taken aback at first, then he praised it highly.

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "How about I make you the exclusive distributor of that fine wine when we get back?"

"Exclusive agency?"

Zhang Yunqing uttered the word with a trembling voice. Although he did not understand what "exclusive agency" meant, he had a vague idea of ​​what it meant.

"Exclusive agency means you'll have exclusive rights to sell this fine wine. You just need to give it to me, and I'll set the price for you. How much you sell and how much you earn is entirely up to you!"

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Zhang Yunqing knelt down with a thud and kowtowed to Xiao Ce: "Thank you, Your Highness! Your Highness, this humble subject will go and prepare immediately!"

Zhang Yunqing naturally knew that the benefits of cement could not be compared to those of fine wine.

After returning, Zhang Yunqing urgently convened a meeting with the merchants still in Kyoto.

The powerful and wealthy families fled quickly, but these businessmen were not in a hurry to leave.

Because they were waiting for Xiao Ce to give them a chance to make money.

After Zhang Yunqing handed over the cement industry to them, they were initially uninterested, but after learning about the properties of cement...

Everyone was eager to do it.

After all, cement can be used not only in civilian construction but also in war, and it is needed for building bridges and roads.

With such high demand, it's bound to be profitable.

These merchants, although they could make money before, were exploited by various noble families, and by the time the money reached them, the profits were very thin!

Now Zhang Yunqing followed their lead and said that as long as it was from the Chamber of Commerce and he was loyal to Xiao Ce, he wouldn't be exploited!

Most importantly, Xiao Ce would not exploit them.

They were naturally happy with this.

...

After seeing Zhang Yunqing off, Xiao Ce went to sleep.

Before dawn the next day, Xiao Jiu excitedly whispered to Xiao Ce.

"Your Highness, it's time!"

When Xiao Ce woke up, he saw that Xiao Jiu had already changed into the camouflage uniform he had prepared.

This outfit was custom-made by Qian Lai, whom Xiao Ce had asked. Although it's not quite the same as the camouflage uniforms of later generations, it's more than enough for this purpose.

After Xiao Ce changed into his new clothes, he went outside and found Qian Lai waiting at the door.

"Your Highness, everything is ready."

Xiao Ce nodded and said to Qian Lai, "Uncle Lai, I'm leaving this place to you. Pan'er's wishes are my wishes. Take good care of her!"

Qian Lai nodded respectfully: "Your Highness, please rest assured. Your Highness, please take care on your journey! This old servant will pray for you day and night!"

Xiao Ce smiled and said to Qian Lai, "Don't worry, the person who can kill me hasn't been born yet."

Then, Xiao Ce said to Qian Lai, "Oh, and keep a close eye on Nie Bing for me. Do as I told you, if there's any problem, get rid of her immediately!"

Qian Lai's expression changed slightly, then he nodded.

He gave the instructions and hurried out.

...

At this moment, not far from Xiao Ce, Yin Pan'er and Nie Bing were hiding on one side.

“Pan’er, since you’re already here, why don’t you go and see her off yourself?” Nie Bing asked.

Yin Pan'er shook her head: "I'm not going! Sister, do you think he's really going to his death with a thousand soldiers?"

Nie Bing gave a wry smile: "If I had met him when we first met, I would have thought he would go and die. But along the way, he has accomplished one seemingly crazy thing after another! He's not the kind of person who would throw his life away!"

Yin Pan'er nodded, watching his retreating figure: "Every time, I feel like I can see right through him. But he always manages to surprise me!"

"Some were frightened!"

...

Outside Lingxiao City, Xiao Ce said to Qian Lai, "Uncle Lai, no need to see me off! If all goes well, I'll be back in a month!"

Qian Lai bowed and said, "Take care, Your Highness!"

Xiao Ce rode 'Iron Egg' and Xiao Jiu for only a few miles.

Then I saw a grove of trees where people were gathered.

As they approached on horseback, Yan Jia led a cavalry unit, also dressed in camouflage uniforms!

After seeing Xiao Ce by the moonlight, the group dismounted.

"See you, my lord!"

These men carried a composite crossbow on their backs, a repeating crossbow at their waists, and a machete at their sides.

Xiao Ce nodded: "Do you know what we're going to do?"

"Attack the Turks!"

Xiao Ce addressed the crowd, saying, "You only have a thousand men and six thousand horses, no provisions, no supplies, and no reinforcements! Are you afraid?"

The crowd shook their heads in unison, their voices low, yet their authority was still undeniable.

"Your Highness! We are not afraid!"

Xiao Ce could even hear a hint of excitement in their voices.

Satisfied, he said, "Very well! I will stand with you all, through thick and thin!"

"Furthermore, I'm leading you to fight the enemy, not to die!"

"This operation is not an attack on the Turks. It would be more appropriate to describe it as a 'blitzkrieg against the Turks'!"

"As the name suggests, a blitzkrieg requires speed! Therefore, we have no provisions! However, we have provided you with strong liquor and beef jerky, which should be enough to sustain us until we reach the Turks!"

"Once we reach the Turkic Khaganate, our supplies will be in the homes of the Turks! We can resupply by killing them! I've named this cavalry unit the Ghost Cavalry. As the name suggests, we'll appear like ghosts in unexpected places anytime, anywhere, and kill them!"

After Xiao Ce finished speaking, he said, "This is a chance for you to make money. For every Turk you kill, I will reward you with one tael of gold! After you kill the Turks, remember to cut off their ears so that you can come and settle accounts with me at the end."

"If this goes smoothly, each of you will earn a hundred gold coins! But if anyone dies in this operation, don't worry! I will give your family a thousand gold coins in compensation!"

The crowd excitedly greeted Xiao Ce, saying, "Long live the Prince!"

After Xiao Ce finished speaking, he said, "Let's go!"

As the night deepened, a large cavalry force moved swiftly through the darkness...