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

Yin Weiyong, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.

He had read Xu Zhiyuan's memorial.

Xu Zhiyuan also mentioned in his memorial that Xiao Ce had already been personally funding disaster relief efforts and had volunteered to help the victims.

They also said they could take the disaster victims to the four prefectures of northern Mongolia.

The only thing needed is for the imperial court to provide some food for the disaster victims on their journey.

Although the memorial did not specify how Xiao Ce managed to get the disaster victims to follow him to the four prefectures of Mobei.

However, since Xiao Ce could get Xu Zhiyuan to write a memorial, it means he must have a solution.

"Your Majesty, are you planning to use the First Prince's method?"

Xiao Dingbang said with a grim expression, "That's right. Although Xiao Ce has been mediocre before, he has recently resigned as crown prince and volunteered to guard the border against the Turks. Now he is also willing to let the disaster victims go with him to the four prefectures of the northern desert. If he can take the disaster victims to the four prefectures of the northern desert, he can really solve the problem of famine completely."

Xiao Yang, who was prostrate on the ground, hurriedly asked, "Father! What did you say? Xiao Ce is going to take the disaster victims to the four prefectures of the northern desert?"

Xiao Dingbang nodded and said, "That's right! The four prefectures of Mobei have their own laws. Once they register as citizens of the four prefectures, they cannot leave without permission. So, if Xiao Ce can really bring those disaster victims there, he can solve the immediate crisis!"

"Father, what conditions did Xiao Ce propose? You mustn't fall for his trick. What if he deliberately tries to ask the court for disaster relief funds to line his own pockets and then abandon the disaster victims?" Xiao Yang immediately said.

Xiao Xiangqing frowned slightly and echoed, "Father, Second Brother is right. I wonder what conditions Eldest Brother proposed when he led the disaster victims away? Also, the people in the four prefectures of the northern desert are already living in poverty, and much of their food is allocated and subsidized by the imperial court. What will Eldest Brother give them to eat when he takes them there?"

"Moreover, the disaster victims aren't stupid. Why would they follow the eldest prince all the way to the four prefectures of the northern desert? Father, I also think that the eldest prince might be using this opportunity to swindle disaster relief funds and grain!"

After the two princes spoke, the other princes unanimously began to criticize Xiao Ce.

Their arguments were essentially the same: they believed that Xiao Ce was using the disaster relief as an excuse to amass wealth.

Xiao Dingbang nodded and said, "The memorial from Magistrate Xu says that Xiao Ce said all we need to do is provide enough food for the disaster victims to reach the four prefectures of Mobei! Once they arrive in the four prefectures of Mobei, he will take care of everything!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar...

If that's really the case, then Xiao Ce has no way to exploit the loophole.

However, no one understood why Xiao Ce was doing this.

Take over this hot potato.

Yin Weiyong said, "Your Majesty, along with Magistrate Xu's memorial, there is also a military pledge from the First Prince. In the pledge, the First Prince says that if Your Majesty agrees to his plan, he can sign a military pledge to take at least 200,000 refugees with him to the four prefectures of the Northern Desert, and guarantee that they will be registered in the four prefectures of the Northern Desert and abide by the rule that the people of the four prefectures do not leave the Northern Desert! If he cannot do this, please have his head cut off!"

Yin Weiyong's words caused another uproar in the audience.

As he spoke, Yin Weiyong took out another memorial and presented it with both hands.

Xiao Dingbang's expression shifted slightly, and with a wave of his hand, he signaled the chief eunuch beside him to step forward and take Xiao Ce's memorial.

Xiao Ce's request in his memorial was very simple: Xu Zhiyuan was to be responsible for distributing one shi of grain to each of the disaster victims who agreed to go to the four prefectures of Mobei.

Then, with special permission from the emperor, their household registrations were moved to the four prefectures of the northern desert, and they became people of the northern desert.

Furthermore, Xiao Ce personally guaranteed that he would take away at least 200,000 refugees and ensure that they would not be allowed to return to the Central Plains to harass it again.

If you can't do that, then cut off his head!

Every word in the memorial came from the bottom of his heart, and the entire piece conveyed the four words: "to share the nation's burdens!"

After reading it, Xiao Dingbang really couldn't see anything suspicious.

He then had the chief eunuch beside him read the military order aloud.

What do you all think?

No one in the court responded, because Xiao Ce's method was indeed the best and least costly way to resolve the disaster.

They knew very well that if anyone objected, the emperor would definitely force him to take responsibility for the matter.

