I quickly answered the Emperor.
“But the moment I realized Your Majesty would resolve this matter, my appetite came right back.”
“You little rascal. You certainly know what to say.”
Yes, I do have a way with words.
“So what exactly happened that required such a long preamble?”
“Are you aware that most of the money allocated to repair the damage caused by the recent typhoon on Hainan Island ended up in the pockets of people who had no right to it?”
“What?”
The Emperor’s eyes widened as he immediately grasped what I meant.
“Are you saying someone embezzled the relief funds?”
“Yes.”
“And how did you learn of this?”
“The Sect Leader of the Hainan Sect and one of his disciples participated in the recent friendly martial competition. I happened to overhear their conversation.”
I continued.
“They said they had entered because they needed the prize money of ten thousand silver taels. That caught my attention, so I asked about their circumstances and learned that they needed the money to help the residents who suffered losses in the typhoon.”
“…”
The Emperor silently listened.
That must mean he wanted me to continue.
“So I asked the Hainan Sect Leader why they had come all the way here to do this. Damage on that scale should have prompted the Imperial Palace to provide recovery funds, and with that support, restoring the affected areas shouldn’t have been so difficult.”
When I asked him that, the Sect Leader had answered like this.
“The entire empire has suffered through one poor harvest after another, so it would be unreasonable to expect much support. Besides, it’s hardly unusual for those funds to disappear along the way.”
However, I embellished his words a little before passing them along.
“He said the money is indeed sent down from above, but certain people swallow it along the way, preventing the residents from receiving the support they desperately need.”
“And who is swallowing it?”
“The officials.”
“Hmm…”
The Emperor let out a contemplative hum before calling for the Grand Eunuch.
“Grand Eunuch.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Bring me file 3–6–32.”
At that command, the Grand Eunuch hurried into the adjoining room.
When he returned a short while later, he held a single bound volume in his hands.
“Read it.”
He meant me, right?
I accepted the volume from the Grand Eunuch. Where a title should have been written, there was nothing but a series of numbers.
3–6–32.
What is this?
I had no idea, but the Emperor wouldn’t tell me to read something meaningless.
I calmly opened the volume.
[…Vessel bound for Hainan Island capsized. Entire shipment of grain lost.]
[…Vessel bound for Hainan Island disappeared during an unexpected typhoon. Neither the grain nor the bolts of cloth aboard could be recovered.]
[Ship carrying tax revenue to the Imperial Palace sank, resulting in a shortfall in collected taxes.]
Wait. Don’t tell me this is…
When I raised my head in shock, the Emperor gave a grave nod.
“That’s right. I was already aware of the situation and had been keeping a close eye on it. I was trying to decide whom I should send to resolve the matter.”
“…”
“And to think I had such a loyal subject who was so worried about this that he could neither eat nor sleep!”
That was right.
The Emperor already knew.
He already knew that the whole thing was unbelievably suspicious!
And just as he was wondering what to do about it, I had come and reported the matter myself.
What impeccable timing. Damn it.
My panic lasted only a moment. I immediately put my mind to work and opened my mouth.
If I simply accepted an imperial order and left for Hainan Island, all the effort I had put into this would be wasted.
Of course, the Emperor would probably reward me separately, but that wasn’t what I wanted right now!
“Your Majesty, please entrust this matter to this humble merchant.”
“Hmm. You’re volunteering to take on the task without any resistance? What are you plotting?”
As expected of the Emperor.
He caught on immediately.
Still, I couldn’t act humble now or claim that I wanted nothing in return.
If I did, the Emperor would simply say, ‘Is that so? Then have a safe journey,’ and send me away.
Then I wouldn’t get what I wanted.
Besides, I had already begun drawing up a plan for this matter before I ever brought it to the Emperor’s attention.
“Your Majesty, before discussing how to handle this matter, I believe we must first understand what caused it.”
“And what do you believe the cause to be?”
“Forgive me for saying so, but Hainan Island is far from the capital. As an island, it is also considerably more difficult for the central government to maintain firm control over it. I believe that is what allowed this to happen. Of course, Your Majesty is already more aware of this problem than anyone.”
“Hmm. That is true.”
“Which means that even if I resolve this particular incident, we cannot guarantee that nothing similar will ever happen again. Not when the region has such geographical limitations.”
“I would prefer not to admit it, but you’re right.”
“That is why I would like to propose a permanent solution.”
“And what might that be?”
“Hainan Island lies at the southernmost edge of the empire. In other words, it is ideally positioned to provide free access to the east, south, and west.”
“That is true.”
“The empire now enjoys unprecedented peace and strength, all thanks to Your Majesty’s benevolent rule.”
“Enough flattery. What are you trying to say?”
