I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 149

After leaving the Imperial Palace, Jo Gwang-yun headed straight for Yoon Ju-seong’s house.

“What’s this? I heard you went to see His Majesty, but why are you back so soon?”

“His Majesty ordered me to assist you, sir. That’s why I rushed here.”

Yoon Ju-seong’s face brightened.

“That’s a good thing. I needed your help anyway, and it’s the Emperor’s command, so I feel much more at ease.”

Yoon Ju-seong spread out a white paper and picked up a brush.

“So, how many people should we draft from each family?”

“Sir, I believe it should be specific and concrete.”

“How so?”

“For example, if we say, ‘Send a few martial artists from each family,’ they will exclude those with high-level martial arts skills and send hired warriors or distant relatives just to make up the numbers. They might even hire wandering warriors to send in their place.”

Yoon Ju-seong’s eyebrows twitched.

“What? Are they daring to deceive the Emperor’s command?”

“They are capable of doing that.”

“These disloyal bastards!”

As Yoon Ju-seong slammed the table, Jo Gwang-yun smiled slyly.

“That’s how martial artists in the Jianghu [the martial arts world] are. Their martial arts are so strong that they have no fear, not even of the Emperor.”

“So? What’s your idea?”

“Specify five sons or daughters from both the Hwangbo and Ak families. Make sure to include them.”

Yoon Ju-seong seemed to forget his anger at the mention of daughters.

“Daughters? Are you suggesting including women?”

“You wouldn’t know since you don’t know the Jianghu, but there are many female martial artists in the Jianghu who are stronger than most men.”

“Is that so?”

“We’re not forcibly conscripting for military service anyway, are we? Since the goal is to eliminate the Wokou [Japanese pirates], we should select those with strong martial arts skills, regardless of gender.”

“So, you mean we should specifically select and draft those with high-level martial arts skills. Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then, what should the total number be?”

“How about five direct descendants from each martial family and fifty from their affiliated branch families?”

“In military terms, that would be ten commanders and a hundred soldiers.”

“That’s right.”

“Will a hundred be enough?”

“Think of it as more than a thousand ordinary soldiers. And…”

Jo Gwang-yun added, watching Yoon Ju-seong’s expression.

“We can always draft more if the results of the subjugation force are insufficient, can’t we?”

Yoon Ju-seong frowned, showing his reluctance.

“We’ve already specified the individuals, so wouldn’t drafting more be problematic? I’m not sure if it would give them a reason to complain.”

“Given the nature of martial families, they would rather be ashamed. If they are rumored to have martial arts skills insufficient to handle even a single Wokou, they won’t be able to show their faces in the martial world. Hehe.”

Yoon Ju-seong thought for a moment and nodded.

“Then, give me the names of the martial artists to be drafted from the two families. And let’s specify that we can continue to draft more if necessary.”

“Yes.”

Jo Gwang-yun picked up the brush and wrote Hwangbo-hwan and Ak Ye-heun’s names first.

* * *

Two eunuchs, carefully carrying the Emperor’s personal letter and the list of those to be drafted, departed from the capital for Shandong Province.

As they left the Imperial Palace, a man stopped in front of them and bowed respectfully.

“Who are you?”

As the military officer escorting the two eunuchs shouted, the man took out a letter from his chest and offered it respectfully.

“A letter from Vice Minister Jo Gwang-yun.”

At the name of Jo Gwang-yun, the military officer hurriedly handed the letter to the eunuch, who eagerly tore it open.

After confirming the contents, the two eunuchs smiled brightly and said,

“Let’s stop by Vice Minister Jo’s house for a moment. He wants to offer us a cup of tea.”

The military officer’s face also lit up.

Calling them before a long journey meant he would surely provide them with generous expenses for the trip.

They turned their horses toward Jo Gwang-yun’s house.

Jo Gwang-yun greeted them outside the gate.

“Thank you for making this difficult journey despite my urgent request.”

“Oh, no, not at all. Vice Minister Jo must have something important to say, so we should definitely stop by.”

The two eunuchs bowed repeatedly.

As they entered the house, a lavishly prepared table awaited them.

“I figured you wouldn’t have had a proper meal this early in the morning, so I asked them to prepare something for you to eat. Please eat to your heart’s content before you leave. Ah, I omitted the alcohol since we are carrying out the sacred orders of His Majesty the Emperor. I hope you understand.”

Even without the alcohol, the guards’ mouths watered at the sight of the ample meat.

Jo Gwang-yun led the two eunuchs into the room.

“Please eat slowly and have a cup of tea with me before you depart.”

Jo Gwang-yun left the room until they finished eating and returned after a while.

“Vice Minister Jo, is there another reason why you called us here?”

“I can’t deceive you two, as expected. Haha.”

Jo Gwang-yun smiled and handed over a wooden box.

“I know that the travel expenses for official duties are not very generous. This mission started because of my report to His Majesty, so I feel uneasy. Therefore, I have prepared a small amount to supplement your travel expenses.”

The two eunuchs’ mouths widened. They knew that the wooden box must be full of silver.

“Oh, you didn’t have to prepare something like this. We’ll be stopping by each provincial capital anyway, and the accommodations will be prepared there, so we don’t need that much money.”

Jo Gwang-yun opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for this.

“If you take the fastest route to Shandong Province, you don’t need to stop by each provincial capital. Isn’t that right?”

He knew the habits of the eunuchs who rarely left the palace and were going on a long journey.

The eunuchs were the Emperor’s closest aides, and when they visited each provincial capital, all the local officials would rush out to serve them. They wouldn’t miss that fun.

They were supposed to sleep in one place and leave immediately, but they usually stayed for more than two days, enjoying their hospitality.

