Chapter 743
Appoints Chen Li as Prefect of Fang County and captures Gongsun Rong!
"Gentlemen, there is no need to be nervous. I have come here today to formally inform you that the Han army has officially accepted your surrender. From now on, Fangcheng is part of the territory of the Han Kingdom, and you are all subjects of the Han Kingdom."
Upon hearing this, the merchants below instantly breathed a sigh of relief, their tense nerves relaxed once again, and a huge weight was finally lifted from their hearts.
But at that moment, Fei Yi changed the subject:
"but……"
The group, who had just relaxed, suddenly felt their hearts tighten and their expressions became tense again.
Does the Han army have other demands?
Is there still a possibility that the matter of surrendering might change?
Fei Yi smiled as he looked at everyone's tense expressions:
"Everyone, don't panic. What I'm saying isn't a bad thing. Fangcheng has just surrendered, and there are many complicated matters that urgently need someone to manage it properly."
"Since you have been operating in Fangcheng for many years, you are familiar with all the affairs in the city and have won the trust of the people. Therefore, the Han army has decided to let you continue to manage Fangcheng."
As soon as Fei Yi finished speaking, the tent fell into complete silence.
The merchants below were all shocked, their eyes wide with disbelief, as if they had heard a fairy tale.
To their utter surprise, the Han army not only accepted their surrender but also allowed them to continue managing Fangcheng.
A moment later, Chen Li was the first to react:
"Manager Fei, are you... are you telling the truth? The Han army is really willing to continue entrusting Fangcheng to our administration?!"
He asked twice.
Fei Yi smiled and nodded, answering with certainty:
“That’s right. Everything I said is true. The daily management of Fangcheng will still be your responsibility. The Han army will not interfere too much. You just need to abide by the laws of the Han Kingdom.”
Upon hearing this, the merchants below could no longer contain their excitement and began to whisper among themselves, their faces filled with ecstatic joy.
They had already prepared for the worst, either to be dealt with by the Han army or to be stripped of all their property, but they never expected to receive such generous treatment.
Fei Yi raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and continued slowly:
"However, there is one thing you all need to remember: from now on, all affairs within Fangcheng must be carried out in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Han Kingdom, and there must be no violation of them."
"In addition, in order to facilitate future coordination with the Han army, please select a person from among them to be in charge of communication and coordination with us."
As soon as he finished speaking, the murmurs inside the tent gradually subsided, and the merchants' ecstatic expressions faded.
The sudden surprise felt too real; they were still somewhat dazed, repeatedly confirming the truth of the matter.
They had prepared for all the pessimism, but the most unexpected result came, leaving them somewhat at a loss.
After a moment, Chen Li exchanged a glance with the two merchants beside him, then bowed to Fei Yi and said:
"Manager Fei, in our opinion, you are the most suitable person to take charge. After all, it is all thanks to you that we were able to bring about Fangcheng's surrender and preserve our livelihoods."
“You have earned our deep trust and are familiar with the Han army’s intentions. We are all convinced that you will be in charge.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the other merchants chimed in:
"Yes, Manager Fei, you should be in charge! We'll all listen to you!"
Fei Yi couldn't help but laugh, then slowly shook his head:
"Gentlemen, thank you for your trust. However, you probably don't know who I really am."
Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback, and a look of confusion appeared on their faces.
Lin Biao couldn't help but ask:
"Manager Fei, aren't you a merchant from a remote place? You even came to our shop to discuss business a few days ago. Could it be... that you have another identity?"
Lin Biao's words expressed the doubts of most merchants, but Chen Li and the two merchants beside him vaguely sensed that something was wrong.
Fei Yi's demeanor and familiarity with Han generals did not seem like those of an ordinary merchant. Could this man really have some extraordinary background?
The three men's doubts deepened, and they fixed their gazes on Fei Yi, awaiting his answer.
Facing the questioning gazes of the crowd, Fei Yi maintained his gentle smile and slowly began to speak:
"Gentlemen, my surname is Fei and my given name is Yi. I am not an ordinary merchant, but a strategist of the Han Kingdom. I have come to Fangcheng on the orders of the Grand Marshal to persuade you all to submit to the Han Kingdom."
Fei Yi's words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky.
The merchants were all shocked, their eyes wide with disbelief, and they exclaimed repeatedly.
"What? You're the famous Fei Yi?"
"No wonder the Han army agreed to our surrender so readily; it turns out you were the one mediating between them!"
"It's actually Mr. Fei who came in person! We were truly blind to his greatness!"
"Mr. Fei is a man of great foresight; no wonder he was able to come up with such a comprehensive plan to save all of us!"
