“A problem?”
When I asked back, Uncle explained.
“Yes, that site is apparently Imperial Court property.”
The site I want is empty land located some distance from the Imperial Palace.
To be precise, about an hour’s distance from the Imperial Palace.
It’s at an appropriate distance from the Imperial Palace, not far from Beijing’s commercial districts, and there aren’t many sites that large.
But that place is Imperial Court property?
“I heard the Imperial Court purchased it to build a detached palace. But as you know, His Majesty the Emperor isn’t someone who spends money on useless things.”
Ah…
I understand the situation.
The previous Emperor was someone who truly spent money like water.
Because of that, the Imperial Court’s finances hit rock bottom.
Among the previous Emperor’s eccentric habits was building various detached palaces.
So the Emperor indulged in the extravagant hobby of spending about a month at each newly built detached palace.
But due to that dissolute lifestyle, the Emperor’s health rapidly deteriorated and passed away young.
In other words, an incompetent Emperor.
Still, if there was one thing done right, it was designating the current Emperor as successor before passing.
Anyway, there were lands prepared for building detached palaces, and the site I requested was apparently one of them.
And the newly enthroned Emperor was someone far removed from such extravagance, so naturally that site remained as empty land.
“As you know, it’s quite complicated for individuals to purchase Imperial Court property.”
“That’s true.”
Then how did Baekcheon Merchant Group get their hands on that site in my past life?
After pondering for a moment, one highly probable method came to mind.
In my past life, after the Empress was poisoned to death, someone backed by the Murim Alliance became the new Empress.
If an Empress intervened, the Ministry of Revenue would have no choice.
“It’ll take quite a bit of effort to purchase that place. As you know, the Ministry of Revenue officials are so damn… ahem, anyway, that’s how they are.”
“That’s true.”
But it’s land that Baekcheon Merchant Group possessed in my past life. There’s no law saying we can’t have it.
Besides, even if I can’t reveal it, there must be many others besides Baekcheon Merchant Group eyeing that land.
It’s that prime of a location.
I need to get my hands on it before they make their moves.
“Still, I don’t want to give up.”
“Well, youth is a wonderful thing.”
To Uncle’s eyes, my words must have seemed like a young person’s vigor.
“But even if you receive the Emperor’s favor, you can’t report such matters to His Majesty, can you?”
“That’s right.”
I seemed to understand what Uncle was worried about.
“Don’t worry. I’ll try to resolve this matter through a merchant’s methods.”
“If you say so, then I’m relieved.”
.
.
.
I returned to the temporary residence and fell into thought.
Actually, even before thinking about the Beijing branch this time, I had visited that site.
So I know.
That there’s nothing there.
Literally a desolate empty lot.
Since the Imperial Court prepared the land to build a detached palace, who would dare farm there or open a shop?
As a result, that place had become somewhere Beijing’s scoundrels played out of people’s sight.
Uncle mentioned the Ministry of Revenue officials’ strictness and said it would be difficult to acquire that site, but if I give up just because of that, I won’t be able to get anything.
I have to try something.
I stood up and said to Palgap.
“Palgap, let’s go.”
“Where are you going?”
“The Imperial Palace.”
“What?”
“I need to meet a Ministry of Revenue official.”
We arrived in front of the Imperial Palace, and I requested a meeting with the Ministry of Revenue as Eunhae Merchant Group’s Deputy Merchant Lord.
I don’t have a permanent entry pass.
Because permanent Imperial Palace entry passes are only held by officials at that level.
I could ask Cousin Seon-il or officials I know to help me enter the Imperial Palace, but I didn’t.
Because if they brought someone unrelated to their duties into the Imperial Palace, they could be caught in the act.
That’s why I formally requested a meeting with the Ministry of Revenue like this.
“Since you’ve requested a meeting, are you returning to the residence now?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“I have to wait here.”
Seo Wu asked with a disbelieving face.
“Could it be… we have to wait until a Ministry of Revenue official calls for us?”
At that question, I smiled awkwardly and answered.
“Yes.”
“So that’s why you usually tell me to make requests, but today you came in person, Young Master.”
“Right.”
“…”
Usually, I would make a request, wait at the lodging, receive a summons, and then go to the Imperial Palace.
I did that even when meeting the Emperor.
But there are officials who refuse meetings using the excuse that we weren’t waiting.
The Ministry of Revenue was especially bad about this.
