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

Xiao Ce sneered: "They can't even protect themselves, let alone you!"

"Drag him away! Chop him up!"

Xiao Ce's deafening voice resounded throughout the entire Yanzheng Hall.

The soldiers seized them one by one and sent them out.

"Zhang Yunqing, you know... he can't kill me... please try to persuade him."

"Zhang Yunqing, do you know the consequences of messing with us! This good-for-nothing can't possibly bear the consequences..."

...

These people panicked and immediately placed their last hope on Zhang Yunqing, who was standing behind Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce subconsciously glanced at Zhang Yunqing, who remained unmoved behind him.

"Zhang Yunqing, why don't you say a few words in their defense!"

Zhang Yunqing cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, since you've made your decision, you must have thought it through. Besides, I also think they deserve to die!"

Xiao Ce looked at the twenty-six ministers standing in the hall.

"The ministers who remain here, are you willing to serve me in the future? If so, those who wish to go with them, please step forward."

The ministers almost simultaneously turned their gazes toward Nie Bing on one side.

Nie Bing nodded slightly.

The leading middle-aged minister stepped forward: "As long as Your Highness truly cares for the four prefectures of the northern desert, we will serve Your Highness with utmost loyalty and devotion, even unto death!"

After the first person expressed his opinion, the others knelt down one after another, parroting each other: "As long as Your Highness truly cares for the four prefectures of Mobei, we will serve Your Highness with utmost loyalty and devotion until our dying breath!"

Looking at the arrogance in their eyes, they must think they are very awesome and have great integrity.

Xiao Ce snorted coldly: "Of course you should devote yourselves to the cause until your dying breath! I actually want to kill you all! You've made the four prefectures of Mobei into this mess, and you still have such arrogant faces. What's so great about you?"

He looked at these people with a hint of resentment in his eyes.

"Still not convinced? Do you really think that the four prefectures of the northern desert have become what they are today because of the powerful clans who hold absolute power? Of course, they are partly to blame! But the majority of the problem is due to the weakness, apathy, and concessions of ministers like you appointed by the state!"

"You have all sorts of reasons to back down! It is your gradual retreat that led to the death of Governor Nie Yao! It is your forbearance that allowed the powerful noble families to do as they pleased!"

"The reason why the Great Xiao Kingdom is so pathetic, and the four prefectures of the Northern Desert have fallen to this state, is because there are too many opportunists like you here, and too few upright officials like Governor Nie Yao! If all the officials of the four prefectures of the Northern Desert followed the example of upright officials like Governor Nie Yao, there would be far too few!"

"From this day forward, with me here, I will never back down again! And every single one of you, I despise! You are all guilty now. If you do well, I will atone for your sins and spare your lives! If you do poorly, I will still kill you!"

"In short, one sentence! If an official doesn't serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes!"

Xiao Ce stood up from his seat and reprimanded him sternly.

Xiao Ce's words, each one piercing their very souls, caused them to lower their heads involuntarily.

Xiao Ce was right. They asked themselves honestly, if they could really be like Nie Yao, disregarding everything and never backing down.

Perhaps, the situation would be different now!

When Nie Yao was in power, those powerful clans and nobles did indeed have to keep a low profile and dare not be so arrogant.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce turned to Nie Bing and said, "Miss Nie Bing, tell these ministers about my three-year plan! To achieve this goal, it won't be enough for me to risk my life alone."

Nie Bing nodded: "My plan is to ensure that within three years, the people have a place to live, clothes to cover their bodies, and food to fill their stomachs. I also want them to have surplus money every year and meat to eat at every meal!"

Upon hearing Nie Bing's words, everyone subconsciously raised their heads and looked at Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce addressed the crowd, saying, "Do you think it's impossible? I swear to you all here that if I can't do it within three years, I will abandon myself to the people! I'm willing to risk my life, do you?"

"Your Highness, you dare say that? I am willing to risk my life for you!"

"Indeed, Your Highness! I am willing to risk my life for you..."

Looking at the expressions of everyone in the room, Nie Bing felt a deep admiration for Xiao Ce.

His ability to stir up emotions is still exceptional.

"Very well! From now on, I will entrust all matters of city management to my queen, Yin Pan'er, daughter of Prime Minister Yin, and Nie Bing, daughter of Governor Nie Yao. Now, let them lead you on your tasks."

Xiao Ce glanced at Yin Pan'er and Nie Bing.

The two were somewhat surprised.

"Just follow the rules in the book I gave you. Right now, the most important thing is to let the slaves in the nine cities know that I have arrived! They will no longer go hungry."

"Secondly, we need to resettle the disaster victims! Land reform and other related matters must be carried out simultaneously. I need to see results as soon as possible!"

