The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 133

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 133

Chapter 133. You Reap What You Sow (3)

I began to understand the full picture of what had transpired.
The Namho Trading Company had hired people to sabotage the goods of the Migwa Trading Company.
Yet a question immediately arose in my mind.
Then why hadn’t they tampered with the goods being supplied to the Eunhae Trading Company? Honestly, that would have had far greater impact.
I posed the question to Jong Gil-dae Manager.
“There is one thing I wish to ask.”
“Please, speak freely.”
“Is it possible that the medicinal herbs sent to our company are handled by different people—not these individuals?”
He nodded at my inquiry.
“Yes, sir. The medicinal herbs supplied to our company are handled directly by the Merchant Guild Leader and the Chief Deputy Manager.”
“I see.”
Just as I had suspected.
At that moment, an employee from the Namho Trading Company approached and asked.
“Have you examined the medicinal herbs?”
“Yes. The quality of the herbs is quite excellent.”
“Of course. Our Merchant Guild Leader takes great care with the quality of medicinal herbs. Unlike certain other companies, I might add.”
What was that?
There was a barb hidden in those words.
But I concealed my reaction and smiled as I spoke.
“I’ll take one hundred catties each of this heavenly hemp here, this one, and that one as well.”
“Very good, sir.”

* * *

We returned to the inn.
I then summoned Jin-ho and Jong Gil-dae Manager to my room, as there was much to discuss.
“So you’re saying the Namho Trading Company planted people in Uncle’s merchant guild and resorted to such petty tactics?”
I nodded at Jin-ho’s words.
“Whether they planted people or bribed existing ones, I’m not certain, but that’s my assessment.”
Jong Gil-dae Manager agreed with my opinion.
“I concur with your thinking, Lord. Otherwise, there’s no way the manager and staff who handled medicinal herb packaging at the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild would be there.”
“Yes, and since the merchant guild that complained about poor medicinal quality hasn’t appeared for three months, I believe that’s when they left the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild.”
“But how do we prove that? They could simply claim they took pity on those who left the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild due to hardship and gave them shelter, couldn’t they?”
Typical Jin-ho.
From what I could see, Jin-ho lacked talent in martial arts, but his perspective was remarkably broad.
“They won’t just claim it—they’ll definitely come out saying exactly that.”
“Exactly!”
“But Jin-ho, shall I be honest?”
“What?”
“It’s already too late to spread word that the rumor is false or fabricated.”
Jong Gil-dae Manager continued from my words.
“Precisely as you say, Lord. Direct victims have already emerged. Even if we tell them they were played by the Namho Trading Company’s schemes, they’re already offended, so it won’t resonate with them at all.”
“Offended?”
“Uncle turned them away at the gate, remember?”
“Ah….”
As Uncle, he had no choice but to turn them away.
Such a thing could never happen at the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild, so he must have thought they were trying to frame his company.
I exhaled deeply.
Uncle should have set aside his pride, apologized first, and inquired into the full circumstances.
In any case, that’s not the important matter now.
“I have no intention of letting the Namho Trading Company get away with such petty tactics. I think I understand their true objective.”
“Their objective, you say?”
“Yes, why do you think the Namho Trading Company would resort to such petty schemes and even sacrifice their own profits to destroy the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild?”
“Well, they must want a monopoly, don’t they?”
“Once the Namho Trading Company achieves their desired monopoly over medicinal herb trading in this region, what do you think they’ll do?”
“Ah!”
Jong Gil-dae Manager’s eyes widened.
“They’ll raise prices.”
“Exactly. Then with no viable alternatives, what choice do we and other merchant guilds dealing in medicinal herbs in Guizhou have? We’d have to buy at inflated prices.”
I continued.
“Then our guild would suffer significant losses as well.”
I spoke as though it were mere speculation, but this was something that actually happened.
After the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild collapsed, the Namho Trading Company forcibly merged smaller surrounding guilds to expand their scale.
Eventually, the Namho Trading Company became the only medicinal herb broker in Guizhou Province.
Once the Namho Trading Company achieved a complete monopoly on medicinal herbs from Guizhou, they raised prices dramatically.
The other trading companies dealing in herbs expressed their displeasure, but ultimately they had no choice but to purchase at those inflated prices.
Our company too endured difficult times, and we finally resolved the matter by investing considerable time and resources to establish a branch in Guizhou.
Jong Gil-dae Manager voiced his concern.
“But… it’s already progressing that way. How could we possibly stop it?”
“There is a way.”
Both men’s gazes fixed upon me.
I spoke calmly and deliberately.
“As the saying goes: you reap what you sow.”
You reap what you sow.
Plant beans, and you harvest beans.
“Since the Namho Trading Company has sown their seeds, it is only natural that we provide them with the same harvest, is it not?”
Medicinal herb prices dropping by more than fifty percent!
From my perspective, the Namho Trading Company is currently overextending themselves considerably. And a price war is ultimately a battle of capital.
A capital war is a contest of scale against scale.
Not to boast, but our trading company ranks among the top three in Hubei Province.
The Namho Trading Company, by contrast, is merely a middleman dealing primarily in specific goods.
If we set our minds to it, we cannot possibly lose a capital war.
“They too must experience it—what it feels like to bleed dry from capital pressure.”
And this was also my revenge for my Paternal Uncle, who had chosen suicide in my previous life.
.
.
.
I wrote a letter to my Father.
The results of my investigation and my thoughts on what would happen if matters continued as they were.
It was a letter detailing the support we would need and the method to prevent this outcome.
“Geumryeong, come here.”
“Chirp?”
Geumryeong emerged from within my sleeve and poked her head out.
“I need you to deliver a letter for me.”
“Chirp…?”
Her response seemed rather unenthusiastic.
In such cases, I knew what to do. I produced a silver coin and spoke.
“If you do well, I might give you this.”
“Chirp!”
At my words, Geumryeong quickly extended her tail. I had never encountered a creature so brazenly devoted to money.
But how could I justify a single silver coin for one letter delivery?
Considering that a bushel of rice costs half a silver coin, my hands trembled at the expense, yet she had more than earned it through her contributions.
I secured the letter firmly to Geumryeong’s tail.
“Please deliver it to Father.”
“Screech!”
Geumryeong shot through the window like an arrow and vanished into a speck in the distance.
She was certainly fast.

