Before I knew it, autumn was in full swing.
Which meant my birthday wasn’t far off.
And this birthday had special meaning. I was turning twenty.
I was eating breakfast with my family.
“Come to think of it, the Imperial Silk Supplier Competition contest isn’t far off.”
At Father’s words, eldest brother Jeong-ho nodded.
“Yes, Father.”
The merchant group that used to supply silk to the Imperial Household had caused a major issue, so now they were selecting a new supplier. This time, the Eunhae Merchant Group had entered the contest.
For a single contract, the Imperial Household was the biggest buyer.
Silk was expensive, so most places couldn’t afford to purchase it in large quantities, but the Imperial Household was different.
Not only the imperial family, but most court officials wore silk, so demand was always high.
We usually washed silk by mixing ash from burnt straw or grass with powdered seashells, but that method only worked once or twice.
Silk was delicate and easily damaged by water.
And there was no worry about delayed payments.
The Imperial Palace was one of the wealthiest places in the land.
Supplying silk to the Imperial Household meant enormous profits and unmatched stability.
Any merchant group dealing in silk dreamed of winning that contract.
“I hear quite a few merchant groups are entering this contest.”
“Yes. From what I’ve heard, the strongest competitors are the Deukhaeng Merchant Group from Shaanxi, the Manil Merchant Group from Sichuan, the Yuga Merchant Group from Zhejiang, and the Baekcheon Merchant Group from Henan.”
I nodded at eldest brother Jeong-ho’s words.
Right. The Baekcheon Merchant Group.
In my past life, they were the ones who ended up supplying silk to the Imperial Household.
That was why I suggested we enter this contest in the first place.
Thanks to that contract, the Baekcheon Merchant Group had grown rapidly.
This time, the Eunhae Merchant Group would be the one to gain from that opportunity.
“The formal contest is in the early eleventh month, correct?”
Up until now, eldest brother Jeong-ho had been running around to get us into the contest.
Thanks to his efforts, we met the necessary conditions and officially submitted our letter of intent.
And we received notice that we passed the document screening.
“Yes. So we’ll likely have to leave for Beijing within five days.”
“I see. It’ll be hectic, but hang in there a little longer.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
After a few more words, just before the meal ended, Father turned to me.
“Your birthday’s coming soon. Is there anything you’d like?”
“Nothing comes to mind.”
“Alright, then I’ll pick something out for you.”
“Yes.”
After breakfast, I returned to my annex.
“Have you all eaten?”
“Yes.”
The Escort Guards training in the courtyard cupped their fists and greeted me.
Escort Guard Jin Yu had returned not long ago, so the four of them were sparring in pairs.
He’d come back when we returned with animal hides from the northern hunter tribe. Now that a branch office had been officially set up, he no longer needed to stay there.
I gave them a quick glance, then returned to my room to think about what came next.
What had happened around this time?
There was something… something I needed to warn eldest brother Jeong-ho about.
.
.
.
Three days later.
I heard something unexpected from Palgap.
“What? Eldest brother Jeong-ho collapsed?”
“Yes. It’s not serious… they say it’s from overwork.”
“…”
“I have to go.”
I rushed to eldest brother Jeong-ho’s annex and met my worried sister-in-law.
“Welcome, Young Master.”
“Yes, Sister-in-law. I came as soon as I heard my brother was sick.”
She sighed deeply.
“My husband must have pushed himself too hard. Thankfully it’s not serious, but with our departure for Beijing so close… he’s quite disheartened.”
That made sense. I knew how much he had poured into this.
“Please, go in.”
“Thank you.”
I entered the room.
Clack.
Maybe he heard the door open, because he tried to sit up.
“You’re here, Seo-ho.”
“How’s your body?”
“I’m fine. I have to be.”
He pushed himself up from the bed, but staggered after just one step.
I quickly moved to support him.
“Brother, you’re clearly not fine.”
“I said I’m fine.”
“Just sit down and stop talking.”
“…Okay.”
At my words, he obediently sat back down. He hadn’t looked great a few days ago, but now he looked like a proper patient.
He was supposed to be learning martial arts from Chief Administrator Go, so why…
“Brother, have you been training lately?”
“I didn’t have the time…”
“And I do?”
“…”
At my question, eldest brother Jeong-ho turned his head slightly and gave a dry cough.
Well, for him, martial arts were just for maintaining his health, not something to prioritize over work. That couldn’t be helped.
He did have some internal Qi, so his stamina wasn’t weak, but collapsing like this meant he’d truly been pushing himself too hard.
“Anyway, this is no time to be lying in bed. We need to attend the Imperial Silk Supplier Competition.”
But judging from his condition, he really wasn’t well.
He’d looked tense for days, but to see him finally break down like this…
I understood how he felt. Back when I hadn’t taken the Icy Blue Snow Plum Fruit and was constantly ill, there had been many things I simply couldn’t do no matter how much I wanted to.
“Brother, admit it. You collapsed from overwork, and in this state, going to Beijing is too dangerous. You could die.”
“But…”
“You want Geon-hyeok and Bo-yeon to grow up without a father?”
“…”
He sighed.
Only after thinking of his children did he seem to realize this wasn’t the time to be stubborn.
“Leave the rest to the merchant group’s Supervisors. Everyone already knows the merit is yours, so there’s no need to feel guilty.”
After a moment of thought, he spoke.
“Seo-ho.”
“What is it?”
