Chapter 308
Trading Company's Youngest Son Chapter 307
Chapter 307. The Seed of a Civil War (1)
That afternoon.
A message was sent to the key figures of the Trading Company to gather at Eunwolgak, and I hurried there as well.
When I entered Eunwolgak, I saw a familiar face.
It was my Master.
He hadn't been able to watch over my training for a while due to his schedule, so I wondered when he had arrived.
In addition to my Master, the head of the Changin Escort Agency was also there, so I greeted them both.
I knew why they had come today.
It was to discuss measures against those who had injured Lieutenant Cho Yeong-yeong and stolen our treasure.
Given the seriousness of the matter, I couldn't approach them to greet them, so I just bowed with my hands clasped together.
It wasn't a situation where we could smile and chat.
Soon, everyone gathered.
My father took out a scroll.
“We are gathered here to discuss how to deal with them. Let's hear everyone's opinion.”
The first to speak was Chief Administrator Go.
“What are we, the Eunhae Trading Company, afraid of that we just stand by and watch them? If you give me the order, I will slaughter them all right now!”
Chief Administrator Go said angrily.
“It's not just about the stolen goods, but they dared to almost kill our deputy commander! Our deputy commander!”
For some reason, Chief Administrator Go seemed more angry about the fact that Deputy Commander Cho had almost been killed than about the stolen goods.
To be honest, I was angry too, but shouldn't he put aside his personal feelings?
Thinking so, I looked around at the people in Eunwolgak and couldn't help but smile.
Everyone was nodding vigorously.
Ah...
Come to think of it, Lieutenant Cho was not only the daughter of the people here, but also the daughter, niece, older sister, and younger sister of most of the people in the Trading Company.
That's why she was loved by everyone.
As for Yoo Nae-joon...
“Ahem.”
My father cleared his throat and said.
“To be honest, I'm also quite angry about that. But we must approach this carefully because they are not just a simple band of Green Forest Bandits.”
The head of the Changin Escort Agency responded to his words.
“I agree with the captain of the Trading Company. They are a group of rebels who were once beggars. And as you know, death means nothing to those who are starving.”
“That's true.”
The most dangerous people in the world are those who have nothing to lose, especially those who are starving.
Parents will do anything for their starving children. Of course, there are some abnormal parents who would not do so, but let's leave that aside.
“Therefore, we cannot treat them as we would treat ordinary Green Forest Bandits. The problem is...”
The head of the Changin Escort Agency continued with a serious expression.
“The size of the rebel group is growing.”
Ah... That's right.
In my previous life, the rebellion also started small.
However, as it grew, it became a huge Green Forest Bandits that swept across the entire Hubei region.
This caused tremendous chaos in the Hubei region.
How many landowners and trading companies were attacked by them?
Fortunately, our Eunhae Trading Company was able to survive, but...
Then what should we do?
In order for a trading company to exist, it is important to have people with the purchasing power to buy goods.
Therefore, our trading company could not avoid suffering.
The Baekcheon Trading Company...
Honestly, what kind of rebel army could attack the Baekcheon Trading Company?
The Martial Alliance has many skilled fighters.
“Then what should we do? Should we give up the hunt? If we make a mistake, you know how much the other Green Forest Bandits will look down on our Eunhae Trading Company.”
Dao, the chief administrator, agreed with Go's words.
“I agree with you, Chief Administrator Go. But the King must know that too.”
The King nodded at her words.
“Therefore, I will leave the decision to the Eunhae Trading Company.”
Such a weak-minded person.
It's a problem either way, so he's leaving the decision to us, the trading company that was commissioned.
My father's concern grew deeper.
It's true that there is no clear plan.
If we defeat them, their members will be caught, but if we leave them alone, I'm worried that others will look down on us.
By the way, it's only been two years, but there are already so many beggars.
The surprising thing is that their situation is much better than in their previous lives.
In their previous lives, the beggars had already grown so numerous that it was difficult to control them.
The fundamental reason for the outbreak of the civil unrest is land.
Most of the beggars borrowed grain or money using their land as collateral, but they were unable to repay their debts due to a poor harvest, so they ended up on the streets.
In addition, many people lost their sharecropping jobs.
Sigh.
It doesn't matter what era it is, when there is a poor harvest, it is always the common people who suffer.
Land...
Ah! I just had a great idea.
“...Hoya?”
“....”
“Seo Hoya?”
“Ah! Yes? Father. Did you call me?”
“Yes. You seemed to be thinking about something.”
“I'm sorry.”
“So what were you thinking about so intently?”
“I was thinking about how to resolve this situation.”
At my words, everyone looked at me with bright eyes. It was as if they were looking at a treasure chest.
Ugh! Why are you suddenly looking at me like that?
“Yes, whatever it is, feel free to speak.”
“The problem with this situation is that they are a group of rebels, isn't it?”
“That's right. If we make a mistake, we'll end up massacring the commoners.”
“Then, shouldn't we just make them not be a group of rebels?”
“How?”
“We'll buy their land. Then we'll give them tenant farming rights.”
“...”
After calculating for a moment, Chief Administrator Yoo said.
“That's a good idea, but it will require a considerable amount of money. It could destabilize our Trading Company.”
“Really?”
“....”
“Is that all our Trading Company can afford?”
“Hmm.”
Chief Administrator Yu Na quietly turned his head away.
“But it would be impossible to absorb all the rebels that way.”
