The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 58

—————
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 58

Chapter 58. Catching the Rat (3)

The Dan Clan Merchant Leader was listening to a report from his subordinate.
“Salt?”
“Information he provided, sir. He said he heard it from the third son of the Eunhae Trading Company Master. Apparently, there was word from above that buying salt in advance would earn considerable profits.”
“Is that so?”
“A contagious disease has begun spreading through the Hadong Region. Bathing in salt water is said to be highly effective against this illness.”
“Then salt prices will rise, I see.”
“It will take the Eunhae Trading Company approximately ten days to secure funds for salt purchases. The message is to buy salt first before they do.”
At his subordinate’s words, the Dan Clan Merchant Leader broke into a smile.
“Well, well. It seems my generous payments have borne fruit.”
“I agree entirely, sir.”
All the information Young-po had brought thus far had proven accurate.
Because of this, they never suspected he might harbor resentment and provide false intelligence.
Besides, what they had given Young-po were undoubtedly five solid gold ingots.
Yet merchants are always a cautious breed, doubly so.
“Have someone investigate that information thoroughly.”
“Understood, sir.”
Three days later, the reports about the Hadong Region and the salt situation proved true.
Subsequently, salt prices began rising slightly above their previous levels.
Which meant salt prices would climb even higher in the days ahead.
“How much capital do we have remaining?”
The Dan Clan Merchant Leader heard the amount of remaining funds.
“I see. Had I known this would happen, I should have begun purchasing salt immediately as he suggested.”
“It is not too late even now, sir. The contagious disease is spreading with considerable force.”
The Dan Clan Merchant Leader paused in thought before reaching a decision.
“Invest half of our remaining capital into salt purchases.”
“Understood, sir.”

* * *

I was in my Uncle’s office.
“How did it go?”
At my question, Uncle smiled faintly.
“Finally, they’ve made their move.”
“They fell right into the trap we set.”
I chuckled softly, recalling the events from a few days prior.
Because I had siphoned off the gold ingots, Young-po Chief had grown dissatisfied with the Dan Clan Merchant Guild.
There was a reason I had replaced only four of the five gold ingots with counterfeits.
If all of them had been fake, Young-po Chief would have rushed straight to the Dan Clan Merchant Guild, and the scheme would have failed.
Of course, I could have altered the plan easily enough, but that seemed rather tedious.
However, since one ingot remained genuine, suspicion and confusion naturally arose.
Thus, Young-po Chief, consumed by resentment, was searching for ammunition to hurl at the Dan Clan Merchant Guild—and my Uncle and I had provided exactly that.
While we conversed, Yeo Eung-am Warrior was observing his movements from beneath the eaves.
He had quietly listened to our conversation and then smirked, or so he reported.
And just as I predicted, the Dan Clan Merchant Guild had begun to move.
“But here’s what I want to ask.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Is what you said before truly accurate? That there will soon be significant restrictions on selling salt?”
“Yes, it is true.”
“Yet judging by the current upward trend in salt prices, it seems we would reap enormous profits if we stockpiled salt?”
“That certainly appears to be the case. However, there are two things we must consider here.”
I moistened my throat with tea and continued.
“One is that salt is needed because of the plague, and the other is that salt is precisely the commodity whose price is rising.”
At my words, Uncle fell silent for a moment, then looked at me with eyes widened in alarm.
“The Imperial Palace!”
“As expected of you, Uncle.”
Precisely.
The Imperial Palace will soon make its move.
“I anticipate the implementation of a salt monopoly.”
Anticipate?
No—it will absolutely be implemented.
This was the reason I had to come to Sichuan Province.
Salt is essential not only for sustaining life but also for daily living.
If the price of salt rises, it is only natural that the common people’s lives become more difficult.
If prices rise to a reasonable degree, the Imperial Palace would simply observe without interference.
They would merely think the merchants were causing another commotion.
But this time was different.
As rumors of the plague spread throughout the Central Plains and many people sought salt more desperately than usual, merchants competed fiercely to purchase it, causing salt prices to skyrocket beyond all measure.
The merchants had their justifications too—they needed to add profit margins to the salt they had purchased.
It was in this powder-keg situation that an incident occurred, igniting the fuse.
It was a matter of a Scholar from the countryside submitting a memorial to the Emperor.
To summarize….

