With wives as numerous as clouds and soldiers as numerous as a million, you say he's a useless

"Reason? Ha..." Zhang Hanfeng gave a bitter laugh and retorted sharply, "Does the young master truly not know?"

"The Tiger Roar Camp was suppressed and idle for ten years, a full ten years! Even a fine sword will lose its edge when worn down, let alone us, who are human beings, living, breathing human beings!"

"When you have a need, you call us knives; when you have no need, you treat us like weeds. What does the young master take us for? What does the Northern Royal Court take us for? What have you been doing during these ten years of bullying and suppression of my Tiger Roar Camp?"

"Ten years of trials and tribulations have left all my brothers in the Tiger Roar Camp disheartened. We no longer wish to be involved in court politics, much less serve any faction or be loyal to anyone!"

"Young Master, please leave. Let's pretend you were never here today, and let's pretend my Tiger Roar Camp died long ago in the year the old Northern King passed away! Let's part ways amicably and have no further connection!"

After saying this, Zhang Hanfeng sadly closed his eyes, turned his back, and refused to look at Ye Cheng'an again.

Zhao Yuchen and Li Tieshan also had cold and distant expressions.

Seeing the three of them like this, Ye Cheng'an understood that what Zhang Hanfeng had just said was not just one person's emotion. It was probably the entire Tiger Roar Camp that had accumulated resentment towards the Northern Kingdom's suppression over the past ten years and the original owner's inaction.

Getting the Tiger Roar Camp to go to Liuzhou with him will be a bit difficult.

"My three uncles, I apologize. For some reason, I have not been able to turn the tide and lend a helping hand to the Tiger Roar Camp in its dire situation over the past ten years."

"But the past cannot be changed, but the future can still be chosen. As long as you are willing to go to Liuzhou with me, I promise to restore the Tiger Roar Camp to its former glory!" Ye Cheng'an said earnestly, word by word.

However, Zhang Hanfeng and his two companions remained unmoved and silent. Revive the former glory of the Tiger Roar Camp? Ha, it's easy for them to say. Ye Cheng'an has no money or food, and he is disliked by the prince. If the Tiger Roar Camp were to follow him, they would probably have trouble even making ends meet, let alone anything else.

Seeing that the three remained unmoved, Ye Cheng'an had no choice but to find another way. The fact that Zhang Hanfeng and the other two harbored deep resentment towards the Northern Kingdom's court also showed that they were not satisfied with their current life of just getting by.

An eagle is never content with mediocrity.

As long as they recall their heroic spirit when they followed their grandfather into battle, they will surely be moved!

"My three uncles, if you are determined not to go to Liuzhou with me, I will not force you. However, after this parting, I do not know when we will meet again. So let me compose a poem to bid you farewell..."

Zhang Hanfeng and his two companions didn't take Ye Cheng'an's request to compose a farewell poem seriously at all. They knew that the eldest young master was talented and capable in governing, so composing a poem would naturally be no challenge for him.

But a single poem cannot change the situation in the North.

Even less so, it couldn't warm their already cold hearts!

"Please do as you please, young master."

With permission granted, Ye Cheng'an's gaze sharpened, and he recited with intonation, "In my drunken stupor, I pick up my lamp to examine my sword; in my dreams, I hear the bugles echoing through the camps."

Eight hundred miles of roasted meat are distributed among the troops, and fifty strings of music echo beyond the border. Autumn review of troops on the battlefield.

The horse galloped swiftly like the wind, the bowstring twanged like thunder.

Having accomplished the affairs of the king and the realm, he won fame both before and after his death. Alas, his hair has turned white!

After reciting the poem, he ignored the still stunned Zhang, Zhao, and Li, cupped his hands in farewell, and said, "I'm leaving. Take care, my three uncles!"

He then strode quickly towards the outside of Tiger Roar Camp.

He was gambling that Zhang Hanfeng and the other two would catch up.

The saying goes, "Even after ten years of drinking ice, the blood has not cooled." He used this song, "Broken Formation," to ignite the three men's desire to gallop across the battlefield and fulfill their ambitions!

