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

Xiao Ce was somewhat surprised: "Could it be that Xiao Dingbang and the others haven't made any moves during this time? Have they changed their minds?"

Lin Zhong smiled and nodded: "Your Highness, that's right, it's not that they've changed their ways... Do you remember when you had those new four great clans send letters?"

Xiao Ce then remembered that he had instructed the new four major clans to reply to the emperor in the capacity of their respective clan heads.

Tell them to tell the emperor that everything is done as he says.

"So that foolish emperor actually believed it?"

Lin Zhong smiled helplessly: "I don't know whether to be happy or sad about having such an emperor."

"According to the King of Zhen, the Emperor was overjoyed to receive news of the four great clans! Moreover, here at Yanmen Pass, the people are following Your Highness's orders, and they are taking turns going to Maoming City dressed in tattered clothes, begging to return to the Central Plains."

"However, naturally, Xing Daorong from Maoming City drove him back! Xing Daorong exaggeratedly said that there were starving people all over the northern desert, and with Xing Daorong's reply, they believed it without a doubt! It is said that the emperor is convinced that you are doomed! He has ordered Xing Daorong to guard Maoming City strictly! After the starving people in the northern desert have all died, he will come and take over the whole thing."

"According to the King of the Town, the reason they believed it so easily is entirely because Your Highness was a good-for-nothing before. You abandoned your post and went overseas, so it's normal to say that you managed this place terribly."

"If you work diligently and manage this place very well, then they will become suspicious!"

After listening to Lin Zhong's words, he chuckled and muttered to himself, "Alright! Alright! Alright! It seems that it's all thanks to the original owner, Xiao Ce, being a bit useless before, that's saved me a lot of trouble..."

Xiao Ce's words confused Lin Zhong.

"Your Highness, what did you say?"

Xiao Ce waved his hand to indicate that he had nothing to say.

Immediately afterwards, Xiao Ce took out a booklet from his person and said, "Uncle Zhong, next, we need to gradually upgrade our industry. You need to find a way to continue recruiting staff. I will have Yin Pan'er contact you about this later."

Lin Zhong nodded: "Your Highness, are we going to increase production?"

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, "No, I will gradually relocate the sugar and refined salt industries. Next, we need to upgrade our weapons; I need you to develop muskets and cannons..."

Xiao Ce then explained his thoughts.

Sugar, salt, and distilled liquor—these were the things Xiao Ce used to amass wealth.

No matter how many people work here, there aren't as many as there are outsiders.

After this trip, he wants to take over the management of the chamber of commerce.

We originally wanted Zhang Yunqing to handle this, but things didn't go according to plan.

Now that Zhang Yunqing has become the Khan of the Turks, this matter still requires his personal attention.

The two sat down and talked until late into the night.

Xiao Ce did all the talking, and Lin Zhong took notes.

...

Not only Xiao Ce was not quiet, but everyone else was also not quiet at this time.

In each of the nine cities of Beiwang County, several people dressed in night clothes and wearing straw hats appeared in the various granaries.

Based on the inspections over the past few days, we have already figured out which sentries are visible and which are not.

They used sedatives to knock out both the visible and hidden sentries in the vicinity.

After confirming that the people were unconscious, they approached the granary and then used 'grain scouts' to check it out. Once they confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the granary, they poured kerosene around it.

Finally, they lit the fire and made sure the entire granary was ablaze before leaving.

Unbeknownst to them, the people waiting in the tunnel sensed the movement and immediately activated the mechanism.

The grain was introduced into the tunnel in an instant.

After these individuals left, they didn't go far; they simply hid in the shadows and watched as the grain was burned to ashes before departing.

Such things were happening continuously in various parts of Beiwang County.

Until dawn, in a courtyard in Lingxiao City, people kept reporting from outside.

Inside the room, a strangely red candle was lit.

For once, Qianlong wasn't wearing a bamboo hat, revealing a fair, handsome face with sharp features. He was dressed in a Zen robe, kneeling on a prayer mat, holding a reddish bone bracelet that had been worn smooth and oily from handling.

Each bead is engraved with a hideous and terrifying face.

Before Qianlong, kneeling in worship, was a picture of a deity.

The image depicts a snake with nine human heads.

