A few days had passed since my audience with the Emperor.
By now, I was about due to hear something about establishing the Martial Arts Academy…
With that thought in mind, I was inspecting the sites.
There were three candidate sites in total for this Martial Arts Academy.
And I had decided to look through each and every one of them personally.
Since this was a joint project with the Emperor, I couldn’t afford to handle it carelessly.
In the end, I chose one.
“This place will do.”
At my words, Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am, who had come along as my guard, spoke.
“It’s incredibly spacious.”
“Yes. That’s precisely why I like it.”
At our exchange, Escort Guard Myeong Jong tilted his head and asked,
“But… isn’t it a little too spacious? It looks large enough to build an entire village. And usually, sites like this are inside a mountain, but this one has a mountain inside the site.”
“That’s fine. If anything, wouldn’t that make it better for training?”
“Well, when you put it that way, I suppose so.”
The site I had chosen was that large.
“As a rule, if you want to properly learn martial arts, a wide space like this is essential.”
I knew that better than anyone, since I had often felt stifled and frustrated while training.
No matter how large my residence was, it didn’t have anything on the level of a proper training ground, so there had been all sorts of inconveniences.
“And a large space is better when building basic stamina as well.”
“That is… certainly true.”
“I can already hear the students cursing us while they run laps around the training ground and climb the mountain.”
Escort Guard Myeong Jong shuddered.
“The training I truly hated was mountain-climbing training. When I was young, I had to walk up to a mountaintop that took an hour and a half to reach round trip, fill a gourd with water from the spring there, and bring it back down.”
“A gourd? Doesn’t the water spill if you make one wrong move?”
“Then you have to go back and fill it again.”
“…”
“And once I turned fifteen, I had to climb up Mount Hua’s Broken Cliff, draw water there, carry it on my back, and descend again.”
“So that’s how you make plum blossoms bloom.”
“That’s how it is.”
For some reason, there was a sigh mixed into Escort Guard Myeong Jong’s answer.
“But looking at this place, I feel like it’s going to become a hellish training ground that surpasses even Mount Hua.”
“Which means they’ll become that much stronger. Later on, they’ll all be grateful.”
At that moment, Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am spoke.
“But why have you suddenly decided to establish a Martial Arts Academy?”
“There seem to be many talented people in our merchant group as well. I thought it would be good to have a Martial Arts Academy where they could learn systematically.”
I continued.
“The two daughters of Escort Guard Yeo whom I met last time also seemed talented.”
At that, Escort Guard Myeong Jong lightly jabbed Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am in the ribs and said,
“Escort Guard Yeo! Honestly! Our Lord is building this Martial Arts Academy for your two daughters. He heard you were looking for a good Martial Arts Academy for them.”
At his words, Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am asked with an embarrassed expression,
“Is that truly the case?”
“Well, it serves several purposes at once. That’s why I even struck a deal with His Majesty the Emperor.”
“…”
He looked deeply moved.
“I don’t know how I could ever repay this kindness.”
Now that he was this touched, I was the one feeling awkward.
“Ahem, training here will be rather difficult, but will that be all right?”
“Of course. My daughters are no ordinary children. They will overcome that much hardship without question.”
Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am continued.
“Naturally, it pains me to imagine my two daughters struggling. But I can’t handle everything for them forever. That is why I believe my role as their father is to help them become people who can live by their own strength.”
Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am was right.
Children shouldn’t only learn how to catch fish. They also had to learn how to face the rough currents in order to catch them.
Otherwise, they would never be able to catch fish on their own later.
Seeing that he thought even that far ahead made me feel that Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am was truly a parent who loved his children.
“You’re a good father.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m a father who’s always away from home…”
“I’m sorry about that.”
At my apology, he panicked.
“Huh! N-no, not at all! I misspoke.”
“I was joking.”
I gave a faint laugh and continued.
“I’m sure your entire family knows you are working harder than anyone for their sake.”
“Hahahaha.”
At my words, he laughed bashfully.
“Then let’s head back. And Deputy Gal.”
“Yes.”
“Look into this place carefully and proceed with a provisional contract.”
“Understood.”
.
.
.
“You have returned, Young Master?”
When I returned to the Beijing Branch, Palgap came out to greet me.
“I was just about to send someone for you, but you arrived at exactly the right time.”
“Hm?”
“A guest has come.”
“A guest?”
“Young Master Jeong-ho is receiving him right now.”
