Chapter 59
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 59
Chapter 59. Let's Catch the Mouse (4)
At that question, I poked Hyung-nim Daeseok in the side.
“Yes, of course.”
“Is this real salt?”
“Of course! If this were fake salt, would the people from the county office be helping us?”
Only then did it seem to gain some credibility. People began to line up.
This isn't enough.
Just as we were wondering what we could do to stir up the lukewarm response of the crowd, the police officers said.
“Come on! Why are you so suspicious? It's real salt!”
“If you give it all away, it will be gone, so hurry up and take it!”
“It's an event authorized by His Excellency Ji-hyun.”
“We heard that people were having a hard time because they couldn't get salt, so Eunhae Trading Company decided to do something big.”
The police officers stepped in at just the right moment.
It paid off to butter them up at the beginning.
Hearing this, the people who had been hesitant began to move quickly, and soon the event became lively.
While distributing salt, they did not forget to promote the Trading Company.
“This is salt distributed free of charge by Eunhae Trading Company.”
And those who lined up twice... I caught them.
“You were the 120th person to come today, right?”
“Hm, hm...”
“There are other people who need to receive salt.”
And when he saw the police officers and Eunpyeongdae warriors standing next to him, he gulped and ran away.
There are always people like this.
Then I noticed some people looking at us from afar.
I cheered inside.
The reason I decided to give out salt for free “today” and ‘here’ was because of them.
“I'm going to get some water.”
I slipped away. Then, pretending to drink water, I tapped Pal-gap's foot.
Pal-gap, who was quick to catch on, said to me.
“By the way, I hope this will help people a little.”
I had told Pal-gap this in advance.
It was to get their attention.
“To be honest, it won't be enough.”
I continued.
“The price of salt has risen so much, and a single trading company cannot help all of them.”
“That's true.”
“Still, if it makes people smile even a little, that's enough.”
We had this conversation while pretending not to look at them.
One of them approached me, as if he had heard what I said.
If he knew me, there was no way he would ignore me after hearing what I said.
Did I get his attention?
A man in his fifties who looked ordinary at first glance called out to me.
“Hey, young man.”
“Yes. Did you call me?”
I responded politely to his call.
“Are you from the Eunhae Trading Company?”
“Yes, I am.”
“How are you connected to them?”
“My father is the captain of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“I see.”
He nodded.
“You know how much salt is worth these days, don't you?”
“Of course.”
“Don't you think it's a waste? Giving away salt like this?”
“It's not a waste.”
“...You know how much it is, and you don't think it's a waste? The price of salt will go up. If you sell it then, you'll get more profit...”
He asked in confusion.
“That's true.”
“Aren't you a merchant? A merchant should...”
“Of course, merchants are people who would risk their lives for profit. I am no different. But this is different.”
“Different?”
He tilted his head at my words.
“Our Trading Company made money because of the people. Right now, the people are suffering because of the salt. Those who are already struggling will suffer even more.”
I continued.
“So we're just sharing the profits.”
“Sharing the profits?”
“Merchants and the people are in a symbiotic relationship. If one side of that relationship is broken, the other side will suffer. So we're just doing what we can to maintain the balance.”
I laughed.
“We are doing this for the benefit of our Trading Company. As I said earlier, I am a merchant.”
“You are a strange merchant.”
“Perhaps.”
“And Eunhae Trading Company... What a strange trading company.”
“Hahaha. My father would be pleased to hear that.”
He smiled faintly at my natural words and nodded.
“Thank you for answering my stupid question.”
“Don't mention it.”
He walked slowly to join his party, watched for a moment, and then disappeared.
Fortunately, he seemed to have left a good impression.
With that, I had achieved my purpose for coming here today.
I didn't plan today's free salt distribution event simply to raise awareness of the Trading Company.
It was also important to make a good impression on the person who had just asked me a question.
Again, I am a merchant who acts based on profit.
I am not a philanthropist.
Still, what I said to him earlier was not a lie.
It is my belief that merchants and commoners are meant to live together in harmony.
I simply chose words that I thought he would like to hear.
“But who is that person? Who told you to say that to me?”
Whispering to Pal-gap, I replied in a low voice.
“You'll find out later.”
I can't tell you now. There are many ears listening.
That man's name is Jin Woo-rim.
He is the captain of the Yeonpyeong Trading Company, a trading company directly under the imperial court that was created by the emperor to monopolize the salt trade.
He is already traveling around the Central Plains on the emperor's orders to investigate the price of salt.
And I knew he would be here today.
That's because he told me about an incident that occurred when he came to Sichuan for a meeting of the ten greatest trading companies in the world, and I remembered it.
It was an incident in which a trading company disappeared overnight due to the wrath of the emperor.
* * *
Late at night, a group of people were walking in Chengdu, Sichuan.
They were Jin Woo-rim, the captain of the Yeonpyeong Trading Company, and his followers.
Due to the recent salt crisis, the emperor decided to create a trading company to monopolize the salt trade and manage the salt supply.
He had already created a trading company directly under the imperial court and appointed a captain.
That captain was Jin Woo-rim.
Jin Woo-rim had a deep connection with the emperor.
The current emperor had to go to Beijing to ascend the throne, but there were many who sought to take his place.
However, compared to the power of his enemies, he did not have enough people to protect him, so it was best to go in secret.
It was Jin Woo-rim who came to his aid when he was struggling with this decision.
Hiding his identity, he agreed to take the emperor with him on his journey.
Thanks to him, the emperor was able to ascend the throne safely.
The emperor never forgot his kindness, and after establishing a trading company directly under the imperial family, he appointed Jin Woo-rim as its captain.
