The next day at dawn.
I woke up early. I had to go work with the Embroidered Guard today.
“Kui!”
Through the slightly opened window, Geumryeong wriggled its way in.
“Oh! You’re back already?”
I opened the window wider and caught Geumryeong with both hands.
“Good job.”
I placed it on the table and handed it a silver tael. Geumryeong took it and swallowed it down.
In the meantime, I untied the letter attached to its tail.
Last night, I had sent a letter to Father letting him know I’d be working with the Embroidered Guard and wouldn’t be returning to the main branch for a while. This was his reply.
Reading Father’s response brought a smile to my face.
He believed I’d do well and simply advised me to take care of my health in the cold weather. A warm, reassuring message.
“Young Master! Did are you awake?”
It was Palgap’s voice from outside the door.
“Yeah. I’m up.”
.
.
.
We had breakfast and left the Yeonjun Merchant Group after receiving a warm send-off from my aunt’s family.
However, the Eunpoong Division’s Squad Leader, who had accompanied us, returned to the main branch first.
Understandably, as the merchant group grew in size, the Eunpoong Division’s duties had increased. I’d heard they were planning to expand the workforce soon, but it hadn’t happened yet.
If I recall correctly, they said recruitment for both Eunpoong and regular staff would begin this summer.
Would that mean the Virtuous Wind Department will get additional personnel too?
“I believe, sir…”
Palgap started speaking.
“I think Pavilion Lord Jeok saw through your true nature.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“He said before, ‘Your master is like the wind—difficult to serve.’”
So Pavilion Lord Jeok Byeong-cheol said that to Palgap?
“So what do you think? Is it difficult to serve me?”
“Well, it’s manageable.”
“Really?”
I looked at Palgap and asked.
“Why bring that up all of a sudden?”
“It’s just… Going to Hangzhou, then Beijing, then somewhere else again—it all felt very much like the wind.”
“Can’t argue with that. But don’t get the wrong idea. This time it’s not by my will.”
I turned my head and looked at the Escort Guards behind me.
“So, sorry, but I’ll need your help again this time.”
Escort Guard Seo Wu answered firmly.
“No need to worry. We are always loyal to our lord.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Soon, we arrived in front of the Imperial Palace.
A large group was busy making preparations to depart. Among them, someone approached us.
“Stop right there!”
We halted, about to speak with him, when from afar, Jin Yeong raised his hand and waved at us.
“Oh! You’ve arrived?”
The one who stopped us turned to the waving man and asked. Judging by the matching uniform, he was also part of the Embroidered Guard.
“Do you know these people?”
“Yes, this is Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho.”
“Oh! Is that so?”
He quickly offered a martial salute.
“My apologies. I’m So Un of the Embroidered Guard.”
“I’m Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group. These are my attendant and Escort Guards.”
At my introduction, my Escort Guards and Palgap each introduced themselves.
Jin Yeong smiled in satisfaction.
“You’re right on time.”
“Punctuality is a merchant’s virtue.”
“Hahaha. Is that so?”
“I’d like to hear the plan.”
At my question, Jin Yeong explained the schedule.
“We’ve decided to split into two groups. One will head to the Yellow River, and the other to the Yangtze. You’ll come with me to the Yangtze.”
The Yangtze, huh…
“There, we’ll break the ice, load it onto carts, and deliver it to the reservoirs in each district.”
“You’ve decided to store the ice in reservoirs?”
“Yes. His Majesty was worried about potential droughts in the spring and thought it wise to store water in advance.”
“But it’d be difficult for us alone to transport all that ice…”
“Don’t worry. We’ve arranged help from escort agencies in each province.”
So, they’ve issued a mobilization order to the escort bureaus.
Makes sense. For this kind of job, they’re the best choice.
They all practice martial arts, have decent physical strength, and already specialize in transportation.
It’s not a loss for the escort bureaus either.
They suffered damage from the floods as well.
And I’m sure His Majesty will compensate them to some extent.
“Well then, let me introduce your companions.”
The group heading to the Yangtze with me included Jin Yeong, So Un, and ten other Embroidered Guard martial artists.
Twelve more were going to the Yellow River, making a total of twenty-four selected.
Considering the workload the Embroidered Guard handles, that’s probably the maximum they could spare.
Alongside them, including laborers, the total group heading out was around two hundred.
Seeing the tools being loaded, it looked like the ice cutters were coming too.
Large households would harvest ice every winter and store it in ice warehouses for use in the summer.
Naturally, the palace had specialists for this job too, known as Ice Workers (氷夫).
It was only natural to have Ice Workers for this mission.
Even if the Embroidered Guard used martial arts, they couldn’t keep it up endlessly.
Still, handling ice in freezing temperatures is no easy task. It’s tough work.
I should prepare warm wine or tea.
Once preparations were complete, we set off immediately.
To reach the Yangtze River, which flows between Sichuan and Guizhou, we had to travel by land.
The river was already frozen.
.
.
.
On the night of the second day after our departure, we had our first night outdoors.
People tried to light a fire, but since it had snowed earlier, the wood was wet and wouldn’t catch fire properly.
“This is bad.”
Jin Yeong approached me and said. I feigned ignorance even though I knew what he was getting at.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
“We need a fire, but we can’t get one going. It’s so cold someone might freeze to death.”
He looked at me with a glint in his eyes, as if expecting me to solve the problem.
If he thinks I can handle this situation… then he’s right.
Trying to light a fire with wet wood is tough for those who don’t often travel long distances, but for escort agents and merchants, it’s a common scenario.
Of course, I knew the method and had done it many times.
But I was a bit surprised.
“That’s unexpected.”
“What is?”
