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

Xiao Ce just felt that this person looked somewhat familiar.

I couldn't remember who it was for a moment.

Xiao Ce was certain that they were not among the soldiers who went to Yanbei City with him.

Qian Lai came running over.

"Commander Yang, didn't I tell you? I'm going back to report to the Prince, why are you..."

Before Qian could finish speaking, Xiao Ce interrupted, "It's alright, let's go inside and talk."

Xiao Ce looked at the man's face and saw that he was a resilient person. For a grown man to kneel and kowtow, he must have encountered countless difficulties.

Qian Lai watched as Xiao Jiu prepared the horse and asked, "Your Highness, are you going out? If so..."

Xiao Ce waved his hand and said, "It's alright. Your name is..."

The burly man kneeling before Xiao Ce said, "Your Highness, my name is Yang Changlin, and I am the commander of the Imperial Guards of the Northern Desert Prince's Palace."

Xiao Ce nodded: "No wonder you looked familiar. You're the new one, aren't you?"

Qian Lai nodded: "That's right. According to your instructions, Your Highness, both literary and martial arts examinations were conducted. This Yang Changlin is the martial arts champion. Then, based on the investigation conducted by Mr. Night Owl and his team, he was appointed as the commander of the palace's guards."

Xiao Ce nodded. It concerned the safety of the entire Prince's Mansion, so they were definitely more cautious than he was.

He took them back to his residence.

After Xiao Ce sat down, he said to Yang Changlin, "What's this about saving your family?"

Qian Lai was about to speak when Xiao Ce waved his hand, saying, "Uncle Lai, I'm asking him."

Qian Lai smiled awkwardly and nodded.

Yang Changlin then said, "Your Highness, my family originally went to visit relatives in Zhenda County, but they were delayed in Zhenda City of Zhenda County due to the invasion of the Turks."

"Just last night, those Turkic beasts we repelled retreated back to Zhenda City..."

Yang Changlin recounted the tragic events that had occurred in Zhenda City the previous day.

His wife was also violated by the Turks.

After speaking, Yang Changlin's eyes turned bloodshot and his fists clenched tightly.

Xiao Ce's expression was equally grim: "Calling them beasts is giving them too much credit... They're even worse than beasts..."

"Yang Changlin, how did you find out? Their Zhenda City isn't far from here, but it's not close either!"

Yang Changlin cupped his hands and said to Xiao Ce, “Your Highness, in our Lingxiao City there is a Raven Company. Some travelers can rent a raven from the Raven Company to deliver urgent messages. Our family sent us this message last night, asking me for help… After I learned about it, I thought I would go there as soon as possible. However, I know very well that going there would be like a moth flying into a flame. Moreover, I am now the Commander of the Imperial Guards, and now that you have returned, I am responsible for your safety, Your Highness.”

"After much thought, I realized that only Your Highness has a solution. That's why I came to you!"

Seeing that Xiao Ce did not respond, Yang Changlin cupped his hands and said, "If it is inconvenient for you, Your Highness, please temporarily suspend me from my post as commander of the Imperial Guards, and I will find a way to rescue my family myself."

Even if I can't rescue them, I'm going to kill a few Turks!

Xiao Ce snorted coldly and said, "That's just reckless courage. You're supposed to be a martial arts champion, is that all the strategy you have?"

As he spoke, Xiao Ce looked at Qian Lai beside him and asked, "Uncle Lai, how was he chosen? Is he a relative of someone...?"

Qian Lai waved his hands repeatedly: "Your Highness, no, Commander Yang was promoted step by step through the examinations according to your method!"

Yang Changlin's gaze was firm: "Your Highness, I have a way! This way is a last resort, a desperate measure."

Seeing this, Xiao Ce said to Yang Changlin, "Alright, then tell me your plan."

Yang Changlin said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, I humbly request to borrow thirty brothers from the Imperial Guards! We will disguise ourselves as commoners, visit relatives in the city, and then at night, when they are not paying attention, we will assassinate them, making it look like ghosts or monsters have made their move, creating a tragedy. In this way, those Turks will surely be wary and will not wantonly bully the people."

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, "The Turks are worse than beasts. They only fear their gods. Just look at how they occupied our Xiao Kingdom's temples and smashed them all. That shows they are not afraid of our gods and spirits."

