A Letter from the North Sea Ice Palace (5)
Seo-hyang Sojeo said to me,
"Is there no way to take a detour, by any chance?"
A detour? Why was she asking about that?
I asked with a serious expression.
"Sojeo, I need a bit more detail."
"There are countless people lying in ambush at the pass we'll pass through ahead. And their surprise attack will cause serious casualties."
Her eyes trembled faintly, a sign that the damage would truly be grave.
"How many are lying in wait?"
"More than five hundred."
Quite a number. And the fact that they were waiting for us meant someone had gotten wind of this information ahead of time and tipped them off.
As I pondered, the full picture began to emerge.
Even if we hadn't stopped at an inn, unloading grain at the ferry landing wouldn't have gone unnoticed.
Word must have reached some mountain bandit stronghold.
And their leader had hatched a plan: unite with the nearby bandits.
The bandits in Shandong weren't on a large scale.
With the government's strong influence, any large group would be wiped out in a crackdown.
Operating in small bands meant they couldn't target a massive caravan like ours.
But transporting food this time had stirred their greed.
Food was what brought together those who usually didn't unite.
"Do you happen to know the location?"
"Not exactly. But I saw a large cornelian cherry tree."
Ah... I think I know the place.
There was only one spot with a massive cornelian cherry tree on our route.
Just before crossing from Shandong into Hubei.
With rugged terrain and five hundred men, it was certainly daunting.
We wouldn't lose, of course, but heavy losses were inevitable.
If it were a hundred or two hundred, it would be good experience for Jin-ho hyung.
From the report I'd just read, he seemed to have a solid grasp already.
I stood up.
Rather than agonizing over it, I preferred to act and resolve things—that was my nature.
If numbers needed trimming, then trim them they would.
"Jin Yu Warrior. Come with me somewhere for a bit."
"Yes, I'll follow."
"And Seo-u Warrior, please watch over this place while I'm gone."
"No need for concern."
"Tell hyung and Ha Podu we'll depart around lunchtime tomorrow."
"Understood."
This matter required me to move alone. If I told Jin-ho hyung, he'd insist on coming along.
But dealing with bandits demanded ice-cold precision.
Even if he'd refined his fighting style, Jin-ho hyung still had a hot-tempered streak.
That could ruin everything.
"Then, I'll be off for a short while."
And so, Jin Yu Warrior and I quietly vanished.
A short time later.
I stood before a bandit stronghold. To gather over five hundred in such short order, all the nearby strongholds must have allied.
As I approached, a bandit guarding the fence came over with a torch.
"Who the hell are you?"
Arrogant attitude.
But I didn't mind.
Bandits were all like that.
And this one was just posturing.
"Ah, my greetings are late to the mountain hero. This lowly merchant is from the Eunhae Merchant Group. I'd like to see your Chaeju."
He thought for a moment, then said,
"Wait inside. Hold on."
He went in, and soon returned.
"Go in."
"Aigoo, thank you."
I entered the Chaeju's quarters with Jin Yu Warrior.
The Chaeju sat in a chair draped with beast hide.
"What do you want?"
I smirked inwardly at his pompous display.
It looked utterly ridiculous.
"Ah, this lowly merchant is from the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Eunhae Merchant Group?"
"I assume you're aware. Even if not, it's one of the top thirty merchant groups. And... the cargo you've resolved to steal this time belongs to us."
"...!"
He flinched.
"H-how do you know that?"
"I have my ways. So, who was it that tempted you to join the raid?"
"T-tempted?"
"Our group has many skilled warriors. The vanguard stronghold will surely suffer near annihilation..."
I chuckled.
"No matter how I think about it, it doesn't seem like the ones who tempted you would take the vanguard."
"..."
His face darkened sharply at my words.
"Moving such a huge amount of grain in these turbulent times without substantial escort? Do you think the Eunhae Merchant Group is run by fools? And the stronghold that got word first couldn't possibly be unaware..."
I added casually,
"Didn't they tell you?"
"..."
"Judging by your expression, did you agree to take the vanguard?"
"Ahem!"
"They must have lured you with promises of a bigger share of the loot."
"..."
"But are you planning to take that share to the afterlife? Tch, even if you wanted to, you can't. It'll go to whichever strongholds survive."
Finally unable to hold back, the Chaeju exploded in rage.
"Damn it! They deceived us!"
Now he realized how nonsensical the temptation had been.
Scams prey on those who fancy themselves clever.
They trust their own judgment too much to doubt it.
This Chaeju was just such a type.
And when they realize they're wrong, their fury is immense.
Steaming them in that state was child's play.
"They deceived you first. Any reason to stick with the alliance?"
"None!"
"But reality is the issue. Food shortages, and spring famine approaching."
"..."
I tossed him a pouch.
Thud!
"What's this?"
"Open it."
He did, and his eyes widened.
"This is...?"
"Silver to cover your losses if you withdraw from the alliance. What's your choice? Take the money and bail, or stay in?"
He snorted at my words.