Wait a moment…
This Qi… secret guards.
There was only one kind of person who would have experts like this serving as secret guards.
“Palgap, let’s hurry.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
I straightened my clothes and quickly headed toward the Reception Room.
“Hahaha, now that I’ve met him, Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Jeong-ho is quite an amusing person as well.”
“You flatter me, Your Highness.”
“Then I’ve now met two of you brothers, haven’t I? Next time, I would like to meet the middle brother among the three.”
“I will arrange a meeting soon.”
Fortunately, the atmosphere seemed good.
I approached with some relief, and the guards standing before the door recognized me and reported inside.
“Your Highness, Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho has arrived.”
“Ah, let him in.”
“Yes!”
The door opened, and I went inside.
“Oh! You’ve come?”
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince! May you live a thousand…”
“Ah, dispense with the unnecessary formalities. That is an order.”
“Ah, yes.”
If you insist, I’m certainly grateful.
“Sit.”
“Yes.”
Once I took my seat, the Crown Prince spoke.
“So. You went to inspect the site where the Martial Arts Academy will be established?”
“Yes. There was a site I liked, so I instructed them to proceed with a provisional contract.”
“I see. If it is a place chosen by none other than you, then it must be the best one.”
After saying that, the Crown Prince continued.
“Imperial Father has ordered me to proceed with the establishment of the Martial Arts Academy together with you.”
“…”
Phew, as expected…
So this was why the news had been so slow.
But Your Majesty, why do you keep attaching the Crown Prince to me?
To be honest, it wasn’t as if I didn’t understand the Emperor’s intentions.
He likely meant for the Crown Prince to watch from beside me and learn whatever there was to learn.
But is there really anything the Crown Prince can learn from me?
All there is to learn from a merchant like me is negotiating and playing tricks.
Well, I suppose those skills would be necessary for dealing with sly old ministers…
But from what I saw last time, I don’t think he really needs to learn from me.
“So regarding that matter, you may go through me.”
“I will do so. Then will Your Highness handle the ministers?”
“Hm? Why would I handle the ministers?”
“Pardon? Well, naturally…”
“The money used to establish the Martial Arts Academy comes from the Imperial Family’s coffers, not the Empire’s treasury. Therefore, there is no reason to deal with the ministers.”
Ah…
I was once again deeply impressed by the Emperor’s skill.
So he would support the Martial Arts Academy with the Imperial Family’s money while simultaneously selecting martial artists loyal to the Imperial Family.
“The Imperial Family has quite a lot of leeway.”
Well, with the salt monopoly, the official gambling houses… there were plenty of places for money to flow in from.
That was why the Emperor could boldly push things forward without worrying about the ministers.
On top of that, since establishing a Martial Arts Academy to raise the Empire’s future pillars was the stated purpose, the Imperial Family had more than enough justification to spend its own money.
Damn! How impressive.
Though from the perspective of the retainers who had to deal with an Emperor like that, it must be rather exhausting.
“And here. Imperial Father told me to give this to you.”
The Crown Prince handed me a scroll.
It was a scroll covered in red silk.
I respectfully received it with both hands and opened it. It was an official order that allowed me to bring in whatever talent I wanted.
The letters almost seemed to shine.
Ah, they had sprinkled silver powder on it.
.
.
.
The next day.
As always, I finished my Breathing Meditation and even completed my training before eating breakfast.
Unless something unavoidable happened, I never skipped training.
Part of it was because Master would notice if I neglected my training, but there was also no telling when or where I might suddenly encounter another arrangement left by the Patriarch.
Having to train even longer inside one of the Patriarch’s arrangements because my own training was lacking… was not an appealing thought.
Only by steadily training and improving my skill could I escape those arrangements even a little sooner.
After having tea and briefly speaking with Brother Jeong-ho, I headed to the office.
“You have arrived?”
“Yes.”
Young Lady Seohyang and Deputy Gal Hyeon rose from their seats to greet me.
Then I held a meeting with Deputy Yeo Chang-ui, who had been waiting for me, and gave several instructions.
Once the urgent work had been handled, Deputy Gal Hyeon approached me.
“There is something I need to report.”
Now that I thought about it, his expression had not been very good since earlier.
“What is it?”
“There is a problem with the site you instructed us to place under provisional contract yesterday. Not the entire site, only part of it, but the owner of that land refuses to sell.”
“Pardon?”
I asked again.
“Did you perhaps fail to offer a sufficient price?”
