Chapter 735
Recruiting 3 Family Heads, Taking Fangcheng Without a Fight!
Seeing this, the manager showed no remorse whatsoever, but rather a hint of pride, and said smugly:
"Sir, you may not know this, but the cost varies for each floor. The higher you go, the more expensive it is. However, the scenery inside and the status of the guests who come and go are also more outstanding, far superior to the first floor."
"Only the most distinguished guests are allowed to enter the fourth floor and above."
Fei Yi looked at the steward's smug expression, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, but he said nothing more.
He knew that the background of this Da Liao Ward was by no means simple.
He then slightly raised his hand, signaling Wu Zhong to calm down, and then said to the steward:
"Thank you for letting me know. I will come again tomorrow."
Having said that, he stopped looking at the steward, turned around and left Da Liao Fang with Wu Zhong, heading towards the inn.
Throughout the journey, Wu Zhong looked displeased but dared not ask any questions, and could only silently follow behind Fei Yi.
After the two returned to their inn room and closed the door, Wu Zhongcai couldn't help but speak:
“Master, we only brought 50,000 coins with us when we entered the city. We just heard from the steward that the fees in Da Liao Ward are charged at each level, and the higher you go, the more expensive they become. I'm afraid 50,000 coins are far from enough.”
Fei Yi nodded, his expression solemn, and slowly said:
“You’re right, 50,000 coins is indeed not enough. Send someone immediately to return overnight and bring back more money and silk. Make sure it’s delivered before tomorrow without any delay.”
"Your subordinate obeys."
Wu Zhong bowed in response, but still puzzled, he hesitated for a moment before finally asking:
"My lord, there is something I don't understand. The Da Liao Fang is making things difficult at every turn, so why are we still insisting on participating in this merchant guild?"
"If we try a different approach to gather intelligence, we might just succeed."
Upon hearing this, Fei Yi said:
"No need to ask any more questions, just do as instructed. Also, send this letter along with the letter to the Grand Marshal. Make sure to deliver it to him personally, and do not pass it through any other person."
After saying this, he picked up a brush, ground ink, quickly wrote a letter, and handed it to Wu Zhong.
Wu Zhong carefully folded the secret letter written in Fei Yi's own handwriting, solemnly handed it to the scout waiting for orders, and said in a deep voice:
"Rush through the night and personally deliver this letter to Grand Marshal Xiao He in Huyang City without the slightest delay!"
The scout received the secret letter with both hands, tucked it close to his clothes, and clasped his hands in acceptance of the order:
"Yes, sir!"
The scout sped away.
One day later.
Huyang City.
When Xiao He saw the scouts arrive, he knew that Fei Yi had delivered an urgent letter. He immediately dismissed his attendants, took the secret letter, and opened it to read it carefully.
The letter contained only a few words, yet each one carried immense weight. Xiao He's expression grew increasingly solemn as he read, and upon finishing the last word, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he immediately slammed his hand on the table and stood up:
"Quickly prepare 100,000 coins and select ten strong guards to escort the money and silk to Fei Yi immediately!"
Ma Su, who was standing by, was filled with doubt. He had followed Xiao He for a long time and had never seen the Grand Marshal do things without understanding the reason. He couldn't help but ask curiously:
"Grand Marshal, what exactly did Fei Wenwei write in his letter that made you mobilize such a large force?"
Xiao He turned around, the previous solemnity fading from his face, replaced by a meaningful smile, and slowly spoke:
"Are you puzzled as to why I did as Wenwei instructed without any hesitation?"
Ma Su quickly cupped his hands in greeting and spoke frankly:
"Your subordinate is indeed foolish and does not know what secrets Wenwei mentioned in his letter that are worth such a great deal of effort from the Grand Marshal."
Xiao He didn't hide anything and handed the secret letter in his hand to Ma Su:
"You'll see for yourself."
