Chapter 140
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 140
Chapter 140. The Meeting of the Hundred Great Trading Companies (2)
Located in Henan, Luoyang is a transportation hub connecting the Central Plains and Guanzhong, as well as a military stronghold.
This is because it is surrounded by mountains and rivers.
Thanks to the abundant harvests from the surrounding plains, Luoyang was as prosperous as Hangzhou and Young Master, which were symbols of bustling cities.
It was also home to the Martial Alliance.
In my opinion, the Martial Alliance had settled in Luoyang because of its geographical advantages.
I am now on my way to Luoyang by carriage.
The autumn leaves around me kept me entertained during the trip.
Not me, but Pal-gap.
“Oh! Those autumn leaves are so beautiful.”
“Yeah.”
“Wow! I've never seen such beautiful autumn leaves before.”
“Yeah.”
I couldn't put down my work the entire time I was riding in the carriage.
My father must be looking at documents like me.
At that moment, Seo Woo, who was riding a horse beside the carriage, said.
“We will soon be at Daebyeolsan.”
Daebyeolsan is a very large mountain that spans three regions: Anhui, Henan, and Hubei.
There is something I can get here.
However, now is not the time, so I will get it when I return after finishing my work.
.
.
.
After traveling for about ten days, we finally arrived in Luoyang.
We were not provided with accommodation, so we had to stay at an inn.
Therefore, when the final date and location of the meeting were decided, Eunhae Trading Company quickly sent someone to make a reservation at the inn.
We were staying at the Songbi Inn.
My father said as he entered the inn.
“I remember how embarrassed you were when you first joined the Hundred Great Trading Companies because you didn't know you had to book a room in advance.”
“I guess a lot of people gathered there because it was a meeting of the Hundred Great Trading Companies.”
“Yes, fortunately, the captain of another trading company knew our situation and gave us a few rooms. Thanks to that, we didn't have to sleep on the street.”
“What a kind trading company.”
“You'll meet them soon. They're called the Mingming Trading Company.”
“Ah! Isn't that one of the three greatest trading companies in the world?”
“That's right.”
Myeongmyeong Trading Company is one of the three major trading companies and operates throughout the Central Plains.
Their main commodities are ceramics and spices, and they rose to become one of the three major trading companies by monopolizing the pepper trade.
At that moment, my father's chief aide, Yoo Dae-ik, approached us.
“I've checked the rooms.”
“Thank you.”
A middle-aged man who came with Lieutenant Yoo Dae-ik bowed politely with clasped hands.
“Greetings, Captain. I am Song Baek, the innkeeper of Songbi Inn.”
“I am Eun Gil-sang, captain of the Eunhae Trading Company. I look forward to your stay.”
“Of course. I will show you to your room.”
Songbi Inn was a fairly large inn, and seeing that the owner himself was greeting us, I realized that this was not just any large inn.
There were four floors, and our room was on the third floor.
The warriors of Eunpungdae and the Trading Company employees who had accompanied them stayed on the third and fourth floors.
Some people might feel uncomfortable staying in the same floor as their superiors, but this was for the safety of my parents and myself.
This was a world where martial artists moved around using rooftops.
Therefore, the top floor, where one could enter the room directly from the rooftop, was dangerous.
It was a perfectly reasonable room arrangement, but from my perspective, it was a little inconvenient.
There were things I had to sneak out and get from Luoyang at night.
After thinking for a moment, I made up my mind.
“Father, I would like my guards to stay in the room above mine.”
Unlike the Eunpungdae, the guards were assigned to protect me at close range, so they were supposed to stay in the rooms on either side of mine.
“That way, if something happens, they can come right through the window above.”
“I see.”
So, the warriors Yeong-eum and Jin-yu stayed in the rooms next to mine, while Lee Pil and Seo Woo stayed in the rooms above.
Pal-gap stayed with my father's attendant, and that completed the room assignments.
