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

Xiao Ce was previously the CEO of a listed company.

Judging people is the most basic skill.

As the maids spoke one by one, Xiao Ce roughly understood their situation.

Xiao Ce's choice was based on very simple conditions: a simple personality and, most importantly, virginity.

They selected another twenty or so and sent the guards to bring them money.

Send Qian Lai to interrogate them and find out what's going on inside this mansion.

Although Qian Lai is a shopkeeper, he should be quite adept at this task.

Xiao Ce looked at the ten young girls who remained.

"Your previous names were all too awful... I will give you new names."

Tie Dan, who was being led in by Xiao Ce, snorted.

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "See? I personally named this precious steed of mine. How satisfied it is!"

Da Lei's face twitched as he listened from the side.

Xiao Ce then addressed the girls.

"You can sort yourselves by age."

The girls were arranged in order of age, and Xiao Ce was somewhat surprised to hear their ages.

Because girls in ancient times were already so full-figured at this age.

Xiao Ce's naming process was very simple; he simply named them according to the twenty-four solar terms.

It's meaningless. I'll train twenty-four maids to be my confidantes.

You need to make proper arrangements for your own rear.

"Your name is Lichun (Beginning of Spring), your name is Yushui (Rain Water), your name is Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects)..."

After taking ten, the maids all expressed their gratitude.

Xiao Ce said, "Alright, everyone go and get ready to help me bathe and go to bed..."

Xiao Ce really enjoyed himself that night.

Although these girls are young, they are all very skilled.

Xiao Ce inquired and learned that these girls probably couldn't read or write.

But you will definitely take a course on serving men.

...

The next day, Xiao Ce woke up early as usual.

Da Lei was somewhat surprised that Xiao Ce got up so early.

"Your Highness, you worked hard last night, won't you rest a little longer?"

Xiao Ce naturally knew what Da Lei meant and said with a smile, "This level of intensity is nothing to me."

As he spoke, he went to train as usual.

After running around the palace a few times, Qian came to report.

"Your Highness, I have interrogated all the people you gave me last night. I have a good understanding of the situation at the General's Palace. I kept some trustworthy people. I arrested all the other confidants."

Xiao Ce nodded in satisfaction: "Good, this will be my temporary palace from now on. Stop working at the Qian family business and come here to be my head steward, how about it?"

Qian Lai looked apprehensive and said, "Your Highness, I would naturally be more than happy to accept... However, firstly, I am a member of the Qian family, and my indenture is with the Qian family. Secondly, I have only ever worked as a shopkeeper, never as a head steward... I'm afraid I won't do a good job."

Deep down, Qian Lai was definitely willing, given Xiao Ce's demonstrated abilities.

The future is certainly bright, but we should still be polite.

Xiao Ce said to Qian Lai, "No one is born knowing how. When I first asked you to be an ancient person, I didn't know how either. But now look at me, I've adapted quite well, haven't I?"

Xiao Ce's words left Qian Lai stunned.

Clearly, Xiao Ce's occasional use of unfamiliar words left him confused.

Not only did they not understand, they also dared not respond.

"If I say you can do it well, then you can do it well! Unless you're unwilling? As for the Qian family, that's not a problem; I'll send someone to talk to them."

After listening, Qian Lai bowed and said, "Your Highness, I am willing."

"Alright, then you can make the arrangements here. Also, investigate the backgrounds of those ten maids and give them to me. Then go and recruit some servants and maids."

As he spoke, Xiao Ce said to Da Lei, "Da Lei, you said to call Xie Zhi over from among the Twelve Fiends, so that he can help Qian Lai select people."

The Xie Zhi is one of the Twelve Evils. Da Lei said that he is proficient in human nature, skilled in interrogation, and adept at psychological attacks.

Xiao Ce had also talked to Xie Zhi, and he was indeed a very capable person; in modern times, he would definitely be a psychological expert.

After giving the instructions, Yan Jia arrived.

"Your Highness, we have made contact with Yanmen City. As you wished, we have left a thousand garrison troops there, and the rest of the troops are coming over! They are expected to arrive this afternoon."

"Inside Lingxiao City, we sealed off the city gates, and no one was allowed to enter or leave. Although the people were talking about it, they didn't do anything. After all, most of them were slaves. It was that Turkic group that wanted to cause trouble, but we captured them all."

Yan Jia recounted the situation inside the city.

Xiao Ce nodded after listening, and then said, "Alright! What about the officials of this city? Bring them all over."

Yan Jia said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, not only are the magistrates of the cities and counties here, but also officials from all sides, and even officials from the other nine cities are in that hall..."

Xiao Ce only came to his senses after hearing this.

"I almost forgot about those people! Since they're all inside, let's lock them up again! Let's wait until tonight. We'll wait for Nie Bing and the others to come over; he knows this area well."

As Xiao Ce spoke, he waved to Qian Lai again.

Qian Lai came over respectfully.

“Your Qian family business is familiar with this area. Send people to spread some news, saying that the city is under lockdown because the Emperor has personally appointed the King of the Northern Desert. The King of the Northern Desert is preparing to distribute land to the people and let them become masters of their own destiny.”

"Then go and tell them about the situation at Yanmen Pass, and also that after my arrival, all the people will be exempt from taxes..."

Xiao Ce gave instructions to Qian Lai.

Qian Lai listened and nodded.

Xiao Ce's idea was simple: if he wanted sustainable development in this area, he needed the support of the people.

His purpose in coming here was to enable the people to live a better life.

After saying that, Qian Lai went to get busy.

Yan Jia asked Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, what should we do with the people in the Hall of Ceremonies? Should we give them some food?"

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, "No need. Those leeches have sucked the blood of so many people. Starving them for a few meals won't kill them! We need to break their spirit first! By the way, have you captured any of the messenger crows here?"

Yan Jia nodded, then said to Xiao Ce, "We've caught them. They have close ties with the Ashina tribe of the Turkic Kingdom."

Xiao Ce nodded: "Alright, send a letter to Ashina! Tell them to bring ten million taels of gold, ten thousand fine horses, and a million shi of grain to rescue his son!"

After listening, Yan Jia said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness...isn't this too much? They won't give it to us, will they?"

Xiao Ce revealed a wicked smile and said, "I never wanted them to give it to me! I will get it myself if I want it!"