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

The scout shook his head, then produced a letter: "This is a letter from them. They said that if you see this letter, you will definitely meet with them..."

Xiao Tao paused for a moment, then looked at the letter in the scout's hand.

Before he could speak, another scout rushed over: "Fourth Prince, the Eighth Prince Xiao Xiangqing has come to request an audience with someone?"

After listening, Xiao Tao looked at him strangely: "It's really lively today!"

One of the strategists in the military tent spoke up, "Who did you say it was?"

The scout bowed and said, "Reporting to Military Advisor Cai, it is the Eighth Prince, Xiao Xiangqing!"

Cai Junshi's real name was Cai Man, and he had been following Xiao Tao since Xiao Tao was very young.

He was someone Xiao Tao trusted very much.

Cai Man said to Xiao Tao, "Your Highness, this is quite a rare guest! However, I think his arrival is definitely a case of a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken with ill intentions."

After listening to Cai Man's words, Xiao Tao nodded: "Strategist Cai, you're right..."

Then, he looked at the first scout who came to report and said, "Take a look at your letter first."

Just as the scout was about to deliver the letter, Cai Man stopped him.

After Cai Man intercepted it, he first pinched it and then smelled it.

"Your Highness, let me open it for you."

Xiao Tao knew that Cai Man was worried that there was danger in the letter.

Without hesitation, he agreed.

After carefully opening it, Cai Man looked at it again...

After reading the letter, Cai Man's eyes lit up.

Seeing this, Xiao Tao asked Cai Man curiously, "Military Advisor Cai, who is he?"

After Cai Man handed the letter to Xiao Tao, Xiao Tao read it curiously.

After looking at it, his expression became extremely strange.

After exchanging a glance with Cai Junshi, they realized they were on the same page.

Cai Man then said to the first scout who entered, "Go and invite these two distinguished guests to rest for a while. Tell them that His Highness the Fourth Prince has guests to attend to at the moment, and we'll go and receive them later..."

After Cai Man finished speaking, he looked at Xiao Tao questioningly and asked, "Fourth Prince, do you think this is acceptable?"

Xiao Tao smiled slightly, then said, "Of course, let's do as Military Advisor Cai suggests..."

As Cai Man spoke, he turned to the second scout and said, "Go and invite His Highness the Eighth Prince over."

The second scout also bowed and agreed, then hurriedly left.

...

"What is Xiao Xiangqing doing here? And he's got some nerve, bringing just a few people with him?" Xiao Tao asked.

Cai Man nodded as he listened: "They came in person to show their sincerity... Clearly, what they're here to discuss is very important!"

Xiao Tao asked Cai Man, "Military Advisor Cai, what do you think their purpose is in coming here?"

Cai Man smiled and said, "Your Highness, I thought he came here to persuade us not to go to the capital. And then, to urge us to unite... to explain our interests..."

Xiao Tao nodded: "Strategist Cai, we're on the same page... So, how should we respond?"

Cai Man bowed again and said, "Your Highness, it's actually very simple! Let's see their sincerity, listen to what they want to do, and then we can decide."

He then pointed to the letter: "There are still two people waiting for us... We should have the upper hand right now."

Xiao Tao then revealed a long-lost smile: "Not bad, Strategist Cai, you tell me... Heaven, isn't this a sign of good fortune? Seeing that I've been lying low for over twenty years, it's finally giving me a chance to shine."

Cai Man and his entourage of ministers all smiled and agreed.

...

At this moment, Xiao Xiangqing and Mr. Qianlong walked over from outside.

"Mr. Qianlong, are you sure it's just the two of us going? Shouldn't we still have time to run away now?"

Qianlong said confidently to Xiao Xiangqing, "Eighth Prince, you can rest assured... Killing you will not benefit them. They have no reason to do so."

After listening to Qianlong's words, Xiao Xiangqing nodded: "Then, sir, shall I do as you say later?"

Qianlong nodded: "Of course, you should do the main talking. If there are any questions you can't answer, I'll remind you... Didn't I demonstrate with you on the way here...? Just do as I taught you... and that's it!"