"Twisting words strangely. The money's already in my hands. But it sounds like if I choose the latter, you could take it back anytime."
"Ah, you heard correctly."
"What do you—gurk!"
He swallowed hard.
A cold blade now pressed against his throat.
That was why I'd brought Jin Yu Warrior.
Merchants had no choice but to understand bandit psychology.
They moved strictly for profit.
In some ways, they resembled merchants.
But the key difference was our merchant ethics.
I was upholding those ethics by giving this Chaeju fair compensation.
Of course, greed blinds the eyes.
Even with payment, he'd quietly rejoin for more if I left.
Hence the warning.
I grinned.
"What will you do?"
Trembling, he replied,
"J-just a joke. Haha. Promises must be kept. Of course!"
"What will you do?"
"I'll withdraw from the alliance!"
"Wise choice."
At my signal, Jin Yu Warrior withdrew the sword.
"You're probably thinking right now: with this level of skill, why bother with the hassle? Just kill all the allied bandits."
His eyes widened, spot on.
"From my perspective, this is more profitable. As I said, we're merchants. Why dirty our hands when you can keep the area clean for us?"
Paying tolls to bandits was bitter, but more profitable in the long run.
Maintaining amicable relations ensured our caravans passed unscathed.
We couldn't afford overwhelming escorts everywhere.
They preferred steady tolls over risky raids too.
"Ahem, true enough."
"Of course, touch us, and blood will flow."
"No worries. We'll just quietly collect tolls from now on."
"Yes, that's the proper line."
And with that, the matter was settled.
"So, which stronghold tempted the others into this?"
"Over that mountain to the east. Run by Chaeju Man-gu."
Man-gu, the Chaeju running a bandit stronghold in Shandong, scratched his belly with a satisfied grin.
The massive haul of grain he'd soon claim danced before his eyes.
Recently, his informant dispatched to Jenam had brought priceless intel.
The Eunhae Merchant Group was transporting a huge load of grain.
Eunhae Merchant Group.
A group that had skyrocketed into the top thirty recently.
Transporting food in these chaotic times meant heavy escorts.
But it was too tempting to pass up.
Handled right, it could sustain him belly-rubbing for a year.
Pondering, he devised a plan.
Recruit nearby strongholds.
His share would shrink, but better than nothing.
Offer generous cuts, and the hungry ones would bite.
He swiftly sent men to every local stronghold. They had to strike before the caravan left Shandong.
As expected, all accepted, gathering to plan.
Man-gu promised bigger shares to the vanguard, and several Chaejus agreed to lead.
'Idiots. They fell for it so easily.'
He sneered inwardly.
The shares were empty promises.
Given the enemy's strength, the vanguard would be annihilated.
He'd join late to claim his piece.
With the scale, officials or sects might intervene, but they'd scatter quickly.
Small size had its advantages.
The thought pleased him again.
Then a bandit came rushing.
"Chaeju! Chaeju!"
"What?"
"The prey approaches. Half a day out."
"Then shall we go?"
He ordered his men to prepare, grabbing his prized twin axes.
They headed to the ambush site.
A fair number of bandits were already there.
But Man-gu sensed something off.
Fewer than expected, and some Chaejus missing.
"Wait, Chaeju Gong, Chaeju Yeon, Chaeju So... why aren't they here?"
"No idea."
"This is trouble... They're the ones set for vanguard."
Oddly, the absent ones were all vanguard strongholds.
"Chaeju! Prey is nearly upon us!"
Their absence meant they'd bailed.
"..."
"No choice. We do it ourselves!"
"Then who takes vanguard...?"
They eyed each other warily.
Those present knew vanguard meant heaviest losses.
Man-gu stepped up reluctantly.
"Tch! We all charge together!"
"Sounds good."
And so the bandits committed to a mass assault.
But their numbers fell short of half the planned five hundred—barely two hundred.
Riding in the carriage, I smirked.
The killing intent ahead was bandit bloodlust. But far from five hundred—it wasn't even two hundred.
Perfect number for real combat experience.
"I-is it really okay?"
I nodded at Seo-hyang Sojeo's question.
"Yes. The over five hundred you saw are gone. As I said, a bit of persuasion and intimidation made more than half abandon the raid."
The first Chaeju I'd visited had spilled everything: the vanguards and the mastermind.
I'd visited each vanguard stronghold in turn, extracting oaths to withdraw.
Recalling it, I chuckled softly, and Palgap said,
"Young master, your laugh is scary."
"How am I scary...?"
I gently stroked the golden bell on my sleeve, feeling wronged.
Tremble.
Golden bell, why are you shaking?
I'm really hurt.
Then the carriage halted.
Time for battle.
I ordered Palgap to guard Seo-hyang Sojeo and stepped out.
Bandits packed the hillsides on both sides of the road.
They were for Jin-ho hyung's combat experience.
Just how many battles had we fought so far? I'd make the North Sea Ice Palace Palace Lord pay dearly for this.
I might be the vice palace lord of the Snowstorm Palace, but the food and transport to the North Sea Ice Palace weren't free.