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

Nie Bing looked at Xiao Ce, who was speaking eloquently on the stage.

He had very mixed feelings, holding some cheap brown sugar and coarse salt.

In just a few nights, he turned it into a whopping 900,000 taels of silver.

Such an exaggerated thing has already been accomplished.

She felt that he was fully capable of fulfilling his three-year promise.

...

Xiao Ce saw that the auction was over.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we will distribute the Tianshan Snow Frost Sugar and Tianshan Snow Salt in the order they were auctioned off. I have brought a portion with me, and the rest will arrive in three days along with the majority of the supplies. They will then be distributed to you one by one."

Almost everyone present had made some gains and was in a very good mood.

Just then, Xu Zhiyuan's advisor rushed over and whispered a few words in Xu Zhiyuan's ear.

After hearing this, Xu Zhiyuan excitedly ran up to Xiao Ce.

Looking at Xu Zhiyuan's expression, Xiao Ce didn't even need to ask, "Did Father Emperor agree?"

Xu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded: "That's right! I've agreed to all your conditions!"

The merchants standing nearby stared blankly at the two, not knowing what had happened.

Xiao Ce excitedly went up on the stage, seeing that the disaster victims had not yet dispersed.

Xiao Ce then spoke up, saying, "My fellow countrymen affected by the disaster, the disaster relief measures I requested from my father have been approved."

"As everyone knows, I am going to the four prefectures of the northern desert to 'reign,' and the Turks are frequently causing trouble on the northern border. Therefore, I cannot stay here to provide disaster relief indefinitely. So, I came up with a solution."

"That means we should apply to His Majesty. Any people who have suffered from the disaster and are willing to go to the four prefectures of the northern desert with me will be given a relief grain of one shi (a unit of dry measure) by the court. The court has also specially approved their household registration to go to the four prefectures of the northern desert."

"Once you arrive in the four northern prefectures, I will provide you with money, grain, and land to grow crops. I will also exempt you from taxes for three years. Those who wish to go can go to Master Xun later to register! Afterwards, Lord Xu Zhiyuan will cooperate with the court to distribute disaster relief grain to everyone who is going to the northern prefectures with me!"

Xiao Ce's words were like a bombshell among the disaster victims...

"What? Go to the four prefectures of the northern desert? Isn't that just courting death?"

“Yes, aren’t the four prefectures of the northern desert a barbaric land? Going there would be suicide, wouldn’t it? I’d rather die here… I will never leave this place.”

"Yes, I've heard that the four prefectures of the northern desert are suffering from famine. Wouldn't it be suicide for us to go there?"

"I thought a prince had come... genuinely caring for us, but it turns out he just wants us to go to our deaths with him..."

The majority of the disaster victims had a negative attitude.

Xiao Ce was not surprised. He stepped forward and said to the disaster victims, "Gentlemen, this is not forced. I know what you are thinking!"

“I know you’ve all heard some news about the four prefectures of the northern desert. I can also tell you that those aren’t just rumors.”

"The people in the four prefectures of the northern desert are suffering, but I want to tell you. It is not caused by that land! It is caused by the rulers and administrators of that land."

"Just like many of you disaster victims, many of you come from fertile lands of plenty, but now you too have become disaster victims. Is it a land problem in your area?"

"What I can promise you is that as long as you follow me, you can eat whatever I eat!"

"I promise you, at the latest within three years, I will ensure that the people of the four northern prefectures have meat to eat every day and money to spare! Trust me, I will definitely not let you regret it!"

"Of course, if you want to stay here, I won't stop you! However, let me make it very clear to you: the imperial court may not have the time to deal with you right now."

"Come with me, and I will provide you with housing, land, and tax exemption! Or do you want to stay here, like stray dogs, and the choice is yours. This is the most I can do. The choice is yours."

After Xiao Ce finished speaking, some disaster victims shouted at the top of their lungs.

"Your Highness, the imperial court has only given us one shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain. What will we eat after we cross into the northern desert? We have nothing now. We can't just starve to death!"

Xiao Ce said firmly, "I will not let you starve to death. I will say it again: I will eat what you eat! If you trust me, then leave! If you don't trust me, I will not force you. You can each think about it."

"What I can tell you is that after I go to the Northern Desert, there will be a major reform! Those of you who are in the first batch to go with me will enjoy the benefits I provide. From now on, the four prefectures of the Northern Desert will not be places you can come to whenever you want!"

"Your Highness, I'll go with you! Since you've said so, I'll go with you! Anyway, this is the worst possible outcome; how much worse can it get..."

“That’s right… Your Highness, just because you’re the first person to give us food and drink, we’ll follow you. We’ll consider it an exile.”

"Yes, if the prince goes with you, at least he'll get a shi of grain. Otherwise, he'll get nothing. Going to the northern desert, he can at least try his luck!"

