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

As soon as Xiao Ce said this...

The audience erupted in uproar, exchanging glances and exchanging knowing looks.

"Your Highness, what are war bonds?" Kan Zongye asked, voicing everyone's confusion.

Xiao Ce looked at everyone and said, "War bonds, as the name suggests, are bonds issued for war. This is because war requires a lot of money to support it."

"I've had someone estimate that fighting the Turks will cost around 60 million taels of silver! I'll take out 30 million taels of that silver and distribute it as a benefit to you in the form of bonds. Each bond is worth 300 taels of silver, and there are 100,000 bonds in total. Everyone is welcome to participate!"

"Simply put, if you spend three hundred taels of silver to buy a war bond, after I conquer the Turks, the money, grain, troops and other things I obtain will be converted into silver."

"To give you an example, after we conquered the Turkic Kingdom, we seized a total of 100 million taels of silver, half of which belonged to me. The other 50 million taels of silver were distributed among everyone. If you buy a government bond, you can redeem 500 taels of silver later, which means you will make a net profit of 200 taels. The more you buy, the more you will earn."

"Moreover, you know better than I how much the Turks have plundered from you. One hundred million taels of silver is an understatement! What if we seize two hundred million? I promise you, apart from their land, everything else will be converted into silver and distributed among you!"

"I know that even if I gave it to you for free, you wouldn't dare to take it! I'm not doing charity! So, this method is the safest! The more you buy, the more you'll earn!"

As soon as Xiao Ce said this, the shrewd people present immediately understood.

That sounds nice, but it's just asking them for money.

Seeing everyone stammering.

Xiao Ce said, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

These prestigious families and powerful clans all looked at each other with amusement.

No one dared to step forward.

After all, Xiao Ce was a smiling tiger. He always had a smile on his face, but no one could be sure what he might say that would displease him and lead to his execution.

The businessmen, on the other hand, were very interested.

"Your Highness, I have a question. How long do you think these war bonds will last?"

Xiao Ce said, "Generally speaking, it's about waiting for me to conquer the entire Turkic Kingdom!"

"Your Highness, there's something I need to say... Please forgive me..."

Xiao Ce waved his hand and said, "Ask whatever you want. I will forgive you."

"Your Highness, if you can't defeat the Turks in eight or ten years, does that mean we won't be able to receive our share of the profits for eight or ten years?"

As soon as the merchant asked the question, Zhang Yunqing immediately shouted, "Insolence!"

The merchant was so frightened that he knelt on the ground.

Xiao Ce smiled, seemingly unconcerned: "Get up. That's a very good question. Let's put aside the fact that this won't happen; I estimate it will take at most a year to conquer the Turks. Even if I fail to conquer them, you can still redeem the war bonds you purchased after the one-year freeze period!"

"Moreover, when you redeem your money, I will return the principal and interest to you according to the money exchange's interest rate!"

"Are you also wondering what will happen if I lose or die, and no one pays out?" Xiao Ce asked the merchant.

The merchant, terrified, turned deathly pale and knelt on the ground with a thud: "This humble subject...this humble subject dares not..."

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "This is everyone's problem, isn't it? After all, thirty million taels of silver is no small sum. It's equivalent to the entire Xiao Kingdom's fiscal revenue for three years..."

"I can only promise, and assure you, that it won't happen! But you certainly won't believe me even if I say it with absolute certainty! This involves the risks of investment! And your trust in me!"

As he spoke, Xiao Ce said to Qian Lai, "Qian Lai, complete the registration! The subscription process begins now. I'd like to see if everyone's trust in me is just lip service or genuine."

As he spoke, Xiao Ce waved his hand, and another squad of armored soldiers came and blocked the entrance to the Hall of State Affairs.

"You don't need to be nervous. This subscription is based entirely on the principles of equality, voluntariness, and fairness. If you don't trust me, you are perfectly free not to bid!"

Although Xiao Ce spoke with a smile, as soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers around him picked up their weapons one by one.

The threat is obvious.

Xiao Ce wasn't actually short of money, because he had already seized nearly 20 million taels of silver from Bao An. Next, after confiscating the Cai family's property, he would have at least another 20 million taels of silver.

He issued these war bonds to get them all to contribute money and get on his side.

He calculated that if the 30 million was divided among them, each of them would contribute a portion, which would hurt them financially, but it wouldn't be enough to damage their fundamental interests. It would be just right, and it wouldn't make them angry.

"Your Highness, I'd like to purchase five thousand units!"

"Your Highness, I'd like to purchase three thousand units!"

These businessmen are very enthusiastic, and their investments are substantial.

Before long, these merchants had purchased more than 50,000 shares, which was worth 1,500 taels of silver.

This was somewhat beyond Xiao Ce's expectations. He was uneasy if the four major clans sent fewer people.

