Chapter 663
Episode 663
Episode 663. The Emperor’s Secret Order (4)
That evening.
The Crown Prince held a banquet for everyone in the party he had brought to Nanjing this time.
Since the prohibition order had not yet been lifted, everyone ate the food deliciously while sober and dispersed.
Of course, even if they could drink, they were in front of the Crown Prince, so no one would have overdone it.
In any case, after finishing the banquet like that, I headed to the inn where we had stayed whenever we came to Nanjing.
The innkeeper welcomed us warmly.
“Welcome. I am glad to be able to serve you again.” (Innkeeper)
“I feel the same. By the way, have the others arrived?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes. The clerks in charge of the tea have arrived.” (Innkeeper)
“I see. Let us go in.” (Eun Seoho)
The goods needed for overseas trade were transported to Nanjing by clerks from each region according to the departure date.
In cases where they passed through Hubei, they loaded them onto ships there and moved them, and otherwise, they simply transported them to Nanjing.
And the goods that were loaded onto ships in Hubei were also reorganized again in Nanjing.
They reloaded all the cargo overall so that the greatest possible amount could be carried and long-term navigation would be possible.
The balance of the weight had to be adjusted as well.
When I went inside, the people who had been drinking tea inside rose from their seats and welcomed me.
“Welcome, Young Company Head.” (Clerk)
“We greet the Young Company Head.” (Clerk)
I exchanged greetings with them.
“You have all worked hard coming this far. There is still time until the promised date, so please rest well.” (Eun Seoho)
“Thank you.” (Clerk)
I arrived at my guest room and was about to lie straight down on the bed, but…….
“Young Master, should you not wash first, sir? If you lie down as you are, the bedding will become dirty. Are you all right with that, sir?” (Palgap)
I was stopped by Palgap.
Well, my appearance right now is indeed quite a mess.
After washing cleanly using fragrant soap and changing into new clothes like that, I felt much better.
When I lay down on the bed like that, the conversation with Eunuch Ajeong suddenly came to mind.
“Hehehe, and do you know this? There is someone planted by the Baekcheon Trading Company in your Eunhae Trading Company as well. But I will absolutely not tell you who…… cough! it is.” (Ajeong)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
“P-pretending not to be shaken…….” (Ajeong)
“I am sorry, but you said something far too obvious. You really said that to try to unsettle me, didn’t you?” (Eun Seoho)
“Cough! What, did you say?” (Ajeong)
“Honestly, our Trading Company is doing rather well, is it not? So of course the Baekcheon Trading Company would also be wary of our Trading Company.” (Eun Seoho)
“…….” (Ajeong)
“And do you think the Baekcheon Trading Company is the only place that planted a string-puller in our Trading Company? We leave them alone even though we know.” (Eun Seoho)
“What does that mean…… Why do you not remove them?” (Ajeong)
“Why bother? When they can be used, why would I scratch an itch and make a sore?” (Eun Seoho)
They are an opportunity to use them and instead inflict great damage on the places that planted those string-pullers, so why would I remove them?
In the first place, they are people who planted string-pullers because they are hostile to the Eunhae Trading Company.
So if they suffer losses because of it, it is self-inflicted.
I have already attached people to monitor them in order to use them, so I am not particularly worried either.
“By the way, do not waste time with such useless talk. Hurry up and tell me about the people secretly operating in the imperial palace.” (Eun Seoho)
Tap! Tap tap!
“Ghk! Aaaaagh!” (Ajeong)
I gave him even more severe pain because I found it outrageous that he had wasted my time.
The reason that conversation came to mind was that there was a spy among the clerks I had just seen.
At that moment, Warrior Changun’s voice came from outside.
“Liege. Clerk Oh has come.” (Changun)
I cleared my thoughts and rose from the bed.
“Tell him to come in.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Changun)
The door opened, and Clerk Oh entered.
One of the clerks who brought Tieguanyin from Fujian this time.
By the way, they say speak of the tiger and it comes…….
“I am sorry to disturb you while you are resting.” (Clerk Oh)
“It is all right. Come in.” (Eun Seoho)
When he entered the room, the door closed.
He knelt on the spot and bowed flat.
“Young Company Head. This lowly one has committed a great sin.” (Clerk Oh)
“Why are you suddenly doing this?” (Eun Seoho)
“This lowly one is…… in truth, a spy planted in the Eunhae Trading Company.” (Clerk Oh)
“Pardon? Is that truly so?” (Eun Seoho)
Even though I knew his identity, I pretended to be surprised as I asked.
“Who on earth gave Clerk Oh such an order?” (Eun Seoho)
“The Baekcheon Trading Company.” (Clerk Oh)
I knew that too.
Then the problem is why he was suddenly confessing it to me now.
He must surely have been promised a considerable reward from the Baekcheon Trading Company.
That must be why he took the risk of playing the spy.
“I see. What kind of orders did you receive, Clerk Oh?” (Eun Seoho)
“The order given to me was to periodically pass along the movements of the Eunhae Trading Company.” (Clerk Oh)
“If it is only that much, it is not especially unusual, but the fact that you came to me like this means there must be something serious.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, he bit his lip.
