Neverwinter, this port city that was taken away from the Tang Dynasty by Dorn, has always been like a pearl embedded in the southern tip of the Eastern Continent, exuding alluring brilliance.
There is a wide dock area here, with giant gantry cranes waving their steel arms, loading and unloading boxes of goods onto ocean freighters. The busy scene highlights the vitality of this city. The streets are full of traffic, and people of all colors shuttle through it.
The prosperity brought about by trade is visible to the naked eye.
As the largest and most advanced port in the southern part of the Eastern Continent, Neverwinter is a well-deserved economic engine of the Dorne Empire, continuously delivering wealth to the empire. It used to be more prosperous, but the frequent bombings by the Tang Empire Navy in the past two years have brought this
The city was cast into a shadow.
Despite this, the city of Neverwinter still stands tenaciously, with more than 7 million people working hard on this land day after day, contributing their own strength to rebuilding their homes. The numerous factory facilities roar day and night, and various industrial products
From here it is shipped to all corners of the Dorne Empire to support the empire's war machine.
Among the many enterprises, the most eye-catching is the radar design and manufacturing company. This company masters the most advanced radar technology in the Eastern Continent and provides a large number of radar equipment to the Dorne Empire, which greatly improves Dorne's
The military's battlefield awareness capabilities. Not only that, this company also manufactured many advanced electronic technology equipment for the Dorne Empire, which was used in military and civilian fields. It was an important driving force for the technological progress of the Dorne Empire.
Because of this, Mr. Pan Yiping, the owner of this radar technology company, has become a very important figure in the Dorne Empire. He is extremely wealthy and powerful. In the city of Neverwinter, his words can determine the fate of countless people.
Fate, its influence is so great that it is unimaginable.
At this moment, the city lord of Neverwinter appointed by Dorn was rubbing his hands and smiled sheepishly at Pan Yiping: "Sir, you must be very well-connected in the Tang Empire, otherwise you wouldn't be able to get such a big deal.
What advanced radar technology..."
"Don't say that, after all, I'm just a person who relies on my son-in-law." Pan Yiping still looked like a skilled businessman, without raising his eyelids, and his tone was slow, as if he was mocking himself, and he seemed to be telling an irrelevant story.
The important fact is that he puts himself in the position of a dependent in an understatement, as if all his achievements are only dependent on others rather than his own efforts.
"You are too humble." The city lord accompanied him with a smile. He knew Pan Yiping's power and even more about his skills. This seemingly harmless businessman was actually an extremely shrewd and ruthless character.
"No matter what, I am telling the truth." Pan Yiping waved his hands and raised a meaningful smile on his lips, "Without the support of my son-in-law, how could I have achieved what I have today?"
"You're right, you're right." The city lord nodded repeatedly, not daring to answer. He knew Pan Yiping was knocking him, reminding him not to forget who was supporting him behind the scenes.
Pan Yiping's eyes swept over the city lord with a hint of imperceptible contempt. He knew that the city lord was just a pawn of his, a puppet that could be manipulated at will. The reason why he supported him in power was simply because he was obedient and could be used by him.
.
"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore." Pan Yiping put away his smile and his tone returned to calmness, "Let's talk about business."
"You must have connections with the Tang Empire..." The city lord hesitated for a moment, then cautiously probed, with a hint of nervousness and expectation in his tone. He observed Pan Yiping's expression, hoping to see something from his calm face.
I caught a clue.
"I just hope that you can... help me introduce you at the appropriate time, so that I can have the opportunity to connect with the Tang Empire to ensure the safety of me and my family..." The city lord's voice became lower and lower.
, as if telling an unspeakable secret.
"Right now, Dorne is facing a national crisis. You can't label me as a traitor." Pan Yiping's face darkened, and he interrupted the city lord in a stern tone. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, as if he heard what he said.
What an incredible thing.
"How come I am connected with the Tang Empire? Don't talk nonsense, be careful of the trouble that comes from your mouth!" Pan Yiping said in a strong tone, and did not hesitate to distance himself from the relationship. Of course he would not admit that he had any relationship with the Tang Empire.