Ma Su took it with both hands, carefully unfolded it, and read it word by word, his expression becoming more and more solemn as he read.
After reading the letter, he slowly closed it and looked up at Xiao He:
"I see. Wenwei's move is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"If this matter succeeds, our army can take advantage of the situation to capture Fangcheng, achieving twice the result with half the effort and avoiding many twists and turns!"
His words were full of admiration for Fei Yi's strategy.
Xiao He nodded slightly, a hint of expectation flashing in his eyes:
"Whether we succeed or fail ultimately depends on how Wenwei strategizes."
Having said that, a curious smile appeared at the corner of his lips:
"Speaking of which, I'm actually looking forward to it. How dare that Da Liao Fang have such confidence? Once our army takes Fang City, I'll definitely go there and experience it for myself."
...
The atmosphere in the royal palace in Xiangping City was completely different from that in Huyang City.
Inside Gongsun Yuan's bedchamber, candlelight flickered, and several imperial physicians in official robes stood solemnly around the bed, treating Gongsun Yuan's wounds.
Previously, Gongsun Yuan had been seriously injured. Although his wounds had been initially treated, they remained dangerous, requiring daily dressing changes and care.
The imperial physicians were extremely gentle, fearing that even the slightest force would aggravate Gongsun Yuan's wound.
Even so, the powder still caused excruciating pain when it touched the broken skin.
Gongsun Yuan lay on the bed, his whole body tense, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
At first, he gritted his teeth and endured the pain, but it became increasingly intense, like thousands of steel needles twisting between his skin and flesh.
Finally, he could no longer hold back and let out a heart-wrenching scream of pain.
The shrill and tragic screams pierced through the doors and windows of the bedchamber, and could be clearly heard even by Gongsun Kang, who was waiting outside the palace in the distance.
The pain is felt in the son's body, but in the father's heart it is excruciating. Gongsun Kang stood under the eaves, his brows furrowed and his hands clenched into fists.
With each additional howl in his ear, his heart clenched tighter, yet he was powerless to stop it.
Although he was the king, he could not bear this pain for his son.
Li Xu, who was standing by, saw Gongsun Kang's expression and immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:
"Your Majesty, a fledgling eagle will eventually spread its wings and fly high. The Crown Prince is the future heir of the Liao Kingdom and bears the heavy responsibility of ruling the Liao Kingdom."
"This pain and hardship is just a small test on his path to growth. If he can't even face this difficulty with equanimity, how will he be able to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the country and manage the vast land of Liao in the future?"
Gongsun Kang slowly turned around, nodded slightly, and said in a low voice:
“I know what you say is absolutely right, but he is still my only child. We are blood relatives, and what parent wouldn’t love their own child?”
"It's really hard for me to bear watching him suffer like this."
His words were filled with the helplessness of being a father.
"Your Majesty can protect the Crown Prince for a time, but not forever."
Li Xu's tone was even slightly disrespectful, yet every word he spoke was reasonable:
"Now that His Majesty is still alive, he can still protect the Crown Prince. But if His Majesty passes away in the future, and the Crown Prince has not been tempered and developed a resilient character, how will he cope with the storms in the court, how will he safeguard the foundation of the Liao Kingdom, and how will he establish himself in the world?"
Gongsun Kang remained silent.
Li Xu's words were like a bucket of cold water, waking him from his heartache.
He slowly raised his head, looked in the direction of the sleeping quarters, sighed heavily, and finally acquiesced to Li Xu's statement.
Seeing this, Li Xu knew that his words had had an effect, and immediately instructed the attendants beside him:
"Someone, bring the best wine and food and bring them here."
Gongsun Kang was taken aback, looking at Li Xu with a puzzled expression, not understanding why he wanted to fetch wine and dishes at this moment. Seeing this, Li Xu bowed and smiled, saying:
"Your Majesty, there is no need to worry tonight. Your subordinate is willing to drink with you to relieve your boredom. We will not leave until we are drunk, so that Your Majesty can feel a little more at ease."
