I couldn’t help but smile when I looked where my master was pointing.
Up ahead, I could see a white flag.
Not just one, either—dozens of white flags were hanging all around the mountain stronghold.
It was as clear and unmistakable a declaration of surrender as you could ask for.
“It’s a relief they decided to accept our offer.”
At my words, my master nodded.
“I feel the same.”
I sent a letter to my father through Geumryeong, and Geumryeong took off at a sprint.
And about fifteen minutes later,
Geumryeong came back carrying my father’s reply.
“Kui. Kui.”
Geumryeong stared at me, eyes sparkling.
Yeah, yeah, I get it.
When I held out one silver tael, Geumryeong snapped it up and gulped it down.
My master watched that scene and let out a quiet sound of admiration.
“It feels a lot more substantial than before. Its presence is completely different.”
“Then can other people sense that Geumryeong is here too?”
“No. Only those who practice the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art can perceive that presence.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Still, for it to give off this level of presence… it’s surprising.”
I chuckled and said,
“Last time, I even saw it using Voice Transmission.”
My master tilted their head.
“What do you mean? Voice Transmission?”
“Huh?”
Thrown off by that, I blurted out,
“I’m sure Geumryeong used Voice Transmission though?”
“As far as I know, this spirit beast doesn’t have that kind of ability. And I’ve never seen any records saying otherwise.”
“…”
What? There’s no way I just imagined Geumryeong talking to me with Voice Transmission.
“Still, just because there are no records up to now doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”
My master smiled and continued,
“After all, no one’s ever fed this spirit beast that much silver before.”
“…”
Come to think of it, when I told the North Sea Ice Palace’s Palace Lord how much silver Geumryeong eats, she was pretty shocked.
Now I’m really curious what kind of abilities it’ll unlock if I keep feeding it more silver.
I untied my father’s letter from Geumryeong’s tail and read it. As expected, it said to proceed as we’d discussed before.
I slipped Geumryeong back into my sleeve and said,
“All right then, let’s go.”
We soon arrived at the stronghold.
“Welcome.”
The people of the stronghold came out to greet us, and their attitude was completely different from three days ago.
They were practically bowing and scraping.
“Thank you for making such a wise decision.”
“When you’ve gone so far to look out for us, how could we not go along with it? Hahaha.”
“Exactly.”
I smiled and said,
“Then why don’t we all go ahead and sign the contracts?”
This time, we were allowed inside the stronghold. There were far more women and children inside than I’d expected.
Their complexions looked worse than I thought they would. It made sense; by my calculations, they should’ve run out of food already.
“Mom, I’m hungry.”
“Just hold on a few more days.”
“How long do I have to keep holding on? I don’t want to eat grass porridge anymore.”
I focused my Qi just in case and picked up their conversation, then let out a quiet sigh.
“Is something wrong?”
Chieftain Sun watched my expression and asked, and I asked him in return,
“How many days has it been since you ran out of food?”
“What? Why are you asking that…?”
“Just answer honestly.”
“It’s been four days now.”
“…”
So their food ran out even faster than I’d expected.
He spoke again, almost defensively,
“It’s just… more people kept coming…”
“So how many people are here in this stronghold right now?”
“Around three hundred.”
“I see.”
I gave Palgap a few quick instructions and sent Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am along as escort.
Then I turned back to address everyone.
“All right then, let’s start filling out the contracts.”
They set up a small desk, and I sat down in front of it, spreading out the papers I’d prepared in advance.
I wrote out the contract and pushed it forward.
“The terms of this contract are as follows.”
I carefully explained the contents to them. Most of the farmers here couldn’t read.
“…That’s what it says. If anyone here can read, feel free to look it over in detail.”
A few people stepped up to examine the contract, but Gyeong In-juk wasn’t among them.
Why not? Don’t tell me he can’t read.
After looking through what I’d written, they nodded.
“We’ve checked it.”
“There’s no issue.”
“All right, then write your names here at the bottom and put your seals or thumbprints next to them.”
The literate ones wrote down everyone’s names and had them sign or stamp beside them.
