Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 27

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 27

After Jegal Hwa left.

Namgung Cheon spent a long time in his residence reading and rereading the records about Baekcheon Trading Company.

Until the sun rose to its zenith, tilted westward, and darkness settled in the room.

And the moment he closed the book.

‘This won’t be easy.’

For the first time, he felt overwhelmed.

Nambyeok Trading Guild and the Sable Alliance standing behind them.

They hadn’t crushed Baekcheon Trading Company with force.

They had thoroughly applied commercial logic, using the most cunning and intelligent methods to slowly tighten the noose.

When Namgung Jin poured capital in to lower prices, they countered with even lower prices.

When Namgung Jin used force to threaten, they pulled strings with officials to bind Namgung’s feet in the name of law.

‘How was this possible?’

The Namgung Clan’s financial power wasn’t the greatest in the world, but it was second to none when compared anywhere.

‘Yet they managed price competition that could neutralize that financial power.’

If it wasn’t a matter of money, then was it a matter of power?

‘But Namgung’s influence over officials is considerable.’

Yet specifically in Gangnam, precisely in Gangeo and Fujian where Nambyeok Trading Guild held commercial rights, they couldn’t exercise any influence.

‘Gangeo and Fujian means they’ve essentially lost all influence in Gangnam.’

His gaze turned back to the book.

‘In the end, their methods must have shone through.’

Nambyeok Trading Guild’s strategies written throughout the book.

Recalling these again, Namgung Cheon could only let out a sigh.

‘Maritime trade goods and the Blue Cloud Society.’

Unlike other trading companies, Nambyeok Trading Guild had turned their eyes to the sea early on.

They had accumulated enormous wealth through exclusive trade goods coming in via the sea.

A profit structure incomparable to inland trading companies.

On top of that, support from the Sable Alliance.

‘They couldn’t help but have abundant funds.’

Moreover, they didn’t simply use that money to expand their influence.

The Blue Cloud Society.

Their unique organization that secretly sponsored talented but poor local scholars.

A virtuous cycle where scholars who received such support became officials, who in turn became Nambyeok Trading Guild’s solid shield.

‘Exclusive sources of income and investment in the future.’

A bitter smile crossed Namgung Cheon’s lips.

Commercial warfare wasn’t a world where swords and fists worked.

It was an entirely different kind of fight where the logic of force he had lived by all his life and was most confident in was neutralized.

While he was lost in deep thought, he sensed a familiar presence outside his residence.

It was Mujin.

Namgung Cheon put down the book he was holding on the table and greeted him.

“…?”

Mujin, who entered after opening the door, looked puzzled seeing Namgung Cheon’s stern expression.

“Did something happen? Your expression doesn’t look too good.”

Namgung Cheon shook his head at Mujin’s question.

“It’s fine. It’s something I need to resolve. More importantly, how is the guest room?”

Mujin was momentarily bewildered by the sudden question, but soon shrugged and smiled.

“Ah, that? It’s good. Quite excellent for a converted firewood storehouse.”

He added with satisfaction.

“Namgung’s carpenters are quite skilled. Who knew they could whip it up in just a few days.”

Even at Mujin’s jest, Namgung Cheon’s expression didn’t soften.

Seeing this, the smile disappeared from Mujin’s face.

His gaze naturally turned to the book placed on the table beside Namgung Cheon.

“Are you really alright? It seems to be because of that thing.”

Namgung Cheon pondered for a moment, then handed the book to Mujin.

“Read it once.”

Mujin, who received the book, calmly read through the contents.

And after an hour had passed.

Mujin opened his mouth as if incredulous.

“…Isn’t this a trading company that’s already lost all its foundation?”

Namgung Cheon nodded.

“But the family is telling you to revive this?”

Once again, Namgung Cheon nodded.

Mujin let out a hollow laugh.

“Good grief, isn’t this completely a dead stone?”

He threw the book on the table and continued.

“In the world of wanderers, we call someone who gets involved in such affairs by exactly two characters.”

Mujin made a gesture of slitting his throat.

“Corpse (funeral procession).”

Even at his harsh warning, there was no change in Namgung Cheon’s expression.

Instead, he took out a map that had been inserted in the last page of the book and spread it wide on the table.

On the map, trade routes south of the Yangtze River controlled by Nambyeok Trading Guild were drawn like a spider web in red ink.

Namgung Cheon tapped that red spider web with his fingertip and asked back.

“But if it must be done nonetheless.”

“…It’s madness.”

Mujin burst into an incredulous laugh.

“Young master, this isn’t a problem that can be solved with force. They’ve already woven this entire Gangnam foundation like a spider web with money and connections. Confronting Nambyeok Trading Guild head-on would be no different from a butterfly charging into that web.”

“I have no intention of confronting them head-on.”

“Then what exactly do you plan to do? In the end, you need to bring down the enemy called Nambyeok Trading Guild for breathing room to open up.”

At that moment, Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes.

He had felt something off about Mujin’s words.

“Say that again.”

Mujin made a puzzled expression at Namgung Cheon’s words.

“…Why are you being scary?”

“No, it’s not that. What did you just say?”

