The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 307

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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 307

Chapter 307. The Sprout of Rebellion (1)

That afternoon.
Word came for the key personnel of the Merchant Guild to gather at the Eun Wol Pavilion, and I hurried there as well.
When I stepped inside the Eun Wol Pavilion, I found myself face to face with a welcome sight.
It was my Master.
He had been unable to oversee my training for some time due to external matters, but when had he arrived?
Besides my Master, the Lord of Changin Escort Agency was also present, so I offered my respects to both of them.
I already knew why both of them had come today.
It was to discuss countermeasures against those who had injured Cho Young-young and stolen our escort goods.
Given the gravity of the matter, I could not approach them casually, merely cupping my fist and bowing my head respectfully.
This was no time for cheerful conversation.
Soon everyone had gathered.
Father opened the discussion.
“We have assembled here to deliberate on how we should deal with these individuals. Let us hear all of your opinions.”
The first to step forward with his view was Go External Chief Manager.
“What could the Eunhae Trading Company possibly fear? Why should we merely stand by and watch them? If you give me the order, I will slaughter every last one of them!”
Go External Chief Manager spoke with righteous fury.
“The escort goods are one thing, but they nearly killed our Cho Young-young! Our Cho Young-young!”
It seemed Go External Chief Manager was far more enraged by the fact that Cho Young-young had nearly been killed than by the loss of the escort goods.
Honestly, I was angry about it too, but shouldn’t we set aside such personal emotions for now?
As I thought this and glanced around at those gathered in the Eun Wol Pavilion, I found myself smiling inwardly without realizing it.
Everyone was nodding vigorously in agreement.
Ah…
Now that I thought about it, Cho Young-young was not only the daughter, niece, and elder sister of most people in this room, but also the younger sister of many in the Merchant Guild.
So she was someone who received abundant affection from everyone.
As for Yu Inner Chief Manager…
“Ahem.”
Father cleared his throat and spoke.
“To be honest, I’m quite furious about that aspect as well. However, what we must approach carefully here is that these are not mere bandits.”
The Lord of Changin Escort Agency picked up on his words.
“Exactly as you say, Merchant Guild Leader. They are a rebel bandit group composed of those who wandered without means. And as you know, what is death to those whose eyes have gone wild from hunger?”
“Indeed, that is true.”
The most terrifying people in this world are those with nothing to lose, and among them, those who are starving.
A parent will do anything for a child dying of hunger. Of course, there are abnormal parents in this world who would not, but we need not concern ourselves with such exceptions.
“Therefore, we cannot approach them as we would ordinary bandits. The problem is…”
The Lord of Changin Escort Agency continued with a grave expression.
“The rebel bandit group’s scale keeps expanding.”
Ah… that’s right.
In my previous life, the rebel bandit group certainly started small.
But as their power grew, they eventually became a massive Green Forest Bandit force that swept across all of Hubei.
This caused tremendous chaos throughout the Hubei region.
How many landowners were attacked by them, and how many merchant guilds?
Fortunately, our Eunhae Trading Company managed to escape unscathed, but…
What good does that do?
For a merchant guild to exist, the purchasing power of those who can buy goods is crucial.
So our guild couldn’t avoid hardship either.
As for Baekcheon Trading Company…
Honestly, what rebel bandit group could possibly attack Baekcheon Trading Company?
They have numerous martial masters from the Murim Alliance stationed there.
