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

Xiao Ce had heard that the top scorer in the civil service exam this time was a sixteen-year-old boy when he met Yang Changlin, the martial arts champion.

When this child first won the championship, many scholars in Beiwang County were not convinced.

Yin Pan'er directly announced his examination results to the public, immediately silencing everyone and praising him as the reincarnation of the God of Literature.

It's important to remember that in literature there is no first place, but in martial arts there is a clear winner.

His examination paper garnered unanimous support from the scholars of Beiwang County, which is truly remarkable.

He had also read the examination paper, and it was indeed exceptionally well-written and showed great strategic acumen.

Judging from the article, Xiao Ce always felt that the kid was a bit idealistic, but these are all flaws that scholars have!

He had wanted Tian Jinxian to come and see him, but Tian Jinxian happened to be conducting a survey among the people at that time.

Therefore, Xiao Ce has never seen him to this day.

Han Da saw the worry in Xiao Ce's eyes: "Your Highness, although he is only sixteen years old, he is very mature in his work! Apart from his face looking a little childish, he is very experienced in everything he does! I think he is capable of handling this task."

Seeing Han Da's high praise for him, Xiao Ce nodded: "Since you've said so, and it was Pan'er who personally selected him, then it must be true. However, now that you've said that, I'm even more eager to meet him."

Then Xiao Ce changed the subject: "By the way, have you heard that the Turks are attacking the city again?"

Han Da nodded, a hint of excitement on his face: "Your Highness, I only received the news when I returned. Last time, many of them escaped, but this time we'll make sure they stay here. I've already ordered all troops to stand by!"

Xiao Ce smiled and nodded, then said to Han Da, "Han Da, relax! It won't start so soon. Besides, I've decided to use a different strategy this time."

Han Da looked puzzled: "Your Highness, what makes you say that a war won't break out so soon? And what about the alternative fighting method...?"

Xiao Ce wanted to explain, but then he saw that Qian Lai had already arrived.

He then said to Han Da, "I'll talk to you another day. I have more important things to do!"

Following Xiao Ce's gaze, Han Da glanced outside and, realizing it was Qian Lai, left knowingly.

He knew very well that military affairs were important.

But making money is more important!

Xiao Ce was good at making money, but he was even better at spending it.

Both military salaries and public welfare require subsidies.

Yin Pan'er had calculated that since Beiwang County was in dire need of reconstruction and the disaster victims had nothing, even if everyone worked hard to cultivate and harvest, it would not be until next year.

Xiao Ce also provided very good benefits, which means that the expenses of the people and the army are now covered by the Northern Desert Prince's Mansion.

With the current funds, if there is no income, the military pay will be cut off after a month, and after two months, there may not even be enough money to buy military rations.

When Han Da went out, he nodded slightly to the person who came.

After Qian came in, he reported to Xiao Ce.

Ever since Xiao Ce decided to hand over the three major industries of sugar production, salt production, and distilled spirits to the Golden Society, Qian Lai and his group have been discussing this matter.

Because the profits involved are substantial, no one is willing to budge an inch. After all, what's being given up is profit, and this is within a reasonable range; everyone is fighting for their own interests.

Everyone here is intelligent and quite united. Xiao Ce's words, "We all prosper together, and we all suffer together," resonated deeply.

They all listened to what was said.

Xiao Ce nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. I have another good news for you. The passage to the Central Plains has been opened. You are familiar with those merchant guilds in the Central Plains, so go and contact them! Then you can start shipping your goods!"

Qian Lai's eyes lit up as he listened to Xiao Ce's words.

"Maoming City has been captured? Your Highness, how did you do that?"

Qian Lai has been busy at the Gold Club these past few days and is completely unaware of what's happening here.

Xiao Ce briefly explained how the money came about.

Qian Lai was shocked: "Your Highness, you've accomplished such a great feat in just a few days?"

"This is nothing. Within ten days, the passages to the four northern prefectures will be opened for you, and within a month, you will be able to do business with the four northern prefectures and the Turkic Kingdom. So, I sent you here so that you can prepare for expansion!"

Qian Lai was completely stunned. He wondered how things had changed so much in just a few days.

After a brief moment of shock, Qian Lai was overwhelmed with excitement.

"Your Highness, I understand! I'll take care of it right away. Just watch me from now on. I promise I won't let you down!"

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "How fast our four northern prefectures develop in the future really depends on you..."

Qian Lai nodded heavily first, then said, "Wait a minute? Your Highness...were all those Turks wiped out?"

Xiao Ce smiled slightly: "Not yet. But soon. If nothing unexpected happens, they'll all be outside the city right now, washing their necks clean and waiting for me to come and kill them."

Qian Lai was three parts puzzled and seven parts confused: "They're already at the city gates?"

Xiao Ce said calmly, "Judging by the time, it should be here soon. But don't worry... just focus on doing what I asked you to do!"