Salt is needed to support my elderly mother. Since my mother has no teeth, salt is the only side dish she can eat. Yet even with money, I cannot purchase it, so I cannot fulfill my filial duty and grieve deeply. I beseech Your Majesty to resolve this matter.

Roughly, that was the content.
This matter became an excellent pretext for the Emperor to intervene in commerce.
The Emperor immediately ordered an investigation, and as a result, a law was enacted.
It was none other than the Salt Distribution Law.

First, salt shall be sold exclusively by the Imperial Direct Merchant Guild designated by the Imperial Palace. However, this applies only to wholesale.
Second, retail merchants must purchase salt from the Imperial Direct Merchant Guild and sell it, and they may only engage in salt retail with a sales license issued by the Imperial Direct Merchant Guild.
Third, there is no limit to wholesale units of salt, but retail units are capped at one mal.
Fourth, violation of these provisions shall result in punishment under imperial law.

To speak more frankly about the salt monopoly system, it was the Imperial Palace’s way of controlling salt while pocketing the profits.

Beyond this, there were various minor details, but once this law was promulgated, not only the merchant guilds that had previously sold salt but also the numerous guilds that had rushed into this salt craze suffered catastrophic losses.
They had invested considerable capital to purchase salt, yet found themselves unable to sell it.
There was only one place to dispose of the salt.
They had no choice but to hand it over to the Imperial Direct Merchant Guild for disposal.
Naturally, the Imperial Direct Merchant Guild purchased it at the price set by the Emperor.
As a result, many merchant guilds were utterly ruined.
This was precisely that famous “Tears of Salt” incident from the future I experienced.
Of course, those with connections to the Imperial Palace learned of these movements in advance and disposed of their salt beforehand.
But those without such connections could only suffer helplessly.
And there was no reason the Dan Clan Merchant Guild would have connections to the Imperial Palace.
Other merchants would never share such information.
In the heartless world of commerce, why would anyone spread such information?
The Dan Clan Merchant Guild, having just begun purchasing salt, would continue to buy more.
And one month from now.
They’ll bleed to death.
Our Eunhae Trading Company emerged unscathed from the series of storms brought about by the Tears of Salt incident.
That was thanks to Father’s decision that “profiteering from salt in such circumstances is not right.”
The guild leaders of the Eun Wol Pavilion also supported Father’s decision.
I love our guild for being this way.
But this time, things had to be different.
Even if one meets a tiger, a true merchant must sell goods to that tiger, must they not?
“Ah, but we do need some misdirection. If we don’t move, the Dan Clan Merchant Guild won’t move without suspicion either. So let’s purchase some salt as well.”
“Though you speak of misdirection… it troubles me that we too would jump into salt purchasing in such circumstances. Won’t people suffer greater losses because of us?”
My uncle, just like my father, expressed his concerns.
“We intend to invest this salt elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere?”
“We’ll distribute the salt, even just a handful per person, to those in the Slum District who are desperately in need of it.”
“For free?”
“Yes, completely free.”
My uncle paused thoughtfully at my words, then regarded me with admiring eyes.
That’s right.
Money alone is not the only asset of a merchant guild.
Reputation is also a tremendous asset.
This was an opportunity to restore the reputation that had fallen due to the false rumors about the Jamu Doll Company.
Moreover, there was an opportunity that only I knew about at present.
I could not afford to miss that chance.
But why was my uncle looking at me with such an uncomfortable expression?
“Ahem, Uncle?”
“Very well. We’ll proceed as you suggest.”
.
.
.
Not long after.
I led the branch members out to the Slum District.
Behind me, several carts laden with salt followed in a procession.
Today we would distribute salt freely to the people.
Following behind me was Gu Ji-sung, a squad leader from the Eunpung Corps.
“Are you really distributing all of that for free today?”
At Gu Ji-sung’s question, I nodded.
“Yes.”
….
