Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 286

286. A Mistake Could Capsize the Boat

Chief Eunuch’s admiration for Woon-hyun was genuine.

He had initially thought of him as someone who had just gotten lucky and risen to fame through a chance encounter.

But his expectations were pleasantly mistaken.

The Regional Commander and the Inspector likely felt the same.

“You saw how he carefully observed the wooden box without ever touching it, right? He probably finished calculating everything at that moment. Pretending to hand it over to the Royal Secret Inspector [a secret agent directly under the king], and then every word he said afterward…”

Chief Eunuch shook his head in admiration as he spoke.

That composure he displayed in the presence of Chief Eunuch, the Inspector, and the Regional Commander—names that would intimidate ordinary people just by hearing them!

Wasn’t it as if he were leisurely chatting with his subordinates?

“It was so skillful that it deserved praise. Truly remarkable.”

Chief Eunuch even had a look of respect in his eyes.

“It was like he had honed his skills in central politics for over a decade. I guarantee he must have dealt with high-ranking officials very familiarly.”

“I, is that so? I don’t really…….”

“Well, you wouldn’t know.”

Chief Eunuch said, looking at his aide with pity.

“But you can’t fool my eyes. Anyway, as soon as we get back, find out more about that nobleman, and prepare a plan for ordering from and supporting the Woon-ga Merchant Guild.”

“The Woon-ga Merchant Guild, you say?”

Chief Eunuch frowned at his aide’s question.

“Don’t you get it yet? Didn’t that nobleman say earlier that he wouldn’t forget the consideration of coming to a merchant guild like this? Isn’t that the same as telling us which way to show our sincerity? Still don’t understand?”

The aide wiped his sweat and said.

“But, but it seemed to me that he didn’t really like that kind of thing……. I’m worried we might be doing something unnecessary…….”

The aide squeezed out the last of his courage to speak.

But Chief Eunuch wouldn’t have any of it.

“……Hoo.”

Chief Eunuch sighed deeply and looked straight at his aide.

“These things, you have to push them even if the recipient says they don’t want them. You have to force it on them even if they get angry. Understand? That’s sincerity, that’s how you navigate the world. That’s what society is. You dense man.”

“Ah, yes…….”

The aide gave an awkward smile.

He couldn’t really say anything about Chief Eunuch’s philosophy of life, and he didn’t really agree with it either.

“And the most important thing is, you shouldn’t look like you’re expecting anything in return. Only amateurs give a small amount of money and expect a lot in return. They don’t even know how cheap that makes them look. Tsk, tsk.”

Chief Eunuch clicked his tongue openly.

“This is an investment for the future and for relationships. An investment that looks ahead for decades. You have to know that this isn’t like buying candy at a street vendor. You short-sighted fools.”

The aide inwardly clicked his tongue.

Even if his philosophy of life seemed vulgar, wasn’t his vision quite broad?

As expected, Chief Eunuch was different, he thought, nodding in agreement.

“Ah, and when you place orders with the Woon-ga Merchant Guild, don’t make it too obvious.”

“Yes?”

The aide looked puzzled.

By tomorrow, the news that Chief Eunuch had visited the Woon-ga Merchant Guild would spread throughout Gwangju, so how could he not make it obvious?

“Tsk, tsk, what’s with that head of yours……. Adjust the order quantity according to the merchant guild’s situation. If you place too large an order from the beginning, there’s no justification, and it looks strange. Take about four or five years to steadily increase the quantity. Didn’t you hear me say you have to look far ahead?”

The aide finally understood Chief Eunuch’s intention.

He didn’t care about other merchant guilds finding out in the first place.

Why would the Guangdong Province Chief Eunuch care about what the merchant guilds think? Rather, the Gwangju merchant guilds would be watching Chief Eunuch’s every move.

“Ah, yes. I understand.”

The aide nodded and quickly took out a book to write down Chief Eunuch’s instructions.

If Chief Eunuch was saying this much, he would definitely ask about the results.

Tuk, tuk.

In the carriage moving leisurely, the aide pondered what he could order from the Woon-ga Merchant Guild right away.

And on the other hand, he began to seriously consider what he should give Chief Eunuch as a gift for the upcoming holiday.