The next morning.
I received a reply from my Father.

[It seems your prediction will come to pass. This will indeed be a significant matter. Proceed as you see fit.]

Father’s permission had been granted.

* * *

Namho Trading Company.
The Merchant Guild Leader was in exceptionally high spirits.
“So, you’re saying more than eighty percent of those who were dealing with the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild have now come over to us?”
“That is correct.”
The Namho Merchant Leader questioned the Deputy Officer’s report.
“Then who among them has yet to come over?”
“The Eunhae Trading Company and….”
The Deputy Officer named several merchant guilds, and the Namho Merchant Leader nodded.
“Not many remain. Once we handle the Eunhae Trading Company, it will be essentially finished.”
“That is true, but… are they not blood relatives of the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild Leader? It will not be easy.”
“Before profit, blood relations mean nothing. Once they determine it is a loss, they will eventually trade with us.”
The Deputy Officer nodded.
“Sir, what about those people? You know, the ones from the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild who inserted inferior goods into shipments destined for other merchant guilds per your instructions?”
“They are currently working for us, correct?”
“Yes, that is so. We have excuses prepared should others question this, but if they develop a guilty conscience and go confess everything to the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild, it would be disastrous.”
The Namho Merchant Leader, who had been thinking for a moment, spoke.
“The dead tell no tales.”
That statement served as his answer.
“I will handle it.”
It was then that a voice came from outside.
“Merchant Guild Leader. It is I, Seo Chief Manager.”
“Come in.”
The door opened and Seo Chief Manager entered.
“What is the matter?”
“I have come to present this month’s financial report.”
He extended the report as he spoke, and the Namho Merchant Leader unfolded it.
“Since we began selling at prices far lower than our acquisition costs for medicinal herbs, our situation has deteriorated rapidly.”
“That much is certainly true.”
He rolled up the report again and placed it on the wooden table before asking.
“So how much longer can we hold out?”
“At this rate, we can endure for another six months.”
“Six months is sufficient.”
“However, if anything unexpected occurs in the interim, I cannot guarantee our position.”
“That won’t happen. The Mi Gwa Merchant Guild cannot lower their prices any further. They must be in agony right now.”
“Indeed, sir.”
“So, Seo Chief Manager, there is nothing to worry about. Once we become the sole medicinal herb broker in Guizhou, we shall raise the prices accordingly. Honestly, even if we demand five times the current rate, what can they do? They will have no choice but to purchase from us.”
“Your words are correct, Merchant Leader.”
The Deputy Officer nodded in agreement.
“Then we shall finally have our name inscribed upon the roster of the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World.”
The Namho Merchant Leader furrowed his brow and clicked his tongue.
“That is precisely why you should have accepted my proposal to mutually agree upon medicinal herb prices. Tsk, tsk.”

