Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 289

289. The Era of the Taiping Alliance

“You’re suggesting we involve the Taiping Alliance?”

Jangju [Clan Leader] Jo Woong asked the Chief Manager with a puzzled expression.

The Chief Manager continued, “I heard that a branch of the Taiping Alliance was recently established in nearby Xi’an. It’s not an official branch, more like a liaison office…”

“Taiping Alliance, huh…”

Jangju Jo Woong was not particularly pleased.

The Taiping Alliance was a coalition of influential families.

Unlike the old Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance], it was obvious they were after their own interests, and their opportunistic policy of not antagonizing the Hero Alliance didn’t sit well with him either.

But in the face of a real threat, such concerns were meaningless.

“…Is it possible?”

“At least we can try talking to them. They are all from families that were once part of the Murim Alliance.”

“I agree,” said his son, Jo Hong, supporting the Chief Manager’s words.

“Who else has power besides the Taiping Alliance right now? We can’t exactly go to the Hero Alliance, can we?”

“But would the Taiping Alliance even want to get involved?”

“Even just lending us their name would be a great help.”

Jo Woong pondered for a moment.

He didn’t like that it was the Taiping Alliance they had to turn to, and he didn’t like having to ask for help from all over the place.

But the conclusion was already set.

“Chief Manager.”

Jangju Jo Woong said, “I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you. I don’t care how much money it takes.”

The Jo Clan, which controlled the wealthy Sangju, was very affluent.

They were willing to spend any amount of money to protect their interests.

“Understood.”

The Chief Manager bowed his head and accepted the Jangju’s command.

***

It was the fifth day since the Jo Clan’s Chief Manager had left for Xi’an.

Taptaptap.

“Jangju-nim!”

Jangju Jo Woong looked up at the sudden sound of the Chief Manager’s voice.

Thud.

The office door opened, and the Chief Manager entered with a bright expression.

“Oh, Chief Manager. How did it go…”

“Jangju-nim, the Taiping Alliance has readily accepted our request!”

Jangju Jo Woong, as well as his son Jo Hong, were greatly surprised.

“Is that true?”

Jo Woong said, jumping up from his seat.

The Chief Manager said with a smile on his face, “Yes, it is! Moreover, members of the Taiping Alliance are here in Sangju right now!”

Jangju Jo Woong couldn’t hide his surprise.

But his son, Jo Hong, asked back with a puzzled expression, “Really? The Taiping Alliance actually sent people?”

It was hard to believe that the Taiping Alliance would send people as soon as they heard about the situation.

However, the Chief Manager continued excitedly, “Yes! They are waiting for you at the Mae Hwa Inn right now.”

“Mae Hwa Inn?”

Jangju Jo Woong asked with a puzzled expression, “Why not bring them here…”

“Well, they said it wouldn’t look good to the other factions.”

Jo Woong immediately understood.

The Taiping Alliance was trying to act as a fair mediator in Sangju.

In that case, it was natural to distance themselves from the Jo Clan, even if only formally.

“Actually, the Taiping Alliance…”

The Chief Manager said, lowering his voice, “…seemed very concerned about the Hero Alliance. It seems they accepted our request to check the Hero Alliance’s advance.”

“Hero Alliance?”

Jo Woong frowned slightly.

The southern metropolis of Wuhan, located in the Yangtze River region, had become the Hero Alliance’s territory.

But since Wuhan was quite far from here, Jo Woong hadn’t been too worried about it.

‘Hmm, to check them…’

However, the situation was different for the Taiping Alliance.

Although the Taiping Alliance had said they wouldn’t oppose the Hero Alliance, they wouldn’t want the Hero Alliance’s power to grow any further.

Considering that Sangju was located on the path connecting the Yangtze River and the inland, namely Wuhan and Xi’an, and especially considering that the Sword Sect, a villainous group, was starting to gain momentum, the Taiping Alliance’s judgment was understandable.

“I see. So what the Taiping Alliance wants is…”

“Yes, they want to establish a deep, friendly relationship with our Jo Clan.”

If so, nothing could be better.

Both the Jo Clan and the Taiping Alliance would benefit.

