The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 470

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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 Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 470

Chapter 470. There Are Quite a Few (1)

The Emperor cleared his throat.
“Ahem. Yes. Very well, I shall grant you what you wish.”
“Thank you, Father.”
The Emperor waved his hand dismissively at So-un.
“I have matters to discuss with these men, so you may take your leave.”
“Yes.”
With that, So-un departed from the office, and the Emperor chuckled as he watched him go.
“To think such words would come from that boy’s mouth. I had intended to appoint him as Seongbo Wang this year, but I suppose that must be postponed until next year.”
Then he turned to Jin Young and Kwon Jik and spoke.
“In any case, it seems Eun Seo-ho has proven quite capable in this matter.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty. Without him, our lives would have been in grave danger.”
“Then I would have lost two sons.”
At those words, the two Golden Robed Guards quickly bowed their heads.
“We beg your forgiveness, Your Majesty! Our incompetence is to blame….”
“No. It is my own failing.”
Just then, an Eunuch Official spoke from outside.
“Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch has arrived.”
“Read it.”
The door opened and the Eunuch Official entered, delivering the message to the Eunuch.
The Eunuch nodded and reported to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, the ships that departed from Sang-haeng have arrived.”

* * *

I’m trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare.
Staring at documents all day long—it’s truly a paperwork hell. Sigh.
Thank goodness Seo Hyang is helping me; without her, I might have actually pulled an all-nighter.
I really need to hire more deputy officers.
As my affairs multiply, it’s becoming painfully obvious that Seo Hyang is being stretched too thin.
Besides, I can’t keep relying on Seo Hyang as my only deputy indefinitely.
As I sighed and continued working, the office door suddenly burst open and Palgap rushed in.
“Young Master! Young Master!”
“What is it? Why the commotion?”
“The ships that departed from Sang-haeng have just arrived, sir!”
“What?”
I bolted from my seat.
“Prepare everything at once!”
“Yes, sir!”
Then I sat back down. There was still work to be done.
Seo Hyang handed me another document and spoke.
“Hang in there. You only have ten more documents to process.”
“….”
As I picked up my brush to handle those documents, I heard Seo-woo Warrior’s voice from outside.
“Master, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster has arrived.”
Damn it.
.
.
.
Preparations were completed in a single day, and we set out for Nanking.
Which meant I barely slept before departing immediately after finishing my work.
On top of that, the Emperor summoned me the night before, stealing even more time.
Still, thanks to Ju Gang Ma, we arrived in Nanking far faster than anyone else could have.
As we approached the harbor, I could see ships anchored some distance away from the port itself.
They hadn’t yet received permission to enter the harbor.
Since we were bringing a massive shipment of provisions, the Emperor had ordered them to dock only after the Imperial Guard arrived.
Because we came by Ju Gang Ma, we’d have to wait quite a while for the Imperial Guard to arrive.
Yet I rushed here anyway—to see the ships with my own eyes and greet them first.
It may seem trivial, but these small gestures accumulate and move people’s hearts.
Besides, if my hunch is correct, Captain Yong Eung-wan didn’t come alone.
The Emperor had given him other tasks as well.
After securing and renting the finest inns and taverns around Nanking’s harbor in advance, the Imperial Guard arrived.
The official in charge of this operation was the Left Attendant of Ministry of Personnel.
Hmm, His Majesty sent quite a high-ranking official.
Wasn’t it Gak Sa-oe-rang who came last time?
Indeed, this matter is quite significant from the Empire’s perspective as well.
He ordered the Golden Army to clear the area, and once they finished, he commanded the Flag Bearer.
“Send the harbor entry permit signal.”
“Yes, sir!”
With five blasts of the horn trumpet and a large green flag fluttering, the signal was given.
It was the harbor entry permit signal.
Shortly after, the ships anchored in the distance began to move.
And the ships started docking at the harbor one by one.
Let me see—where are our ships?
“There they are, sir!”
Palgap’s keen eye was truly remarkable.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir!”
We rushed toward them.
Two large ships bearing the [Eunhae] mark.
None of our vessels had been lost.
Soon the gangway was lowered, and people began disembarking.
Though they had darkened from the sun of the open sea, they all appeared healthy.
I surveyed our guild members with my eyes, then greeted the Imperial Officials who had accompanied them first.
“You must have worked hard.”
“It’s kind of you to come meet us in person like this.”
“Not at all. I should be thanking you for looking after our guild so well. And the Left Attendant of the Ministry of Rites, Dae-in, has come as the person responsible for this matter.”
“My goodness, the Left Attendant himself?”
“Yes. You should hurry and greet him.”
“Indeed we should.”
They hastened toward the Left Attendant of the Ministry of Rites. Following them, I approached those disembarking from the ship and spoke.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Small Guild Master!”
“For you to come greet us in person like this! We haven’t done anything so remarkable….”
“Returning safely like this is already a remarkable achievement.”
At my words, their faces filled with emotion.
Among those who had come were some with distinctly foreign features. Noticing my gaze, one of the staff members explained.
“They are Captain Yong’s family.”
“I see. But where is Captain Yong?”
He answered my question.
“The Captain said that a ship’s captain must always board first and disembark last.”