“For the Embroidered Guard, isn’t it common to sleep outdoors due to the nature of the job? Then…”
“You’re wondering why we don’t know how to start a fire in situations like this?”
“Yes. You must travel a lot…”
“The answer’s simple. Because of our line of work, we’re usually not allowed to light fires.”
“Oh…”
Makes sense.
They’re often gathering intelligence or tracking someone. Lighting a fire could give away their position.
“I see. Thank you for answering my silly question.”
“No need. You figured it out as soon as I gave a hint. As expected, you’re sharp. No wonder His Majesty favors you.”
Hahaha.
That favor isn’t a bad thing… but it is a bit burdensome.
“In any case, we’ve gotta get a fire going quickly so they can suffer a bit less.”
Most of the people traveling with us right now hadn’t trained in martial arts.
But there was no need for me to step in. Because—
“Young Master, please come sit by the fire and warm yourself.”
Palgap had already lit a fire.
He was my attendant, a seasoned one who’d spent years in the Eunhae Merchant Group. There’s no way he wouldn’t know something I did.
Despite appearances, he had a sharp eye and moved quickly.
See? He was already boiling water for tea.
“Thanks.”
I sat in front of the fire and spoke to Jin Yeong, who was staring blankly.
“My attendant’s pretty competent.”
Thanks to the fire Palgap started, others were able to get theirs going quickly too.
Before that, people who didn’t know the full story had looked at us with expressions that said things like, “Why are they even here?”
Some even looked at us like we were just baggage.
But today, that perception completely changed.
.
.
.
After a journey of about fifteen days, we finally reached our destination.
“So this is the place.”
At Jin Yeong’s words, I nodded. A massive ice mountain stood before us.
I already knew the cause of the floods, but I didn’t expect the ice to be this big or plentiful.
No wonder such a massive flood happened.
“If this hadn’t been dealt with in time, it would’ve been a disaster.”
I gave a bitter smile as I replied to Jin Yeong.
“Exactly.”
He ordered his men to set up camp.
This wasn’t going to be a one— or two-day job, so we needed a solid base to rest in.
In the meantime, my group and I got a fire going.
We collected snow and started boiling it in a large kettle.
It was for the sake of everyone suffering in the cold.
Though, honestly, this would only warm them for a moment.
“Sir, the weather’s brutally cold. What do you think about letting everyone have a little warmed wine?”
“Wine, huh…”
Jin Yeong nodded.
“You’re right. Nothing beats warm wine in this kind of cold. When I used to serve up in the far north, I’d sneak sips now and then. Hahaha. When the cold’s biting, even one sip feels like salvation.”
The Embroidered Guard was mostly made up of former soldiers, so he seemed well aware of these things.
“Alright, let’s do it. If we use public funds, the Chief might scold us, but there’s no way we’re surviving this sober.”
By Chief, he likely meant the Commander of the Embroidered Guard.
Of course, the Guard has its own ranks and titles, but due to the unique nature of their work, they were often just called “Sir.”
I called them that too.
“No need to worry. I’ll cover it with my own money.”
“You’ll pay for it yourself?”
“Yes.”
“That won’t be cheap.”
He was right. Wine wasn’t cheap.
But since it’s my fault they’re out here suffering, I ought to at least do this much.
And it’s not like I’m just throwing money away.
I’ve got my reasons.
The next day, the work began.
The Embroidered Guard martial artists started first. They swung swords infused with Qi.
“Haah—!”
Kwa-gwa-gwang—!
“Haa!”
Kwa-gwang—!
Their Qi-filled strikes smashed into the ice relentlessly.
Chunks of ice came crashing down.
Among the twelve Embroidered Guard, Jin Yeong stood out the most.
With just a few strikes, he carved out clean, rectangular ice blocks.
I focused my vision to watch his sword.
I could feel heat from his blade—he was likely using the principles of the Yang Fire Technique to cut the ice cleanly.
No wonder His Majesty kept him close.
He was really good at breaking ice.
Just then, So Un approached and spoke.
“The escort agents from the bureaus have arrived.”
“Is that so? Bring two representatives from each group over here.”
“Yes.”
Soon, So Un returned with men wearing outer coats identifying them as members of various escort agencies.
And among them—I saw a familiar face.
“Oh?”
“It’s been a while.”
It was my master.
Jin Yeong gave the gathered escort bureau representatives a rundown of the operation.
Once he finished, I walked up to Master.
“I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“So you really were here.”
“You don’t seem surprised.”
At my words, Master nodded.
“I could sense the Department Chief’s Qi. Though, when I first felt it, I was quite surprised.”
He continued.
“I heard from Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Jin-ho that the Department Chief would be staying away from home for a while… but why are you here with the Embroidered Guard?”
I scratched my cheek.
“Well, about that…”
I told him the whole story. And after hearing it, Master smiled.
Oh?
But that smile vanished in an instant.
“Your insight is impressive. Just as you said, if that ice were to melt all at once, a massive flood would occur.”
“Please, take care of things. And…”
“I’ll send regards to your family too.”
Master really knew me well.
Winter was a brutal season for those in the Forest Bandits who called themselves kings of the mountains.
Things weren’t so bad in areas where escort routes passed through regularly.
Thanks to deals struck with escort bureaus, they could “manage the territory” and collect a good amount of toll fees.
But the others, the less fortunate Forest Bandits, often went hungry.
One mountain stronghold near the route between Sichuan and Shaanxi wasn’t doing well either.
Then, one day, they received news that made their hearts race.
“Brothers! A huge escort caravan is coming through right now carrying some massive goods!”
Everyone in the stronghold jumped to their feet.
Fueled by the excitement of finally filling their bellies again, their spirits surged.
“Let’s go rob ’em!”
“Yes, sir!”
–TL Notes–
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