The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 328

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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 328

Chapter 328. A Special Commission (1)

The weather had grown genuinely hot, and we had entered the seventh month.
Inside the conference room of my temporary residence, a small fan rotated ceaselessly.
And gathered in that conference room were representatives from merchant guilds throughout the Empire who had been entrusted with selling the small fans.
“The demand for handheld fans is far too great. We must increase our supply.”
“Precisely. There are people who have been waiting in line for three days now.”
“We need a solution.”
And I found myself breaking into a cold sweat over an unforeseen predicament.
The reason was none other than the newly introduced handheld fan.
Called a handheld fan because it could be carried in one’s hand, it had become so popular that supply could not keep pace with demand.
Yet I could not recklessly increase production, for eventually demand would inevitably decline as time passed.
When that happened, we would have to bear all the resulting losses ourselves, so I had to balance this carefully.
Still, whereas previously Gongmil alone had crafted the essential components, this time several trustworthy master craftsmen had been brought in.
I had selected only those artisans who would not betray us, and thanks to that, we had increased supply beyond what was possible before, yet this was the result.
After concluding the meeting, I returned to my office.
As the tension eased, I attempted to rest by lying down on the wooden table.
But that was not to be.
“Pardon me, I shall enter.”
It was the voice of Yeochang’s Deputy.
“Please come in.”
He entered the office and, seeing me sprawled across the wooden table, spoke.
“It seems rather peculiar that even when things go well, one still grows weary.”
At Yeochang’s Deputy’s words, I laughed heartily and sat up.
“Still, being exhausted because things are going well is better than being exhausted because things are not going well. That would be… rather unpleasant.”
“That is also a fair point.”
“You’ve come for approval, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
I examined the documents and affixed my seal.
“It’s hot, isn’t it?”
“It is summer, after all.”
So he was commenting on the heat.
“Still, it is strange how your office remains so pleasantly cool.”
That could not be helped, for I was cultivating the martial art of Extreme Yin.
After Yeochang’s Deputy departed, I continued with my work.
“Young Master, the Eun Branch Manager has arrived.”
“Have them served.”
The door opened and the Eun Branch Manager entered.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes, Small Guild Master. The Beijing Branch has finally been completed.”
“That is indeed welcome news.”
I rose from my seat.
“I should go see it at once.”

Shortly after.
We arrived at the Beijing Branch.
A splendid new structure stood on the land I had personally selected.
“It’s truly a magnificent building!”
At Palgap’s words, the other guards nodded in agreement. All six guards had accompanied us upon hearing we were visiting the Beijing Branch building.
“Then, allow me to show you around the building.”
“Very well.”
The Eun Branch Manager’s expression was one of quiet pride.
Having served as the shop manager in Beijing until now, it was only natural that he felt satisfied upon officially taking the position of Beijing Branch Manager, was it not?
In fact, there had been opinions at the Main Headquarters that someone else should be appointed as the Beijing Branch Manager.
However, I had advocated for entrusting the Beijing Branch to the Eun Branch Manager.
This was because I understood his capabilities.
While it was true he possessed the ability to lead a branch, what I valued most in him was his unwavering resolve—his steadfast determination to move forward regardless of circumstances.
In my previous life, it was this Eun Chung-in Branch Manager before me who had steadied the Beijing Branch after it had wavered from In-seon’s initial failure.
“Let us see the carriage yard first.”
“Understood. Indeed, the carriage yard is the jewel of any trading company building.”
The structure of the Beijing Branch was largely identical to that of the Main Headquarters. Which meant there was also a spacious carriage yard.
However, one must not mistake this to mean carriages could pass through without restriction.
Security was paramount, so inspection and searches were mandatory whenever carriages entered or exited.
Especially here in Beijing, it was all the more critical.
One misstep could scatter the entire trading company to the winds.
“This is quite excellent.”
“I agree entirely.”
Beginning with the carriage yard, we toured the various sections of the Beijing Branch.
The quarters and dining hall for the staff and workers, the barracks for the warriors and training ground, the bathhouse, the office, and more.
I was moved to see my mental blueprint brought to life so faithfully.
“Wow! Your office is incredibly pleasant, Young Master!”
My new office within the Hyunpung Bureau was equally impressive.
“The staff will be pleased, surely?”
“They’re already so eager to move in, they can hardly contain themselves.”
However, we could not move in immediately.
The building required final inspection approval from the Government Office.
“Then contact the Public Works Department and request a completion inspection.”
“Understood.”

