A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 466

466. The Five Great Merchants of the World

Ho Geum-heun, the head of the Hoeyang Merchant Guild, one of the Five Great Merchants of the World, couldn’t hide his discomfort. The fact that this was the famous Pungwol Pavilion in Gangbuk [a renowned gathering place or restaurant in the Gangbuk district] was no consolation to him.

‘What on earth is this…’

The elderly Ho Geum-heun frowned, holding his teacup. He had come to this Pungwol Pavilion at the summons of a eunuch of the Imperial Court, no less than one who attended the Emperor. There was no reason to hesitate. Even though he was the head of one of the Five Great Merchants of the World, the other party was the closest thing to absolute power alive, wasn’t he? But now that he was here, the situation was very strange. The head of the Hwanam Merchant Guild, one of the Five Great Merchants of the World, with whom he had been competing for a long time, was sitting right there.

‘And the Seventh Palace Lord of the Bukhae Ice Palace…’

What was even more surprising was that he had not been summoned by the Imperial Eunuch. He had been invited in the name of the Seventh Palace Lord of the Bukhae Ice Palace, the largest trading partner of the Five Great Merchants of the World, who held all the power over trade.

Swish.

Ho Geum-heun lifted his teacup and glanced at Yang Won-jo, the head of the Hwanam Merchant Guild. He, too, was deep in thought, his narrow eyes narrowed even further.

‘No wonder he brought his daughter to a place like this…’

He wondered what he was thinking, bringing his daughter to a meeting with a eunuch. But after hearing the story, he understood. Since the Seventh Palace Lord of the Bukhae Ice Palace was a woman, he thought bringing his daughter would help with conversation and building friendship.

‘Hmph.’

He was secretly pleased. Just thinking about the moment when that slick, obese Yang Won-jo’s face crumpled made him feel a little better.

Ho-reuk.

Ho Geum-heun lightly savored the warm tea. In fact, he didn’t know that Yang Won-jo had also looked at Ho Geum-heun earlier and sneered, ‘Does that guy think his son is good enough to catch the eye of the young lord of Bukhae?’ And he was gloating over Ho Geum-heun’s crumpled expression.

‘The problem is.’

Thud. Ho Geum-heun put down his teacup and thought.

‘Who exactly is going to show up at this meeting…’

There was no way that the Imperial Eunuch and the young lord of the Bukhae Ice Palace would appear together. Even if they did, that was only possible in diplomacy, not something that would happen here in Pungwol Pavilion. Come to think of it, there was no mention of a meeting in the eunuch’s personal letter. The eunuch’s letter to Ho Geum-heun only contained a polite, but virtually commanding, summons.

‘Indeed.’

Stroking the warm teacup, Ho Geum-heun thought.

‘Is it someone I don’t know?’

Ho Geum-heun’s expression darkened. That in itself was unbelievable. If that were the case, it would mean that the eunuch attending the Emperor and the Seventh Palace Lord of the Bukhae Ice Palace were doing errands for ‘someone’. He thought it was impossible for the Imperial Eunuch and the young lord of the Bukhae Ice Palace to appear together, but this was even more unbelievable.

‘It would be better if the Imperial Eunuch and the young lord of the Bukhae Ice Palace appeared together.’

It was when Ho Geum-heun was thinking that and giving a bitter smile.

“Would you like more tea?”

At the soft voice, Ho Geum-heun looked up. It was the scholarly young man with the bright eyes who had opened the door earlier.

“Ah, thank you.”

At Ho Geum-heun’s words, the scholarly young man bowed lightly and poured tea.

Pitter-patter.

While the teacup was being filled, Ho Geum-heun suddenly looked back at his son, Ho Gye-wi. And he frowned. His son, Ho Gye-wi, was too busy looking at the daughter of the Hwanam Merchant Guild. The daughter of the Hwanam Merchant Guild was also pretending to be aloof, but it was obvious that she was paying attention to Ho Gye-wi. It was no wonder that Ho Geum-heun’s annoyance flared up at such behavior in this situation.

“Tsk.”

Ho Geum-heun clicked his tongue lightly. Ho Gye-wi flinched and soon hardened his expression. Ho Geum-heun frowned even more at that sight, and the scholarly young man who had poured the tea suddenly turned his head.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

The scholarly young man put down the teapot and walked to the front of the door. Ho Geum-heun quietly asked his chief retainer. His eyes were still on the scholarly young man.

“What do you think?”

“There is nothing special.”

The scholarly chief retainer said in a low voice. The chief retainer knew martial arts. Of course, he couldn’t be called a master, but he had the discernment to distinguish dangerous opponents.

“Is that so?”

Ho Geum-heun was slightly disappointed. He had hoped to get some clue from the scholarly young man. Meanwhile, the scholarly young man standing in front of the door slowly opened it. Creak.