“Then what should we do? Should we abandon the suppression? If we’re not careful, you know how much the other Green Forest Bandits will look down on our Eunhae Trading Company?”
Go External Chief Manager’s words earned Yeon Gak-ju’s agreement.
“That’s exactly what Go External Chief Manager says. But surely the Lord wouldn’t be unaware of that either.”
At her words, the Lord nodded.
“Therefore, I intend to leave that decision to the Eunhae Trading Company.”
What an indecisive man.
Either way presents problems, so he’s delegating the decision to us, the requesting guild.
Father’s contemplation deepened.
There truly is no clear solution.
If we suppress them, we’ll face their members; if we simply ignore them, we risk appearing weak to others.
And yet, in just two years, so many vagrants have already appeared.
What’s remarkable is that this situation is far better than in my previous life.
In my previous life, the vagrant population had already grown beyond control by this point.
The fundamental cause of the rebel bandit group’s emergence is land.
Most vagrants are those who mortgaged their land to borrow grain or money, and when crop failures prevented repayment, they ended up on the streets.
Many others have also fallen from tenant farming.
Sigh.
Crop failures always kill only common folk—this truth transcends all eras.
Land, huh…
Ah! A good idea suddenly occurred to me.
“…Seo-ho?”
“…”
“Seo-ho?”
“Ah! Yes? Father. Did you call me?”
“Yes. You suddenly seemed lost in thought about something.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
“So, what were you pondering so intently?”
“I was considering how to resolve this situation.”
At my words, everyone’s eyes brightened as they looked at me—eyes gleaming as if beholding a treasure trove.
Ugh! Why are you all suddenly putting such pressure on me?
“Go ahead, speak freely about anything.”
“Isn’t the problem that they are a Rebel Bandit Group?”
“Exactly. If we’re careless, we’ll end up massacring innocent commoners.”
“Then wouldn’t the solution be to make them no longer a Rebel Bandit Group?”
“How do you mean?”
“We purchase land and provide them with tenant farming.”
“….”
Yu Inner Chief Manager, who had been calculating for a moment, spoke.
“It’s a good idea, but it would require considerable funds. Our Merchant Guild could be destabilized.”
“Really?”
“….”
“Is our Merchant Guild’s capacity truly that limited?”
“Ahem.”
Yu Inner Chief Manager quietly turned his head away.
“However, absorbing all the Rebel Bandit Groups this way is unrealistic.”
“Of course. There will certainly be limits. But if we can do even as much as our capacity allows, this situation can be resolved more easily than expected.”
Go External Chief Manager asked with a displeased expression.
“Are you saying we should forgive those who robbed the Main Headquarters of its wealth and nearly killed our Cho Vice-Commander?”
I countered.
“When did I ever say forgive?”
“Pardon?”
“Of course they must pay the price for their crimes.”
“So blood for blood, then….”
“No. Fortunately, no one has died….”
I continued.
“They will farm without compensation for about five years.”
“Without compensation? Then what are they supposed to eat….”
“We will provide that as a loan.”
“Then aren’t you simply trapping them in an endless cycle of debt and repayment?”
“One could argue it’s no different from an exploitative landlord, but they are the ones who committed banditry. Giving them the opportunity to survive without death is sufficient. And if they work diligently, I intend to provide them with a chance to escape that cycle.”
The Lord of Changin Escort Agency, who had been listening quietly to my words, presented a counterargument.
“However, there is a possibility they will reject this proposal. They have already tasted success once. Why would they want to toil and earn money through sweat when they can easily obtain wealth?”
“You make a fair point. First, we need to show them that banditry is not as easy as they think.”

