When I looked up, I saw a familiar face.
It was Young Master Ho Gyeong, grandson of Merchant Lord Ho Ju-shin and host of this banquet.
“Of course. Please, have a seat.”
Scrape,
At my words, he pulled out the chair and sat down.
He was someone reputed to be remarkably clever.
Some trouble along the way had weakened the Baekyeom Merchant Group’s influence a bit, but once Young Master Ho Gyeong became Merchant Lord, their ranking climbed again and they even competed with the Eunhae Merchant Group for a place among the three great merchant groups under the Heaven.
Come to think of it, Merchant Lord Ho Ju-shin had doted on Young Master Ho Gyeong.
To the point of saying, “With Gyeong around, I can close my eyes without worry.”
But why sit here of all places? There are plenty of empty seats elsewhere.
Just then, Deputy Merchant Lord Han Baek-geon spoke with a smile.
“Looks like this spot caught your eye.”
“Ah, yes.”
He nodded as he answered.
“There are quite a few people here I’d like to get closer to.”
That was all well and good, but why was he looking straight at me while he said it?
The meaning behind that gaze was obvious.
He wanted to get close to me.
If someone famed for being that sharp wanted to cozy up to me, it meant he thought I would be useful to him.
That meant our merchant group had grown a lot, and I could not help feeling proud.
Ah, this feels good.
But I could not just sit back and be content with this.
The future seat of the number one merchant group under the Heaven was going to belong to our merchant group.
“Pardon the interruption.”
Smartly dressed servers began setting plates of food on the table.
Dumplings stuffed with fish.
Clams stir fried in spicy sauce and clams stir fried without spice.
Sea cucumber dishes and shrimp dishes.
Duck dishes and roasted chicken dishes.
And spicy braised chicken.
“Oh? Isn’t this that seasonal clam?”
“It’s just come into season.”
True, that kind of clam is eaten from late autumn until just before spring.
On top of that, a dozen or so other dishes soon filled the table.
“Please, help yourselves.”
“I’ll dig in.”
I reached for the spicy braised chicken first.
It reminded me of the braised chicken I had last time at Golden Rooster Pavilion.
Let’s see how this one tastes.
I bit into the braised chicken.
Hm…?
It was not bad, but… it tasted pretty ordinary.
As expected, the braised chicken at Golden Rooster Pavilion had really been on a different level.
I should take my parents there the day after tomorrow or so.
With that thought, I reached for another dish.
“It’s a shame we can’t serve any wine because of the Prohibition Decree.”
Deputy Merchant Lord Han Baek-geon picked up Young Master Ho Gyeong’s words.
“I’ve heard a lot about Shandong’s famous wines too. They say they’re brewed with clear water from Mount Lao, with an incredibly deep bouquet, and the more you drink, the clearer your head feels.”
“That’s right.”
Young Master Ho Gyeong nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Please be sure to visit sometime. Once the Prohibition Decree is lifted, I’ll give you a proper treat.”
The meal went on for quite a while.
After all, this gathering was not just for conversation and building ties, but also for exchanging information.
In that sense, it was an extremely productive time.
The stories I heard from members of other merchant groups, each with different main product lines, were quite interesting.
Before I knew it, lunchtime had long passed and it was already late afternoon, close to five p.m.
“Hahahah!”
A hearty laugh rang out from where the Merchant Lords were gathered.
“Today, I’ll show you our merchant group’s Iron Workshop!”
I could already guess who it was.
It was Merchant Lord Ho Ju-shin of the White Flame Merchant Group.
In response, Young Master Ho Gyeong gave an awkward laugh and said,
“It seems Grandfather is in a very good mood.”
Then he muttered under his breath,
“This is going to mess up the Iron Workshop’s rhythm…”
I glanced around, but his voice had been so soft that it seemed I was the only one who heard him.
Thanks to that, I learned something.
That Young Master Ho Gyeong had his head screwed on straight.
He cherished the Iron Workshop more than anything.
He understood.
That the place that had truly built up the White Flame Merchant Group was the Iron Workshop, and that it was the very essence of the merchant group.
That must be why, in my previous life, he had been able to pull the wavering White Flame Merchant Group back on track and get it running properly again.
“Come, come! Anyone curious about the Iron Workshop, follow me! Hahaha!”
