Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Great Fortune Merchant Group
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* * *
When Dokwang opened his eyes, the sun had already risen, and dazzling sunlight was pouring through the window on one side of the room.
Seonwoyong was nowhere to be seen.
Dokwang shot to his feet and dashed out of the guest room.
"Damn it all. What kind of trick did he pull? He at least paid the tab before leaving, right?"
In that room, Noduk and Somyeongcho were still sprawled out, fast asleep.
* * *
It had been a full half-month since that day of the martial exhibition.
In the heart of the Shenzhou Merchant House—the chamberlord's office—Jin Ichang and Seonwoyong sat facing each other.
Control of the Golden Kennel Market had now fully passed to the Shenzhou Merchant House, and Seonwoyong had purchased the silk at an unprecedented price.
Though it varied slightly by quality, he had bought roughly two thousand bolts at about seven taels apiece—a rough total of fifteen thousand silver taels.
Since a thousand gold taels equaled twenty thousand silver taels, Jin Ichang pulled out a bill of exchange for five thousand silver taels and handed it over.
He had already separately delivered two hundred bolts of top-grade silk.
They were premium goods worth over ten taels per bolt, but compared to what Seonwoyong had won, there was no regret in giving them up.
On top of that, he had agreed to lend five wagons to carry the two thousand bolts of silk.
"You won't even need to go all the way to the Western Regions—just hand them off midway to the great tents, and you'll get at least triple the price. Brother, you'll easily pocket two thousand gold taels on this trading run. Ha ha..."
As they settled the silk payment together, Jin Ichang was overjoyed, reveling in it as if it were his own business.
"Ha ha. It's all thanks to you, brother. I know full well you can't buy this much silk even if you have the money."
"It's nothing compared to the debt I owe you. Just make sure this trading run goes smoothly and you return safe. I'd hand over as much silk as you want."
"Business isn't my only goal, so this will probably be my last one."
"Why not just make a life out of the silk trade? What's the jianghu got that feeds you? Earning a fortune, living in luxury, and feasting every day—it's not a bad way to go."
"You know, you're right. Life's not all that special anyway, so that doesn't sound half bad. Anyway, I'll decide after this run."
"Do that. No rush. By the way, this trading run is hugely important for our Shenzhou Merchant House too, so I'm counting on you all the way."
"If anything, I'm the one imposing, so don't worry."
Though Seonwoyong had bought the silk, joining the Shenzhou Merchant House's trading caravan was a separate matter.
For the Shenzhou Merchant House, this was their first major trading caravan in four years, so they had no end of concerns.
It was a grand expedition passing through Lanzhou and Dunhuang, out the Jade Gate Pass, all the way to Anxi.
The round trip covered more than twenty thousand li, crossing countless mountains, rivers, plains, and deserts—not to mention the myriad dangers lurking along the way.
The success or failure of the next decade at least hung on this journey.
"I had originally planned to lead it myself, but I just can't get away. I can't leave Central Plains affairs unattended for over two years."
"I understand."
"For now, Clarity Sword Guest Sa Hongcheon, our senior, will serve as caravan leader. He's made the run four times already, so he should be more than capable. Strong Tiger Escort's chief will go along too."
The caravan consisted of over a hundred personnel, more than a hundred horses, and over thirty wagons.
Among the group were also about twenty escort warriors skilled in martial arts.
"I doubt I'll have much to contribute, but if something comes up, I'll step in like it's my own business."
"That's what I like to hear. Knowing you're going along puts my mind completely at ease."
Just then came a knock at the door, and Jin Seolhwa entered.
"Hwa-mae? What's this about?"
Without waiting to be asked, Jin Seolhwa took a seat and got straight to the point.
"I'm going on this trading run too."
"What? What are you saying? Have you lost your mind?"
"I'm sick of sitting cooped up in this back room in Xi'an fiddling with silk. Before I get any older, I want to see the wide world."
Jin Ichang could only gape at her in stunned disbelief.
Seonwoyong, however, wore an impassive expression, as if he had seen it coming.
"It's over twenty thousand li, and who knows if it'll take two years or three. Running into bandit gangs along the way wouldn't be anything strange."
"That's exactly why I'm going. Stuck in that back room all my life, I'd even forgotten I was a martial artist. Time to shake off the rust."
"No, Seolhwa. That's not the point..."
Jin Ichang began trying to dissuade her, while Jin Seolhwa started persuading him.
Seonwoyong felt it was time for him to make his exit.
"I'll take my leave now."
Even after Seonwoyong departed, the siblings' argument showed no sign of ending.
Han Sojung was tending to Gwi-ro-a in the stables.
She could have called it by its original name, Hwang-ro, but just as Han Sojung had become Seonwo Sojung, the horse was now simply Gwi-ro-a.
As Han Sojung brushed its coat with a large currycomb, Gwi-ro-a whinnied happily in delight.
