The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 536

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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 536

Chapter 536. Establishing a Martial Hall (2)

Several days had passed since I had my audience with the Emperor.
By now, I expected to hear news regarding the establishment of the Martial Hall….
While entertaining such thoughts, I was surveying the grounds.
There were three candidate sites in total for this Martial Hall construction.
And I had decided to inspect each one personally.
Since this was a joint venture with the Emperor, I couldn’t afford to handle it carelessly.
And ultimately, I selected one location.
“This place would be excellent.”
The Yeo Eung-am Warrior who had accompanied me as a guard spoke.
“It’s incredibly spacious.”
“Yes. That’s precisely why it appeals to me.”
The Myeong-jong Warrior tilted his head in response to our conversation and asked.
“But… isn’t it perhaps too spacious? It seems you could build an entire village here. Moreover, typically the grounds would be situated within a mountain, yet here the mountain is contained within the grounds.”
“That’s fine. Wouldn’t it actually be ideal for training?”
“I suppose when you put it that way, it does make sense.”
The grounds I had chosen were indeed that expansive.
“To properly master martial arts, such spacious grounds are absolutely essential.”
I knew this well from my own experience learning martial arts, having felt the frustration and limitations.
No matter how spacious my quarters were, they didn’t provide the kind of space a Training Ground offered, so I had encountered various obstacles.
“And when building foundational physical strength, ample space is equally beneficial.”
“Certainly… that would indeed be the case.”
“Running the Training Ground and climbing the mountain—I can already hear the students’ complaints echoing.”
The Myeong-jong Warrior shuddered.
“Mountain climbing was truly the training I despised most. As a child, I had to walk to the summit of a mountain that took an hour and a half round trip, draw water from the spring there using a gourd, and return.”
“A gourd? Wouldn’t you spill the water if you weren’t careful?”
“Then you’d have to go back and fetch it again.”
….
“And when I turned fifteen, from then on I had to climb Danjang Cliff on Huashan Mountain, draw water, carry it on my back, and descend.”
“So that’s how you bloom the Plum Blossom technique in the end.”
“Precisely.”
There was a hint of a sigh mixed into the Myeong-jong Warrior’s response.
“But seeing this place, it seems it will become a hellish training ground that surpasses even Huashan.”
“That means they’ll become that much stronger. Eventually, they’ll all be grateful.”
Then the Yeo Eung-am Warrior spoke.
“But why are you suddenly establishing a Martial Hall?”
“I’ve noticed many talented individuals in our Trading Company. I thought it would be beneficial if they had a systematic place to train.”
I continued.
“The two daughters of Yeo Eung-am Warrior whom I saw before also show promise.”
At this, Myeong-jong Warrior nudged Yeo Eung-am Warrior in the ribs and spoke.
“Yeo Warrior! Really now! Our Lord is establishing this Martial Hall for your two daughters. He learned that you were searching for a good place to train them.”
At my words, Yeo Eung-am Warrior asked with an embarrassed expression.
“Is that truly the case?”
“Well, it’s a matter of mutual benefit. That’s why I came to an understanding with the Emperor.”
“….”
His face showed deep emotion.
“I don’t know how to repay such kindness.”
His gratitude was so profound that I felt embarrassed myself.
“Ahem, training here will be quite demanding, but you’re still willing?”
“Of course. My daughters are no ordinary children. They will overcome such trials without difficulty.”
Yeo Eung-am Warrior continued.
“Of course, it pains my heart to see my daughters suffer. But I cannot handle everything for them forever. Therefore, I believe my role as a father is to ensure my children can survive through their own strength.”
Yeo Eung-am Warrior’s words were right.
Children must not only learn how to catch fish, but also learn to face the rough currents that stand in their way.
Otherwise, they won’t be able to catch fish on their own later.
Seeing such consideration, I realized that Yeo Eung-am Warrior was a parent who truly loved his children.
“You’re a good father.”
“I’m not sure about that. I’m a father who’s always away from home….”
“I apologize for that.”
He was flustered by my apology.
“No! Ah, that’s not it! I misspoke.”
“I was joking.”
I chuckled and continued.
“Your entire family knows that you work harder for them than anyone else.”
“Haha.”
He laughed sheepishly at my words.
“Then let’s return. And Gal Hyun Deputy.”
“Yes.”
“Examine this place thoroughly and proceed with the provisional contract.”
“Understood.”
.
.
.
“You’ve arrived?”
Upon returning to the Beijing Branch, Palgap greeted me.
“I was just about to send someone, but you’ve arrived at the perfect moment.”
“Hmm?”
“We have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
“Eun Jung-ho is currently attending to them.”
Wait a moment….
This aura… it’s a secret guard.
There’s only one answer for someone who would travel with such a master as a secret guard.
“Palgap, let’s hurry.”
“Yes.”