“You’ve done well! Chief Manager!”

Jangju Jo Woong said sincerely to the Chief Manager, “You’ve done very well! Hahaha!”

“Thank you, Jangju-nim.”

The Chief Manager smiled and bowed.

“Oh, and.”

The Chief Manager said, as if suddenly remembering something, “Well, the Taiping Alliance people, they came in quite a large group.”

“How many came?”

“Yes. A little over thirty people in total.”

That was certainly unexpected.

If it was the Taiping Alliance, sending just a few experts would have been enough, so why so many people?

“Thirty people?”

“Yes. So they say they need a residence to stay in for the time being.”

“Really? Then how about we just gift them a mansion?”

Even for the Jo Clan, gifting a mansion was a significant expense.

However, Jo Woong didn’t care.

Rather, if he could establish a friendly relationship with the Taiping Alliance with this, it was a bargain.

“Father, I think it would be better to wait and see how things go before doing that,” said his son, Jo Hong, dissuading him.

Jo Woong nodded.

“Really? Understood. More importantly, didn’t they say the Taiping Alliance people are waiting? Let’s go quickly.”

“Yes, Jangju-nim.”

Together with the Chief Manager, Jangju Jo Woong and his son Jo Hong headed to the Mae Hwa Inn.

At the Mae Hwa Inn, as the Chief Manager had said, the Taiping Alliance people were waiting for Jo Woong.

Surprisingly, among them was Dang Il-gi, an expert from the Tang Clan [a family known for their poison and assassination techniques].

This meant that the Taiping Alliance had definitely not sent people lightly.

Jangju Jo Woong was very pleased.

He readily arranged a residence for the Taiping Alliance warriors to stay in.

To show off the Jo Clan’s influence, he showed Dang Il-gi the allied factions and merchant groups, and he also introduced Dang Il-gi to local dignitaries and officials in preparation for any possible trouble.

This was also to impress upon them that the Jo Clan had gained a new helper, the Taiping Alliance.

Dang Il-gi of the Taiping Alliance was also very satisfied with Jo Woong’s treatment.

In this way, the Jo Clan of Sangju’s ordeal seemed to be turning into a blessing in disguise.

***

Jo Clan’s Jangju Jo Woong, his son Jo Hong, and the Chief Manager were heading to the residence where the Taiping Alliance warriors were staying in a carriage.

The Taiping Alliance had sent a polite letter inviting the Jo Clan.

The Martial Arts Association and the Sword Sect had also received the same letter.

Finally, today, the dispute between the three factions would be settled in front of the Taiping Alliance.

With the Jo Clan’s unilateral victory, that is.

“Father. What are the reactions of the Martial Arts Association and the Sword Sect?”

“Haha, what else could they do?”

Jangju Jo Woong answered with a hearty laugh, “They have no choice but to come without a peep. How dare the Martial Arts Association stand up to the Taiping Alliance in their presence?”

Jo Hong nodded.

And soon, he asked cautiously, “…Did the Taiping Alliance meet with the Martial Arts Association or the Sword Sect separately?”

Jangju Jo Woong realized what his son was worried about.

“Don’t worry.”

Jo Woong said with a smile, “I had the Chief Manager look into it closely. Neither the Martial Arts Association nor the Sword Sect were able to meet the Taiping Alliance people.”

“That’s right, young master.”

The Chief Manager also had a smile on his face.

“People came looking for them, but they were turned away before they could even cross the threshold. The Taiping Alliance’s invitation must have felt like a summons from the Grim Reaper to them. Hahaha.”

At those words, Jo Hong finally smiled.

“By the way, was the gift to be sent to the Taiping Alliance prepared well?”

At Jangju Jo Woong’s question, the Chief Manager bowed his head and answered, “Yes, I put in extra effort to show as much sincerity as possible.”

“Good.”

Jo Woong was pleased.

“Well, then… what should we do with the gifts we always sent to Mount Hua?”

Jo Woong frowned slightly.

“Mount Hua, what for? It’s the era of the Taiping Alliance now, the era of the Taiping Alliance! Hahaha.”

Laughing heartily, Jo Woong stroked his beard.

Clatter, clatter.

