Chapter 29: Terms of Surrender

"Are you suggesting we surrender to the imperial court and become their lackeys?" the young man asked, still defiant.

"Do not talk nonsense. This Sixth Prince is completely different from the other officials in the imperial court. To earn my trust, he was even willing to risk his own life. Moreover, he has promised to ensure that everyone in the stronghold is well taken care of. I personally believe this Sixth Prince is worthy of our trust."

Lei Ying had been completely won over by Li Ye’s demeanor. He felt that following such a man would be a worthy choice.

"Chief, don't be fooled by them! If we surrender and they go back on their word, what then? Wouldn't we be left at their mercy?"

"Exactly! I don't believe they can really find the underground water route! We should at least hold out until the end before even considering surrender!"

An old man with a white beard spoke up: "If the imperial court truly cuts off our water supply, will it even be too late to surrender then? The terms they promised us would surely be revoked by that time."

The old man first scolded those who were defiant, then continued: "I do not have many days left to live, but there are many young people and children in the stronghold. We must ensure they have a chance to live well. What is the difference between being trapped on this mountain and being a bird in a cage? If there is an opportunity to become citizens of the Dayuan Dynasty, it is indeed a good choice. Though we are descendants of the previous dynasty's remnants, so many years have passed. What is the point of persisting? Do you truly believe we can one day overthrow the Dayuan Dynasty? That is nothing but a delusional fantasy!"

"Indeed. It doesn't matter for us old folks, but we must consider the future generations."

"Since the Sixth Prince is so sincere, he should keep his word. Even if the conditions are not as good as he claimed, as long as he provides us with land to till and allows us to survive, that is enough."

The young men were hot-blooded and fearless, but the elders had lived long enough to see the bigger picture. They were more concerned with the survival of their descendants. Knowing there was no chance of victory, they decided to take the risk of surrendering to the imperial court.

After several hours of deliberation, they decided to send someone to negotiate with Li Ye to settle the details of the surrender and ensure they secured the best possible terms for their people.

"Let me go! I will negotiate with the Sixth Prince myself!"

The others were shocked and immediately tried to stop him: "No! Chief, it is too dangerous. What if they turn on you and take you prisoner?"

"I am the only one fit to negotiate this matter! As a prince, he dared to come to our gates alone to persuade us to surrender. If I continue to hide like a coward, he will only look down on us. If I am captured, the Second Chief will take over and lead the stronghold in battle."

"No, I will go with you!" Lei Zhan stood up and declared.

Lei Ying glanced at him and scolded loudly: "At a time like this, must you be so headstrong? If we are both captured, who will lead the stronghold?"

Reprimanded, Lei Zhan hung his head: "I understand. You must be careful. If they dare to capture you, I will make the imperial army pay the price."

Lei Ying patted his shoulder with a relieved smile: "Enough. Do not assume I am going to my death. I actually feel that this Sixth Prince is trustworthy; he will not seize the opportunity to capture me to threaten the stronghold into surrendering."

...

After minimal preparation, Lei Ying and five skilled men set off for the military camp. They were quickly spotted by scouts and reported to Li Ye.

Li Ye was taken aback; he had expected them to deliberate for much longer. He was pleasantly surprised that they had sent negotiators so soon.

"Bring them in immediately, and notify all the generals to gather in the command tent!"

Soon, the generals received the news and hurried over, their faces filled with excitement. The fact that the Bald Eagle Mountain had sent people to negotiate meant they were ready to surrender.

Lei Ying and his men were brought into the tent, bound. Li Ye frowned and said: "Who ordered them to be bound? Untie them at once."

Lei Ying had intended to use the situation to vent his dissatisfaction, but he was surprised to see the Prince order their release and reprimand the soldiers. It was clear that binding them had not been the Prince's wish. His anger dissipated instantly.

"Give them chairs and let them sit!" Li Ye ordered again.

"Many thanks, Your Highness!"

Having been treated with such courtesy, Lei Ying found it difficult to maintain a hostile stance. He bowed in gratitude.

Li Ye waved his hand and said with a smile: "Guests should be treated with hospitality. Since you risked your lives to come to my camp, how could I treat you as mere bandits?"

"The Sixth Prince is truly broad-minded. Lei Ying is impressed!"

"I am very pleased you came yourself! Have you decided on the terms of your surrender? Speak freely! I will grant whatever I can."

"There are over sixteen thousand of us, men, women, and children, on Bald Eagle Mountain. How does Your Highness intend to settle us? Can you provide us with homes and enough land to farm? Will all the promises you made previously be fulfilled?"

Li Ye nodded: "Although I have not yet obtained the Emperor's explicit approval, I can promise you that upon surrender, everyone will be granted five mu of fertile land. We will build houses for you to provide a stable home. However, all your current assets must be turned over to the imperial court. Of course, you may choose to keep your assets and build your own houses. Furthermore, I am skilled in business, and my merchant firms require a large workforce. You can rent out your land to others and work for my firms, which will guarantee you earn more than you would by farming alone. As for the children, there is no need to say more—they will all be sent to school. Even the women and the elderly can work at the firms in their spare time. If you don't know how, there will be people to teach you. You will be able to earn extra income. I guarantee you will not only be free from hunger and cold but will also live a prosperous life. It will be a hundred times better than remaining on the mountain as bandits."

After hearing Li Ye's words, the conditions Lei Ying had prepared to negotiate became irrelevant, as the treatment Li Ye offered was even better than what he had hoped for.

A merchant who was familiar with Lei Ying smiled and said: "Chief, you may not know how good it is to work for the Prince's firms. Not only are food and lodging provided, but even an ordinary clerk earns three taels of silver a year. Those in the stronghold skilled in martial arts can work as security guards or escorts, earning at least five taels a year, and those with superior skills can earn up to ten. The leaders of the stronghold could earn at least twenty taels a year, with bonuses at the end of the year. Even if you didn't have land, you could support your families and live very well!"

Lei Ying was stunned once more. He could not understand why a prince of the Dayuan Dynasty would be so keen on business, but more importantly, he was shocked by the incredibly generous compensation for the staff.

However, no matter how large the merchant firms were, could they truly accommodate everyone?