“You know the representative of the merchant group has to be there in person, right?”
Then, looking serious, he continued.
“No matter how I think about it, it has to be you.”
“Huh? Me?”
He nodded.
“Yes, you.”
“Do I really need to go? The preparations are done, and the Chief Supervisor can stand in for you. If I show up, it’ll look like…”
“Do you know what I realized while preparing for the contest?”
“…?”
“That this contest won’t be easy. It’s not something you win just by working hard. Sometimes, you need luck. Sometimes, you need cleverness.”
He let out a long sigh.
“Our Eunhae Merchant Group is lacking in that cleverness. But there’s one person who has it.”
“You mean me?”
He nodded.
“Yes. So go as our representative.”
“Mm…”
I was currently under orders from the Emperor to investigate those disrupting commerce.
And to win the contest, we might need to cross a few lines.
“If you don’t go, I’ll escape and go myself.”
Eldest brother Jeong-ho might seem gentle, but once he decides on something, nothing can stop him.
Even if we locked him in, he’d find a way to break out and go.
“Still, if I go, people might say I stole your achievement.”
“Is this the time to worry about that? The Eunhae Merchant Group finally has a chance to rise. And it’s not like you care what others say.”
He smirked.
“I don’t care either. So go. To Beijing.”
.
.
.
That afternoon.
Father officially ordered me to lead the Imperial Silk Supplier Competition contest.
“So we’re heading to Beijing again.”
Palgap let out a laugh.
“Most people can’t go to Beijing even once in their lives, and you go like it’s a trip to the market.”
“Tell me about it.”
We stopped by while traveling to and from the North Sea, then went again because of the Daegun Merchant Group, and now we were going again.
Will the Emperor call for me again this time?
He has some sense, so he likely won’t summon me without reason.
“When do we leave?”
“Within two days, at the latest.”
“Understood.”
I addressed the Escort Guards.
“I’ll be relying on you again.”
“Don’t worry.”
“We’ll get you there safely.”
“Right. I trust you.”
As soon as my trip to Beijing was decided, work began piling up.
I had to make sure my responsibilities didn’t fall behind while I was away.
At the same time, I had to quickly master everything eldest brother Jeong-ho had prepared.
With help from the Chief Supervisor and the silk Supervisors, I studied and learned.
And finally understood why eldest brother Jeong-ho had collapsed.
Hoo. He’s a quiet perfectionist.
After a flurry of preparations, I departed in his place on the day he was originally scheduled to leave.
.
.
.
The road to Beijing was familiar by now.
But we stayed vigilant.
Everyone thinks alike.
When large interests are at stake, there will always be those who resort to underhanded methods.
And soon, we ran into our first obstacle.
“Deputy Merchant Lord.”
The Escort Chief of the Changin Escort Bureau approached my carriage.
“Yes.”
“There’s something blocking the road ahead. It may take time to clear.”
“I’ll go take a look.”
I got down from the carriage and walked ahead. A massive boulder was blocking the path.
“Please wait here.”
“We’ll clear it as soon as possible.”
Since we were transporting silk for the contest, we’d hired the Changin Escort Bureau to help.
The carters of the Changin Bureau threw themselves at the boulder, but it barely moved.
I had to hand it to whoever dragged this thing into the middle of the road.
But we didn’t have time to waste.
“Could you help clear that boulder?”
I asked the Escort Guards.
“Understood.”
“It’d be faster to just cut it.”
Escort Guard Jin Yu said that and motioned the carters to back away.
“Hap!”
Sword Qi gathered on his blade, and the boulder split cleanly in two.
With a few more swings, it was reduced to rubble. Everyone rushed in to clear the path.
“Let’s move out.”
Inside the carriage, I thought back on Jin Yu’s display.
His realm had advanced a bit since I last saw him.
Good. That means I’m that much safer.
.
.
.
Before long, we were halfway to Beijing.
“We’ll stay at the village inn up ahead tonight.”
“Alright.”
It was a place we often stayed at while traveling this route, and it was relatively safe.
With Palgap’s help, I washed and went downstairs to eat with the other Supervisors.
There were three Supervisors with me on this trip.
One Senior Supervisor and two others, all highly experienced in the silk trade.
They were also the ones who had helped and taught me when I took over the Eunhae Textiles in my past life.
“That dish might be too spicy for you, Senior Supervisor Seok.”
“Oh? You think so?”
At my words, Senior Supervisor Seok tilted his head.
“How did you know I don’t like spicy food?”
“Ah…”
Of course I knew. I’d spent enough time with them in my past life to know not only their personalities, but even their tastes.
But I couldn’t say that, so I deflected.
“Of course I’d know. You’re one of the pillars of our Eunhae Merchant Group.”
“Hahaha.”
The atmosphere warmed.
.
.
.
After the meal, I stepped outside the inn for a walk, lost in thought.
We’d already faced a few minor obstructions.
A log laid across the road. A beehive placed right in our path.
How should I put it?
For simply delaying us, they were clever enough. But they picked the wrong opponent.
Their tricks weren’t dangerous, just annoying.
By now, I was starting to wonder who was behind all of it.
It wasn’t the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
They were the type to set off Blast Thunder Bombs and kill everyone, not pull petty stunts like these.
I snorted.
I didn’t know the culprit yet.
But there was a way to find out.
If they were laying traps, they had to be just a little ahead of us.
Time to return the favor.
–TL Notes–
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