The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 346

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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 346

Chapter 346. A Solution (1)

Several days had passed since then.
After completing a preliminary investigation, we set out toward a village in Honam Province.
According to Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, the Imperial Court had purchased a substantial amount of farmland in Honam Province during this famine.

“Farmland, you say?”
“It was quite a favorable transaction for both parties. The landowner happened to be in urgent need of funds at the time.”
“I see.”
“In fact, His Majesty appears to have been deeply impressed by what you did for the rebel bandits previously.”
Ah, he must be referring to when I persuaded the rebel bandits who were operating as Green Forest Bandits in the mountains between Songyang County and Yangeum County in Hubei Province, and arranged for them to work the land as tenant farmers.
Of course, since they had committed crimes, they had to farm without paying rent for several years.
Moreover, the talented individuals I gained at that time, including Gyeong In-juk, were now working hard at the Eunhae Trading Company for a brighter future.
In any case, His Majesty was impressed by that matter?
“Whose land is this empire?”
“Well, of course….”
Wait? Now that I think about it, what should I actually answer?
In principle, all land in the empire belongs to the Emperor. But is that true in practice?
No.
While people pay taxes on land as a way of borrowing the Emperor’s land, every piece of land has its own owner with rightful claim to it.
Anticipating my troubled expression, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster smiled and continued.
“Since food is the most vital resource, land can be said to be power itself. Honestly, doesn’t the person who owns the most land in a village rule over it like a king?”
“….”
“His Majesty has viewed this famine as an opportunity and has been purchasing a considerable amount of land. He continues to do so even now.”
I inwardly marveled at Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster’s words.
He truly is remarkable.
To use this famine as the true foundation for strengthening imperial authority—that is impressive indeed.
The momentum behind it is extraordinary as well.
The famine is expected to continue for approximately three more years, and during that period, many landowners will be forced to sell their land.
When the yield from land decreases, the income flowing to them also decreases.
But it is difficult to easily reduce one’s spending habits.
With reduced income, one must cut expenses to survive, yet if one does not reduce spending, there is no choice but to sell the land.
“However, His Majesty does not touch the land of independent farmers. Instead, he merely lends them grain. Do you have any idea why?”
I smiled.
“Taxes, perhaps?”
“As expected, you are perceptive!”

The taxes paid by independent farmers are a crucial source of revenue for the Empire. The state relies on them to maintain its finances.
Landowners pay taxes as well, but honestly, few of them do so with complete honesty.
Our Eunhae Trading Company calculates and pays precisely.
If problems arise later, everything we have built could crumble because of it.
Enriching the Imperial treasury while protecting the independent farmers who pay taxes—
Balancing these two tasks is no ordinary feat. Truly, he is a remarkable man.
For this Empire to prosper, such a man must rule it for a long time.
I hope he enjoys a long life.
In any case, the displaced refugees from the Seo-un Sect were to become tenant farmers cultivating Imperial lands in that village.
It was not an unfavorable arrangement for them.
As long as they worked diligently, they need not fear starvation.
The Sect Master of the Seo-un Sect and its key figures who led the rebellion were sent under escort to the Imperial Palace.
Thus, the matter concerning the Seo-un Sect was settled for now.
But my own affairs remained unfinished.

