The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 223

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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 223

Chapter 223. Care for a Task? (2)

At my words, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster’s expression grew puzzled.
“What do you mean all of a sudden? Whether I’m good at breaking ice?”
“That is precisely the crux of this matter. So, are you busy at the moment?”
“I have a couple of hours to spare.”
“Excellent. Then come with me to the Yeonjun Trading Company.”

Shortly after,
I led Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster to the courtyard of the Yeonjun Trading Company. While we sipped tea, Palgap had prepared everything necessary.
Palgap truly was dependable.
“Hmm. What is this?”
“A model to aid in explanation.”
It was a scale model depicting the Yangtze River and its surrounding regions. The water poured there last night had frozen solid in the shape of the river.
I continued.
“As I traveled about, I noticed it was considerably colder than in previous years.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Because of that, the Yangtze River has already begun to freeze.”
I pressed on.
“You must know that when spring arrives, the Yellow River often floods in its lower reaches.”
“Of course I know. When the ice in the upper highlands melts all at once, it causes flooding downstream.”
“And until now, such a thing has never occurred with the Yangtze River.”
“That’s because it flows through warm regions.”
“But if it’s as cold as this year, the situation changes.”
I gestured toward the model.
“Water continues to flow from above, and in such conditions, the cold weather causes it to keep freezing… eventually, massive ice formations build up in the upper reaches.”
“….”
“Since the Yangtze rarely freezes under normal circumstances, there is almost no preparation for this. Moreover, the upper Yangtze is in a warm region, so when spring comes, the ice will melt all at once.”
I picked up the kettle.
“If you imagine this as melted water…”
“No. Let me melt it myself.”
With those words, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster extended his hand.
I felt the heat radiating from his profound inner energy. So he practiced heat-based martial arts.
The ice formations in the upper reaches began melting in an instant.
“….”
The water that melted all at once flowed downstream, but unable to escape through the river channel in time, it began overflowing and spreading across the surrounding areas of the lower reaches.
“What do you think would happen if this were actually to occur?”
“Damn it.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster cursed roughly.
That’s right.
A catastrophic flood—a truly devastating one.
In my previous life, a calamitous flood of such magnitude had indeed occurred.
Our Merchant Guild suffered tremendous losses, and we endured grueling efforts to recover.
So much so that it delayed my appointment as Small Merchant Guild Leader by a considerable time.
Beyond that, countless people faced hardship. And spring was the season of scarcity, no less.
It’s said that in some regions, the unthinkable horror of cannibalism even took place.
We must prevent this to the greatest extent possible, must we not?
“However, there is a method.”
“What is it?”
“Break the ice beforehand. If possible, move the ice to land and melt it, or transport it to reservoirs. This would reduce the likelihood of spring flooding.”
“I see. So that’s why you asked whether I could break ice well.”
“The problem is, if the Yangtze River faces this, what of the Yellow River, which frequently overflows for similar reasons?”
At my words, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster’s face drained of all color.
He had grasped the incomprehensible scale of devastation this could bring.
The Yellow River does periodically flood, but this time it had overflowed on a scale far exceeding normal, inflicting catastrophic damage.
It was a disaster born of winter weather that was overwhelmingly colder than usual.
Should I be grateful that snowfall was light? Had snow accumulated as well, it would have been truly catastrophic.
Yet considering that without snow, the land had suffered drought…
Ah, I don’t know.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, who had fallen into thought for a moment, looked at me and asked.
“But why are you telling me this instead of speaking directly to the Emperor?”
“Because I wish to avoid drawing attention.”
“…?”
“If I were to speak of this directly to the Emperor, there is a very high likelihood that I myself would draw attention.”
I smiled and continued.
“I am rather timid by nature, and if I were to draw the attention of the esteemed figures of the Imperial Palace, I would not be able to bear it.”
“…”
“But wouldn’t it be a good thing if the Geumui Guard were to draw attention instead?”
“Certainly… that would be true.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster nodded.
The reason I hint at such things to Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster is that if I were to draw attention in this way, I might be unable to continue working as a merchant.
They would surely attempt to seat me in the Court.
But that cannot happen.
I have a goal.
To make the Eunhae Trading Company the greatest merchant guild under heaven, and to exact revenge upon the Murim Alliance and the Baekcheon Trading Company.
Of course, I could also seek revenge from a position of high rank.
But that would be meaningless.