“Welcome.”

Ho Geum-heun frowned at the man standing in front of the door.

‘Wang Gang.’

The man with the white beard was Wang Gang, the head of the Jaebu Merchant Guild. It was also counted as one of the Five Great Merchants of the World, but the Gongson family of Hapbi, which had been its martial arts background, had collapsed, so it was in a precarious situation.

Of course, that didn’t mean that the Jaebu Merchant Guild would collapse. However, it was clear that it had become disadvantaged in many ways in the competition with other large merchant guilds. If these things piled up, it could even lose the name of the Five Great Merchants of the World.

‘Hmph.’

Ho Geum-heun sneered at Wang Gang’s surprised expression. Wang Gang, who had always pretended to be a gentleman and acted with composure, looked very surprised when he discovered Ho Geum-heun and Yang Won-jo. So much so that his splendid clothes embroidered with gold and silver threads fluttered.

“Please, have a seat.”

At the words of the young scholarly man, Wang Gang, the head of the Jaebu Merchant Guild, came to his senses. He looked around the large room as if searching for someone, then hardened his face and headed to the seat guided by the scholarly young man. Watching that, Ho Geum-heun became quite cheerful. He didn’t even realize that he had reacted like that a little while ago.

Pitter-patter.

The scholarly young man poured tea for Wang Gang and his party, just as he had done for Ho Geum-heun. Wang Gang, who had brought two chief retainers with him, then slowly looked around. After confirming that there was no one in the host’s seat at the front, that five seats were prepared, and that the heads of the Hoeyang and Hwanam Merchant Guilds were seated, Wang Gang then realized that he was seated in the lowest seat.

“Hmm.”

Wang Gang, the head of the Jaebu Merchant Guild, groaned with an unpleasant expression. When had he ever been treated like this? And when would Ho Geum-heun see that again? So Ho Geum-heun decided to tease him a little more.

“Which side are you on?”

At Ho Geum-heun’s words, Wang Gang, who had been stroking his white beard, frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

His voice was quite blunt. The Five Great Merchants of the World were competitors to each other. In the commercial world, being a competitor meant that you had to trample on the other party and make sure they never got up again. If you knew that the other party was an enemy, there was no need to be polite. And when you were the head of one of the Five Great Merchants of the World, there was no need to pretend.

“Hmph.”

Ho Geum-heun smiled leisurely.

“Are you with the young lord of the Bukhae Ice Palace, or the eunuch of the Imperial Court…”

Ho Geum-heun’s expression hardened as he spoke. It was because Wang Gang was looking at him with a face that seemed to ask what he was talking about. Wang Gang’s expression said only one thing. Yang Won-jo of the Hwanam Merchant Guild was also staring at Wang Gang with his narrow eyes wide open.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Wang Gang said bluntly, as if throwing the words out.

“Aren’t we all here at the summons of the Perfected Person [a Taoist title signifying high spiritual attainment] anyway? You already have the Five Great Families, but you’re too greedy…”

Wang Gang also realized something strange. It was because Ho Geum-heun’s face, the head of the Hoeyang Merchant Guild, was distorted as he looked at him. Yang Won-jo’s expression, the head of the Hwanam Merchant Guild, was similar. The only difference was that he had a bitter sneer in his narrow eyes.

“Tsk, I don’t know how you guys are running your merchant guilds with those brains.”

Yang Won-jo openly mocked the two. But the mockery did not continue. In fact, he himself had not imagined that Wang Gang would have come at the summons of someone else. The obese Yang Won-jo asked again.

“So, who are you talking about when you say Perfected Person? To be able to move the head of the Jaebu Merchant Guild, he must be at least…”

“…He is Perfected Person Hyeonheo.”

Wang Gang, who had already shown all his cards, said with a crumpled expression. At those words, Ho Geum-wi and Yang Won-jo were rather surprised.

“Perfected Person Hyeonheo?”

Perfected Person Hyeonheo was a Taoist of the Wudang Sect [a major Taoist sect known for its martial arts]. In fact, he was not a highly renowned Taoist, but the problem was that he was a disciple of the highly respected Perfected Person Hwanghak and the granduncle of the current Wudang Sect Leader. In terms of seniority, there was no one higher than him, not only in Wudang but also in the Four Great Righteous Sects [prominent and influential martial arts sects]. Naturally, the Jaebu Merchant Guild had no choice but to rush over. Moreover, the Jaebu Merchant Guild was in a situation where the Gongson family, which had been backing it, had disappeared.

“Perfected Person Hyeonheo, no wonder you’re so anxious.”

