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

Yin Weiyong's face showed a hint of appreciation as he said, "Hahaha, he's not rebelling. Didn't you hear what he said?"

"The Crown Prince made several excuses just now, but the Second Prince repeatedly stated that His Majesty's reward was not short of a single penny, and that it was the local government offices that defied the imperial decree and failed to deliver it! Therefore, Your Highness's request is perfectly justified!"

Yin Pan'er's eyes lit up slightly as she said, "So, this is a series of schemes?"

Yin Weiyong nodded and said, "Pan'er, you're right! We've all been deceived by the Crown Prince! Let's go back."

Yin Pan'er looked at Yin Weiyong, somewhat surprised, and asked, "Go back? Aren't we going to go see it?"

Yin Weiyong nodded and said, "No need to look, the Crown Prince is sure to win this round no matter what. Pan'er, let your father prepare your luggage."

Yin Pan'er was somewhat surprised: "Father, you promised me you would go with me? Besides, he is no longer the Crown Prince."

Yin Weiyong's gaze sharpened: "Even if it's not him now, it will definitely be him in the future! Pan'er, you have a very accurate eye!"

After saying that, Yin Weiyong immediately turned the carriage around and went back.

...

Xiao Ce led three thousand death row inmates directly to the Treasury Department.

Rong Heping, Director of the Finance Department.

They had already been waiting at the door after hearing the commotion.

Rong Heping is not tall, about 1.6 meters, and weighs at least 200 kilograms.

So the whole person looks like a ball.

"King of the Northern Desert, what...what are you doing? Are you trying to rebel?"

In terms of relationship, Rong Heping is Xiao Yang's maternal uncle.

Xiao Ce smiled and took out the IOUs from his pocket, walked up to Rong Heping and said, "Lord Rong, did you write these IOUs?"

Rong Heping did not deny it: "That's right, King of the Northern Desert! That's right, it was written by me. King of the Northern Desert, you also know that now..."

Xiao Ce didn't give Rong Heping a chance to plead poverty: "I don't know, does Father Emperor know about the IOU you gave me?"

Xiao Ce's words left Rong Heping speechless.

“Lord Rong, I’m not here to make things difficult for you. Just now, the Second Prince told me that none of your government offices can come up with the money… I understand, and I was already thinking of refusing it! But the Second Prince said that His Majesty’s word is law, and what he has given cannot be taken back. If I don’t accept it, I will be disobeying the imperial decree!”

“Since that’s the case, I have no choice but to accept it. However, since I have no choice but to accept it, this IOU is unacceptable. His Majesty gave it to me last time, and the news has already spread. Now the people and soldiers of the northern desert are all waiting for me. Especially the soldiers guarding the northern border, they are all waiting. If I go there with this IOU, they’ll tear it up.”

"Therefore, please forgive me, Lord Rong! Unless you produce the imperial edict from my father and give me an explanation, I will send my Northern Army with you to see if the Finance Department of our Great Xiao Kingdom truly cannot even come up with this amount of money!"

Xiao Ce paused for a moment, then continued, "Or... is Lord Rong deliberately withholding it?"

Rong Heping's face was grim: "It's not that we don't have money and provisions, it's that the money and provisions have already been used. Your Highness, please don't make things difficult for me."

Seeing that there were quite a few onlookers, Xiao Ce said, "Isn't the expenditure ordered by Father Emperor an expenditure? Lord Rong, I won't make things difficult for you. I don't want the money itself. Your Ministry of Finance is in trouble and doesn't have the funds. As long as Father Emperor agrees to give me the reward in the form of an IOU, I'll accept it!"

As he spoke, Xiao Ce looked at the death row inmates behind him and shouted, "Han Da, which one of you is Han Da?"

Soon, a burly man with a full beard emerged from one side of the line.

"Your Highness, I am Han Da."

"I hereby appoint you as Grand Commander, commanding a thousand men!"

Xiao Ce said to Han Da.

Han Da asked in surprise, "Your Highness...are you sure?"

Xiao Ce learned from the registration information that Han Da was previously a minor commander who led 500 men. He had broken the leg of the powerful man's son in a fit of rage when he saw his younger sister and mother being bullied by local nobles during his vacation.

That's why he was sentenced to death. During his time in the army, he had distinguished himself in many battles, earning the nickname "Hundred-Man Killer," and was exceptionally brave.

Xiao Ce was deeply impressed when he saw this person's information.

Looking at Han Da's physique and appearance now, he has the talent of a general or minister.

"What? Do you think you're incompetent? Or are you too afraid to take the position?"

Han Da cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, Han Da obeys! I will certainly not fail to live up to Your Highness's expectations."

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Alright, then I order you to take a thousand men and guard the Treasury! Either Lord Rong hand over the Emperor's written order, or Lord Rong hand over the money and provisions promised by the Emperor. Otherwise, you must stay with him every step of the way."

Han Da cupped his hands and said, "Yes, sir!"

Rong Heping trembled with rage: "You...you...you...Your Highness...what are you going to do?"

Xiao Ce said to Han Da, "Remember, you must not be disrespectful to Lord Rong. Under no circumstances should you have a conflict with him!"

Han Da bowed and said, "Yes, sir!"

Han Da took command of the troops and immediately selected a thousand men.

Xiao Ce looked at the remaining two thousand men and said, "You have all come with me. You are precious gifts bestowed upon you by the Emperor. How can this be allowed..."

Less than a cup of tea.

Nan Changfeng, the director of the Shangjun Division, was already waiting.

Xiao Ce stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Lord Nan, what brings you here?"

Nan Changfeng was one of the few neutral figures in the court, and he had a good relationship with the King of Zhen.

Nan Changfeng gave a wry smile and said, "Your Highness, you just went to the Treasury Department. With your disturbance in the capital, I had no choice but to know! Naturally, I knew that this was your next target."

Xiao Ce bowed and repeated his earlier explanation of how he had shifted the blame to Xiao Yang.

“Since the Second Prince said that the imperial decree cannot be disobeyed, I originally intended to resolve this matter on my own. However, I dare not disobey the imperial decree. Look at my soldiers, wearing these death row uniforms, it's not a good solution... Going out like this would also damage the royal family's reputation!”

"I request that Lord Nan allocate three thousand sets of armor, weapons, and supplies to us! Just like the Ministry of Finance, if Father Emperor agrees to the IOU, as long as we have Father Emperor's handwritten letter, I will certainly not make things difficult for Lord Nan."

Seeing that Xiao Ce had finished making pleasantries, Nan Changfeng bowed and said, "Your Highness, I understand your situation. May I speak with you privately?"

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Of course."

After Nan Changfeng moved to the side, he said, "Your Highness, aren't you playing with fire? You should know that this is actually His Majesty's intention."

Seeing that Nan Changfeng was speaking frankly, Xiao Ce also got straight to the point: "Lord Nan, how could I not know? But if I hadn't made this scene, after I went to the Northern Desert, those people there would have come to me demanding their money back. Tell me, do you think I could have appeased them with your IOU? If I had my father's letter, it would have been my lifeline."

Nan Changfeng nodded and said, "Your Highness, aren't you afraid that if you do this, His Majesty might become angry and order you to..."

Nan Changfeng didn't finish his sentence, but instead made a throat-slitting gesture.