* * *

It hadn’t been long since the Rebel Bandit Group began establishing themselves in the mountains between Chongyang County and Yangeum County.
And the livelihood they chose was plunder.
They would ambush travelers passing through the mountain pass between Chongyang County and Yangeum County, stripping them of their valuables.
The first robbery was difficult, but after that, they felt no hesitation.
Then one day.
When their numbers had grown to around fifty men, they achieved their first major success.
It was an ambush on a caravan from the Eunhae Trading Company heading toward Yangeum County.
When they saw the carts piled high with grain, they cheered. With that much grain, they wouldn’t have to worry about filling their bellies for quite some time.
Moreover, among the medicinal herbs, there were quite a few useful ones.
Honestly, at first I was worried they might come for retaliation. But as days passed, there was no sign of them attempting to suppress us.
“It seems they’ve abandoned the goods?”
“Well, what military force does a merchant guild have to stand against us?”
“After tasting my fiery arrows, they won’t dare show their faces again.”
And soon, one thought took root among them.
‘Plunder is easier than we thought?’
‘Why bother farming if we can do this?’
‘We can become rich in no time!’
Thus they threw themselves into plunder with enthusiasm.
As rumors spread that they possessed an enormous quantity of grain, nearby groups began wanting to join them.
And so their numbers grew steadily.
The problem was that their food supplies began dwindling faster than expected.
It was one such day.
The sentries came rushing over with news.
“We need to prepare for a hunt immediately! Carts loaded with grain are approaching!”
“What?”
“It’s a merchant guild we’ve never seen before. But there don’t appear to be many escort warriors, so it should be easy prey.”
Thus they prepared for what they called a hunt—plunder.
At that moment, one young man felt something was amiss.
“Hey, sir. Doesn’t something seem suspicious?”
“What do you mean?”
“Honestly, it’s suspicious enough that the Eunhae Trading Company just left us alone, but now another large shipment of grain passes through here? That doesn’t make sense.”
“What are you getting at?”
The news that the Eunhae Trading Company was robbed must have spread… Something about this feels wrong.”
“Then what do you suggest? We only have about five days of food left. Do you want us to starve to death?”
“That’s…”
“If you have no better idea, just shut up!”
They set out with weapons in hand, brimming with confidence.

They hid in the mountain ambush point they had prepared in advance, waiting for the right moment.
Clatter, clatter,
The sound of cart wheels began to echo, and they waited for their target to draw near.
Thanks to the experience they had accumulated through their raids thus far.
Soon the cart appeared.
“…!”
Those who saw it swallowed hard.
An enormous amount of grain.
‘Is all of that grain?’
‘Good heavens!’
‘With that much, we wouldn’t have to worry about food for a whole month!’
And just as those keeping watch had reported, the Escort Warriors appeared to be few in number.
When the merchant caravan had completely entered the valley, the Bandit Leader rose to his feet and shouted.
“Attack!”
“Kyaaaaa!”
At that signal, they all seized their weapons and charged forward, swinging them at the Escort Warriors and Cart Laborers.
But then.
Clang—!
Crash—!
“What? Who are these bastards?”
Their weapons were blocked far too easily by the Escort Warriors’ blades. And then,
Slash—!
“Ugh!”
The Escort Warriors’ swords swiftly severed their weapons, slashing at their arms and legs.
“Bandits targeting the cargo! Show them no mercy—kill them all!”
“Yes, sir!”
At this point, those who had set out on the raid realized something had gone terribly wrong.
That they would all die at this rate!
“Retreat! Fall back!”
“Aaaahhhhh!”
“P-please, spare us!”
And so the Rebel Bandit Group fled in chaotic disarray.
“Oh my, what on earth happened?”
Those waiting at the Mountain Stronghold rushed out in shock at the sight of their comrades returning wounded and defeated.
Those who had departed with such confidence were coming back half-dead.
In an instant, morale plummeted to the depths.
They understood now.
That living as Green Forest Bandits, that raiding, was never an easy path.
And gradually, worry about the future filled their hearts, and despair began to take root.

* * *

I sheathed my sword as I spoke.
“Operation concluded.”
At my words, those around me secured their weapons and exchanged remarks with one another.
“Thank you for your efforts.”
“Well done.”
We had staged an elaborate performance to draw out the Rebel Bandit Group.
Had we genuinely intended to suppress them, we would have aimed for their necks rather than deliberately targeting limbs and legs—wounds that posed no mortal threat.
For this operation, I had deployed myself alongside four Guards, elite Warriors, and Escort Masters of the highest caliber.
To deliver a stinging blow without casualties required individuals of exceptional skill.
Yet this alone was insufficient.
They would need to fail several more times before their morale shattered completely.
.
.
.
Four more days passed after that.
By now, their provisions would surely be depleted.
In other words, it was time to begin negotiations.
For this endeavor, Master represented the Changin Escort Agency, while I represented the Eunhae Trading Company.

As we made our way toward the Mountain Stronghold where the Rebel Bandit Group had established themselves, we encountered a group of individuals.
What?
I could not help but be startled upon seeing one young man among them.
Why in the world was he here?

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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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