Seeing his expression as if he had much to say, I let out a small laugh.
“Seems wasteful, doesn’t it?”
“It’s only natural to think so.”
“Don’t think of it as wasteful. It’s all an investment.”
I continued.
“I am a merchant, not a philanthropist. I’m doing this because I believe it will all yield profit.”
Today, I intended to extract tens, or even thousands of times the value of the salt I was distributing for free.
“By the way, Sichuan is truly sweltering. Aren’t you hot, young master?”
“I’m fine.”
I had mastered the Ice Palm technique, so I was not particularly bothered by the heat.
In contrast, the others were drenched in sweat due to Sichuan’s characteristically hot and humid climate.
This was precisely why Sichuan was one of the places where salt was desperately needed, so I could easily imagine how the people would react to today’s free salt distribution.
We soon arrived at a location I had scouted in advance.
We set up a table and installed guide ropes to direct people into orderly lines.
This was something someone had devised in the future I experienced—wooden posts reaching to the waist and red cords that guided people into formation.
By arranging the guide ropes in a serpentine pattern, we could conduct the event more swiftly and safely than if people simply rushed forward in a mob.
Sacks of salt were stacked upon the table.
Small pouches for holding salt were placed there, and we filled them directly from the sacks.
These pouches were remarkably small—just enough to hold two spoonfuls of salt.
We needed to distribute to as many people as possible.
To prevent complaints about unequal portions, I had also prepared a measuring vessel to ensure consistent amounts.
Once we had accumulated a sufficient quantity, I distributed the salt first to the constables who had come to support us today.
I had spoken with Jihyeon from the County Office beforehand, requesting their cooperation for today’s event.
When dealing with the common people, one must coordinate with the County Office in advance—otherwise, they’ll find fault later.
Of course, some money and salt exchanged hands in this process.
That’s why Jihyeon sent the constables to assist us.
The constables valued salt as much as anyone else, and this preliminary goodwill would ensure no problems arose in the future.
“I appreciate your help today.”
“Haha! Don’t worry about it.”
“We’ll do our best.”
Today, those leading the salt distribution event were my cousins.
Sister Hyang-ok asked me a question.
“But why must we take the lead?”
“For everyone’s sake.”
“You’re clever, so there’s no harm in listening to you.”
With those words, she took her place at the salt distribution station.
Putting them in the forefront was for the future of the Sichuan Branch.
By demonstrating that the people of the Eun Hae Trading Company’s Sichuan Branch worked for Sichuan’s benefit, I could inspire their loyalty.
Most who worked at the Sichuan Branch were Sichuan natives, and those we dealt with were also Sichuan people.
And the people of Sichuan possessed a certain tight-knit quality.
In such circumstances, though my Uncle had married a Sichuan woman and his children were accepted as Sichuan people, there remained an indefinable distance.
The greatest reason I perceived was the perception that we were “those who would take Sichuan’s wealth to other regions.”
But by demonstrating that wealth earned in Sichuan was spent for Sichuan’s benefit, I could change that perception.
Thus, those working in Sichuan had to be at the forefront.
Not I, who would soon depart.
Now everything was ready.
I ordered the flags I had prepared in advance to be raised.
They fluttered!
The flag bearing the name of the Eun Hae Trading Company billowed in the wind.
Today, my premonition felt exceptionally good.
.
.
.
“We’re distributing salt for free!”
“Come and take your salt at no cost!”
“Hurry over and claim yours!”
The people hesitated.
They doubted whether it was truly free, and whether the salt was genuine.
They understood the value of salt well enough.
After all, the poor are far more sensitive to prices than the wealthy.
“Heavens! All of that is salt?”
“They’re giving it away for free? Have they lost their minds?”
“No way.”
I heard their voices clearly.
This was precisely when we needed shills.
Right on cue, the shills we had hired in advance appeared. They sauntered over and asked casually.
“Is it really true you’re giving away salt for free?”

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