True to his word, after everyone else had disembarked, Captain Yong Eung-wan was the last to step off the ship.
“Captain, I’m relieved you’ve returned safely.”
At my greeting, he cupped his fist in salute and reported.
“Yong Eung-wan, captain of the Eunhae Trading Company’s fleet vessel [Eunhae], has completed the voyage and returned.”
I patted his shoulder and spoke.
“You should report that to my father, not to me.”
“But my master is the Small Merchant Guild Leader.”
Understanding his feelings, I simply offered him a smile.
“It seems you’ve brought others with you. Won’t you introduce them?”
“Ah, of course.”
Yong Eung-wan called over those dressed in exotic clothing.
“My mother, my younger sister, and my elder brother.”
I nodded and greeted them with a bright expression.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Merchant Guild Leader of the Eun Hae Trading Company. Welcome to you all.”
Yong Eung-wan translated my words for them, and they replied.
“Hello. It is our first time meeting you.”
Their speech was somewhat halting, but they could speak the Imperial tongue.
Yong Eung-wan added an explanation.
“Since we must live in the Empire from now on, we studied the Imperial language on the way here.”
“I see.”
Since their Imperial was still limited, Yong Eung-wan translated what they said in the Dae-Wol Kingdom language.
“They say they are grateful that you provided the ransom money to set them free.”
“Tell them it is thanks to having such a good son.”
At my words, he grew embarrassed and spoke to his family.
It wasn’t wrong, after all.
Looking at them, I felt relieved. In my previous life, by the time Yong Eung-wan had secured the ransom and returned home, all his family members were already dead.
“Was the ransom sufficient?”
At my question, Yong Eung-wan nodded.
“It was more than generous. And thanks to the officials who accompanied us, the negotiations went smoothly. Because of that, even my surviving relatives were able to gain their freedom.”
He continued.
“They chose to remain there, while my family decided to come with me, so here we are together.”
“Understood. For now, have them focus on learning the Imperial language. Then I will look into finding suitable employment for them.”
“Thank you.”
Now for the real matter at hand.
“So, were there results?”
“Of course.”
He grinned widely.
“The people of Dae-Wol Kingdom were absolutely fascinated by the tea and ceramics we brought this time.”
He pointed toward the boat and spoke.
“Everything inside there is provisions.”
The items covered with broad cloth appeared to be food supplies.
With provisions of that magnitude, this was a tremendous success.
This trade expedition had achieved considerable results, exactly as I had anticipated.
Not only our ship but all the vessels had returned brimming with provisions.
It would take several days just to unload that cargo.
“And the pickled plums you provided proved invaluable. Thanks to them, we avoided suffering from scurvy.”
I was relieved the plums had been useful.
“The sailors on the other ships also benefited greatly from the plums. As you instructed, we distributed them freely among everyone.”
So that’s why they’d been looking at me with such grateful eyes since earlier.
Of course, there was calculation behind this generosity as well….
“You’ve all worked hard. I’ve prepared an Inn for you, so please go rest.”
Captain Yong and the sailors who had endured the long voyage headed toward the Inn I had arranged.
Meanwhile, the sailors from the other merchant vessel were about to head to the Provincial Military Command in Nanking.
I approached them.
“Please don’t do that. Stay at the quarters I’ve prepared instead.”
“Pardon?”
“One person, one room.”
Their eyes widened at those words.
At the Provincial Military Command, more than ten people would have to share a single room.
“And laundry will be handled by people I’ve hired. Just give it to them.”
“Pardon?”
“Is, is that really true?”
“We have quite a lot of laundry, and it’s rather dirty….”
“That’s no problem.”
I had hired them with generous compensation, accounting for exactly that.
“However, for the next four days, you must not leave the Inn and must rest quietly inside.”
I continued.
“I’ve prepared delicious food for dinner, so please all come without exception and enjoy the meal.”
“Thank you so much!”
Evening came, and the dining hall of the Tavern I had rented was packed with sailors.
The expenses would be considerable, but that was fine.
It wasn’t my money anyway.
This was actually the Emperor’s orders.
I smiled as I watched them eagerly eat and drink the prepared dishes.
After an hour or two had passed, they began falling asleep one by one.
They must have been exhausted.
I had told them to rest well without leaving the Inn for four days, but there are always those who don’t listen to such instructions.
So after the meal had progressed sufficiently, I had added a sedative to the wine being served.
This too was the Emperor’s orders.
Though truthfully, I would have put them to sleep even without those orders.
I know from my own recent experience.
For fatigue from long travel, sleep is the best remedy.
Why else would the saying exist that sleep is the best medicine?
Besides, these are vigorous young men. If they left now, intoxicated with the joy of finally returning home and exhausted in body, their reason clouded—they would surely cause trouble.
Then who should clean up that mess?
If we start assigning blame, it becomes a headache.
Those who realized they had drunk the sedative muttered with resentful eyes.
“You’re being too much, sir.”
“Oh, tonight, we were planning to burn it all down….”
“Chunwol… your older brother is sorry….”
Listening to their words, I realized once again that my thinking was correct.
Feeding them sedatives and putting them to sleep served to prevent them from causing trouble, but the real reason lay elsewhere.
Though I felt sorry toward them, I couldn’t immediately satisfy their desires right now.
I smiled bitterly and recalled my conversation with the Emperor.