"Besides, they're not stupid. Once you've used knives, an autopsy will definitely detect it. At that point, given the Turks' nature, they'll only kill more innocent civilians to vent their anger, and then force you out! What will you do then?"

Yang Changlin fell silent.

Xiao Ce said, "It's not realistic for us to send troops to rescue them right now! Let me tell you a way. It should be able to solve their current predicament."

Yang Changlin looked at Xiao Ce expectantly.

Xiao Ce leaned close to Yang Changlin's ear and whispered something.

Yang Changlin's expression grew increasingly interesting as he listened, eventually filling with admiration.

She knelt down in front of Xiao Ce with a thud: "Your Highness, you are truly a celestial being!"

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "Alright, you agree with this method?"

Yang Changlin nodded: "I agree... Your Highness, I agree completely... Then Your Highness, how about I do it myself?"

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "Alright, not too many people. As for the position of commander of the Imperial Guards here, do you have a deputy?"

Yang Changlin nodded affirmatively.

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Alright, then let your deputy handle it. You also need to be careful."

Yang Changlin was deeply moved: "Thank you, Your Highness!"

As Xiao Ce spoke, he told Xiao Jiu to leave with him. Before leaving, he said to Qian Lai, "If the Princess asks, just say that I went to solve an urgent problem."

Qian Lai bowed knowingly.

After they went out, they rode away on their horses.

Yang Changlin got up and hurriedly prepared to leave.

Qian Lai was very curious, but he didn't dare to ask Xiao Ce earlier.

Then he turned to Yang Changlin and asked, "Commander Yang, what idea did the Prince propose?"

Yang Changlin looked troubled: "His Highness said to keep it a secret; if I tell, it won't be effective anymore..."

Upon seeing this, Qian Lai shut up and stopped talking.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ce rode away on horseback.

Even after changing to a different horse, it still wasn't as exhilarating as 'Iron Egg'.

Xiao Jiu, standing nearby, asked curiously, "Your Highness, what solution did you give Commander Yang? Why is he so agitated?"

Xiao Ce looked at Xiao Jiu and said, "You've been with me for so long, but I haven't really talked to you about military strategy. Now, let me test you!"

Xiao Jiu remained silent for a while, then said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, since we cannot go out to help them, I will find a way to secretly provide them with something similar to a bomb. In dire straits, they can only save themselves! Afterwards, I will incite them to rebel against those powerful clans and aristocratic families. The Turks are indeed despicable."

"However, powerful clans like Cai Yong are even more despicable!"

Xiao Ce, riding his horse, listened to Xiao Jiu's words and nodded approvingly: "You've made progress; my teaching hasn't been in vain!"

Xiao Jiu asked excitedly, "Your Highness, did I guess right?"

"That's partly true! Trying to drive them away in the short term won't work."

Seeing Xiao Jiu's curious expression, Xiao Ce said, "You'll find out when the time comes!"

They left the prince's mansion, and because they were dressed in casual clothes, they did not attract too much attention.

The people here are quite busy; they don't seem to have been affected by the war.

Everyone is busy with their own things.

They first went to the north gate and saw that the soldiers and craftsmen there had begun repairs.

The homemade explosives killed many Turks and also damaged the city walls.

Outside the city, we also saw Han Da, who was busy directing operations.

They were not found either.

Xiao Ce watched as everything proceeded smoothly and nodded in satisfaction.

This was the effect he wanted before he left.

If these cities can still function properly even after he leaves, it proves that his management model is very correct.

He will be able to do more things in the future.

He didn't bother Han Da, and the group left through the north gate upon returning to the city.

After leaving the South Gate, we headed straight for Longhu Village.

After exiting through the south gate, horse-drawn carriages and handcarts came and went in an endless stream.

Most of them were packed in burlap sacks to hold cement, sand, and gravel.

Every city we passed through was reinforcing its defenses, and the work seemed to be in full swing.

Xiao Ce was in a hurry to get to Longhu Village, so he didn't visit these cities.

However, along the way, we saw many people cultivating the land.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce took a break and stopped.

He dismounted and said, "Gentlemen, why are you still cultivating this land in this freezing weather? You can't grow crops in this weather."

