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

Feng Gui said, "What we know so far is that Xiao Ce is getting anxious and is trying to gag him!"

Nie Bing nodded: "Okay, we can move on to the next step, let's add fuel to the fire!"

Feng Gui looked at Nie Bing with suspicion.

Nie Bing continued, "Next, find an opportunity to meet with Tojo Koichi... Afterwards, have them prepare. Once the Slavic people make a move, they can also attack."

Feng Gui looked at Nie Bing with increasing confusion and said, "Master Nie, in this case, can Xiao Ce withstand it?"

Nie Bing said sharply, "Xiao Ce is not that weak. He becomes stronger when facing stronger opponents. If we don't give him some challenges, we will never see what the Pavilion Master wants to see."

Feng Gui looked at Nie Bing with a puzzled expression.

Nie Bing stopped talking and changed the subject to Feng Gui, saying, "Go do your work and keep an eye on the reactions in the palace... Although we've taken down Nikolaevich Ries and Nikolaevich Eva, this Xiao Ce is very shrewd. Let's see how he handles it."

The Wind Demon nodded and then left.

Nie Bing watched Feng Gui's departing figure, tightened her clothes, and had a very complicated expression.

The short-haired white tiger guard beside her said to Nie Bing, "Master Nie, the night breeze is cool, you should rest early."

Nie Bing nodded and said to the White Tiger Guard, "Okay!"

Then he turned to the White Tiger Guard and asked, "Any news about the matter of finding Yin Pan'er?"

The White Tiger Guard shook his head: "There's no news at all, but don't worry, Master. Since the Pavilion Master promised you, we'll see him alive or dead!"

Nie Bing smiled bitterly: "I can only accept Pan'er living!"

The White Tiger Guard didn't respond: "Master Nie, you should get some rest."

...

At this time, within the delegation from the Kingdom of Fusang.

They were also baffled by Xiao Ce's unusual behavior.

The advisors asked Koichi Tojo, "Young Master Koichi, do you really believe what he said?"

Tojo Kou nodded: "From what I've seen so far, he seems very sincere! Do you think his behavior just now was acting?"

The advisors shook their heads: "He doesn't seem to be acting; he looks very sincere. But why would he hit us and then defect to us? That doesn't seem contradictory. Could it be..."

Koichi Tojo waved his hand and said, "I didn't hear him say that. He doesn't trust those Slavs. He trusts us more... Actually, it's understandable. I've been showing him goodwill, and he's listened to what I said along the way! All the information we've gathered so far proves that he's a smart man. What he wants is to control the entire Xiao Kingdom. But it's clear that it's difficult for him to do it on his own."

“He needs a powerful backer, and that backer is either me... or those Slavic people. Obviously, we are the better choice. After all, we are of the same race!”

The advisors said to Tojo Koichi, "So, young master, have you decided to cooperate with him? Our East Asian strategy is to bring the Xiao Kingdom under our control."

Koichi Tojo interrupted, "It's true that we want to take control of the Xiao Kingdom... but our ultimate goal in controlling the Xiao Kingdom is to take over the Slavic Kingdom... Now that Xiao Ce is willing to listen to us and be controlled by us... wouldn't it be better to use his people to fight the Slavic Kingdom?"

"You all know the fighting strength of the troops controlled by Xiao Ce... the Slavic countries are no match for them. It's a sure thing for us! Once we conquer the Slavic countries, their territory is even larger. At that time, it would be best if the Xiao country would be willing to listen to us and become our subordinate!"

"Whatever the matter, we can let them take the lead! If they refuse to obey, then dealing with them will be a piece of cake, won't it?"

Everyone nodded in agreement as they listened to Koichi Tojo's analysis...

“Young Master Gu Yi, if that’s really the case, it’s quite true… But that Xiao Ce, he’s so cunning… can we really trust what he says?”

Koichi Tojo smiled faintly, then said, "Of course not... We shouldn't look at what he says, we should look at what he does..."

A person's words can lie... but a person's actions never lie...