* * *

The Public Works Department, one of the Six Ministries under the Imperial Palace, primarily handled matters related to construction.
Buildings, roads, and countless other infrastructure projects all fell under their purview.
Yet because these matters seemed distant and abstract, the department received far less attention than the other ministries.
However, the officials of the Public Works Department did not mind this neglect.
In fact, it meant that minor corruption could be committed without easy detection.
“A completion inspection request has come in.”
“Oh? Really? From where?”
“It’s a building constructed by the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“Since it’s a building erected by such a prestigious merchant guild, we should be able to extract a decent profit from them.”
“But they’ve never once sought our services before this.”
“Yes, and that’s precisely the problem.”
This touched upon the pride of the Public Works Department officials.
When such a massive structure was constructed in Beijing, it was only natural that they should be approached first.
A little greasing of palms, a little jingling of coins in their pockets—surely that would put them in a cooperative mood to process matters smoothly?
Yet the Eunhae Trading Company had skipped this entire ‘procedure.’
“What should we do?”
“If they can’t use a perfectly constructed building, they’ll feel the pinch, won’t they?”
“Indeed they will. A wise approach.”
“However, sir, the Eunhae Trading Company has Eun Seo-ho as their Small Guild Master.”
It was fairly well-known that the Ministry of Household Affairs officials had suffered greatly at Eun Seo-ho’s hands.
The official was pointing out this concern.
But the senior official dismissed the worry.
“That was the Ministry of Household Affairs being foolish. If you act too obviously, naturally people will talk. Hmph!”
“True enough.”
“But we can apply pressure through perfectly legal means.”
He smiled as he continued.
“If we keep delaying with excuses, they’ll eventually understand what we want.”

* * *

Five days had passed since the Beijing Branch was completed.
While continuing my usual work, I was simultaneously preparing for the move when the Eun Branch Manager came to find me.
“From your expression, it doesn’t seem to be good news.”
At my words, he let out a sigh.
“Yes. Five days have already passed, but we still haven’t heard anything from the Public Works Department.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it appears to be the case.”
From what I knew, the officials from the Public Works Department completed their final inspection within three days at the latest.
But the fact that five days had passed without even a word meant they wanted something from us.
For instance, some kind of bribe.
Of course, I could give it to them.
But if I gave it now, I’d be caught up in that incident, which I clearly understood—so I’d be a fool to do so.
That incident would occur between September and October.
But waiting idle until then would be such a waste of time.
I gathered the preparations I had made for this moment and rose from my seat.
“Let’s go to the Public Works Department.”
.
.
.
Shortly after,
I headed toward the Imperial Palace with the Eun Branch Manager and sent word of our visit to the Public Works Department.
A short time later, an official came out and found us.
“Are you Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company, and Eun Chung-in, Branch Manager?”
“Yes, that’s us.”
“Please follow me.”
Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait long. Given the lesson from the Ministry of Household Affairs, of course we wouldn’t.
We entered the Public Works Department building.
After waiting briefly in the Guest Reception Room, an Imperial Official came to meet us.
“You’ve come regarding the final inspection?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
He continued while flipping through documents.
“Which building is this regarding?”
“It’s a building constructed by the Eunhae Trading Company. The location of the building is….”
“Ah, here it is.”
He continued speaking while looking at the documents rather than at us.
“You submitted a request for final inspection five days ago.”
“Yes, that’s correct. When can we expect the final inspection to be completed?”
“I’m afraid we have quite a backlog of work, so you’ll need to wait a bit longer.”
“How much longer must we wait?”
“I apologize. We have so much work piled up that it’s difficult for me to give you a definite answer.”
Damn these bastards.
The back of my neck tensed slightly.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
The Imperial Official seemed to have finished what he came to say and turned to depart.
There’s no helping it. I’ll have to use what the Emperor gave me.
“Wait a moment, please.”
“Yes? Is there something else you need?”
Instead of answering, I extended the scroll toward him, and he tilted his head in confusion before accepting it.
“What is this?”
“Open it and see.”
At my words, he unfurled the scroll.
And then… one, two, three.
Before I could even count to three as I’d anticipated, his face drained of all color.
The scroll I had received from the Emperor.
It contained the Emperor’s command to prioritize matters concerning the Eunhae Trading Company.
And on top of that, the imperial seal was stamped right there.
“This is… this is…”
“It is a document bearing the Emperor’s sacred seal.”
“Gasp!”
At my words, he quickly dropped to his knees and offered proper respect.
Seeing him like that, my frustration melted away.
“Then, I would appreciate swift handling of this matter.”
“Ah, yes, understood.”
I took the scroll back from him.
This thing has unlimited uses, after all.
All that hardship traveling to Gansu Province had finally borne fruit.
.
.
.
That afternoon.
Officials from the Public Works Department arrived and conducted the final inspection of the Eunhae Trading Company Beijing Branch building.
And that very same day, they issued the completion certificate.
The officials from the Public Works Department will surely grind their teeth over this, but the completion certificate is already in my hands.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Hmph, hmph, hmph…”
And so they departed with reluctant expressions.
I spoke to the Eun Branch Manager.
“Branch Manager.”
“Yes.”
“Let us move in now.”
“Understood.”
Ordinarily, when moving into a large building like this, one would hold a celebration banquet, but the current circumstances were hardly favorable for such festivities.
Even last year it might have been manageable, but now the situation had deteriorated considerably.
“Unfortunately, it seems an inauguration banquet will be difficult to arrange.”
“I share that sentiment. The timing is simply not appropriate for such an undertaking.”
“Father himself instructed me to forgo the banquet. Therefore, I shall begin operations in the new building immediately.”
“Very well, then.”
“By the way, how does it feel to officially become the Beijing Branch Manager?”
At my question, the Eun Branch Manager broke into a delighted smile.
“Splendid!”