But do they show up early?
As if…
Usually two hours is the minimum, and in severe cases, you have to stay up all night.
It’s a kind of merchant taming.
Small merchants aside, from merchants called great merchants onward, there were quite a few matters requiring meetings and negotiations with Ministry of Revenue officials.
The officials thought they had the upper hand, and they would tame merchants like this to seize control and approach negotiations.
So merchants inevitably had to go in at a disadvantage and frequently contracted on unfavorable terms.
Even with such tyranny from Ministry of Revenue officials, there was nowhere to complain, and since they couldn’t avoid negotiating with them, they had no choice but to swallow their resentment and endure this merchant taming.
Being like this reminds me of something from my previous life.
When our Eunhae Merchant Group was almost reaching the Ten Great Merchant Groups Under the Heaven, I had to meet a Ministry of Revenue official for one of the Imperial Court’s projects, a sericulture business.
I requested a meeting with the Ministry of Revenue then… but I met them three days later.
Of course, I had to wait in front of the Imperial Palace during that period.
Haa…
Thinking about that time raises my blood pressure.
The reason Uncle views Ministry of Revenue officials unfavorably stems from things like this.
“Excuse me, aren’t you Young Master Eun Seo-ho?”
The gatekeeper who had been replaced on the new shift seemed to recognize me and asked.
I set aside my thoughts and nodded.
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
“Why aren’t you entering the Imperial Palace right away today?”
“Well… I requested a meeting with the Ministry of Revenue.”
“Ah…”
The gatekeeper also seemed to know about the Ministry of Revenue’s notorious merchant taming and made a pitiful expression.
“Really, who do they think they are? Even those meeting His Majesty the Emperor wait at their residences.”
I smiled bitterly and let out a sigh.
Since a Ministry of Revenue official might be watching from somewhere, I shouldn’t carelessly show agreement.
About an hour passed like that, but there was no word at all.
Palgap and the escort guards’ faces were gradually reddening, but I was in a state of mindlessness.
— This is really too much.
At Seo Wu’s voice transmission, I smiled hollowly and sent a voice transmission back.
— Just accept it. The world’s originally an unreasonable place anyway.
But do they know? That I tend to hold grudges?
- * *
At that time.
The Ministry of Revenue officials were busily handling work.
That said, they weren’t frantically busy without time to breathe like Eun Seo-ho.
Busy enough that they could leave on time.
Then one new Ministry of Revenue official asked a senior official.
“Um, Senior. What should I do about this?”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a meeting request sent by someone called Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho of Eunhae Merchant Group.”
“Eunhae Merchant Group… ah, the merchant group supplying silk to the Imperial Court this time.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“So what? Should we run out barefoot to greet them?”
At his curt words, an official next to them covered for the newcomer.
“They’re new. They might not know.”
“Ah! That’s right.”
He conducted education with a serious face for the newcomer.
“Listen well. Our Ministry of Revenue has a very long-standing tradition. It’s something that must be done when negotiating with merchants.”
“I’ll listen carefully.”
“When a request like this comes, you unconditionally give a response two hours later. That’s when they’re obedient to our Ministry of Revenue’s words, and for places that seem arrogant like this, you should give a response after about a day or two.”
“Is that really okay?”
The new official looked worried, but the senior official seemed accustomed and carefree.
“They’re doing this because they’re desperate anyway.”
“But…”
“They’re lowly merchants acting arrogant. If we don’t break their spirit from the start, we’ll be the ones devoured instead. So just leave it and do your work.”
“Yes.”
The senior official who said that tilted his head.
‘Eun Seo-ho… I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere?’
But as new documents were placed on the desk, that thought couldn’t continue.
- * *
The Imperial Palace.
A third of those busily coming and going could be said to be eunuchs.
There were that many eunuchs, and the work they handled was also extensive.
Among them, a eunuch from the Palace Cleaning Department, which was in charge of cleaning the audience halls and various parts of the Imperial Palace, hurried somewhere with quick steps.
And soon he arrived in front of a building.
“I have something to report.”
“Come in.”
The place he entered was one of the residences used by eunuchs, but was actually one of the gathering places for eunuchs belonging to the Eastern Depot.
“Yes, what is it?”
“Right now, Young Master Eun Seo-ho is in front of the Imperial Palace…”
He conveyed the full story.
“What? He’s already been waiting for two hours?”