Mujin tilted his head but repeated what he had just said.

“I said you need to bring down the enemy called Nambyeok Trading Guild for breathing room to open up.”

“!”

Namgung Cheon’s eyes shook violently.

The sense of discord he had felt in Mujin’s words.

It was precisely.

‘Enemy….’

An opponent that must be eliminated, a mortal foe.

‘Right, if this were a martial world matter, naturally the enemy must be eliminated, killed.’

In martial terms, it would be like destroying the dantian and cutting off limbs.

But.

‘This is not a martial world matter.’

At that moment, the door of closed thinking swung wide open.

‘A place where for profit, one would readily shake hands even with mortal enemies.’

Wasn’t that the commercial world?

Namgung Cheon’s eyes flashed.

* * *

Late evening, Geumokru.

The faces of the guards at the entrance turned pale at Namgung Cheon and Mujin’s sudden visit.

They hurriedly ran inside to report something, and shortly after, Baekdwang came rushing out in his stocking feet.

“Young Master! What brings you here! If only you had sent word ahead of time…”

Mujin clicked his tongue inwardly at the sight of him bowing restlessly.

This was hardly the appearance of a man who supposedly controlled the underworld of Anhui Province.

“Let’s go to the Steward’s Chamber first. I have some very precious Yunnan tea.”

Baekdwang smiled obsequiously as he guided the two.

Soon they arrived at the Steward’s Chamber.

As soon as Namgung Cheon sat down, he asked Baekdwang.

“Steward, you said you were from Gangeo, didn’t you?”

At the sudden question, Baekdwang’s hand, which had been about to boil water at the Bronze Brazier, froze.

His hand holding the teapot was trembling faintly.

“…That’s just the past. Now my hometown is here in Hefei.”

He tried to smile nonchalantly, but that smile was awkward beyond measure.

Though Namgung Cheon didn’t know the details, he could tell from his reaction that whatever happened in Gangeo had left some kind of wound on him.

Of course, Namgung Cheon had no intention of deliberately stirring up those matters.

“When I came last time, I heard you mention something about ‘opening waterways to make money,’ didn’t you?”

Baekdwang nodded with an awkward expression.

“Yes, yes, but I was just babbling without much meaning. Water transport isn’t easy without capital, and in our current situation…”

“By any chance, were you involved in water transport when you were in Gangeo?”

“…”

A complex expression crossed Baekdwang’s face.

After a brief silence, Baekdwang nodded and answered.

“I was. It was long ago.”

He trailed off for a moment.

“…At one time, I served as an incense master at Heukryongchae, which dominated the Yangtze River water transport in the Gangnam region.”

“I see.”

Namgung Cheon slowly nodded and took out the book about Baekcheon Trading Company from his robes.

Then he opened to the section recording Nambyeok Trading Guild’s main trade items.

“Among these items here, do you recognize any of them?”

Baekdwang put down his hand that had been about to boil water and urgently gestured to Naengcheolsan, who had been standing like a folding screen beside him.

When Naengcheolsan silently approached and took over the teapot, Baekdwang dusted off his hands and approached Namgung Cheon.

After reading through the items, he answered with a confident voice.

“Of course.”

“Do you know all of them?”

“Yes, these South Sea silks and Western Region spices here are items that sell for whatever price you ask in Gangnam. They’re so popular we can’t sell enough of them.”

For quite a while after that, Baekdwang continued explaining the goods in an excited voice.

“…So all of these items can be said to be money itself.”

“I see.”

After hearing all the explanations, Namgung Cheon pondered for a moment, then asked quietly.

“How are these items regarded in the Gangbuk markets?”

“Gangbuk, you say?”

Baekdwang tilted his head.

“Of course they receive tremendous treatment as precious goods… but the waterways are so distant and treacherous that quantities are extremely limited. They do go up through the Grand Canal, but even then, most are either presented as tribute to the imperial court or secretly traded only with the powerful. They’re items that ordinary trading companies can hardly even lay eyes on.”

At those words, Namgung Cheon smiled for the first time.

“Good.”

At that single word, puzzlement crossed Baekdwang’s face.

Namgung Cheon continued.

“If we could just stably distribute these goods from Nambyeok Trading Guild to the northern lands, the profits would be beyond imagination.”

“…!”

Only then realizing Namgung Cheon’s intention, Baekdwang’s eyes filled with shock and excitement.

But his excitement didn’t last long.

Realistic concerns soon appeared on Baekdwang’s face.

“However, Young Master. There’s a major problem with that plan.”

Namgung Cheon nodded and said.

“You mean the Sable Alliance?”

“Yes, Nambyeok Trading Guild is the Sable Alliance’s source of income. To take and sell their goods, we’d ultimately need the Sable Alliance’s permission.”

Baekdwang’s words were tinged with concern.

But a smile still lingered on Namgung Cheon’s lips.

He gazed at the moon outside the window and murmured quietly, as if to himself.

“Don’t worry.”

A person’s face came to mind in Namgung Cheon’s thoughts.

Someone with whom he thought he’d had quite a reasonable conversation.

“Even in that snake’s den, there was at least one person who could be reasoned with.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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