The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 203

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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 203

Chapter 203. Yangyang Martial Hall (2)

I asked my Master a question.
“Then whose building is that?”
“Of course, it’s a building we constructed with our own funds.”
“…So you’re saying no compensation will be provided for that building?”
My Master shook his head.
No wonder he had so much on his mind.
“He said that as long as we lived well on his land, there was no need to compensate us for the building itself.”
“And the land rental fees….”
“Of course, we paid them on time every year.”
“Did he permit the construction of the building?”
“Certainly. The Estate Lord’s Father readily approved it at the time.”
“Is he perhaps taking the attitude that since it happened during his father’s time, he knows nothing of it?”
My Master nodded with a surprised expression.
“That’s correct, but… how did you know?”
“It simply seemed likely.”
To be honest, it’s a predictable story.
There shouldn’t be more than one or two such people in the world.
Wait.
This is a place where children born to the women of the Northern Sea Ice Palace are cared for. If that’s the case, the Northern Sea Ice Palace must be providing some support.
When I asked about that, my Master sighed softly and answered.
“Of course we receive support. However, raising children requires considerable funds, so we don’t exactly have financial surplus.”
So that’s why the Ancestor wept when seeing the substantial operational funds left behind.
Indeed, for a leader managing an organization, there is nothing sadder than a shortage of funds.
“I wish I had forced myself to purchase the land from the beginning.”
“….”
“At that time, if I had bought the land, I wouldn’t have had the funds to construct the building, but now that things have turned out this way, I regret it.”
“At that time, it was likely the best choice available. So please don’t blame yourself too much.”
“I’m grateful for your words.”
My Master sighed and spoke.
“In any case, we must relocate elsewhere… but the problem is that we haven’t yet found a suitable place to move to.”
“That’s certainly a significant problem.”
Perhaps in my previous life, the Yangyang Martial Hall eventually had to relocate elsewhere as well.
At that time, there was neither the financial support I would have provided nor the operational funds left by the Ancestor.
So the situation must have been far more difficult.
As I pondered this, a question arose in my mind.
Yangyang Martial Hall was a place where the Northern Sea Ice Palace raised its children.
Wouldn’t it have been better to establish it somewhere closer to the Northern Sea Ice Palace?
Why would they build Yangyang Martial Hall in distant Zhejiang Province, so far from the Northern Sea?
“Master, I have a question.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“Was there a particular reason for establishing Yangyang Martial Hall in Zhejiang Province?”
“Yes, it was because we needed a location far removed from where Snowwind Palace once stood, while still offering us favorable conditions.”
“I’m not entirely sure what you mean by that….”
“Hyung-su, who destroyed our Snowwind Palace, must never connect Yangyang Martial Hall to Snowwind Palace. Yet at the same time, it had to serve as another stronghold for Snowwind Palace.”
Now I understood.
Zhejiang Province was where Hangzhou was located.
There was a saying that heaven has paradise, and on earth there are Hangzhou and Suzhou—places so pleasant to live in.
Moreover, as a crucial crossroads for transportation, it was a place where countless goods flowed in and out.
It was a location with ideal conditions for the surviving members of Snowwind Palace to operate.
“But isn’t it too warm a place?”
“That’s precisely why it’s humid instead.”
“Ah, because it’s surrounded by the sea and rivers.”
“Correct. Even surveying all of the Central Plains, there is no place with water essence as strong as that region. The martial arts of Snowwind Palace is ice cultivation, and ice cultivation is yin-based martial arts. If we cannot have a cold place with abundant ice, then we must at least have abundant water.”
“That makes sense—it would be ideal for the children to learn Snowwind Palace’s martial arts in such a place.”
Now that I heard the explanation, I understood.
In any case, relocating from such a place to somewhere else must have cost considerable money.
Land prices in Zhejiang Province were quite substantial.
In my previous life, Gwak Jun-ha, who had been my Guard Warrior—my Master’s second son—would send more than half his salary somewhere whenever he received his wages.
Meanwhile, he himself lived quite frugally.
I recalled a conversation between father and son that I had overheard by chance back then.

“Did you send money to Zhejiang Province again?”
“I hoped it would be of some help.”
“Thank you.”