Xiao Ce gave a few simple instructions, and Yin Pan'er and Nie Bing nodded.

Nie Bing cupped her hands and asked, "Then, Your Highness, what about the appointment of officials here...?"

Xiao Ce said to Nie Bing, "You two will handle internal affairs, and I'll handle external affairs. You'll have full authority! After the decision is made, have them all come to see me so I can get to know them!"

Nie Bing clasped his hands in agreement.

Xiao Ce saw Xiao Jiu waiting at the door with a group of merchants.

Xiao Ce said to Yin Pan'er and Nie Bing, "Take them to discuss how to proceed with the matters I mentioned."

The two men bowed and left.

Xiao Ce said to Da Lei, "Arrange for a few members of the Twelve Fiends to accompany them and provide protection."

Da Lei nodded.

After they left, Xiao Ce said to Xiao Jiu, "Bring them in."

Xiao Jiu led a group of merchants in.

The group of merchants didn't even bother to greet them when they entered.

They all turned to Xiao Ce and said, "Your Highness, I'd like to add something. There was something I missed in the letter I wrote to you before..."

“Indeed, Your Highness, there are omissions in the letter we wrote to you. I want to confess more!”

"Your Highness, we are absolutely loyal to you!"

Seeing these people enter the hall and then prostrate themselves on the ground, trembling with fear.

I knew that Xiao Jiu had already dragged all those officials who were to be executed over to scare them.

And that was indeed the case. When they were escorting those people out, at Xiao Ce's prior instruction, they made a point of walking around the Hall of Ceremonies.

Watching those officials sentenced to death wailing and pleading with the powerful noble families for help.

However, as Xiao Ce said, those powerful noble families themselves were in dire straits.

The merchants were terrified when they heard this.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce said to them, "Do you want to die or live?"

The merchants knelt on the ground one after another: "Your Highness, we want to live! We are not really familiar with those noble families... We are actually forced into this situation, just like Manager Zhang Yunqing... But our hearts are all for the good of Xiao Kingdom!"

"Your Highness, we've wanted to support you ever since you arrived! Your Highness, we've heard you've provided disaster relief to many victims. As members of the Northern Desert, we're willing to do our part! We want to live!"

"That's right, Your Highness. Just say the word, and we'll give up everything we own! We want to live!"

...

These merchants were much smarter.

Moreover, they are also very decisive.

After listening to everyone's words, Xiao Ce said with a smile, "Alright! My fellow merchants, I have seen your sincerity and attitude! I have always been the kind of person who repays kindness tenfold! Your words have touched me deeply!"

"However, you can rest assured. I am not like Bao An and those other powerful family heads. I will not take your things! Even if you give them to me, I will not accept them. For example, Manager Zhang Yunqing promised to give me several million shi of grain, which is his entire fortune. Would I accept it? I would accept it, but I would pay slightly more than his cost price to buy it!"

"I called you all here today for no other reason than to discuss this with Manager Zhang Yunqing. Why do you merchants have no status? It's because all you know is to suppress each other, frame each other, and engage in vicious competition!"

"After reading your letters, I feel that to make you stronger, you must unite as one. I will establish a Northern Desert Merchants Association, and we will form a cluster. Then we will establish the association's rules! We will make money together and face difficulties together!"

"Those who are willing, raise your hands and join!"

After Xiao Ce spoke, the people present began to whisper among themselves.

A chubby merchant spoke up, "Your Highness, who is this guild leader?"

Xiao Ce said, "I will temporarily serve as the honorary president. The executive president will be rotated annually. The change will be made by internal vote, and I will agree to it! Zhang Yunqing will serve as the first executive president. Of course, I assure you that the most capable person will be in the position!"

Seeing that everyone was still hesitant, Xiao Ce said with a smile, "You don't need to worry too much! I am not the kind of person who is forceful and unreasonable! Whether you join or not is entirely voluntary!"

Before anyone could say a second word, Xiao Ce stood up and said, "Of course, there's another saying: 'Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts!' I've already told you all this, and I'm going to make a fortune with you. If you're still unwilling to do this, I have reason to suspect that you're not one of us! Since you're not one of us, just kill you."

The relaxed expressions on everyone's faces instantly turned deathly pale!

"Join! Your Highness, we're joining...we're joining..."

"Yes, Your Highness, I'll join too..."

...

Seeing the unanimous approval and everyone's enthusiastic participation, Xiao Ce nodded in satisfaction and said, "That's exactly how it should be. I love seeing everyone united like this. Zhang Yunqing, go and register everyone, then have them put their fingerprints on the form!"

Zhang Yunqing, who was listening from the side, couldn't help but twitch his face. Not daring to be negligent, he went to register.