Since my first target for vengeance is the Baekcheon Trading Company, I believe a fair confrontation must be merchant guild against merchant guild.
I’m not a coward like those at the Baekcheon Trading Company.
Besides, this matter requires considerable funds and manpower. Moreover, it’s a matter of national importance.
Therefore, it’s naturally something the Emperor must undertake.
It’s not something a mere commoner like myself should do. Yes.
I bowed my head respectfully and spoke.
“Then I humbly ask for your assistance.”
“Understood. If this matter resolves well, it will be thanks to you.”
I knew Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster couldn’t refuse my proposal.
Especially now, when it seemed the Emperor’s trust in him was waning.
.
.
.
Having entrusted the flood matter to Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, I began contemplating the new task at hand.
The matter of Seon-mi’s marriage arrangements.
Though there had been talk about Seon-mi’s family even before the marriage, the fact that they proceeded with it meant they must cherish each other deeply.
For Seon-mi, the period when her husband received an appointment as a provincial official must have been a time when she could finally breathe.
Yuan Vice Minister, was it?
The Ministry of Personnel handles the appointment of officials, merit awards, enfeoffment, and personnel evaluations.
Traditionally, it’s regarded as the highest among the Six Ministries.
Is that why that household carries such pride?
First, I should investigate.
Through Geumryeong, I sent word to Father that I had arrived safely in Beijing, along with a request for information.
Since the establishment of the Information Bureau, the Main House had accumulated considerable intelligence on high-ranking officials in Beijing.
The next day, Geumryeong arrived.
“Kwee!”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Kwee! Kwee!”
Geumryeong shook his head and took a step backward.
Yes, yes, I understand.
I offered silver coins, and upon seeing them, Geumryeong swallowed them eagerly.
Then he extended his tail toward me.
I untied the letter from Geumryeong’s tail and unfolded it.
The first letter contained concerns about me and news of the family’s well-being.
The other letter held the information I had requested, and after reading it all, I smiled broadly.
So that’s how it is? How fortunate.
I burned the letter and called for Palgap.
“Palgap!”
“Yes! You called for me?”
“Let’s prepare to leave. We’re going to the Apricot Flower Academy.”
.
.
.
“Welcome.”
The Academy Master of the Apricot Flower Academy recognized my face and greeted me warmly.
“I apologize for not visiting more frequently.”
“Not at all. I understand you are occupied with pressing matters—how could I expect otherwise? I am simply grateful for the generous financial support.”
The Academy Master of the Apricot Flower Academy was one of the Great Scholars I had recruited, a man of considerable experience and wisdom.
“Would you care to tour the academy?”
“Yes.”
I toured the academy alongside the Academy Master.
Watching the students engage in passionate debate, their heads bent together in earnest discussion, and seeing them read and write with such grave concentration—my heart swelled with satisfaction.
“By the way, I heard there is a civil examination this year.”
“Indeed. The examination is scheduled for August this year, so everyone is working with renewed vigor.”
“The results should be promising.”
“I share that hope.”
“Speaking of which, how is Lady Hap faring these days?”
“My wife enjoys robust health.”
“I have an urgent matter I would like to request of Lady Hap.”
I explained the entire situation to him.
“Ah, so the Small Guild Master’s cousin is getting married this time, and the family in question is that of Yuan Vice Minister. Ha! So that fellow is already taking a bride!”
“You seem to know him well.”
“Of course. He is actually from the same clan as I—though the relation is distant. When I served at court, I had him under my command and we grew quite close.”
“Ah, I see.”
I feigned surprise, though I had already gleaned this information from the letter my father had sent me.
That was precisely why I had made the effort to visit the Apricot Flower Academy.
“My cousin, being from a merchant family, lacks some refinement in the proper etiquette for addressing elders. I worry she may bring shame upon our household, so I thought to request that Lady Hap provide her with instruction.”
“In that case, my wife will gladly accept. She enjoys teaching.”
This was precisely the method I had devised.
To silence criticism of status, one must seal the mouths of those who would voice it.
The Academy Master had served in numerous positions at court for decades, even rising to become Minister of Rites.
This meant his wife’s influence was considerable as well.
For Seon-mi to receive etiquette instruction from this woman meant that the Academy Master’s wife would become her patroness.
In such circumstances, anyone who dared speak ill of Seon-mi would be insulting the Academy Master’s wife.
Moreover, as an elder of the same clan, no one with any sense would dare open their mouth.
“Now that I think of it, I understand that Im Scholar’s Wife is particularly skilled in embroidery.”
“Is that so?”
“And….”
Another excellent idea suddenly occurred to me.
Since things had come to this point, wouldn’t the effect be even better if Seon-mi received education from the wives of the various Great Scholars at the Academy?
“Then what if we did it this way?”
Upon hearing my thoughts, the Academy Master nodded with a pleased smile.
“That’s an excellent idea.”