Thus, over the course of four days, we relocated to the new building.
There was much to transport and organize.
“You’ve all worked tirelessly.”
At my words of encouragement, my Guard Warriors responded.
“Not at all. We are members of the Eunhae Trading Company, so it is only natural that we exert ourselves fully, is it not?”
The relocation required moving heavy cargo, and since my Guard Warriors were skilled martial artists, they proved invaluable.
“I shall provide daily wages for today’s labor.”
“That is unnecessary.”
“Please do not refuse. I dislike employing people without proper compensation.”
Faced with my insistence, the Guard Warriors ultimately accepted my intention.
I distributed the daily wages among them and then entered my office.
The newly constructed building felt somewhat unfamiliar, but I would soon grow accustomed to it.
I retrieved brush, paper, and ink to compose a letter to Father, informing him of our successful relocation.
I entrusted the letter to Geumryeong to deliver.
Of course, this required compensating him with a silver coin.
Now that I thought of it, I ought to invite Uncle and Aunt. Living so close by, it would be remiss not to summon them.
Thus, I reviewed one by one the tasks I needed to accomplish.
With nothing particularly pressing, I thought I might enjoy a more leisurely time in Beijing.

Two days later.
My Uncle and Aunt visited the Eun Hae Trading Company Beijing Branch.
They had accepted my invitation.
“Welcome.”
“It looked impressive from outside, but it’s even more splendid within.”
“Thank you.”
My Aunt gazed around the Beijing Branch with a nostalgic expression on her face.
This was because the structure here was nearly identical to the Main Headquarters.
I personally gave both of them a tour of the various areas of the Beijing Branch.
After spending such a pleasant time together, the two of them departed.
Just as I was about to attend to my own affairs, Palgap informed me that a guest had arrived.
A guest had arrived?
I had no scheduled appointments. Who could it be?
“Who is it?”
“Well, sir, it is the Provincial Inspector of Guizhou.”
“What?”
A Provincial Inspector—the administrative head of an entire province. In other words, a figure of tremendous power.
Why would such a person visit me directly?
And why would the Provincial Inspector of Guizhou come to see me?
“Quickly, escort him to the Guest Reception Room.”
“He has already been shown to the Guest Reception Room, sir.”
I hastily straightened my appearance and made my way to the Guest Reception Room.
Inside sat a middle-aged man, with a guard standing behind him.
“I am So-sang, Eun Seo-ho. I am honored to receive the Provincial Inspector.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
Whatever the urgent matter was, he launched into the heart of it the moment I took my seat.
“I have come to make a request of you.”
“Yes?”
“Find me someone named Yeon.”

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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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