The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 59

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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 59

Chapter 59. Catching the Rat (4)

At that question, I jabbed Dae-seok Elder Brother in the ribs.
“Of course, absolutely.”
“Is this salt really genuine?”
“It certainly is! If this were fake salt, would the officials from the County Office be helping us?”
Only then did the crowd seem to gain some confidence. I could tell by the way people began forming lines.
But this alone felt insufficient.
Just as I was pondering what might ignite the lukewarm enthusiasm of the masses, the Constables spoke up.
“My goodness! Why so much suspicion? It’s genuine salt, I’m telling you!”
“Once we’ve distributed all of it, it’s done, so hurry up and take your share!”
“This is an event approved by Jihyeon himself.”
“We heard people were struggling without salt, so the Eunhae Trading Company made this generous decision.”
The Constables interjected at precisely the right moment.
The groundwork I’d laid earlier was paying off beautifully.
At their words, the hesitant crowd moved with greater urgency, and soon the event grew increasingly fervent.
As we distributed the salt, we didn’t forget to promote the Merchant Guild.
“This salt is being distributed free of charge by the Eunhae Trading Company.”
And those who lined up twice—I caught them.
“You’re the one who came for the one hundred and twentieth time today, aren’t you?”
“Ahem, ahem…”
“Other people need to receive salt too.”
Upon seeing the Constables standing nearby and the Eunpyeong Guard Warriors, he swallowed hard and fled in haste.
There were always such shameless opportunists.
It was then that I spotted those watching from a distance.
I silently exulted.
The reason I had chosen to distribute salt freely ‘today,’ ‘at this place,’ was precisely because of them.
“I’ll step away for a moment to have some water.”
I slipped away slightly, then pretended to drink water while tapping Palgap’s foot.
The quick-witted Palgap then spoke to me.
“In any case, I hope this provides at least some relief to the people.”
This statement was a cue I had previously given to Palgap.
To draw their attention.
“To be honest, it won’t be enough.”
I continued.
“The price of salt has risen far too much, and a single Merchant Guild cannot help all of them.”
“Well, that’s certainly true.”
“Still, if people can smile even a little, that’s enough for me.”
I exchanged these words while pretending not to notice them.
Whether he heard my words or not, one of them approached me.
If I knew him as I thought I did, he couldn’t possibly ignore my words without showing interest.
Had I caught his attention, then?
A man who appeared to be in his fifties, seemingly ordinary at first glance, called out to me.
“Young man, a word.”
“Yes. Did you call for me?”
I responded respectfully to his summons.
“Are you, by chance, someone from the Eunhae Trading Company?”
“I am.”
“What is your relation to them?”
“The Merchant Guild Leader of the Eunhae Trading Company is my father.”
“I see.”
He nodded his head.
“Then you surely know what salt costs these days?”
“Of course.”
“Doesn’t it pain you to distribute that salt so freely?”
“It does not pain me.”
“…You know the price and yet it doesn’t pain you? The salt price will only rise further, won’t it? If you sell it then, you could gain even greater profits….”
He asked as if bewildered.
“That would be true.”
“Are you not a merchant? Surely any true merchant would….”
“Of course, merchants are those who would stake their very lives for profit. I am no exception. But this is somewhat different.”
“Different?”
He tilted his head at my words.
“Our trading company earned its wealth because the common people exist. Currently, the people are suffering because of the salt shortage. Those in difficult circumstances suffer all the more.”
I continued speaking.
“That is why we share the profits.”
“Share the profits?”
“Merchants and the common people exist in a symbiotic relationship. When one side of that symbiosis breaks down, the other side suffers as well. Therefore, we merely contribute what little strength we have to maintain that balance.”
I laughed lightly.
“This all benefits our trading company in the end. As I mentioned before, I am a merchant, after all.”
“A peculiar merchant, indeed.”
“Perhaps so.”
“And the Eunhae Trading Company… a peculiar trading company as well.”
“Haha. My father would be pleased to hear that.”
At my ingenuous words, he smiled faintly and nodded.
“Thank you for answering my impertinent question.”
“Not at all.”
He walked over with a casual gait and joined the group, observed them briefly, then disappeared.
Fortunately, it seemed I had left a good impression.
With that, I had accomplished the primary objective of coming here today.
I didn’t plan today’s free salt distribution event merely to raise awareness of the Merchant Guild.
Leaving a favorable impression on the man who had just questioned me was equally important.
To reiterate, I am a merchant who moves according to profit.
Not a philanthropist.
Yet what I told him earlier was not a lie.
The idea that merchants and common folk must live together in harmony—that is something I have always believed.
I simply chose words that would appeal to him.
“But tell me, who exactly is that man? Who is he that you instructed me to speak to him in such a manner?”
At Palgap’s whisper, I replied in an equally low voice.
“You’ll find out later.”
I cannot speak of it now. There are too many ears listening.
That man’s name is Jin Woo-rim.
He is the Merchant Guild Leader of the Yeompyeong Merchant Guild, an Imperial Direct Merchant Guild created by the Emperor to monopolize the salt trade.
Already, as Merchant Guild Leader, he travels throughout the Central Plains carrying out the Emperor’s sacred decree to investigate salt prices.
And I knew he would come here today.
It was because he had spoken of an incident that occurred when he came to Sichuan at a gathering of the Ten Great Merchant Guilds of the Realm, and I remembered it.
It was an incident where an entire Merchant Guild vanished overnight due to the Emperor’s fury.