The salt monopoly was a position with enormous privileges, so it was necessary to appoint someone who would not be swayed by the entertainment that came with it.
To the emperor, Jin Woo-rim was a trustworthy person.
The salt distribution law, or salt monopoly system, had not yet been officially announced.
However, preparations were already underway.
One of them was to conduct a survey of salt prices, and since Sichuan was a producer of rock salt, Jin Woo-rim was sent there in person.
There was not much time.
Therefore, he was busy working late into the night.
While doing so, Jin Woo-rim smiled without realizing it. His aide noticed and asked, “Did you remember something good?”
“I was thinking about the young man I saw earlier at the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“You mean the trading company that was giving out salt for free?”
“Yes.”
Jin Woo-rim nodded.
“Giving away salt for free in times like these! What a generous trading company.”
“I felt the same way. And my conversation with that young man was very meaningful.”
He continued.
“He said that the trading company shares its profits with the people for the sake of coexistence between the trading company and the people.”
“He didn't even look like he was 20 years old. It's surprising that such a young man would say something like that.”
“I'm sure his father, the captain of the trading company, taught him that. That's why he said that, isn't it?”
“I like him.”
“I think it's a trading company that knows how to handle salt, which is a valuable commodity.”
Even with a monopoly on salt, it was impossible for the Yeonpyeong Trading Company to supply salt to the entire Central Plains.
This is where salt retailers came in.
The emperor planned to grant licenses to only a few trading companies to trade salt.
He entrusted Jin Woo-rim with selecting the trading companies that would be allowed to retail salt.
Jin Woo-rim thought that even if he sold wholesale at a reasonable price, the salt monopoly would be ineffective if the retailers played tricks.
Therefore, he decided to find retailers who would not tamper with the price of salt and grant them retail licenses.
And because of today's events, Eunhae Trading Company was added to the list of candidates.
A trading company led by a captain with such sound judgment was definitely worthy of being a candidate.
Just then.
“An attack!”
Those escorting Jin Woo-rim shouted and drew their swords.
Masked men dressed in black suddenly appeared and surrounded them. Even at a glance, there seemed to be many of them.
Jin Woo-rim wondered what was going on as everything happened in an instant.
However, he quickly regained his composure and shouted at the masked men.
“What the hell are you doing! I am acting on the orders of the emperor! This is an act of disrespect toward His Majesty!”
However, the masked men surrounding them paid no attention to his words and began to attack.
“Damn it!”
Seeing this, Jin Woo-rim realized.
They knew who he was.
Even so, they were here to kill him.
That was the only way to ensure that there would be no repercussions.
Perhaps that was why there was no mercy in their attacks.
Jin Woo-rim was surrounded not only by his personal bodyguards, but also by the Royal Guards assigned to him by the emperor.
However, they were outnumbered.
Jinwoo-rim and his party began to be pushed back and soon found themselves in a precarious situation.
In fact, intelligence had been received that he was being targeted.
Therefore, the emperor sent ten Royal Guards to protect him.
However, in order to thoroughly investigate the price of salt and find a reliable retailer, it was best not to attract attention.
That was why they had minimized the escort, but now they were in this predicament.
“Oh no! Are we going to die like this? I regret not bringing all the Royal Guards assigned by the emperor!”
Jin Woo-rim thought he knew who was behind the masked men who attacked him.
He had a few guesses, and it had to be one of them.
At that moment, one of the Royal Guards approached him, panting heavily, and whispered, “I will open the gate somehow.
Captain, take advantage of that opportunity to escape.”
“But you...”
He smiled bitterly.
“Please tell His Majesty the Emperor that I am sorry for failing to fulfill my duty.”
Then, with determination, he gripped his sword tightly.
At that moment.
Bang!
Thud!
The men who attacked Jin Woo-rim and his party were struck by hidden weapons.
“Ugh!”
“Ugh!”
Everyone was confused by the sudden situation, but then a young man's clear voice rang out.
“Wearing masks and attacking like this, it's obvious you don't have good intentions.”
“We will arrest you!”
* *
I knew that Jin Woo-rim and his group would be attacked.
However, I didn't know the exact time and place.
I only knew that it was on the outskirts of Chengdu.
So, I planted people around the area, and when I received a signal from one of them, I rushed over.
In his previous life, Jin Woo-rim was severely wounded but did not die.
It was thanks to the sacrifice of a Royal Guard.
However, it is sad to survive at the expense of someone else's sacrifice. You have to live with that burden on your heart for the rest of your life.
I know that feeling well, having experienced it several times.
No one wanted to sacrifice themselves, so they hurried to help.
Fortunately, no one died.
If I had known about the attack, it would have been right to warn them in advance, but I didn't.
If I had warned them, the future might have changed, and Captain Jin might have died.
As expected, it was a much better decision to help when an emergency arose.
Chang!
Chae-chang!
The loud clanging of cold weapons gradually subsided, and finally, everyone was arrested.
The police officers who had come with me to praise my efforts today were in high spirits, saying that they had done a good job.
“Thank goodness. It's all over.”
“Thank you, Hyang-ok.”
“As a disciple of the Emei Sect, I couldn't just stand by and watch the unjust be punished.”
Among those who accompanied me were my two cousins and Hyang-ok.
I had to make sure they remembered me.
I approached Captain Jin Woo-rim with my cousins and greeted him with a clasped hands greeting.
“It's good to see you again. Are you all right?”
“Thanks to you, we're safe.”
“Do you know who they are?”
When I pointed at the masked men, Captain Jin Woo-rim shook his head.
“I know that there are a few people who are after me, but I don't know exactly who they are.”