There is some kind of "relationship".
Even if he had always been the Tang Empire's biggest undercover agent in Dorne, and even if the technology he provided was actually to allow the electronic technology on the Eastern Continent to develop in accordance with the design of the Tang Empire, he would not be able to admit this.
"How is it possible? How is it possible?" The city lord was startled by Pan Yiping's sudden anger. He hurriedly waved his hands to explain and said incoherently: "Sir, you misunderstood. I have no other meaning. I, I just came to find a way for myself.
The back road.”
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and tried to calm down. "You also know that Dorne is already like this. The Tang Empire has crossed the border. As the city lord, I have really reached the end."
There was a hint of bitterness and helplessness in the city lord's voice. He slumped on the chair helplessly, as if he had lost all hope.
"I heard that the Tang Empire does not make things difficult for law-abiding people, so you don't have to worry too much..." Pan Yiping saw the panicked look of the city lord, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing an imperceptible smile. He slowed down.
His tone was as if he was comforting a frightened child.
"As long as you have not done anything harmful to nature, the Tang Empire will not embarrass you." Pan Yiping's tone was full of confidence, as if he really understood the policies of the Tang Empire.
"Can you not worry?" The city lord smiled bitterly, his tone full of helplessness and bitterness. "You know, if I can be such a city lord, I must have some small wealth in my family..." He mentioned "poor money"
When he said the word "wealth", there was a hint of embarrassment and unnaturalness in his tone. Everyone knew that being able to get the position of city lord in Neverwinter City must have cost a lot of money, and a lot of this money was obtained through
Obtained by unfair means.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Pan Yiping looked at the city lord calmly and sneered secretly in his heart. In fact, he had already investigated clearly that the city lord of Neverwinter in front of him was named Karl.
, is a great nobleman of the Dorne Empire. Not only does he have a profound background, his family also has great influence. Karl's ability to become the Lord of Neverwinter is naturally indispensable for his family's support, and of course, his own "efforts" are also indispensable.
"People like me tend to cherish their lives..." City Lord Karl sighed and continued, with a hint of self-deprecation and helplessness in his tone: "I have never done bad things, I just hope to live in peace and stability.
Finish your life."
He raised his head and looked at Pan Yiping sincerely, his tone full of requests: "Sir, please help me to calm down my hanging heart. I will definitely be grateful to you for the rest of my life."
When he mentioned the word "gratitude", he deliberately emphasized his tone. Obviously, this gratitude must have a price tag, and the price tag must not be low.
"Sir, do you think this will work..." City Lord Karl carefully observed Pan Yiping's expression and said tentatively: "I don't ask for anything else, I just want..."
He paused, seemed to be organizing his words, and after a while he made up his mind and said: "I just want to take my family and leave here safely, go to a place where no one knows us, and spend the rest of our lives peacefully.
Half my life..."
The city lord sighed, pretended to be full of loneliness and helplessness, and started his performance: "You also know that people like me spent the first half of their lives running for fame and fortune, only to realize in the end
, those things are fleeting, only family is the most important..."
He raised his head and looked at Pan Yiping sincerely, with a hint of pleading in his voice: "Sir, just take pity on me and my family, please help me..."
As he said that, he took out a check from his pocket and handed it to Pan Yiping with trembling hands: "This is a small thought and not respectful. Please accept it..."
Pan Yiping didn't move or expose the opponent's performance, he just sat there without moving.
Karl, the city lord of Neverwinter, observed Pan Yiping's expression and cautiously added: "I am also willing to donate 3 million gold coins... I know that this amount of money may not be much to the Tang Empire, but this is mine.
A little thought..."
He took a deep breath, as if he had made some important decision: "Also, my properties in the Eastern Continent... land, real estate, shops... have also been donated. I just ask you to...
Can you help me introduce someone who can speak well in the Tang Empire..."
