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

Just as the two were talking, Yin Pan'er rushed over.

She had also heard that the garrison at Yanmen Pass had shot and killed more than fifty of Xing Daorong's soldiers in Maoming City.

This matter can be big or small.

After Yin Pan'er expressed her concerns to Xiao Ce,

Xiao Ce smiled helplessly and said to Xiao Jiu, "Go and repeat the analysis you just gave to the Princess."

Xiao Jiu nodded and then repeated what she had to say.

After listening to Xiao Jiu's analysis, Yin Pan'er's expression was not very natural.

"Your Highness, do you really want to rebel?"

Seeing Yin Pan'er's expression, Xiao Ce smiled and said, "It's not that bad...it's not that bad...it's far from that point...you can rest assured. Even if we kill fifty of them, there's nothing to be afraid of. Our Xiao Kingdom has laws that any army must give prior notice or have a troop mobilization document before it can be stationed in any county."

"They didn't submit this document either. These four prefectures in the northern desert are my fiefdom no matter what. They came uninvited! That's their problem."

After listening to Xiao Ce's analysis, Yin Pan'er nodded and said, "Your Highness, you have already thought it through. Then I don't need to worry."

Xiao Ce revealed a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Don't worry. This Xiao Yang never came here with good intentions... He tried to harm me in the capital, but with my cheap old man protecting him, I can't do anything to him... If I let him go back unscathed after coming here, then I'll truly be a useless piece of trash..."

...

Xiao Ce was not in a hurry. After finishing lunch, he went there at a leisurely pace.

As dusk fell, Xiao Ce arrived at Yanmen Pass.

The leader of Yanmen Pass was Mingwu, one of Han Da's subordinates.

Xiao Ce had heard about Ming Wu from Yin Pan'er, Lin Zhong, and Qian Lai.

He is a very capable general.

Mingwu, accompanied by a group of his deputy generals and commanders, came out to greet them.

"This humble general, Mingwu, greets Your Highness!"

After hearing Ming Wu's words, Xiao Ce smiled slightly and said, "General Ming, you've worked hard here."

Mingwu cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, it's no trouble at all. This humble general feels it is an honor to be here!"

Xiao Ce smiled and nodded: "What's the situation outside?"

Mingwu said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, the Second Prince is still outside. This Second Prince is truly very persistent. He has been waiting outside on horseback for a whole day."

Xiao Ce smiled meaningfully and said, "Oh? Still waiting?"

Mingwu nodded.

Xiao Ce laughed and said, "Alright then... take me to see the idiot..."

With that, Xiao Ce had Mingwu lead him up to the Yanmen Pass.

Because we were still some distance away, we couldn't see them very clearly for the time being.

Xiao Ce then took out the 'Thousand-Mile Eye' telescope that he had seized from the Turks.

Indeed, they spotted Xiao Yang riding a horse, standing ramrod straight.

However, the expression on that face looked like it was about to devour someone at any moment.

"Haha, this idiot, is he out of his mind? Just waiting like this?" Xiao Ce said with a laugh.

Mingwu nodded: "Your Highness, that's right...we don't know what it means either?"

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "Alright, come with me and let's go out and have a look."

Da Lei cautiously suggested from the side, "Your Highness, why don't you summon them in?"

Xiao Ce laughed and said, "Look at that idiot, he's been waiting over there for so long. Do you think he'll come in so easily? Don't worry, he's been waiting all this time. He'd love to tear me apart. He wouldn't want to kill me right away."

As he spoke, he told Mingwu to open the door.

...

Just then, the gate of Yanmen Pass slowly opened.

Xing Daorong, standing next to Xiao Yang, exclaimed excitedly, "Second Prince, Second Prince, they've opened the door...they've opened the door!"

Xiao Yang's sinister expression grew even more venomous: "Hmph...that piece of trash has finally arrived! He'll be sorry..."

Meanwhile, Xiao Ce, on the other side, hurriedly rode over.