* * *

People arrived from the Eunhae Trading Company.
They were sent by Father to support my plans—members of the Eunpung Guard Unit Three and laborers.
My first directive was to purchase a large estate situated deep within a remote, sparsely populated mountain region.
Shortly thereafter,
“Are you present?”
Someone arrived at that estate, and I promptly received them.
“I have brought the medicinal herbs you requested.”
“Thank you for honoring my request.”
“Hehehehe, since you provided generous compensation, I am the one who should be grateful.”
“This matter must remain confidential.”
“Of course!”
I had made a request to the various merchant guilds who had come to trade with the Namho Trading Company.
I offered them more money than the Namho Merchant Leader’s quoted prices and asked them to purchase medicinal herbs with that money and deliver them to me.
For them, it was not an unfavorable transaction.
Thus, medicinal herbs began to accumulate steadily within the estate we had prepared.
I could have gone myself to purchase the herbs, but doing so might have aroused suspicion.
That is why I made this request of them.
“Lord, there is no more space to store the medicinal herbs.”
“Then we shall purchase another estate nearby.”
“Understood.”

A month passed in this manner.
I had filled seven estates to the brim with medicinal herbs.
Now it was time to set my plans in motion in earnest.
“Palgap.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Make preparations. I’m going to visit my Paternal Uncle.”
“Understood, sir.”
.
.
.
The journey from where I was to my Paternal Uncle’s Merchant Guild took roughly a day’s ride on horseback.
Since I had sent word in advance, my Paternal Uncle came out to greet us upon our arrival.
“Eun Jin-ho pays respects to Uncle.”
“Eun Seo-ho pays respects to Uncle.”
“Hehehehe! Welcome, welcome.”
My Paternal Uncle greeted us with hearty laughter.
“You must be weary from your long journey.”
It was hardly a long journey—merely a day’s travel, after all.
But unaware of this, my Paternal Uncle assumed we were fatigued and led us to the guest quarters.
Jong Gil-dae Manager, who followed behind us, spoke to me in a low voice.
“The roof that was damaged before remains unchanged. And the Merchant Guild Leader’s belt ornament is identical as well.”
“I see.”

After resting briefly in the guest quarters, we made our way to the dining hall when mealtime arrived, guided by my Paternal Uncle’s attendant.
As I exchanged greetings with my Uncle’s Wife and my cousins, the dishes were brought out.
Upon seeing those dishes, I couldn’t help but smile wryly to myself.
This uncle of mine…
The food was quite expensive, belonging to the finer category of fare.
It seemed he was trying not to reveal his difficulties, yet after sending word of his financial troubles, this display felt somewhat at odds.
It must be a matter of pride.
Seeing him maintain such dignity even before us stirred a sense of sympathy within me.
But since the meal was already prepared,
the courteous thing was to enjoy it heartily.
“I shall eat well.”
“Yes, eat plenty.”
After finishing the meal, I spoke to my Paternal Uncle.
“I would like to take up some of your time.”
“Of course, let us go to my office.”
“Yes.”

A moment later,
Jin-ho and I made our way to my Paternal Uncle’s office.
My Paternal Uncle offered us seats, and we settled ourselves before the wooden table.
“First, Father was deeply troubled upon reading the letter you sent. Additionally, the Eun Wol Pavilion has decided to send you funds.”
I placed a promissory note upon the wooden table.
“Here is a draft from the Eunhae Trading Company.”
A promissory note worth one thousand silver taels.
Upon seeing it, my Paternal Uncle’s lips tightened slightly. He exhaled a long breath before speaking.
“Please convey my gratitude to Father.”
My Paternal Uncle then reached for the promissory note, but I swiftly seized it and spoke.
“This draft comes with a condition.”
“A condition?”
“Yes.”
I nodded and continued.
“For the next six months beginning today, I ask that you entrust me with the position of Merchant Guild Leader of the Mi Gwa Merchant Guild.”

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