In the meantime, the carriage arrived in front of the residence where the Taiping Alliance warriors were staying.

It was a place that Jangju Jo Woong had personally guaranteed and introduced.

Click.

Getting out of the carriage, Jangju Jo Woong asked the Chief Manager, “Come to think of it, how was the payment for the sale of this residence handled?”

The Chief Manager gave an awkward smile.

“That is, the Taiping Alliance people said they would pay for it…”

“Oh, no. We can’t let our honored guests do that. Make sure to tell them that we’ll take care of it when we meet them today.”

Gifting the residence as a settlement gift was an excellent justification.

“Yes, I will…”

“Ah, Father!”

Jo Woong turned his head at the shout of his son Jo Hong, who had gotten out first.

“Why? Why are you shouting so loudly…”

However, Jo Woong couldn’t finish his sentence either.

Because the signboard with ‘Taiping Alliance’ written on it was hung high on the main gate of the residence where the Taiping Alliance people were staying.

“…W-What is this.”

It was clear that the Taiping Alliance people were staying in this residence.

But the signboard had a very different meaning.

Raising the signboard meant that the Taiping Alliance was officially advancing into Sangju.

Thud.

“Welcome.”

A well-dressed middle-aged man appeared from inside the residence.

He smiled broadly and bowed politely.

“You must be the Jo Clan people? The others are already waiting inside.”

Jangju Jo Woong was utterly bewildered.

Then his son Jo Hong asked the middle-aged man, “The others? And who are you?”

“I am the Vice Chief Manager here.”

The middle-aged man said in a relaxed voice, “The elders of various factions, as well as the merchants and high-ranking officials, are already seated. Please, come in.”

That was an answer that exceeded Jo Hong’s expectations.

And at the same time, it was a word that despaired Jo Hong.

‘Ah! How could this be…’

The meaning of the middle-aged man’s answer was clear.

The Taiping Alliance’s signboard was not a mistake or an oversight.

Today, the Taiping Alliance was officially raising its signboard in Sangju.

At the same time, it had swallowed all the interests of Sangju in one fell swoop.

Because, as Jangju Jo Woong had said in the carriage, there was no force in Sangju that could dare to stand against the Taiping Alliance.

“…Let’s go in for now.”

Jangju Jo Woong said, gritting his teeth.

Thud, thud.

Following the Vice Chief Manager’s guidance, Jo Woong, Jo Hong, and the Chief Manager entered.

It was a residence they already knew, but the interior had completely changed in just a few days.

The music of the musicians flowed, and the widely arranged seats were filled with luxurious food.

“Haha, welcome.”

Dang Il-gi, who was sitting at the head seat, stood up.

Dressed in splendid clothes, Dang Il-gi smiled and bowed.

“I welcome the Jo Clan members in the name of the Taiping Alliance.”

At his words, the sharp gazes of several people turned to Jangju Jo Woong.

“Humph!”

It was the head of the Martial Arts Association.

“You’ve brought things to this point, and you still have the nerve to show your face!”

The head’s voice was full of thorns.

As he had lost the interests of Sangju in an instant, how could he not be?

“W-What are you talking about! I…”

Jangju Jo Woong couldn’t continue his words.

Because the gazes of the other factions were also sharply edged.

As Jo Woong and his party sat down at the seat guided by the middle-aged man called the Vice Chief Manager, Dang Il-gi slowly opened his mouth.

“In the name of the Taiping Alliance, I would like to express my gratitude to the many distinguished guests of Sangju who have come here today.”

Dang Il-gi bowed politely to the guests.

“Sangju has been said to be a place where the scenery is outstanding and talented people gather since ancient times, so I, Dang Il-gi, am truly proud to have the Taiping Alliance’s signboard hung here today.”

In fact, the scenery and the talented people are not so outstanding. However, as a key point of the main road, a lot of wealth gathers.

Now, all that wealth will flow into the Taiping Alliance.

“In the future, the Taiping Alliance will do its best for the well-being of Sangju. Especially to the Jo Clan members who have helped in many ways…”

Dang Il-gi smiled, putting his hands together and bowing to Jo Woong.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude.”