He ran along, shouting eagerly, "Second Brother! Second Brother! What brings you here? What are you doing standing there like an idiot on your horse? Why don't you come in! Coming here is like coming home! Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Come in!"

Xiao Ce, putting on a convincing performance, rode forward on his horse and spoke with great enthusiasm.

Xiao Yang looked at Xiao Ce's enthusiastic face.

However, Xiao Yang still didn't change; his face remained dark.

"Acting? Keep acting? Why shouldn't I come in? Xiao Ce, tell me why! Is it that I don't want to come in? Did you see those corpses? Your men openly shot arrows at our own people, killing more than fifty of us! Are you trying to rebel?!"

"Xiao Ce, what is your crime?!"

Xiao Yang roared, his face dark.

Xiao Ce looked surprised and fearful: "Second brother, what are you talking about..."

As he spoke, he turned to Mingwu and said sternly, "Mingwu, what's going on here? The soldier who shot and killed my second brother, believe me or not, I will exterminate your entire family!"

Mingwu then followed Xiao Ce's instructions: "Your Highness, you have given an order. No one is allowed to enter without your command, or they will be executed as rebels! We have warned them several times, but they have not retreated! We have no choice but to retaliate!"

"Then you should also see who it is! He's my second brother! My own second brother!" Xiao Ce said, feigning anxiety.

Mingwu cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, if the Second Prince had come alone, I certainly wouldn’t have stopped him. But they’ve brought a large army! And this army isn’t the Second Prince’s army, but the garrison stationed in Maoming City! We dare not be negligent. According to the laws of the Great Xiao Dynasty, a troop mobilization order is required! They haven’t shown it, and we don’t know their purpose, so we cannot let them pass!”

After hearing this, Xiao Ce looked at Xiao Yang and asked, "Second brother, so these aren't your soldiers! Do you have a troop deployment token or a troop deployment order?"

Looking at Xiao Ce's fawning expression, Xiao Yang snorted coldly: "No!"

Mingwu chimed in, "According to the laws of the Great Xiao Dynasty, anyone who rashly mobilizes troops without a troop deployment warrant is considered a rebel, and the defending army can dispose of them at will! We have already issued repeated warnings, and this action was taken only as a last resort."

Mingwu spoke each word with composure and humility, forceful and logical, and his arguments were well-founded.

Xiao Ce was getting increasingly angry: "Bullshit! What the hell is this law of the Great Xiao Dynasty? I don't know anything about it! Are you trying to fool me?"

Mingwu knelt on one knee: "Your Highness is wise. The Xiao Kingdom does indeed have such a law; you may investigate it!"

As he spoke, Xiao Ce turned to Xing Daorong, who was wearing armor to Xiao Yang's side, and asked, "You must be a general, right? Tell me, does our Xiao Kingdom have this law?"

Xing Daorong's expression was not good. As a general, he was required to learn the military law of Xiao Kingdom, and the Shangjun Division of Xiao Kingdom would conduct an annual assessment.

He couldn't speak carelessly, because if word got out, he, a general, who didn't understand the law, would probably be laughed at.

Xing Daorong replied, "Reporting to the King of Mobei, this method does indeed exist!"

Xiao Ce was astonished upon hearing this, and pointed at Xing Daorong, cursing, "Bullshit! How could there be such a law? What do you mean? Are you saying that my second brother brought so many troops here because he doesn't understand the law? Or are you saying that my second brother is breaking the law? Unauthorized troop deployment is a crime of rebellion! Are you saying that my second brother has committed the crime of treason? Second brother, who is this person... is he also a Turkic spy... why is he trying to harm you?"

As Xiao Ce spoke, he kept shifting blame onto Xiao Yang!

Xiao Yang frowned: "Xiao Ce, he is Xing Daorong, General Xing... Besides, Xiao Ce, don't be so quick to pin the blame on me! Although I don't have the troop mobilization order, I do have the Emperor's decree!"

Xiao Ce laughed and pretended to be stupid, saying, "How dare I! What! Xing Daorong, General Xing!"

