Long Feng

Long Feng
As Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se and the head of the Dai Li, Long Feng is a very influential, charismatic, and power-hungry individual who has the tendency to pop up out of nowhere. He rose from humble origins as a son of a Merchant in the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se, to become the most feared man in the city.

By appearance, his position grants him a special relationship with the Earth King, but in reality the Earth King is but a figurehead of Ba Sing Se's government, and Long Feng truly holds sway over its privatizing affairs. He utilizies the Dai Li to silence anyone who would disrupt the common peace, secretly imprisoning them under Lake Laogai and using hypnotic tactics to subdue them. This effectively keeps the citizens of Ba Sing Se in blissful ignorance and maintains the illusion that there is no war. He claims to have preserved the last utopian society left on the planet by covering up all knowledge of the war, when in fact, the totalitarian traits of Ba Sing Se's government are marks of dystopia.

In "City of Walls and Secrets," Long Feng attends a party being held by the Earth King. There, he insists on escorting Katara and Toph after he uses his influence to get them through the gates, only relenting when they meet with Aang and Sokka. However, he later interferes with the gang’s plans again, as he and his Dai Li cohorts prevent Aang from speaking to the Earth King. Taking them to a small, private chamber, he explains the true state of affairs in Ba Sing Se, and warns the kids that the Dai Li will be watching them. He says any attempts to speak to locals about the war would result in their expulsion from the city. He also cryptically remarks that such an explusion would make their search for Appa difficult.

Later, in "Appa's Lost Days," he utilizes a mimic of Aang’s bison whistle to trick Appa into approaching him. He reveals himself to Appa, and after a swift and powerful Earthbending move, traps the bison underground.

In "Lake Laogai," Long Feng chastises Joo Dee for failing to control the situation the Avatar's presence has created. When Joo Dee confesses her doubt in ability to complete her assignment, he says the words "The Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai," which places her in a deep hypnotic state. He tells her to await further orders, and then orders a Dai Lee officer to “quietly” deal with the Avatar, so as to prevent Aang from threatening the Dai Li’s control over the Earth King.

This plan unfolds as a brainwashed acquaintance of the Avatar (Jet) and a hired janitor work to lead the Avatar and his group out of Ba Sing Se under the illusion that Appa had been shipped to a distant island. However, by chance, the group run into Smellerbee and Longshot, who reveal to the group that Jet was captured by the Dai Li. Eventually, the gang concludes that Jet has been brainwashed. After several attempts, they seem to break the Dai Li's hold on Jet. He then reveals to them that he was taken to the secret headquarters of the Dai Li, located beneath Lake Laogai.

When the group utilizes on this information, Long Feng and a group of Dai Li agents confront them, dropping from the ceiling. He watches as the guards engage in a heated battle with the intruders, then flees the chamber as it becomes apparent that the Dai Li are losing. He leads Aang and Jet, who followed him, into another large chamber and then closes the exit with earthbending. pursed by Aang and Jet. He offers to drop all charges against Aang and his group and reunite them with Appa if they will immediately leave the city. When his offer is refused, he activates the hypnosis command, forcing Jet to attack Aang. However, Aang manages to break Jet out of his trance by reminding him that he is a freedom fighter, this time freeing Jet of the hypnosis for good. In a fit of rage, Jet flings one of his swords at Long Feng, who dodges and retaliates with a powerful Earthbending move that seriously injures Jet. Angrily telling the Avatar he has chosen his own demise, he departs the scene.

He later appears with a large group of Dai Li on the lake’s shore, where they use Earthbending to trap Aang and company. However, Appa emerges from the sky, having been freed earlier by Zuko. He barrels through the stone walls, causing the Dai Li to flee. Long Feng then attacks Appa, arrogantly claiming that he will handle them himself, but his foot is caught in Appa's mouth when he attempts to earthbend. Appa then flings him out far into the lake.

Long Feng appears again in "The Earth King." The King had never known about the war, as Long Feng and the Dai Li concealed the information from him. Long Feng tries to convince the Earth King that Aang and his friends are lying and that there is no war. He clearly has the advantage, until the King was shown the giant Fire Nation drill from "The Drill." He was then arrested and tried for conspiring against the Earth Kingdom. Long Feng was later seen imprisoned, only to be reminded that the Dai Li still remained loyal to him. In "The Guru," he and Azula make a deal in order to gain control of Ba Sing Se; he gives her control of the Dai Li so as to lead them while he is in jail, and they manage a coup of the city. However, Azula had been such an efficient general to the Dai Li, they hesitate to follow Long Feng afterwards; Azula, who had planned this all along, then mockingly tells him that though he worked hard for his position, he lacks "the divine right to rule" that she has from birth. She then forces him to bow before her as she takes control of both the Dai Li and Ba Sing Se.

The name Lóng fèng (龍鳳) represents Dragon Phoenix which in Chinese traditions stand for the royal throne. The position Long Feng holds is similar to a royal regent or to a queen in chess, in which he is really in control and victory is left to a king that wields no power.

Long Feng is voiced by Clancy Brown and first appears in "City of Walls and Secrets."