White Salt Merchant Group (2)
“If it were me, I’d sell Lukbocha black tea from Guangxi Province among the black teas. It’s smooth in flavor with almost no astringency, and they say it’s effective for reducing fevers.”
“Exactly.”
“Since Daiwol Kingdom is a hot country, treating fevers is quite important. So we can sell it at a high price and use that money to buy grain.”
“Grain?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Since you mentioned trade with Daiwol Kingdom to me, Branch Leader, I’ve been mulling it over carefully. What we want to gain from this trade right now.”
He continued.
“It’s grain. We’re facing severe difficulties in securing food due to the poor harvest at the moment. And that will likely happen on a national scale.”
“Why do you think it’ll be on a national scale?”
“With poor harvests nationwide, do you think a few ships’ worth could solve it? Besides, even if Daiwol has plenty of grain, exporting that much would require agreements between nations, right?”
“……I see.”
“But from the perspective of the empire, a great power, directly engaging in trade would hurt their pride. They’ll probably hire a merchant group for indirect trade. And I think you foresaw that and are preparing for it, Branch Leader.”
Eun Gil-sang couldn’t help but exclaim at his response.
“Pass!”
After delivering the letter to the White Salt Merchant Group, he stopped by an inn on the way back to pick up his mother and returned to the Cheongsan Inn.
“You’re back?”
Deputy Yu Dae-ik greeted him.
“Where’s Father?”
“Still in his room.”
Still talking?
He briefly checked the energy upstairs. He sensed his father and Yong Eung-wan’s presences.
The conversation dragging on was good news.
Just then, the door opened, and the two men came down the stairs.
He quickly clasped his hands in salute and reported.
“I’m back, Father.”
“Good work.”
His father’s expression was bright. Did that mean…?
“Seo-ho.”
“Yes?”
“You picked a good talent.”
Ah! Passed!
“Thank you, Father.”
“No need for thanks—I’m the grateful one.”
His father grinned broadly and turned to Yong Eung-wan.
“Select the crew and bring them here. And we’ll prepare a guest room for you.”
“Thank you.”
“No need—I say you deserve it, Captain Yong.”
As he patted Yong Eung-wan—no, Captain Yong’s shoulder while saying that, it seemed he was quite pleased.
Of course. Captain Yong was one of the talents he’d noted down right after arriving.
There was no way he wouldn’t catch Father’s eye.
He approached and bowed his head.
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
“I may have given the chance, but you seized it, Captain.”
“Captain… The title feels a bit embarrassing.”
.
.
.
Today was the day of the Top 100 Merchant Groups of the World assembly.
With Palgap’s help, he changed into splendid, luxurious attire.
When he went downstairs, his father was waiting.
“Sorry for being late.”
“No, your mother isn’t ready yet either.”
“Ah, I see.”
Women always took longer to dress up.
And there was still plenty of time.
“I heard from Seo-u Warrior that Madam Hong Geum-so has given birth.”
“Yes, I got the report.”
Ah, so he knew.
Then why not tell me?
“Father, I’m hurt.”
“……Sorry. I didn’t think of it.”
“Really hurt.”
At his words, his father cleared his throat and looked away.
“Ahem, got it. Next time something like that happens, I’ll tell you.”
“Yes. I’ll trust you. And Father.”
“What? Again?”
“When you head back to Hubei this time, I plan to return to Hubei too.”
“To Hubei?”
“Yes. There’s nothing left for me to do in Beijing. And I need to meet Gong Mil to discuss things.”
His father nodded.
“Understood. Do that.”
“And about Captain Yong yesterday—what about him impressed you?”
“Ah… that?”
His father smirked.
“You’ll know when you become family head.”
“I have no plans to become family head.”
“Then you’ll never know.”
As he chatted with his father, his mother came down from upstairs.
“Oh! Sorry for being late.”
“No problem. Haha.”
His fully dressed mother was truly beautiful.
Come to think of it, she’d been called the top beauty of Gansu in her youth.
He suddenly wondered what about his father had made her decide to marry him.
With those thoughts, they headed to Ihu Pavilion.
Upon arrival, attendants guided them inside.
“Please wear these over your clothes.”
He received the familiar silver badge again.
An indispensable tool for entertainment at Top 100 Merchant Group assemblies.
After fastening the silver badges to their waists, they went up to the second floor, where those already there greeted them.
Since most were familiar faces, there weren’t many new introductions from his father.
After greeting the heads of merchant groups newly ascended to the Top 100 and attending the assembly, the three parted ways.
His mother went to the third floor with the other merchants’ wives, his father to where the heads gathered.
And he headed to where the heirs accompanying the heads were.
As he approached, they pretended to know him.
“Eunhae Merchant Group Branch Leader Eun Seo-ho!”
“Come on over!”
“Eunhae sent Branch Leader Eun Seo-ho again this time.”
“Looks like the successor is set for sure?”
He waved it off.
What are they saying? That’s dangerous talk.
He decided to make it clear here.
“A successor has been chosen, but it’s not me.”
“Then? Ah! Jeong Ho Branch Leader?”
Even Jin-ho hyung wasn’t really a candidate.
He gave a wry smile and nodded.
“Yes. The merchant group will go to my eldest brother.”
“Aren’t you disappointed? You’ve contributed so much to Eunhae’s growth.”
“Not at all. Not disappointed in the least.”
At his firm words, they nodded and changed the subject.
