A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 468

468. Greed and Responsibility

The words written on the thin letter weren’t long. However, the faces of the heads of the Five Great Merchant Guilds of the World, who held the letter in their hands, changed drastically.

Ho Geum-heun, the head of the Hoeyang Merchant Guild, trembled. The urgent letter from his guild contained unbelievable news.

The strategist sitting next to him remained silent, but Ho Gye-wi, sitting across from him, couldn’t hide his curiosity. He couldn’t help but wonder what was written on that thin piece of paper that made his always stern father shake so much.

“Hmm.”

Eventually, Ho Geum-heun groaned.

Thud.

Ho Geum-heun slammed the letter he was holding onto the table.

“…This is.”

The elderly Ho Geum-heun looked at the young scholar, Son Bin, and asked,

“Is this your intention, Master?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Son Bin said calmly from behind his jade fan.

“How can I answer your question when I don’t know what’s written in that letter?”

That was right. How could anyone answer if he didn’t tell them the contents and abruptly asked if it was his intention? But Son Bin’s words weren’t over yet.

“But… yes, it is.”

Son Bin looked straight at Ho Geum-heun and answered.

“Whatever is written in that letter, it is something I did. And that was easier than bringing you all here.”

Ho Geum-heun gritted his teeth. He stared intently at the thin letter in front of him. He already knew that the young scholar, or the power behind him, had tremendous influence. But he never imagined that they would present such a big deal so simply and abruptly.

“But, the Northern Ice Palace so suddenly…”

“Northern Ice Palace?”

The obese Yang Won-jo asked back with a distorted expression. Ho Geum-heun frowned and looked back at Yang Won-jo, then flinched. The other guild leaders, holding letters and looking at him, all had puzzled expressions. And those expressions soon began to be filled with anxiety and fear.

“Could it be…”

It was the moment Ho Geum-heun was about to utter the reality of that anxiety.

“And perhaps.”

Son Bin’s low voice cut off Ho Geum-heun’s words. Son Bin covered the gazes of the people rushing towards him with his jade fan and quietly continued.

“It won’t be the end of it.”

“That’s…”

Just as Ho Geum-heun was about to say something, the door to the room suddenly opened.

Rustle.

And the people who entered were five servants holding small desks. They respectfully placed the desks on the tables of the five guild leaders.

Clatter, clatter.

On the desks were thin letters. As before, they were sealed letters from their respective guilds. But the eyes of the guild leaders looking at the letters no longer held curiosity or doubt. Their eyes were filled with fear.

“Why are you doing that?”

The guild leaders were startled by Son Bin’s voice. Son Bin looked at them and quietly continued.

“Open it. I’m fine.”

Son Bin’s eyes were calm as he said that. There was no triumphant smile, not even a hint of mockery. He was saying this purely out of consideration.

That was driving the guild leaders into further anxiety. It meant that the young scholar’s words, ‘an easier task,’ were true without any exaggeration.

“Tsk.”

The obese Yang Won-jo clicked his tongue. And as if he had made up his mind, he reached out and picked up the letter. The other guild leaders also opened the letters in tension and anxiety.

Rustle.

As expected? The letter made a sound in Yang Won-jo’s hand, along with his distorted expression. Now he knew the meaning of the ‘Northern Ice Palace’ that Ho Geum-heun had mentioned earlier.

The other guild leaders also showed similar reactions, although for different reasons. The gentle face of Deng Su-myeong, the head of the Songam Merchant Guild sitting at the head seat, and the expressions of the skinny Jin Rim and the gentlemanly Wang Gang sitting at the end seat were all stiff.

Ho Geum-heun of the Hoeyang Merchant Guild also gritted his teeth as he looked at the letter. And with trembling hands, he slowly put the letter down.

‘…To make matters worse, it’s truly adding insult to injury.’

He knew that his strategist and his son, Ho Gye-wi, were looking at him with puzzled expressions, but he didn’t show them the letter. Not only Ho Geum-heun, but none of the five guild leaders handed the letter to their strategists or children. It wasn’t something that would change even if they saw it, and it wasn’t something they could come up with a solution for.