Xiao Xiangqing nodded upon seeing this.

After they reached the outside of the tent, one of the soldiers leading them announced something to the inside.

Only then did Xiao Tao's voice come through.

"come in."

Xiao Xiangqing muttered under her breath, slightly annoyed, "Sir, did you see that...? This guy should at least come and greet me... But he's putting on airs..."

Qianlong said dismissively, "Eighth Prince, you only have face if you have strength. If you don't have strength but still want face... then you are destined to fail... Judging from this matter, he is not as good as you. It was the right choice for me to come to you!"

Qianlong's few words instantly dispelled Xiao Xiangqing's initial displeasure...

Xiao Xiangqing then led Mr. Qianlong inside.

At this moment, Xiao Tao, who was inside the tent, saw the two people enter.

He was very familiar with Xiao Xiangqing, but it was the mysterious Mr. Qianlong behind him who caught his attention.

Xiao Tao is now pretending to be enthusiastic!

"Eighth Brother, look what brings you here! When my men first told me it was you, I didn't believe them... but it really is you! A rare guest... a rare guest... please... please sit down..."

As Xiao Tao spoke, he smiled and pulled Xiao Xiangqing to sit down.

Mr. Qianlong wanted to come in, but was stopped at the door by some guards.

Xiao Xiangqing didn't have time to answer Xiao Tao, but said, "Fourth brother, I didn't bring many people with me... just my master. Why are you stopping him? This is your territory. Do you think you're afraid of the two of us?"

Xiao Tao glanced at Mr. Qianlong: "Your master? I've never seen him before."

Xiao Xiangqing glanced at Cai Man subconsciously: "I'm not familiar with your strategist either?"

After exchanging a smile, Xiao Tao waved to his guards and said with a laugh, "Alright... what are you doing? This is my brother... he wouldn't hurt me, and the people he brought are definitely people he trusts!"

Only then was Mr. Qianlong allowed to enter.

After Mr. Qianlong entered, he bowed slightly to Xiao Tao and then stood behind Xiao Xiangqing.

Xiao Tao cut to the chase: "Eighth Brother, what brings you here today, is it...?"

Xiao Xiangqing smiled: "Fourth brother, since you've gotten straight to the point, I won't beat around the bush either... Are you going to the capital to ascend the throne?"

Xiao Tao said, "Not bad. I thought you wouldn't come... but you still managed to come out on top? What, thinking of competing with your brother for it?"

Looking at Xiao Tao's forced smile, Xiao Xiangqing said with a laugh, "Fourth brother, you really know how to joke... I wouldn't dare to compete with you! I'm not here today to compete with you... but to advise you not to go!"

Xiao Tao looked surprised: "Oh? Why is that?"

Xiao Xiangqing said to Xiao Tao, "Fourth brother, let me first tell you some news that you don't know..."

Xiao Tao became interested, nodded, and did not interrupt.

He gestured for Xiao Xiangqing to continue...

Following Xiao Tao's instructions, Xiao Xiangqing first explained the situation in the Western Regions, and then recounted how capable Xiao Ce was and how he had managed Xiao Yang...

Xiao Xiangqing's words were like a bombshell.

At this moment, some people in the military tent burst into laughter, while others lowered their heads in deep thought.

Xiao Tao said, "Eighth Brother, so you've come here to tell me just how powerful that good-for-nothing Xiao Ce is?"

Before Xiao Xiangqing could speak, Cai Man, who was standing to the side, asked, "Your Highness, how did you come to know this?"

Xiao Xiangqing said, "You all know who my uncle is, right?"

The group nodded.

Xiao Xiangqing continued, "My uncle told me all this news... Now, my uncle is here too. If you'd like, you can invite him in so you can meet him..."

After Xiao Xiangqing said this, Cai Man said very enthusiastically, "Since you're here, please invite the person over."

So, under Xiao Tao's direction, they brought the people over.

