Chapter 381
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 381
Chapter 381. A Letter from the Northern Sea Ice Palace (5)
Miss Seo Hyang said to me.
“Is there any way to take a detour?”
Why are you asking me how to take a detour?
I asked with a serious expression.
“Miss, I need more details.”
“There are numerous people lying in wait at the intersection we are about to pass through. Their surprise attack will cause serious damage.”
Seeing the trembling in Miss Seo Hyang's eyes, I knew that she was serious.
“How many people are lying in wait?”
“Over 500.”
That's a lot. By the way, the fact that they are waiting for us means that someone must have informed them in advance.
Let me think about it carefully. I could roughly picture what had happened.
Even though we didn't stop at the inn, it would have been impossible for them not to notice us unloading grain at the ferry crossing.
That information must have reached the mountain keep.
And the leader of that mountain keep made a plan. To form an alliance with nearby Green Forest Bandits.
The Green Forest Bandits in the Shandong region are not very large.
The government has a strong influence there, so if the Green Forest Bandits grow too large, they will inevitably be suppressed.
Because they operate on such a small scale, they cannot target large groups like ours.
But I guess the fact that we're transporting food has piqued their interest.
Food is what brought them together, even though they usually don't stick together.
“Do you have any idea where that place is?”
“I'm not sure. I just saw a large cornel tree.”
Ah... I think I know where that is.
There is only one place with a large cornel tree on our way.
It is just before crossing from Shandong to Hebei.
The terrain is rugged, and 500 people is definitely a burden.
Of course, we won't lose, but we won't be able to avoid heavy casualties.
If it were only 100 or 200 people, it would be good experience for Jin-ho.
From what I just read in the report, it seems that Jin-ho Hyung-nim has a good grasp of the situation.
I got up from my seat.
It's in my nature to take action to solve problems rather than spend time worrying about them.
If we need to reduce the number of people, then we'll reduce the number of people.
“Jinyu, let's go somewhere for a moment.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Seo-woo, please take care of things here while I'm gone.”
“Don't worry.”
“And please tell Hyung-nim and Head Escort Ha that we will leave around lunchtime tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
I had to handle this alone. If I told Jin-ho, he would definitely want to come with me.
But when dealing with the Green Forest Bandits, I had to be as cold as ice.
Even though I had changed my fighting style a lot, Jin-ho still had a hot-headed temper.
That could ruin everything.
“I'll be back soon.”
With that, Jin-yu and I quietly left.
A short time later.
I was standing in front of a mountain keep. In order to gather more than 500 people in such a short time, all the mountain keeps in the area would have to join forces.
As I approached the mountain keep, a Green Forest Bandit guarding the fence approached me with a torch.
“Who are you?”
He had an arrogant attitude.
But I didn't care much.
Green Forest Bandits are all like that.
And they're just trying to act tough.
“Ah, I'm sorry for the late greeting, Mr. Mountain Hero. My name is So-sang, and I am from the Eunhae Trading Company. I would like to see the boss.”
He thought for a moment and said,
“I'll tell him. Please wait a moment.”
He went inside and came out after a while and said,
“Go in.”
“Thank you very much.”
I entered the room where the Boss was staying with Jin-yu Musha.
The Boss was sitting on a chair covered with animal skin.
“What is it?”
I laughed inside at his pretentious attitude.
He didn't look like much.
“Ah, I am from the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“Eunhae Trading Company?”
“I'm sure you know it. It is one of the thirty largest trading companies. And... the item we have decided to steal this time belongs to our company.”
“...!”
He flinched.
“How did you know?”
“We have our ways. So, who was it that persuaded you to join us?”
“Persuaded?”
“Our trading company has many skilled warriors. It's obvious that the mountain keep at the forefront will suffer almost total destruction...”
I chuckled.
“No matter how I think about it, I don't think the ones who persuaded us to attack together would stand at the forefront.”
“...”
At my words, Boss's expression suddenly darkened.
“With the people in such a state, would they really attempt to transport such a large amount of grain without any escort? Do you think our Eunhae Trading Company is stupid? By the way, Sanchae, who was the first to learn of this, would surely know about it...”
I added casually.
“Didn't you tell him?”
“...”
“Judging by your expression, Boss, are you planning to lead the advance?”
“Ahem!”
“You must have persuaded them by offering them a larger share of the loot.”
“....”
"But are you planning to take that share with you to the grave? No matter how much you want it, you can't take it with you. That clearly belongs to the few who survived in the mountain keep.“
At that moment, the boss couldn't hold back any longer and exploded with rage.
”Damn it! How dare you deceive us!"
Now that he thought about it, he realized that he had fallen for a ridiculous trick.
Those who are deceived are usually those who pride themselves on their intelligence.
They believe in their own abilities, so they don't doubt their own decisions.
The boss in front of me is also one of those people.
When people like that realize they were wrong, they become extremely angry.
It's very easy to take advantage of them in that state.
“They deceived you first. Is there any reason to continue the alliance?”
“No!”
“But the problem is reality, isn't it? We don't have enough food, and it's the spring famine.”
“....”
I threw a pouch at him.
Bang!
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
He opened the pouch and his eyes widened.
“This is...?”
“This is money to compensate you for leaving the alliance. What will you do? Will you take the money and leave the alliance? Or will you continue to be deceived by the alliance?”
He laughed at my words.
“You're talking strangely. This money is already in my hands. But it sounds like if I choose the latter, you can take this money back at any time.”
“You heard me correctly.”
“What do you mean... Guh!”
He gasped for air.
Before he knew it, a cold sword blade was touching his neck.
This is why I brought Jin-Yoo with me.
Merchants have no choice but to be familiar with the ways of the Green Forest Bandits.