I straightened my appearance and rushed toward the Guest Reception Room.
“Haha, so Eun Jung-ho turned out to be quite an entertaining fellow after all.”
“You flatter me.”
“So you’ve met two of your brothers? Next time, I’d like to meet the middle one of the three as well.”
“I’ll arrange something soon.”
Fortunately, the atmosphere seemed pleasant.
As I approached with ease, the guards at the door recognized me and announced my arrival inside.
“Your Highness, Eun Seo-ho has arrived.”
“Ah, let him in.”
“Yes!”
The door opened, and I stepped inside.
“Oh! You’ve come?”
“I pay my respects to the Crown Prince! Long may you….”
“Ah, spare me the unnecessary formalities. That’s an order.”
“Ah, yes.”
I’m grateful for your consideration.
“Sit.”
“Yes.”
As I took my seat, the Crown Prince spoke.
“So, you went to view the land for the Martial Hall?”
“Yes. I found a suitable location and ordered a provisional contract to be drawn up.”
“I see. If you chose it, then it must be the finest place available.”
The Crown Prince continued.
“Father has instructed me to proceed with establishing the Martial Hall together with you.”
“….”
Ah, as I suspected….
I wondered why the news was delayed, but this was the reason.
But Your Majesty, why do you keep assigning the Crown Prince to me?
I’m not ignorant of the Emperor’s intentions, to be honest.
It seems the Crown Prince wants me to demonstrate something worth learning, so he can observe and study it from the sidelines.
But what could the Crown Prince possibly learn from me?
As a merchant, all I have to teach is negotiation tactics and cunning schemes.
Well, such skills might be necessary to deal with those scheming Ministers, but….
From what I saw last time, he probably doesn’t need to learn from me anyway.
“So you can handle that matter through me.”
“Understood. Then will the Crown Prince be dealing with the Ministers?”
“Hmm? Why would I deal with the Ministers?”
“Well, naturally….”
“The funds used for constructing the Martial Hall come from the Imperial Court’s treasury, not the Empire’s finances. So there’s no reason to deal with the Ministers.”
Ah….
I found myself admiring the Emperor’s resourcefulness once again.
So he was planning to support the Martial Hall with Imperial Court funds while simultaneously selecting martial artists loyal to the Imperial Court.
“The Imperial Court certainly has considerable reserves.”
Indeed, with salt monopolies, official gambling houses, and other revenue streams, there’s no shortage of income.
This allows the Emperor to proceed boldly without worrying about the Ministers’ opinions.
Moreover, since establishing a Martial Hall to cultivate the Empire’s future pillars is a legitimate reason for the Imperial Court to spend money, the justification is more than sufficient.
Magnificent indeed.
Though the Ministers who must deal with such an Emperor must find it quite challenging.
“And here—Father instructed me to give this to you.”
The Crown Prince handed me a scroll.
It was a scroll wrapped in crimson silk.
I respectfully received it with both hands and unrolled it. It was an official decree that allowed me to recruit any talent I desired.
The characters seemed to shimmer with light.
Ah, silver powder had been sprinkled on it.
.
.
.
The next day.
As always, I completed my breathing exercises and training before eating breakfast.
I never skip training unless absolutely unavoidable.
While my Master would notice if I neglected my training, I also never know when I might suddenly encounter the Ancestor’s arrangement, and I prefer not to spend extended time within it due to insufficient preparation.
If my training is lacking and I must train longer within the Ancestor’s arrangement…that is not something I welcome.
By training consistently and building my strength, I can escape the arrangement even slightly faster.
After sharing tea and brief conversation with Eun Jung-ho, I headed to my office.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes.”
Seo Hyang and Gal Hyun Deputy rose from their seats to greet me.
Then I held a meeting with Yeochang’s Vice-Lord who had been waiting for me and gave several instructions.
When I had finished with the urgent matters, Gal Hyun Deputy approached me.
“I have something to report, sir.”
Now that I thought about it, his expression had been troubled from the start.
“What is the matter?”
“There is a problem with the land you instructed us to secure a temporary contract for yesterday. Not all of it, but a portion—the owner refuses to sell that particular section.”
“What?”
I asked again.
“Is it possible we did not offer a sufficient price?”
“No, sir. We offered five hundred silver taels.”
That was considerably generous compared to the market rate.
Normally, people would accept such an offer readily and relocate without hesitation. Refusal was unheard of.
“Who is the owner of that land?”
“An elderly man named Old Man Mae.”
“Bring me any information you have on this elder.”
“Yes, sir.”
Gal Hyun immediately provided me with the documents.
I reviewed the materials carefully.
Hmm…
Old Man Mae was sixty years old this year and worked the land as a farmer, according to the records.
He was neither particularly poor nor wealthy—an ordinary farmer of modest means.
But one detail caught my attention.
“His son disappeared one day?”
“Yes, sir.”
I closed my eyes briefly, contemplating the matter, then rose from my seat and spoke.
“I must meet this elder in person.”

