The Next Installment of Food Wars: Jang-geum is Imminent
"Make way for the Dobang!"
"Ahem!"
With the boisterous shout of Eop-bok, the head clerk of the main branch, Kim Deoksu crossed the threshold of the merchant guild's office with a dignified stride. He was a legendary figure, a man who had risen to become the youngest Dobang in the history of the Hanyang Merchant Guild—and indeed, all of Joseon.
He was a man who had earned the recognition of the King himself, backed by the high-nosed noble families who usually turned up their noses at the mere mention of a merchant. He was the hero who had secured state-sponsored projects and expanded the Hanyang Merchant Guild's reach from the capital to the entire nation, establishing a Daebang system that had previously been the exclusive domain of the Dongnae, Uiju, and Kaesong merchants.
Kim Deoksu savored the respectful gazes of the chief guild masters seated in the conference room before slowly making his way to the head seat.
"Let us begin the meeting."
"Yes, Dobang."
Everyone bowed deeply to the Dobang, who was once their junior and still much younger than them. In the world of merchants, there was no room for pride, age, or rank when it came to profit. It felt like only yesterday that he was running a tiny shop in the cramped Hanyang market, but in just a few years, he had become the leader of a massive merchant empire that commanded the entire country.
Whose grace was this? Was it not the grace of the Dobang sitting before them? It was so profound that even the original founder of the Hanyang Merchant Guild had chosen to pass the mantle to Kim Deoksu rather than his own living son.
Those loyal followers, ready to drink lye if Kim Deoksu commanded it, presented the reports they had prepared and continued the meeting.
"The silk trade has seen a massive surge in revenue. Just as you advised, Dobang, we conceded the medicinal herbs and medical texts needed for the Dongui Bogam to the Uiju merchants, and in return, we’ve been reaping the benefits of receiving Ming Dynasty silk through their smuggling routes at a bargain price."
"Net profit has nearly doubled. To think those Uiju merchants were keeping such a good thing to themselves. Please continue to pay close attention so that our trade with them remains open, Chief Guild Master."
"Yes, Dobang."
"The fish market is also flowing well. Thanks to our exclusive supply contracts with gibangs across the country, we’ve been able to purchase in bulk, which has significantly lowered our unit costs. We are now at a level where we can compete with the port merchants of Jemulpo, not just in the gibangs, but in the main markets as well."
"Is that so? Let me see."
This was huge. Jemulpo was the place that practically monopolized the seafood coming up from the West Sea, holding the price of fish in Hanyang in the palm of their hands. If they had reached a level comparable to those merchants, it meant the Hanyang Merchant Guild was ready to dive into the maritime trade as well.
Of course, they couldn't touch the lodging and usury businesses that were Jemulpo's main sources of income, but was the West Sea the only sea in Joseon? If handled well, they could easily swallow up a few smaller ports in the South and East Seas.
Kim Deoksu, nodding in satisfaction as he accepted the report, said,
"Good work. Proceed as planned, and I will mobilize our agents to see if we can open trade routes with the ports in the East and South."
"Understood, Dobang."
The meeting went smoothly. The brassware market was like a bowl of soup—it yielded exactly the profit expected, so maintaining the status quo was sufficient. As the volume of pure wealth increased, so did the amount of cotton cloth they could circulate, naturally boosting the profits of the cotton shops.
And the only thing left was the paper shop.
The chief guild master of the paper shop, who had led the Hanyang Merchant Guild's rise over the past three years, spoke with a somewhat dejected voice.
"Well... sales at the paper shop have dropped significantly. Everyone who could afford Food Wars: Jang-geum has already bought it, and since The Little Prince and Jin Gwang-ryeol are stories aimed at the middle class or children, we set the price point low, which seems to be the issue. Even those aren't selling well lately..."
He was worrying over nothing.
Kim Deoksu waved his hand at the paper shop master's concern and replied,
"Haha, it's fine, Chief Guild Master. I have already solved that problem."
"Dobang, you've solved it? By any chance?"
"Yes, it will be out soon. The new volume of Food Wars: Jang-geum."
The room erupted in a buzz of excitement. Had it returned? Was that moment truly back? It was the return of Joseon's greatest wealth-copying machine—a work that could be milked once through the Seondokpae, twice through the book, three times through the gibangs, and then re-read once the next installment came out!
And as if everyone's anticipation had become reality, the voice of Eop-bok, who was guarding the outside, rang out.
"Dobang! A guest has arrived!"
"A guest?"
"Yes, Dori from the Minister's house has brought a book. It's Food Wars: Jang-geum, volume 3."
***
"Chief Guild Masters, please wait a moment. I will read this first and then think about how to manage the paper shop in the future."
"Yes, Dobang."
Kim Deoksu, having received the book, immediately began to read Food Wars: Jang-geum.
"'Heretic'? It's unconventional from the very start."
Then followed the backstory of Dae-idara. The process of a chef who once held the honor of being a 'Gourmet' and the respect of the people falling into corruption was truly impressive. Kim Deoksu, being a merchant at the very bottom of the Sa-nong-gong-sang social hierarchy, could empathize with it.
Although he was now one of the top ten wealthiest men in Joseon, he still had to wear a chorip (straw hat) instead of a heungnip (black hat) because he was a merchant. He couldn't build a house larger than a noble's, he wasn't even qualified to take the Daegwa (civil service exam), and even if he managed to pass the difficult Japgwa (technical exam), he was never called a sadaebu (scholar-official).
"So, you crossed the line. You foolish man."
However, apart from the empathy, the method was wrong. A merchant only shines when they remain a merchant. If you want something greater, you shouldn't waste time coveting someone else's seat; you must polish yourself and raise the status of merchants as a whole, not just as an individual. Just as the Hanyang Merchant Guild had done for the past three years.
"Wait? 'Ingredients of Eternity'? It tastes like heaven?"
And finally, something that smelled of money appeared. It was clearly a potent scent. Heavenly taste, ingredients of eternity, and a dish that could overcome those ingredients. If such a dish truly existed, perhaps it would surpass even the sales of the Hwangol-gye!
Anticipation swelled. The opportunity for the rapidly growing Hanyang Merchant Guild to take another leap forward had arrived. The subsequent cooking battle between Misik-rin and Akha-chugi was nail-biting, and then—Misik-rin loses? Wait, he loses? Suddenly?
He loses his sense of taste? Jang-geum does? What kind of plot is this...? Ah, so this is where they meet!! The brave white hawk and the physician Jin Gwang-ryeol!!
Kim Deoksu, reading the book with trembling hands, shouted at the very last page.
"The next installment!!"
What a heartless young master. How are the readers supposed to go on if you cut it off here? If he could, he would storm into Minister Heo Yeop's house and grab him by the collar to demand the next volume.
"Phew... Good. The story is well-crafted."
Apart from his frustration, the scent of money was strong. In fact, because it was cut off at the perfect moment, the scent of wealth had only grown stronger. If he utilized time and resources to the fullest before the next installment came out, he could make even more profit than expected. Kim Deoksu, the wealth-demon, closed his eyes for