It seemed time to return to Guizhou Province.
I opened the window of my quarters and gazed outside.
When I first arrived here, it was summer, but autumn had already begun to creep in.
At that moment, Palgap entered my quarters and spoke.
“Young Master. The Provincial Inspector requests your presence.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Dong Hang-su Scholar is waiting for you.”
Ah, so he wants me to come with him.
As I left my quarters, Dong Hang-su Scholar was already prepared and standing in the courtyard.
“Make haste.”
“Ah, yes.”
He tossed out the words indifferently and turned away.
I essentially resolved this matter myself, yet a simple word of thanks seems so difficult for him?
Tch.
We headed toward the Magistrate’s Office.
“Come in.”
We announced our arrival and entered.
“We heard we were summoned.”
Dong Hang-su Scholar, who had been about to bow respectfully, noticed someone else present and tilted his head in confusion.
I already knew someone besides the Provincial Inspector was inside.
It was none other than Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
Dong Hang-su Scholar quickly lowered his head.
As a man of official rank, he recognized the golden peony ornament hanging from the tassel of the fan that Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster held.
The Geumui Guards revealed their identity through the small shields used in combat, golden armor, swords bestowed by the Emperor, and the decorative tassels hanging from their fans.
“I pay my respects to the Great Hero of the Geumui Guard.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster responded to the greeting with an impassive nod.
Dong Hang-su Scholar’s expression was tense.
It was unavoidable—the Geumui Guard wielded power far exceeding their official rank.
With the pretext of serving the Emperor, they could arrest and interrogate anyone.
During the Previous Emperor’s reign, this authority had been abused to frame those who displeased him with charges of treason.
But under the current Emperor, such abuses did not occur.
Should the Geumui Guard attempt such treachery, the Emperor would crush them without hesitation.
Though there might be a few audacious enough to harbor such ambitions, it was not entirely impossible.
Still, such perceptions did not change easily, and they remained a fearsome force to those plotting rebellion.
I lightened the atmosphere and asked Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster with a smile.
“Have you not yet departed?”
“My duties remain unfinished. Since I’ve come to Honan Province, there are matters I must attend to.”
“You labor greatly.”
“Do you think you alone bear such burdens?”
As I conversed with him in a familiar manner, Dong Hang-su Scholar regarded me with a puzzled expression.
In truth, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster was ordinarily taciturn.
When I first met him, even I, who felt no chill from cold, sensed an icy aura from him.
But the time and trust we had built together allowed him to treat me with warmth.
I turned my gaze toward the Provincial Inspector.
At my glance, he continued speaking.
“The matter is this—when you all return to Guizhou, I intend to accompany you.”
“You speak of returning to Guizhou, Provincial Inspector?”
At Dong Hang-su Scholar’s question, he nodded gravely.
“Though this scheme was orchestrated by them, it occurred because someone infiltrated my household. The fault lies in my failure to govern my family properly.”
He exhaled heavily.
“As the ancients said, ‘cultivate the self, order the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the realm.’ I cannot govern Honan Province well until I have disciplined myself and set my household in order.”
I offered him gentle consolation.
“Do not blame yourself so harshly. Honestly, who could have discerned their treacherous plot? Fortunately, we have avoided the worst.”
“True, the Emperor’s grace and your assistance have been invaluable. In any case, I intend to apologize directly to the Provincial Inspector of Guizhou for this matter.”
He turned to address Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
“And afterward, I shall petition the Emperor and relinquish my position as Provincial Inspector.”
“…!”
He was considering resignation!
This incident had clearly dealt him a considerable blow.
At his words, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster chuckled softly.
“Indeed, the Emperor is wise.”
“…?”
At those words, the Honan Provincial Inspector’s expression grew puzzled, and Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster produced a letter wrapped in crimson silk from his robes.
“Should you consider resignation, the Emperor instructed me to deliver this to you.”
The Provincial Inspector knelt right there and respectfully received the letter, unfolding it to read.
“….”
He bit his lip. Seeing his eyes redden, it seemed the letter had moved him quite deeply.
What on earth was written there to provoke such a reaction?
“Ahhh! The Emperor’s grace is boundless.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster gestured to us.
A signal to step outside.
And so we left the office, and Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster asked me.
“When do you plan to return to Beijing?”
“I intend to leave as soon as I finish this matter. It shouldn’t take long.”
“It seems His Majesty has urgent matters to discuss with you.”
“Understood. I will make my way to the capital as quickly as possible.”
He nodded and offered his farewell.
“Then I shall take my leave. Don’t be too disappointed that I won’t see you off on the way.”
“I am already grateful that you came all this way.”
“Then I’ll see you in Beijing.”
“Safe travels.”
Dong Hang-su Scholar and I clasped our fists in salute toward him. And when I looked up, he was already far in the distance.
“You there.”
Dong Hang-su Scholar called out to me.
“Yes?”
“What exactly is your identity? What could it possibly be that the Ice-Faced Flame-Sword Great Swordmaster converses with you while smiling?”
Ice-Faced Flame-Sword was the epithet of Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
It meant wielding a blazing sword with an icy countenance, and such an epithet seemed to have been bestowed upon him due to his distinctive coldness and the extreme yang nature of his martial prowess.
“Moreover… His Majesty wishes to consult with you. That Ice-Faced Flame-Sword Great Swordmaster is absolutely not one to jest about His Majesty….”
I simply smiled without saying anything.
Ah, well. Even Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
He noticed how Dong Hang-su Scholar was treating me and warned him about it.
That it wouldn’t be amusing if he treated me carelessly.
Dong Hang-su Scholar’s legs began to tremble slightly.
“Y-you are quite the remarkable… personage, it seems.”
Suddenly using formal speech doesn’t feel natural.
“Please, you may speak casually. How could a lowly young merchant like myself deserve formal address from a scholar of your station?”
But his expression grew even more troubled.
Seeing that expression, it does please me somewhat, but if he continues like this, it will be uncomfortable for me as well. This should be enough.
“Then let us return.”
“Yes.”