“However, Your Majesty’s benevolence has yet to reach certain coastal regions and islands. That is because of the coastal raiders and pirates.”
“…”
His Majesty gave no answer.
He knew this problem well.
“They are able to prey upon the people living along the coast because the navy is stationed too far away.”
I continued.
“At present, the navy is concentrated around Beijing and Shanghai. That is why places like Hainan Island are left vulnerable.”
Now it was time to paint in the dragon’s eyes.
“Therefore, Your Majesty, I ask that you establish a naval base on Hainan Island.”
His Majesty’s eyes suddenly flashed.
He took the bait.
“A naval base?”
“That is correct. Establishing a naval base on Hainan Island would protect both the island’s residents and the imperial citizens living along the surrounding coastline. It would also suppress corruption among the local officials.”
“Oh… It is certainly a good idea. However…”
What?
“What concerns me is that you’re the one proposing it.”
The Emperor grinned.
“So, what do you want?”
He had laid everything out for me so perfectly that continuing to hold back would have been rude.
“The Eunhae Merchant Group is planning to construct a docking facility on Hainan Island. Wouldn’t it be beneficial for everyone if the naval base were built at the same time?”
“So that was your goal.”
The Emperor chuckled.
I had casually slipped the Eunhae Merchant Group’s docking facility into my proposal for a naval base, yet the Emperor immediately recognized my true objective.
Why would I be the one proposing that a naval base be established on Hainan Island?
The reason was simple.
Once a naval base was established there, the Eunhae Merchant Group’s ships would also enjoy its protection.
Would pirates or coastal raiders dare attack a place guarded by an imperial naval base?
Furthermore, if the Imperial Palace handled the foundational construction for the docking area, the Eunhae Merchant Group’s construction expenses would be far lower than we had initially estimated.
Laying foundations in an empty area doesn’t produce much that anyone can see, but it consumes an astonishing amount of money.
Then again, if the foundational work isn’t done properly, problems are guaranteed to emerge later.
A strange silence settled over the room, and I stood with my head bowed, my face tense.
How much time passed like that?
“The problem, however, is the budget.”
“We can fund it by stripping the corrupt officials of everything they’ve stolen.”
I couldn’t be certain, but they had probably embezzled more than enough to build a single naval base.
“Very well. I shall grant your request. However, I have conditions.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Please name them.”
“First, uncover every last act of corruption recorded in that volume! Second, seize every coin of illicit profit gained through that corruption! Third, use that money to construct a naval base on Hainan Island. What do you say? Can you do it?”
“Of course.”
The second condition is my specialty, after all.
“So, when do you intend to depart?”
“I still have a few matters to settle in Beijing. Once they’re handled, I can leave. Ten days will be more than enough.”
“Understood. Proceed accordingly.”
After bowing, I returned the volume and withdrew from the Emperor’s presence.
Whew. I survived another day.
Facing the Emperor consumed an incredible amount of mental strength, but the potential rewards were equally enormous.
That was why I continued meeting with His Majesty despite feeling as though every audience shaved years off my life.
Whew. I’m really going through every hardship imaginable just to turn the Eunhae Merchant Group into the greatest merchant group under heaven.
The Emperor looked at the spot where Eun Seo-ho had been standing and chuckled.
“He truly is an amusing fellow.”
“Do you really favor him that much?”
“How could I not favor someone who says exactly what I want to hear?”
The Grand Eunuch spoke with concern.
“I worry whether he will be able to resolve this safely. Seven people have already disappeared.”
This was far from the first time the Emperor had noticed suspicious behavior among Hainan Island’s officials and dispatched the Embroidered Guard or Eastern Depot to investigate.
Yet every one of them had fallen silent before long.
It was an exceedingly unpleasant and unsettling situation.
While the Emperor had been deliberating over what to do, Eun Seo-ho had appeared and volunteered, saying, “I will resolve it.”
Given the circumstances, the Emperor had found Eun Seo-ho’s offer particularly admirable and had therefore granted the request he made in return.
“This time will be different. That brat is remarkably capable.”
“That is certainly true, but… Your Majesty.”
The Grand Eunuch cautiously continued.
“Even if he possesses the ability to resolve this matter, allowing him to use the empire’s navy as his compensation seems to cross the line.”
“That is not a problem.”
“Pardon?”
“Do you truly believe the Eunhae Merchant Group will be the only one to benefit from that naval base? We will gain something through them as well.”
In other words, each side would support the other and both would profit.
That was another reason the Emperor had so readily accepted Eun Seo-ho’s request.
The Emperor grinned and picked up his brush.
I headed to the Vice Minister of War’s residence to attend Artisan Yeong Gu-jin’s wedding.
After all, his bride was the Vice Minister of War’s daughter.
