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

At this moment, Qianlong was unaware that he was about to face a great calamity.

He was still burning incense and meditating during the meeting, thoroughly enjoying himself.

He was basking in the glory of his perfect plan.

Their house was kicked open with a bang.

Then a group of people rushed in, and Qianlong quickly got up from the futon and looked at the people who came over.

Soon, he saw Cai Hui walking up from behind.

"Mother... why did you come at this time? You could have just called me if you wanted to find me." Qianlong stepped forward with a smile.

Cai Hui snorted coldly: "Do you think you'll come just because I call you?"

Qianlong noticed that Cai Hui's expression was not good, and realized that there might be a problem: "Mother, is there some misunderstanding? I think we must communicate if we have a problem... Just say what you have to say."

Cai Hui took a seat of honor and then snorted coldly, "I never intended to beat around the bush with you... Let's get straight to the point! Are you two-faced or are you just playing me?"

Qianlong looked slightly puzzled and said, "Mother, what makes you say that? You should have seen my attitude. I've already given you my list..."

With that, Qianlong said with sharp eyes, "Mother, you're not planning to renege on your promise after you've caught the person, are you?"

Cai Hui snorted coldly, then said, "Playing dirty? Xiao Tao has disappeared without a trace, including everyone on the list you gave me... without exception, they've all run away! Not only them, but their families have all run away! Did you notify them? Or were you also tricked?"

"What? How is that possible?" Qianlong looked surprised.

In Cai Hui's eyes, it looked quite real and didn't seem fake. She said to Qianlong, "It seems that you really didn't know."

Upon seeing this, Qianlong swore an oath to Heaven.

After saying that, Qianlong continued, "Mother, if that's the case, then I've definitely been tricked! It's very possible that Xiao Tao already knew about our connection with you, and this was just a ruse. You need to be careful; have you made sure the troops are under close surveillance?"

Before Cai Hui could speak, a burly man beside her said, "Keep a close watch? Keep a close watch on what? Everyone's escaped..."

Qianlong said, "Mother, you need to think about this. What were their objectives in the army before?"

Cai Hui said, "Naturally, it's to prevent them from mutinying at a crucial moment."

As Cai Hui spoke, she suddenly realized, "You mean, they'll take even more soldiers with them?"

Qianlong nodded: "That's right! You know, those soldiers are now equipped with the best weapons from Japan... Abducting them now would be a permanent solution... Xiao Tao isn't stupid; he's very cunning. We must be wary..."

Cai Hui's face was grim: "The problem now is that we have no idea who is connected to them. If I knew, how could all these things have happened? I can't just go and kill all those people, can I?"

Qianlong said to Cai Hui, "Mother, I do have a solution."

Cai Hui asked in confusion, "Oh?"

Qianlong said, "Send these people to attack Yumen Pass! After we cooperate now, Xiao Kingdom will almost be unified. If you are not at ease with this army, send them to attack Yumen Pass. We'll wear them down, won't we? Or, we can have them join us in forming an allied army to attack the northern desert!"

Cai Hui narrowed her eyes slightly: "That's one option... Strategically speaking, attacking Xiao Ce would be more suitable for us..."

Qianlong then said, "Then, Mother, we must speed up our cooperation! You don't need to doubt me, Xiao Ce and I are sworn enemies... I would never side with him."

Cai Hui nodded: "Alright, then, it's time to put our attack on Xiao Ce on the agenda."

Qianlong said to Xiao Ce, "Empress Dowager, as long as you're alright, I'm certainly fine... Shall we send someone to negotiate? Or..."

Cai Hui said, "I need to go back and discuss this with Lord Tojo Shōki, and then I will give you an answer."

With that, Cai Hui hurriedly left.

Seeing this, Qianlong's smile widened: "Haha, I didn't expect this accidental success... Xiao Tao really managed to escape..."

After Cai Hui returned, she discussed the cooperation with Tojo Shōki.

After listening, Tojo Shōki said, "That's fine. We want these troops to be in our hands, including making Xiao Tao disappear. Isn't this a good thing? If that person leaves with his confidants, won't that army be safe?"

Cai Hui listened to Tojo Shōki's words and said, "Lord Shōki, now that you've said that, I think this matter has become a good thing?"

After listening to Cai Hui's words, Tojo Shōki said, "It's a good thing... Even if they can take some troops with them, it's still a good thing for us..."

Cai Hui said to Tojo Shōki, "Sir, what do you mean?"

Tojo Shōki asked, "How many troops do we have on this side in total?"

Cai Hui said, "Around 300,000 in total!"

Tojo Shōki said, "That's right. We want an army that belongs entirely to us. So even if those traitors leave, and even if they take some soldiers with them, they can't take all the soldiers! Some will always remain. And what remains is a clean army that belongs only to us."

After listening to Tojo Shōki's words, Cai Hui suddenly felt enlightened: "Sir, after your analysis, I actually think this is a good thing?"

Tojo Shōki nodded and said to Cai Hui, "Madam, that Qianlong is still a viable partner... Even with all this trouble, we haven't suffered any losses; on the contrary, we've gained even greater strength. You just need to cooperate well with that Qianlong. It's still a good thing for us... Moreover, I've already tested another medicine with that army! Even if they leave, they'll probably be back soon!"

When Cai Hui heard Tojo Shōki say this, she asked with great curiosity, "Lord Shōki, what medicine? I don't know anything about it?"

Tojo Shōki smiled and said, "Don't you know? You were the one who agreed to this and even carried it out. I just don't know how it turned out."

After listening to Tojo Shōki's words, Cai Hui looked on with suspicion.

Tojo Shōki beckoned to Cai Hui, and Cai Hui moved closer.

Tojo Shōki said softly, "I just want you to give them the health-enhancing pills!"

Cai Hui asked in confusion, "Isn't that for improving health? What does it have to do with anything else?"

Tojo Shōki said, "I only heard it from people in our Fusang country. After taking these things for a period of time, they will crave them day and night. Not taking them is as unbearable as swallowing bones by white worms... After leaving us, there will be no supply of Xiaoyao Pills, and they should have these symptoms! When that time comes, they will obediently come back to take Xiaoyao Pills!"

Cai Hui's expression became quite interesting upon hearing Tojo Shōki's words: "Lord Shōki, if that's the case, weren't all the things we did before unnecessary?"

Tojo Shōki said, "It's been improved several times. It didn't work before, and the second dose, which was increased, was given to them not long ago. I'm not sure exactly when it will take effect. I'm thinking of taking a two-step approach."