Gongsun Kang looked at Li Xu's expression, his heart stirred slightly, and finally nodded, suppressing the heartache in his heart, and followed Li Xu to drown his sorrows in wine.
In the sleeping hall.
The imperial physicians continued changing the dressings, proceeding with utmost care, daring not to make the slightest mistake.
About half an hour later, the group finally finished re-bandaging Gongsun Yuan's wounds and properly treating them.
At this moment, Gongsun Yuan was in so much pain that he was completely exhausted. His face was as pale as paper, devoid of any color, and his breath was so weak that he didn't even have the strength to open his eyes.
The servant quickly brought over a bowl of prepared medicine, carefully helped Gongsun Yuan up, and held the bowl to his lips, feeding him little by little.
The warm medicine went down my throat and slid down my esophagus into my stomach, and a warm feeling gradually spread, dispelling some of the chill and pain.
Gongsun Yuan's face gradually regained a faint hue.
Before long, the effects of the medicine began to take hold, and fatigue and weariness swept over him. Gongsun Yuan slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
His brows were still slightly furrowed, clearly indicating that even in his sleep he was still troubled by the pain.
The imperial physicians dared not leave, remaining in the bedchamber and taking turns guarding Gongsun Yuan's bedside, constantly monitoring his pulse and expression, fearing the slightest mishap.
...
Fangcheng.
Fei Yi's room was brightly lit by candlelight.
Fei Yi sat in the main seat, surrounded by Wu Zhong and several trusted scouts. They were gathering intelligence gathered that day and discussing tomorrow's actions.
Fei Yi raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet and spoke first:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have successfully obtained invitations to the banquet at Da Liao Fang today, and the banquet will be held tomorrow."
"Wu Zhong, you will come with me to Da Liao Fang. Take this opportunity to get to know people from all sides, gather the information we need, and pave the way for our subsequent actions."
Wu Zhong immediately clasped his hands in acceptance of the order:
"Your subordinate obeys and will not fail in your mission!"
Fei Yi nodded slightly, then looked at the scouts beside him and said in a deep voice:
"You should also speak about what you have found out today. There must be no concealment, not even the smallest details."
Upon hearing this, the scouts stepped forward one by one to report on their findings from the day's reconnaissance.
As a vital thoroughfare, Fangcheng was a thriving commercial center, with hundreds of vendors of all sizes scattered throughout the city.
The streets and alleys were filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and bargaining, creating a lively scene.
Among these hundreds of merchants, apart from the unique and powerful Da Liao Fang, the largest others were Zheng's Grain Shop, Yanshan Cloth Shop, and Bohai Wine Shop.
It was no accident that these three businesses were able to stand out among so many merchants; each had powerful backers: the Zheng family, the Chen family, and the Feng family, all deeply rooted in the city.
The three families have lived in Fangcheng for generations, accumulating substantial wealth and power. Currently, the heads of the three families are Zheng Ji, the head of the Zheng family; Chen Li, the head of the Chen family; and Feng Qian, the head of the Feng family.
All three were meticulous and ruthless individuals, and were highly respected among the merchants of Fangcheng.
The scouts had already found out that all three family heads would be attending the banquet held in Da Liao Fang tomorrow.
The banquet at Da Liao Fang has always been an excellent occasion for Fangcheng merchants to network with powerful figures and discuss cooperation.
At that time, whether it is a business that is on good terms with the Zheng, Chen and Feng families, or a merchant who is eager to curry favor with them and establish connections, they will do everything they can to squeeze into the fourth floor of the banquet.
That is the true heart of the place, and only those of high status are qualified to enter.
In addition, the scouts brought even more crucial news:
Those invited to the banquet tomorrow are all business owners from Fangcheng and the surrounding area, without exception.
