Chapter 599
Chapter 599
Chapter 599. Hainan Island (1)
At Master Jang Won’s words, I could not help being flustered for a moment.
I had only intended to raise the status of the Eunhae Trading Company because of the matter of installing the Eunhae Trading Company’s berth on Hainan Island…….
But the Sect Leader had even raised my name.
Of course, I understood that he had done so out of gratitude, but this was truly awkward.
“Why do you look like that?” (Jang Won)
Perhaps unable to understand my reaction, Master Jang Won tilted his head.
Ah, did I look like I disliked it too much?
For now, I should gloss over it appropriately.
“It is just that it feels a little burdensome. This humble merchant is not so broad-minded, so it is embarrassing to receive such an evaluation.” (Eun Seoho)
“Huh! What are you saying? Are those deeds perhaps not true?” (Jang Won)
“That is…… not the case.” (Eun Seoho)
There was no exaggeration in those rumors. Because it was all true.
That was the problem. Damn it.
“Ah! There is something that is not true.” (Eun Seoho)
“What is it?” (Jang Won)
“I did not…… shed tears.” (Eun Seoho)
“…….” (Jang Won)
The atmosphere suddenly became strange.
“Ahem, ahem, I see.” (Jang Won)
Master Jang Won continued speaking.
“Excessive humility is also an illness.” (Jang Won)
“What I did was solely to raise the name of the Eunhae Trading Company, so when I heard that my own name had unexpectedly risen…… I was a little flustered.” (Eun Seoho)
“That much is understandable.” (Jang Won)
“By the way, to what extent are the rumors about me for you to say that?” (Eun Seoho)
At my question, he thought for a moment before answering.
“Perhaps, except for His Imperial Majesty, they are the highest.” (Jang Won)
Gasp…… that means I am being compared to the Emperor, or perhaps may even be higher than him, does it not?
The Royal Guards are extremely wary of anyone coveting the Emperor’s seat.
I cautiously observed Master Jang Won’s attitude.
Judging from the way he respected me, he was certainly someone friendly toward me, but to the Royal Guards, the Emperor was an absolute existence.
If they judged that someone would harm the Emperor, they were people who could cast aside all goodwill and favors from before.
I must not give them such an excuse.
I will have to conduct myself carefully.
I deliberately became angry.
“For a lowly merchant like me to have such fame! This is wrong, deeply wrong!” (Eun Seoho)
Then, as if I could not endure it, I raised my voice.
“To think that His Imperial Majesty’s name is being overshadowed because of a mere twenty thousand taels of silver! This is all because of the corrupt officials who obstruct His Imperial Majesty’s benevolence. Is that not so?” (Eun Seoho)
“Master is right.” (Jang Won)
“His Imperial Majesty’s name must not be overshadowed by anyone. And I have sworn this before His Majesty. Therefore, Master.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Jang Won)
“Please help me. This time, I will root out those who obstruct His Imperial Majesty’s benevolence.” (Eun Seoho)
“Of course! I will do my utmost to help you, Master.” (Jang Won)
Master Jang Won’s eyes became even more favorable.
I inwardly let out a sigh of relief and revealed my plan.
“I came here acting as the young master of a wealthy family who had come to Hainan Island for sightseeing. But looking at the current situation, such a disguise……” (Eun Seoho)
“There is a high possibility it will not work.” (Jang Won)
“I think so as well.” (Eun Seoho)
After thinking for a moment, I spoke to everyone.
“We will change the operation. From now on, I have come to Hainan Island for pearl trading. And during the journey for that purpose, I have been enjoying a kind of entertainment.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Jang Won)
“Then what should I do?” (Miss Seohyang)
At Miss Seohyang’s question, Master Jang Won asked.
“And this person is?” (Jang Won)
“Ah, she is my vice officer. For the sake of disguise, the setting was that she and I were engaged and traveling the empire together……” (Eun Seoho)
Master Jang Won, who had been listening to me, made a suggestion.
“It would be better if you were married, not engaged.” (Jang Won)
“Is there a reason?” (Eun Seoho)
At my question, he nodded with an awkward expression.
“Yes. One of the high-ranking officials of Hainan Island is quite a lecher.” (Jang Won)
“Mm, then how about having her dress as a man altogether?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is……” (Jang Won)
He smiled awkwardly and said.
“The sex that official is fond of is not limited by gender……” (Jang Won)
“Ah…… I, I see.” (Eun Seoho)
“Still, perhaps because he has at least a minimum sense of morality, they say he does not touch married women. So for your sake and your vice officer’s sake, that would be better.” (Jang Won)
“Thank you for the advice.” (Eun Seoho)
That could have become a serious problem.
“Then I will come again later tonight.” (Jang Won)
“Understood.” (Eun Seoho)
A short while later, the waiters brought the meal to the room.
The dishes were quite excellent, and we enjoyed dinner pleasantly.
After dinner, as promised, Master Jang Won quietly came to the guest room where I was staying.
