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

Meanwhile, at the Northern Royal Palace.

Su Wanrou already knew what happened at the court meeting this morning. When she heard Ye Jinglan say that as long as Ye Jinyu handled the matter of repairing the military uniform and successfully passed the inspection, he would give him the title of heir apparent and then do his best to help him marry the princess...

Su Wanrou was overjoyed. "Jinyu, did you hear that? After years of planning, our son and I are finally going to succeed!"

"Your father has already snatched the opportunity to handle the internal affairs of the Northern Kingdom and marry the princess from Ye Cheng'an and given it to you. You must do this well and not disappoint your mother."

"Also, make sure to keep the suspension rope you used when you pretended to fall off the cliff with Ye Cheng'an safe, so your father doesn't find out anything."

Ye Jinyu didn't take it seriously. "Mother, don't you trust me to handle things? I guarantee I'll act so well in front of Father that he won't notice anything wrong. As for the introduction of warhorses and the maintenance of military discipline, I've already had someone investigate. In previous years, Ye Cheng'an's warhorses were all obtained from Hu merchants. Before he was deposed as heir apparent, he had already invited those Hu merchants to Beian City..."

"Now, all you need to do is go to where that foreign merchant is, and you can settle this matter and reap the benefits without lifting a finger!"

"I am determined to obtain the position of Crown Prince of the Northern Territory, and I will marry the princess as well! Ye Cheng'an is destined to be nothing more than a stepping stone for my son and me!!!"

After Ye Jinyu finished speaking, he led his men to the post station where the Hu merchants were staying.

The postmaster, Lu Chuansheng, hurriedly greeted him, "Second Young Master, what brings you to the post station? Is there anything I can help you with?"

Ye Jinyu gave Lu Chuansheng a cold glance. If he remembered correctly, this man was an official under Ye Cheng'an. He didn't give him a friendly look. "Stop talking nonsense. Where are those Hu merchants? I am here on my father's orders to bring in warhorses and improve the army's appearance. Tell them to come out and pay their respects to me immediately!"

Lu Chuansheng frowned. "Second Young Master, please wait a moment. Those foreign merchants have very strange tempers. If you wish to see them, please allow me to inform them."

Ye Jinyu snorted coldly, "They're just a bunch of merchants. What are they putting on airs in front of me? Su Kuo, go! Summon all the foreign merchants in the post station to the hall and tell them that I have business to discuss with them."

"Anyone unwilling to come, bring them here to me. I want them to know who is superior and who is inferior in my northern territory!"

"Second Young Master, you mustn't!" Lu Chuansheng's face instantly turned extremely ugly. "These Hu merchants value the attitude of their partners the most. They were unwilling to trade with the Northern Border before. It was only because the Eldest Young Master treated them like honored guests and with great courtesy that they were able to make the deal with the Northern Border happen. If you do this, you might anger them and cut off the channel for importing warhorses from the Northern Border..."

Hearing Lu Chuansheng repeatedly mention Ye Cheng'an, Ye Jinyu's expression suddenly darkened. "It's precisely because Ye Cheng'an is weak-willed that these Hu merchants have become so arrogant and ignorant. They're clearly making money off my Northern Territory, yet they still want to ride roughshod over my territory!"

"Tell them that those days are over. From the moment I took over the negotiations with the Hu merchants, all the preferential treatment Ye Cheng'an previously gave them is canceled. I refuse to believe they would pass up money that's already in their hands."

"Second Young Master, you'll ruin everything! I cannot allow you to do this..." Lu Chuansheng spread his arms, blocking Su Kuo and the others.

However, Ye Jinyu's face was cold and mocking. "You don't know what's good for you! I think you're not worried that I'll anger the Hu merchants and cut off the channels for importing warhorses from the Northern Border, but rather that I'll complete the trade with the Hu merchants and completely replace your former master, Ye Cheng'an!"

"Guards! Lord Lu is interfering with trade and hindering progress. Take him away and do not allow him into the post station without orders!"

After Lu Chuansheng was taken away, more than a dozen foreign merchants were brought before Ye Jinyu.

Ye Jinyu glanced at the group indifferently, then arrogantly took her seat in the main seat. "Gentlemen, I'll take all the warhorses you brought, but the payment can't be as Ye Cheng'an promised. If you don't want to leave empty-handed, the price will have to be reduced by another 20%!"

Upon hearing this, all the foreign merchants frowned.

Ye Jinyu, however, remained unconvinced and continued, "Of course, you can choose to leave the Northern Territory with your warhorses and goods on your return journey. But you should know that if I wanted to, I could easily seize these goods without spending a single penny during your journey home!"

"Whether it's a peaceful trade with a 20% price reduction, or to include all the goods in the price reduction, you should know which to choose."

Threat.

A blatant threat!

These merchants from all over the world had never seen anyone as shameless as Ye Jinyu. Immediately, they clenched their fists like iron, their hair stood on end in anger, and they wished they could tear Ye Jinyu apart with their bare hands.

Just then, a woman dressed in a scarlet gauze robe and a tight-fitting outfit, with a leather belt wrapped around a whip to conceal her murderous intent, walked in. She glanced coldly at Ye Jinyu and said, "Where is Young Master Ye? We only discuss business with Young Master Ye."

