Chapter 738
Gongsun Rong, the owner of Da Liao Fang!
As the group chatted, more and more people arrived on the fourth floor, with merchants dressed in fine clothes continuously climbing the stairs.
The merchants greeted each other with clasped hands and warm conversation, then sat down and the room gradually became lively with conversation.
Before long, the room was packed. Everyone was smiling, either chatting about business or inquiring about market trends. Only the large main table on the other side of the room remained empty, and no one dared to sit down.
Before we knew it, it was already 7:45 PM, and the sky had completely darkened. The lights in the Da Liao Ward shone even brighter.
Just then, a commotion arose at the stairwell, and everyone looked up.
The three wealthiest merchants in the city finally appeared together.
Leading the group was Zheng Ji, a grain merchant, accompanied by two giants in the liquor industry, Chen Li and Feng Qian.
The three walked side by side, and as soon as they stepped onto the fourth floor, all the merchants in the room immediately stood up and bowed in greeting.
"Manager Zheng, Manager Chen, Manager Feng!"
The three smiled and raised their hands in return:
"Please, everyone, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."
After saying that, he walked straight toward the empty main table, which was obviously prepared for the three of them.
After the three took their seats, the banquet did not begin as scheduled. The noise in the room gradually subsided, and everyone looked puzzled, secretly speculating.
It seems there are even more important figures yet to appear at this dinner party.
Before long, there was movement again at the staircase. A group of women dressed in light dance costumes slowly walked up. Each of them was slender and beautiful, with light steps like butterflies, and they carried various musical instruments in their hands.
Amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, the lead dancer raised her hand in a gesture, and melodious music immediately began to play.
The dancers moved gracefully to the music, their skirts billowing, their steps light and agile, captivating the audience.
As the music ended and faded, the dancers bowed and slowly retreated to the side.
Just then, a clear and melodious female voice came from behind the group:
"Gentlemen, were you satisfied with the song and dance performance just now?"
Everyone immediately turned to look, and saw a woman dressed in gorgeous brocade clothing slowly walking out from behind the screen.
She wore a gold hairpin, had a beautiful face, and a gentle temperament, yet exuded a sense of competence and composure. She walked step by step toward the main table, radiating an aura of authority.
Reaching the main table, the woman stopped, looked up at the crowd, and a gentle smile played on her lips.
"Welcome, esteemed managers, to Da Liao Fang. I am Gongsun Rong, the manager of Da Liao Fang."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zheng Ji, Chen Li, and Feng Qian, who were at the main table, immediately stood up and bowed to Gongsun Rong.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Manager Gongsun. I appreciate your kindness."
All three were among the wealthiest people in Fangcheng, yet they treated Gongsun Rong with such respect, which shows that the background of this Da Liao Fang was anything but simple.
Gongsun Rong nodded slightly and returned the greeting with a smile:
"You're too kind, everyone. It's an honor for Da Liao Fang to have you all here today. You are all distinguished guests of Da Liao Fang. Someone, please present our gifts to our distinguished guests!"
At her command, several shop assistants came up with trays, on which were neatly arranged small and exquisite plaques. The shop assistants handed one to each merchant in turn.
Fei Yi took the plaque, examined it carefully, and was startled.
This plaque was actually made of pure gold, and it was even engraved with the hidden pattern of the Liao Dynasty.
Such a large-scale operation was beyond the reach of ordinary merchants. Fei Yi became increasingly certain that there must be a powerful force supporting this Da Liao Fang, and it was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Just as everyone was examining the gold medal in their hands and marveling at it, Chen Li, the tavern owner, spoke first:
"Manager Gongsun, what is the purpose of this pure gold plaque? We would be grateful if you could explain it to us."
Upon hearing this, Gongsun Rong smiled and waved her hand:
"Manager Chen, please don't be anxious. I will explain in detail to you all. This gold plaque is an exclusive symbol of distinguished guests of Da Liao Fang. With this plaque, you managers can enjoy a 40% discount when you come to Da Liao Fang in the future."
"What? Forty percent?"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was instantly shocked, whispering among themselves with expressions of disbelief on their faces.
Da Liao Fang is the city's top-tier restaurant, and it's already difficult for ordinary people to get in. Its prices are even more exorbitant, requiring ordinary merchants to think twice before entering.
But at this moment, the gold medals held by everyone could reduce the value of the Liaofang area by 40%.
Such a significant discount would have been impossible in the past; anyone who sees it would think it's an extremely good deal.
Upon hearing this, Chen Li, the manager of Yanshan Winery, was the most shocked among everyone present.
Having been deeply involved in business, he knew all too well the profit margins in the catering industry. A 40% price cut was no small amount, and this would mean a significant loss in net profit.
