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

Xiao Ce originally lived in the former residence of Otog.

However, Xiao Ce's living conditions were not comfortable. Later, after he produced cement here, he immediately built a courtyard.

The courtyard still has a simple cement color scheme, so it does look a bit shabby.

However, Xiao Ce used modern design methods for the layout here.

Therefore, this house is very comfortable to live in.

Xiao Ce naturally wouldn't explain these things to Nan Xi.

Instead, she smiled at Nan Xi and said, "A mountain is not valued for its height, but for the immortals who dwell there. Water is not valued for its depth, but for the dragons that inhabit it. This is a humble abode, but my virtue makes it fragrant."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Nan Xi looked somewhat embarrassed: "King of the Northern Desert, although I can understand the language of the Xiao Kingdom, I don't quite understand your literary poems."

Xiao Ce didn't explain, but instead said to Nan Xi, "Please sit down... What I wanted to say is that I don't have many luxurious requirements for my accommodations; I just need comfort. If it's not comfortable, even if you give me a golden house, I still won't be comfortable..."

Nan Xi nodded with a smile.

Before he could speak, Xiao Ce interrupted, "Nan Xi, tell me why you've come."

Seeing that Xiao Ce had gotten straight to the point, Nan Xi didn't beat around the bush either, and asked directly, "Your Highness, do you know anything about the Western Regions?"

Xiao Ce said to Nan Xi, "I don't know what you mean... Just tell me everything you know."

Nan Xi then repeated Xiao Ce's words verbatim, following his own rhythm.

In fact, the information Xiao Ce had was generally the same, with not much difference between them.

In Uzbekistan, the military power was controlled by three people: Jiao Tou, Wu Wei, and Lin Bang. Diliti could be said to have truly monopolized the government.

To avoid internal conflict, they brought up the previously disputed land with the Gaochang Kingdom and frequently harassed the border between the two countries, escalating tensions between them...

Now, the people of Gaochang Kingdom, Bairdar, and several other countries have united. Initially, they seemed unwilling to let Shanshan Kingdom join the fray.

They believed that the Kingdom of Shanshan was unqualified...

Later, as relations between the two countries became increasingly tense, Byrdah began to feel that the rulers of the other two countries were not entirely trustworthy either...

They were thinking of bringing Nanxi in.

Because of Shanshan's geographical location, it was surrounded by several other countries, so Nanxi dared not utter a single word of dissent.

Baird and his people may be wary of the Kingdom of Uzbekistan.

However, they were absolutely ruthless towards Nanxi.

After listening to Nan Xi's words, Xiao Ce understood him exactly the same way.

He then turned to Nanxi and asked, "What are you thinking now?"

Nan Xi gave an awkward smile and said to Xiao Ce, "If I didn't know Your Highness... I have no choice but to pack up as they said and follow their orders."

"We small countries don't really have many choices... If they want us to be round, we have to be round; if they want us to be flat, we have to be flat... But now that Your Highness has arrived, I've seen many possibilities... I feel that we don't necessarily have to do things this way..."

"So, I thought I'd come and ask for your opinion, Your Highness."

Nanxi's words were very sincere and honest.

This is one of the reasons why Xiao Ce likes Nan Xi.

He felt that this woman was very genuine and not pretentious at all. She did not hide her ambition at all, nor did she conceal her sincerity.

At that moment, Xiao Ce stopped beating around the bush.

“Since you’ve asked me this, I won’t beat around the bush. Given the current situation, we can’t just refuse them outright… You can agree to their request first, and then hold back for now… Based on the current situation outside, they won’t be able to hold out for long, and war will definitely break out in a short time.”

"Furthermore, if my guess is correct, once this war begins, the Kingdom of Uzbekistan, under the leadership of Generals Wuwei and Linbang, will surely end this war with lightning speed..."

"When the Gaochang Kingdom suffers a crushing defeat, those so-called alliances will crumble... These things will take at least half a year, maybe longer... So, isn't this giving us time?"

After Xiao Ce finished speaking, Nan Xi nodded approvingly.

Clearly, she had considered that as well.

General Dan, standing to the side, bowed to Xiao Ce and asked, "Your Highness, will this really work? They're not fools... If we just agree, they'll take their anger out on us..."

Nan Xi wanted to say something.

Before she could speak, Xiao Ce interrupted, "Isn't that simple? Does your Shanshan Kingdom have one?"

General Dan nodded: "Of course..."

Xiao Ce continued, "How many serious criminals are there in the prison?"

General Dan shook his head.

Nan Xi chimed in, "If not ten thousand, then at least eight thousand..."

Xiao Ce then said to Nan Xi, "That's easy. Go tell those death row inmates to go to war... If they perform meritorious service, not only will they be exempted from their crimes, but they'll also be promoted and ennobled. Those death row inmates will definitely be willing to do it..."