"Everyone here isn't stupid, are you? You are all the most talented advisors I've found in Japan... Xiao Ce might have fooled one of us, but could he fool all of you?"

After hearing Tojo Koichi's words, the staff members shook their heads one after another: "Of course not..."

Koichi Tojo laughed and said, "That settles it then... Let's see what he does!"

Then the advisor asked, "By the way, Young Master Gu Yi, do you think we should tell the family head... let him know too..."

Tojo Koichi nodded: "Alright! You guys go and draft it, but be sure to pay attention to the wording..."

The staff members nodded in agreement.

Koichi Tojo laughed and said, "Alright, if we can take over the Xiao Kingdom without shedding a drop of blood this time, wouldn't that count as a great achievement?"

The advisors nodded: "Young Master Gu Yi, that's inevitable... Then, your status within the Tojo family will undoubtedly rise steadily. You must understand that both Xiao Kingdom and Slavic Kingdom are of paramount importance in the entire East Asian strategy. If, as Xiao Ce says, we truly conquer both countries in one fell swoop! Not only the Tojo family, but even in Japan, everyone will treat you with utmost respect..."

As Tojo Koichi listened to his advisors' words, his expression became increasingly interesting, and his smile widened: "Alright, now that everyone knows the pros and cons of this matter, then everyone should know what to do, right..."

"If I achieve a great victory here, I certainly won't let you suffer losses. There's a saying in Xiao Kingdom: 'One prospers, all prosper; one suffers, all suffer...' We need to stick together..."

"You've staked your fortune on me, so of course I won't let you suffer a loss."

Upon hearing Koichi Tojo's words, the expressions of the group of staff members immediately became quite interesting.

They all nodded.

"Young Master Gu Yi, we will definitely not let you down."

Seeing how agitated these people were, Tojo Koichi smiled slightly at them and then told them they could prepare to rest...

...

The next morning, Xiao Ce got up very early.

This time, he took the initiative to go to Tojo Koichi's residence and extended an invitation.

He did this intentionally to create a contrast.

When the people were Slavs, he was obsequious and dared not show any affection to the people of Fusang.

One plan was to wait until Eva and Reese died so that he could personally greet them and make very enthusiastic gestures.

This would make Tojo Koichi and the others think that Xiao Ce was a relatively easy person to control.

When Xiao Ce arrived, Tojo Koichi and the others had been discussing until midnight the night before, so they were still resting.

Xiao Ce waited quietly to the side, telling the Japanese guards not to wake them.

However, after Xiao Ce waited for a full half hour, one of Tojo Koichi's trusted confidants listened to Tojo Koichi's words from the previous night.

He also knew that they were to cooperate with Xiao Ce.

It's not appropriate to leave him waiting outside like this.

He went to the door and gently knocked on Tojo Koichi's door.

Koichi Tojo has always been a very light sleeper.

So, he woke up after his subordinate gently knocked on the door.

After he woke up, he looked outside and asked, "Who is it?"

"It's me... Young Master Gu Yi. I'm sorry to bother you. However, King Xiao Ce of the Northern Desert has been waiting outside for almost half an hour. Although he instructed me not to disturb your rest."

"But considering what you said last night, I feel it's necessary to repeat what you said..."

Upon hearing this, Tojo Koichi immediately got up, put on a coat, and walked to the door.

"You said Xiao Ce has arrived and is still waiting outside?"

Koichi Tojo's confidant nodded and recounted what had happened after Xiao Ce arrived.

Koichi Tojo was somewhat surprised to hear this.

Did he say what he was coming for?

The confidant shook his head.

"He didn't bring it up, and I didn't dare ask..."

Tojo Koichi initially wanted to go inside and change his clothes, but then he thought that if he went out like this now, it would only make him seem more anxious.

After meeting last night, he was certain that Xiao Ce was a smart man, so he needed someone like that right now.

After all, their combat strength is also known.

If he could get them to obey his orders without losing a single soldier, that would be ideal.

So, Koichi Tojo also started acting.

"Your Highness, the King of the Northern Desert, you flatter me... Why didn't you send someone to fetch me...?"

"If there's anything you need, just call me."