At the time, I simply assumed it was a personal matter and let it slide.
I had no desire to pry into the Guard Warrior’s personal affairs.
Looking back now, Gwak Jun-ha had been sponsoring the Yangyang Martial School back then.
“Is what Master is currently troubled about where to relocate to?”
“Yes, though I’m trying to remain within Zhejiang Province if possible. Truthfully, there’s no better place than there to master the martial arts of Seolpung Palace.”
Master’s expression turned bitter.
“It would be ideal not to move from that location at all… but that’s simply impossible.”
“….”
It seemed I would need to visit in person.
I had been directly entrusted by the Ancestor of Seolpung Palace to oversee its reconstruction, and the children of Yangyang Martial School represented Seolpung Palace’s future.
In other words, those children were crucial talents for the palace’s restoration.
Since it was winter and my workload had decreased somewhat, I had the leisure to make a trip to Zhejiang Province.
“Master, I shall journey to Zhejiang Province myself.”
“Are you saying this directly, Lord?”
“Yes.”
“There’s no need. We can handle this ourselves.”
“I previously promised Yeom Great Warrior that I would provide further support, and I believe that promise must be kept. Besides, I sense there may be ways I can be of assistance.”
“If you speak thus… very well. And….”
Master cupped his fist in salute as he spoke.
“I am grateful for your concern.”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“You honor me too much. Moreover, they are like my senior brothers to me. So please allow this disciple to involve myself in their affairs.”
“I grant you permission.”
.
.
.
I went directly to Father and obtained his approval for the Zhejiang Province business trip.
He expressed concern that the journey would be treacherous due to snow, but it was fine.
There hadn’t been much snowfall this year.
Yet as a disciple of Seolpung Palace, the absence of snow to strengthen my inner energy was somewhat regrettable.

A few days later.
We set out for Zhejiang Province.
I had originally planned to travel with only my Guard Warriors, but ended up journeying alongside Ha Pyo-doo and the Escort Masters of the Changin Escort Agency.
Besides, I wasn’t entirely certain where the Yangyang Martial School was located, and I needed someone to vouch for my identity.
My Master wished to accompany us as well, but urgent matters prevented him from leaving his post.
So I was entrusted with full authority to lead this expedition—
But why did Master delegate such authority to me? Ha Pyo-doo, who had several more years of experience as an Escort Master than my Master, was right there.
And why didn’t Ha Pyo-doo object? Why did he follow me so willingly?
I had many questions, but decided to set them aside for now.
Just then, Ha Pyo-doo called out to me.
“Small Guild Master.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Have you ever visited Hangzhou?”
Of course, in my previous life I had been there dozens of times.
It was truly a beautiful place, and the West Lake of Hangzhou especially lived up to every word of praise.
Beautiful not only by day, but equally enchanting by night.
It was equally a land of opportunity for merchants.
But in this life, I had never been there.
“It will be my first time. I look forward to your guidance.”
“Ahem, of course. I was asked to do so by that person.”
That person must be my Master.
“Then may I take the lead on the road?”
“Yes, I would appreciate that.”
Ha Pyo-doo moved to the front, and I followed behind him.
Truth be told, following along like this was convenient enough.

The Manor Lord who issued the eviction order to Yangyang Martial Hall this time was said to be one of the prominent figures of Hangzhou.
But a tavern business, of all things….
Knowing that a prohibition on alcohol would be enacted for the next five years, that tavern enterprise appeared to me as nothing more than throwing money into the ground.
The Yeonhwa House operated by our Eunhae Trading Company is also busy preparing entertainment that can be enjoyed even without alcohol, following my instructions.
That Manor Lord’s greed was excessive.
Perhaps he grew envious watching the taverns rake in money hand over fist.
But he chose his timing poorly.
The taverns of Hangzhou earn substantial profits because visitors from foreign lands spend their wealth here.
After all, Hangzhou’s beautiful scenery draws countless people.
Moreover, it is recognized among cultured travelers as a place one must visit at least once before death.
Thus, entertainment establishments flourished abundantly.
Yet with famine leaving people without food and civil unrest erupting everywhere, how many would visit Hangzhou?
Though Hangzhou suffered relatively less from the famine, with the alcohol prohibition in effect, what reason would anyone have to visit a tavern?
As the prohibition persisted for some time, taverns selling alcohol in secret began to appear.
Though they colluded with local officials and kept it quiet, rumors travel a thousand leagues in a single night.
Eventually, the Imperial Inspector launched an investigation, and those tavern owners and officials faced capital punishment.
After such incidents occurred, tavern owners no longer dared sell alcohol, and naturally, revenues plummeted.
Though many had earned substantial wealth previously, those who recklessly expanded their businesses or squandered money could not endure this period and put their taverns up for sale.
Naturally, the Emperor and central officials must have anticipated such consequences when enacting the prohibition.
Yet it was an unavoidable measure.
Since most alcohol was grain wine made from grain, prohibiting it would allow even slightly more food to be secured.
It was also a means to appease the people’s unrest, which had grown so severe that civil rebellions erupted everywhere.
The nation is making such efforts as to enact an alcohol prohibition, so please bear with us for a time.
However, several years later, exceptions to the prohibition would emerge.
It was precisely to purchase grain from nations beyond the Central Plains.

