Beijing Branch (3)
“A problem?”
I echoed, and my uncle-in-law explained.
“Yes, that plot of land—it’s said to belong to the imperial palace.”
The site I wanted was an empty lot some distance from the palace.
To be precise, about an hour’s walk from the imperial palace.
It was at a suitable distance from the palace, not too far from Beijing’s bustling districts, and there weren’t many plots that large.
But it belonged to the palace?
“They say the imperial family bought it up to build a detached palace. But as you know, His Majesty the Emperor doesn’t waste money on frivolities.”
Ah…
I could grasp the situation now.
The previous emperor had squandered money like water.
His extravagance had left the imperial coffers empty.
Among his follies was building multiple detached palaces.
He’d indulge in lavish stays at each new one for a month or so.
But his debauched lifestyle ruined his health, and he died young.
In short, an incompetent ruler.
His one saving grace? Designating the current emperor as his successor before passing.
Anyway, they’d prepared lands for those palaces, and the plot I wanted was one of them.
The new emperor, however, shunned such luxuries, leaving the land as barren waste.
“As you know, acquiring imperial palace land as a private individual is quite tricky.”
“Indeed it is.”
So how had the Baekcheon Merchant Group snagged it in my previous life?
I pondered, then a likely method surfaced.
In that life, the empress was poisoned, and the woman backed by the Murim Alliance became the new empress.
With her influence, the Ministry of Revenue wouldn’t have stood a chance.
“It’ll take some serious pull to buy that place. You know how those Ministry of Revenue officials are—such pains in the… ahem, well, anyway.”
“True enough.”
But it had been the Baekcheon Merchant Group’s land before. No reason we couldn’t claim it too.
Besides, plenty of others coveted it—they just couldn’t show their hands.
It was prime real estate, after all.
We had to seize it before they did.
“Still, I don’t want to give up.”
“Well, youth is a wonderful thing.”
My uncle-in-law must have seen it as youthful bravado.
“But even with His Majesty’s favor, you can’t very well bother him with something like this, right?”
“Exactly.”
I knew what worried him.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle this like a merchant.”
“If you say so, I feel better.”
…
…
Back at my temporary quarters, I sank into thought.
I’d actually visited that plot before even considering the Beijing branch.
So I knew.
There was nothing there.
A truly desolate empty field.
Who’d dare farm or open a shop on land set aside for a palace by the emperor?
Naturally, it had become a hideout for Beijing’s riffraff, away from prying eyes.
My uncle-in-law had mentioned the Ministry’s nitpicking, saying it’d be hard to acquire—but giving up meant getting nothing.
Time to push forward.
I stood and said to Palgap.
“Palgap, let’s go.”
“Where to, young master?”
“The palace.”
“Pardon?”
“I need to meet a Ministry of Revenue official.”
We arrived at the palace gates, and as the Eunhae Merchant Group’s young branch head, I formally requested an audience with the ministry.
I didn’t have a permanent pass.
Only high officials carried those.
I could’ve asked Seonil-hyung or an acquaintance to get me in, but I didn’t.
Bringing in someone unrelated to their duties could cause trouble.
So I went through official channels.
“You’ve made the request, so back to the quarters now?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“We wait here.”
The Seo-u Warrior gave me a knowing look.
“You don’t mean… until they summon us?”
I flashed an awkward smile.
“Yes.”
“Usually you tell me to make the request, but today you came yourself.”
“Right.”
“……”
Normally, you’d request and wait at your lodgings until summoned.
Even for the emperor.
But some officials refused meetings, claiming you hadn’t waited.
The Ministry of Revenue was notorious for it.
Did they summon you early?
Fat chance.
Two hours was standard; worse cases meant all-nighters.
A form of merchant-breaking.
Small traders might escape it, but major merchants like us had to negotiate often.
Officials assumed superiority, taming merchants to seize control in talks.
Merchants entered at a disadvantage, signing unfavorable deals.
No one to complain to, and you couldn’t avoid negotiating—so swallow the humiliation.
This stirred memories of my past life.
When Eunhae nearly rivaled the top ten merchants, we needed a Ministry official for an imperial silkworm project.
We requested an audience… and met three days later.
Waiting at the palace gates the whole time, of course.
Hah…
Thinking back spiked my blood pressure.
That’s why my uncle-in-law despised those officials.
“Isn’t that Eun Seo-ho, young master?”
A guard on shift recognized me.
I set aside my thoughts and nodded.
“Ah, yes. That’s me.”
“Why not head straight in today?”
“Well… I requested an audience with the Ministry of Revenue.”
“Ah…”
The guard, aware of their infamous merchant-taming, looked sympathetic.
“The nerve of them. Even those meeting His Majesty wait in their quarters.”
I gave a wry smile and sighed.
Officials might be watching, so no overt agreement.
An hour passed—still nothing.
Palgap and the guards flushed with anger, but I stayed serene.
—This is outrageous.