As he spoke, Xiao Ce dismounted and stepped forward to shake hands: "General Xing, I have long heard of your illustrious reputation. General Xing, you are a renowned general... I have heard that you are a master strategist, a brilliant commander, a war god of our time! Seeing is believing! It is my honor to meet you..."

Xiao Ce's flattery and boasting made Xing Daorong quite giddy.

Seeing Xiao Ce's obsequious manner, Xiao Yang felt even more contempt.

Xiao Ce is still the same as before; a good-for-nothing will always be a good-for-nothing!

Xiao Yang's disdain deepened: "Alright! Stop sucking up! Uncle Xing is mine!"

Xiao Ce laughed and said, "Second brother, look at what you're saying! Your people are my people too! We brothers are all one, aren't we? You even gave me your fiancée back then!"

Hearing Xiao Ce say this, Xiao Yang's expression darkened: "Hmph, do you really enjoy wearing other people's worn-out shoes?"

Xiao Ce still wore his harmless smile: "Second brother, stop fooling around. I've tried them on, what worn-out shoes! They're brand new! You're so much better, second brother..."

Xiao Yang's expression grew increasingly grim as he listened: "Alright! Enough with the nonsense! I summoned you here to discuss serious matters. I told you to come and receive the imperial decree yesterday, so why didn't you come? Disobeying an imperial decree—do you know what the punishment is?"

Xiao Ce put on a convincing performance, feigning complete bewilderment and issuing a triple denial: "You sent me to receive the imperial decree yesterday? When did that happen? No? I didn't know!? Second brother, you must be joking! I'm easily scared, don't scare me!"

With that, Xiao Ce sternly asked Ming Wu, "Ming Wu, what happened? Did you kill the person my second brother sent to receive the imperial decree yesterday? Why didn't you inform me? Are you trying to kill me?"

Mingwu immediately shook his head and said, "Your Highness, no one came yesterday! We have records here at the pass, you can check them, no one came to deliver a message!"

Xiao Ce looked at Xiao Yang with a nervous expression: "Second brother, look, there really isn't one! Who did you send the message? Were you tricked?"

"Impossible. His Highness personally sent Magistrate Chen several times..."

Mingwu said, "Second Prince, after we receive a message, we issue a notification slip to indicate that we have received the message. Did your scouts give you that slip...?"

Xiao Yang was speechless after hearing Ming Wu's words.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce said, "Second brother, there's a misunderstanding here! You can't let others stir things up. I just found out you were here, and I rushed over without even eating!"

"There are bad people among the masses! You don't know, there are so many spies among the Turks! They're definitely trying to sow discord among us! We can't fall for their tricks!"

Xiao Yang listened to Xiao Ce completely absolving himself of any responsibility: "Do you think I'm a fool?"

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, "Second brother, you can't say that... You're my second brother, how could I treat you like a fool! It's obvious that someone is treating you like a fool!"

"Second brother, we've gone off on a tangent! We can't let others sway us. Let's get down to business. Where's Father's imperial edict?"

Xiao Ce maintained control of the conversation throughout.

This left Xiao Yang completely at Xiao Ce's mercy, disrupting all of his original plans.

Xiao Yang sternly produced an imperial edict: "It is the Emperor's edict! Kneel down to receive it."

Immediately, both sides' troops knelt on the ground.

Xiao Ce knelt on one knee: "Your subject receives the decree!"

Xiao Yang was now thinking of deliberately making things difficult for Xiao Ce. He held the imperial edict but didn't say anything, just looked at Xiao Ce provocatively.

Although Xiao Ce had just completely absolved himself of responsibility, Xiao Yang had already made up his mind! He was determined to make him kneel for a whole day and night to vent his anger.

Xiao Ce raised his head slightly and saw Xiao Yang's provocative smile. He sneered inwardly, "This Xiao Yang is really spoiled and incredibly naive! Does he really think he can control me like this?"

However, he was patient and just like fishing!

He's adopting such a humble stance now entirely to lure him into a trap. Once he's inside, he'll be in for a world of trouble!