The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 402

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 402

Chapter 402. Setting Sail (4)

Song Yun spoke with a trembling voice.
“N-now that you mention it, I do have that ledger. But when I heard the person in charge had fled with the money, I gave up on presenting this ledger as evidence…”
“Don’t you find that strange?”
“What do you mean?”
The Murim Alliance connection would hardly be persuasive to Song Yun.
“The amount being repaid was fifty taels, wasn’t it?”
“That’s right. We were paying it back each month.”
“Why would anyone flee with fifty taels of silver, not even gold? What could they possibly do with that?”
His expression began to contort at my words.
“Then…?”
“Yes. Baekcheon Trading Company deliberately employed a cowardly scheme to seize Changhae Trading Company. In the process, the Manager who handled the debt became a sacrifice.”
“That can’t be!”
Song Yun spoke as though he couldn’t believe it.
“B-but Baekcheon Trading Company, being a subsidiary of the Murim Alliance, wouldn’t do such a thing. That’s what low-grade loan sharks do, isn’t it?”
Yes, that’s correct.
And that’s precisely what Baekcheon Trading Company did.
“They sacrificed Manager Mo Cheong, who handled the debt, to make people believe they would never do such a thing.”
I tapped the ledger with my hand as I spoke.
“This ledger is the very proof. Here you can see Ji Hyeon Dae-in’s seal. Why would Manager Mo go through such tedious trouble?”
“…”
“If he needed Ji Hyeon Dae-in’s seal, he would have had to show some sincerity, however modest.”
“…”
He didn’t answer, but it didn’t matter.
I hadn’t asked expecting a response.
“It was because Manager Mo was such a good person. He anticipated that someday this seal from Ji Hyeon Dae-in would be needed.”
At my words, he lowered his head.
“…I feel ashamed for cursing him all this time.”
“Please don’t blame yourself too harshly. In that situation, anyone would have resented Manager Mo.”
Song Yun lifted his head and asked me with a solemn expression.
“Then what should I do now?”
“I will arrange a venue. Appeal your grievance with this evidence.”
I continued.
“Of course, Ji Taek-mun Manager, who is currently here, should also be present at that venue.”
He was a manager belonging to Baekcheon Trading Company, currently here to take over Changhae Trading Company’s affairs.
I’m curious what expression he’ll have on his face.
Song Sub-danju nodded at my words.
“I understand. Then when should I go to Qingdao?”
“Why Qingdao?”
“Well, this seal belongs to the Qingdao Magistrate, so….”
“Aren’t we currently busy preparing for foreign trade under the Emperor’s orders? It takes at least six days to make a round trip to Qingdao. We can’t afford to waste that much time.”
I answered with a smile.
“The Qingdao Magistrate is coming here.”
“What?”
“And the place I mentioned earlier to lodge a complaint isn’t the Magistrate. Honestly, could the Magistrate alone pressure the Baekcheon Trading Company?”
“Then why the Magistrate?”
“Because we need a witness.”
I recalled meeting Jihyeon yesterday.
Nanking and Qingdao were quite far apart.
Even riding horses at full speed, the round trip would take six days.
But I was a supreme martial artist. A distance like this required only half a day for me.
The Qingdao Magistrate naturally refused my proposal at first.
But.

“Take a look at this.”
I held out the Imperial Inspector’s badge as I spoke.
“The person who gave this to me is watching.”
“Hahaha! What I just said was complete nonsense, so feel free to ignore it. No, you’re right. I’ll go! Of course I must go. Hahaha.”

Some might say I’m abusing my authority, but this isn’t abuse of power.
It’s about rescuing wronged commoners.
So the Emperor will surely overlook it.
He paused in thought for a moment, then his expression shifted to one of surprise. He understood my meaning after all.
“For now, please know only that much.”
“Understood.”
“And this matter requires absolute confidentiality. If they learn of this, they will certainly take countermeasures.”
“Understood.”
“Do not speak of this to anyone. Not to your inner circle, and certainly not to your wife.”
“I shall do so.”
Since this matter demanded secrecy, it might have been better to wait until Jihyeon arrived, then inform Song Sub-danju and proceed immediately.
But there was a reason I was giving him this advance notice.
First, Song Yun needed to set sail the moment he reclaimed Changhae Trading Company’s rights.
So this was my way of telling him to prepare in advance.
Second, I wanted to observe his character.
It was more common than one might think for plans to unravel because someone trusted the wrong person.
But no matter how much one emphasizes confidentiality, it’s quite difficult for someone to never speak of it to those around them.
If he could manage this, it would demonstrate considerable self-control and composure.
I was helping Changhae Trading Company to take revenge on Baekcheon Trading Company, but if it ended there, it would be such a waste.
I wanted to judge in advance whether to maintain a good relationship afterward or simply let this connection fade.
Had there been any connection between us in my previous life, I wouldn’t have bothered with this, but there wasn’t.
Jihyeon should arrive in about three or four days, I’d wager.
Our Eunhae Trading Company’s ship will arrive within that time.