A short while later
After washing up with warm water and changing our clothes, we went downstairs to have dinner.
After waiting for a while, my father and mother also came down.
The food was already ordered by my aide, Yoo Dae-ik, so it was served right away.
The dishes were mostly specialties of Luoyang, such as stir-fried pork and soup made with various mushrooms and shredded radish.
We enjoyed our meal.
Seeing that even we, who were from Hubei, found the food delicious, it seemed that Shukusu had taken our tastes into consideration.
We were touched by his thoughtful consideration.
After we finished eating and were drinking tea, my father said,
“Come to think of it, this is your first time attending a meeting of the Hundred Trading Companies, and there is something I haven't told you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Actually, there is an interesting entertainment at the meetings of the Hundred Trading Companies.”
“Entertainment?”
“Yes, each participant is given a round token that looks like a coin. You attach it to your waist and enjoy the meeting.”
I was familiar with this entertainment.
I had enjoyed it when I attended the Baekdae Trading Company meeting with Jung-ho in my previous life.
But since I was hearing this story for the first time, I listened attentively.
“And those who keep the silver badge until the end of the gathering will receive it as a gift.”
“Keep the silver badge?”
“Yes, during the gathering, the silver badge disappears without anyone noticing, and no one knows who took it.”
My mother laughed at my father's words.
“Not only your father and brother, but even I have never been able to keep it.”
“That sounds really difficult. But does that mean the Trading Company hires thieves?”
“Exactly.”
This entertainment began long ago with the wisdom of a Trading Company leader.
This meeting was attended by the heads of the 100 largest trading companies in the country and other related parties.
As it was a place overflowing with various valuables and treasures, it was a great opportunity for thieves to make a fortune.
Of course, the guards were thoroughly protecting the meeting, but for a master thief, it didn't matter whether there were guards or not.
As unfortunate incidents caused by thieves became frequent, the captain of the trading company who hosted the meeting at the time decided to add a large room after much deliberation.
[All those attending the meeting shall wear a silver badge on their waist. If you can steal it, go ahead.
I will not say anything about stealing the silver badge.
However, if you steal anything else, we will find you and arrest you."
This was a kind of challenge, and it fueled the pride of the thieves who had gathered in hopes of making a big catch.
Thus, it became customary for thieves to target only silver plates during the meetings of the Hundred Trading Companies.
In my past life, I lost my silver plate twice.
This made me determined to get it back, so I studied various methods and managed to keep my silver plate from then on.
I remember that the silver plates I got back were quite valuable.
More than that, I am more interested in the thief who stole the silver plate with such skill.
In my previous life, I was only concerned with not having my silver plates stolen, but now that I think about it, I missed a valuable opportunity.
It was a chance to hire the best security expert.
There is a saying that ten people cannot stop one thief. That is because ten people are not thieves.
Just as snakes know best how to deal with snakes, thieves know best how to deal with thieves.
That's why I'm thinking of hiring a master thief this time.
“Huh? Who is this? Isn't this the captain of the Eunhae Trading Company?”
I turned my head at the sudden voice.
A middle-aged man was entering through the door, and his clothes looked quite luxurious.
My father seemed to know him and quickly stood up to greet him.
“Long time no see, Captain.”
“Have you been well?”
“Yes, Captain, have you been well?”
“I've been fine.”
My father brought him and the woman who seemed to be his wife over to us and introduced them.
“It's been a long time.”
My mother greeted them politely.
“This is my youngest son, Eun Seo-ho, one of the captains of the trading company. And this is Captain Saguchul of the Hongryeon Trading Company.”
“Nice to meet you. My name is Eun Seo-ho.”
“Oh! You are the famous Sunhyeokmi!”
Captain Saguchul's eyes were filled with kindness as he looked at me.
However, it was so excessive that it made me feel uncomfortable.
“I only did what I had to do, but you have given me too much credit.”
I expressed my modesty and sighed inwardly.
