There's a Ton of It (1)
The Emperor cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Very well. I'll grant your request."
"Thank you, Father."
The Emperor waved dismissively at Seo-un.
"I have matters to discuss with these men. You may go."
"Yes, sir."
With that, Seo-un left the office. Watching him go, the Emperor chuckled softly.
"Who would've thought those words would come from that boy's mouth. I was planning to appoint him as Prince Seongbo this time, but I'll have to push it to next year."
He then turned to Jin Yeong and Kwon Jik.
"That said, it seems Eun Seo-ho did quite well this time."
"Indeed. If not for him, our lives would have been in danger."
"Then I would have lost two sons."
At those words, the two Gold Guard members quickly bowed their heads.
"Forgive us, Your Majesty! It was our incompetence..."
"No. It is my own failing."
Just then, an eunuch's voice came from outside.
"Your Majesty, urgent news has arrived."
"Send him in."
The door opened, and the eunuch entered, whispering to the chief eunuch. The chief eunuch nodded and reported to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, the ships that departed on the trade voyage have just arrived."
I was trapped in a hell of paperwork.
Staring at documents all day—pure paperwork hell. Sigh.
Thank goodness Seo-hyang the maid was helping out. Without her, I might've pulled an all-nighter.
I really need to hire more aides.
As the affairs I've taken on multiply, even Seo-hyang is starting to struggle—it's obvious.
Besides, I can't keep using her as an aide forever.
I let out a sigh and kept working when suddenly the office door burst open and Palgap stormed in.
"Young master! Young master!"
"What's going on? Why the fuss?"
"The ships from the trade voyage just arrived, sir!"
"What?"
I jumped to my feet.
"Prepare to depart at once!"
"Right away, sir!"
Then I sat back down. I still had work to finish.
Seo-hyang handed me another stack of documents.
"Hang in there. Just ten more to go."
"......"
As I picked up my brush to tackle them, Seo-u Warrior's voice came from outside.
"My lord, Jin Yeong Daehyeop has arrived."
Ha... damn it.
Preparations were complete in a single day, and we set off for Nanjing.
Which meant we left almost immediately after finishing work, barely getting any sleep.
To top it off, the Emperor had summoned me the day before, stealing even more time.
Still, thanks to the river horses, we reached Nanjing far faster than the others.
As we approached the harbor, I spotted the ships anchored a short distance away.
They hadn't received docking permission yet.
Since this shipment was a massive load of grain, the Emperor had ordered them to wait for the Gold Guard before entering port.
Because we'd come on river horses, the Gold Guard would take a while to arrive.
Even so, we'd rushed here so I could inspect the ships myself and greet the crews first.
It might seem trivial, but these little gestures add up to move people.
Plus, as I'd expected, Captain Yong Eung-am wouldn't have come alone.
The Emperor had his reasons too.
We'd preemptively reserved and rented the best inns and taverns around Nanjing's harbor. Soon, the Gold Guard arrived.
The man in charge this time was the Left Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Whew, His Majesty sent a high-ranking official.
Last time it was just a deputy from the outer bureaus, wasn't it?
Well, this voyage was crucial for the empire too.
He ordered the Gold Guard to secure the area. Once it was cleared, he commanded the signal bearer.
"Send the docking permission signal."
"Yes, sir!"
Five blasts of the horn sounded, followed by a massive green flag unfurling.
The docking permission signal.
Moments later, the distant ships began to move.
They entered the harbor one by one and anchored.
Now, where are our ships?
"Over there, sir!"
Palgap's sharp eyes never failed.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir!"
We raced over.
Two massive ships emblazoned with [Eunhae].
No losses. Perfect.
Temporary gangplanks were lowered, and people started disembarking.
Tanned darker from the southern sun, but all healthy and hale.
I scanned my merchant group members, then first greeted the accompanying officials.
"You've worked hard."
"It's an honor to be welcomed personally."
"No, no—I'm the one grateful for looking after our group so well. And the Left Minister of Rites is here as the overseer this time."
"The Left Minister himself?"
"Yes. You should go pay your respects."
"Right away."
They hurried off to him. I approached the disembarking crew.
"You've all done well."
"Young branch leader!"
"To think you'd come welcome us yourself! We didn't do anything that grand..."
"Returning safe and sound is something grand."
They looked deeply moved.
Among the arrivals were a few with slightly exotic features. Noticing my gaze, one crewman explained.
"Captain Yong's family."
"I see. And where's the captain?"
"He always said a captain boards first and leaves last."
True to his word, after everyone else, Captain Yong Eung-am finally stepped off.
"Captain, glad you made it back safe."
He clasped his hands in salute and reported.
"Captain Yong Eung-am of the [Eunhae] fleet, Eunhae Merchant Group—voyage complete."
I clapped his shoulder.
"Save the report for my father."
"But you're my lord."
Knowing his loyalty, I just smiled.