“That's true. There will definitely be limits. But even if we can only do what we can afford, this matter will be resolved more easily than expected.”
Chief Administrator Go asked with a distasteful look on his face.
“Are you asking me to forgive the crimes of those who stole our goods and nearly killed our deputy commander?”
I retorted.
“When did I say I would forgive them?”
“What?”
“Of course, they must pay for their crimes.”
“Blood is blood, after all...”
“No. Fortunately, no one died...”
I continued.
“Let them farm for about five years without pay.”
“Without pay? Then how will they live...”
“We'll lend them what they need.”
“Then won't they be trapped in a cycle of debt and repayment?”
“If you think about it that way, it's no different from being an evil landlord, but they were the ones who committed the crimes. It's enough to give them a chance to live. And if they work hard, I'll give them a chance to break free from that cycle.”
The head of the Changin escort agency, who had been listening quietly, raised an objection.
“But there is a possibility that they will reject this proposal. They have already tasted success once. Why would they want to work hard for money when they can get it so easily?”
“You are right. First, we need to let them know that pillaging is not easy.”
***
It had not been long since a group of rebels had settled in the mountains between Sungyang County and Yang County.
They chose plundering as their means of livelihood.
They would ambush people traveling between Sungyang County and Yang County and steal their possessions.
It was difficult at first, but after that, they had no qualms about it.
Then one day.
Their group had grown to about fifty people, and they succeeded in their first big job.
They attacked a group of merchants from the Silver Sea Trading Company who were crossing over to Yang Eun-hyun.
When they saw the carts filled with rice, they cheered. With that much rice, they wouldn't have to worry about filling their stomachs for a while.
In addition, there were many useful medicinal herbs among the goods.
To be honest, at first, they were a little worried that they would come back for revenge. However, even after several days, there was no sign that they were going to attack them.
“It looks like they've given up on the loot.”
“Well, what kind of military force could a trading company have to fight us?”
“They've tasted my poisoned arrows, so they won't come near us.”
Soon, a single thought began to take root among them.
“Pillaging is easier than I thought.”
“If this is the case, there's no need to farm.”
“We can become rich in no time!”
Thus, they began to actively engage in pillaging.
As rumors spread that they had a huge amount of rice, groups of people from nearby began to join them.
In this way, their numbers grew.
The problem was that their food began to run out faster than they had expected.
One day,
those who were watching the net rushed over and delivered the news.
“We must prepare to hunt immediately! Wagons loaded with rice are coming.”
“What?”
“I've never seen the Trading Company's emblem before. But there don't seem to be many escorts, so they should be easy prey.”
And so, they prepared for what they called hunting.
At that moment, one young man sensed that something was wrong.
“Hey, guys. Isn't something strange going on?”
“What?”
“To be honest, it's strange that the Silver Sea Trading Company left us alone, but now you're saying that a large shipment of rice is passing through here?”
“What do you mean?”
“Rumors must have spread that the Silver Sea Trading Company was robbed... Something is definitely going on.”
“So what are we gonna do? We only have enough food left for five days. Do you want to starve to death?”
“That's...”
“If you don't have a plan, just shut up!”
Filled with evil energy, they grabbed their weapons and left.
They hid in a mountain hideout they had prepared in advance and waited for the right moment.
Clang, clang
They heard the sound of cart wheels and waited for their opponents to approach.
They had gained some experience from their previous raids.
Soon, the cart appeared.
“...!”
When they saw it, they swallowed hard.
It was an enormous amount of grain.
“Is that all grain?”
“My goodness!”
“With that, we won't have to worry about food for a month!”
And as those watching reported, there weren't many escorts.
When the caravan entered the valley, the leader stood up and shouted.
“Attack!”
“Waaah!”
At that signal, everyone grabbed their weapons and rushed forward, swinging them at the escorts and the guards.
But then.
Clang!
Kaang!
“What? Who are these guys?”
Their weapons were easily blocked by the escorts' swords. And then
Shish!
“Ugh!”
The escorts' swords instantly cut through their weapons and severed their arms and legs.
“They are bandits targeting the escort! Kill them without mercy!”
“Yes!”
At this point, the bandits realized that something was wrong.
They also realized that they would all die if they continued like this!
“Retreat! Retreat!”
“Ugh!”
“Help me!”
The mob fled in confusion.
“What on earth is going on?”
Seeing them return with injuries and defeated, those who had been waiting in the mountain keep rushed out in surprise.
Those who had left in high spirits had returned dying.
In an instant, their evil energy plummeted.
They realized
that living as Green Forest Bandits was not easy.
Gradually, they became filled with anxiety about the future, and despair began to take hold.
***
I put my sword back in its sheath and said,
“Operation over.”
Hearing my words, those around me put away their weapons and said to each other,
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
We had staged a play to lure those rebels.
If we had truly intended to exterminate them, we would not have cut their arms and legs, which are not vital to life, instead of their necks.
For this plan, I was accompanied by four bodyguards and a group of elite warriors and escorts.
In order to teach the rebels a lesson without hurting them, each of us had to be highly skilled.
However, this is not enough.
We must fail a few more times before their momentum is completely broken.
.
.
.
Three more days passed.
Their food supplies must be running low by now.
That means it's time to start a conversation.
For this mission, my master represented the Changin Escort Agency, and I represented the Eunhae Trading Company.
As we headed toward the mountain keep where the rebels had settled, we encountered a group of people.
Huh?
I couldn't help but be surprised when I saw one of the young men.
Why is he here?