The tent instantly became noisy, with everyone discussing the matter, their voices filled with shock, admiration, and a hint of lingering fear.
They never expected that "Manager Fei," whom they had been spending time with for days, was actually a renowned strategist of the Han Kingdom.
After a moment, Chen Li barely managed to suppress his shock and bowed to Fei Yi:
"May I ask, Mr. Fei, besides persuading us to submit to the Han Kingdom, do you have any other purpose in coming here under an assumed name?"
Fei Yi smiled faintly and answered frankly:
"I have no other purpose than to persuade you to submit to the Han Kingdom, so that the people of Fangcheng may be spared the suffering of war, and so that you merchants who have worked so hard to build your businesses may preserve your foundations."
"Now it seems that I have achieved my goal for this trip."
As soon as Fei Yi finished speaking, the doubts in Chen Li's eyes vanished, and he instantly understood.
Looking at Fei Yi's calm expression, he had already figured out his intention.
Fei Yi did not intentionally take a roundabout approach, but rather wanted to talk to everyone first, then explain the advantages and disadvantages to each of them, in order to persuade them to surrender. This would save face for everyone, stabilize the situation in the city, and prevent chaos from breaking out.
After a moment's thought, Chen Li cupped his hands and asked:
“Mr. Fei, we understand your intentions. But since you know we are willing to surrender, why don’t you talk to us about peace and make plans directly? Instead, you’ve been delaying and leaving us full of doubts.”
These words expressed the sentiments of all the merchants, and everyone's eyes turned to Fei Yi.
In their view, the matter of surrender was already clear, and they could directly discuss the follow-up arrangements without going through any unnecessary procedures.
Fei Yi sat motionless, his expression calm, and spoke frankly:
"I'm not going to lay my cards on the table directly, but I want to make one thing clear: whether you are truly surrendering, or if you are just feigning compliance to lure a counterattack under the pressure of the Han army."
Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback, their faces filled with confusion. They looked at each other, unable to fathom Fei Yi's thoughts. Their years of business experience had made them accustomed to guessing and probing, but they couldn't keep up with Fei Yi's straightforward and frank thinking.
Seeing the blank looks on everyone's faces, Fei Yi simply added:
“I understand the nature of you business people. You are profit-seeking and risk-averse, cautious and meticulous. You will never easily open your heart to someone without understanding the details and being certain of the pros and cons.”
After saying this, he smiled without saying a word, waiting for everyone to ponder, without offering any further explanation.
After a moment of silence, everyone pondered Fei Yi's words. The confusion on their faces gradually faded, and they all nodded slowly.
Fei Yi's words are absolutely right. They are all seasoned businessmen who weigh things carefully. If Fei Yi had talked about surrendering right away, they would have suspected a trick and would have found it difficult to truly submit.
With his initial doubts resolved, a new and even greater confusion arose in his mind. Chen Li cupped his hands again and asked:
“Mr. Fei is absolutely right, and we are completely convinced. However, there is still one thing we don’t understand: why does Mr. Fei want us to continue managing Fangcheng?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the doubts in the eyes of all the merchants deepened.
Throughout history, once the outcome of a battle has been decided, the victor has always sent his trusted confidants to take over the city. The Han army has already taken control of Fangcheng, so why would they entrust the management of the city to these merchants who originally relied on the Liao army? This is neither reasonable nor in accordance with the rules.
Fei Yi's expression remained unchanged, and he answered directly:
"Because you did a great job."
"well done?"
Chen Li frowned, subconsciously repeating a sentence, his face full of confusion:
“We are just profit-seeking merchants who only seek to make a living through stable business operations. We can’t say we’re doing well, and we dare not ask for such praise from you, sir.”
Fei Yi spoke slowly, still speaking frankly:
"The Liao army has been stationed in Fangcheng for many years, but has never interfered with the management of the city. You have been left to manage it on your own."
"But you were able to unite your efforts and transform this originally unremarkable city into a renowned commercial hub, with boats and carts coming and going and goods flowing in and out, creating a prosperous scene."
He paused, then continued:
"I truly believe that you have managed Fangcheng exceptionally well. Therefore, I have strongly recommended you to the Grand Marshal and secured the opportunity for you to continue managing Fangcheng. I hope you will cherish this trust and do your utmost in the future, so as not to disappoint the Emperor."
Fei Yi's words were straightforward and without a single falsehood, leaving all the merchants present stunned.
They never imagined that they, as merchants, would be noticed and remembered by Fei Yi.
They never expected that the Han army would not only not suspect them, but would also be willing to trust and give them important positions. This magnanimity and generosity deeply moved everyone.
