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

Xiao Ce gave a bitter smile, a ruthless look appearing on his face. "In the past ten years, they haven't been able to kill me. Now, there's even less chance! I have done nothing wrong in today's events. Father, even if you want to kill me, you need a reason."

Nan Changfeng smiled and said, "Your Highness, you are right. It seems that Lord Xing was right. Your Highness is truly a man of great talent and inner strength. The entire Great Xiao court has misjudged you. Our Great Xiao Kingdom is losing a great loss by losing you as its crown prince."

Upon seeing this, Xiao Ce looked at the death row inmates on one side.

"We are so grateful to Lord Xing for giving us these treasures."

Nan Changfeng followed Xiao Ce's gaze and said, "I didn't expect that Your Highness would discover the difference between these people in such a short time? It seems that Lord Xing's painstaking efforts have not been in vain."

Xiao Ce said, "Then, Lord Nan, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll just trouble you to go to the palace and tell His Majesty my thoughts truthfully."

As he spoke, Xiao Ce walked to Nan Changfeng's ear and whispered it to him.

After listening, Nan Changfeng looked at Xiao Ce in surprise, cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, you are truly a genius. This way, both can be achieved."

Xiao Ce waved his hand: "You flatter me, Lord Nan! It's just that I'm troubling you."

Nan Changfeng cupped his hands and said, "It's my duty."

After saying that, Nan Changfeng hurriedly went to the palace.

...

Seeing this, Xiao Ce called out a name from the remaining team.

"Swallow armor".

A tall, thin man stepped out from the crowd.

The man had an ordinary appearance, but he had a hooked nose and sharp eyes.

I could tell at a glance that this person was extraordinary.

Xiao Ce discovered Yan Jia while looking at the information about them.

This man served as an archer in the army and claimed to have the skill of hitting a willow leaf from a hundred paces away.

He was convicted of desertion and sentenced to death.

However, Xiao Ce did not believe that such a person would desert.

There must be something hidden behind this.

"Your Highness, I'm here!"

Xiao Ce didn't waste any words: "I hereby appoint you as Grand Commander, commanding a thousand men. You can choose yourself. Wait here!"

Yan Jia was stunned after hearing Xiao Ce's words: "Your Highness, I was a deserter and was sentenced to death."

Xiao Ce looked at Yan Jia and said coldly, "I only believe what I see! Everyone says I'm a good-for-nothing, do you think I am?"

Yan Jia shook his head with his sharp eyes: "No!"

Xiao Ce patted Yan Jia on the shoulder: "I have never misjudged you. Do you think you would still desert?"

Yan Jia's gaze was firm: "Of course not."

Xiao Ce then stopped wasting words and said, "Then let's do a good job."

With that, Xiao Ce led the remaining thousand men back to the Crown Prince's residence.

Upon arriving at the Crown Prince's residence, they saw many carriages parked at the entrance.

Lin Zhongzheng was greeting them at the door.

Watching Xiao Ce return with his large entourage.

Lin Zhong walked over and asked, "Your Highness, is everything going smoothly?"

Xiao Ce replied with a smile, "Of course everything went smoothly. Have all the dignitaries from the capital arrived? We'll begin once they've arrived."

Seeing this, Lin Zhong asked, "Your Highness, do you really want to sell?"

"If I'm not selling, what's the point of keeping it? Either I don't come back at all, or if I do, I'll be living in the palace!"

Before this day, Lin Zhong would have thought the Crown Prince was talking nonsense.

However, after Xiao Ce's series of actions today, he felt that it was not impossible.

"Your Highness, even those powerful and wealthy people wouldn't dare to come after you causing such a scene in the capital. Only some merchants have shown up."

"Merchants are fine too, since merchants have money."

As Xiao Ce spoke, he instructed Lin Zhong to lead the way.

...

At this moment, Rong Heping was already in the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the palace.

"Your Majesty, the King of Mobei has been appointed, and he has surrounded the Ministry of Finance with three thousand death row inmates. This is an attempt to rebel..."

Rong Heping embellished Xiao Ce's accusations.

Xiao Dingbang's face turned ashen. He slammed his fist on the table and said, "That good-for-nothing beast! He beat Yang'er first, and now he dares to openly lead troops to block the imperial court! I'm still in the palace, and he dares to be so arrogant and do evil!"

Xiao Yang quickly chimed in, "Yes! Father, has that good-for-nothing Xiao Ce gone mad?"

Xiao Dingbang stood up with a dark face: "Go and summon all the Black Armor Guards to me. Come with me to see what he's up to..."

As soon as I stepped out, I bumped into Nan Changfeng, who was rushing over.

Rong Heping hurriedly said, "Lord Nan, why are you in such a hurry? Is your Shangjun Division also surrounded?"

Nan Changfeng nodded, cupped his hands, and said to Xiao Dingbang, "Your Majesty, the King of Mobei has come with an IOU, asking us for weapons and armor for three thousand fierce generals, as well as money and provisions."

Xiao Dingbang said, "Hmph, is he openly challenging me? Then I'll go and see for myself!"

“Your Majesty, I believe it is inappropriate for you to go. Haven’t you heard? This matter actually has little to do with the King of Mobei,” Nan Changfeng said.

Xiao Dingbang was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

Rong Heping, who had just added fuel to the fire and hadn't even mentioned anything detrimental to Xiao Yang, quickly said, "Lord Nan, what do you mean by this? Does this mean His Majesty is in the wrong?"

Nan Changfeng looked at Rong Heping and said, "Lord Rong, didn't you tell His Majesty the truth? If it weren't for the Second Prince's interference, things wouldn't have come to this."

