The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 15

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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 15

Chapter 15. An Unexpected Journey (4)

Of course, I would eventually understand if I simply observed, but I couldn’t help the curiosity that stirred within me.
Especially lately, I had been sensing something extraordinary about my son.
From a boy of merely fifteen years old.
In any case, with such remarkable abilities at his disposal, he could hardly be unaware of the treacherous conditions that lay along the path to Jiangxi Province.
“The road to Jiangxi Province must be difficult with all that snow piled up, wouldn’t it?”
“It’s fine. Traveling through snowy paths is an experience in itself.”
“Even if you’re training in martial arts, the snowy paths carry their own particular dangers, my boy.”
“But when else would I be able to go to Jiangxi Province if not during this leave?”
“The time is not so generous. Even if you reach Jiangxi Province, you’ll be fortunate to stay for a single day.”
“That would be more than sufficient.”
Eun Gil-sang sensed that his son was not revealing his true reason.
So he recalled something and spoke to his son.
“Then let us do this instead.”
“Yes, Father?”
“There is an escort mission transporting goods from our Eunhae Trading Company to Jiangxi Province. You shall accompany that escort party.”

* * *

I was taken aback by Father’s words.
Accompany an escort mission?
I had made excuses about wanting to tour the marketplaces of Jiangxi Province without revealing my true purpose, because I had no way to explain how I already knew where the master craftsman was located.
My plan had been to fabricate a story about visiting Jiangxi Province’s marketplaces by chance, stumbling upon a craftsman of exceptional skill, and recruiting him.
Yet Father was now telling me that since I was going anyway, I should accompany the escort mission.
“That would be acceptable, wouldn’t it, Yeon Gak-ju?”
At Father’s question, Yeon Gak-ju of Sang-yu Hall nodded in agreement.
“Of course. The negotiations regarding the transaction have already been concluded, so this escort mission merely requires us to deliver the goods.”
Before Yeon Gak-ju could finish speaking, I interjected.
“However, I have only recently begun my practical duties.”
“I am aware. But you have already proven your talents, and Yu Chief Manager has acknowledged you. So you need not worry about that.”
I attempted another excuse.
“An escort mission would take several times longer than my vacation period. What would happen to my responsibilities in my absence?”
At my words, Yu Chief Manager, seated beside me, spoke.
“Please go ahead.”
“Pardon?”
“Thanks to your considerable assistance with our work, we have sufficient capacity. And it is time for you to begin accumulating escort mission experience.”
“I am still only fifteen years old….”
Yeon Gak-ju continued the conversation.
“One cannot truly understand commerce without gaining escort mission experience.”
Yu Chief Manager smiled and continued.
“Do not worry. Please go ahead.”
Father continued speaking.
“In truth, the reason I asked you to accompany this escort mission is for your safety.”
“….”
I could offer no counterargument to that statement.
After all, many guards accompany escort missions to protect the goods being transported.
“But Father, I was planning to go during my vacation time. Using the company for my personal vacation….”
Father smiled and spoke.
“I am sending you to work.”
At those words, I tilted my head in confusion, but Father merely smiled and continued.
“I will compensate you with additional vacation time later, so go ahead.”
“Ah!”
At those words, my mood suddenly brightened.
In truth, I had been somewhat disappointed about having to sacrifice my vacation to bring back the master craftsman, but now Father was promising to give me additional vacation time later.
Then something suddenly occurred to me.
“But that escort mission… it departs tomorrow, doesn’t it?”
Yeon Gak-ju spoke.
“To be precise, we depart at dawn tomorrow.”
There was no time to waste.
.
.
.
The next morning at dawn.
I had completed my energy cultivation exercises.
Master said he would be departing on an escort mission today.
He instructed me to review what I had learned yesterday on my own, but I was to bring along one of the Eunpung Corps warriors to conduct my training.
However, since he was leaving early this morning for the escort mission, there would be no martial arts training today.
As soon as I finished the simple breakfast Palgap had brought, I told Grandfather and my parents I would be going, then headed to Cha-jang with Palgap.
“Young Master’s first escort mission! This Palgap is trembling and so nervous!”
At Palgap’s words, I let out a soft laugh.
“I’m the one going on the escort mission, so why are you trembling?”
“Well, because this is my first time attending to Young Master on an escort mission.”
“Don’t be nervous. Escort missions take place over long periods. If you collapse from tension, I’ll have to look after you instead.”
“Gasp! No, that absolutely cannot happen!”
“I’m not a child anymore, and you don’t need to fuss over me constantly.”
At my words, Palgap stared at me intently.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Lately, Young Master, you seem to occasionally forget your own age. You are still fifteen, and while the nation considers you an adult, you are still young. Young masters from other families are foolish and cause problems, but….”
Palgap continued.
“You need not rush to become an adult.”
“Haha.”
I laughed awkwardly.
He was right, but there was nothing I could do about it.
This body may be fifteen years old, but my mind is already thirty-nine.
“I was just trying to say to go with a light heart, as if we were taking a leisurely stroll.”

