Chapter 133: You Reap What You Sow (3)
I now had a clear picture of the whole scheme.
The Namho Merchant Group had hired people to tamper with the Mi-gwa Merchant Group's goods.
But a question immediately arose.
Then why hadn't they messed with the goods headed for the Eunhae Merchant Group? Honestly, that would have had far greater repercussions.
I turned to Manager Jong Gil-dae.
"I have one question."
"Please, go ahead."
"Are the herbs sent to our group handled by someone other than them?"
He nodded at my question.
"Yes, the herbs for our group are managed directly by the group leader and the chief deputy manager."
"I see."
Just as I thought.
At that moment, a Namho Merchant Group employee approached.
"Have you inspected the herbs?"
"Yes. The quality is excellent."
"Of course. Our group leader is very particular about herb quality. Unlike some groups."
What?
There was a thorn in his words?
But I didn't let it show, flashing a smile instead.
"I'll take a hundred geun each of this heavenly hemp, that one, and those over there."
"Understood."
* * *
We returned to the inn.
I summoned Brother Jin-ho and Manager Jong Gil-dae to my room. We had matters to discuss.
"So, you're saying the Namho Merchant Group planted people in Uncle's group to pull that petty stunt?"
I nodded at Brother Jin-ho's words.
"Whether they planted them or bought them off, that's my take."
Manager Jong Gil-dae agreed with me.
"I share the young master's view. Otherwise, why would the manager and staff in charge of packaging at Mi-gwa be there?"
"Right, and since no groups have complained about poor herb quality in the last three months, that's probably when they left Mi-gwa."
"But how do we prove it? They could just claim they took pity on those poor souls who left Mi-gwa due to hard times and hired them."
Classic Brother Jin-ho.
He lacked business savvy, but his perspective was incredibly broad.
"They could claim that? No, they will claim that."
"Exactly!"
"But Brother Jin-ho, to be honest?"
"Yeah?"
"It's already too late to spread rumors calling it baseless or fabricated."
Manager Jong Gil-dae picked up where I left off.
"As the young master says. Direct victims have already emerged. Even if we tell them they were duped by Namho's scheme, their feelings are hurt—they won't buy it."
"Their feelings are hurt?"
"Uncle turned them away at the door."
"Ah..."
Uncle had no choice but to turn them away.
Such shoddy goods were impossible from Mi-gwa, so he must have thought they were trying to frame him.
I let out a sigh.
Uncle shouldn't have let pride get in the way. He should have apologized first and investigated.
Anyway, that wasn't the priority now.
"I have no intention of letting the Namho Merchant Group get away with such a petty scheme. I think I know their goal."
"Their goal, you say?"
"Yes. Why do you think Namho is resorting to cheap tricks and self-sabotage to ruin Mi-gwa?"
"To monopolize the trade, obviously."
"And once they monopolize the herb trade in this region as they want, what will Namho do next?"
"Ah!"
Manager Jong Gil-dae's eyes widened.
"They'll raise prices."
"Exactly. With no real alternatives, what choice do we herb-trading groups in Guizhou have? We'll have to buy at their inflated rates."
I continued.
"Our group would suffer massive losses too."
I phrased it like a guess, but this was something that had actually happened.
Once Mi-gwa collapsed, Namho forcibly merged nearby small groups to bulk up.
Eventually, they became the only herb broker in Guizhou City.
With a perfect monopoly on Guizhou's herb supply, Namho jacked up prices dramatically.
Trading groups protested, but they had no choice but to pay up.
Our group endured tough times too, eventually resolving it by investing time and money to establish a branch in Guizhou.
Manager Jong Gil-dae voiced his concern.
"But... it's already heading that way. How can we stop it?"
"There's a way."
Both men focused on me.
I spoke calmly.
"You reap what you sow."
You reap what you sow.
Plant beans, harvest beans.
"Namho planted beans, so isn't it only right we give them beans in return?"
Herb prices under thirty percent profit? Ridiculous!
In my view, Namho was already straining hard. And a price war was a battle of capital.
Capital battles pitted size against size.
No boasting, but our group was among Hubei's top three.
Namho? Just a mid-tier broker specializing in certain goods.
If we wanted, we could crush them in a capital fight.
"Time they experienced it too. The blood-draining agony of capital shortages."
And this was revenge for Uncle, who took his own life in my past life.
.
.
.
I wrote to Father.
Outlining my investigation, what would happen if left alone, the support needed to counter it, and the plan.
"Gold Spirit, come out."
"Kui?"
Gold Spirit poked its head from my sleeve.
"Mind delivering this letter?"
"Kui...?"
Not a great response.
I had a trick for that. Holding out a silver coin, I said,
"Do well, and this could be yours?"
"Kuiit!"
At my words, it eagerly thrust out its tail. A real money-grubber—this was a first.
But a silver for one delivery? A sack of rice cost half a nyang, so it made my hand tremble, but it'd earned far more than that.
I securely tied the letter to its tail.
"Deliver to Father."