Xiao Dingbang looked at Rong Heping and Xiao Yang beside him, and seeing that the two were avoiding eye contact, he guessed what was going on.

"Professor Nan, what do you mean by that?"

Nan Changfeng then explained the whole story.

"Father, my original intention was..."

Xiao Dingbang waved his hand and said, "Yang'er, you did well! And you said well too? That good-for-nothing was just using this opportunity to cause trouble."

Nan Changfeng was shocked. He knew the emperor was biased, but he never expected the emperor to be so biased.

When you really can't stand someone, even their breathing seems wrong.

He then realized that the current internal and external troubles of the Great Xiao Dynasty were not unrelated to the Emperor before him.

Seeing that Xiao Dingbang did not blame him, Xiao Yang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Father, then, shall we arrest him on charges of treason?"

Nan Changfeng hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, you mustn't! The entire city knows about this matter now, thanks to the King of Mobei! Moreover, the King of Mobei is in the right. If we rashly arrest him, I fear..."

Seeing that Nan Changfeng stopped halfway through his sentence, Xiao Dingbang asked, "What are you afraid of?"

Nan Changfeng prostrated himself on the ground: "I fear this could lead to a popular uprising! If the news reaches the northern desert, with the Turkic war imminent, it could also shake the morale of the army!"

Xiao Dingbang's gaze was sharp; he was actually regretting it.

He has now completely shot himself in the foot.

"Then, Lord Nan, what do you think?" Xiao Dingbang asked.

Nan Changfeng said, "Actually, the King of Mobei doesn't want His Majesty's reward. He wants His Majesty's protection, since the news of His Majesty's reward to the King of Mobei has already spread. Part of these rewards are for rewarding the army! If the King of Mobei were to use an IOU to reward the army, it might cause unrest!"

"Therefore, I believe that we can first replenish the weapons, money and food for the three thousand death row inmates. Then, we can provide some money and food to reward the army. As for the reward for the King of Mobei, the King of Mobei himself said that he can understand."

"Then Your Majesty can write an IOU for the fiefdom of the Northern Desert King, reward the army, and distribute weapons, money, and provisions to the three thousand condemned prisoners."

"In this way, it can be shown that the court is indeed in a difficult situation, but even under such difficult circumstances, it is still willing to reward the soldiers guarding the border! This will demonstrate the power of the emperor and also silence the murmurs of the people."

Xiao Dingbang's eyes lit up slightly as he listened, and he said, "Do you think he will agree? Then how much grain do you think is appropriate?"

Nan Changfeng said, "Your Majesty, if you trust me, I will certainly satisfy the King of Mobei. There are a total of 40,000 garrison troops in the four prefectures of Mobei. According to the rules of the Shangjun Division for rewarding soldiers, each person usually receives between five and ten taels of silver. I believe that the Great Xiao Kingdom is in financial straits. Therefore, I suggest that each person be rewarded with five taels of silver and five catties of grain."

"In this way, the total amount of money and provisions for rewarding the army is 200,000 taels of silver and 2,000 shi of grain. Including the provisions for the 3,000 death row inmates, the total is 200,000 taels of silver and 10,000 shi of grain, which is enough!"

Although Xiao Dingbang still felt a pang of regret, he agreed nonetheless: "Alright, Lord Rong, you can go with Lord Nan to convey my decree to Xiao Ce."

As he spoke, Xiao Dingbang went and wrote another document.

Nan Changfeng took the emperor's decree and bowed before leaving.

Xiao Yang said indignantly, "Father, did you really give him so much money and grain?"

Xiao Dingbang's face darkened. "Hmph, it's all because of your quick wit. However, I have my own plans. Letting him leave empty-handed will actually keep him safe. Giving him so much money and provisions will definitely slow down his march. Besides, it's like letting a fat sheep parade through the market!"

"How could those rioters not rob him? Lord Nan is right, the portion we gave him was meant to reward the army. If Xiao Ce is robbed of this money and provisions, will the border guards let him go? Then, I can hold him accountable! Then, I can rightfully depose him from the throne! At that time, he will be nothing but a stray dog. Wouldn't killing him be easier than stepping on an ant?"

"Father is wise. If that's the case, he originally wanted to ask us for a life-saving talisman, but we never expected that he would take back a death-bringing talisman instead?" Xiao Yang said excitedly, his previous dejected expression gone.

Xiao Dingbang looked at Xiao Yang's gloating expression and said, "Don't go looking for him before that good-for-nothing leaves. Maybe your Ninth Uncle has already set a trap for you."

Xiao Yang nodded with a swollen face and said, "Father, I know... he'll suffer after he leaves the capital."

At this moment, everyone in the Crown Prince's residence was enthusiastically bidding!

Xiao Ce used an auction method.

At first, these merchants had some reservations.

After all, Xiao Ce was a deposed crown prince. And he caused such a scene in the capital today...

They were terrified that if they spent money to buy a house, it would be confiscated by the emperor.

Later, the king of the town came directly to vouch for it.

Only then did these merchants place their offers.

However, looking at their offers...

Xiao Ce was somewhat disappointed because, after bidding for such a large Crown Prince's residence for so long, they only managed to get a little over 100,000 taels of silver.

It seems that housing prices in ancient times were not very high.

Looking at Xiao Ce's expression, King Xiao Dingshan of Zhen said, "Ce'er, is it too little?"

Xiao Ce looked at the King of Zhen with a wry smile: "Ninth Uncle, this is still out of respect for you. But even a small amount is still something."