Earlier, we had not been able to have a deep conversation because of time constraints, but now it did not matter.
“I heard from Master Jin Yeong. Seven people who were dispatched to investigate Hainan Island’s problem have gone missing.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is correct. Among them was even someone I was quite close with…… It is simply regrettable.” (Jang Won)
His face was full of bitterness.
But like a Royal Guard, he soon managed his expression and said.
“That is why it was truly good that you came in your current appearance.” (Jang Won)
“Hahaha, thank you.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued speaking.
“As I said earlier, I am going to purchase pearls from Hainan Island. And I will be accompanied by you as my guide, Master.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Jang Won)
“By the way, when the Hainan Sect procured grain and entered Hainan Island this time, did all the grain enter safely?” (Eun Seoho)
“No. Unfortunately, they say two ships ran aground.” (Jang Won)
But what appeared on his face was not regret, but anger.
“As expected, is that so?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Jang Won)
It meant they had siphoned off the food loaded on two ships.
“But it really could have run aground. How are you so certain that was not the case?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is……” (Jang Won)
He furrowed his brow and continued.
“Because I examined the body of the boatman from the ship that was said to have run aground at the time, after it washed up on the shore. But…… there was something suspicious about that body. If the ship had run aground to that extent, the body should not have been intact either…… but it was cleaner than I expected.” (Jang Won)
“Does that mean he was killed on the shore?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is my guess.” (Jang Won)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
.
.
.
Before I knew it, morning had come, and after lightly circulating my qi through breathing exercises, I went down to the first floor.
“Master! Did you sleep comfortably last night?” (Innkeeper)
The innkeeper I had exchanged greetings with yesterday asked after me.
He said he was not a Royal Guard, but someone who assisted the Royal Guards.
“Thanks to you, I stayed comfortably.” (Eun Seoho)
At that moment, Palgap beside me stepped forward and said.
“Our Young Master has business to attend to on Hainan Island, sir. So, could you arrange a ship for us, sir?” (Palgap)
“Of course. I will look into a ship you can ride comfortably.” (Innkeeper)
“And it would be good to have someone who knows Hainan Island well, sir.” (Palgap)
At Palgap’s words, the innkeeper mentioned one person.
“That man over there, Jang, knows Hainan Island well.” (Innkeeper)
The Jang he spoke of was Master Jang Won. It was just as we had arranged in advance.
“Ah, then may we borrow him as a guide for a while, sir?” (Palgap)
“Of course.” (Innkeeper)
“Then we would be grateful if you could look into a ship as quickly as possible, sir.” (Palgap)
“Understood.” (Innkeeper)
I gently fanned myself with my folding fan and said.
“Palgap.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Palgap)
“Look into whether there are any places nearby worth sightseeing.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood, sir.” (Palgap)
Palgap asked the innkeeper in my place about places to sightsee, and he received detailed information.
“Mm, since we have decided to borrow that man as a guide anyway, it should not matter if we borrow him starting today, correct, sir?” (Palgap)
“Of course. I will tell him.” (Innkeeper)
After breakfast, we left the inn together with Master Jang Won.
It was under the pretext of sightseeing nearby, but in truth, it was for investigation.
The place we were currently at was Xuwen County, the land closest to Hainan Island.
According to the book the Emperor showed me, it was not only supplies going from this side to Hainan that had disappeared.
Taxes sent from Hainan to Beijing had also disappeared.
It was frustrating enough that what had been sent down from above had vanished, but now something Beijing was supposed to receive had also been stolen by someone.
From the Emperor’s standpoint, he could not help being furious.
That was why he had continued dispatching inspectors.
In any case, the fact that ships moving in both directions had disappeared meant there was a high chance something suspicious existed here in Xuwen County as well.
That was why I had deliberately gone down to the first floor and had the loud-voiced Palgap ask about sightseeing places.
That way, even if people saw me going around Xuwen County, they would think, ‘He must be sightseeing!’
“This, you are considerably more capable than I expected.” (Jang Won)
At Master Jang Won’s words, I chuckled.
“If I cannot even do this much, I cannot be a merchant.” (Eun Seoho)
“Hahaha. Is that so?” (Jang Won)
“So where around here is a place I will regret for years if I do not see it?” (Eun Seoho)
“The pavilion on that mountain is quite famous. And……” (Jang Won)
He introduced scenic spots here and there.
“Then we can look around those places first and go to the market.” (Eun Seoho)
“Why do you intend to go to the market?” (Jang Won)
“I am a merchant. For a merchant, there is no place as interesting as a market or as good for learning about a region.” (Eun Seoho)
“I see.” (Jang Won)
Although I had come by command of the Emperor, I was a merchant.
I could not miss an opportunity to investigate the market of Guangdong Province.
Of course, there was another reason as well.
And so I rode in the carriage and headed to the places Master Jang Won guided us to.
Wearing flashy clothes, I went sightseeing while sending a telepathic message to Warrior Jinyu.