Chief Eunuch’s way of navigating the world meant that Chief Eunuch himself was hoping for such a thing.

In the carriage heading to the Chief Eunuch’s office, the aide’s worries were deepening.

***

Gwangju, Hacheong Merchant Guild.

Thump, thump, thump.

The head of the merchant guild, Ha Yong-han, who was tending to orchids in a private room, turned his head at the noisy footsteps.

Clatter.

“Huff, huff, Elder!”

It was Chief Joo, whom he had sent to the Woon-ga Merchant Guild.

“Oh, Chief Joo. Did you finish the job well?”

Ha Yong-han said leisurely, turning his gaze back to the orchids.

Chief Joo had always made a fuss over trivial matters, and there was no room for unexpected elements in the task of visiting the Woon-ga Merchant Guild.

“So, when did you set the date to meet?”

Ha Yong-han asked, wiping the orchids.

He had no doubt that the matter had been successfully concluded.

He had brought up the marriage proposal first, but Ha Yong-han himself couldn’t do it, so what could the Woon-ga Merchant Guild say?

Besides, they had even offered to help as compensation, so there was no reason for the Woon-ga Merchant Guild to refuse.

“T, that’s, huff huff, the problem, it’s not…….”

Chief Joo said, gasping for breath.

“N, now at the Woon-ga Merchant Guild……, huff. T, that is…….”

Chief Joo, out of breath, couldn’t even continue speaking properly.

Ha Yong-han stopped and turned his head.

“Oh dear, this man. Take your time and speak slowly. It’s not like I’m going anywhere…….”

“C, Chief Eunuch has come! To the Woon-ga Merchant Guild, all the, huff huff, high-ranking officials of Gwangju have gathered to welcome a nobleman, and that’s, oh, I’m out of breath. That’s the person!”

“What are you talking about?”

Ha Yong-han frowned.

He couldn’t understand a word of what Chief Joo was saying.

“Tell me again slowly. So, the Chief Eunuch’s office sent someone to the Woon-ga Merchant Guild?”

For a merchant, government officials are not a good sign.

Especially if the government sends someone first.

“I heard the Woon-ga Merchant Guild’s situation hasn’t been good lately, so have they perhaps gotten involved in smuggling or something?”

If that were the case, the Hacheong Merchant Guild would have to pull out immediately.

Anxious, Ha Yong-han asked, and Chief Joo pounded his chest as if frustrated.

“Oh, this is frustrating. It’s not that someone from the Chief Eunuch’s office came, but Chief Eunuch himself came! Chief Eunuch!”

“What?”

Ha Yong-han’s eyes widened.

“No, Chief Eunuch came? To the Woon-ga Merchant Guild? In person?”

“It’s not just Chief Eunuch! The Inspector and the Regional Commander also came. All of them, in person, themselves.”

Perhaps frustrated by Ha Yong-han’s disbelief, Chief Joo emphasized repeatedly.

But Ha Yong-han frowned even more.

“……Did you perhaps see something wrong…….”

“Oh no, not at all!”

Chief Joo waved his hands strongly.

“I saw it with my own two eyes! If you’re so skeptical, send someone to the Woon-ga Merchant Guild right now!”

“No, it’s not that……. Why would they go to the Woon-ga Merchant Guild? Especially Chief Eunuch, the Inspector, and the Regional Commander.”

It was natural for Ha Yong-han to be skeptical.

Chief Eunuch, who took huge sums of money under the guise of voluntary donations, never even set foot in the merchant guilds.

It was difficult to even see Chief Eunuch’s face unless it was an official event, and the Inspector, who oversaw criminal law, was like the Grim Reaper to merchants.

And the Regional Commander, who oversaw military affairs.

“It’s all because of that person, no, that nobleman!”

Finally, Chief Joo got to the main point he wanted to say.

Chief Joo spoke in an excited tone, spitting as he spoke.

“So, this is what happened…….”

Ha Yong-han frowned at Chief Joo’s lengthy explanation.

But after a while, Ha Yong-han, who had barely grasped the essence of the situation, could only be shocked.

“……Ugh.”

Ha Yong-han sat down heavily, frowning and touching his forehead.

“So, it turns out he had connections in central politics?”

“V, very strong connections.”