Clearly, the North would never give them a chance to fulfill their ambitions. If they wanted to achieve their long-cherished wish, the Tiger Roar Camp had no choice but to go with him!

The night was cool and the wind was cold; Tiger Roar Camp was quiet and still.

After Ye Cheng'an's words resounded in their ears, Zhang Hanfeng, Zhao Yuchen, and Li Tieshan didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

The images of fighting alongside the late king on the battlefield ten years ago, shedding blood and killing enemies, kept replaying in their minds. How valiant they were back then!

Just the thought of it made their blood boil, and they couldn't wait to draw their swords and charge into battle.

But now, how desolate he is. Without the king's command, he can only be trapped here, waiting to grow old, to die, and to fall into oblivion after he has completely lost his threat to the King of the North.

The stark clash between ideals and reality suddenly brought a sense of relief to their hearts, making them less numb...

"Having accomplished the affairs of the king and the world, winning fame before and after death... alas, white hair grows!" Zhang Hanfeng's lips trembled as he murmured repeatedly, "Do you think the suppression and isolation over the years wasn't limited to the Tiger Roar Camp? The old prince has passed away, and the eldest son is only eight years old. What can an eight-year-old child do? Shouldn't we blame him?"

Zhao Yuchen said, "I heard that today the eldest young master forced Ye Jinglan to come to the manor to admit his mistake, and then took the opportunity to force him to severely punish that bitch Su Wanrou's dog, and also took away our Tiger Roar Camp... And this poem just now, has the eldest young master been waiting for this day all these years? Has he long thought about breaking away from the Northern Kingdom royal family and establishing a separate government?"

"If we miss the opportunity to go to Liuzhou, will we be forever trapped under Ye Jinglan's endless oppression?"

"Big brother, second brother, let's go after the eldest young master! If we miss this opportunity, it will be difficult to escape Ye Jinglan's oppression in the future!" Li Tieshan, the most impulsive of the three, shouted after hearing the other two's analysis, "No matter what the future holds, let's escape the cage Ye Jinglan has built for us first!"

With him leading the way, the three of them got up together and hurried towards the outside of the tent.

At that moment, Zhao Xuefu's carriage stopped outside the Tiger Roar Camp and bumped into Ye Cheng'an, who was about to leave.

"Princess, the eldest prince of the Northern Border is leaving the Tiger Roar Camp. I overheard the soldiers talking about how he seems to have failed to reach an agreement with the three commanders, who are unwilling to go to Liuzhou with him."

With her exceptional hearing, Hongluan recounted the general situation to Zhao Xuefu.

Ning Shuang's eyes flashed with a knowing look. "Princess, I told you so. Ye Cheng'an's previous ability to govern was due to the advantages of the Northern Border. Without the Northern Border royal family, he is nothing. Even if Ye Jinglan is willing to hand over the Tiger Roar Camp to him, he still cannot subdue these people."

"After all, who would want to follow an easy target? Besides, Liuzhou borders the northern barbarians, where the winds and sandstorms are harsh, and war is constant. Only a fool would give up a good life in Beian City to go to Liuzhou!"

"Young Master, please wait! We've thought it through... and we're willing to go to Liuzhou with you!!!" Ning Shuang's words had barely fallen when a loud shout came from afar.

Ye Cheng'an, who had already stepped onto the carriage, smiled and said, "Then it's settled. In half a month, my three uncles will lead the Tiger Roar Camp to Liuzhou with me!"

"Once I arrive in Liuzhou, I will find a way to restore the former glory of the Tiger Roar Camp!"

Looking at Ye Cheng'an's resolute face through the car window, Zhao Xuefu smiled slightly, "I knew this young master from the Northern Border had some skill and ability..."

"Ning Shuang, are you convinced now? Go and summon the eldest son of the Northern Border to my carriage for a chat."

"Hongluan, go and investigate inside the Tiger Roar Camp. Find out what Ye Cheng'an did to make these three old Northern Border Kings' personal guard commanders change their minds so quickly. I need to know everything."

...