“Speaking of which, Songga Merchant Group got pushed out of the Top 100 like this.”
“Yeah.”
“Even in tough times, bootleg liquor? So stupid and risky!”
“Honestly, I never liked that place.”
“To think they were one of us Top 100! Unbelievable.”
“Well, self-inflicted.”
The topic now was Songga Merchant Group.
They’d been around 70th place, but their main business—brothels—was the problem.
The alcohol ban shook the brothel trade, and their brilliant solution? Bootleg liquor.
He didn’t like Songga much either.
Their head was a former loan shark. He’d taken young women as debt collateral and sold them to brothels, then opened his own.
That was one reason, but the biggest was their ruthless, filthy business methods.
To procure courtesans, they’d lend money to families with girls, then sabotage repayments.
The girls were practically kidnapped.
Anyway, when the ban reduced brothel traffic, they secretly supplied bootleg booze to select regulars.
Eventually caught, it blew up.
From what he heard, a courtesan there reported it to the inspector.
Violating the ban was a capital crime, so the head was executed.
Songga collapsed completely.
Groups below moved up one spot each, letting the 100th enter the Top 100.
He looked up at the man standing by a pillar over there.
He was the branch leader of Mudong Merchant Group, newly in the Top 100.
Famous for porcelain.
Just then, a group of young heirs passed by. He caught a smirk on their faces.
And,
Splash!
One poured the tea from his hand onto the man’s clothes.
“Oops! Sorry about that.”
“N-no problem.”
That was deliberate. Definitely.
Among the heirs here, factions existed. The ones who’d intentionally spilled tea on Mudong’s branch leader were the low-class bunch.
From memory, they’d hung out with the now-fallen Songga branch leader.
Whether they hated the newcomer replacing him, sought revenge, or just amusement—who knew.
He’d heard from Jeong Ho hyung back then. Hyung had warned them several times, but no use.
They’d bullied Mudong’s branch leader viciously, and he hadn’t protested properly.
But opportunity came for him.
As the emperor pushed Daiwol trade, porcelain-focused Mudong surged.
From then, Mudong’s branch leader stopped enduring.
He later learned the man had just been biding his time.
Because their group was much weaker then.
Once it boomed, he crushed his tormentors ruthlessly.
Of course, that was future events yet to happen.
For now, he had no choice but to endure the jerks’ bullying.
“The silk of that robe must be low-grade; the tea soaked in faster than expected.”
“If it’d been high-grade silk tailoring, it’d be fine. Haha.”
Mudong’s branch leader flushed at their words.
Tsk tsk, what bullshit.
He frowned and approached them.
Several gazes focused on him.
Was he that famous?
Thinking that, he handed Mudong’s branch leader his handkerchief.
“Are you all right?”
“Ah, yes… Thank you.”
He turned to the group that spilled the tea.
“Isn’t it proper etiquette to drink tea while seated? Walking around with a teacup—how frivolous.”
They bit their lips.
He wasn’t wrong.
“And you said the silk for Mudong Branch Leader’s robe is low-grade… As someone from a silk-handling merchant group, I say it’s not. Yours is the low-grade one.”
“W-what?”
“That silk costs four nyang of silver per bolt.”
Top-grade started at around ten nyang per bolt.
“What nonsense is that? This silk cost twelve nyang!”
“Oh dear…”
He said sympathetically.
“You got scammed. A merchant scammed… I don’t know how to console you.”
The onlookers struggled not to laugh.
“Y-you…”
Finally, they stormed off.
“Hahaha!”
“As expected of Eun Branch Leader—no match!”
The others burst into laughter watching them go. They disliked them too.
Bok Yun Branch Leader approached from behind.
“Well done.”
Sa Gang Branch Leader and Han Baek-geon Branch Leader smiled at him too.
He formally greeted Mudong’s branch leader.
“Eunhae Merchant Group Branch Leader Eun Seo-ho.”
“Mudong Merchant Group Branch Leader Dam Jin.”
Dam Jin saluted and said.
“I’ve heard much of you. The hero of the Yongbong Martial Tournament, Seonhyeopmirang, right?”
“An embarrassing name—forget it.”
Please forget it.
Unaware of his inner embarrassment, Dam Jin bowed again.
“And thank you for helping.”
“No big deal. They irked me too.”
Helping Dam Jin wasn’t just for future knowledge or favor.
It was uncomfortable to watch.
They were typical weaklings before the strong, bullies to the weak.
“Come this way. Standing will make you a pillar.”
Starting with Bok Yun Branch Leader, he introduced everyone.
Then someone ascended the platform.
A robust elderly man.
Ho Ju-sin, head of White Salt Merchant Group.
From Shandong, he was hugely tall.
There was an old saying: Shandong great han—big and sturdy Shandong men.
“Thank you all for attending. Since we’re gathered after so long, let’s make it enjoyable.”
He scanned the room.
“Then, let the assembly begin.”
He took a drumstick handed to him and beat the drum.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
Thus, the Top 100 Merchant Groups of the World assembly officially began.
“As you know, alcohol is banned due to the prohibition. So we’ve prepared plenty of fine food. Please take seats.”
He sat at a suitable round table.
Scrape.
Others quickly joined his table, as if waiting.
Bok Yun to his right, Sa Gang to his left, then Han Baek-geon and Dam Jin.
Six chairs per table—one seat left.
Then someone approached and asked.
“Mind if I sit here?”