Things went smoothly like that, and just as we finished collecting everyone’s marks, a cart started making its way up from below.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward it. I couldn’t help but smile.
Palgap had done a good job.
The cart climbing up to the stronghold right now was loaded with grain.
I’d told Palgap earlier to go procure grain, and it looked like they’d found some at the nearest place possible.
“Young master! I’m back!”
At Palgap’s shout, I nodded and replied,
“Nice work.”
Then I turned to the people and said,
“For now, take care of your immediate hunger with this grain.”
“What is this grain, exactly?”
“You all know what the contract says, don’t you? And the Eunhae Merchant Group never goes back on a contract.”
“So… you mean…”
“Yeah. All of this is something you’ll be paying back. So don’t feel burdened by taking it.”
I went on,
“It’ll be the you five years from now who repays this grain. If you starve to death right now, there’s no future five years from now anyway, is there?”
At that, people began nodding.
Soon big pots were hung all around the stronghold, and smoke from cooking rice started to rise.
Someone must’ve had game meat prepared in advance, because they cooked up side dishes with wild animal meat to go with the rice.
Before long, the rice was done, and everyone began to eat.
It was their first proper meal in almost four days, and smiles spread across every face.
Even if it was grain their future selves would have to repay, they were at least seeing a little hope now.
Once the meal had settled down a bit,
I got up and walked over to Gyeong In-juk.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Gyeong In-juk.”
“Did you enjoy the meal?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, it’s the first time in a long while I’ve eaten my fill. I’m grateful to you, Deputy Merchant Lord.”
Deputy Merchant Lord, huh… I smiled at the title.
During the negotiations, I’d only given my name and deliberately never mentioned that I was a Deputy Merchant Lord.
Since he wasn’t from Sunyang County and had come from elsewhere, he shouldn’t have known who I was.
But the fact he addressed me that way meant…
“So it sounds like you figured out who I am.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Since you gave us time to think over your proposal, we sent people to Sunyang County to investigate the Eunhae Merchant Group. And in the process, we learned you’re the third Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“I see.”
“So why did you call me over?”
“By any chance, can you read and write?”
At my question, he shook his head.
“I don’t. How would a poor tenant farmer’s son ever have the money to learn letters?”
“So you really can’t read at all.”
Maybe his pride was pricked, because he quietly retorted,
“I never said I knew nothing. I can at least recognize a hundred characters or so.”
He went on,
“I buttered up the kids studying at the village school and managed to learn about a hundred characters from them.”
That actually surprised me quite a bit.
“But why are you asking me this?”
“Last time, you asked some pretty sharp questions.”
“I apologize for that.”
“No need. When you’re negotiating with someone, you should always give it everything you’ve got.”
I continued,
“Which is why I’m asking—have you ever thought about doing something other than farming?”
“Something else? What do you mean by that?”
“When a Deputy Merchant Lord of a merchant group brings up ‘other work,’ isn’t it pretty obvious what that means?”
“So… you’re inviting me to come work for the merchant group?”
“That’s right.”
In my last life, he had the ability to lead a massive rebellion and the cunning to constantly outmaneuver government troops.
If he’d become a military officer in the imperial palace, he would’ve risen to great heights. In a merchant group, he’d be just as useful.
As the Eunhae Merchant Group grows, the thing we’re running short on is people.
People we can actually trust.
The more people like that we have, the closer we’ll get to becoming the greatest merchant group under heaven.
And since I’m the one who spotted him first, I better scoop him up before anyone else does.
He fell into thought at my offer.
“Of course, you’ll have to start off doing odd jobs. To be blunt, your background is unclear.”
“That’s true.”
Once you become a wanderer, your origins basically disappear.
And the Eunhae Merchant Group screens more than you’d think when hiring staff.
There are that many positions where keeping secrets is critical.
“After that, when the time is right, I’ll do what I can to get you promoted to apprentice clerk.”
I continued,
“Honestly, if I push for it, you could become apprentice clerk right away. But if you’re going to work for the merchant group, don’t you want to climb as high as you can?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then for that very reason, it’s better to build your foundations solid from the bottom up. Start as a laborer, earn everyone’s recognition, and build their trust.”