“That is…… I simply could not accept the order this time.” (Clerk Oh)
“What sort of matter is it?” (Eun Seoho)
“I received an order to put a dead rat into the Tieguanyin being transported this time.” (Clerk Oh)
No, these crazy bastards…….
As though he was thinking something similar to me, he continued speaking with a pained expression.
“My conscience pricked me, so I absolutely could not do that. How much labor from how many people is needed for that tea to be produced and sold? And yet they told me to put a dead rat into that product! Is that not trampling on all that effort?” (Clerk Oh)
Seeing that reaction, he seems like a decent person.
“That is right. It is something that cannot be tolerated.” (Eun Seoho)
I took hold of him and helped him up as I spoke.
“The floor is cold. Please stand up now.” (Eun Seoho)
“How could I…… I have no face to do so.” (Clerk Oh)
“I do not think so. How much conflict must you have gone through before saying this? Even so, I am only grateful that you found the courage to tell me like this.” (Eun Seoho)
At my warm words, his eyes reddened.
“Hngh, Young Company Head…….” (Clerk Oh)
“Do not worry too much. As you know, among the systems of our Eunhae Trading Company, there is something called a ‘confession in good faith,’ is there not?” (Eun Seoho)
Confession in good faith.
That is one of our Eunhae Trading Company’s systems, and when someone confesses to having learned of corruption, their secret is protected.
The same applies when someone confesses that they were bribed by another person.
And the Trading Company reduces the guilt of those who confess in that way.
It is one of the systems I introduced early in this life, taking the experience of my previous life as a lesson.
Thanks to that, quite a few spies have changed sides, but honestly, from the standpoint of those who inserted spies, it must be quite a headache.
Because if someone is capable enough to be planted as a spy in another Trading Company, they must be a somewhat capable person.
And we can easily hire those capable people.
“That is why I am telling you. Please punish only me and show mercy so that my family can survive.” (Clerk Oh)
At those words, I grinned inwardly.
There are many reasons the spies planted in our Trading Company change sides, but the biggest reason is the welfare of the Eunhae Trading Company.
Once they work at the Eunhae Trading Company, they cannot help but think seriously.
Which side is better to keep working for.
And if they stand at a crossroads like Clerk Oh, the answer comes out.
“Why would I punish Clerk Oh? When I know very well how hard you have worked until now. So I look forward to your continued good work.” (Eun Seoho)
“Young Company Head…….” (Clerk Oh)
“I will have to tell Father and Eldest Brother about this, but do not worry. Nothing much will happen.” (Eun Seoho)
“Thank you. Thank you truly.” (Clerk Oh)
He repeatedly bowed his head with an moved expression, then suddenly his face darkened.
“But if the Baekcheon Trading Company contacts me……” (Clerk Oh)
“Tell them that you failed because the surveillance was too strict. And after that, simply move according to what our Eunhae Trading Company’s intelligence unit tells you. You need not worry too much.” (Eun Seoho)
“Thank you.” (Clerk Oh)
“By the way, I heard that your wife recently gave birth to a healthy baby boy.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is right. But how did you……” (Clerk Oh)
“As the Young Company Head, I should at least know about the families of the clerks.” (Eun Seoho)
I grinned, took out one gold coin from the pouch I had placed on the writing desk, and handed it to him.
“Huk! I-is this not a gold coin?” (Clerk Oh)
Clerk Oh was startled.
Because a gold coin was a huge sum he could not earn even if he saved several months’ worth of monthly salary.
I gently asked such a man.
“How much money does it take to raise a child? Use it to help raise your son.” (Eun Seoho)
“N-no! How could you give this to this sinner……” (Clerk Oh)
“Come now! A sinner, you say! Since you confessed so bravely like this, from the standpoint of our Trading Company, you are a hero.” (Eun Seoho)
Though from the Baekcheon Trading Company’s standpoint, he is a traitor.
“I am giving this to you out of gratitude. So please accept it.” (Eun Seoho)
At my strong urging, he no longer refused.
“Thank you. Thank you truly.” (Clerk Oh)
“Then return to your post without worrying about anything and do your best at the work you have been assigned.” (Eun Seoho)
“Thank you, thank you. Young Company Head.” (Clerk Oh)
He repeatedly expressed his thanks and left my quarters.
“Phew…….” (Eun Seoho)
This is tiring.
Honestly, it is not easy to hear a spy’s confession and soothe him without getting angry.
But thanks to that, I have gained one more card to keep the other side in check, so it is something to be happy about.
I gave a faint laugh and was about to lie back down on the bed when the door opened and Palgap entered.
“Would you like more tea, sir?” (Palgap)
“No, I did not even drink it. By the way, you came at just the right time. There is an intelligence unit here in Nanjing too, right?” (Eun Seoho)
“Of course, sir.” (Palgap)
I rose from the bed, wrote a letter, and handed it to Palgap.
