Chapter 529
Chapter 529
Chapter 529. The Second Voyage (4)
The former pirates I had prepared were once members of a pirate crew notorious for their infamy.
About three years ago, pirates had entered a small village in Hebei and colluded with the county magistrate to abduct the villagers.
I learned of it because of the matter involving Mansuk, a student at Haenghwa Academy.
They were some of the pirates subdued at that time.
Most of the pirates captured alive back then died in prison, and the five who came here were the ones who had survived until now.
That meant their crimes were lighter compared to the others.
They had been doing forced labor at a nearby construction site, and I had asked the Emperor to bring them here.
As the old saying goes, thieves know the ways of thieves best.
I intended to use former pirates to learn how to deal with pirates.
It was not a bad thing for them, either.
I had promised to reduce their term of forced labor.
If they cooperated well, I agreed to reduce it by about ten years.
However, they still did not know.
That their term of forced labor was one hundred years.
Since they were people I had received by requesting them from His Majesty the Emperor, and since they were convicts subject to forced labor, I decided to take them to Nanjing myself.
Before that, I had made a little time for them to meet the people of our Trading Company like this.
That way, we would be able to hear more detailed and varied stories.
Others might see this and say it was cowardly, but I did not care.
Considering the hardship of dragging these fellows around, this much was nothing.
A little while later.
I took them up to the second floor.
“Who are those men?” (Unidentified Speaker)
Most people looked bewildered at them or tilted their heads.
“……!” (Unidentified Sailors)
However, some of the sailors seemed to have guessed or recognized their identities and were aghast.
“That tattoo!” (Unidentified Sailor)
“Keh-keh-keh! You recognize it!” (Former Pirate)
“We were none other than the Red Bone Gang!” (Former Pirate)
But their momentum soon wilted.
“Hoo, that is all in the past now.” (Former Pirate)
“Sigh.” (Former Pirate)
Clap, clap!
I clapped my hands and drew their attention.
“Then let us begin the lesson from now.” (Eun Seoho)
The former pirates’ lesson proved to be quite useful.
“Th-they truly go that far?” (Unidentified Attendee)
“Huh…….” (Unidentified Attendee)
“That is truly cruel!” (Unidentified Attendee)
“I thought I knew water bandits well, but these fellows are worse than water bandits!” (Unidentified Attendee)
They had learned just how terrible a fate awaited those captured by pirates.
In truth, the sailors did not know the details either.
Because they had never been captured.
And those who were not former sailors simply knew pirates only as frightening beings.
In such a situation, I had planted a very definite fear in them.
“I had confidence in this voyage, but now I suddenly do not want to go.” (Chief Geum)
Everyone nodded at Chief Geum’s words.
I rose from my seat and soothed them.
“The reason I prepared this gathering is not only to warn all of you.” (Eun Seoho)
Then I turned my head and grinned.
“There is also a way to deal with them. Is that not so?” (Eun Seoho)
At my question, the former pirates cleared their throats.
“Ahem, that is true.” (Former Pirate)
“If we had captured every ship, we would not be in this state…… Hoo.” (Former Pirate)
“Then please cooperate a little.” (Eun Seoho)
That day, the concentration of the senior members attending the banquet was at its peak.
.
.
.
The next day.
I took the former pirates and headed to the training ground of the Eunpung Palace Unit.
Of course, they were blindfolded and seated in a carriage.
This was a place where security had to be thorough, after all.
Once we arrived at the training ground, I spoke to the guards.
“Remove their blindfolds.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Guard)
They removed the former pirates’ blindfolds.
After briefly closing their eyes at the sudden brightness, they raised their heads again and soon looked startled.
“Wh-where is this?” (Former Pirate)
“This is the place where those who will protect the ships bound for Dai Viet are training. The reason I brought all of you here is to hear your esteemed opinions, in case there is anything insufficient in what we have prepared.” (Eun Seoho)
When I subtly elevated them, they soon looked pleased.
Simple, aren’t they.
If giving them this much respect lets me receive their help, that is good enough.
“You have arrived, Young Master?” (Master Manjeong)
Master Manjeong immediately came running over.
“Thank you for your hard work. I would like to show these men the training. Please prepare it as I mentioned before.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Master Manjeong)
Soon, Master Manjeong struck the drum and signaled the archers.
The archers who had climbed onto the ship held their stances steadily even atop the rocking vessel.
“Aim!” (Master Manjeong)
“Fire!” (Master Manjeong)
They shot their arrows toward targets visible far in the distance.
Papapapapapak!
Dozens of arrows flew far away and embedded themselves into the targets in an instant.
And, following them, flames were burning from the arrowheads of the dozens of arrows shot next.
Papapapapapak!
Whoosh!
The targets caught fire in an instant.
I smiled gently and asked the former pirates.
“What do you think? Is there anything lacking?” (Eun Seoho)
They stared blankly at the sight, their eyes wide and their mouths hanging open.