Ten breaths later, Ye Cheng'an was invited to enter Zhao Xuefu's carriage.

Tonight, Zhao Xuefu wore light makeup, and the cover-up under her inner skirt was made of gauze, which accentuated her curvaceous figure even more, making it appear both revealing and concealing.

Her crimson silk robe trailed on the ground, reflecting the sunlight, and the gold ornament between her brows held a frosty majesty; she was beautiful yet retained a royal demeanor.

"Is the eldest young master truly determined to go to Liuzhou? Today, you publicly humiliated Ye Jinglan, forcing him to bow down to you, and even forcibly took away the Tiger Roar Camp. Even though Su Kuo's matter has been clarified, Ye Jinglan is narrow-minded and may still harbor resentment, deliberately withholding funds from you to support your troops." Zhao Xuefu spoke softly, weighing the pros and cons from Ye Cheng'an's perspective.

"When you arrive in Liuzhou, you will have no money or food, and you will also have to deal with the menacing northern barbarians... You might as well return to the capital with me and become my son-in-law."

"Of course, if you feel that Princess Shang is shameful, I can also have my father grant you a marquisate and I will marry you."

"In short, as long as you are willing to come with me, I guarantee that whatever I have and can do, you will receive without hesitation, no matter what you want!"

Zhao Xuefu gazed at Ye Cheng'an with resolute phoenix eyes, her gaze as captivating as if hooks held a soul.

It must be admitted that Zhao Xuefu's offer was very tempting, but unfortunately, Ye Cheng'an was unwilling to entrust his life, honor, and disgrace to anyone else; he only trusted himself.

"I'm sorry, but my mind is made up, and I'm destined to disappoint the princess's good intentions. However, if the princess truly wishes to marry me, why not come with me to Liuzhou?"

Zhao Xuefu frowned. "Are you kidding me? How could I possibly go to such a harsh and desolate place as Liuzhou with you... If you want to marry me, you can only submit to the imperial court."

"It seems I am not destined to be with the princess and can only be a guest." Ye Cheng'an said regretfully, but his tone and expression were indifferent, showing no sign of regret at all.

Zhao Xuefu's brows furrowed even more; this was the second time Ye Cheng'an had rejected her!

"Even if you truly have no feelings for me whatsoever, you should still consider how you will support the Tiger Roar Camp and the loyal subordinates who will accompany you to Liuzhou after you go there."

"You can't let them go hungry while they risk their lives for you."

"Princess, this matter has reminded me that I should earn more money before going to Liuzhou..." Ye Cheng'an narrowed his eyes, already having a plan in mind. "I remember that in order to demonstrate its strength to the princess, the Northern Border has not only held a military review, but also specially arranged a banquet for a thousand heroes tomorrow, inviting envoys from the court, officials from the Northern Border, and merchants from the Western Regions to participate in the competition."

"At this banquet, regardless of who wins the literary or martial arts competition, everyone will receive a prize of 30,000 taels of silver?"

"You want to attend the Thousand Heroes Banquet? And you want to win first place at the Thousand Heroes Banquet? Ye Cheng'an, are you crazy? Or did I hear you wrong?" Zhao Xuefu swore that she had never been so speechless in her life.

"Do you know that most of the people attending the Thousand Heroes Banquet are Su Wanrou and Ye Jinglan's people? They will not show you any mercy or let you stand out at the banquet!"

"They don't need to hold back. I have a way to win first place at the Thousand Heroes Banquet!" Faced with Zhao Xuefu's doubts, Ye Cheng'an remained calm and composed. "If you don't believe me, Princess, why don't you make a bet with me?"

"What do you want to bet on?" Zhao Xuefu asked.

Ye Cheng'an said, "Let's bet on whether I can win both the literary and martial arts championships at the Thousand Heroes Banquet!"

"Princess, lend me ten thousand taels of silver first. If I lose, I will give you double the amount after the Thousand Heroes Banquet. Otherwise, this money will be considered a loss to me by the princess, and I will not repay a single tael..."

"Well, Princess, do you dare to bet with me?"