* I think there has been someone tailing us since the inn earlier. Is that right? (Eun Seoho)
* That is correct. What should I do? (Jinyu)
* Follow him secretly. (Eun Seoho)
* Understood. (Jinyu)
After receiving my order, Warrior Jinyu quietly disappeared, and I played even harder.
“Oh! That looks delicious! Palgap!” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. I will quickly go buy it, sir.” (Palgap)
I ate plenty of delicious things.
“As expected, the view from a high place is beautiful. Is that not so? Wife?” (Eun Seoho)
“It is.” (Miss Seohyang)
I also saw wonderful scenery.
As we played hard like that, before long, the one who had been tailing us had disappeared.
It seems he finally judged that I was staying here simply for sightseeing.
Warrior Jinyu would figure out that person’s movements, so I should go do what I needed to do.
“Then let us slowly head to the market now.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Jang Won)
And so, guided by Master Jang Won, we headed to the largest market in Xuwen County.
Numerous merchants were selling various goods, and specialty products difficult to see in Hubei or Beijing made up the majority.
“What is that, sir?” (Palgap)
“That is lychee preserved in sugar. Beside it are dried lychees.” (Jang Won)
Like a guide, Master Jang Won explained in detail.
“Lychee is a delicious fruit in itself, but it is also eaten as tea. And it is used as medicine as well.” (Jang Won)
As he said, lychee has a variety of uses.
That is why the Eunhae Trading Company’s medicinal warehouse also has dried lychee.
Though the quantity is not very large.
“There is also a record that in the old days, the beloved wife of an Emperor loved lychees very much, so in summer, lychees were transported every day from here all the way to Beijing.” (Jang Won)
“Gasp! From here to Beijing, sir?” (Palgap)
“In the end, however, she became the cause of a rebellion, and to avoid disaster, her husband, the Emperor, ordered her to commit suicide.” (Jang Won)
We looked around the market while talking about this and that.
At the same time, I looked around various parts of the market for one of my purposes in coming here.
Previously, in Luoyang, I had quietly asked one thing of the Sect Leader of the Hainan Sect.
It was to smear the tracking incense I gave him on the sacks holding the grain.
To draw a special picture on the sacks.
And to not stop them even if they were ‘stolen.’
If my guess was correct, they would certainly be resold.
The fact that seven Royal Guards or members of the Eastern Depot sent by the Emperor had been eliminated meant their connections reached even into the imperial palace.
If not, how would they know when and what kind of inspector would come?
On top of that, they were people who had received special training.
So it was right to think that they knew even the detailed circumstances of the imperial palace.
For example, the fact that the alcohol ban would soon be lifted.
This would come to the people as hope.
Especially because, before long, grain prices would plunge due to the grain brought in through trade with foreign countries.
Of course, compared to an ordinary year, it would still be far more expensive, but compared to the current price, it would drop greatly.
Therefore, if they wished to profit greatly from the grain they had stolen, they had to sell off that grain as soon as possible.
In other words, it meant that around now, that stolen food was being traded in this market, or had already been traded.
What mattered here was the location.
It was grain brought for the residents of Hainan Island.
But for that grain to cross back over from the island and be traded here would be strange.
In other words, if grain held in those sacks was being traded here in Guangdong, it meant that the grain had never crossed over to Hainan Island in the first place.
Suddenly, Warrior Ipil grinned and looked at me.
The tracking incense smeared on those sacks was one Warrior Ipil had modified so only he could recognize it.
It seemed he had identified where the scent was coming from.
That meant one thing.
They had fallen for the scheme I had set up.
“Liege, I can sense the scent from a few rice dealers here. But because it is such a small amount……” (Ipil)
Since rice prices are expensive, it seems they could not obtain it in large quantities.
“Where is the scent strongest?” (Eun Seoho)
“It is over there. Shall I guide you there right away?” (Ipil)
At Warrior Ipil’s words, I nodded.
“Please do.” (Eun Seoho)
And so Warrior Ipil guided us somewhere, and we arrived at an inn.
An inn was a place that provided meals and lodging.
In other words, no matter how expensive grain was, it meant they had to buy it in large quantities.
“Welcome.” (Waiter)
“Can we have a meal?” (Eun Seoho)
“Of course.” (Waiter)
We sat around a table on the first floor of the inn.
And deliberately ordered several dishes made only of rice.
A short while later, the dishes began to come out one by one.
After examining the dishes, Warrior Ipil nodded.
It meant they were dishes made with rice that had been in sacks marked by the tracking incense.
As I was eating the dishes, I called the waiter.
“Did you call?” (Waiter)
“The taste of the rice is quite good. I asked because I was curious where you obtained this rice.” (Eun Seoho)
“I will find out. Please wait a moment.” (Waiter)
That waiter soon returned and informed me.
“There is a place nearby called the Mu Clan Trading Company, and they say the rice was brought from that Trading Company.” (Waiter)
If it is the Mu Clan Trading Company of Guangdong Province…….
Ah! I remember!
It seems I will have to ask the Emperor for additional pay.