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

After finishing his work, Xiao Ce noticed that Rhys and Eva both looked exhausted, so he told them to go and rest...

Rhys and Eva were arranged to rest at a place set up by Xiao Ce.

As soon as they left, Yin Weiyong asked Xiao Ce, puzzled.

"Your Highness, why are they in such a hurry to sign the contract... Is there something fishy going on... that we didn't expect?"

After Yin Weiyong asked the question, a group of ministers responded one after another.

After all, Rhys had clearly been trying to take advantage of the situation.

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "It's very simple. We used their Slavic prices and then converted them back to our gold price."

"Our country is currently weak, so their Slavic currency is worth more than our gold, right?"

Everyone nodded.

Xiao Ce continued, "In the future, when our country prospers and flourishes, and we exchange gold for their currency, will their Slavic currency become relatively cheaper?"

Xiao Ce only went this far.

Yin Weiyong's eyes brightened slightly: "Interest rate differential? Your Highness, aren't you just giving them a free advantage?"

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "This isn't exactly giving them a free advantage. These interest rate differentials are to ensure that our country prospers. The better we develop here, the more valuable these government bonds they buy will become."

"So, this ensures that they will help us on our path to revival. By paying this money, I've essentially bought a steadfast partner. So, do you think I've made a profit or a loss?"

Xiao Ce's words shocked everyone present.

He then exclaimed in admiration, "Your Highness, you are truly wise!"

"Yes, it's practically a win-win-win situation..."

"Your Highness, Prince Ries has also seen through the interests involved. It seems that this Prince Ries is also a very intelligent person."

Xiao Ce nodded: "Indeed, this Prince Ries is a smart man. That's why I'm treating him so politely... I hope my allies are all smart. That will save a lot of trouble."

"If he hadn't recognized our value, the value of our existence, their Slavic nation wouldn't have paid such a huge price to support us."

The group nodded in agreement.

Yin Weiyong then asked Xiao Ce, "By the way, Your Majesty, the people from Fusang are also arriving tomorrow. They request that you personally go to receive them... Now..."

Xiao Ce snorted coldly: "They're giving him too much credit... These damned Japanese... they're just stupid, stupid and clumsy... Times have changed... Our problems have all been resolved, how they negotiate is no longer important..."

"We don't even need to greet them..."

Yin Weiyong said, "It is not appropriate for us to start a war with Fusang now. After all, they have a fleet. They will fight and run away, plunder and run away... which will make our Jiangnan and coastal areas never have peace."

Xiao Ce nodded in agreement. Indeed, these things didn't harm people, but they were certainly annoying...

"Just treat them normally! We won't tolerate their arrogance..."

Yin Weiyong nodded.

Xiao Ce then arranged for someone to prepare a banquet.

Both sides are intelligent people, and Xiao Ce gave them plenty of face during this negotiation.

They were also given ample benefits, which made Rhys very happy.

Of course, all of this was thanks to the good things Ries and his team did from the beginning.

Xiao Ce's principle in life has always been: if you treat me with respect, I will repay you tenfold.

Although the Slavic countries had previously had significant conflicts with the Turkic countries.

However, in dealing with issues between countries, interests must come first.

In Xiao Ce's idea of ​​unifying the world, he had already decided on one thing.

That means we cannot go to war with the Slavic countries.

Otherwise, if the two sides were to fight, it would be difficult to determine a winner in a short period of time.

Instead, it will drag both sides into a quagmire.

Therefore, before Rhys left, Xiao Ce had discussed this matter with him, explaining the pros and cons.

Xiao Ce's thinking was simple, and Rhys could understand it.

This shows that win-win cooperation is achievable, if you don't understand.

Xiao Ce had already devised a plan to deal with them. Although it might take more effort, he was confident he could succeed.

However, Rhys clearly understood what he was talking about.

They also made the right choice.

Therefore, everyone had a very happy time at the dinner.

...

The next day, as soon as Tojo Koji disembarked, his brows furrowed.