Qian Lai had no doubt about Xiao Ce's confidence.

...

Xiao Ce was right; the soldiers on the Lingxiao City Wall looked from afar.

More than ten miles outside Lingxiao City, there was another dark mass of Turks.

They swarmed in like locusts.

The soldiers on the city wall issued warnings.

Unlike Xiao Ce, the soldiers were not relaxed and sounded the horn for the enemy attack.

However, similar warnings have been issued many times before.

The people who were building fortifications outside the city flocked into the city.

Fortunately, the Turks set up camp about five miles outside Lingxiao City.

From the walls of Handa, one could see the dense mass of Turks.

The deputy general beside him, Sun Qiang, said with a look of disdain: "General, those Turks have set up camp in that place where they suffered a crushing defeat before. Don't they find it unlucky?"

Han Da smiled, looking relaxed: "The Turks don't care about that! But everything was within the prince's expectations. They really didn't dare to launch a full-scale attack?"

Sun Qiang became even more curious upon hearing Han Da's words: "Our prince guessed all that? What else did he guess?"

Han Da said with a smile, "Our prince also said...we will definitely win!"

The group of lieutenants listened and nodded repeatedly, expressing their complete belief in Han Da's words.

...

In the Turkic camp outside the city.

After the Turkic soldiers set up camp, they began to cook.

The khans also made them bring out all the meat they had stored and roast it.

Ashina Khan, inside his military tent, smelled the delicious aroma of meat wafting from all directions and exclaimed, "Hahaha, this smell is amazing! The aroma has carried on the wind to those hungry soldiers in Lingxiao City; they must be drooling with envy..."

Ashide nodded: "That's right. After we finish eating, we'll go and shout... tell them to open the city gates. We'll provide the food."

Batu Helu said, "Let's use the siege catapults to write some notes on them and throw them into the city, so that the people will also know... and incite them to rebel!"

Ashina agreed with all these methods.

The khans beside him lowered their expectations slightly: "It seems we don't even need to lift a finger... their internal collapse is not far off."

“Yes, if we had listened to Ashina earlier, we wouldn’t have suffered this crushing defeat. Helu was too impulsive!” Tesa said.

The other khans nodded in agreement, and began to regret having let Helu lead the attack.

Even Batu Helu, who was standing to the side, was surprised to hear them say that.

He wasn't angry, after all, he hadn't supported the previous attack either.

An hour later, after the Turks had eaten and drunk their fill, Mos Ashina personally led the group!

Ashina sent out a heavily armored shield cavalry force that he was very proud of.

This heavily armored shield cavalry unit now has only a little over a hundred men left. They are no longer strong enough to be the main attack force, but they are sufficient to use them for shouting.

Following the heavily armored shield cavalry was a siege catapult unit.

Upon seeing the Turks approaching, Sun Qiang on the city wall immediately shouted, "Everyone, prepare to meet the enemy!"

The soldiers, who were eating, immediately tensed up when Sun Qiang shouted at them.

Han Da glanced at them and shouted again, "Everyone, keep eating. It's less than two hundred people. What's the point of preparing? Besides, judging from their posture, they're not here to attack the city."

The leader, Mos Ashina, was holding a white flag and waving it constantly, seemingly afraid that the people of Xiao Kingdom would shoot at him.

This is a common practice here: when one side raises a white flag, it means they want to negotiate, and the other side is not allowed to attack rashly.

Mos Ashina shouted, "Soldiers on the city walls, we mean no harm... We've come to rescue you! Don't attack us, we've come to have a proper talk with you."

Seeing this, Han Da signaled to some of the soldiers who had already drawn their bows and arrows not to make a move.

"Don't fire your arrows! Let me see what tricks these Turks are up to!"

Mos Ashina paused for a moment, and seeing that they did not attack, a triumphant smile appeared on his face.

"I knew it! Those people inside must be starving! Keep going!"

They walked to a place less than 300 meters outside the city.

Mos Ashina began shouting again: "Soldiers of Xiao Kingdom on the city wall, we know that your city has run out of food... You must all be starving right now, right?"

"Our Khan said that your soldiers and civilians are innocent... We have a blood feud with your Northern King Xiao Ce, so if you are willing to open the city gates and surrender, we will provide food for your soldiers and civilians."

"Stop struggling! I know it's hard to go hungry. You've been starving for a long time, haven't you? You probably don't even know it, but all your granaries have been destroyed! Your Xiao Kingdom's emperor has cut off the Central Plains' supplies to you!"

"The situation you face will only become more and more brutal! If you continue to hold out, there will only be one outcome: you will starve to death!"

Mos Ashina shouted from the city wall.

A group of soldiers eating on the city wall looked at each other.

They looked at each other; their bowls were laden with food, including meat.

One of the captains let out a burp and tapped the bowl full of food in his hand: "Are those Turks out of their minds? We not only have plenty of food every day, but we can also eat meat every few days! This is what they call food shortage?"