* * *

Whoooosh—!
Two merchant vessels cut through the water without hesitation, surging forward.
The characters painted on their hulls read: [Eun Hae].
These were the two merchant ships recently constructed by the Eunhae Trading Company.
Yong Eung-wan, standing on the deck of the lead vessel and watching the currents, felt his emotions stir anew.
Having clawed his way up from the lowest ranks of sailor work, scraping by day after day, I was now returning as captain of such a grand merchant vessel.
“You seem awfully pleased with yourself.”
“Hmm?”
Turning around, I found Song Juk standing there—my colleague and old friend.
“I said, you seem awfully pleased.”
“You ask the obvious. How could I not be delighted? I’m returning to my hometown with enough silver to make myself and my family free citizens. That’s what any person would want.”
“Well, I suppose that’s true.”
I had personally gathered the crew for this voyage and conducted navigation training along the riverbank near Yangyang.
Before the ships were completed, I had constructed crude wooden models on land for training, but such preparation was absolutely necessary.
The larger the vessel, the more perfectly synchronized the crew must be to avoid disaster.
In truth, I had intended to repay the silver I received from Eun Seo-ho using the profits earned from this trade venture.
That way, I could become truly free and live happily with my family.
But over the past few months, my thinking had changed.
The Eunhae Trading Company’s strength was far greater than I had imagined.
To reject such an opportunity would surely lead to regret.
My family had been enslaved after being falsely accused.
Rather than remain in a land haunted by such bitter and sorrowful memories, perhaps it would be better to settle in a new place and begin anew.
“Will we arrive soon?”
At that moment, a man approached from behind.
His name was Eun Jung-ho.
The Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company and the designated successor to the Merchant Guild Leader.
He was traveling with us by ship to Nanking for this trade mission.
After seeing off Yong Eung-wan’s group in Nanking, he would return to Hubei.
Song Juk answered.
“Yes, we should arrive in about half an hour.”
“I see.”
I spoke to him, whose face bore a warm smile.
“You appear to be in excellent spirits.”
“Of course. Thinking of how delighted Seo-ho will be when he sees this ship makes me smile without effort.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
Every time I saw them together, I was struck by how close these brothers truly were.
Watching them, my own elder brother came to mind.
My brother, who had become a combat slave alongside me when our family fell under false accusations. I did not know if he still lived or had perished, but I desperately hoped he survived.
For the sake of our family, if nothing else. For my own sake as well.

* * *

“Young Master! Young Master! The Trading Company’s ship has arrived!”
At Palgap’s words, I sprang to my feet.
“Really? Then I should go greet them right away.”
The messenger was from the Information Bureau of the Eunhae Trading Company. He had been waiting at the dock and rushed over to deliver the news the moment the ship arrived.