Xiao Ce heard the voice before seeing the person, and then saw Tojo Koichi wearing a robe.

Even her shoes weren't on properly.

As Xiao Ce watched Tojo Koichi begin his performance, he eagerly followed along with a smile.

"Young Master Gu Yi, I heard you weren't resting, so I was waiting for you to wake up. Why did you come out like this?"

Koichi Tojo greeted him warmly, "I heard Your Highness had been waiting at the door for a long time. If it weren't for my trusted aide feeling bad that you'd been waiting so long, how long would you have been waiting...?"

Xiao Ce smiled and said to Koichi Tojo, "Young Master Koichi, it's alright. I didn't have anything else to do, so I was just thinking of having you have breakfast with me..."

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Tojo Koichi immediately thought of the foul-smelling dirt from yesterday.

Just thinking about it makes me feel disgusted...

"No need, Your Highness, King of the Northern Desert. We appreciate your kindness. However, you are currently facing difficult times together... We have brought our own rations, so we don't need to eat yours..."

Xiao Ce looked at Tojo Koichi, who had a terrified expression, and couldn't help but laugh as he spoke.

"Young Master Gu Yi, we won't serve you what we had last night... Yesterday, I really had no other choice..."

Koichi Tojo looked at Xiao Ce with a puzzled expression.

Xiao Ce explained, "Last night's banquet was actually arranged according to the wishes of the Slavs. They instructed us to deliberately serve those foods to you."

"All this was to make you enemies... Fortunately, Young Master Gu Yi, you are a magnanimous person and didn't hold it against us... Now, I have no more scruples... I will do as I please, and we will definitely treat you well..."

Upon hearing this, Tojo Koichi suddenly realized what was happening.

"Those Slavs are truly despicable..."

As he spoke, Tojo Koichi showed a puzzled expression.

"Your Highness, the deaths of Ries and Eva seem to have had no effect on you at all... Aren't you even worried?"

Upon hearing Tojo Koichi's words, Xiao Ce immediately showed a worried expression.

He then said, "Young Master Gu Yi, what are you saying? How could Rhys and Princess Eva be dead... They just left the palace last night and haven't returned. They've probably gone traveling around Xiao Kingdom."

"They mentioned a few days ago that they were going on a trip, something like this..."

When Tojo Koichi saw Xiao Ce talking nonsense with such a straight face, he was first taken aback, and then looked at the expression on Xiao Ce's face.

Immediately afterwards, he looked like he understood perfectly.

"Yes, yes, look at my memory... I misremembered... they went out for a trip..."

As she spoke, Tojo Koichi looked at Xiao Ce and said, "Your Highness, the Slavic people must have accompanied you quite a bit, right?"

Xiao Ce leaned closer to Tojo Koichi and whispered, "Of course, some of them were fortunate enough to have already been sent on a 'trip' with Reese and Eva. As for the others, money talks..."

"You know, among those people, they were the ones who handled all the correspondence with the Slavic countries... so..."

Xiao Ce did not continue.

Koichi Tojo chuckled and nodded, "Hahaha, Your Highness the King of the Northern Desert, as expected of you... as expected of you..."

As Xiao Ce spoke, he told Tojo Koichi to change his clothes and then go have breakfast.

This time, Xiao Ce had prepared all sorts of delicious dishes.

Xiao Ce arranged for Tojo Koichi to be in charge, and Yin Weiyong was tasked with arranging the staff.

Overall, it's a case of everyone getting their share.

Not only that, but they also arranged for girls from the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, representing the twenty-four solar terms, to serve them well.

This made the staff extremely happy.

After they finished eating, I took them around for a stroll.

It wasn't until evening that they finished the hot pot that Xiao Ce had arranged.

They went back very satisfied...

After Tojo Koichi returned home, a trusted confidant gently knocked on his door.

Koichi Tojo was already getting ready to sleep when he asked in confusion...

"what happened?"

"There's a palace servant outside who says he's looking for you..."

Koichi Tojo asked in confusion, "A palace servant? Looking for me? Was this sent by the King of the Northern Desert?"