“Hyo-seol.”

The guild leaders reflexively raised their heads at Son Bin’s low voice. Son Bin quietly spoke to Hyo-seol, the owner of Pungwol Pavilion.

“There are more urgent messages for these people, aren’t there?”

Hyo-seol smiled softly and bowed slightly. And she answered in a gentle voice.

“Yes, Master.”

Son Bin coughed slightly at her voice, which sounded like a whisper in his ear. It was fortunate that his gaze was still directed at the guild leaders.

“It’s not polite to bother them, so have them bring them all at once.”

“Yes, I understand, Master.”

There was a playful tone in Hyo-seol’s voice, who added unnecessary titles to every word, but Son Bin was the only one who noticed it. The expressions of the five guild leaders were already souring at Son Bin’s words to bring them all at once.

Shuffle, shuffle.

Clatter, clatter.

The servants came in with desks, and thin letters piled up in front of the five guild leaders.

“Open it.”

Son Bin said, but the guild leaders couldn’t reach out to the letters. Among them, Wang Gang of the Jae-bu Merchant Guild opened the letter with an expression that had lost even his characteristic gentlemanly pretense, but he couldn’t read much and closed it.

Ho Geum-heun couldn’t open the letter either. Just what he had already read was enough to confirm a huge loss. If other things were added to this situation and it developed into the worst situation, the result was obvious.

‘…It’s over.’

“Um, Young Master Son.”

Deng Su-myeong, who was sitting at the head seat, carefully opened his mouth. He, who always had a gentle expression, was wiping cold sweat from his sleeves on a day that wasn’t even hot, and was wearing an awkward smile.

“I’m sorry to say this, but this kind of thing doesn’t just end with damage to our guilds.”

His face was full of fear that he might offend Son Bin. Who in the world would believe that the owner of the Songam Merchant Guild, one of the Five Great Merchant Guilds of the World, would show such an attitude?

“The value of a guild includes not only the wealth it has, but also its future growth potential, and even the credit it has built up so far. All of that is divided into cooperative guilds and related companies in the form of promissory notes or contracts.”

Deng Su-myeong continued, wearing a troubled expression and a smile at the same time.

“If the things in this letter become reality, the damage to the world’s logistics, or at least countless small and medium-sized guilds and merchants, will be enormous. I don’t know if we have somehow offended you, but if you enlighten us foolish people, we will definitely repay you with a good price, no, with sincerity and trust.”

Listening to those words, Ho Geum-heun of the Hoeyang Merchant Guild couldn’t hide his bitter smile. But at the same time, he was admiring him. Deng Su-myeong, the head of the Songam Merchant Guild, readily abandons his pride in the face of profit. Even now, he is subtly pushing his daughter to give the young scholar an affectionate gaze, isn’t he? Of course, he would become more ruthless and cold if the opposite were true.

“Damage to small and medium-sized guilds and merchants, you say?”

Son Bin said quietly from behind his jade fan. Deng Su-myeong immediately nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. Originally, promissory notes are indispensable in commercial transactions, and that is both the guild’s debt and asset at the same time…”

“If so.”

Son Bin, who cut off Deng Su-myeong’s words, quietly continued.

“If we hand over the position of the next Five Great Merchant Guilds of the World to the guild that will take over all those debts…”

Deng Su-myeong’s expression froze at those words. The other guild leaders watching were also the same.

“The world doesn’t just have your guilds. There are plenty of guilds that would be willing to step up if given the opportunity.”

Ho Geum-heun couldn’t say anything about Deng Su-myeong’s distorted expression. His face was also distorted in the same way now. The young scholar who hid his face behind the jade fan is definitely not someone who knows nothing about the business world.

“On the other hand, what about you? You are just swayed by greed and move in pursuit of profit, you don’t make investments that look to the future with the huge wealth you have accumulated, and you don’t pursue respectable social values. You are not even more diligent, intelligent, or sincere than other small and medium-sized guilds.”

The young scholar’s words were more than harsh.

“There are plenty of guilds that can replace you.”

Flutter.

Son Bin said, slightly waving his jade fan.

“Isn’t that so?”