Members of his family, the Yeong Clan of Seonju, joined the bride’s family at the Vice Minister of War’s residence to welcome the guests.
In truth, the Vice Minister of War’s daughter had once suffered from madness.
Whenever it rained, she would harm herself.
However, after drinking the White Heron Wine brewed by Artisan Yeong Gu-jin, her madness completely vanished.
The Vice Minister of War then formally asked him to marry his daughter, and that was how the wedding came to be held.
Artisan Yeong Gu-jin looked strikingly handsome in his groom’s robes.
“Why do you look so proud?”
At my question, Maeng Hyeon hurriedly bowed to me.
“Deputy Merchant Lord, you’ve arrived.”
Maeng Hyeon was the grandson of the old man who had taught Artisan Yeong Gu-jin how to brew White Heron Wine.
He was also Artisan Yeong Gu-jin’s business partner.
“Because he looks incredible.”
I patted him on the head.
“Ah! Deputy Merchant Lord, is that you?”
The man who happily called out to me was Great Hero Dong Hyeok-su, a close friend of Artisan Yeong Gu-jin.
“It is good to see you, Great Hero Dong.”
“There is no need to be so formal with me.”
“How could I possibly neglect proper courtesy when you are a Deputy Thousand-Household Commander of the Junior Fifth Rank?”
I had also received an official position as a Censorate Inspector, but my rank was below his. Besides, I wasn’t supposed to carelessly reveal that I was a Censorate Inspector.
And on a personal level, he was also Lady Seohyang’s older brother.
“When did you arrive?”
“Just now.”
He then looked at Lady Seohyang, who was standing behind me.
She had already altered her presence with the Novel Disguise Art. It felt a little too late to change her face entirely.
Even that much, however, made her seem like a completely different person.
“…”
Under her icy stare, he bit his lip.
Perhaps he believed the real Lady Seohyang would never look at him with such cold eyes.
I was sorry to say it, but nothing would have suited me better than for him to reach that conclusion…
It happened then.
Whoosh–!
A gust of wind swept through the courtyard, sending something flying.
“Ah! The veil!”
The bride’s red veil had been blown away just as she was about to leave her room!
A bride wasn’t allowed to remove her veil until she entered the bridal chamber. It was said that misfortune would follow if anyone saw her face before then.
She quickly retreated into the room, but her veil was still dancing through the air.
There was no way an ordinary person could catch that.
Of course, quite a few people present were capable of doing so, but there was a problem.
The first man permitted to touch a bride’s veil was her groom.
No unrelated man was allowed to touch it before him.
I glanced at Great Hero Dong and Lady Seohyang.
Despite the frigid atmosphere and her icy glare, he still seemed unable to abandon his lingering suspicions. I might as well use this opportunity to erase them completely.
I sent Lady Seohyang a Voice Transmission.
– Let Great Hero Dong see you catch that veil. It should change his mind.
At my message, Lady Seohyang gave a faint nod before immediately kicking off the ground.
Tap–!
She lightly snatched the veil from the air and landed.
She’s even quicker than I expected.
Even I was astonished by her martial talent.
Her comprehension was outstanding, and she also possessed the Ice Crystal Eyes.
That gave her an exceptional affinity for Yin-based martial arts, allowing her to achieve a level of mastery in only two years that most people could never even imagine.
She handed the veil to one of the women assisting the bride.
“Here it is.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much.”
She then walked over to me and said,
“Forgive me for acting without permission.”
“You did well.”
Even though she had moved at my instruction, she spoke that way to conceal the fact that I had directed her through Voice Transmission.
After witnessing her skill, Great Hero Dong’s mouth fell open. He hurriedly recovered his composure.
There was no longer any lingering doubt in his eyes.
The Lady Seohyang he knew had never learned martial arts.
He must have finally accepted that he had been mistaken.
It was a relief, but at the same time, I felt sorry for him.
I apologize.
But all of this is necessary to save Lady Seohyang – no, Young Lady Dong Ja-ryeong.
.
.
.
Artisan Yeong Gu-jin’s wedding ended without incident, and I began preparing to leave.
It was nearly time to depart for Hainan Island.
On the evening of the final day of the ten-day grace period I had requested from the Emperor,
“Warrior Jin Yeong has arrived.”
At Palgap’s announcement, I headed to the Reception Room and welcomed Warrior Jin Yeong.
“Welcome.”
“I heard the news. You’re going to Hainan Island?”
At Warrior Jin Yeong’s words, I readily nodded.
There was no reason to hide it.
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“Be careful.”
Warrior Jin Yeong’s expression turned grave.
“Seven people have already disappeared after going to Hainan Island.”
What?
No one told me about that.
–TL Notes–
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