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Fei Qian chuckled twice, neither approving nor objecting, as if nothing had been said at all. He clasped his hands to Wei Feng, bid farewell, and left.
Fei Qian knew that while Wei Feng was overseeing recruitment and could exchange pleasantries with him, he was still a minor figure. If Fei Qian lost his composure and argued heatedly, it would be exactly what the Wei clan wanted to see.
A few lukewarm remarks were enough.
Besides, Fei Qian had already gathered the information he needed.
Governor Wang Yi was, to some extent, aligned with Wei Ji. Hmph, those two weren't afraid of crowding each other out…
Otherwise, Fei Qian had only discussed recruiting soldiers and procuring grain with Wang Yi, and Cui Hou was purchasing grain outside Anyi. Even if word got back, it would take time. Wei Ji might hear first, but someone like Wei Feng would surely learn later.
Thus, the source of the information could only be Wang Yi. Even if he wasn't actively colluding with the Wei clan, he was at least tacitly allowing their actions, which explained their brazen confidence.
Before leaving, Fei Qian pulled Huang Xu aside, whispered a few instructions, and departed.
Huang Xu huddled with the soldiers at the recruitment post, muttering among themselves. Then they began shouting at the top of their lungs: "Lord Fei is recruiting! Monthly pay of 500 coins! 500 coins! Not a single coin deducted! Full 500 coins! Only today, don't miss it!"
500 coins!
Every month!
No deductions!
Many eyes lit up. Typically, a soldier's pay was around 200 coins, with food and clothing provided by the commanding officer. Other jobs might pay more, but workers had to cover their own food and clothing, requiring about 500 to 600 coins to break even.
Now, Fei Qian was offering 500 coins a month—more than double the income, and every coin guaranteed to reach their hands!
Immediately, some people grew restless. The Wei clan's guards also provided food and clothing but paid only 250 coins a month. Joining Lord Fei might be tougher, but 500 coins a month was tempting!
Seeing the crowd begin to drift toward Fei Qian's side, Wei Feng panicked and shouted, "The Wei clan's guards also pay 500 coins a month! 500 coins, not a single one less!"
Huang Xu and his men responded by raising the stakes: "600 coins! 600 coins a month! Lord Fei offers 600 coins a month!"
Whoa…
The crowd erupted in astonishment. A 100-coin increase so quickly—real or fake?
Sweat beaded on Wei Feng's forehead. Who recruited soldiers like this, raising pay by 100 coins in moments?
As Wei Feng hesitated, Huang Xu's side shouted again: "600 coins a month! With a signed contract as guarantee! At least one year!"
A signed contract? It must be real! A few quick-footed individuals started heading toward Fei Qian's recruitment post.
Wei Feng, throwing caution to the wind, shouted, "The Wei clan also offers 600 coins, with a signed contract! 600 coins! Also guaranteed for at least a year!" By the end, even he felt a pang of regret. Originally, it was 250 coins per person—now it was 600!
Fortunately, Huang Xu's side seemed to stop raising the price, continuing to shout about 600 coins a month and signed contracts without further increases, allowing Wei Feng to breathe a slight sigh of relief.
Even so, the high price of 600 coins a month drew a massive crowd, frantically surging toward the Wei clan's side. In moments, they issued three to four hundred contracts…
Only then did Wei Feng sense something amiss. His clan head's order was to disrupt Fei Qian's recruitment, so he couldn't stop now. He instructed the scribes to write contracts as slowly as possible while sending someone to inform Wei Ji…
Meanwhile, Fei Qian sat calmly in Anyi's administrative office, leisurely sipping honey water served by an attendant.
After a while, someone entered from outside the hall, apologizing profusely before even stepping inside. Upon reaching Fei Qian, he bowed deeply. "I didn't know Lord Fei had arrived and failed to greet you properly—my apologies!"
The man was short and plump, his round face beaming with smiles. "I am the Commandery Assistant of this commandery, Lu Chang, styled Mengheng. Greetings, Lord Fei."
"Brother Mengheng, you're too kind. Are you of the Fanyang Lu clan?" Fei Qian clasped his hands and asked.
Lu Chang nodded. "I lack talent in both letters and martial arts, bringing shame to the Fanyang Lu clan…" Though he said this, a hint of pride flickered across his face, quickly masked by his broad smile.
"Brother Mengheng is too modest. Hedong's folk are honest, leaving no lost items unclaimed at night, with granaries full and all trades flourishing. This is your merit, a model for our generation," Fei Qian said, piling on flattery.
Lu Chang waved his hands. "This is the work of Lord Wang and the local elders. I dare not take credit. Lord Fei overpraises me…"
The two exchanged pleasantries, the atmosphere warm and cordial.
"So, Lord Wang is truly unwell?" Fei Qian said, feigning concern for Wang Yi. "Just days ago, he seemed robust. Who'd have thought he'd fall so ill? It must be acute—has a physician been summoned?"
Lu Chang muttered inwardly. Unwell was just an excuse, obvious to all. But Fei Qian's worried expression made it hard to tell if he was genuinely clueless or playing along, asking so earnestly…
Lu Chang laughed awkwardly. "Well… I've been in the office all day and haven't left, so I'm not entirely clear on Lord Wang's condition…"
Unwilling to dwell on this awkward topic, Lu Chang shifted gears. "May I ask what brings Lord Fei here?" Let's get to business and send this talkative Fei Qian on his way…
"Oh, Brother Mengheng and I hit it off so well, I nearly forgot the matter at hand…" Fei Qian said, feigning regret, as if to say, We were chatting so nicely—why bring up business?
He pulled a document from his sleeve and handed it to Lu Chang casually. "It's no big deal, just a requisition for grain…"
"Oh… alright, alright… What?!" Lu Chang, initially distracted, reacted only when "requisition" hit his ears. His eyes widened as he read the document, his plump frame trembling. "This… Lord Fei, you can't be joking! This amount… it's… it's too much!"
Fei Qian put on a helpless expression, shaking his head in apparent anguish. "Alas! How could I not know that requisitions burden the people? I originally intended to purchase with coin, sparing Lord Wang—no, Brother Mengheng—the trouble. But alas… someone wouldn't allow it…"
"What?!" Lu Chang's brows shot up in anger. "Who's so bold as to refuse?" Fei Qian was willing to pay with coin, and they refused? Would they rather have grain requisitioned for nothing?
Fei Qian glanced at Lu Chang, shook his head, and pointed to the document. "Brother Mengheng, let's proceed according to court law and requisition. What a pity for Hedong's people…" He covered his face with his sleeve and bid farewell to Lu Chang.
Lu Chang stood stunned, his eyes darting back and forth. Suddenly, he slapped his thigh, cursing inwardly, Curse you, Wei clan of Hedong, stirring up trouble!
Alas, this is beyond me. I'll pass it to Lord Wang…