Upon seeing the woman, Ye Jinyu's eyes lit up. She had long heard that the leader of these foreign merchants was a woman, but she hadn't expected the woman to be so beautiful.

His eyes lit up, and he immediately came up with an even more brilliant idea.

If he could win this woman over, wouldn't she be more than willing to give him her warhorse?

That idiot Ye Cheng'an must never have thought of such a way to gain both wealth and beauty.

"Since you are the leader of this group, I might as well tell you that Ye Cheng'an has been deposed as the crown prince. From now on, apart from my father, I will be the most respected person in the Northern Territory. Soon, I will be the new crown prince of the Northern Territory, and even the princess of the court will marry me."

"Young lady, you are but a woman, and it must be so hard for you to travel long distances and risk your life to do business. Why not become my concubine?"

"Once we become family, I will definitely not treat you badly..." Ye Jinyu said, while extending his groping hand towards the woman.

"Ah~" At the same time, in the eldest son's mansion, Zhu Yu's face turned red from Ye Cheng'an's caresses, her eyes sparkling with desire, and she looked like she was inviting him to taste her.

She had been the original owner's personal maid and bodyguard since childhood. They had been childhood sweethearts for many years, and having witnessed the original owner's political skills, she had long harbored feelings for him. However, the original owner was focused on the affairs of the northern border, and no matter how she hinted and seduced him, he never made any excessive moves towards her.

In the last two days, it seems that the eldest son has suddenly become enlightened and is getting closer and closer to her.

She also felt that since the eldest son resigned from his position as heir apparent, he had become more and more manly and charming.

Seeing that she was about to turn the tables and become the master of her own destiny, Zhuyu worked even harder to show off her charm, hoping to truly become the eldest son's woman.

However, at this critical moment, Uncle Zhong suddenly burst in, "Young Master, something terrible has happened! Ye Jinyu has gone to the post station!"

The good thing was interrupted. Although Zhuyu felt resentful, she did not dare to delay the important matter and quickly pulled away from Ye Cheng'an's embrace.

Ye Cheng'an was quite displeased. "If Father wants him to replace me as the Crown Prince of the Northern Territory and help him marry the princess, he must first make him achieve something. Negotiating with the Hu merchants is his first test. What's so surprising about that?"

Zhongbo frowned. "This old servant is afraid that he might actually facilitate the deal with the Hu merchants and replace the heir apparent..."

Ye Chengan sneered, "Don't worry, Mu Yanqi, the leader of the Hu merchants, only recognizes me. In addition, Ye Jinyu has been spoiled for many years, and the Hu merchants are known for their fierce nature. When they get together, it's like fire and oil, they'll ignite at the slightest spark. There's absolutely no way they can reach an agreement."

"But this old servant is still worried that if Ye Jinyu succeeds, the eldest young master will be completely forgotten, and his situation will become even more difficult." Zhongbo looked worried, then his eyes sharpened, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "How about this old servant gathers some of the old prince's former subordinates and finds a way to kill Su Wanrou and her son?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yu's pretty face stiffened, and she agreed, "Young Master, I think Uncle Zhong is right. I am willing to work with Uncle Zhong on this matter to avenge you!"

Seeing the two so loyal to him, Ye Cheng'an was very pleased, but then he shook his head. "The martial world is not about fighting and killing, but about human relationships and social customs. Right now, Su Wanrou and her son are arrogant and licentious, and have repeatedly persecuted and suppressed me. It is obvious to all that my father is biased and cannot distinguish between loyalty and treachery. Countless people in the Northern Court are speaking out for me. On the surface, we are at a disadvantage, but in reality, we occupy the high ground. As long as we wait for the right opportunity, we can turn the tide and completely nail Su Wanrou and her son and my father to the pillar of shame."

"If we kill them, it will give others something to talk about. It's not worth losing our advantage for two worthless lives."

"Just wait and see, news that is favorable to us will soon spread from the post station."

Zhongbo and Zhuyu were skeptical of Ye Chengan's words.

But just then, a guard ran up and said, "Young Master, great news! Ye Jinyu was showing off at the post station, trying to set rules for those Hu merchants, which angered everyone. After seeing Mu Yanqi, the leader of the Hu merchants, he became even more lustful and greedy, and actually asked her to be his concubine, and to provide him with warhorses and armor for free in the future..."

"Mu Yanqi was furious and whipped Ye Jinyu and his entourage until they were covered in bruises! She also threatened that she had sent word back to the Western Regions about the encounter in the Northern Border, and if the Northern Border Royal Court did not give her a reasonable explanation, all the countries in the world would know that the Northern Border was untrustworthy and oppressive to merchants!"

"From now on, merchants from all over the world will dare not come to the Northern Territory to trade with the Northern Royal Court!"

Zhongbo Zhuyu's face lit up with joy. The development of events was exactly as the eldest son had predicted.

It seems that although the eldest son has appeared more relaxed than before these past two days, he is actually strategizing and has everything under control.

This is going to be interesting.

That muddle-headed prince should realize the importance of the eldest son by now!

"Young Master, do you intend to enter the Prince's residence, take on this matter, and then seize the opportunity to make a request to the Prince to change the current predicament?" Uncle Zhong asked.

Ye Cheng'an sneered, "No rush, let's keep waiting."

"I, Ye Cheng'an, am not some spineless coward they can summon and dismiss at will!"