As Qianlong listened to the report from the person outside the door, a triumphant smile appeared on his angular face.

He respectfully kowtowed to the nine-headed statue, then carefully put the portrait away.

He slowly and deliberately put on one side of the mask, then put on a gauze hat, donned a monk's robe, and leaned on a silver staff.

He opened the door and saw that all the men he had sent out had arrived.

"Mr. Qianlong, all nine granaries have been inspected, and they were all completely full of stored grain. They have now all been burned to ashes!"

Qianlong nodded: "Alright, make preparations. Tomorrow at dawn, we will leave Lingxiao City and head to the Central Plains to plan for the Turks' conquest of the Central Plains!"

The group bowed and said, "Sir, we obey!"

Qianlong waved his hand: "Alright, then everyone can disperse. It's almost dawn, and this farce should come to an end."

The group dispersed.

Qianlong then said to the young page beside him, "Go and send a message to Cai Yong and the others. The granary here has been destroyed. Tell them to wait here for the internal strife to break out!"

The young pageboy bowed and agreed.

After walking a few steps, he asked Qianlong, "Sir, what about Nie Bing?"

Qianlong pondered for a moment: "I almost forgot about her. We Qianlong people always keep our word. Tell her that she has passed our test, is willing to join us, and meet her family. After dawn, wait for her outside the south gate, and I will take her away."

The young pageboy bowed and left.

As dawn broke, Nie Bing got up and saw a pattern on her door.

After seeing the pattern, Nie Bing knew it was a hidden dragon.

She hurriedly went out and found Wu Ma from before.

Wu Ma then explained Qianlong's intentions.

Nie Bing asked in surprise, "What? Qianlong is leaving?"

Aunt Wu nodded: "That's right, otherwise, they wouldn't have thought of taking you with them. She's trying to get you into the Hidden Dragon Society."

Nie Bing asked, "Aunt Wu, where is he going?"

Aunt Wu shook her head awkwardly: "I don't know about that. But they said it's up to you whether you go or not!"

Nie Bing listened in silence for a moment, then said, "I'll go!"

Her thinking was simple: Xiao Ce's previous goal was to have her infiltrate the Hidden Dragon Society.

This opportunity is unprecedented.

She didn't dawdle; after returning home, she tidied up briefly and left a letter for Yin Pan'er.

She knew very well that if Yin Pan'er had known, she wouldn't have let her take the risk.

Without giving any instructions to anyone else, she immediately left the city alone on horseback.

...

In the city of Chanda on one side, the people's eyes were vacant.

The Turks were committing atrocities on their side, and they had no better option than to submit to their fate.

Yang Changlin traveled for a whole day and finally arrived here.

He sneaked into the city and went straight to a house called Fangzhai.

The house was still quite nice, but it didn't escape the desecration by the Turks.

The main gate was tightly closed, so he climbed over the wall on one side to get in.

This house belonged to his father-in-law. Before he became the top martial arts scholar, he was just a martial artist.

His father-in-law's family were well-known merchants in the city of Chanda. When he had nothing, he took a fancy to a young lady from the Fang family.

Yang Changlin was a man who dared to love and pursue, so he went straight for her. As a result, after meeting Yang Changlin, Master Fang immediately agreed.

Master Fang had a keen eye for talent and recognized Yang Changlin's potential. It was Master Fang who recommended Yang Changlin for the upcoming civil and military examinations.

That's how he passed the imperial examination in one fell swoop.

Therefore, Yang Changlin was still very grateful to the Fang family.

After Yang Changlin sneaked into the Fang residence, he heard a soft sobbing sound.

Following the sound, they walked to the backyard, where a servant saw Yang Changlin and exclaimed in surprise, "Commander Yang!"

After hearing the servant's words, a group of people came out of the house.

"Changlin!"

The woman who led the way was a beautiful woman, Fang Changlin's wife.

Following closely behind were members of the Fang family.

Yang Changlin bowed and greeted them one by one, and the Fang family members returned the greetings one by one.

Seeing that everyone had tears in their eyes and sorrow on their faces, Yang Changlin asked them, "Gentlemen, what happened?"

A beautiful woman standing beside Yang Changlin said with a sorrowful expression, "Husband, Father, he's dying!"