After a moment of stunned silence, Chen Li was the first to react, bowing deeply:
"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Fei, and for your trust, Grand Marshal. We will do our utmost to fulfill our duties and manage the affairs of Fangcheng well, and we will never let you down!"
The other merchants also chimed in.
Subsequently, with everyone's unanimous approval, Chen Li became the county magistrate of Fangcheng.
Upon seeing this, Fei Yi smiled faintly.
"Magistrate Chen, may Fangcheng become more prosperous in the future, and may the people live and work in peace and contentment."
Chen Li returned the greeting with a cupped hand and answered loudly:
"Thank you for your trust, Mr. Fei. I will certainly unite with all my colleagues, work together with one heart and one mind, and do my best to manage Fangcheng well. I will live up to your expectations and make Fangcheng more prosperous!"
For a long time, Chen Li had the desire to take charge of Fangcheng and create prosperity again, but he had never had a suitable opportunity to properly take charge of the overall situation.
Now that he has gained the trust of Fei Yi and the Han army, and the admiration of many merchants, he can finally unleash his potential and fulfill his original aspirations.
With the surrender agreement settled, the Han army officials then clearly explained to the merchants the rules set by the Han state and the various agreements reached between them.
After a series of discussions and deliberations, the negotiations concerning the future of the housing market finally came to a successful conclusion.
The merchants rose and dispersed to clean up the mess.
After the negotiations concluded, Fei Yi did not leave immediately. He turned to Ma Su beside him and said:
"Come with me to see the prisoners."
Upon hearing this, Ma Su immediately followed Fei Yi to the prison cell where the prisoners were held.
The two walked through several secluded alleys and arrived outside the prison. As soon as they approached the cell door, they heard a sharp and arrogant shout coming from inside.
"Let me out! Do you know who's backing me? Don't you know your own limitations? How dare you detain me like this!"
"I'm warning you, if you know what's good for you, open the door and let me go right now, otherwise, once the people behind me find out about this, they will grind you all to dust. Don't you all want to live?"
Shouts and reprimands rose and fell, mixed with some impatient curses.
A woman's voice echoed back and forth in the empty, dimly lit cell, particularly jarring, breaking the deathly silence of the cell.
Ma Su immediately frowned and stepped forward to look in the direction of the sound. He saw a woman being held in a cell deep inside the prison.
Although the woman was wearing prison clothes and her hair was slightly messy, her exquisite features could not be concealed. Her brows and eyes carried a hint of arrogance and resentment. Even though she was imprisoned, her expression remained arrogant and domineering, without the slightest fear.
Fei Yi slowly walked forward, his gaze falling on the woman:
"This person is the manager of Da Liao Fang in Fangcheng, named Gongsun Rong."
"Previously, the merchants of Fangcheng noticed that Da Liao Fang was acting strangely and suspected that she was backed by a powerful figure in the Liao Kingdom. They worried that she was secretly passing messages to the Liao Kingdom and plotting something wicked. So they joined forces and wiped out Da Liao Fang, imprisoning her and all the people related to the Fang here."
Upon hearing this, Ma Su's face immediately showed surprise, and he turned to look at Fei Yi:
"Is this really true? But the merchants have no direct evidence. Based on mere suspicion, how dare they rashly shut down Da Liao Fang and imprison its manager? Isn't that a bit too reckless?"
Fei Yi remained calm and directly addressed the questions:
“You’re right. They didn’t have any direct evidence. The extravagance of the Da Liao Ward and their secretive and cunning ways were enough to conclude that Gongsun Rong had powerful figures backing her in the Liao Kingdom, and thus they took action to capture them.”
He paused, then changed the subject:
"But Gongsun Rong's rebuke just now made me a little suspicious. If she didn't have someone backing her, she wouldn't dare to be so arrogant."
"But if she really has powerful figures in the Liao Kingdom behind her, it would be illogical for her to make such a blatant and arrogant statement. It would be too ostentatious."
Having said that, Fei Yi looked up at Gongsun Rong in the cell and asked directly:
"Manager Gongsun, since you keep saying you have someone backing you, why don't you just tell me who that person is?"
Upon hearing this, Gongsun Rong looked up at Fei Yi outside the prison gate, her tone still arrogant:
"The person behind me is definitely no ordinary person. He has immense power and is unfathomable. However, I have never seen his true face. I usually just follow his orders and dare not disobey him in the slightest."
Upon hearing this, Fei Yi also showed a hint of surprise:
"Oh? You've never met him, so how can you be so sure he's extraordinary and powerful?" (End of Chapter)