Not only the court officials, but even the other princes who were attacking the eldest princes, refused to respond.

In their eyes, Xiao Ce was courting death.

Not to mention whether those disaster victims are willing to go with him!

Even if they were willing to follow him, once they reached the four prefectures of Mobei and there was no food for them, the first thing those refugees would do was kill Xiao Ce.

"Since no one has any objections, then I approve the Crown Prince's proposal for disaster relief."

Then Xiao Dingbang said to Rong Heping of the Finance Department: "Rong Heping, your Finance Department should hurry up and allocate money and grain to Anhua City. Each disaster victim should receive one shi of grain. If there is any mistake in this matter, you can hang yourself."

Rong Heping clasped his hands in agreement.

With that, Xiao Dingbang waved his hand and announced the end of the court session.

...

After leaving the court.

Several ministers were seated in the Eighth Prince's residence.

"Eighth Prince, what kind of show is that good-for-nothing putting on? Does he dare to take on this hot potato?"

"Yes, Eighth Prince, we originally planned to use this famine to completely bring down Xiao Yang. His Majesty was already anxious, and then that good-for-nothing Xiao Ce jumped out and took the blame! His Majesty was already biased towards Xiao Yang, and now that Xiao Ce has come out, His Majesty just went along with it and didn't hold him accountable at all! He managed to let Xiao Yang escape a disaster!"

"What on earth is this good-for-nothing thinking? Has his brain gotten waterlogged?"

The Eighth Prince, Xiao Xiangqing, had sharp eyes: "My eldest brother is not stupid. He wants to bring a group of his own people into the fold. As everyone knows, the four prefectures of Mobei are sparsely populated, and the people there have been almost all killed by the local powerful clans and nobles."

"Without working people at the bottom of society, where will the tax revenue come from? So, the eldest prince is trying to recruit a group of his people to work for him! Normally, if he were to send hundreds of thousands of people to the four prefectures of the northern desert, Father would definitely be wary! But now, these disaster victims are a hot potato. They can't wait to get rid of them. The eldest prince has taken advantage of this mentality of his father and proposed this condition in order to obtain hundreds of thousands of people from his fiefdom!"

"My elder brother has a powerful backer!"

Listening to the Eighth Prince's analysis, the ministers beside him said, "Your Highness, these people need to eat. How many days will the grain that the First Prince brought be enough to feed those disaster victims? Those powerful noble families will not contribute money or grain; on the contrary, they will treat them like monsters. They will definitely make things difficult for them in every way! It's not that easy."

Xiao Xiangqing nodded and said, "You're right, that's exactly what I don't understand. Even if Xiao Ce has incredible abilities, he can't just conjure food out of the sky! That's hundreds of thousands of mouths to feed... feeding them won't be easy! I'm actually quite curious to see how he'll manage to do it..."

The trusted confidants standing nearby asked, "Isn't the eldest prince planning to...?"

As they were saying this, did they make a throat-slitting gesture?

Xiao Xiangqing shook his head and said, "I've changed my mind. Let's spare his life for now! This famine and chaos have caught us completely off guard. If we let it develop unchecked, I'm afraid we won't be able to handle it. If the country really falls, what use will I have for the position of crown prince?"

"If he can really resolve this famine and chaos, it will be a favor to me! Xiao Ce likes to cause trouble so much, I don't need to take action against him! If he can't resolve it, Father Emperor already hates him to the bone, and that military order is enough to take his life."

“Even if he handles this matter properly, Father will definitely be even more wary of him. At that time, that petty guy Xiao Yang will definitely contact his cousin Bao An and join forces with the local powerful nobles to kill Xiao Ce.”

"No matter what, Xiao Ce is doomed! As long as they make a move, we can still try to win over Uncle Jiu. All we need to do now is sit back and reap the benefits!"

Upon hearing this, the trusted aide beside him immediately bowed and said, "Your Highness is truly wise!"

In the Yangxin Palace.

Xiao Yang knelt down to one side.

Xiao Dingbang lay on a recliner, with Consort Hui gently rubbing his head from behind.

"Do you know where you went wrong?" Xiao Dingbang said slowly.

Xiao Yang knelt on the ground and said, "Father, I was deceived by my subordinates. By the time they told me, I knew things had gotten out of hand, and I've been trying my best to make amends..."

Xiao Dingbang interrupted, "I know this wasn't your intention. I allow you to make mistakes, but now I'm asking you if you know where you went wrong?"