Because there were indeed people to greet them.

There were only a few guards.

This greatly displeased Tojo Koichi. Several guards stepped forward, bowed to Tojo Koichi, and then let him follow them.

Koichi Tojo said coldly, "Who sent you?"

The head guard replied to Tojo Koichi, "Sir, it is our prince who sent us to fetch you?"

"Your Highness? Which Your Highness? Isn't it His Majesty?"

The guard replied, "Not Your Majesty, but His Highness, Prince Xiao Ce of the Northern Desert!"

After hearing this, Tojo Koichi asked, "What happened? Didn't he see the letter I sent him?"

"Is this how you people of Xiao treat your guests? Is this how you people of Xiao ask for favors?"

Koichi Tojo snorted coldly, then turned and boarded the ship.

The guard said, "Sir? Aren't you going?"

Koichi Tojo scoffed, "I'm not in a hurry at all... I want to see if you're the ones in a hurry, or if I am. With your attitude, you might as well let your people go hungry... I said I'd have your Emperor... no, I mean, I'd have your Xiao Ce personally come to greet us... and he'd have to kneel to welcome us..."

"If you can't do even this much, I won't talk to you..."

After saying this, Tojo Ko flung his sleeves and turned to enter the ship.

Seeing that the guards hadn't left, he said to them, "Don't stay here! If you want to talk to me sooner, let Xiao Ce come over sooner. Otherwise... the longer you wait, the more people on your side will starve to death."

After hearing what Tojo Koichi said, the guards exchanged smiles.

It's not surprising that Koichi Tojo didn't know.

The goods that the Slavic delegation brought were referred to as military supplies, not food provisions.

It seems only those ordinary people who attended Xiao Ce's meeting with the Slavic envoy yesterday know the truth...

However, it will still take time for news from Kyoto to spread.

The guards were thinking, "Come down if you want, don't come down if you don't..."

After Koichi Tojo returned, several people from Fusang said, "Mr. Koichi, what are those people from Xiao Kingdom thinking? Their country is on the verge of extinction, yet they are still concerned about their own face. They are unwilling to even come to welcome you in person. Do they think the lives of those people are more important than their own face?"

Koichi Tojo scoffed, "Hmph...that's just how the people of Xiao Kingdom are, they value face above all else...we need to give them a taste of their own medicine...otherwise, after winning a battle, they'll be so arrogant."

The Japanese people standing nearby, listening to Tojo Koichi's words, praised him sagaciously and wisely...

...

Meanwhile, on the other side, Xiao Ce and Riseva were having a continuous discussion on global issues.

Rhys admired Xiao Ce greatly because Xiao Ce seemed to know everything.

They were still chatting that day.

Yin Weiyong walked over.

Xiao Ce looked at Yin Weiyong and said, "Father-in-law, what brings you here?"

Since Xiao Ce invited Yin Weiyong over, he has been living a comfortable life.

After all, he's still young and needs more rest. Yin Weiyong, on the other hand, is at the age where he should be striving and working hard.

Therefore, Yin Weiyong was usually so busy that he was rarely seen, except in the evenings after he finished his official duties.

Then, he sought Xiao Ce's help to make a decision about the issues that had been piling up for him all day and that he couldn't resolve.

Hearing Xiao Ce's words, Yin Weiyong smiled and said, "It's just that Tojo Koichi from the Tojo family who's here."

Xiao Ce heard Yin Weiyong say, "We've arrived? I won't see you today, see you tomorrow."

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Yin Weiyong gave a wry smile, then waved his hand and said, "Your Highness, what are you saying? He didn't even come here!"

Xiao Ce was stunned after hearing Yin Weiyong's words: "What? You didn't come? Didn't you say you arrived yesterday?"

With a mixture of anticipation and excitement, Xiao Ce asked, "What happened? Did their ship have an accident? Did it sink? Thank God..."

Seeing that Xiao Ce's words were becoming increasingly absurd, he gave a wry smile and said, "No...no, Tojo Koichi's ship has already docked, but he's throwing a tantrum..."