"You brought family? Won't you introduce them?"
"Ah, of course."
Yong Eung-am called over those in foreign garb.
"My mother, little sister, and older brother."
I nodded and greeted them warmly.
"Eun Seo-ho, young leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group. Welcome."
He translated for them, and they replied.
"Hello. Pleased to meet you."
A bit halting, but they spoke the imperial tongue.
"They had to learn some imperial language for life here," Yong added.
"Makes sense."
Their command was still shaky, so Yong translated their native Daewol tongue.
"They thank you for the advance pay that freed them."
"Tell them it's thanks to raising such a fine son."
He blushed and relayed it.
Not wrong, though.
I felt relieved seeing them. In my past life, by the time Yong returned home with his earnings, his family was already gone.
"Was the advance enough?"
He nodded vigorously.
"More than plenty. And with the officials' help, negotiations went smoothly. Even my surviving kin gained their freedom."
He continued.
"Some chose to stay, but my family came with me."
"Got it. Focus on learning imperial language first. Then we'll find suitable work."
"Thank you."
Now for the main point.
"So, any results?"
"Of course."
He grinned.
"The Daewol folk went wild for our tea and porcelain."
He gestured to the ships.
"Everything inside is grain."
Mounds covered in vast tarps—grain.
That much? A resounding success.
The voyage exceeded expectations.
Not just our ships—every vessel was packed to the brim.
Unloading would take days.
"And the plums you provided were a godsend. No scurvy troubles."
Good to hear.
"The other crews benefited too— we shared them freely, as you said."
That explained the grateful looks.
It was calculated, of course...
"Well done. Inns are ready—go rest."
The weary captain and crew headed to the lodgings I'd arranged.
Meanwhile, the other merchant crews aimed for the Nanjing garrison offices.
I intercepted them.
"No—stay at the inns I've prepared."
"Pardon?"
"One room per two men."
Their eyes lit up.
The garrison crammed ten-plus per room.
"Laundry too—we've hired people. Just hand it over."
"Really?"
"Even with so much and all filthy...?"
"No problem."
I'd paid generously with that in mind.
"In return, stay inside for three days—no wandering."
I added.
"Dinners are feasts—everyone come eat."
"Thank you!"
Evening came, and the tavern restaurant brimmed with sailors.
It wasn't cheap, but fine.
Not my money.
This was the Emperor's command.
I smiled watching them devour the spreads.
An hour or two passed, and they began nodding off.
Exhausted, no doubt.
I'd told them to stay in and sleep deeply for three days, but some always disobey.
So after dinner started, I spiked the outgoing drinks with sedatives.
Again, the Emperor's orders.
I'd have done it anyway.
I know from experience—sleep cures travel fatigue best.
Why else say sleep is the best medicine?
These vigorous young men, drunk on homecoming joy and bone-tired, would spell trouble if they hit the streets.
Who'd clean up then?
Fussing over blame gets messy.
Some noticed the sedative and grumbled resentfully.
"Y-you're too much."
"Ah, tonight I was gonna burn the white..."
"Chun-wol... forgive this brother..."
Hearing them confirmed I was right.
Sedating them prevented mishaps, but the real reason was bigger.
Sorry, but I couldn't satisfy their pent-up urges right now.
I smiled wryly, recalling my talk with the Emperor.
"We learned from interrogating that Gong-ho bastard. The Murim Alliance's reach is everywhere."
"......"
"They'll try to extract info from the returning merchant ships. Even those who couldn't join due to lacking ships will want scraps."
"I figured as much."
"How will they get it? Tell me."
"Obvious—through tavern boys and brothel girls."
"Exactly. Got a good plan?"
"Just knock 'em out."
"Huh?"
"Herd 'em together, feed 'em, sedate 'em. Done."
"Hahaha! Brilliant!"
The Emperor had laughed heartily then.
No telling where the Murim Alliance's spies lurked—can't risk pillow talk leaking secrets.
Hold out a bit longer, lads.
Three days.
After that, leaks won't matter.
Key people already have the intel.
Soon all sailors slumbered. Gold Guard and soldiers entered, bedding them down.
The garrison was secure, but inn beds were comfier.
Might as well sleep well.
Two days later, each merchant group's leaders arrived. Seeing their soundly sleeping crews, they sighed in relief.
"Phew, thank goodness!"
"I worried they'd cause trouble."
"A leak would've been a disaster."
Obviously.
First major foreign trade—priceless intel.
Most sailors wouldn't grasp its value.
Or they'd blab hero tales instead.
Veteran operators, they'd been anxious from experience.
"We owe you greatly."
"This was by His Majesty's command, not mine."
"I-is that so?"
"He's deeply interested. Let's make a killing on the next voyage."
Invoking the Emperor served me and Eunhae.
Motivated crews mean profits for us.
Your Majesty, I'm a favored retainer, right?
Cut me some slack for name-dropping.