They act solely for their own gain.
In some ways, they are similar to merchants.
However, the decisive difference between us and them is that we have a code of ethics.
I, too, am paying my boss a fair price in accordance with that code.
Of course, greed can blind people.
No matter how much I am paid, if I leave quietly, they will join the alliance and try to get more.
That is why I am warning you.
I smiled slyly.
“What will you do?”
He trembled as he replied to my question.
“I was just joking. Hahaha. Promises must be kept. Yes, that's right.”
“What will you do?”
“I'll leave the alliance!”
“Good decision.”
When I gave a signal, Jin-yu Musha took his sword away from his neck.
"You're probably thinking, 'With skills like these, I could just kill everyone who decided to join the alliance, so why am I bothering with this?
His eyes widened as if I had hit the nail on the head.
“From my point of view, this is more beneficial. As I said, we are merchants. The Boss keeps this area clean and well-managed, so why should we interfere?”
It's unpleasant to pay tolls to the Green Forest Bandits, but we do so because it is more beneficial.
By maintaining friendly relations with them, our Trading Company will not suffer any damage from them.
Our Trading Company cannot assign overwhelming escort forces to all areas.
It is better for them to receive a stable toll than to suffer damage from recklessly attacking our caravans.
“Hmm, that's true.”
“Of course, if they touch us, they'll pay with their blood.”
“Don't worry. Just keep collecting the tolls quietly.”
“Yes, that's the right thing to do.”
With that, the conversation ended.
“So, where is the mountain keep that persuaded you to join us in this venture?”
“It's just over the mountain to the east, run by Boss Manggu.”
***
Manggu, who ran the Green Forest Bandits in Shandong, scratched his belly and smiled contentedly.
He was thinking about the huge amount of food he would soon obtain.
Not long ago, an informant he had sent to Jinan had brought back some very valuable information.
The Eunhae Trading Company was transporting a large quantity of grain.
Eunhae Trading Company.
It had grown rapidly in recent years and was now considered one of the thirty largest trading companies.
Furthermore, transporting food in such dangerous times meant that they would have a considerable escort.
However, it was too tempting to give up.
If all went well, it would be enough to fill their stomachs for a year.
After much deliberation, he came up with a good plan.
He would gather the nearby mountain keeps.
His share would be smaller, but it was better than getting nothing.
If he promised to give them a generous share, they would surely agree, as they were hungry anyway.
He quickly sent people to all the mountain keepers in the area. They had to attack before the Eunhae Trading Company left Shandong.
As expected, they all accepted his proposal and gathered in one place to make a detailed plan.
Mangoo promised to give more shares to those who would lead the attack, and several Bosses agreed to do so.
“These stupid bastards are so easy to fool.”
He laughed to himself.
Giving them more shares was nothing but an empty promise.
Considering the enemy's strength, it was obvious that they would be wiped out.
He planned to join the battle as late as possible and grab his share.
Since it was such a large-scale operation, the government or sects might intervene, but they would quickly scatter.
In that respect, being a small group was an advantage.
That thought made him smile again.
At that moment, a Green Forest Bandit rushed over.
“Boss! Boss!”
“What is it?”
“Our prey is approaching. They should arrive in about half a day.”
“Then it's about time we went.”
He ordered his men to prepare for battle, then picked up his beloved double axes.
They immediately headed for the place of the ambush.
There were already quite a few Green Forest Bandits gathered there.
However, Mangoo sensed something strange.
There were fewer than he had expected, and some of the bosses were missing.
“Where are Gong Boss, Yeon Boss, and So Boss? Why aren't they here yet?”
“I don't know.”
“This is bad... Aren't they supposed to be the vanguard?”
Coincidentally, those who had not yet arrived were all supposed to be in the vanguard.
“Boss! The prey is close!”
The fact that they had not arrived yet meant that they had no intention of participating in this mission.
“...”
“There's no choice. Let's do it ourselves!”
“Then who will be the vanguard...”
They looked at each other.
Those who were here knew that they would suffer the most damage if they stood at the forefront, so they did not volunteer.
Manggu Boss stepped forward as if there was no other choice.
“Come on! Let's all attack at once!”
“That's a good idea.”
The Green Forest Bandits decided to attack all at once.
However, their numbers were less than half of what they had originally expected, only about 200.
***
I smiled as I rode in the carriage.
The killing intent I could feel in front of me was that of the Green Forest Bandits. However, their numbers were less than 200, let alone 500.
It was the perfect number for gaining practical experience.
“Are you sure it's okay?”
I nodded in response to Miss Seo Hyang's question.
“Yes. The more than 500 men you saw are no longer here. As I told you, with a little persuasion and intimidation, we made more than half of them give up the attack.”
The boss of the mountain keep I first visited told me everything, including the names of the mountain keeps that had agreed to join the vanguard and the leaders of this operation.
I visited the mountain keeps that had agreed to join the vanguard one by one and made them swear to join the alliance.
When I thought of that and smiled, Pal-gap said, "Young master, you're smiling.
“Young master, you're scaring me when you smile like that.”
“What's so scary about me...?”
He gently stroked the gold thread on his sleeve as if he felt wronged.
Burr.
Geum-ryung. Why are you shaking?
You're really hurting my feelings.
At that moment, the carriage stopped.
It was time to begin the battle.
I ordered Pal-gap to protect Young Mistress Seo-hyang, then got out of the carriage.
People were standing densely on both sides of the road.
They were there for Hyung-nim's practical training.
By the way, how many battles have we fought so far? I'm going to ask the Palace Head of the Northern Sea Ice Palace for compensation for this.
I may be the young prince of Seolpung Palace, but the food and transportation costs to take them to the Northern Sea Ice Palace are not free.