Then, Yin Weiyong recounted what the guard had reported.

After listening, Xiao Ce said with a disdainful look, "Where did this giant baby come from..."

"Has he lost his mind? If he doesn't want to come, let him stay there."

As Xiao Ce spoke, he turned to Yin Weiyong and asked, "Who was that person who came?"

Yin Weiyong said, "Tojo Koichi...is said to be the third son of the Tojo family, a man of great status..."

Xiao Ce nodded first, then asked疑惑地问道, "What exactly is the Tojo family...?"

At this moment, Eva spoke up to Xiao Ce, saying, "Your Highness, you don't seem to know much about the situation in Fusang, do you?"

Xiao Ce gave an awkward smile: "I knew that the people of that country were all beasts, but I really don't know much about them... My main sympathy for them is psychological and physical disgust..."

Seeing Xiao Ce say this, Eva said, "Then shall I tell you?"

Xiao Ce nodded.

Eva said, "Actually, Fusang is a country that was founded with the support of families. They have six major families: the Tojo family, the Tokugawa family, the Fukuda family, the Koizumi family, the Kikuta family, and the Okamoto family."

"These six families each held military power and governed a region. The laws governing each family were different. However, they were subject to the Emperor's checks and balances."

"The position of Emperor is more like a divine position. They will all obey him, and then these six great families will hand over a portion of the tax revenue from their territories to the Imperial Household to enable the Imperial Household to operate."

"It can be said that those families are each a separate country, only they are under the unified management of the Emperor and the Imperial Family."

Xiao Ce nodded as he listened, wondering if it was the same as his own timeline.

At that time, he had no knowledge of the history of countries like Fusang.

Xiao Ce was still somewhat puzzled: "Then why would they listen to those emperors?"

Eva gave an awkward smile: "I don't know either...maybe it's some kind of spirit and will of their Fusang country."

Eva then gestured with her lip, saying, "The people of Japan think a little differently than normal people..."

Listening to Eva's words, Xiao Ce gave her a thumbs up: "Not bad... your understanding of them is very accurate..."

As he spoke, Xiao Ce said with a smile, "So, this Tojo Koichi is actually a prince-like figure?"

At this point, Rhys smiled and said, "That's right, this Tojo Koichi is listed in the Tojo family genealogy, so he must have some status. At least more important than that Tojo Shōki..."

Xiao Ce asked in confusion, "What is the identity of this Tojo Xiao Ji?"

Ries gave a wry smile: "I only recently learned that Tojo Shōki is a steward of the Tojo family. He was originally an orphan, but later went to the Tojo family. He was quick-witted and gained the trust of the Tojo family head, which is why he was given the surname..."

Xiao Ce's expression was quite interesting after hearing this.

I wonder, if Cai Hui, now in the afterlife, knew that she had gone to such lengths to serve and please a mere servant...

We still don't know what she's thinking.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce said to Yin Weiyong, "Father-in-law, if he wants to wait over there, then let him wait... But keep a close eye on him... If he tries to run away, have his ship bombarded. Make sure he is captured alive... If he wants to come over, bring him here with you."

Yin Weiyong nodded: "Okay! I'll go and give the order right away..."

After Yin Weiyong left, Ries asked with some doubt, "Your Highness, aren't you afraid of their retaliation for treating them like this?"

Xiao Ce said, "My previous attempt to talk to them was entirely out of consideration for the people. I was genuinely afraid of letting these people starve to death... You know, it's really not easy for these people to live their whole lives..."

"That's why I wanted to use those prisoners to exchange for some food! Although that wasn't my original intention, the situation forced me to."

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Luckily, you're my savior... Your attitude has allowed me to hold my head high and stand up for myself!"

Then, Xiao Ce said meaningfully, "Also, you Slavs would like to see me fall out with Fusang, wouldn't you?"

Reese smiled and nodded, neither denying it nor denying it.