Let Them Fight Among Themselves - 3: Foreigners' War of Words in Daesong's Heartland
Foreigners arguing with foreigners right in the middle of Daesong. If they were going to fight, couldn't they do it back in their own countries instead of coming all the way to this distant land? But upon closer inspection, merchant disputes like this were breaking out all over Hangju.
This must be the new normal, I thought, my head throbbing.
With the great beast called Goryeo keeping things quiet, the little pests stayed hidden. But now that the big one was gone, they were all rearing their heads. It was truly astonishing. Who could have imagined Goryeo's mere presence acted as a suppressant on conflicts? It felt like watching demon tribes that moved in perfect unison under their demon lord suddenly go berserk after losing him.
What to do? Should I cross the sea right now and summon the Goryeo merchants back?
No, that won't work. Of course, unleashing Goryeo in our backyard was just a fanciful notion at best. It'd be like burning down the village to catch a few bedbugs.
Pepper and coffee... On top of that, these foreign merchants were flaunting pepper and coffee at each other as they fought. I didn't know the full details, but if Goryeo got involved in that mess? They'd no doubt smash the prices of both and swagger off with the loot. They'd toss out some ginseng and celadon as a charitable gesture in return, but it wouldn't come close to the value of the pepper and coffee. I could see it clear as day.
"If you want to buy pepper, show some sincerity by bringing gold! Don't mess around with those beans!"
"A merchant with no eye for value! Coffee is a precious commodity that's sold out everywhere!"
"That's because no one buys it! Who produces something with no demand!?"
"You fucking chandala bastard!"
"What did you call me, you scum? This Muslim calling me chandala at will!"
Anyway, watching the two merchants' argument heat up, I quietly clutched the back of my neck. Truth be told, I could understand merchants getting emotional and rough in their speech while doing business. For people who worship money like a god, haggling was a holy war to squeeze out profit. It was only natural.
But what I couldn't understand was picking Hangju of all places—and pepper and coffee of all things—for their dispute.
You're neighbors. India and Arabia were right next to each other. If an Arab needed pepper, they could just land in India without coming to Hangju. And vice versa. It wouldn't be so chaotic if they were trading pepper for silk or coffee for porcelain.
"My lord."
As I pondered if some disaster had struck the Middle East, Jo Wi-cheo tapped my shoulder from behind.
"Don't worry about it. As long as they don't come to blows, raised voices are just part of the deal."
"True..."
I nodded half-heartedly at Jo Wi-cheo's words. He was right. Markets were places where, as long as no lines were crossed, the authorities shouldn't intervene. For the sake of free trade, it was best to overlook minor scuffles and ignore small oddities.
Yeah, that made sense—
Don't sweat it. I forcibly shut down my overcomplicated thoughts. No point dwelling on it. I wasn't here to mediate their deals or fix disasters in the Middle East.
Might as well hope their trade falls through and floods the Central Plains with pepper and coffee. Just keep my eyes shut and walk by.
With a small sigh, I turned away.
Looks like touring Hangju meant plugging my eyes and ears. Or avoiding the markets altogether.
Back at the Dong-gu Wang residence, I reported the Bota Gate nun's assault to Dong-gu Wang.
"Another incident like that, eh."
But his reaction was far more nonchalant than I'd expected. No anger, no dismay. It was like hearing "The sun rose in the east today."
His excessive calm left me flustered instead. Hangju had long been an international gangster town. Was I overreacting as an outsider?
"Incidents happen where people live. In a city the size of Hangju, how many thefts or assaults do you think occur daily?"
Seeing my expression, Dong-gu Wang chuckled and handed me a teacup with a casual wave through the air.
"It stands out because the perpetrator was a nun and the victim a foreign merchant, but at its core, it's just another everyday accident—one that happens several times a day. Of course, with foreigners involved, we can't just brush it off carelessly."
"I see."
"Exactly. So don't take it too heavily. Naturally, a ruler's duty is to create a city free of such mishaps, but that's an ideal world you'd only see in paradise."
I couldn't argue with that, so I nodded. A world without disputes, grudges, or incidents was everyone's dream utopia. But that's why it's a utopia—unattainable.