"You businessmen really have a keen eye. There are still 50,000 portions left. How are so many powerful families and noble clans supposed to divide them up?"

"Patriarch Kan, Patriarch Liu, Patriarch Lin, don't you agree?"

The three men smiled awkwardly at Xiao Ce's words: "Your Highness, we can all... reduce it a little, just a little!"

Xiao Ce said, "How can that be? Although I want to vigorously develop trade, you are the foundation of the Northern Desert, and I can't let you suffer losses! If the money comes, I'll take a loss. I'll take another 40,000 shares from my side, making a total of 90,000 shares. Each of them will receive 30,000 shares, fair and square, and they can distribute them to their respective families. What do you say?"

Lin Shou hurriedly waved his hands, "No...no...no...no need..."

Xiao Ce said with a dark face, "Are you complaining that it's not enough? I've already given you my share? One shouldn't be too greedy... Do you mean to give you the remaining ten thousand shares as well?"

Liu Xuan shook his head: "No, no, no... That's enough! That's enough! Your Highness, just do as you said, 90,000 portions, and each family will get 30,000 portions."

Kan Zongye nodded with a grim expression: "That's enough, thank you, Your Highness!"

Ninety thousand portions total twenty-seven million taels, which is not much for so many families.

"Alright! In ten days, I will hold a grand ceremony to mark my coronation! Everyone who has subscribed to the war bonds will be invited to a banquet for their entire family! Invite your wives and all your children! And of course, bring the money you used to subscribe to the war bonds as well!"

Hearing Xiao Ce's words, Kan Zongye looked embarrassed: "Your Highness, can we go back ourselves?"

Xiao Ce said expressionlessly, "What? Have I not treated you well? I was hoping to chat with you all. Don't you want to be with me?"

Kan Zongye waved his hands and said, "No...no...Your Highness, that's not what I meant!"

Xiao Ce looked at Kan Zongye and said with a smile, "I know what you're thinking! Don't worry, I mean no harm. You will all be my support in the future. I'm hosting this banquet for your whole family because we'll all be family from now on, and we definitely need to get to know each other! Don't you agree?"

Xiao Ce waved his hand dismissively, "Alright, after you've finished writing your letters, go find Fei Du to deliver them to you. Remember, I will personally host a banquet for you in seven days. If you don't come, or come less often, you'll bear the consequences! Let's exchange sincerity for sincerity!"

With that, Xiao Ce stood up and said, "Alright, everyone disperse."

After Xiao Ce stood up, the guards at the palace gate made way.

As the crowd dispersed, whispering amongst themselves, Xiao Ce continued, "And do you know why I am holding my 'enthronement' ceremony in ten days?"

They had originally stopped walking.

Xiao Ce said, "My 100,000-strong army will arrive in the northern desert in ten days! At that time, there will be a military parade first, followed by the 'enthronement' ceremony! I know you're all cursing me for ripping you off right now. But once my army arrives, you'll see! I really am letting you make money!"

After saying that, Xiao Ce smiled and left.

"Pan'er, with this money, don't you feel more confident now?"

Yin Pan'er said with admiration, "Your Highness, war bonds, how did you come up with that idea! It's brilliant! With this money, we can solve many of our urgent problems."

Nie Bing chimed in sarcastically, "Pan'er, remember this. This money from the Prince is a bond! To put it bluntly, it's a loan. It has to be repaid when the time comes!"

Xiao Ce looked at Nie Bing and said, "How to return it, to whom to return it! How much to return? All of this is up to me!"

Nie Bing said to Xiao Ce, "You want to renege? Then, won't you lose your reputation?"

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "If they all honestly help me during this period, I can give them the promised share. However, if any of them commit any act of treason against the Northern Desert, I have grounds to cancel their membership... This is all written in the terms of the war bonds."

"In short, if they obediently serve as my dogs, I will not mistreat them... But if they dare to play any tricks, I have every right to kill them!"

Nie Bing listened and nodded, then said nothing more.

Yin Pan'er asked Xiao Ce with some concern, "Your Highness, what about Cai Tianming's territory?"

Xiao Ce said, "I have already sent letters to the prominent families under Cai Tianming, instructing them not to support the Cai family. Furthermore, I have sent men to Chanda County to deliver the news of Cai Tianming and Cai Wu's treason and collusion with the enemy. The message is that if the Cai family hands over all their wealth, they will be spared death! If they resist, their entire family will be executed!"

"If they're smart, they'll give up their wealth to save their lives! If they resist stubbornly, let the Kan, Liu, and Lin families train their guards! Let them handle it, let them fight like dogs!"

Nie Bing asked doubtfully, "Your Highness, aren't you afraid that those people will turn against you once they leave this place?"

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "Why do you think I invited their whole family over? At that time, I will naturally leave some of their important hostages with me!"