To the Seo-u Warrior’s transmission, I sent back a hollow chuckle.
—Just accept it. The world’s full of injustices.
Did they know I held grudges?
* * *
At that moment.
Ministry of Revenue officials bustled through their work.
Not as slammed as I was, though.
They could clock out on time.
A rookie official asked his senior.
“Senior, what do we do with this?”
“What’s that?”
“An audience request from Eun Seo-ho, young branch head of Eunhae Merchant Group.”
“Eunhae? Oh, the ones handling the imperial silk delivery.”
“Yes.”
“So? Should we rush out barefoot to greet him?”
His gruff tone prompted a nearby official to defend the newbie.
“He’s new. Cut him some slack.”
“Right you are.”
He lectured the rookie earnestly.
“Listen up. Our ministry has a time-honored tradition for merchant negotiations.”
“I’m all ears.”
“When one of these comes in, we reply after two hours minimum. And for cocky ones like this? Two days.”
“Is that okay?”
The rookie fretted, but the senior was nonchalant.
“They’re desperate anyway.”
“But…”
“Lowly merchants acting high and mighty. Crush their spirit early, or they’ll eat us alive. Ignore it and get back to work.”
“Yes, sir.”
The senior tilted his head.
Eun Seo-ho… rings a bell.
But new papers piled up, derailing the thought.
* * *
Imperial palace.
One in three bustling figures might as well be eunuchs.
So many of them, so many tasks.
A eunuch from the cleaning bureau hurried somewhere.
He reached a building.
“I have a report.”
“Come in.”
It was a lodging for eunuchs—specifically, one for Eastern Depot affiliates.
“What is it?”
“Eun Seo-ho, young master, is waiting outside the palace…”
He explained fully.
“What? Already two hours?”
“Yes.”
“Those bastards! Too bold! Even merchant-taming needs discretion.”
“What should we do?”
“Issue a mobilization order. This is our chance to win Eun Seo-ho’s favor.”
…
…
Gold Guard commander’s office.
The commander scowled at the report.
“What? Young hero Eun Seo-ho is suffering at the hands of those Ministry fools?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What do you think?”
The Gold Guards voiced agreement.
“We owe our renewed imperial grace to young hero Eun Seo-ho.”
“We can’t let those insolents off.”
“I agree.”
The commander said, “Call the men.”
“Yes, sir!”
…
Gold Guard and Eastern Depot duties overlapped, so did their thoughts.
They immediately shook down the Ministry officials.
No one’s clean under scrutiny.
And the Ministry dealt with money—plenty of dirt flew.
They couldn’t ignore each other’s presence, and an hour after starting, their heads met.
“Yield to the Eastern Depot. We Gold Guards must repay young hero Eun Seo-ho’s grace.”
“I understand. No misunderstanding. Ahem, we can’t stand by their abuses.”
“Really?”
“Ahem… and we’d like some of young master Eun Seo-ho’s goodwill too.”
“Knew it!”
“Ah! Let’s snag some imperial favor while we’re at it!”
“You’re already swimming in it by His Majesty’s side.”
The watching Jin Yeong Warrior interjected.
“Young hero Eun Seo-ho has endured over three hours. Report says he’s still standing, not sitting.”
“What?”
“Damn!”
They exchanged glances, then coughed awkwardly.
“No choice. Ahem.”
“We’ll cooperate.”
“Us too.”
Thus, Eastern Depot and Gold Guard allied over me.
“Our Depot provides the intel.”
“Gold Guard handles the threats.”
And that night.
Gold Guards visited the newly appointed Minister of Revenue and his deputies.
* * *
I cursed the Ministry officials as dawn broke in the east.
Pulled an all-nighter after all.
I didn’t mind suffering alone, but dragging Palgap and the four guards into it weighed on me.
“Young master, shall I fetch something to tide you over?”
I shook my head at Palgap.
“I’m fine. Don’t know when they’ll call—bad form to be eating.”
I added, “Go eat in shifts.”
“We’re good.”
The I-pil Warrior spoke, but Seo-u thought then nodded.
“Better follow the lord’s orders.”
They conferred briefly; Jin Yu and I-pil Warriors left first for food.
Seeing that lightened my mood.
So when do these Ministry bastards summon me?
Officials started arriving; Seonil-hyung spotted me on his way in, face pitying.
As kin to a merchant house, he knew the drill.
“You okay?”
“Yes, fine. Don’t worry.”
“If you say so, but I can’t stand it. I’ll go chew them out at the Ministry.”
“Really, I’m good.”
As we talked—
“Huff! Huff! Y-young master Eun Seo-ho here?”
I answered promptly.
“Yes! Right here!”
The official panted, as if sprinting.
But… did I hear right?
Not “here?” but “are you present, sir?”
Confirming I hadn’t misheard, he bowed low, head nearly touching ground.
“I am Ja-sun of the Ministry of Revenue. Follow me, please.”
Was this the same stiff-necked Ministry official?
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