Ho Geum-heun, the head of the Hoeyang Merchant Guild, said to Wang Gang. Even though Wudang was in seclusion, Perfected Person Hyeonheo’s words would have a great influence on the martial arts world. Wang Gang, who had been frowning, did not remain silent.

“More than that, didn’t you guys clearly say the Bukhae Ice Palace and the Imperial Court a little while ago?”

This time, Ho Geum-heun and Yang Won-jo’s expressions were distorted. Wang Gang said mockingly.

“So you’ve been courting the Bukhae Ice Palace and the Imperial Court in the meantime?”

Ho Geum-heun and Yang Won-jo avoided eye contact without saying anything. Wang Gang felt a little better at that sight, but soon became depressed again. It was because he had visually confirmed that other merchant guilds were moving ahead while he was struggling to fill the void of the Gongson family. The bitter feeling was brief, and Wang Gang also soon arrived at the core question about this situation.

“No matter how I look at it, the Perfected Person doesn’t seem to be here, so who on earth is…”

Rustle. Wang Gang’s words were cut off because the young scholarly man opened the door. But no one said anything to the young scholarly man. They were just watching with bitter expressions to see who would come in next.

“Welcome.”

The scholarly young man said politely. And the gaunt, elderly man who was just stepping inside frowned. Ho Geum-heun gave a bitter smile as he looked at him, with his arrogant expression as if he were a minister of the court.

‘I’m not even surprised anymore.’

The gaunt, elderly man was Jin Rim, the head of the Maun Merchant Guild. It was also counted as one of the Five Great Merchants of the World, and it was a merchant guild backed by the Zhuge family. Jin Rim, the head of the Maun Merchant Guild, stopped his entering foot and scanned the situation with sharp eyes.

“Hmph.”

He soon snorted with a displeased expression. And he stepped inside without hesitation. The scholarly young man was still guiding Jin Rim and his party with a calm expression. The party that came with Jin Rim, the head of the Maun Merchant Guild, were martial artists with intense energy at a glance.

“Please, have a seat.”

Jin Rim couldn’t hide his uncomfortable expression when he saw his seat. It was because that seat was the last of the five seats. Strictly speaking, Wang Gang, the head of the Jaebu Merchant Guild, was in a similar position, but in the end, it was still the lowest seat.

Pitter-patter.

The scholarly young man politely poured tea. Jin Rim, the head of the Maun Merchant Guild, lifted his teacup and slightly wet his lips without saying anything. Clink. Jin Rim, who put down his teacup, looked at the other merchant guild heads with sharp eyes and said.

“Who is it?”

Jin Rim’s voice was trembling with anger.

“Which one of you is leading this kind of prank?”

Jin Rim, the head of the Maun Merchant Guild, realized something was wrong the moment he entered the room. As far as he knew, there was no way that other merchant guild heads, especially three of the Five Great Merchant Guilds, would be sitting in this place. There was only one answer. He had been thoroughly tricked by the alliance of the three merchant guilds.

“That impatient nature of yours is still the same.”

Yang Won-jo, the obese head of the Hwanam Merchant Guild, said with a displeased expression.

“Don’t assume that your thoughts are always right, and first understand the situation properly, wouldn’t you say?”

At that rebuke, Jin Rim’s eyebrows twitched. Yang Won-jo’s words were telling him that he had not intended this situation.

“…If you guys didn’t join hands, then why are you gathered in this place?”

“You should say that first.”

Wang Gang, the head of the Jaebu Merchant Guild, who had told him to show his cards first, opened his mouth with a calm expression. He was always pretending to be a gentleman, but now he was not hiding his mocking eyes.

“If you want to know the other person’s cards, you have to show your own cards first. Isn’t that right?”

At those words, Jin Rim frowned. Jin Rim’s Maun Merchant Guild and Wang Gang’s Jaebu Merchant Guild had been competing in Gangbuk for generations. Naturally, the emotional rift was also very deep. But now he had no choice but to accept his proposal.

“…A letter came from the Black Snake Union [a powerful and feared criminal organization].”

The eyebrows of the other three merchant guild heads twitched. Jin Rim, the head of the Maun Merchant Guild, did not miss their reaction and continued to speak.

“They told me to come without any explanation. They also threatened me that if I refused, I should be prepared.”

Normally, the Maun Merchant Guild would not have readily agreed. But the situation was different now.

“As you already know, the Zhuge family is currently unable to move. No, they didn’t even respond to the request at all.”

The other three merchant guild heads clicked their tongues inwardly. Only then could they understand why Jin Rim, the head of the Maun Merchant Guild, had brought martial artists with extraordinary energy.

“So I had no choice but to come. I had to buy some time, at least.”