Chief Joo spoke with particular emphasis.

Chief Joo was keenly aware of the power of the connections that Woon-hyun had.

Wasn’t it the kind of connections that made the Royal Secret Inspector, as well as Chief Eunuch, the Inspector, and the Regional Commander, come running?

“You said you already talked about the marriage proposal?”

Ha Yong-han asked, just in case.

Not knowing what he was thinking, Chief Joo nodded.

“Yes. That’s all done.”

“Ugh.”

Ha Yong-han groaned.

“……What a pity.”

“Oh no, not at all.”

Chief Joo waved his hand.

“It’s a good thing we withdrew the marriage proposal first. We would have been rejected anyway, so what kind of situation would that have been?”

“That’s true, but…….”

Even if it was just the Hacheong Merchant Guild, being in-laws with someone whom the local dignitaries called a nobleman was too unbalanced.

“Is it because the fish we missed was too big?”

“A fish is a fish, but it depends on the fish.”

Chief Joo said firmly.

“A mistake could capsize the entire boat. How can we know what will happen in the world of politics?”

“Ugh.”

Ha Yong-han also agreed with Chief Joo’s words.

A person who had returned to his hometown as a beggar was suddenly being called a nobleman by high-ranking officials and receiving special treatment.

Originally, it was common for the world to change overnight in the realm of power, but if it became his own affair, he couldn’t dare to handle it.

No matter how sweet the fruit of success was, wasn’t the risk too great?

‘Well, it’s already water under the bridge anyway…….’

Perhaps it was something that wouldn’t have worked out from the beginning.

Ha Yong-han, like a merchant, cleanly shook off his regrets.

And he began to think about future countermeasures.

“Chief Eunuch was trying to get on his good side?”

“Yes. He was very openly and blatantly reaching out. Of course, he didn’t seem thoughtless enough to accept it readily…….”

“If he has connections in central politics, he would naturally be like that. But Chief Eunuch isn’t the kind of person who would give up that easily.”

“He’s very persistent.”

Chief Joo nodded as if in agreement.

He knew all too well what kind of person Chief Eunuch was.

How many years had he spent with him as a merchant in Gwangju?

“When did you set the date to meet with the Woon-ga Merchant Guild?”

“We haven’t set it yet, but we were going to contact them to set a date.”

“Really? Then have them meet as soon as possible, no, tomorrow. And increase the order we were going to place by two, no, three times.”

Chief Joo tilted his head.

“Tomorrow? And more than that, three times would make the transaction too big…….”

“The bigger, the better. The sooner, the better.”

Ha Yong-han said, but Chief Joo still didn’t seem convinced.

“But there’s also the issue of fairness with other merchant guilds…….”

“Oh dear, this man.”

Ha Yong-han clicked his tongue as if frustrated.

“Don’t you understand yet? The Woon-ga Merchant Guild will probably be in charge of procuring supplies for the Chief Eunuch’s office soon. On a large scale, too.”

“I, is that so?”

Chief Joo nodded.

Considering Chief Eunuch’s personality, that was definitely the case.

Just like he had been doing so far.

“So, we need to establish a relationship of trust before that happens, so that some of the crumbs will fall to us.”

Procuring supplies for a large transaction, especially with a partner like the Chief Eunuch’s office, was impossible for any merchant guild to handle alone.

Naturally, they would have to get supplies from other merchant guilds, and all the merchant guilds in Gwangju would surely flock to the Woon-ga Merchant Guild.

“Do you understand what I’m saying? We’re not giving the Woon-ga Merchant Guild special treatment, but making the Woon-ga Merchant Guild give us special treatment.”

“Oh, I see.”

Chief Joo, now convinced, nodded.

“Send word to the Woon-ga Merchant Guild right away and have them meet tomorrow. It will be too late after the Chief Eunuch’s office places the procurement order.”

“I understand.”

Chief Joo nodded with a determined look.

“Go quickly. I’ll also review the transaction details I’ll propose to the Woon-ga Merchant Guild.”

Chief Joo left the private room in a hurry, and Ha Yong-han moved to his office in a hurry to check the merchant guild’s current status.

The white cloth he had been using to wipe the orchids was still tightly held in one of his hands.