That evening.
The Provincial Inspector informed me through an attendant of the schedule for traveling to Guizhou.
Our departure would be the day after tomorrow.
After all, the Provincial Inspector would need considerable time to prepare before leaving his post vacant for such an extended period.
Moreover, since the purpose of this visit was to offer an apology, we would need to prepare an appropriate gift as well.
After finishing my evening meal, I strolled through the Outer Residence Garden to aid my digestion and organize my thoughts.
It was then that I spotted the Provincial Inspector ahead of me.
I bowed respectfully.
“Have you taken your evening meal, sir?”
“I have. And you—have you eaten?”
“Yes. I enjoyed it greatly, thanks to your kindness.”
“Walk with me for a moment.”
“Of course.”
It seemed he too had ventured out to take a stroll through the garden, much as I had.
Though it was now September and the mornings and evenings should have grown cool, Hunan Province remained warm.
Still, the flowers were lovely, making the walk through the garden worthwhile.
“I heard from Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster that the Emperor holds you in high regard.”
“It is merely that His Majesty graciously values my humble talents.”
“The Emperor truly despises useless servants.”
That much was true, as he said.
“And through this recent matter, I have come to understand clearly why His Majesty holds you in such esteem.”
He stopped walking and met my gaze directly.
“I heard you met with the Fourth Son a few days ago.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
I hesitated briefly, wondering whether I should speak truthfully to him. Then the Provincial Inspector continued.
“Tell me—is my suspicion correct?”
“Sir?”
“Does the Fourth Son harbor affection for Ja-ryeong?”
“….”
I did not answer. There was no need to.
“Sigh… I knew that boy took considerable interest in Ja-ryeong, but I never realized his feelings ran so deep.”
He continued, his expression troubled.
“As you can see yourself, that boy rarely expresses his true feelings openly.”
“….”
“If only he had told me of his feelings toward Ja-ryeong, I would have betrothed them to each other. When the matter of Ja-ryeong’s engagement was being discussed, the Third Son merely deferred to my wishes without objection.”
Hearing this, I felt even greater sympathy for the Provincial Inspector’s Fourth Son.
“Did you perhaps tell the Fourth Son about this opportunity?”
I shook my head in response to his question.
Truthfully, I had not yet decided what to do.
“Then might I ask one favor of you?”
“What is it?”
“Keep this matter secret from my sons.”
“….”
“To be honest, as the Provincial Inspector governing Honan Province, concealing the truth is not something I should do, but this is a father’s request.”
If the Fourth were to learn of this incident, he would torment himself with guilt.
After all, he nearly killed the woman he cherishes with his own hands.
In my previous life, Lady Zaling truly did die.
And the Third would come to resent the Fourth for nearly causing the death of his betrothed.
The Fourth Son is already fragile of spirit.
If matters reached that point, he might not bear the weight of his guilt and take his own life.
There is a saying that ignorance is bliss, and this is precisely such a situation.
“I shall do as you ask.”
“Thank you.”
“However, they will eventually learn the truth. Especially since they have been sent to Beijing, have they not?”
“I intend to make a request of His Imperial Majesty through the Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.”
Ah… I see.
Then there should be no problem.
“That aside….”
He continued, his gaze fixed upon me.
“What are your thoughts on the Murim Alliance?”

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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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