If those fortunate fellows moved around as if they were on a Jianghu tour, there was no telling when they would arrive in Shandong Province.

“But Vice Minister Jo, we can’t travel while sleeping in the open, can we?”

“Surely you don’t think I would ask you to sleep in the dew? You can all sleep comfortably in inns and fill your bellies.”

Jo Gwang-yun spoke towards the outside.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and two sturdy men entered and bowed.

“These men have worked for my security company for more than ten years. They know the best route to Shandong Province and are familiar with the best inns and restaurants along the way. They will guide you.”

“But Vice Minister Jo, why are you in such a hurry…? Is there a special reason?”

Jo Gwang-yun put on a pitiful expression.

“It’s because I saw the miserable state of the people oppressed by the Wokou. I want to save them from the clutches of the Wokou as soon as possible.”

The two eunuchs’ faces clearly showed their disappointment.

Was the wooden box that Jo Gwang-yun handed over ultimately not pocket money but travel expenses?

However, at Jo Gwang-yun’s next words, the two men’s mouths widened again.

“These two men will be responsible for all travel expenses while traveling to Shandong Province. They will serve you very comfortably, so don’t worry.”

If they were responsible for the travel expenses, the wooden box was entirely for them to fill their pockets.

They could go on a Jianghu tour on the way back, couldn’t they?

Having finished their calculations, the two eunuchs suddenly stood up and bowed to Jo Gwang-yun.

“Vice Minister Jo’s concern for the people is truly admirable. We will not forget Vice Minister Jo’s intentions and will run as fast as a thousand-mile horse.”

Jo Gwang-yun whispered to them,

“And would you do me a favor?”

“Just say the word. Anything but asking us to die. Hehe.”

“When you deliver His Majesty’s personal letter to the two families, please also convey these words.”

“It’s not difficult. So, what’s the message?”

Jo Gwang-yun quietly whispered a few words to the two men.

* * *

Ak Seung-myeong, the head of the Shandong Ak family, wanted to enjoy a cup of tea after lunch, but he had to rush out because of a family servant who had come running in a hurry.

“What? Who came?”

“They haven’t arrived yet, but they said to prepare to receive them.”

“So, who is arriving soon?”

“They say it’s a eunuch who received the Emperor’s order.”

He checked several times, but it was indeed the Emperor.

Why would the Emperor send someone to a martial arts family when he had no business with them?

It was difficult to understand, but two military officers in armor, holding flags with the character ‘皇’ [huang – Emperor] written in large letters, stood firmly at the gate and glared at him, so he couldn’t help but believe it.

Ak Seung-myeong showed respect to the military officers and cautiously asked,

“I am Ak Seung-myeong, the head of the family. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

Fortunately, the military officer showed a polite demeanor.

“A eunuch who will deliver His Majesty the Emperor’s personal letter will arrive soon. Please prepare.”

“Prepare? What…?”

“Ah, is this your first time with something like this?”

“Of course. Why would an imperial order be issued to a martial family?”

“It’s nothing much. It’s not an edict, so you don’t need to show great respect. Just lay out a mat and receive it on your knees.”

Since it was the Emperor’s personal letter, kneeling was nothing.

“But what on earth is going on…?”

“You’ll find out soon. Please wait.”

He was curious, but also anxious. Getting involved with the royal family was more likely to lead to trouble than good.

As he lingered in front of the gate, a man dressed as a eunuch with about ten soldiers stood in front of the house.

The eunuch, who got off his horse, held a large scroll in both hands and slowly approached.

“Are you perhaps the head of this family called the Shandong Ak family, Great Warrior Ak Seung-myeong?”

“Yes, I am Ak Seung-myeong.”

“I will deliver His Majesty the Emperor’s personal letter, so please show respect.”

Ak Seung-myeong laid out a mat and knelt on it.

The eunuch unfolded the silk thread that bound the scroll and spread it out.

“Hear ye, martial artist Ak Seung-myeong of the Jianghu!”

The eunuch read the scroll in a loud voice.

“Having heard the news that the sea of Shandong Province has long been in the hands of the insignificant Wokou, I have been unable to sleep. How can such a thing happen in my realm? Furthermore, I cannot even swallow the grain in my mouth, knowing that my people are groaning under the feet of those vile Wokou.”

At the sudden mention of the Wokou, Ak Seung-myeong could not figure out why they had come to his house.

“…I believe that you, in my stead, will save the people groaning under the feet of the Wokou. I am confident that the martial arts of the Shandong Ak family will behead the Wokou with a single stroke.”

“What? No… what is this…!”

As Ak Seung-myeong raised his head and opened his mouth, the military officer standing next to the eunuch shouted.

“Silence! You dare to speak on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor. How dare you open your mouth before His Majesty’s command is even finished! Where did you learn such disloyal behavior!”

Ak Seung-myeong closed his mouth and lowered his head.

The eunuch, frowning, continued to read.

“Therefore, the eldest daughter Ak Ye-heun (岳 艺昕). The third son Mu-ui (武意). Nephews Mu-eun (武殷), Mu-ik (武翼), Mu-jeon (武塡) and…”

As the names of his children and nephews were listed one after another, Ak Seung-myeong’s face turned pale.

“I request that you select ten martial artists each from the Ak family’s branch families, Baekchangmun, Pungnoemun, Cheonhyangpa, Bimuwon, and Hanwolbo, for a total of fifty martial artists, and strive to eliminate the Wokou!”

The eunuch rolled up the scroll again, handed it to Ak Seung-myeong, and whispered in his ear.

“Minister Jo Gwang-yun asked if you liked the gift.”