Then Elder Jang entered the stables and stood beside Han Sojung.
"How's Gwi-ro-a doing? Looks like it's just about ready for the road to the Western Regions."
Han Sojung gave a halfhearted reply.
"Gwi-ro-a seems thrilled with the world. As for us, we'll eat and sleep wherever, right?"
"That's true enough. But what do you plan to do?"
"No idea. Blow off some steam for now. They say out west there's a desert of endless sand, with winds so fierce and night skies so beautiful..."
"This old servant will follow your lead. By the way, Young Master Seonwo is waiting for you now."
"Oh? Got it. I'll go."
* * *
Seonwoyong was exceedingly busy.
There was so much to prepare.
Silk, personnel, saddle horses, wagons, wagon parts, foodstuffs, and more...
He was traveling with the Shenzhou Merchant House caravan, but in principle they were a separate organization, so he had to handle all of it independently.
Contrary to Jin Ichang's initial worries, Seonwoyong proved highly capable.
Even a veteran caravan hand would have been impressed by how deftly he allocated supplies and personnel.
With departure set for tomorrow, he was prepared to spend the night in the warehouse.
Transporting two thousand bolts of silk required five wagons, each pulled by a pair of horses—and of course, an equal number of drivers.
The Shenzhou Merchant House had agreed to lend the wagons and help find drivers, but it wasn't easy.
The destination was so far, the road so perilous.
Yet the driver issue resolved itself in the simplest, most absurd way.
Elder Jang volunteering was perfectly reasonable, but Dokwang stepping up to drive as well was downright ridiculous.
"Can't just eat and play forever. It'll take at least a year by my reckoning, so pay me two silver taels a month. I'll handle my own food and drink, and if we make it back safe, throw in a bonus of say fifty silver taels."
Asking Dokwang if he had ever driven before was pointless.
"What? You asking if I've done it? Piece of cake. Just whip the horses along and hum a tune, right?"
Seonwoyong was dumbfounded but agreed.
Hiring a master like Dokwang for that price on a long haul to the Western Regions was a steal.
Only after Dokwang promised to handle his own horse feed and shoeing did he consent—and then Dokwang demanded ten silver taels upfront.
With that gleeful grin, Dokwang pocketed the money and vanished for four straight days.
"You called for me?"
Seonwoyong had been inspecting the tarps and lashings on the silk-loaded wagons. He clapped the dust from his hands and turned.
"Yes. You're all set, I take it?"
"What do I have to prepare? No need to worry."
Han Sojung would ride with Elder Jang and had already stowed her belongings there.
"Good. I'm sure you've handled it. I haven't been able to look after you much lately. Once we're on the road, we'll have time to spare."
He meant the seven-stringed zither.
What Han Sojung sought from Seonwoyong was solely his skill at playing it.
He had even bought her a fine one from Xi'an's most renowned instrument shop, but it had been ages since they sat together and plucked the strings.
"No need to fret. I know better than anyone how busy you've been."
"True. But that Dokwang fellow still hasn't shown up."
"He's so unpredictable—maybe giving him that much upfront was too much? Word is he bolted straight for the gambling dens. Tsk tsk..."
Elder Jang clucked his tongue in concern.
"Running off to the tables with cash in hand? That's a given for him. Two months of just watching after running dry—how agonizing for a gambler like that... Heh heh..."
"Whether he loses it all or wins big, as long as he shows by Chou hour tomorrow, it'll be fine. Gambling dens are where time slips away unnoticed—shall I go fetch him?"
Elder Jang fretted at Seonwoyong's utterly nonchalant response.
If he didn't show at all, they'd be short a driver.
"Let him be. Even if you dragged him back, he wouldn't budge. He'll show. I trust the guy. Worst case, I'll drive that wagon myself."
Seonwoyong was set to ride the wagon Dokwang would drive, out of the five.
"Even so, how could we... You're already our caravan leader, Young Master."
"What's that matter? Just trust and wait."
"Oh, but brother. Don't we need a name for our merchant group? Small as it is, we're traveling with the Shenzhou but not the same house."
At Han Sojung's unexpected remark, Seonwoyong surprisingly nodded in earnest.
"You're right. Spot on. We need a name—and a flag to fly."
Moments later, he took a scrap of rough cloth for a banner and began inscribing bold characters with a large brush.
<[Great Fortune Merchant Group]>
Elder Jang and Han Sojung, who had been watching, clapped their hands in delight at the four characters.
"A merchant group blessed with great fortune—what a wonderful name!"
Elder Jang, pure in admiration, had no inkling that Seonwoyong was once the leader of the Great Cloud Bright Religion.
Seonwoyong tied the flag to one of the wagons and gazed up at it.
In his mind rose the memory of vast fields filled with countless banners fluttering like waves.
Great Cloud Bright, Ming Lord Supreme Under Heaven.
Those eight characters had once blanketed the world.