“Deliver this to the intelligence unit.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood, sir.” (Palgap)
“Come to think of it, I heard Unit Member Hahwa had her ability recognized and became a squad leader of the intelligence unit?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is right, sir. Miss Ha is quite capable, sir.” (Palgap)
“Miss Ha?” (Eun Seoho)
Looking at Palgap, whose face flushed red in an instant and who did not know what to do, I chuckled.
In truth, I had happened to see it before coming to Nanjing.
That she had the ornamental hairpin Palgap had bought before stuck in her hair.
“So, how far have you gone?” (Eun Seoho)
“H-how far, wh-what are you talking about, sir?” (Palgap)
“You would be better off deceiving a ghost.” (Eun Seoho)
“……We only held hands, sir.” (Palgap)
That, too, is quite a talent.
To think that while serving me as I move in all directions, north, south, east, and west, freely and busily, their relationship had already progressed that far.
In my previous life, Palgap was alone until he died.
Even when I told him to meet a good woman and marry, he answered, “When you have not married, Young Master, with what face could I marry, sir?” and pricked my conscience.
“But is that all right?” (Eun Seoho)
“What is, sir?” (Palgap)
“Unit Member Hahwa is a courtesan.” (Eun Seoho)
The reason I asked like this was because I was curious about Palgap’s true feelings. Whether he had approached her out of mere curiosity, or whether he was sincere.
At my words, Palgap knelt.
“Young Master, this lowly one has a request, sir!” (Palgap)
No, why are you suddenly kneeling…….
“Wh-what is it?” (Eun Seoho)
Honestly, I was also flustered.
Because Palgap had never once shown this side of himself before.
“If you lend me the money to take Miss Ha out of the courtesan registry, this lowly one will definitely pay it back, sir.” (Palgap)
“…….” (Eun Seoho)
He is sincere.
“Get up.” (Eun Seoho)
“This lowly one will not get up until you say you will lend me the money, sir.” (Palgap)
“Unit Member Hahwa is already not on the courtesan registry.” (Eun Seoho)
“……Pardon?” (Palgap)
“Then would I just leave such a capable unit member in the courtesan registry? I already took her out of the registry long ago.” (Eun Seoho)
I laughed as I looked at Palgap’s dumbfounded expression.
“You should have found out in more detail before kneeling.” (Eun Seoho)
If it were the usual Palgap, he would have figured out at least this much, so the fact that he did not know meant that was how sincere he was.
Because she must have been someone he approached with his heart, not as a target of investigation.
Palgap lowered his head with an expression that looked as if he would die of embarrassment, and Gold Bell, who had slipped out of my sleeve at some point, patted Palgap’s shoulder.
. . .
Jocheon Palace.
The Crown Prince was examining documents in his office. Then he raised his head and called the eunuch who had followed him from Beijing.
“Eunuch Jang.” (Crown Prince)
“Yes, Your Highness.” (Eunuch Jang)
“Was Eunuch A’s corpse sent to Beijing?” (Crown Prince)
“Yes. It is currently being transported to Beijing.” (Eunuch Jang)
“I see. By the way, when I chose Eunuch A, did you not find it strange?” (Crown Prince)
“This humble subject merely follows Your Highness the Crown Prince’s will.” (Eunuch Jang)
Looking at that Eunuch Jang, the Crown Prince tossed out a single remark.
“That man used evil arts on me.” (Crown Prince)
“Pardon?” (Eunuch Jang)
“From what I hear, I dismissed someone who had already been chosen and selected Eunuch Ajeong.” (Crown Prince)
“…….” (Eunuch Jang)
“I do not know the reason, but I suddenly came to my senses. So I removed that man. He was someone who could not be allowed to live.” (Crown Prince)
The Crown Prince’s cold-hearted gaze softened slightly.
“What does Eunuch Jang think of Young Company Head Eun Seoho?” (Crown Prince)
“I do not know Your Highness’s intention in asking.” (Eunuch Jang)
“What intention? Just speak according to what you feel.” (Crown Prince)
Eunuch Jang thought for a moment before answering.
“On the outside, he appears soft, but in truth, he is a very firm person.” (Eunuch Jang)
“I think so as well.” (Crown Prince)
The Crown Prince nodded and looked at Eunuch Jang.
He was someone Eun Seoho had said could be trusted.
That was why he was speaking this frankly.
“They say there are sinister people secretly operating in Nanjing, in Jocheon Palace. Having experienced it myself, they are people who must be dealt with as quickly as possible! Since Young Company Head Eun is quite capable, I whined to him to ask him for this, but it did not work.” (Crown Prince)
The Crown Prince smiled bitterly.
The reason he had clung to Eun Seoho was not because his own ability was lacking, but because he wanted to borrow Eun Seoho’s ability.
“Well, is there no good idea?” (Crown Prince)
At this, Eunuch Jang thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“It will be impossible by force. Even among us eunuchs, his ability and integrity are fairly well known.” (Eunuch Jang)
“I see…….” (Crown Prince)
“But it is not that there is no method.” (Eunuch Jang)
At that, the Crown Prince’s eyes shone as he asked.
“What is it?” (Crown Prince)
“He is a merchant. And with a merchant, one must negotiate. Should something not go from this side for something to come from that side?” (Eunuch Jang)