A moment later.
I made my way to the house of an elder named Old Man Mae.
“Is anyone home? Is there anybody here?”
At Palgap’s call, an old man emerged from inside.
“Who are you?”
He caught sight of Gal Hyun Deputy beside me and immediately cried out.
“Ah! I’m not selling! I told you I’m not selling the land, so why are you back?”
I stepped forward and spoke.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company. I’ve come personally to speak with you, sir.”
At my words, the old man regarded me silently for a moment, then let out a sigh.
“Very well. Please, sit.”
He offered me a wooden bench.
Though he didn’t invite me inside, offering the bench was still not an unfavorable beginning.
I quickly surveyed the house where the old man lived.
A small tile-roofed house.
Just right for three people to live comfortably.
Yet I could see places crumbling and worn in spots—it seemed the old man lacked the strength alone to repair them, so he’d simply left them as they were.
“Forgive me, but doesn’t the rain leak through?”
“It does leak, yes…”
“Since I’m here, I’ll have it repaired for you.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“If your belongings aren’t ruined, a damp house will make you ill, sir.”
“…Ahem, well, if you insist on doing so, then do it.”
I called out to Palgap.
“Palgap, go fetch a carpenter and have him repair it for the elder.”
“Understood, sir.”
At this, Old Man Mae spoke bluntly.
“Why would you repair that house? Wouldn’t demolishing it be more profitable for you?”
“Profit is profit, but I’ve never forcibly evicted someone living on their own land for personal gain.”
I continued.
“When you force someone out, misfortune follows.”
“Is that so?”
I noticed faint ink marks lingering on the wall.
“You’re literate, I see.”
“That’s not my handiwork.”
“Then whose?”
“My son’s. Though it’s been over ten years since he left home.”
“…I see.”
And the old man fell silent.
But who am I? I am Eun Seo-ho.
From that day on, I visited the Old Man Mae every single day.

“Ah! Why do you keep coming here, bothering me?”
“I came to check if your house was repaired properly.”

“The house is repaired fine, so why did you come?”
“I noticed your leg seemed to be aching before, so I brought a Physician.”

“You fixed the house, you fixed my leg, and yet you come again?”
“I happened to acquire some delicious pastries. Don’t you like sweets?”
“I… I like them… *cough cough*, yes.”

I persisted in my efforts for a fortnight.
Today was a day when rain fell in a gentle patter.
“The roof doesn’t leak.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“I mentioned it before, didn’t I? That I have a son who left home.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know why that wretch left?”
Perhaps it was the rain that made Old Man Mae sentimental today.
“How would I know?”
“Aren’t you the Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company? Shouldn’t you know at least that much?”
“What good would knowing that do? It doesn’t make money.”
“Hehehehe, a merchant is a merchant indeed.”
No, I knew.
But it only matters if I hear it from Old Man Mae’s own lips.
“He left saying he’d make something of himself. That he’d restore this family’s fortune.”
“I see.”
“About a year passed, and then my son’s letters stopped coming. His mother fell ill from worry, and eventually… she withered away and passed.”
“….”
“It was her dying wish. She said he would surely return… and when he did… not to ask questions, just embrace him. Tell him his efforts were appreciated.”
“So that’s why you haven’t moved.”
“…Yes. If I move away, my son will have nowhere to return to, won’t he?”
In other words, if his son returns, he could move then.
The problem was that the letters stopped just a year after his son left.
By my knowledge, more than ten years had passed since the old man’s son left home—nearly fifteen years now.
He could very well be dead.
And yet…
I had to find out whether he was alive or dead.
And telling the old man that news would be another matter entirely.

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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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