There were still quite a few people who began to express their willingness to follow Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce chuckled and said, "There are still some smart people out there! Alright, you all hurry up and register! Those who register these next couple of days will have priority in choosing land and houses after settling down in the four northern prefectures..."

As soon as Xiao Ce said this, the crowd erupted in excitement and began to sign up one after another.

After all, although Xiao Ce's words were quite cryptic, there were quite a few intelligent people among them.

Everyone understood that staying here meant certain death.

There is still a glimmer of hope if we go to the four prefectures in the northern desert.

They were only trying to seize that sliver of hope. As for Xiao Ce's promise that they would eat meat every meal for three years and have extra money in their hands, that was all that mattered.

They don't believe it at all.

Even before the disaster, they were a prosperous land, and eating meat was something they only did during festivals...

Eating meat every meal is something I can't even imagine.

...

After Xiao Ce finished speaking, he said to Xu Zhiyuan, "Lord Xu, I'll leave the rest to you."

Xu Zhiyuan cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness! You're too kind. It's just my duty!"

Seeing that the group of merchants showed no sign of leaving.

"Gentlemen, is there something you'd like to say?"

The leading merchant said, "Your Highness, we have already set up a banquet in the city. Would you be so kind as to invite Your Highness to the banquet?"

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Alright, I do have something to discuss with you. However, I'll be hosting this as a way of thanking you for your support of the auction!"

Without any hesitation, everyone agreed and then dispersed.

Xu Zhiyuan has already sent people to register.

At this moment, Yin Pan'er and Nie Bing walked over and said, "Your Highness, you really did it. However, have you thought about it? Although the four prefectures of Mobei are vast and sparsely populated, the best places are all in the hands of powerful noble families! It's almost impossible for you to distribute houses and land to the disaster victims. If you say that, it will inevitably cause their dissatisfaction, and even retaliation against you!"

Nie Bing added, "That's right! Moreover, the news you mentioned about dividing houses and granting land will probably reach the ears of those powerful and influential families very soon. Once they find out, they will definitely try to stop it. At that time, those disaster victims might not even be able to enter the four prefectures of the northern desert! I suggest that you tell the people first not to grant land for the time being, so as to avoid causing unnecessary trouble!"

Xiao Ce laughed and said, "What aristocratic families? They're all bloodsuckers! When I go to the four prefectures of the northern desert this time, the first thing I'll do is wipe them out! I'll take down the local tyrants and redistribute the land!"

"Your Highness, you seem to know little about them..."

Nie Bing hadn't finished speaking.

Xiao Ce interrupted, "You probably don't know me very well! If they behave, I can provide them with plenty to eat and wear. If they disobey, I'll be the first to kill them."

After Xiao Ce finished speaking, he said to Yin Pan'er and Nie Bing, "You don't need to worry, everything is under my control! Didn't His Majesty allow me to raise 100,000 troops? I am confident that when I arrive at the four prefectures of Mobei, I will have 100,000 troops at my disposal! At that time, what will they use to fight against me!"

"I believe you have the ability to select tens of thousands from these disaster victims... However, the most important things are soldiers, weapons, and provisions. None of these can be lacking..."

Xiao Ce interrupted with a laugh: "Do you think it's as simple as me going out to dinner with those businessmen? I'm going there to make money!"

"Alright, you don't need to worry about me."

Nie Bing glanced at Xiao Ce: "You really are too vain. Who's worried about you? I'm just afraid you'll drag us down with you."

Xiao Ce did not expose her.

Instead, he changed the subject and said to Da Lei, "Go and summon Lord Xu!"

Da Lei nodded.

Xiao Ce waved to the two of them again, telling them to go and rest.

A short while later, Xu Zhiyuan was summoned.

"Your Highness, what are your orders?"

Xiao Ce asked Xu Zhiyuan, "Tell me about these merchants. They seem to be working together?"

Xu Zhiyuan cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, you truly have discerning eyes. Our Anhua City is the largest trading city in the Great Xiao Kingdom, and also has the largest group of merchants. Initially, they also engaged in malicious competition with each other, which resulted in many serious consequences. Later, under my guidance, we had them establish a chamber of commerce organization, allowing them to formulate their own rules to ensure fair competition among them."

"Take this auction for example; they all have a maximum spending limit. And each person only has one chance to use that maximum limit..."

After hearing Xu Zhiyuan's words, Xiao Ce suddenly realized, "No wonder. It seems like they had all planned it together."

Xu Zhiyuan cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, however, this time I did not make them reach an agreement. This is also their usual rule..."

Xiao Ce waved his hand: "It's alright. This price is already astronomical. Since you have a complete system on your side, then I can cooperate with them with peace of mind!"

Xu Zhiyuan looked at Xiao Ce with some surprise: "Cooperation?"

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "That's right. Let's go to the banquet first, and then you can tell me about the situation of your Anhua City Chamber of Commerce!"