For a moment, Chen Li was filled with confusion, unable to understand why the restaurant would do such a loss-making business.
"Such a huge discount, Manager Gongsun, could there be something fishy going on?"
Feng Qian, from the Bohai Tavern, couldn't hold back any longer and asked the question first.
Gongsun Rong immediately put on a pitiful expression, her voice gentle:
"Gentlemen, rest assured, all the ingredients used in our shop are of the highest quality, bought with real money, and the dishes and drinks are absolutely genuine."
"This 40% concession today is not due to any scheming, but simply because my small shop wants to make small profits and increase sales, and to get to know you esteemed people."
She changed the subject:
"There is one more thing I urge you all to do. This matter must not be publicized. This 40% discount is an exclusive privilege enjoyed only by VIPs on the fourth floor. If word gets out, I'm afraid my shop will be unable to survive."
Seeing her delicate and earnest appearance, most of the people's wariness immediately disappeared:
"Don't worry, Manager Gongsun, we will keep our mouths shut and never let it slip."
Everyone else was reassured by Gongsun Rong's appearance, but Fei Yi frowned inwardly, his doubts growing stronger.
This Da Liao Fang may seem like just a small eatery, but its scale and high status are far beyond what ordinary merchants can afford.
Not to mention Gongsun Rong, who may seem like just a weak female shopkeeper, but her composure and tact in her words and actions are far beyond that of an ordinary shopkeeper.
Is she really just the owner of this restaurant?
In these chaotic times of war and turmoil, it is already a blessing for ordinary people to survive. Yet someone dares to invest huge sums of money to build such a luxurious restaurant. There must be a powerful backer behind them.
Fei Yi fell into deep thought.
Currently, he is burdened with the important task of persuading the merchants in the city to surrender, and the future is already uncertain.
Should we take advantage of tonight's banquet to connect with the merchants and immediately advance the plan to persuade them to surrender?
Should we hold back for now, secretly investigate the background of Da Liao Fang, and find out the forces behind Gongsun Rong?
Or perhaps they are pursuing two parallel paths, maintaining the relationship on one hand and investigating the truth on the other?
Fei Yi knew in his heart that the sudden appearance of the Da Liao Ward was by no means accidental.
If we cannot understand their background and grasp their movements, rashly pushing forward the plan may lead to unexpected problems or even failure.
Just as his thoughts were churning, Gongsun Rong calmly stood up and began to introduce the signature dishes and drinks of Da Liao Fang one by one.
In times of chaos, being able to dine in such an elegant and luxurious place is a symbol of status and prestige.
As everyone gradually put their worries aside, they savored the delicious food and fine wine on the table while chatting and exchanging pleasantries.
During the banquet, many merchants took the initiative to rise and offer toasts, using this opportunity to get to know their peers whom they would not normally have the chance to meet, and the atmosphere gradually became lively. Fei Yi was not idle either. Taking advantage of the casual conversation, he subtly chatted with all the merchants present and noted down each of their details.
At this banquet, he had already achieved the first step of his plan, making acquaintances with all the merchants and laying the groundwork for the subsequent persuasion to surrender.
However, Fei Yi knew in his heart that the matter of persuading someone to surrender could not be rushed.
Although he had made friends with the people, they were not yet familiar with each other. If he rashly mentioned persuading them to surrender, not only would it be difficult to succeed, but it might also expose his identity and purpose.
After the banquet, Fei Yi walked alone on the way back to the inn.
The night was slightly cool, and a gentle breeze caressed his face, but his thoughts became increasingly clear as he began to consider his next course of action.
At this moment, he already had two initial ideas in mind.
Firstly, we should proceed gradually, continue to deepen our friendship with the merchants, slowly bring up the matter of persuading them to surrender, appealing to their emotions and reasoning with them, and strive to get them to surrender voluntarily.
Secondly, they could take a different approach, secretly launching a small-scale uprising to disrupt the city's order, causing panic among the merchants, and then taking the opportunity to incite everyone to unite in battle, using the merchants' power to restrain the defending army.
Both strategies have their advantages and disadvantages.
The first option is safe, but it requires a lot of effort and resources, and it is difficult to see results in the short term, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.
The second method is quick to take effect, but extremely risky. It may not be able to unite all the merchants, and if any merchant secretly informs on the other side, it could lead to a desperate situation.
Fei Yi deliberated repeatedly but still found it difficult to make a decision.
After pondering for a moment, he decided to return to the inn, pick up his pen and write a letter, clearly stating his two ideas, analyzing their advantages and disadvantages, and ordering someone to quickly send the letter to Huyang City for Xiao He to decide.