“No. We offered five hundred Silver Taels.”
That was a fairly generous price compared to the market rate.
In most cases, people would happily accept and move out. They wouldn’t refuse.
“Who owns that land?”
“An old man named Mae So-gun.”
“Bring me any information you have on that old man.”
“Yes.”
Gal Hyeon immediately handed me the documents.
I read through them.
Hm…
The old man named Mae So-gun was sixty years old this year, and he farmed there.
He was not especially poor, nor was he wealthy. Just an ordinary farmer.
But one unusual detail caught my eye.
“His son disappeared one day?”
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes for a moment and thought it over before standing.
“I should meet this old man myself.”
.
.
.
A short while later.
I headed to the home of the old man named Mae So-gun.
“Is anyone here? Is nobody home?”
At Palgap’s call, an old man emerged from inside.
“Who is it?”
Whether he saw Deputy Gal Hyeon beside me or not, he immediately shouted,
“Ah! I’m not selling! I said I’m not selling the land, so why are you here again?”
I took one step forward and said,
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Deputy Merchant Lord of the Eunhae Merchant Group. I came personally to speak with you, Elder.”
At my words, the old man silently looked at me for a while before letting out a sigh.
“Fine. Sit.”
He offered me a flat wooden bench.
He did not invite me inside and instead offered the bench, but it was not a bad start.
I quickly looked over the house where the old man lived.
A small tiled-roof house.
It was just the right size for about three people to live in.
However, collapsed and worn spots could be seen here and there. It seemed he had left them that way because repairing them on his own was too much for him.
“Doesn’t it leak over there when it rains?”
“It does leak…”
“Since I’m here, I’ll have it repaired for you.”
“No need.”
“Won’t your household goods be ruined? If the house stays damp, you’ll fall ill.”
“…Ahem. If you insist, do as you please.”
I called Palgap.
“Palgap, go bring a carpenter and have it fixed.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
At that, Old Man Mae spoke bluntly.
“What are you thinking, fixing that house? Wouldn’t it be more profitable for you to tear it down?”
“It would be profitable, yes, but I have never forcibly driven out a person who is living their life just for my own gain.”
I continued.
“When you force someone out, misfortune has a way of following.”
“Is that so?”
I noticed faint ink marks remaining on the wall.
“You know how to write.”
“That isn’t my work.”
“Then?”
“My son’s work. Though it’s been over ten years since he left home.”
“…I see.”
Then the old man shut his mouth.
But who was I? I was Eun Seo-ho.
From that day onward, I visited the old man every single day.
“Ah! Why do you keep coming around and bothering me?”
“I came to see whether the house was repaired properly.”
“The house was repaired properly, so why are you here now?”
“When I saw you last time, your leg seemed to be bothering you, so I brought a physician.”
“You repaired my house, and you treated my aching leg too. So why are you here again?”
“I happened to come across some delicious snacks, you see. Do you not like sweets?”
“I-I do… ahem, I suppose.”
And so, after half a month of effort.
Today was a day when rain fell in a steady drizzle.
“It doesn’t leak.”
“That’s a relief.”
“I told you before, didn’t I? That I had a son who left home.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know why he left?”
Perhaps because of the rain, Old Man Mae was unusually sentimental today.
“How would I know?”
“Aren’t you the Deputy Merchant Lord of the Eunhae Merchant Group? Shouldn’t you know at least that much?”
“What would be the point of looking into that? It wouldn’t make me any money.”
“Hehehe, a merchant is a merchant, after all.”
No, I already knew.
But it would only mean something if I heard it from Old Man Mae’s own mouth.
“He left saying he would make something of himself. Said he would raise this family up.”
“I see.”
“About a year passed, I suppose, and then all word from my son stopped. My wife fell ill from worrying over him, and in the end, she wasted away and passed on.”
“…”
“It was my wife’s dying wish. He would surely come back, so… when he did… I was to ask him nothing and simply hold him. I was to tell him he had done well.”
“That is why you will not move.”
“…That’s right. If I move away, my son will have nowhere to return to, will he?”
In other words, if his son came back, then he could move.
The problem was that all news of his son had stopped a year after he left home.
As far as I knew, it had long been over ten years since the old man’s son left home, and now it was nearly fifteen.
There was a possibility that he was already dead.
Even so…
I still had to confirm whether he was dead or alive.
And informing the old man of that news would be a problem for later.
–TL Notes–
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