“While interrogating this fellow Gong Ho we captured this time, I discovered that the Murim Alliance’s reach extends everywhere.”
“….”
“When the merchant ships that departed for overseas trade return to port, they’ll try to obtain information about this. Though they couldn’t participate in the Sang-haeng expedition without ships, they’ll want to get even scraps of profit from it.”
“I think the same way, Your Majesty.”
“Then how do you think they’ll obtain this information? Tell me your thoughts.”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Information will leak through the Shop Attendant at the Dining Hall and the Courtesans at the Gisaeng House.”
“So then, do you have a good solution?”
“Just put them to sleep, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
“Gather them in one place, feed them, and put them to sleep—wouldn’t that work?”
“Hahaha! That’s a brilliant idea indeed!”

The Emperor truly laughed heartily at that moment.
In any case, I cannot allow men to pillow their heads on women’s laps and divulge critical intelligence while intoxicated, when I cannot fathom where the Murim Alliance’s tendrils extend.
So please, bear with me just a little longer.
Four more days.
After that, information may reach the Murim Alliance.
By then, it will have already reached all those who needed it.
In the interim, all the sailors had fallen asleep, and the Geumui Guard and Golden Army entered to lay them down in the inn’s chambers.
Staying at the Provincial Military Command would have been better for security, but the inn’s beds were far more comfortable.
Since they were sleeping anyway, they might as well rest soundly in comfort.
.
.
.
After about two days, the representatives from each merchant guild arrived. Upon seeing the men sleeping peacefully, they exhaled sighs of relief.
“Phew, thank goodness!”
“I was worried they might cause trouble.”
“If word of this operation had leaked to others, we would have suffered tremendous losses.”
Of course.
Since this was our first large-scale foreign trade, there were considerable valuable intelligence matters at stake.
However, most of the sailors did not fully grasp the importance of such information.
Or even if they did, boasting about their own heroic exploits might seem more pressing.
Because these men had experience operating merchant vessels, they had reason enough to worry.
“We are deeply indebted to you.”
“This was not my doing, but rather carried out under the Emperor’s command.”
“Is, is that so?”
“Precisely. The Emperor takes considerable interest in this matter. So let us ensure that our next trading expedition yields substantial profits.”
I invoke the Emperor’s name for my own benefit and that of our Eun Hae Trading Company.
When they burn with enthusiasm, our guild prospers as well.
Your Majesty, am I not a trusted subordinate worthy of your favor?
So do forgive me for trading on your name a little.

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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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