* * *

In the deep of night, a group walked through the Marketplace of Sichuan Capital.
They were Jin Woo-rim, the Merchant Guild Leader of Yeompyeong Merchant Guild, and his entourage.
Due to this salt crisis, the Emperor had decided to establish a monopoly merchant guild to manage salt distribution.
He had already created the Imperial Direct Merchant Guild and appointed its leader.
That leader was Jin Woo-rim.
Jin Woo-rim shared a deep bond with the Emperor.
The current Emperor had needed to travel to Beijing to ascend the throne, and many sought to prevent him from doing so.
However, given the overwhelming number of enemies compared to those who could protect him, traveling in secret was his only option.
It was Jin Woo-rim who came to his aid during this predicament.
He readily allowed the Emperor, who humbly requested his help while concealing his identity, to travel alongside him on a merchant caravan.
Thanks to this, the Emperor was able to ascend the throne safely.
The Emperor never forgot this debt of gratitude, and after establishing the Imperial Direct Merchant Guild, he appointed Jin Woo-rim as its leader.
Salt monopoly was a position where vast profits flowed, so someone capable of resisting corruption was essential.
To the Emperor, Jin Woo-rim was a trustworthy man.
The official salt distribution policy—the salt monopoly system—had not yet been publicly announced.
However, preparations were already underway behind the scenes.
One of these preparations was a salt price assessment, and since Sichuan was a major producer of rock salt, Jin Woo-rim had come personally.
Time was limited.
Thus, he remained busy even at this late hour.
During this, Jin Woo-rim found himself chuckling softly. His Deputy Officer noticed and asked.
“A pleasant memory must have crossed your mind, sir.”
“Ah, I was just thinking of that young man from the Eunhae Trading Company I saw earlier.”
“The merchant guild that was distributing salt for free, sir?”
“That’s the one.”
Jin Woo-rim nodded.
“To distribute salt freely in times like these! Truly, it is a guild of remarkable vision.”
“I felt the same way. And my conversation with that young man was quite meaningful as well.”
He continued.
“He said that a merchant guild sharing profits with the common people does so for the mutual prosperity of both guild and people.”
“He didn’t appear to be even twenty years old yet. It’s remarkable that one so young would speak such words.”
“Surely his father, the Merchant Guild Leader, taught him such principles. That’s why he speaks this way.”
“You seem quite impressed, sir.”
“I gained the sense that this is a guild capable of handling salt properly.”
Even with a salt monopoly, the Yeompyeong Merchant Guild could not supply all of the Central Plains alone.
What was needed here were salt retailers.
The Emperor planned to grant licenses to only certain merchant guilds to trade in salt.
And Jin Woo-rim had been entrusted with selecting which guilds could engage in salt retail.
Jin Woo-rim believed that even if he supplied salt at fair wholesale prices, the system would lose its effectiveness if retailers engaged in price manipulation.
Thus, he intended to find retailers who would not tamper with salt prices and grant them retail licenses.
And because of today’s encounter, the Eunhae Trading Company had been added to his list of candidates.
A Merchant Guild Leader with such upright principles would certainly be worthy of consideration as a candidate.
That was when it happened.
“We’re under attack!”
Those guarding Jin Woo-rim shouted and drew their blades.
Masked Intruders clad in black suddenly appeared and surrounded them. At a glance, their numbers were far from insignificant.
Jin Woo-rim found himself bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
But he quickly regained his composure and barked at the Masked Intruders.
“What is the meaning of this! I move under the Emperor’s command! This is disrespect toward His Imperial Majesty!”
Yet the Masked Intruders surrounding him paid no heed to his words and began their assault.
‘Damn it!’
Witnessing this, Jin Woo-rim understood.
They knew who he was.
That they would still come meant they intended to eliminate him completely.
Otherwise, there would be consequences for them later.
And so their attacks bore no mercy whatsoever.
Around Jin Woo-rim were not only his personal guards but also Warriors of the Geumui Guard that the Emperor himself had assigned.
But numbers have a way of overwhelming skill.
Gradually, Jin Woo-rim’s party began to give ground, and soon they found themselves in a desperate situation.
In fact, intelligence had come in that he was being targeted.
Thus, the Emperor had sent ten Warriors of the Geumui Guard to protect him.
But while thoroughly investigating salt prices and simultaneously searching for suitable retailers, drawing attention would have been counterproductive.
For that reason, he had minimized his escort, and now this disaster had struck.
‘Ah! Am I to die like this? I regret not bringing all the Geumui Guard Warriors the Emperor assigned to me!’
Jin Woo-rim thought he could guess who was behind the Masked Intruders attacking him.
There were a few places he suspected, and it had to be one of them.
Then, one of the Geumui Guard Warriors approached, breathing heavily, and whispered.
“I will create an opening no matter what. Merchant Guild Leader, you must escape through it.”
“But you….”
He offered a bitter smile.
“Please tell His Imperial Majesty that I apologize for failing to fulfill the duty entrusted to me.”
And with that resolve, he gripped his blade tighter.
That was when it happened.
Thunk—!
Crack—!
Hidden projectiles struck the hands of those attacking Jin Woo-rim’s party.
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
As everyone froze in shock at the sudden development, a young man’s clear voice rang out.
“Masked attacks like this hardly seem to be born of good intentions.”
“I will apprehend you!”

