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

"My darling? Even An Huacheng couldn't solve this problem, does Your Highness have a chance?"

Xiao Ce smiled and said to Yin Pan'er, "Don't worry, just watch. We do indeed have an urgent problem right now!"

Yin Pan'er looked slightly puzzled.

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "I was in a hurry when I came out, so I only brought a little over a hundred taels of silver with me. The disaster victims outside are waiting for food. I wonder if Miss Yin could lend me some?"

Yin Pan'er breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Highness, I thought it was something serious."

As she spoke, Yin Pan'er took out several silver notes from her person: "There are a total of ten thousand silver notes here, which should be enough to buy some food for the porridge distribution."

Nie Bing stopped Yin Pan'er with a worried look on her face: "Pan'er, this is your life savings. If you give it all away, what will you do if you need money yourself? Whoever made the promise should pay for it."

After saying that, she glared at Xiao Ce and said, "Can you bear to take it?"

Xiao Ce glanced at Nie Bing and said, "It's none of your business if I give my wife to you."

Without any hesitation, Xiao Ce accepted the silver note and even showed it off in front of her.

Nie Bing was furious, but Yin Pan'er pulled her aside and said, "Sister Nie Bing, let it go. The Prince is using it for disaster relief. These disaster victims are indeed too pitiful."

They were queuing up, just about to pay the deposit, when a middle-aged man rode off on horseback at breakneck speed.

They soon arrived at the city gate, and the middle-aged man dismounted.

He immediately performed a grand salute and knelt to welcome Xiao Ce.

“Magistrate of Anhua County, Xu Zhiyuan was unaware of the arrival of the King of Mobei. I have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

Xiao Ce was somewhat surprised.

From Kyoto to here, apart from his soldiers.

No official in the imperial court had ever shown him such great respect.

"Lord Xu, you're too kind! I didn't want to make a fuss, and I wouldn't have revealed my identity if someone hadn't forced me. Please rise, Lord Xu."

After Xu Zhiyuan got up, he said to the guard at the door, "After you have processed the passes for the prince and his party, send them over."

The city guards bowed.

Xu Zhiyuan very politely gestured for Xiao Ce to proceed.

"Your Highness, I have already ordered a banquet to be prepared at the mansion. Please do me the honor of joining us."

Xiao Ce waved his hand and said, "No rush. I promised the disaster victims outside that I would set up soup kitchens to provide relief."

Xu Zhiyuan looked embarrassed: "Your Highness, to be honest..."

Xiao Ce waved his hand to interrupt: "I understand you. This is not something you can control."

Xu Zhiyuan looked grateful: "Your Highness, I heard that you cleared my name outside the city. I am deeply grateful that Your Highness understands my good intentions."

"Your Highness and Your Highness, you may rest at my residence for a while. I will arrange for someone to assist you with the disaster relief efforts."

Xiao Ce asked, "Is it convenient?"

Xu Zhiyuan bowed repeatedly: "Convenient, convenient! It's fine as long as it's in the name of the Prince."

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "Alright, Da Lei, you and Master Xun Zixu go and handle this matter."

Da Lei glanced at Xu Zhiyuan with some wariness, seemingly wary of Xu Zhiyuan's overly attentive manner.

Xu Zhiyuan was a clever man. He bowed and said, "Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. I meant no harm. I just heard from my servants about the debate at the city gate. Your Highness's insights and views coincided with mine. I realized that Your Highness is no ordinary person."

Xiao Ce, upon hearing Xu Zhiyuan's words, said, "Everyone knows that I am a good-for-nothing!"

Xu Zhiyuan bowed and said, “Your Highness, you were able to resign from your position as Crown Prince and request to be stationed on the frontier! Such vision and magnanimity are enough to make the world misunderstand you. Just like in the eyes of many people, I am an incompetent official, but Your Highness and I have never met, yet you understand me. If I may presume to say something, true friends are hard to find.”

Xiao Ce laughed heartily: "What a fine saying, 'A true friend is hard to find.'"

As Xiao Ce spoke, he said to Da Lei, "Da Lei, you guys go and arrange the soup kitchen. Remember, make sure the soup is thick enough that chopsticks can stand upright in it."

Da Lei bowed and agreed.

Xu Zhiyuan instructed a man who looked like a clerk to go with him.

Xiao Ce then rode his horse to follow Xu Zhiyuan to the government office.

Anhua City truly lives up to its reputation as the most prosperous city. The area outside the city can be described as a living hell, but the people inside the city still live in peace and contentment.

It's like two different worlds.

Upon arriving at the government office, Xiao Ce followed Xu Zhiyuan to the back courtyard, which was the county magistrate's residence.

Compared to the prosperity of Anhua City, this place seems rather shabby.

The banquet prepared on one side wasn't a feast of delicacies; it consisted mostly of home-style dishes, but it was still quite substantial.

"Your Highness, these are just some simple home-cooked dishes, certainly not comparable to a banquet at your residence. Please forgive us," Xu Zhiyuan quickly explained as he saw Xiao Ce examining the dishes on the table.

Judging from Xu Zhiyuan's clothes and residence, Xiao Ce could tell that Xu Zhiyuan was the kind of person who was penniless.