Xiao Yang knelt on the ground, seemingly deep in thought.

Consort Hui, standing to one side, said, "Yang'er, are you foolish! No matter what happens, you should report to His Majesty immediately, instead of hiding it. Your father has said countless times that he allows you to make mistakes. But you've been hiding it, and now it's come to light in court. His Majesty was completely unprepared. It's only thanks to the First Prince's intervention today that everyone's attention was diverted. Otherwise, if this matter were investigated, it would be a capital offense!"

Xiao Dingbang patted Consort Hui's hand as he listened to her words.

“You, how come you haven’t inherited any of your mother’s intelligence! Indeed, what I resent is that you concealed things from me. Do you know that?” Xiao Dingbang said.

Xiao Yang breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this: "Your Majesty, I simply didn't want to disappoint you..."

"Alright, this isn't your fault! Your subordinates deceived you. Learn from this experience. Get up," Xiao Dingbang said.

Xiao Yang knelt on the ground: "Father, are you really letting that good-for-nothing do such a big thing?"

Xiao Dingbang nodded and said, "His method is indeed very good. By driving those refugees to the four prefectures of the northern desert, they will no longer be able to harm our central plains."

"Father, after we go to the four prefectures of the northern desert, what will that good-for-nothing Xiao Ce feed the disaster victims?" Xiao Yang asked.

Xiao Dingbang said with a hint of ruthlessness, "Then that has nothing to do with us. As long as these refugees don't die in the heart of the Central Plains, but die in the four prefectures of the northern desert, I can hold that good-for-nothing accountable! I can cut off his head and that will appease the people's anger."

Consort Hui gently rubbed Xiao Dingbang's head from behind: "Your Majesty, I feel that the First Prince's oath, which he dared to swear with his life, must have something to rely on. If he can really settle these people down, then he will be a great help in the Northern Desert! This will truly allow him to establish himself in the four prefectures of the Northern Desert!"

Xiao Dingbang scoffed, "You all overestimate him! He's just a piece of trash! The powerful clans and noble families of the four prefectures of Mobei have been rooted there for hundreds of years! They're deeply entrenched! Do you think they can tolerate him? The four prefectures of Mobei are not only surrounded by powerful enemies from the outside, but also by numerous powerful clans within. With Xiao Ce, this piece of trash, he can't cause any trouble!"

"Furthermore, I am the ruler of this country. If I want him dead by midnight, who dares to keep him alive until dawn! Under no circumstances will I let him live. Does the King of Zhen think he can survive by helping Xiao Ce escape from here? I sent him away so that it would be easier to kill him!"

"However, for now, let him live a little longer! I will not tolerate any injustice; he must die!"

Consort Hui sensed Xiao Dingbang's murderous intent, and her smile was palpable: "Your Majesty, you are wise..."

...

Xiao Ce, outside Anhua City, sneezed several times in a row.

"Damn it, which bastard is eyeing me!" Xiao Ce muttered to himself.

Seeing this, Yin Pan'er looked slightly worried: "Your Highness, you must have caught a cold. You've been out all night. Drink this ginger soup quickly!"

Xiao Ce smiled and accepted the ginger soup that was handed to him, then drank it all in one gulp.

"My wife still loves me the most! It's alright, I'm in good health."

Yin Pan'er blushed and, unusually, did not refute.

Xiao Ce's disaster relief efforts earned him even more points.

"Why don't you rest for a while? The auction you mentioned is about to start soon," Yin Pan'er said worriedly.

"It's alright, I just dozed off for a bit. My lady, are you worried about me?"

As Xiao Ce spoke, he grabbed Yin Pan'er's soft, boneless, fair and smooth hands.

Yin Pan'er abruptly pulled her hand away, her face flushing red to the roots of her ears as she angrily said, "Your Highness, please have some self-respect!"

Xiao Ce did not continue.

Because at this moment, Xu Zhiyuan was seen leading a group of wealthy merchants out.

It was clear that they were very nervous, as they were accompanied by quite a few servants.

Moreover, they didn't come empty-handed; they all brought some food with them.

Yin Pan'er looked at those people, not caring about settling the score with Xiao Ce for being taken advantage of.

He then said to Xiao Ce, "I'll excuse myself for a moment. If they see me, they'll probably give themselves away."

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "Alright, you've all been busy all night. You should get some rest too."

After finishing speaking, he straightened his clothes and said to Da Lei, "Da Lei, let's go! Let's go greet these Gods of Wealth..."