* * *

I knew that Jin Woo-rim Merchant Guild Leader and his entourage would be ambushed.
But I didn’t know the exact time and location.
I knew it would be on the outskirts of the Provincial Capital, though.
So I stationed people in the surrounding areas, and the moment I received a signal from the one I’d placed here, I rushed over with all speed.
In my previous life, Jin Merchant Guild Leader suffered severe wounds but did not die.
It was thanks to the sacrifice of a Gold Robe Guard Warrior.
But if one survives through another’s sacrifice, that is a sorrowful thing. One must carry that burden in their heart for a lifetime.
Having experienced such things several times before, I understand that weight well.
Because no one wished to make a sacrifice, I hurried here.
Fortunately, no one died.
Had I known an attack would occur today, it would have been proper to give him advance warning, but I did not.
If the future changed because I warned him, Jin Merchant Guild Leader might have died instead.
When the critical situation unfolded as expected, offering aid at that moment was the far superior choice.
Clang!
Clang-clang!
The cacophony of cold steel clashing gradually subsided, and finally all of them were apprehended.
The Constables I’d brought along, having been promised a celebration to commend today’s efforts, were now delighted at having accomplished something worthwhile.
“Thank goodness. It ended well.”
“Thank you, Sister Hyang-ok.”
“Think nothing of it. As a disciple of the Ami Sect, I could not simply stand by and ignore those acting unjustly.”
Among those who accompanied me were my two elder cousins and Sister Hyang-ok.
I needed to make an impression.
I approached Jin Woo-rim Merchant Guild Leader alongside my cousins and clasped my fist in salute.
“We meet again. Are you unharmed?”
“Ah, thanks to you, I’m safe.”
“Do you happen to know who they are?”
When I asked, pointing toward the Masked Intruders, Jin Woo-rim Merchant Guild Leader shook his head.
“I know there are several who have designs on me, but I cannot say with certainty who these people are.”

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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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