Soon we arrived at the Cha-jang.
It was a structure with only a roof to shield against snow and rain, designed to keep the merchandise loaded on the carriages from getting wet.
Because carriages constantly came and went, it was called the Cha-jang—the place where goods departed and where they arrived.
When we reached the location where merchandise bound for Jiangxi Province today was being loaded, the cart laborers who had been busily working there quickly bowed their heads.
“We greet the Young Master.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
I acknowledged their greeting and made my way to the agreed meeting place to find the Jaegyeong Pavilion officer.
The officer’s name was Im Gyeong-bin.
A Grade-Mu officer, he was one of the officers I frequently encountered when coming and going from the Jaegyeong Pavilion.
With such considerable rank, he was an officer with abundant experience.
“I seem to have arrived a bit late.”
“Ah! Young Master, you’ve arrived? I simply came out early. Please don’t concern yourself.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“I have been assigned to serve you exclusively.”
“If it’s Officer Lim, I can trust you. I look forward to working with you.”
There were not only Officer Lim present, but several other familiar faces as well.
They were those dispatched from the Sefung Division and the Sangyu Division.
“We greet the Young Master.”
“It’s good to see you all.”
After exchanging greetings with them, I headed toward where the merchandise bound for Jiangxi Province was stacked.
Officer Lim spoke to those who questioned my appearance.
“Young Master Eun Seo-ho will be accompanying us on this escort mission.”
“Is that so?”
At my words, those around us were momentarily startled, but soon their expressions turned to understanding.
“Indeed, it’s about time Young Master Seo-ho began accompanying escort missions.”
“It feels like just yesterday when he was taking his first wobbly steps….”
“To think he’s grown so much already!”
Seeing the workers’ expressions of emotion, I felt somewhat embarrassed.
Officer Lim beside me spoke.
“Ah, here come the Head of the escort and the escort warriors who will be joining us this time.”
For a moment, I was slightly taken aback.
The head of this escort mission was my Master.
I quickly bowed respectfully to my Master.
And I was about to greet him, but my Master spoke first.
“I am Gwak Myung-hyun, Head of the Changin Escort Agency. You may call me Gwak Pyo-du.”
My Master’s intention was clear.
I was not to directly reveal that I was his disciple.
Then I would have to follow his lead.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, third son of the Eunhae Trading Company’s proprietor. I currently work at the Jaegyeong Pavilion, so you may call me Officer Eun.”
“Understood. Officer Eun.”
I announced to everyone present.
“Please call me Eun Officer as well.”
“Yes.”
I turned to Lim Officer with a question.
“Then we can begin the inspection now, correct?”
“Yes? Ah! Yes. That’s right. Do….”
“It’s Eun Officer.”
“Yes. Eun Officer.”
I began surveying the situation while examining the documents in my hands.
An escort run….
Father had instructed me to gain experience, but I already possessed considerable knowledge of escort operations.
Whenever the Merchant Guild entrusted goods to the Pyoguk for transport, I never simply stood idle and watched.
Naturally, someone from the Guild always accompanied the shipment.
Two people from Sefung Division handled miscellaneous administrative tasks, and two from Sangyu Division managed the goods and conducted transactions.
Additionally, two from Jaegyeong Pavilion managed administrative procedures, document preparation, and financial accounting.
These six were essential personnel.
Two Eunpung Corps warriors were separately assigned as my personal guards, and one squad from the Eunpung Corps joined to protect the merchandise.
The Eunpung Corps participating in this escort consisted of three squads led by Jung Chung.
This escort run would involve one squad’s participation.
It seemed to be specifically for protecting me, the merchant lord’s son.
Originally, the deputy squad leader was supposed to lead half the squad members, but given that Jung Chung’s participation was arranged suddenly yesterday, my suspicion appeared correct.