A few days later, I received a letter from the Academy Master.
It was a letter stating that Lady Hap, the Academy Master’s wife, and all the other ladies had consented.
I immediately made my way to my Aunt.
“Welcome. What brings you here?”
“I have something to tell you.”
As I explained the entire situation, my Aunt let out a sigh of relief.
“Truth be told, I’ve been quite worried. But I’m so grateful that you’ve taken such care of Seon-mi.”
“Actually, it was Seon-il Elder Brother who asked me to do this.”
“Seon-il asked you?”
My Aunt looked surprised.
“Yes.”
I nodded and continued speaking.
“And Seon-mi is my cousin, is she not? So it’s only natural.”
“I’m even more grateful to hear you say that.”

That evening.
The entire family gathered for dinner. My Aunt nodded as she looked at me.
Seon-il Elder Brother also nodded. I had already given him a hint about this as soon as he had left court earlier.
“I have something I’d like to say.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about Seon-mi.”
I explained that Seon-mi would receive education from the wives of the Great Scholars at the Apricot Flower Academy.
“I’ve already obtained their permission.”
My Uncle nodded.
“Indeed, one must counter greater power with even greater power, and higher status with even higher status. A wise course of action.”
“You’re too kind.”
“Well then, Seon-mi. What are your thoughts on this?”
Seon-mi answered her father’s question.
“I shall study diligently. I will ensure that I bring no shame to either family.”
Seon-mi’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

Two days later.
Seon-mi headed toward the School Master’s House.
She had decided to eat, sleep, and receive her education there.
Honestly, it would be difficult, but it was a hardship she had to endure to obtain what she desired.
Knowing what fruit awaited Seon-mi at the end of that path, her family gladly sent her to the School Master’s House.
With Seon-mi’s matter settled, I thought I could finally return home.
.
.
.
But I could not return home.
“Come with us.”
“Pardon?”
It was because Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster had appeared before me so suddenly.
I had thought the Emperor and the Geumui Guard would handle this matter well on their own, so why….
“I reported this matter to His Majesty, and His Majesty expressed concern about its gravity. Thus, he commanded the Geumui Guard to resolve it.”
“I see.”
“And His Majesty said he would provide full support for this matter. Therefore… we have decided to accept your assistance as well.”
….
“Since you are the one who raised this issue, it seems His Majesty wishes to observe directly how matters unfold.”
You need not have gone to such trouble.
I’m certain you would handle it splendidly on your own.
“We depart tomorrow.”
“Pardon?”
“So prepare yourself and meet us before the Imperial Palace at dawn.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, apparently pressed for time, vanished after uttering only those words.
“Ah….”
I reached out vaguely to stop him, but could only lower my hand in resignation.
Was it my imagination that I saw the Emperor’s smiling face behind Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster?
Sigh, since it has come to this, there is no helping it.
Pushing matters to completion is my specialty, so I shall ensure this is handled thoroughly.

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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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