Soon, those who came to their senses let out hollow laughs and spoke.
“Ha! Did you say something lacking?” (Former Pirate)
“Are you mocking us?” (Former Pirate)
“Do you think there is a ship that could withstand that attack?” (Former Pirate)
They denounced me with fire spewing from their mouths.
“Is it that powerful?” (Eun Seoho)
The pirates sighed and explained.
“As you know, pirates hook a ship with grappling hooks, pull alongside it, and then engage in hand-to-hand combat.” (Former Pirate)
“But if the ship burns before they can even approach like that, there is no answer.” (Former Pirate)
“Ugh…… If I had met an archer unit like that when I was a pirate, just thinking about it is horrifying.” (Former Pirate)
“Then is there nothing to supplement?” (Eun Seoho)
“If one had to supplement anything, it would be coming up with a way to prevent the pirates from putting out the fire…….” (Former Pirate)
I exchanged several remarks with them.
“I see. This has been very helpful. Then prepare to depart for Nanjing now.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Former Pirate)
“By the way, you are currently staying in the prison. Is it bearable?” (Eun Seoho)
At present, they were staying in the prison of the Eunhae Trading Company.
They had been under forced labor as convicts.
Still, for a prison, it was on the clean side, and they were fed properly as well.
Perhaps because of that, their reaction was quite good.
“Of course!” (Former Pirate)
“It is a hundred times better than where we stayed before!” (Former Pirate)
“The food is delicious, too!” (Former Pirate)
“Most of all, we do not have to work, do we?” (Former Pirate)
“I am glad you are satisfied. Then.” (Eun Seoho)
I gave a look, and the escort warriors covered their eyes with blindfolds again.
Then the escort warriors took them outside the training ground.
Watching their backs, I spoke to Master Manjeong.
“Their reaction is more intense than I expected. I think we may be able to feel somewhat relieved.” (Eun Seoho)
“Even so, we cannot let our guard down.” (Master Manjeong)
“That is true.” (Eun Seoho)
In truth, what I had shown the former pirates was only about one-tenth of what had actually been prepared.
I had shown them the arrows with both their power and range reduced, and had also mobilized far fewer archers.
Moreover, preparations to interfere with putting out the fire, as they had mentioned, were already in place.
I simply had not shown them.
Because carelessness was forbidden.
And from what I had heard in my previous life, pirates always dream of the sea.
They have some romance about wanting to die at sea, even if they die?
Since they were that sort of people, though they were obediently following my words now, there was no guarantee they would not run away.
Where would they go if they ran away?
It was obvious as day.
Of course, even if they ran away, they would be caught again soon enough.
They would not know that their bodies had been marked with the Tracking Incense made by Warrior Ipil, would they?
---
The prison of the Eunhae Trading Company.
The former pirates who returned there glanced outside and then soon gathered.
“Sigh…….” (Former Pirate)
They let out deep sighs.
“They were merely arrows, yet they had such power!” (Former Pirate)
“Hyung-nim, how do you see it?” (Former Pirate)
“It is horrific enough to appear in my dreams. If I had faced people like that, I would not be alive now and would have become fish food.” (Former Pirate Hyung-nim)
“No! Just what in the world did Young Master Eun Seoho do to those archers?” (Former Pirate)
“With such weapons, I have no idea why he told us yesterday to scare them so much!” (Former Pirate)
“Exactly!” (Former Pirate)
As they continued to denounce him like that, they suddenly fell silent.
“…….” (Former Pirate)
“…….” (Former Pirate)
And among them, the one with the highest rank, called Hyung-nim, flopped down spread-eagled on the floor and spoke.
“To hell with it! I give up on escaping!” (Former Pirate Hyung-nim)
“What?” (Former Pirate)
“Hyung-nim! How can you say that?” (Former Pirate)
They looked troubled by those words.
In truth, they had already plotted to escape on the way to Nanjing, whenever they found an opportunity.
That was why they had been behaving obediently and acting as if they were listening well.
Because only then could they make those people lower their guard.
After escaping, they intended to become pirates again.
“No! Hyung-nim! Once a man of the sea, should you not die as a man of the sea even if you die?” (Former Pirate)
“Sure, dying as a man of the sea sounds good. But let us think calmly. Do you really think Young Master Eun Seoho showed us that training simply to get advice?” (Former Pirate Hyung-nim)
At those words, the other four former pirates tilted their heads.
“What?” (Former Pirate)
“What does that mean?” (Former Pirate)
“Sigh…… You thick-skulled fools! You bastards, do you still not know what kind of person that Young Master Eun Seoho is?” (Former Pirate Hyung-nim)
“…….” (Former Pirates)
At that question, all of them became as mute as men who had eaten honey.
The exploits of Eun Seoho that had reached even the place where they were doing forced labor were enough to make them wonder, Is he really human?
Only then did one of them seem to realize it, and his face stiffened.