No one answered that question. And the guild leaders knew that Deng Su-myeong’s persuasion had failed. Perhaps Deng Su-myeong sensed the vague connection between being guided to the head seat and the young scholar and the Tang Clan, and made a gamble.

But like Jin Rim earlier, he also lost. Certainly, without even a hint of doubt.

Ho Geum-heun of the Hoeyang Merchant Guild looked down at the letters in front of him. The weight contained in those thin papers seemed to be pressing down on him.

“A moment ago.”

The obese Yang Won-jo opened his mouth with an uncomfortable expression. The gazes of the guild leaders all turned to Yang Won-jo of the Hwanam Merchant Guild.

“The Young Master said this was a warning. Could you tell us the meaning of that once again?”

That was practically a declaration of surrender. Since neither rebellion nor persuasion worked, it meant that they would just wait for the other party’s disposition.

Nevertheless, the fact that he was wearing a seemingly uncomfortable expression had its own calculations. It was because he knew that with this attitude, he wouldn’t be particularly hated by the other party, and that the other party’s pleasure would be greater when a rebellious guild bowed its head. Of course, he would have to be prepared for a certain amount of, or rather, a considerable amount of bleeding [financial loss].

“It’s not difficult.”

Swish.

Son Bin lowered his jade fan. His expression was no different from when he opened the door and poured tea earlier, but the meaning it gave to the guild leaders now was so different.

“Keep in mind that you will be held responsible for the consequences of whatever you do. And whatever you do…”

Swish.

The jade fan covered Son Bin’s face again.

“Don’t forget that I’m watching.”

The obese Yang Won-jo swallowed hard. What could be more vague than the words ‘I’m watching’? But what could be more frightening than those words?

“I will keep that in mind.”

Yang Won-jo said, bowing politely. A soft smile flashed in Son Bin’s eyes visible over the jade fan.

“Thank you.”

Son Bin said quietly. The guild leaders waited in tension for Son Bin’s next words.

“The Northern Ice Palace…”

As expected? Son Bin quietly opened his mouth from behind the jade fan.

“You will have to visit them directly. Although it will be a long journey, if you speak to Ice Lord with sincerity and trust, you will clear up the misunderstanding. The unfortunate event of the Northern trade being completely closed will probably not happen. All the seized goods will also be released soon.”

A sigh of relief escaped from the guild leaders’ mouths. Son Bin continued calmly.

“The full-scale inspection of local officials will not be as serious as it is written. There will be no imprisonment of key figures or reckless torture, no confiscation of all the guild’s documents, and no search of your residences.”

Son Bin’s eyes lit up as he watched the guild leaders relax.

“But don’t give bribes. Don’t make any attempts to corrupt honest officials. Especially, things like putting pressure on the civil service examination officials to create plausible careers for your children…”

Son Bin, realizing that he had gone too far, coughed slightly.

“Ahem, it will be enough to show appropriate sincerity to the Black Snake Union as in previous years. Of course, some guilds will have to pay more attention.”

As Son Bin’s words continued, the guild leaders wore complex expressions. In fact, they should be happy that huge problems were being solved before their eyes, but they couldn’t feel happy at all.

“The fact that the elders of the Four Great Sects rebuked the selfish behavior of the giant guild will no longer be made public in the Jianghu [martial arts world]. However, each of you will need a polite letter of apology or a visit. And…”

Son Bin, who was speaking, turned his head to look at Hyo-seol.

“What else did I do?”

Hyo-seol bowed politely and answered.

“Everything else is trivial, Master.”

Son Bin quickly turned his gaze away to prevent the tragedy of seeing Hyo-seol’s bare skin. But he couldn’t help but see a little.

“…As I already said.”

Son Bin opened his mouth, thinking that he had really done well to cover his face with a fan.

“Calling you all like this is a very troublesome thing for me.”

Son Bin’s words, mixed with a slight sigh, were the truth without a hint of falsehood.

Not only the Northern Ice Palace, but also putting pressure on local officials through the eunuch of the imperial family, and sending letters to Hyunheo Jin-in of Wudang [a Taoist immortal], Beopheo Shinni of Emei [a Buddhist nun], Bulgwang Seonsa of Shaolin [a Buddhist monk], and Cheongwooja of Mount Hua [a Taoist master], were troublesome and embarrassing things.