Among those present, all of them had seen Dilit before.

After all, just a year ago, Diliti was the chief representative of the Western Regions, representing the Western Regions in negotiations with the Xiao Kingdom.

The once imposing Dilit had his hands and feet severed, leaving only his head.

She has also lost a lot of weight, and if you look at her briefly, you really wouldn't recognize her.

Dilit's appearance shocked everyone present.

Xiao Tao remained very polite and spoke a few words to Diliti, asking a few simple questions.

He knew that information could be colluded, but hatred towards someone couldn't be faked.

As I listened to Diliti's description, his words were filled with resentment and emotion.

They were almost certain it was true...

After observing their expressions, Xiao Xiangqing spoke up, "Fourth Brother, I understand your concerns. In some ways, we are indeed rivals..."

"I'm here today, and you should be able to see our sincerity from the moment we arrived! I won't beat around the bush; before knowing all this, I truly wished you were dead... I also wished as many of your people as possible died, and that they suffered a crushing defeat..."

When Xiao Xiangqing got to this point, the expressions on the faces of everyone in the tent were not good.

However, Xiao Tao and Cai Man remained expressionless.

Because Xiao Xiangqing's words were the truth, and that's what they were thinking too.

"But after I learned about this, I knew that if we wanted to have the last laugh, we couldn't just go and die. Now it's almost certain! It was a trap set by Xiao Ce using Xiao Yang. Once you go there, there's no doubt you'll be ambushed and killed!"

"And I won't be happy if you and Xiao Zhan die. Because if I'm left alone, it's only a matter of time before they deal with me! Conversely, after Xiao Zhan and I are dealt with, your side definitely won't last long either..."

“If your enemy were only Xiao Wenqin… then you would certainly have a chance of winning… but your enemy is Xiao Ce! I can say that you have absolutely no chance of winning!”

"So, I'm here today for no other purpose than to persuade you to go back. As long as we stay in our respective territories, they can't do anything to us. We all have legitimate imperial edicts! We are the legitimate ones, and besides, we have troops! We also have territory, that's the real benefit... Why would you risk going to the capital to seize an unnecessary position?"

Xiao Tao then said, "Eighth Brother, what you're saying is exactly what I know. Actually, I didn't want to go either... but Xiao Zhan went... if I don't go, then what if it's true... then I'll really miss the opportunity! So, the person you should persuade first is Xiao Zhan, not me!"

Xiao Xiangqing nodded, then said to Xiao Tao, "Fourth brother, I naturally know this... However, I know you are a smart man, and I thought that if I persuaded you first, it would be easier to persuade Xiao Zhan later..."

Xiao Tao nodded: "If that's the case, even if we don't go... Xiao Ce is so powerful, we'll still be wiped out in the end, won't we? We'll die sooner or later anyway, so why not take a gamble?"

Xiao Xiangqing waved his hand and said, "Fourth brother, of course it's not like that. Although Xiao Ce is powerful, he only occupies some barren lands. As for the Western Regions, he also took them with the help of others. When others are using him, they will naturally listen to him. But the people of the Western Regions will not help him fight wars."

"We have the advantage of terrain. We just need to develop and recuperate! Xiao Ce has already sent his puppet Xiao Yang over there. There will definitely be friction between them. As long as we do nothing, we will wear them down... When the balance of power shifts, we can find an opportunity to eliminate them!"

Despite all that Xiao Xiangqing had said, Xiao Tao still hadn't given a clear answer.

He glanced at Mr. Qianlong and nodded slightly.

Xiao Xiangqing then revealed their trump card!

"Moreover, as you've heard, the reason Xiao Ce is invincible isn't because he's so powerful! It's because he's acquired a lot of firearms from outside, and those firearms are extremely lethal! Now, my master has connections to buy the same firearms as them. As long as you agree to our alliance, we can share this purchasing channel with you!"

Xiao Tao smiled after hearing this and said, "Oh? Eighth Brother, since you were able to buy them, you must be carrying these so-called powerful firearms. Let us see them!"