“Surely? Was it a warning?” (Former Pirate)
“Yes, you bastards. You only realized that now? It was a warning that if we desert and go back to piracy, we will be burned alive!” (Former Pirate Hyung-nim)
“…….” (Former Pirates)
“No matter how romantic it may be to die as a man of the sea, I would rather not burn to death. Besides, he said he would even reduce our sentences if we cooperate well with this matter.” (Former Pirate Hyung-nim)
He continued.
“If you want to escape, then go ahead. I will not.” (Former Pirate Hyung-nim)
At that, they watched one another’s reactions, then lay down one by one and grumbled.
“To hell with it. If Hyung-nim says so, why would I escape? I quit too.” (Former Pirate)
“Me too.” (Former Pirate)
“It is better to die while doing forced labor like this, or to die by sword or arrow. I would rather not burn to death.” (Former Pirate)
In that way, the former pirates gave up on fleeing.
That was a result even Eun Seoho had not expected.
---
I opened my eyes early in the morning, as usual.
At last, it was the day our Eunhae Trading Company fleet set sail.
Thanks to the preparations I had been running around for all this time, we were able to depart on schedule.
I lightly loosened up my body and came out to the yard.
I breathed in the refreshing air and circulated my qi, and when I rose from my seat, Master was entering the yard of my separate residence.
“Good morning.” (Eun Seoho)
“Indeed. Good morning. Then, we will begin training.” (Master)
As expected of Master.
Even though today was the day of departure, Master conducted training as if such things had nothing to do with him at all.
Hoo, for some reason, the training seems to have become harsher since a while ago.
I taught him the Extreme Ice Sword I had learned from the Ancestral Master, and also conveyed that the Snow Soul Sword Technique was not actually a sword technique bound by form.
It seemed he had gained enlightenment from that.
Is that why?
.
.
.
I stood blankly at the pier, looking at the fleet.
“Why do you look so drained?” (Jeongho)
Jeongho hyung’s voice came from behind.
“Just…… well…….” (Eun Seoho)
I could not say that I was exhausted because Master’s training today had been harsh, so I just smiled.
“What about the plums?” (Eun Seoho)
“We loaded the plums stored from last year, and we loaded all the drinking water and food as well.” (Jeongho)
Jeongho hyung had also decided to take the ship to Nanjing with us.
As the next Head of the Trading Company, Jeongho hyung could not be absent from something like this.
We looked over the list of goods that had to be loaded onto the ships and reviewed it once more to see if anything had been missed.
“Did you load the cats too?” (Eun Seoho)
“Of course.” (Jeongho)
In a voyage, cats, that is, shipboard cats, were essential. They were there to catch mice.
If there were mice on a ship, they caused many difficulties, so the cats were entrusted with exterminating the mice.
That was why, when captains heard there was a cat good at catching mice, they would go to great lengths to procure that cat.
“Kkui! Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
Hm?
I hear Geumryeong’s voice from somewhere?
When I followed that voice, Geumryeong was inside the food storage room.
But in front of him, a shipboard cat was crouching, thoroughly filled with spirit.
“Kkui! Kku!” (Geumryeong)
“Meow.” (Shipboard Cat)
Ah…… Was he educating the shipboard cat right now?
He was also threatening it that something terrifying would happen if it did not catch mice properly.
It looked cute to me, though.
Seeing how the shipboard cat could not even meet his eyes, Geumryeong’s education seemed certain to have an effect.
Good.
It was truly not good to have mice on a ship.
But, Geumryeong. Do you know that?
Our Eunhae Trading Company’s ships number four……
Once he finishes educating them all, I should give him some silver coins for his trouble.
A short while later, Father arrived.
The reason Father had come was to hold the ritual.
When a large fleet like this departed, the Trading Company Head would customarily hold a ritual to raise morale.
Father finished reading the ritual prayer, then set it aflame.
Whoosh!
Everyone rejoiced as they watched it fly very, very high.
“It is an auspicious sign!” (Unidentified Person)
“An auspicious sign! An auspicious sign!” (Unidentified Person)
It was worth moving my energy so that the ritual prayer could fly high.
Soon, everyone who needed to board had boarded the ships.
And archers dressed in the uniforms of the Eunpung Unit also boarded the ships. They were the ones I had diligently raised all this time.
I hope there will be results this time.
“Then have a safe journey.” (Father)
“Yes. Father.” (Eun Seoho)
“Seoho and I will return safely, so please do not worry.” (Jeongho)
At Jeongho hyung’s words, Father nodded.
“Please go and return safely!” (Unidentified Person)
Now it was truly time to leave.
“Hyung.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Jeongho)
Jeongho hyung shouted.
“Set sail!” (Jeongho)
Then a man with a loud voice repeated his words exactly.
“Set sail!” (Crewman)
“Set sail!” (Crewman)
Ppuuuuuuuu!
Doom, doom, doom, doom, doom!
The sound of horn trumpets and drums rang out. And the ships slowly began to move.
The destination was Nanjing.