This matter is of great importance, and he dares not make a decision on his own. Only by leaving the decision to Xiao He can he ensure that nothing goes wrong.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the scout, carrying Fei Yi's letter, rode at full speed towards Huyang City.
He recalled that when the banquet ended last night, Chen Li from Yanshan Winery had taken the initiative to invite him to Yanshan Winery today.
Fei Yi quickly realized that there would be many more people going to Yanshan Winery today than yesterday.
Yesterday, the threshold of 50,000 coins in Da Liao Fang deterred many small merchants with slightly weaker financial resources. Today, Chen Li is hosting a banquet, and these people will surely gather at Yanshan Wine House, unwilling to miss the opportunity to meet their peers.
Although these small merchants do not have many private armies, if they all join forces with the city's garrison, our side will still suffer heavy losses when we attack the city in the future.
With this in mind, Fei Yi had already made his decision.
Today I must go to Yanshan Winery. Taking advantage of the banquet, I will investigate the thoughts and background of these small merchants, see what they think of the current situation, and then adjust my subsequent plans accordingly.
...
The Royal Palace of Xiangping City.
Gongsun Yuan's back injury has improved significantly. After the heavy bandages were removed, he was able to move his body slowly and no longer needed to stay in bed all day.
Even so, Gongsun Kang's worries did not diminish in the slightest.
His concerns were partly about Gongsun Yuan's injuries, fearing that poor recovery might leave hidden dangers.
The other half rested entirely on the shoulders of the Han army.
For days, the Han army has remained inactive, and this unusual silence is more unsettling than any tense standoff.
Gongsun Kang always felt that the military genius Xiao He was secretly plotting something.
Gongsun Kang dared not slacken his efforts and personally oversaw the council hall of the palace, constantly monitoring the movements of the Han army reported by scouts.
He had already issued orders for all the garrison commanders in the Liao Kingdom to be on high alert, strengthen their defenses, strictly check passersby, and guard against any surprise attacks by the Han army.
However, Gongsun Kang did not give specific instructions to Fangcheng, only saying indifferently, "Order the prefect of Fangcheng to find a way to defend against the enemy."
...
It was noon, and the sun was high in the sky.
Fei Yi kept his promise from yesterday and went to the Yanshan Winery, which Chen Li had invited him to.
Even before approaching the entrance to the winery, one could already feel the bustling atmosphere.
The restaurant was bustling with customers, including merchants dressed in brocade, capable managers, and some unfamiliar traveling merchants, all of whom had come because of Chen Li's invitation.
Although Yanshan Winery is not as ornately decorated as Da Liaofang Winery, and has no gold bricks paving the floor or rare embellishments, it is still a long-established brand that has been operating in Fangcheng for many years.
Over the decades, it has accumulated countless loyal customers, established a firm foothold in the housing market, and possesses a unique charm distinct from that of Daliaofang.
Fei Yi stepped into the neighborhood, where the room was packed with people, with no seats available.
A servant boy greeted him as he entered:
"Sir, how many are there?"
Fei Yi waved his hand and said, "I came at the invitation of Manager Chen of your shop."
Upon hearing this, the servant's smile widened even further.
"So you are Manager Chen's distinguished guest. My apologies for not recognizing you. Please follow me. Manager Chen has prepared seats for you in the back."
After saying that, he stepped aside to lead the way, carefully avoiding the diners, and led Fei Yi through the noisy front hall to the backyard.
In contrast to the bustling front hall, the center features a small garden landscape and a three-story building, which, while not grand, exudes elegance and luxury.
The two went up to the third floor.
Fei Yi looked up and saw that there weren't many guests yet, only a few people sitting down and chatting.
Fei Yi remained silent, found a table by the window and sat down, his gaze sweeping over every corner of the room, secretly observing each person who arrived.
His trip was not simply to attend the banquet; his real purpose was to investigate the merchants' backgrounds and understand their thoughts.
Before long, more and more people came to the banquet, and the noise on the third floor gradually grew louder.
Fei Yi could roughly guess each person's identity, their business affiliation, and their importance among the merchants in Fangcheng, remembering them all without missing a single detail.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Fei Yi's gaze shifted slightly, and he finally saw two familiar faces.
Yu Feng and Song Da arrived side by side, clearly having arranged to attend the banquet together beforehand.
As soon as they reached the third floor, they looked around and quickly spotted Fei Yi sitting by the window. They immediately smiled and walked over.
"Manager Fei, you've arrived quite early?"
Yu Feng spoke first.
Fei Yi quickly stood up and returned the greeting with a cupped hand:
"Managers, I've only been here a short time, but you two haven't arrived too late."
Having said that, he stepped aside to gesture for the two to sit down, and the servant quickly stepped forward to pour them tea. (End of Chapter)