The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 714

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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 714

Chapter 714. Chung-ui Hall (1)

Just as Seo Hyang had predicted, the Emperor sent someone to summon me that very day.
Because I had already prepared myself and tidied my appearance beforehand, I was able to proceed to the Imperial Palace without hesitation.
And I greeted the Emperor with the utmost propriety and respect.
“Rise.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless.”
I straightened my posture.
“Indeed, it seems your journey to Shandong brought about some rather interesting matters.”
The Emperor gestured toward his wooden table, upon which lay an official report.
“This is a report that came from the Shandong Provincial Inspector.”
Ah… a report from the Inspector. So it was about that matter.
“Did the remains of the deceased return safely to their hometowns?”
“Is that what concerned you most?”
“Yes.”
“Not what punishments those Green Forest Bandits received, or what additional crimes they committed?”
I shook my head firmly.
“I went through considerable effort to collect those remains. Would it not be distressing if those bones failed to return to their hometowns?”
At my words, the Emperor let out a soft chuckle.
“You seem to care only for profit, yet you do not. Truly, you are a peculiar fellow.”
You flatter me, Your Majesty.
“Let me tell you what you were most curious about first. A report came that all the remains you collected were sent back to their hometowns. Should any bones return to their hometowns but have no family to receive them, I have ordered the local prefectures to conduct the funerals themselves.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“And it is confirmed that those Green Forest Bandits deliberately triggered the landslide. Moreover, they killed several others beyond those you recovered. The Inspector personally mobilized soldiers to excavate and rebury them. However, since their identification plaques were damaged and their hometowns could not be determined, he requested assistance from the Moshan Sect.”
The Emperor continued.
“By the way, I heard that the Green Forest Bandits from the nearby mountain strongholds voluntarily participated in the reconstruction work, which allowed the roads to be restored faster than expected.”
Just as I had anticipated.
The Emperor smiled knowingly.
“Was that your doing?”
“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”
“Don’t play coy…”
I answered composedly.
“I merely hired them with money. I simply wished to have a more comfortable journey back.”
“I see.”
“As a result, thanks to this, I was able to bring good news to Your Majesty more quickly. The Shandong Ak Clan not only sent an Instructor for the Martial Hall but also agreed to provide the Shandong Ak Clan’s spear techniques.”
The Emperor’s expression grew intrigued.
“Is that truly the case?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. The Shandong Ak Clan provides the Martial Hall with a spear technique called the Twelve Spear Method, and it is said to be a concise yet exceptional technique that one can master with just that alone.”
“They would do such a thing for me! How truly admirable their sincerity is. I must personally send a letter of gratitude to the Shandong Ak Clan.”
“If you do so, the Shandong Ak Clan will be greatly moved.”
I continued.
“And if I may be so bold, would it not be wise to make this fact widely known? Or perhaps you could summon the House Master of the Shandong Ak Clan to commend him and treat him with the utmost hospitality.”
At my words, the Emperor gazed at me, and his eyes gleamed with unmistakable avarice.
Ugh… why was he looking at me like that?
“Is there perhaps something you need?”
“Your Majesty?”
When the Emperor suddenly asked in a gentle voice, a chill ran down my spine.
No, why did he suddenly sound so frightening?
“I have already received such abundant grace from Your Majesty that I could ask for nothing more.”
I declined indirectly.
Something told me that accepting his goodwill would only lead to trouble later.
“If there is nothing more you wish to ask, may I be dismissed, Your Majesty?”
At my words, the Emperor spoke with a somewhat reluctant expression.
“You may withdraw.”
“Then I shall take my leave, Your Majesty.”
I carefully withdrew and left the Emperor’s office.
Phew…
I felt as though another year had been knocked off my lifespan today.