At his words, someone asked,
“Then does that mean today’s banquet is over?”
“Oh? Ah! That’s right!”
He walked over to where the drum was and struck it.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
And just like that, this Assembly of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups Under the Heaven came to an end, and I glanced down at my waist.
The silver token there was still gleaming brilliantly.
I’ll make good use of this.
Grinning to myself, I quickly slipped it into my pocket.
“All right, let’s go!”
“I am terribly sorry, but I should be heading back now. My deputy sent word that something urgent has come up…”
“Ah, my apologies. I must have gotten carried away. If anyone else has urgent business, feel free to leave first.”
“Then I’ll take my leave as well…”
At those words, several Merchant Lords bowed and took their leave.
Of course they did; they were all busy people.
They had to go back to their quarters to work or head off to meet other people.
Besides, the fact that even I knew Merchant Lord Ho Ju-shin liked to show off his Iron Workshop when he was in a good mood meant most of the Merchant Lords had already toured it several times.
Father came over to me and asked,
“Seo-ho. What will you do?”
I, of course, had to go.
The chances were high that whoever the Murim Alliance had instigated would make a move while we were touring the Iron Workshop.
And the Iron Workshop was not a place outsiders could freely enter except on an occasion like this.
“I’d like to take a look.”
“All right. Then go and enjoy the tour. Ah, and while you’re at it, leave your outer robe with Palgap. It really gets in the way.”
A short while later, a few Merchant Lords and most of the Deputy Merchant Lords and young masters followed behind Merchant Lord Ho Ju-shin.
Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang excused himself, saying he had pressing business and would not join.
The actual deed would be carried out by the people he had bought off anyway, so he was stepping away to avoid being directly tied to it.
He would not want to attract even the slightest suspicion.
Young Master Ho Gyeong and his father walked directly behind Merchant Lord Ho Ju-shin.
With the Merchant Lord himself going, his son and grandson had no choice but to follow.
Young Master Ho Gyeong gave some instructions to his attendant, and the attendant rushed off in a hurry.
No doubt he was headed for the Iron Workshop.
I did not even need to focus Qi in my ears to know that.
He had surely ordered him to clear away anything confidential, since guests were coming to tour the place.
Meanwhile, watching Merchant Lord Ho Ju-shin so eager to show off what he had built, I felt a touch of pity.
Just how much scorn had he suffered in his youth to end up with this kind of habit…
I followed Father’s advice and handed my outer robe to Palgap.
Honestly, even without his advice, I had already planned to take it off before going in.
Seeing that, the others who had shared the same table with me also took off their outer robes and entrusted them to their attendants.
“This is the Iron Workshop.”
After we entered the Baekyeom Merchant Group’s compound and walked for about a quarter of an hour, a black iron door came into view.
“Could that door be made of black iron?”
At my question, Young Master Ho Gyeong nodded.
“You have a sharp eye, as expected.”
Whoa…
Making a door that big out of black iron was impressive.
It showed just how important this place was.
“Open the door.”
“Yes, sir!”
When the burly gatekeeper worked the mechanism, the black iron door swung open.
And we stepped inside.
Only the invited guests were allowed past that point.
So attendants and guards had to remain outside.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
The sound of hammers striking metal rang out from all directions.
The smell of hot metal and something acrid burning pricked at my nose.
To be honest, the smell of smelting iron was not exactly pleasant.
Still, this place looked almost exactly like it had in my previous life.
Though thinking about it, in my last life I had seen it a little later than now, so that was only natural.
Merchant Lord Ho Ju-shin began the tour.
“This is where we smelt the iron. The products are made here.”
Making goods in the area closest to the door meant they could be loaded and carried out quickly, and it also kept the more sensitive, secure work deeper inside out of sight.
A few Deputy Merchant Lords and young masters watched with eyes sparkling in expectation, but thanks to Young Master Ho Gyeong’s quick preparations, anything confidential would be hard to glimpse.
We moved farther inside.
“Whew, it’s a good thing I followed Deputy Merchant Lord Eun’s lead and came without my outer robe.”
At Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun’s words, the others all nodded.
It was only natural. This was a workshop that handled iron.
No matter how quickly they tried to tidy up, there was no way everything could be perfectly put in order.