Above all, the biggest problem was making sure that the results of all those things arrived on today’s date.

If it hadn’t been for the help of Hwawol, the head of Yewon [a courtesan house], who was well-versed in the affairs of the martial arts world and the business world, and Princess Gyeonghui, he wouldn’t have been able to do something like today. Most of the detailed plans were also made and executed by them.

“It would be much easier to just replace the Five Great Merchant Guilds of the World with new ones.”

No one felt insulted by Son Bin’s words, which he muttered to himself. Son Bin had proven before their eyes that those words were true.

Swish.

Son Bin reached out and grabbed something from the table next to him.

Clink.

In his hand were five iron coins. The guild leaders looked at the iron coins with puzzled expressions, but at that moment, a strange sound tickled their ears.

Whoosh.

‘Gasp!’

Not only the guild leaders but also those who knew martial arts were startled. The iron coins in Son Bin’s hand slowly rotated and floated into the air. Not only that.

Whizz.

“Eek!”

The iron coins began to fly in all directions. The women screamed and lowered their heads, and the guild leaders leaned back without realizing it. Some who knew martial arts raised their hands to take a defensive stance, but they already knew that their skills were not enough.

Whoosh.

The iron coins, flying around the room like bees, stopped in front of each guild leader. The guild leaders could clearly see that the iron coins were spinning at a tremendous speed.

“Don’t touch them.”

Son Bin said quietly. Ho Geum-heun’s son, Yang Won-jo, and Deng Su-myeong’s daughter reached out to the iron coins, then flinched.

“Your fingers will explode if you’re not careful.”

They quickly withdrew their hands. In this situation, the very thought of touching that was absurd, and some guild leaders clicked their tongues.

“In fact, an easier way is to take the lives of some of you.”

A cold air fell on everyone’s heads.

“Then whatever Gongson Geuk promised will lose its meaning, and the wealth you have accumulated will be torn apart according to greed. Of course, there will be confusion among small and medium-sized guilds and merchants, but the damage will not be great.”

That was the method suggested by Old Lord.

―Just kill them? Why bother warning those guys and paying attention to them? Annoying.

The simplest and most Old Lord-like solution was that if you just bury the annoying things, the remaining guys will take care of the aftermath on their own.

“But I have decided to endure the trouble. So for you, this is a warning and an opportunity at the same time.”

Swish.

Son Bin got up from his seat. And he held out his hand.

Whoosh.

The iron coins floating in the air flew to Son Bin as if they had been waiting. And they landed on his hand in order, surprisingly docile.

Clink.

Son Bin quietly placed the five iron coins on the table.

“I hope I never see you again.”

It was at that moment.

Boom.

A huge explosion echoed through the room. It was a sound that came from afar, but it was such a huge explosion that those who were sitting jumped up in surprise and teacups clattered and overturned.

“Wh, what is this…”

“It’s nothing.”

Son Bin answered someone’s groan-like voice.

“It seems that the Jiangnan Shipyard fired a cannon. The shells are not loaded and it is not aimed at this place, so you can just think of it as a salute.”

“A, a salute…”

A salute is a cannon fired to show respect. There is a naval shipyard on the Jiangnan River that crosses Nanjing, so they naturally handle cannons as well as building or repairing warships.

But there is no such thing as firing them so openly. No, firing cannons in the first place is an extremely unusual thing. Moreover, there has never been a time when they fired all at once like just now, especially at this time.

“Yes.”

Son Bin smiled.

“It’s just a coincidence.”

No one believed those words anymore. Son Bin covered his face with a fan, turned around, and moved his steps.

Step, step.

Hyo-seol quietly followed Son Bin. With the guild leaders and their party all standing up, Son Bin and Hyo-seol left the place. But the expressions of the guild leaders standing blankly did not ease for a long time after that.

(Author’s words)

Sarasvati: Raja is leaving, but you dare not even stand up?

Princess Gyeonghui: (Smiling) As expected, we understand each other.