Jung Chung was conducting final discussions with Master regarding this escort run.
In the meantime, we completed the final inspection of the goods.
The merchandise heading to Jiangxi Province this time was silk brought from Sichuan Province.
Upon arriving in Jiangxi Province, we planned to exchange it for tea brought up from Fujian Province and sugar brought up from Guangxi Province.
Since silk was vulnerable to sunlight, all of it had to be packed in boxes for transport.
And because it was also sensitive to moisture, it had to be wrapped with paper to absorb any dampness.
After confirming everything was properly arranged, I instructed the Sangyu Division officer to seal the boxes.
Lim Officer spoke to Jung Chung.
“The goods inspection is complete. We can depart now.”
“Understood. Then we’ll load the cargo and depart after one hour.”
At that moment, those bustling about suddenly began bowing toward one direction.
“We greet the two young masters.”
Turning around at the commotion, I saw my First Brother and Second Brother standing at the entrance.
I had already said my farewells yesterday evening, so I wondered what brought them here.
“Oh, brothers! What brings you here?”
“What brings us? We came to see off your first escort run.”
I laughed at Second Brother’s words.
“I appreciate this.”
First Brother handed me something.
“Take this.”
It was a small, sharp dagger.
“I thought you’d need a weapon to protect yourself, so my Second Brother and I prepared this together.”
“Oh… thank you.”
I expressed my gratitude and took the dagger, turning it over in my hands.
The feel of it was familiar.
My first escort run had occurred a few months later in spring than this, and back then, my two elder brothers had gifted me this very dagger.
At that time, I had treasured it so dearly that I hid it away carefully in my room.
Only later did I learn that my brothers had felt disappointed about it.
They had thought I disliked the dagger and refused to carry it with me.
Now I resolved to carry this dagger with me every day. It would make my brothers happy.
I secured the dagger carefully in my possession.
“I’ll use it well.”
“Good. Travel safely.”
Thus, I departed on my first escort run earlier than I had in my previous life.
.
.
.
Winter escort runs had distinctly contrasting advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage was that narrow streams froze solid, allowing passage without boats or bridges.
But the disadvantages were severe.
Where snow had been trampled down by frequent travelers, there was no problem, but on paths where snow accumulated to knee height, the carts required the snow to be cleared for passage.
And most such places were mountain paths.
When heavy snow accumulated on mountain paths, it became impossible to distinguish where the road actually lay.
The snow had to be cleared simply to find the path.
Thus, the cart laborers of the Pyoguk would advance ahead with their shovels, roughly clearing the snow to create a passage for the carts.
This naturally slowed our pace, but it was unavoidable. It was better than rushing and losing merchandise or suffering casualties.
“Sigh…”
Watching this, I couldn’t help but exhale deeply.
Seeing the cart laborers clearing snow ahead, I suddenly felt as though I had truly returned to the past.
After traveling for some time in this manner.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve met.”
At the unexpected voice, I lifted my head to look ahead.
Before us stood two massive men clad in thick fur coats.
Bandits—or rather, Green Forest Bandits.
At their appearance, Master and Jung Chung showed no alarm whatsoever and approached them.
“It’s been a while since we last saw you.”
“You’re heading to Jiangxi Province, it seems?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Then one of the two Green Forest Bandits spoke.
“The Stronghold Master sends word that you must be exhausted from walking the snow-covered mountain paths. He insists you visit the mountain stronghold and warm yourself with a cup of tea before continuing on your way.”
It was an entirely unexpected proposal, one I had not anticipated in the slightest.

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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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