A commoner resting next to Xiao Ce glanced at him.

"Young master, judging from your attire, you must be from Lingxiao City."

Xiao Ce smiled, which was taken as tacit agreement.

The commoner laughed and said, "That's right, I can tell you're not one to stay away from the land. If we start cultivating now, we can begin planting in the spring! Now that the King of the Northern Desert has arrived, he's made Lingxiao City an impregnable fortress. Have you heard? They utterly thrashed the Turks!"

"With the protection of the Northern King, we people can farm in peace. Most importantly, according to the Northern King's new land reform policy, as long as we cultivate enough wasteland, not only will we not have to pay taxes on this wasteland for five years, but the land allocated to the king will also be exempt from taxes."

"That way, whatever we collect is ours! Isn't that wonderful? The Northern King promised we'd have enough to eat and money to live on in three years. Those of us willing to work hard can achieve that in just one year..."

Although the commoner's face was gaunt, his eyes were full of hope.

After saying that, they spat twice into their hands and started swinging their hoes again.

"Not only are we commoners doing better, but the Prince is also very kind to you business people. Does your family have a cement business? Recently, many merchants have started to trade cement, sand, and gravel. Moreover, the government is funding the entire purchase. The entire Beiwang County is under construction, and the city defenses are being reinforced. These things are simply a highly profitable business."

"Many young people have been hired by those merchants to burn cement at high prices. Because the merchants are scrambling for workers, the wages are not low!"

Xiao Ce asked, "Northern King's Prefecture? What is that?"

The common people looked at Xiao Ce suspiciously, not even knowing that he knew about the Northern King County.

"These nine cities of ours have just been captured and are now known as the Northern King's Prefecture! How come you don't even know that?"

Xiao Ce, a master of acting, slapped his forehead: "You mean this Beiwang County? I misheard... Of course I know about Beiwang County! How could I not know? Then why don't you go and get some cement?"

Xiao Ce changed the subject, and the people didn't delve into it: "Although you can make money over there, it's only temporary. As long as we don't give up this cultivated land, we can keep farming it ourselves. It's a long-term solution, like a hen that lays eggs! Besides, those merchants are looking for young and strong people. We'll just do what we can."

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "You're right! We each have our own duties, and we're all contributing to the development of the northern desert."

After exchanging a few pleasantries with the people, Xiao Ce left satisfied.

It wasn't until that evening that Xiao Ce arrived at the outskirts of Tiger Leopard Stronghold.

They had just arrived at the outskirts of Tiger and Leopard Stronghold when they were stopped by an army garrison.

Even after Xiao Ce made his identity clear, they still bowed respectfully.

"Your Highness, please forgive us. Without the joint consent of both Lord Zhong and Lord Hu, we cannot allow you to go up... We need to report this!"

Xiao Ce wasn't in a hurry and agreed.

He happened to be here for a visit, and according to the garrison here, they could only defend this entrance.

They only have three thousand troops stationed here, and these three thousand were carefully selected.

Their three thousand garrison troops built a small city at the foot of Tiger and Leopard Stronghold.

It's quite lively here, with carriages bearing the flags of different chambers of commerce.

Most of them transported coarse salt, as well as various grains, or raw materials such as wood and iron.

They were all waiting for the handover.

On the mountain, people would push carts carrying fine salt and wine in exchange for large quantities of raw materials; the specific exchange ratio was likely negotiated between them.

Anyway, this place has turned into a bustling market.

However, the people on the mountain have no contact with the people at the foot of the mountain.

They placed the goods in an open area, and then the guards at the foot of the mountain inspected them before transporting them out.

Xiao Ce thought he wouldn't be able to go up tonight, but before long, Lin Zhong hurriedly came down.

Lin Zhong looked quite haggard from his previous travels, but he seemed to have recovered well after being here.

"Greetings, Your Highness! We have kept you waiting!"

"Not long...not too early, not too late!" Seeing Lin Zhong looking him over, Xiao Ce asked with a smile, "Uncle Zhong, what are you looking at?"

Lin Zhong said with a smile, "Your Highness, the front lines are fraught with danger. I am relieved to see you return unharmed."

Before Xiao Ce could speak, Lin Zhong changed the subject: "By the way, Your Highness, everything you arranged has been taken care of!"