Jin Rim gritted his teeth as if he was humiliated, but the other merchant guild heads could fully understand. The Black Snake Union was a nightmare, at least in Gangbuk. Normally, it would end with a reasonable toll, but if they were truly angry, even the Five Great Families would be burdened. Because the Black Snake Union, which was a heretical faction, had nothing to protect.

If they could not get help from the Zhuge family, they had no choice but to respond to the Black Snake Union’s summons. It was natural for Jin Rim, the head of the Maun Merchant Guild, to step forward.

“But it wasn’t the Black Snake Union that called me. No matter how much it is the Black Snake Union, they can’t summon all of you.”

The same reason why Jin Rim frowned as soon as he saw them. The Black Snake Union was just bait, and he thought he had been tricked by the alliance of other merchant guilds. But now the expressions of the other three merchant guild heads were terribly distorted. They even avoided his gaze.

“If this isn’t your prank, then why did you come here?”

“…I.”

Wang Gang, the head of the Jaebu Merchant Guild, who had told him to show his cards first, answered.

“I received a summons from Perfected Person Hyeonheo. And those people, they must have received invitations from the Seventh Palace Lord of the Bukhae Ice Palace and the eunuch of the Imperial Court.”

“…What?”

It was natural that Jin Rim had an unbelievable expression. But the experienced him immediately grasped that Wang Gang’s words were true, and the biggest core of this situation.

“Then who on earth is…”

“Welcome.”

The voice of the young scholarly man cut off their conversation. The merchant guild heads, who were so engrossed in the conversation that they didn’t even know that the young scholarly man was opening the door, turned their heads.

“Oh?”

The elderly man with the gentle impression looked at them with a surprised expression. But the four merchant guild heads rather frowned.

“…He finally came.”

The obese Yang Won-jo clicked his tongue and said. It was already expected that the Songam Merchant Guild would come to this place. The problem was that Deung Su-myeong of the Songam Merchant Guild, one of the Five Great Merchant Guilds and the one that was making the most profit these days thanks to the Tang family, appeared last.

“What is this…?”

The elderly Deung Su-myeong had a bewildered expression. It was clear that he had not expected that there would be other merchant guild heads either.

“Please come this way.”

The scholarly young man guided the bewildered Deung Su-myeong and his party. The people who came with Deung Su-myeong were his son and daughter. They were also wearing splendid clothes, and both of them had surprised expressions.

Clink.

The other four merchant guild heads watched him sit in the highest seat with bitter expressions. But at the same time, expectations arose. Deung Su-myeong of the Songam Merchant Guild might know the true mastermind. Pitter-patter.

“Ah, thank you.”

Deung Su-myeong, who had been bewildered, said to the scholarly young man who was pouring tea. It was a formality, but the scholarly young man lightly bowed his head in response to his thanks. Deung Su-myeong, who was holding the teacup, looked at the other four merchant guild heads and asked.

“How did you all get here…?”

“How did you come?”

Jin Rim, the gaunt head of the Maun Merchant Guild, asked abruptly. Deung Su-myeong had a puzzled expression, but surprisingly answered readily.

“I am from the Tang family…”

Before the head of the Songam Merchant Guild could finish speaking, the other merchant guild heads frowned.

“The Tang family?”

It was then. Flutter. The merchant guild heads turned their heads at the sudden sound. The owner of the sound was the scholarly young man. He was putting on his coat after serving tea to the last guest.

The action itself was strange, but what was surprising was the coat. It was quite dignified, with large silver tassels embroidered on both shoulders and rich fur around the neck. This was a cold northern region, so the fur was not awkward, but at least it was definitely not a coat that an ordinary scholar would wear.

Meanwhile, the scholarly young man, who had straightened his clothes, walked to the front of the room with light steps. And without regard to the puzzled gazes of the merchant guild heads, he sat without hesitation in the seat located in the center, the seat of the host.

Rustle.

There was not a hint of hesitation or arrogance in the young man’s expression. The young man sat there naturally, as if he was just sitting in his assigned seat. And he reached out to the side.

Swish.

The young man picked up a folded small fan from the small table next to him. The young man unfolded the fan as it was.

Whack.

The jade-colored fan unfolded, partially covering the young man’s face. He, sitting in a high place, looked at the heads of the Five Great Merchant Guilds and said.

“My name is Son Bin. And I…”

His voice was no different from what it had been so far. But the words that followed were enough to surprise the heads of the Five Great Merchant Guilds.

“Brought you to this place.”

‘What?’

Ho Geum-heun of the Hoeyang Merchant Guild could not believe what he had just heard. The same was true for the other merchant guild heads. The eyes of the heads of the merchant guilds leading the Five Great Merchant Guilds of the World were all in confusion.

However, the eyes of the scholarly young man, Son Bin, who was watching the scene, did not waver at all. His eyes, visible beyond the jade-colored fan, were still clear and calm.