* * *

Eun Seo-ho left the office, and the Emperor gazed at the spot where he had been standing, a smile playing across his face.
The Eunuch spoke.
“You seem to be in excellent spirits, Your Majesty.”
“The Shandong Ak Clan has presented me with something quite substantial, so how could I not be pleased? And that gift will serve as bait to help me catch other fish.”
The Emperor stroked his chin and continued.
“The more I see of that fellow, the more I wish I could keep him permanently stationed in the Imperial Palace.”
“Previously, Your Majesty said it would be better to leave him as a merchant.”
At the Eunuch’s words, the Emperor nodded slowly.
“Indeed. But lately, I’ve begun to question whether it’s truly right to let such talent slip away to the Merchant Guild.”
Had Eun Seo-ho heard this, he would have been seized with alarm.
“I asked him if there was anything he needed, hoping to place him in my debt, but he skillfully evaded the matter.”
“He possesses the natural instincts of a true merchant—keen in psychological warfare and sharp in perception.”
“That much is certain.”
The Emperor tapped his fingers against the armrest of the throne as he spoke.
“For now, it seems best to keep him close at my side. Besides, he executes whatever tasks I assign with diligent competence.”
Just then, a voice called from beyond the door.
“Your Imperial Majesty. The Gold Robed Guard Commander requests an audience.”
“Let him enter.”
The door opened, and the Gold Robed Guard Commander stepped inside, performing the highest bow before prostrating himself.
“Rise.”
“I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s benevolence.”
“Yes, what brings you here?”
The Commander then presented a military report he had been holding.
“This is the report on the recent operation.”
The Eunuch received it and presented it to the Emperor, who examined it carefully.
“Hmm? Two Gold Robed Guards have fallen?”
“I humbly beg your forgiveness. They were disguised as merchants, but their cover was exposed….”
He continued.
“Nevertheless, the operation was successful, and we were able to apprehend the conspirators plotting rebellion.”
“You have done well. Ensure that the families of the fallen lack for nothing.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is as boundless as the sea. I am profoundly grateful.”
After a moment of thought, the Emperor addressed the Commander.
“Now that I think of it, there was another occasion when a Gold Robed Guard disguised as a merchant was exposed, nearly causing the operation to fail, was there not?”
“I humbly apologize.”
“We must devise a countermeasure for this.”
“We have yet to find a suitable solution. If Your Majesty would offer guidance, we would gladly follow it.”
“An old saying holds that only a thief understands the ways of a thief. Therefore, to master the art of merchant disguise, one must learn from merchants themselves.”
“But which merchant would willingly teach us the ways of commerce? I humbly confess that merchants tremble in fear because of our fearsome reputation, and thus we have been unable to properly learn the merchant’s craft.”
The Commander continued.
“Moreover, we cannot overlook the risk of classified information being leaked.”
At this, the Emperor chuckled and spoke.
“Isn’t there a suitable candidate? Eun Seo-ho of the Eun Hae Trading Company.”
“Ah!”
The Commander’s expression brightened.
“Indeed, with him, we would receive considerable assistance. He won’t fear us and will explain things thoroughly.”