Hongryeon Trading Company is a trading company based in Shaanxi, and it ranks 45th among the 100 best trading companies announced last year.
It is slightly larger than our trading company.
Hongryeon Trading Company deals in weapons.
They supply military supplies to the imperial court and have earned a reputation for making high-quality weapons.
From what I heard, Hongryeon Trading Company has a very unique history.
The first captain of Hongryeon Trading Company was originally a warrior.
Unhappy with the swords available, he decided to make his own and became an apprentice blacksmith.
Perhaps he was more talented at crafting than martial arts, he eventually acquired the skills and abilities to make excellent swords.
Word spread, and more and more people sought out the weapons he made.
Three generations passed, and before we knew it, we had become one of the 100 greatest trading companies in the land.
I can't believe my name has spread all the way to Shaanxi.
“You're too modest! What are you talking about? Do you know how grateful we Shaanxi merchants are to you?”
“What?”
“Aren't you the hero who captured Shaanxi Gal?”
Ah...
Only then did I understand why Captain Saguchul looked at me with such overwhelming kindness.
Was it last summer?
When I went to Shaanxi to trade for tea, Shaanxi Gal cheated our Eunhae Trading Company.
I am not the type to just take things lying down.
I caught Shaanxi Gal and handed him over to the county office.
I replied with an awkward smile.
“I was able to catch him thanks to the help of many people. I didn't do much.”
“Hehe, excessive modesty is not polite. I know very well what you did.”
He continued.
“Who would the head constables of the county office get their weapons from?”
“Hahaha.”
In that case, there was nothing to say.
“If he had continued to cause trouble, it would have been a headache for the merchants of Shaanxi. You have done a great job.”
Then he smiled at my father and said,
“You have a truly wonderful son.”
“My son is a little talented. Ha ha ha.”
Oh, Father.
You are praising your son too much.
At that moment, the wife of the captain of the Sagucheol Trading Company said,
“Your son looks only about fifteen years old, but he is truly remarkable.”
My mother replied,
“He is now eighteen years old.”
“Really? Is that so?”
She said to the captain of the Sagucheol Trading Company standing next to her,
“Come to think of it, my youngest daughter Yeon-mi is seventeen.”
At those words, I felt a chill run down my spine.
This is dangerous.
I said urgently.
“You must be tired from your long journey. I don't think we should keep you here too long.”
My father nodded in agreement.
“You've come a long way from Shaanxi, so you should go rest and we can talk tomorrow.”
“Yes, that's a good idea.”
After sending the two of them to their room, I breathed a sigh of relief.
I am eighteen years old.
In a few months, I will be nineteen.
Although it was a common age to get married, I had no intention of doing so.
My goal was not only to make Eunhae Trading Company the world's best trading company, but also to take revenge on the Martial Alliance and Baekcheon Trading Company.
If someone married me, they would have to sacrifice themselves for me.
I didn't want that.
The sacrifice for revenge was something I had to bear because I remembered my previous life.
At that moment, I heard my mother speaking to my father.
“Seo-ho seems to be very popular.”
“Of course he is. He takes after me.”
“He was very handsome when I first met him. Ho ho ho.”
“You don't think so anymore?”
“Put your hand on your heart and answer me.”
“....”
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.
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Night fell.
I got up from the bed and took out the mirror. Then I used the mirror to create an image of myself lying on the bed.
In the distance, I heard the sound of drums announcing midnight (11 p.m. to 1 a.m.).
“It's about time for Palgap to come.”
Pal-gap's voice could be heard from outside the door, saying that even tigers come when you call them.
“Young master, it's Pal-gap.”
“Come in.”
The door opened and Pal-gap entered. He was startled to see me lying on the bed and myself standing next to it.
“Oh! Damn! You scared me!”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Then you don't look like you'd be startled? There's one person lying on the bed and another standing beside him.”
I chuckled.
“Then I'll go out for a bit.”