Shortly after, I arrived at the dock.
I could see a ship that had just lowered its gangway.
The name [Eunhae] was written clearly on its hull.
It was our Eunhae Trading Company’s vessel.
Yet upon seeing that ship, my jaw dropped involuntarily.
Father?
Was Father truly a man of such grand vision?
The ship before my eyes was larger than I had imagined. No—far larger, to be precise.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you make such an expression.”
At that moment, I heard Eun Jung-ho’s voice.
Turning my head, I saw Eun Jung-ho disembarking from the ship.
“Brother! You came too?”
“This venture holds significance for our Eunhae Trading Company. Father instructed me to come and support it.”
That statement meant Father was indeed considering Eun Jung-ho as his successor to lead the company.
Exactly as Jin-ho and I had intended.
I smiled broadly and spoke.
“Of course it should be that way! But where is Captain Yong?”
“Ah, he’s finishing up some final preparations.”
Soon after, Captain Yong Eung-wan completed his work and descended from the ship.
At his side was Song Juk, his trusted right hand whom I had seen before.
“Yong Eung-wan pays respects to the Third Sub-unit Leader.”
“Song Juk pays respects to the Third Sub-unit Leader.”
With these two, things would surely proceed smoothly.
“You must have endured considerable hardship. I was quite surprised—the ship is larger and more impressive than I expected.”
“I was surprised as well.”
“You must all be fatigued from your journey. Let us retire to the inn I’ve arranged so you can rest comfortably.”
I led them to the inn I had chartered.
Shortly after.
Everyone had refreshed themselves and descended to the dining hall on the first floor.
Captain Yong and Song Juk sat at the same table as Eun Jung-ho and me, and after dinner, we drank tea and exchanged various stories.
“By the way, Seo-ho.”
“Yes?”
“Why did you ask me to bring plums?”
Hubei Province has an abundance of plum trees. When spring arrives and the blossoms bloom, the sight is truly spectacular.
The fruit is used as a medicinal ingredient in traditional medicine, though I didn’t fully understand its value at the time.
I didn’t yet know that preserved plums were a miraculous cure for the ailments that long voyages inflicted upon the body.
“Captain Yong Eung-wan, given your extensive experience with prolonged sea voyages, you must be familiar with this phenomenon. When sailors spend extended periods aboard a vessel, their gums bleed and they begin coughing up blood, their bodies growing dangerously weakened.”
“You understand well. We call this condition ‘blood-seeping illness.'”
A disease where blood leaks from the body.
“It’s a peculiar malady that afflicts sailors on long-distance voyages. To combat it, we sometimes cultivate bean sprouts aboard ship, though….”
At that moment, Song Juk seemed to grasp something and spoke up.
“Surely you don’t mean preserved plums….”
“Precisely. Preserved plums are said to be a miraculous remedy for blood-seeping illness.”
This was knowledge discovered in my previous life, after large-scale trade had begun to flourish.
Countless sailors had suffered from the disease where their gums bled and their bodies weakened, yet no adequate treatment existed.
Though some tried cultivating bean sprouts aboard ship, believing vegetables would help, the approach had its limitations.
Space was scarce, and fresh water even scarcer.
Then, by fortunate chance, I learned that preserved plums possessed medicinal properties.
A trading company venturing into foreign commerce had mistakenly loaded preserved plums as provisions. The sailors aboard that vessel who consumed them throughout their trading journey returned in remarkably good health.
This discovery revealed the effectiveness of preserved plums, and naturally, their value skyrocketed.
I couldn’t possibly let such an opportunity slip away.
The mountain in Hubei Province, covered entirely with plum trees, is already my personal property.
“I did gather unripe plums and preserve them with sugar as you suggested, but does it truly work?”
“Of course it does. And you know as well as I do that preserved plums have medicinal applications in many different ways.”
Eun Jung-ho nodded at my words.
“I’m aware of that. They’re effective for thirst and vomiting, as well as dysentery and fatigue recovery.”
“Exactly. They’ll be tremendously beneficial.”
When sailors spend prolonged periods aboard ship, the water spoils, leading to bouts of dysentery and other afflictions.
Preserved plums are a miraculous remedy for such conditions as well.
“So ensure that everyone consumes at least one preserved plum daily.”
“Understood.”
Captain Yong Eung-wan nodded in acknowledgment.
“Now then, what trade goods shall we be carrying?”
“Tea and porcelain.”
“Tea, you say?”
“My father mentioned it to you before, didn’t he? About wanting to sell Liubao tea from Guangxi Province.”
“Indeed.”
“So I’ve prepared Liubao tea from Guangxi Province along with various other varieties. And after consulting with the Mudong Merchant Guild, I’ve also arranged an ample supply of porcelain, including tea cups.”
“That’s quite impressive. I assure you, we shall return from this trading venture with substantial profits.”
“Please, don’t burden yourself with such pressure.”
I spoke with a smile.
“Simply rest comfortably until we set sail.”
.
.
.
Four days later.
Palgap entered my guest room and spoke.
“Young Master, the Qingdao Magistrate has arrived at the Provincial Military Command.”
“Is that so?”
I rose from my seat and replied.
“Did you arrange the banquet hall as we discussed before?”
“Of course, Young Master. I’ve made a reservation at a nearby tavern.”
That venue would be the stage for tonight’s affair.
I planned to invite the Imperial Officials dispatched from the Imperial Palace and the administrators of the Provincial Military Command to this evening’s banquet.
Along with those from the Merchant Guild who handled this trade agreement.
In that place where they would serve as witnesses, Ji Taek-mun Manager would—no, the Baekcheon Trading Company would suffer a devastating loss.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————