As Dong-gu Wang said, officials strive to approach that ideal, not manifest it like gods. Even gods couldn't bring paradise to earth.
"Still, we should pay more attention to Bota Gate. They're traditionalists who rarely leave Zhoushan Islands, so having Western merchants constantly in their sight must be burdensome."
"Zhoushan Islands already seem to be a major hub for merchants."
"Can't be helped with their prime location. Perfect islands for anchoring right off Hangju—how could they ignore them?"
Dong-gu Wang shrugged lightly and popped a piece of mango into his mouth from the table.
"Truth be told, clashes between tradition and change have always existed in every era. Not just Bota Gate—many scholars and local notables in Hangju voice concerns too."
I blinked blankly, caught off guard. All I'd seen around Hangju were frenzied merchants. No scholars shunning foreigners or isolationists yelling "Get out."
"Isn't today's Hangju the legacy of Emperor Gaozong? Those who study the classics can't openly defy the edicts of the great emperor who righted Heaven's mandate."
Ah.
But his words made instant sense. Of course. Emperor Gaozong crushing the Mongols and founding the unified Central Plains dynasty was just decades ago. With veterans and ministers who remembered him still alive, defying his edicts outright? They'd face a barrage as half-baked scholars.
Hell, chasing merchants out of Hangju would require the imperial house losing scholar support—or the country collapsing. Gaozong's authority was that ironclad.
"More importantly, Left Vice Inspector."
His next words made me tense up instinctively. Talking about watching Bota Gate closer, tradition clashing with change, then calling my name? He was about to assign me something. Send me to Zhoushan to soothe the nuns? Tour nearby to show officials' dignity to scholars and notables—
"It's fine to sightsee Hangju, but refrain from riding your spirit beasts around. Thanks to your travels across the Central Plains, even frontier merchants know the man on the white deer is the Left Vice Inspector. How intimidating must it be for them to haggle with you lurking nearby?"
"Ah, yes. I'll keep that in mind."
It was such sound advice that I felt sheepish. And I hated myself a bit for bracing for a forced quest.
No urgent business in Hangju, so I could head to another city soon. But since I was here, I'd linger a few more days for sightseeing. I'd come to Hangju for Ak I-yeon, who was interested in Soju and Hangju, after all.
But what I'd seen was an ginseng campfire, a nun's assault, and two merchants' self-destruction. Leaving without proper tourism felt unfair, with these as my only memories.
"I'll be out for a bit, so behave."
- Kki-ing~
- Kki-ong.
Following Dong-gu Wang's advice, I decided to leave Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i at the residence. Luckily, they seemed more interested in Hangju's food than sightseeing. Stay put, and officials fed them delicacies; suggest going out, and they'd get mad.
"Wi-cheo—"
"I'll stay with them too."
Plus, Jo Wi-cheo chose to stay rather than tag along for our date with Ak I-yeon. Grateful decision. I'd worried he'd insist on escorting us.
He'll just watch from afar. Of course, he wouldn't truly stay put. With his boss's recent flop against a Hwagyeong master leaving him injured, he'd keep a safe distance just in case.
Still better than a threesome date. Half relieved at moving alone, half secure with a super peak master watching, Ak I-yeon and I set out into Hangju—
"Pleased to meet you! You're Han Un the great hero of Giwangga and Ak I-yeon the great heroine of Akwangga, right!?"
Before long, a stranger woman grabbed us. Her booming voice and sparkling eyes left me staring awkwardly. Approaching strangers without hesitation was one thing, but knowing our identities and speaking first? Bizarre.
And we'd just left Dong-gu Wang's residence. Despite soldiers and officials nearby, no one stopped her.
Who is she?
Odd indeed. No one blocking an outsider approaching two royal grandsons under Dong-gu Wang's hospitality? Her status must be impeccable—beyond what mere soldiers or officials could challenge.
...
"Perhaps... the granddaughter of His Highness Dong-gu Wang?"
That let me pinpoint her quickly. Only one fit: untouchable by the residence, our age.
"Yes! I'm Jang Yeon-hwa!"
Jang Yeon-hwa, one of Dong-gu Wang's grandchildren. I'd only known the name, but now I faced the flesh-and-blood relative.