In fact, 3 million gold coins is really not a lot. The funds of the Karl family are definitely more than that. But the real bargaining chip he brought out was the large land and various assets of the family behind Karl in Dorne. That is not what Pan Yiping is interested in.
That pitiful 3 million gold coins, because the money he has seen is much more than this mere 3 million. What he wants is the complete city of Neverwinter, and what he wants is to capture this rich industrial area without any blood!
Pan Yiping slowly stretched out his hand, and tapped the table with his slender fingers, making a crisp sound, as if it struck the heart of the city lord Karl. He picked up the check on the table casually, without even looking at the words on it.
The numbers were stuffed directly into his pocket.
"The Lord of the City is so generous," Pan Yiping smiled slightly, and there was no emotion or anger in his tone. "I also have a kind heart. I don't want to see people in ruins, let alone wives and children. It's just..."
He deliberately prolonged his voice and stared at Karl sharply, observing the changes in his expression.
"Just what?" Karl's heart beat suddenly, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"If the army of the Tang Empire really comes to the city," Pan Yiping said in a calm tone, but as if he was carrying great power, "What will the garrison here choose?"
"This..." Karl was stunned for a moment, then he patted his chest and promised, "Of course it's surrender! Which madman would resist the heavenly soldiers? I won't be the first to spare him!"
"The Lord of the City has misunderstood," Pan Yiping waved his hand, with an enigmatic smile still on his face, "I'm just saying that if, after all, war is something like this, no one can say for sure."
"Don't worry, don't worry!" Karl wiped the sweat from his forehead and said urgently, "I have already organized the city guards, absolutely foolproof! They will all stand... stand..."
Karl suddenly realized that he had said the wrong thing and quickly changed his words: "Everyone will stand on our side! On our side!"
"Don't say that, City Lord, they are on your side," Pan Yi corrected calmly: "I'm just a businessman, the war has nothing to do with me."
"Yes, yes, you are right, you are right." Karl nodded repeatedly, but secretly complained in his heart.
"Since the City Lord is so sincere," Pan Yiping stood up and straightened his clothes: "Then I will try my best to see if I can introduce the City Lord to someone who can speak well in the Tang Empire.
"
"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" Carl was overjoyed and quickly stood up and bowed: "I am grateful! Carl is grateful!"
Pan Yiping ended the conversation because he was really busy now. Not only the city lord Karl, but also many nobles from the Dorne Empire wanted to meet him and seek safety from him.
In fact, everyone knew that he had secret connections with the Tang Empire, but in the past they pretended to know nothing about it.
Carl has indeed never done anything immoral in Everwinter City for so long. With a mountain like Pan Yiping weighing on his head, he, a little monkey, has no chance to make waves. And he has endured a "mayor" like Carl.
"In terms of position, it is true that he has no interest in ordinary people. He cannot bully men and dominate women, and there is no need to do evil himself.
The Tang Empire will still maintain a certain degree of tolerance towards such people. Although there is no such thing as forgetting the past, as long as they don't have an overly exaggerated dark past, they will generally not be completely liquidated.
This is why Pan Yiping is willing to give such a capitulation faction a chance to cooperate: as long as the other party is willing to preserve a complete Neverwinter Harbor, then at least there will be atonement for the crime, and the safety of life can be guaranteed.
One day later, Neverwinter City announced its surrender and accepted the rule of the Tang Empire. Hundreds of thousands of garrison troops laid down their weapons and handed over the city they were guarding to dozens of Tang soldiers who arrived at Neverwinter City Airport by helicopter.
What people didn't expect was that the civilians of Neverwinter City did not have any commotion. They spontaneously lined the streets to welcome the Tang Army troops who subsequently entered the city. Up to this time, the total number of Tang Army troops arriving by helicopter did not exceed one battalion.
Almost all the areas around Neverwinter instantly switched sides and changed their flags to become areas controlled by the Tang Empire. However, the Dorne Empire did not even take any action at this time, as if it did not care about these things at all.