"Kuiik!"
Gold Spirit shot out the window like an arrow, soon shrinking to a dot and vanishing.
Damn, it was fast.
The next morning,
I received Father's reply.
"It's certainly heading that way, as you say. That would spell big trouble on multiple fronts. Proceed as you think best."
— Eunhae Merchant Group Leader
Father had given his approval.
* * *
Namho Merchant Group.
The group leader was in high spirits.
"So, over eighty percent of Mi-gwa's former clients have switched to us?"
"Yes."
At his aide's report, the Namho leader asked,
"Then who hasn't switched yet?"
"Eunhae Merchant Group and..."
The aide listed a few more, and the leader nodded.
"Not many left. Deal with Eunhae, and it's essentially over."
"True, but... aren't they blood relatives of the Mi-gwa leader? Won't be easy."
"Blood means nothing before money. If it's a loss, they'll trade with us eventually."
The aide nodded.
"What about those guys? The ones from Mi-gwa who, on our orders, slipped subpar goods into shipments for other groups."
"They're working for us now, right?"
"Yes. We have cover stories if questioned, but if guilt strikes and they confess to Mi-gwa, we're in trouble."
After a moment's thought, the Namho leader said,
"Dead men tell no tales."
That was the answer.
"I'll handle it."
Just then, a voice came from outside.
"Group leader. It's Chief Steward Seo."
"Come in."
The door opened, and Chief Steward Seo entered.
"What is it?"
"The monthly financial report."
He handed over the report, and the leader unfolded it.
"Selling herbs way below purchase cost has rapidly worsened our situation."
"Indeed."
He rolled it up, set it on the desk, and asked,
"How much longer can we hold out?"
"At this rate, another half-year."
"Half a year is plenty."
"But if something happens midway, I can't guarantee."
"Won't happen. Mi-gwa can't drop prices further. They're dying right now."
"Probably."
"So don't worry, Chief Steward. Once we're Guizhou's sole herb broker, we'll hike prices. Hell, even five times over, what can they do? They'll buy from us anyway."
"You're right, sir."
The aide nodded in agreement.
"Then we can join the Hundred Great Merchant Groups of the Realm."
The Namho leader frowned and clicked his tongue.
"That's why I suggested agreeing on herb prices together. Tsk tsk."
* * *
People from Eunhae arrived.
Ones Father sent for my plan: three squads of Silver Wind Corps and laborers.
My first order was to buy a large manor in a remote mountain area.
Moments later,
"Hello?"
Someone arrived at the manor, and I greeted them promptly.
"We brought the herbs you requested."
"Thank you for fulfilling my request."
"Haha, with such generous payment, I'm grateful."
"This must stay secret."
"Naturally!"
I'd approached groups coming to trade with Namho.
Offering more than Namho's rates, asking them to buy herbs with it and deliver.
Not a bad deal for them.
Thus, herbs began piling up in our prepared manor.
I could buy them myself, but that risked suspicion.
Hence, the proxies.
"Young master. No more space for herbs."
"Buy another manor nearby, then."
"Understood."
A month passed like that.
Seven manors stuffed full of herbs.
Time to move in earnest.
"Palgap."
"Yes, young master."
"Prepare. We're going to Uncle's."
"Got it."
.
.
.
It took a day on horseback from my location to Uncle's group.
Having sent word ahead, Uncle came out to greet us upon arrival.
"Eun Jin-ho pays respects to Uncle."
"Eun Seo-ho pays respects to Uncle."
"Hahaha! Come in."
Uncle laughed heartily, welcoming us.
"Tough journey, eh?"
Not really—just a day's ride.
But Uncle, unaware, assumed we were weary and led us to lodgings.
Manager Jong Gil-dae, following behind, whispered to me,
"The damaged roof from before is still there. And Uncle's belt ornament is the same."
"I see."
After resting, at mealtime, Uncle's attendant guided us to the dining hall.
While exchanging greetings with Aunt and our cousins, the food arrived.
Seeing it, I chuckled inwardly.
This Uncle...
They were fairly expensive dishes.
Probably to avoid showing hardship, but after sending word of troubles, this felt off.
Pride, no doubt.
Seeing him maintain face even for us stirred pity.
But the food was served.
Best to enjoy it politely.
"I'll dig in."
"Eat plenty."
After the meal, I said to Uncle,
"Could I have a moment?"
"Of course. To my office."
"Yes."
Moments later,
Brother Jin-ho and I headed to Uncle's office.
Uncle offered seats, and we sat at the low table.
"First, Father was saddened by your letter. Silver Moon Pavilion will send funds."
I placed a promissory note on the table.
"Here's one from Eunhae."
A one-thousand-nyang silver note.
Uncle bit his lip slightly, sighed, and said,
"Tell Father thanks."
He reached for it. I swiftly grabbed it and said,
"This note comes with one condition."
"Condition?"
"Yes."
I nodded and continued.
"For the next half-year starting today, delegate the Mi-gwa Merchant Group leadership to me."