Everyone was dressed in expensive clothes, and if they snagged on something, the garments would be ruined on the spot.
Three people had already bumped into things and had a rough time of it.
And since smelting iron was work that used fire, people were sweating even though it was only the beginning of the Eleventh Month.
The blacksmiths working inside were all wearing sleeveless tops.
“I have Father’s advice to thank for that.”
Of course I could not feel the heat, but I would still have to go thank Father later.
We went deeper and deeper inside until we reached the place where they poured boiling molten iron into molds to shape it.
The craftsmen placed metal molds into boxes and covered them with fine earth.
They were making the molds that the molten iron would be poured into.
They said you could not use just any soil to make those molds.
You had to use extremely fine, soft sand, something they called sediment soil.
It was a material that could be gathered in large quantities where river and seawater met.
That was why the White Flame Merchant Group had based itself in Shandong, where sediment soil was easy to obtain.
Shandong also had plenty of iron mines.
Of course, since all mines in the Empire belonged to the Emperor, the White Flame Merchant Group procured iron ore by purchasing what had already been mined.
“Wow! Is that molten iron?”
“That’s amazing.”
To the Deputy Merchant Lords and young masters staring with wide eyes, Young Master Ho Gyeong explained,
“It looks easy, but in truth, pouring molten iron is the most demanding and difficult task.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the molten iron in each ladle weighs well over ten kilos.”
“Whoa… it doesn’t look that heavy.”
“Try lifting it yourself and you’ll be gasping.”
Just then, I flinched when I saw one of the men’s faces.
It was the very man I had seen at Golden Rooster Pavilion with Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang.
If Escort Guard Jin Yu’s intel was right, his name was Mak Du, one of the blacksmiths in the Iron Workshop.
I watched him closely.
While I was doing that, someone called out to the Baekyeom Merchant Lord.
“Merchant Lord! Merchant Lord!”
“Oh? What is it?”
“Officials have come from the magistrate’s office about a matter concerning the mines.”
“Now? They should know today is the assembly of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups.”
“Yes. They said it was urgent, so they had no choice.”
He frowned slightly, then turned to apologize to the others from the merchant groups.
“My apologies for the circumstances. My son will show you the rest. I’ve enjoyed today.”
“Ah, they’re asking for both of you.”
“…?”
For some reason, I could not shake the feeling that the officials’ visit right now was also part of a scheme orchestrated by the Murim Alliance.
The fact that they had come despite clearly knowing today was the day of the assembly of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups was suspicious to begin with.
Of course, it could really be urgent.
But asking for the two of them at once, and the nagging feeling in my gut, told me that was not it.
“Grandfather, Father. Don’t worry and go ahead. I can guide our guests.”
“Right, we have you, Gyeong. I’m counting on you.”
And so the two of them left the Iron Workshop, and Young Master Ho Gyeong took over leading the guests.
“This is where we melt down the iron, and over there is where we extract iron from the ore.”
Then, as if they were nearly done, he pointed toward one area.
“And that area is a restricted zone.”
“So that means there’s something confidential in there.”
At one Merchant Lord’s remark, Young Master Ho Gyeong shook his head.
“Confidential, huh… there’s nothing particularly like that.”
“Then why forbid entry?”
“If you really want to see it, you’re free to go in… but it’s extremely dangerous inside.”
“Dangerous?”
“Yes. A stray spark could hit you and burn you or ruin your clothes. And when we roast the iron ore, all sorts of impurities burn off and produce an incredible amount of soot. The stench is so much worse than here that your eyes will be streaming.”
He continued,
“So, does anyone still want to go?”
Honestly, I did want to go.
The key to working with iron lay in how high a quality you could smelt it to.
Even a masterful blacksmith was useless if the metal itself was trash.
But I did not want to step forward and stand out here.
My priority was watching that man Mak Du.
No one raised their hand.
“Very well. In that case, you’ve seen everything worth seeing. Shall we head back?”
As we retraced our steps, he added a few more explanations.
But I could only laugh inwardly at those explanations.
He sounded like he was kindly explaining everything, but he neatly left out all the key points.
I could see why Merchant Lord Ho Ju-shin was so proud of him.
Since we were following the same route back, we eventually returned to the place where they melted and poured the molten iron again.
That was when it happened.
–TL Notes–
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