“That is so.”
“Those bastards! They’ve got some nerve! Even merchant taming should be done while looking at who the other party is.”
“What should we do?”
“Issue a summons. An opportunity has come to win Young Master Eun Seo-ho’s favor.”
.
.
.
The Embroidered Guard Commander’s office.
The Commander frowned at the report that just came in.
“What? Young Hero Eun Seo-ho is currently suffering hardship because of Ministry of Revenue officials?”
“That is so.”
“What do you all think about this?”
At that question, the Embroidered Guard members nearby spoke their opinion in one voice.
“Our Embroidered Guard being able to receive His Majesty the Emperor’s grace again is thanks to Young Hero Eun Seo-ho.”
“We shouldn’t let those insolent bastards get away with this.”
“I think the same.”
The Commander said.
“Call the boys.”
“Yes!”
.
.
.
Perhaps because the Embroidered Guard and Eastern Depot did similar work, their thinking was similar too.
They immediately began thoroughly investigating the Ministry of Revenue officials.
As they say, there’s no person who doesn’t have dust when you shake them.
Moreover, since the Ministry of Revenue dealt with money, there was that much more dust flying when you shook them, and it was thick.
In the process, they couldn’t help but recognize each other’s presence, and just an hour after investigating the Ministry of Revenue officials, their leaders met each other.
“The Eastern Depot should yield. Our Embroidered Guard must repay the debt we owe to Young Hero Eun Seo-ho.”
“I understand that. Don’t misunderstand. Ahem, we’re just doing this because we can’t stand by and watch those Ministry of Revenue officials’ tyranny.”
“Really?”
“Ahem… and we’d also like to… gain Young Master Eun Seo-ho’s favor a bit.”
“I knew it!”
“Ah! Let us also receive a bit of His Majesty the Emperor’s favor!”
“Aren’t you already receiving all kinds of favor right by His Majesty’s side?”
Jin Yeong, who had been quietly watching, intervened.
“Young Hero Eun Seo-ho has already been suffering hardship for over three hours. I heard in reports that he hasn’t even sat down and has been continuously standing and waiting…”
“What?”
“Good grief!”
They looked at each other and cleared their throats.
“It can’t be helped. Ahem.”
“I’ll cooperate.”
“We too shall cooperate.”
Thus, because of Eun Seo-ho, the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Guard decided to join hands.
“Our Eastern Depot will provide information about them.”
“Then our Embroidered Guard will handle the intimidation.”
And that night.
The Embroidered Guard visited the newly appointed Minister of Revenue and the left and right vice ministers.
- * *
I cursed the Ministry of Revenue officials while watching the sun rise from the east.
In the end, I stayed up all night.
Honestly, I don’t mind suffering alone, but it weighed on my mind that because of me, Palgap and all four guards were suffering too.
“Young Master, should I go get something to eat?”
At Palgap’s question, I shook my head.
“I’m fine. We don’t know when an official will come, and if we’re eating when we meet them, there’s no greater disgrace than that.”
I continued.
“Go eat in shifts.”
“We’re fine.”
At Lee Pil’s words, Seo Wu thought for a moment and then nodded.
“It seems better to do as our lord says.”
They talked briefly, and then Jin Yu and Lee Pil left to eat first.
Seeing that made my heart feel somewhat lighter.
By the way, when the hell are these Ministry of Revenue bastards going to call me?
Before long it was time for officials to arrive at work, and Cousin Seon-il, who saw me while coming to work, made a pitying expression.
Since he too is from a merchant family bloodline, he must know my hardship.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. I’m fine. So please don’t worry too much.”
“Well, if you say you’re fine then you must be fine, but this won’t do. I’ll go to the Ministry of Revenue and confront them.”
“I’m really fine.”
That’s when I was having that conversation with Cousin Seon-il.
“Huff! Huff! I-is Young Master Eun Seo-ho here?”
I quickly answered at the voice calling for me.
“Yes! I’m here.”
That official was panting, as if having run here in a hurry.
But… I think I just heard something strange?
He didn’t just say ‘are you here?’ but ‘is Young Master here?’ right?
As if I hadn’t misheard, he showed respect so courteously that his head nearly touched the ground as he spoke.
“I am Ja-sun from the Ministry of Revenue. Please follow me.”
Is that really one of those stiff-backed Ministry of Revenue officials?
–TL Notes–
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