Nanxi's eyes lit up, and she excitedly flattered Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, as expected of you... you actually came up with such a brilliant idea..."

General Dan asked doubtfully, "Your Highness, those people are not easy to manage, are they?"

Xiao Ce said to Nan Xi, "Didn't I hand Da Lei over to you? Just send General Dan and Da Lei... General Dan is a famous general on your side. After they see General Dan, they will definitely think that your Shanshan Kingdom has dispatched its elite troops. As for my precious Da Lei, he is really powerful! He has a knack for dealing with those death row inmates!"

Nan Xi listened and nodded, but General Dan's expression was not good.

Because she always felt that Xiao Ce might be doing it on purpose.

In fact, although Xiao Ce seemed to be very polite to General Dan several times, he was actually criticizing her in his words and actions.

This made him very uncomfortable, so he deliberately sent General Dan over.

Of course, letting Da Lei go along was simply to give Da Lei an opportunity.

Nanxi noticed that General Dan's expression was not quite natural.

However, he didn't ask in front of Xiao Ce.

Having settled the matter, Xiao Ce, seeing that Nan Xi showed no sign of leaving, continued, "Your Majesty, is there any other news you wish to ask?"

Nanxi smiled and nodded: "That's right, Your Highness... I wonder when those divine weapons you mentioned will be able to enter... If most of our soldiers in Shanshan were equipped with those divine weapons you arranged, we wouldn't have to go through all this trouble... If they dare to come over, we'll just drive them back."

Nanxi and the others have already paid the deposit, and Xiao Ce has already transported the deposit over through Wang Shouyi.

In fact, those divine weapons and artifacts have already arrived in Nufeng City.

Lien Chan, the old city lord, has already sent several letters, and several batches of goods have arrived.

Lien Chan's position is very secure...

Xiao Ce did not rush into the transportation; he proceeded with utmost caution.

After all, there may not be much risk at the moment.

However, Xiao Ce still wanted to wait until the Kingdom of Uz and the Kingdom of Gaochang started fighting before making a decision.

Only in troubled waters can you fish.

Xiao Ce was very reassured that these weapons were in Nufeng City.

Xiao Yang was leading a large army nearby. After Xiao Ce gave them the plan, even those oddballs and deformed boys were now bursting with enthusiasm for training.

"Your Majesty, these divine weapons are in transit. As you know, these items require absolute secrecy, and with the Kingdom of Uz currently occupying the Nu Mountain Pass, their inquiries are extremely rigorous... I need to make arrangements..."

Before Xiao Ce could finish speaking, Nan Xi nodded repeatedly, telling him she understood...

"Your Highness, please don't misunderstand... I didn't mean anything by it... I just wanted to ask..."

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Don't worry, since I'm going to cooperate with you... I'll definitely cooperate to the end!"

Nan Xi nodded: "Yes, yes, yes!"

"If you have anything else to say, just say it... What, am I a difficult person to get along with?" Xiao Ce asked again, seeing Nan Xi's hesitant expression.

Nan Xi smiled and shook his head: "Of course not...of course not...I just wanted to ask, Your Highness, what is your relationship with the three generals of Uzbekistan..."

Xiao Ce pondered for a moment, then said to Nan Xi, "You really have a question for me. We might have had a cooperative relationship before... but now... I really don't know what our relationship is!"

Xiao Ce was telling the truth; he had indeed thought so before.

He really had no idea what the instructor, Wuwei, and Linbang were up to.

Logically speaking, Xiao Ce has been here for about half a year.

However, they seemed to have completely forgotten about Xiao Ce, and never even bothered to look for him...

Nanxi smiled and said, "Your Highness, I can understand. Our relationship is closer than theirs."

Xiao Ce naturally understood the probing meaning behind Nan Xi's words, and said with a smile, "Of course!"

After finishing their business, Nanxi reported to Xiao Ce on the changes that had occurred in their lives over the past few days.

The first step was agricultural reform. They started planting cotton, as well as grapes, goji berries, and other cash crops suitable for cultivation in the Western Regions.

Furthermore, led by Shanshan State, several wineries and cotton processing workshops have already been established.

Using Xiao Ce's method, they have already produced their first batch of wine, as well as cotton products such as quilts and cotton-padded clothes.

Previously, they were worried about sales channels. After all, although Shanshan was a necessary passage for several countries, they were only passing through, and no one wanted to trade there.

However, everything changed after Xiao Ce set up a trading center here!

Nanxi had only heard that things were bustling here before, but after understanding the situation, she realized that their goods would no longer have to worry about finding a market.

Accompanying Nanxi this time were some of the first batch of goods that had been produced...

They came with a try-it-out mentality.

After listening to Nan Xi's words, Xiao Ce smiled and asked, "How long until your goods arrive?"