"It's alright, I have no interest in food. What we eat is not important, but who we eat with is what matters most!"

Xu Zhiyuan listened and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Then Your Highness, Your Highness, please take a seat."

To Xiao Ce's surprise, Yin Pan'er had previously offered an explanation.

However, Yin Pan'er did not explain at this moment, clearly saving face for Xiao Ce.

After spending a lot of time with Yin Pan'er, Xiao Ce really grew to like this woman who was not only beautiful but also intelligent.

After Xiao Ce sat down, he said to Xu Zhiyuan, "Magistrate Xu, your invitation to me this time must be more than just a meal, right?"

Xu Zhiyuan nodded: "Your Highness, on one hand, we do wish to receive you. In fact, I have heard many rumors about you. On the other hand, I have also heard that you wish to help resolve the issue of the disaster victims! So I would like to ask you if you have any ideas."

"I have considered many solutions, but none have been found that satisfies both sides! These disaster victims are now swarming like locusts. Although I have taken measures to hold them back..."

"However, these are all temporary measures, because these refugees are only the first group of refugees. Our Anhua City is a vital passage in the Central Plains, a necessary route. Therefore, as time goes by, more and more refugees will flood in. Even if they don't enter the city, they will block the trade routes and grain routes! At that time, our Anhua City will become an isolated city. There is not much arable land in Anhua City. As long as the grain routes and trade routes are blocked, the stored grain will not last long."

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "Have you already submitted a memorial to His Majesty?"

Xu Zhiyuan nodded: "I have already sent word, but I don't know if His Majesty has received the news. So, I came to ask for your advice since I heard that Your Highness has a solution! I wonder, what solution do you have, Your Highness?"

Xiao Ce nodded, making no attempt to hide anything.

Because he wanted to take all these disaster victims away, without Xu Zhiyuan's cooperation, it might really not be possible.

"Lord Xu, I do indeed have a way, and it's quite simple. Do you know what I need to do?"

Xu Zhiyuan nodded and said, "Of course, Your Highness is going to guard the frontier and fight against the Turks!"

Xiao Ce nodded and added, "It's not just about guarding the frontier. As the King of the Northern Desert, I also have to develop it! Only when the four prefectures of the Northern Desert prosper can we fortify our city walls, strengthen our army, and resist foreign invasion. And what is the root of developing the frontier? It's people! The population of the entire four prefectures of the Northern Desert is less than the population of your few counties."

Xu Zhiyuan's eyes brightened upon hearing Xiao Ce's words: "So, Your Highness, you mean the solution is to take these disaster victims to the four prefectures of the northern desert?"

Xiao Ce nodded with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhiyuan showed no joy on his face, but rather an embarrassed expression: "Your Highness, you probably don't know the situation in the four prefectures of Mobei. The people in the four prefectures of Mobei are suffering even more, their lives are much more miserable than those of the people here."

"If it weren't for the fact that His Majesty issued laws regarding the four prefectures of the northern desert, prohibiting people from leaving the four prefectures, those people would have already fled. These refugees aren't stupid; why would they go there?"

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "I have a way to solve this. If I could take these disaster victims to the four prefectures of the northern desert, wouldn't that solve your immediate problem?"

Xu Zhiyuan nodded and said, "That's natural... Actually, the famine wasn't that serious at first. If disaster relief had been provided in time and the number of victims had been controlled, it wouldn't have escalated to this point. This is actually a man-made disaster!"

Xiao Ce nodded: "Magistrate Xu, I am willing to lead as many disaster victims as possible to leave! However, I need your help."

"Your Highness, what do you mean..."

Xiao Ce said to Xu Zhiyuan, "Magistrate Xu, I need you to write another memorial. Please state to His Majesty that I cannot bear to see these disaster victims suffer and am willing to lead them to the four prefectures of the northern desert to share the burden of the country."

"Just say that as long as the imperial court is willing to provide each disaster victim with money and food for the journey to the four northern prefectures, I am willing to take them with me!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhiyuan said, "Your Highness, what will happen after you go to the four prefectures of Mobei? If they have no food or drink after they arrive, they will surely riot!"

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "I have a way of doing this! Just do as I say, okay?"

Xu Zhiyuan nodded: "Of course, no problem. Your Highness, if you can really solve the problem of the disaster victims, you will be the savior of the Great Xiao Kingdom!"

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "It's no use if I think about it alone; we need Lord Xu to explain the seriousness of the situation. Otherwise, if Father Emperor disagrees, it won't work!"

Xu Zhiyuan said, "This humble official will do his utmost, after all, the method Your Highness has proposed is the one that solves the current famine with minimal cost."

Xiao Ce nodded with a smile.

Seeing that the meal was almost over, he knew it was time for him to get back to his own business.

"Alright, Magistrate Xu, I'll be taking my leave now. I have some matters to attend to." Xiao Ce said, turning to depart.

After all, his real purpose in coming to Anhua City was to sell refined salt and snowflake sugar. He had been somewhat worried seeing so many disaster victims beforehand. However, after entering Anhua City and seeing that the city was completely unaffected, his anxiety eased considerably!