Commerce, at its core, is a form of barter.
We sell what the other side needs, and they bring us what we require.
Among the goods they desired was alcohol.
So the nation commissioned certain merchant guilds to produce spirits, and they scrambled to begin brewing.
However, as the prohibition on alcohol persisted for an extended period, many master brewers abandoned their craft and departed.
Consequently, the quality of the spirits declined considerably, and production volumes remained disappointingly low.
In other words, this famine presents me with an extraordinary opportunity.
A chance to bring Hangzhou’s renowned taverns and skilled brewmasters into the fold of the Eunhae Trading Company.
The Eunhae Trading Company provides them with a path to survival, and we gain the profits that follow.
It is mutual benefit.
As for the cause of this five-year great famine, it stems from abnormal weather patterns.
Torrential rains suddenly pour down, followed by drought, and then unexpected frosts arrive without warning.
If I could construct reservoirs to store water during heavy downpours, that would be most beneficial.
My thoughts continued to spiral in this manner until I paused briefly to take lunch.
As I rested after eating dumplings purchased from an inn, Ha Pyo-doo called out to me.
“Small Guild Master.”
“Yes?”
“How much do you know about the Yangyang Martial Hall?”
I answered with a light smile.
“Not much, I’m afraid. Only that Yeom Great Warrior serves as its director and that it functions as a palace, and that recently the landowner demanded they vacate the premises.”
“You know considerably more than I expected.”
“Do I?”
He glanced around cautiously before whispering softly.
“Most people regard it as merely an ordinary martial hall.”
…
“In fact, all the escort masters who travel with me hail from that place. It is a most exceptional institution. I trust you will handle this matter with appropriate care.”
Ha Pyo-doo certainly has a formidable character.
Though his words were gentle, the weight behind them was far more substantial than they appeared.
One might say he possesses considerable resolve.
Indeed, in the escort business, a master who acts with such decisiveness minimizes losses.
Those who waver at every word from others accomplish nothing.
It seems he did not serve as a master for so long without reason.
This gave me some reassurance.
After all, his daughter is Ha Young Lady.
He would surely look after Jin-ho well in the days to come.
And people of this caliber typically share one characteristic.
Though they appear strong outwardly, their hearts are tender within.
The method to earn their trust is simple.
I need only show them sincerity in return.
I smiled faintly and spoke with conviction.
“I will do my best.”
At my words, Ha Pyo-doo nodded and rose from his seat, calling out to everyone.
“We depart!”

* * *

Ha Cheol watched the young nobleman riding his horse beside him.
Eun Seo-ho—the youngest guild master of the Eunhae Trading Company and the one entrusted with governing Hyun Pung—was the name of this young man.
‘Is this the young man the Palace Master appointed as the Lesser Palace Mistress?’
He was also the one who had noticed his daughter’s illness, something even Ha Cheol himself had failed to perceive.
‘Hmm….’
He recalled what his daughter had said this time.

“Actually, things worked out well between me and Guild Master Jin-ho thanks to Guild Master Eun Seo-ho. So I think it would be worth trusting him once.”

He knew Eun Seo-ho’s abilities were exceptional.
His past deeds and reputation proved as much.
Yet he wanted to see it with his own eyes.
Only then could he truly acknowledge him.
For the future of Snowwind Palace.

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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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