* * *

I sought out Jegal Cheon-du, the Chief Manager overseeing the Martial Hall, and reported the results of my visit to the Shandong Ak Clan.
“…And so the Shandong Ak Clan agreed to provide a martial technique called the Twelve Spear Method, and they said they would dispatch the instructor who created that technique.”
“Is that truly the case?”
“Yes.”
“That’s fortunate. I was just deliberating on how to approach spear instruction.”
Young Master Jegal Cheon-du continued.
“Then I shall revise the spear techniques section accordingly.”
“Yes. And please keep in mind that other sections can be adjusted as well.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Which are the three great martial families currently connected to the Military Ministry?”
“Surely the Shandong Ak Clan, the Hwangbo Family, and the Jin Zhu-eon Clan?”
“And the five great families?”
“Add the Hebei Peng Clan and the Shanxi Yang Family to those.”
The Hebei Peng Clan holds influence in the Military Ministry, but since they emphasize the martial world, they belong among the five great families while remaining outside the three greatest.
The Shanxi Yang Family is renowned for spear techniques.
They possess a secret martial art called the Yang Family Spear Method, and the world calls it the Pear Blossom Spear because their movements are said to transform as unpredictably and mysteriously as falling pear blossoms.
Thus they stand as equals to the Ak Family Spear Method.
Originally called the Divine Spear Yang Family, they were so skilled they belonged among the three greatest families. But while they faltered amid various incidents within the clan, the Hwangbo Family rose to prominence and displaced them from the three greatest. Now the Shanxi Yang Family strives desperately to reclaim their position among the three greatest families, though such a thing is hardly simple.
Yet their efforts will soon bear fruit.
I spoke to Jegal Cheon-du.
“These families compete fiercely for the Emperor’s favor through loyal service. In such circumstances, the Shandong Ak Clan has made the first move by providing martial techniques to the Martial Hall. So what will the other families do?”
“Ah!”
Jegal Cheon-du’s eyes gleamed.
“Am I the only one thinking of the old tale of the fisherman’s profit?”
“I had the same thought.”
The other families will deliberate, but ultimately they too will offer their martial techniques one by one.
When that happens, we expand the range of martial arts we can teach the Martial Hall’s students.
That directly leads to the students’ growth and the Martial Hall’s reputation.
“We cannot miss such an opportunity, so I shall prepare accordingly.”
“I trust in you.”
After exchanging these words, I was about to leave the office when he called out to me.
He greeted me that way and was about to leave the office when he called out to me.
“I… Small Guild Master.”
“Yes?”
“I have a request.”
What kind of request could make someone look so earnest?
“Please, speak freely.”
“I saw a chair in your office before. The one with wheels, I mean.”
“Ah! That one?”
“Yes. Is there any way I could obtain one as well?”
So it wasn’t just me who found it comfortable.
That meant it could become a product that would bring us substantial profit.
I smiled and replied.
“I’ll have one made for you.”
While I’m at it, I should ask Gong Mil to make a few more and gift them to Seo Hyang and her family.
As for Eun Jung-ho… he probably wouldn’t need one.
After all, he spends two-thirds of his day at the Training Ground anyway.
And it would be good to distribute a few more as gifts to places that could serve as publicity.
After handling the urgent matter, I headed straight to my office, and from that point on, it was an endless stream of paperwork.
.
.
.
Two days passed like that.
And this time, I formally appointed Yeon Ju-hyuk as my Deputy Officer.
He was no longer Young Master Yeon Ju-hyuk, but Deputy Officer Yeon Ju-hyuk.
Thanks to Seo Hyang’s rather rigorous training, he had now become capable of handling most tasks without batting an eye.
“Small Guild Master, do you know something?”
“What is it?”
“That you and Vice-Manager Gwak have something in common.”
“And what would that be?”
“You both know how to push people to their limits. Do you have any idea how difficult it was for me while you were away?”
“I see. But didn’t Deputy Officer Yeon come here saying you would take me as your teacher? If it’s too difficult, you’re welcome to pack your things and return to Honam Province right now.”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
He quickly sat at the wooden table and straightened his posture before speaking.
“I was saying I would work hard.”
I laughed and said.
“What do you think training is?”
“Well… I suppose it’s something that helps you become good at something.”
“That’s also correct, but what I believe training truly is, is developing a person’s capacity to endure.”
I continued.
“Because life itself is nothing but a continuous series of endurance.”
“Does that mean the training I received from Vice-Manager Gwak will help me endure the work ahead?”
“That’s correct.”
“How much more work lies ahead that you call this training?”
He’s more perceptive than I expected.
“When does food taste the most delicious?”
“When one is hungry, isn’t it?”
“Precisely. So think of these demanding duties as a means to appreciate the sweetness of rest.”
Yeon Ju-hyuk paused briefly at my words before speaking.
“But when do we actually rest?”
“That is….”
At that moment, Palgap entered my office.
“Young Master. Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster has arrived.”
I’ve never been more relieved to see Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster than at this moment.
I rose from my seat and spoke.
“Well then, I must attend to this important guest.”
“W-wait, Small Guild Master! So when exactly do we rest!”
Yeon Ju-hyuk’s voice rang out from behind me.
Seeing that he wouldn’t be swayed by my words, it seemed I had acquired quite a capable talent.

I entered the Guest Reception Room with a satisfied expression.
“So-sang greets the Great Swordmaster.”
“I apologize for visiting when you’re so busy.”
“Not at all. I was just about to have tea.”
Palgap brought tea, and we drank together.
“The reason I’ve come is that the Golden Robed Guard has a request for you.”
“A request from the Golden Robed Guard?”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster nodded and continued.
“Recently, we’ve detected signs of rebellion and had a mission to investigate and suppress it. However, those disguised as merchants were exposed and met their end.”
“Such a tragedy. I offer my condolences to the fallen.”
“Thank you.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster continued.
“We did receive help from merchants to maintain our disguise, but as you know, the Golden Robed Guard’s reputation is so formidable that….”
I understand what he’s getting at.
What merchant could speak freely in front of the Golden Robed Guard?
“But then I remembered—you exist.”
Ah….
Why are my gloomy premonitions never wrong?
“So I was hoping you could provide training to our Golden Robed Guards on how to disguise themselves as merchants.”
The Emperor’s will must surely be behind this request.
If so, I cannot refuse.
Then….
I smiled and asked.
“How much are you willing to spend on educational expenses?”

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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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