I went on,
“That’s the best way to avoid friction later. Even if it takes longer, shouldn’t you move forward in a way that’s solid?”
He thought for a moment, then nodded.
“You’re right, Deputy Merchant Lord. I should first carve out my own path and earn people’s trust.”
“If there are any other capable people, you can bring them along.”
“In that case…”
He recommended around ten people.
.
.
.
That night.
We were still staying at the stronghold.
We needed to spend one night here, then hand them over to the people the merchant group would send tomorrow.
I was walking around, looking over the area around the stronghold.
In my previous life, this place had burned to the ground in a battle with the rebel forces.
After that, the rebels moved down, united three different cities, and formed a single power.
The one at the center of it all was Gyeong In-juk.
Which means he’s someone I absolutely have to secure.
While I was lost in those thoughts,
— Kui?
Geumryeong’s voice echoed in my head.
— What is it? Why are you suddenly sending me a Voice Transmission?
In response, Geumryeong popped out of my sleeve and landed on the ground with a soft thud.
Then it wagged its tail.
“Hmm? You’re telling me to follow you, right?”
As if to say I was right, Geumryeong immediately started moving, and I followed close behind. Once we arrived at a certain spot, it began digging into the ground with its front paws.
Scritch-scritch-scritch!
Digging at a pretty impressive speed, Geumryeong soon popped back up with something clenched in its mouth.
“Whoa…”
The word slipped out in genuine amazement.
The root it was holding was an incredibly valuable medicinal ingredient.
Vitality-Preserving Root.
It’s technically just a medicinal herb, but it’s practically on the level of a miracle Elixir.
If you decoct that and drink it, you can breeze through several winters without trouble. Naturally, as a top-grade restorative, it’s insanely expensive.
Figures it’s Geumryeong. It never fails to sniff out the pricey stuff!
“Is there a lot of this around here?”
Geumryeong nodded.
In that case, perfect. It’s going to get so cold soon that what we’ve had so far will feel like nothing.
I should make sure the merchant group’s people get some.
And I plan to give some to the people from this stronghold too. They’re our merchant group’s tenant farmers now; they need sturdy bodies if they’re going to work hard.
I spoke to Geumryeong.
“Can you dig up three of the best roots for me?”
“Kui?”
“I’m going to give them to my master as a present.”
“Kui…”
“You’re asking why you don’t get a share when you found them? Your share’s the one you’re holding in your mouth right now.”
“Kui… Kui…”
“All right, all right. I’ll give you a few more later.”
I’m too soft-hearted for my own good. Still, it could’ve just eaten all of this on its own, but it chose to tell me about it, so it’s a pretty admirable little thing.
In my previous life, this place must’ve been completely devastated, so nobody ever found these.
I never heard a rumor about anyone discovering Vitality-Preserving Root here back then, so if I hadn’t come this time either, who knows when someone would’ve finally stumbled across it.
.
.
.
The next day.
The displaced people from the stronghold packed their belongings and started moving under the guidance of the people dispatched from the merchant group.
They were heading to the farmland the Eunhae Merchant Group had purchased.
Even though they were leaving this place and going somewhere completely unfamiliar, there wasn’t much worry on their faces.
It felt like a sign of the trust they’d placed in me and the Eunhae Merchant Group, and I couldn’t help but feel a little proud.
My master had said there was something to do and left the night before.
So I gave them some Vitality-Preserving Root right away, and they were delighted.
My master and I are fine even without that kind of medicine, but for my master’s spouse and the people who don’t practice martial arts, it’s good to have something like this in their system.
“All right, let’s head out too.”
At my words, Gyeong In-juk and the other young men who’d decided to work for the merchant group replied,
“Understood.”
We set off toward the merchant group.
I glanced back. Looking at Gyeong In-juk and the young men behind me, I couldn’t help but smile.
I’d gained some excellent talent, and at the same time trimmed away one of the buds that could’ve grown into a major rebellion. Now that’s what you call killing two birds with one stone.
–TL Notes–
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