These merchants were not ordinary people who only knew how to do business; each of them held real power. Even the weakest merchant controlled a private army of several hundred men, enough to protect himself and even influence the situation in a region.
As a result, the banquet at Da Liao Fang tomorrow will gather almost two-thirds of the private army forces within Fangcheng City.
Fei Yi had already figured it out in his mind: as long as he could successfully turn Zheng Ji, Chen Li, and Feng Qian against their will at the banquet, or turn some of the merchants against their will, he could take over Fangcheng with minimal losses by using their private army.
This is also the core purpose of his trip.
The next day, as dawn broke and the sun rose in the east, the caravan that had set out from Huyang City, after a long and arduous journey, finally arrived at the city of Fangcheng.
According to the rules of Fangcheng, one must undergo strict inspection by the guards before being allowed to enter the city.
The scout leading the group knew the way well and led them through the bustling streets to an inn that had been booked in advance.
This inn is secluded, making it convenient for both staying overnight and discussing important matters.
After everyone was settled, Fei Yi walked to the carriage, lifted the curtain, looked at the money and silk piled up inside, and smiled slightly.
Everything was going according to his plan, and preparations were complete.
After lunch and a short rest, Fei Yi, along with Wu Zhong and several trusted men, set off for Lin's Cloth Shop, the largest in Fangcheng.
Lin's Cloth Shop was quite famous in Fangcheng, mainly dealing in various kinds of silk fabrics, and was highly favored by the city's nobles and merchant families.
As the two stepped into the shop, the shop assistant, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized Fei Yi and Wu Zhong as unfamiliar faces, not as regular customers.
Seeing that the two were dressed in luxurious clothes of the finest fabrics and possessed an extraordinary air about them, it was clear they were no ordinary people. Immediately, the person greeted them with a broad smile and warm welcome.
"Esteemed guests, is this your first time visiting Lin's Cloth Shop? Please come inside!"
Wu Zhong stepped forward and introduced:
“We came from out of town and were passing through Fangcheng. This is our Mr. Fei.”
The shop assistant immediately bowed to Fei Yi, his attitude becoming increasingly respectful.
"So it's you, Mr. Fei. My apologies for not recognizing you. May I ask which fabric from our shop has caught your eye?"
"The goods from our Lin's Cloth Shop are all top-quality materials, making them an excellent choice for both clothing and silk."
As he spoke, he secretly sized up the two men. Seeing that they were well-dressed, he became even more certain that they must be from a very wealthy and noble family.
Wu Zhong waved his hand and went straight to the point, stating the purpose of his trip:
"We are not here to select fabrics, but to discuss a large fabric deal with your manager. Please inform him of our purpose."
Upon hearing this, the shop assistant's smile froze slightly.
"I'm so sorry, sirs. Our manager is currently entertaining distinguished guests in the back room and is unable to see you for the time being. Please forgive us."
Upon hearing this, Wu Zhong didn't say anything more, but turned to look at Fei Yi beside him.
Fei Yi remained calm as his gaze slowly swept over the fabrics in the shop:
"It's alright, we can wait. Go ask your manager when he'll be available to see us."
"Alright, alright, please wait a moment, gentlemen. I'll go to the back room and ask the manager!"
The shop assistant dared not delay and quickly agreed, then turned and walked to the back of the cloth shop to inform the manager.
While the shop assistant was announcing something, Fei Yi and Wu Zhong strolled leisurely through the fabric shop, looking at the fabrics and clothes on display while talking in hushed tones and observing the activity inside without making a sound.
A short while later, the shop assistant hurriedly came out from the back room, bowed to Fei Yi and Wu Zhong, and said:
"Esteemed guests, we apologize for keeping you waiting. Our manager heard that you had come from afar and specially instructed me to invite you in. Please come in; the manager is waiting for you in the reception room at the back."
Fei Yi and Wu Zhong exchanged a glance, then followed the shop assistant through the shop's corridor and into the back room. (End of Chapter)