I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 152

Ak Seung-myeong and Hwangbo Deuk’s eyes wavered.

For a merchant like Jo Gwang-yun to bet his entire fortune meant he would never stop, never turn back, and would only move forward with unwavering resolve.

Jo Gwang-yun showed his determination, and the only question remaining was how much the two men believed in it.

“To bet his entire fortune, he must not care about the Changryong Clan.”

“No. Clan Lord Jo and the Changryong Clan are one. If Clan Lord Jo is the hand, then the Changryong Clan is the foot. If there are no feet, the hand suffers. It’s already suffering. Haha.”

“Already suffering?”

“Around the department store in Jinan, Shandong Province, thugs have gathered. With no Changryong Clan warriors present, they’re taking this opportunity to block the entrance and cause trouble. Because they’re loitering around, customers can’t come in. I’m giving them silver every day to send them away.”

Of course, he refrained from mentioning that these losses would all be charged once this situation was resolved.

“Now, what will you do? Will you get off the horse here? Or will you keep running?”

Hwangbo Deuk and Ak Seung-myeong began to glare at Jo Gwang-yun. They had to respond to this blatant threat, but they didn’t have much to say.

Ak Seung-myeong spoke first.

“Isn’t this bet impossible to even start?”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“We have horses to run, but you don’t. Or do you? Maybe once in a while it’s possible. I’m talking about getting an official who will get an imperial letter [an official decree] with your outrageous money.”

No matter how he considered it, Jo Gwang-yun’s influence on the imperial family couldn’t be that significant. When conducting business, connections with officials were necessary, and ties with ministers of the court were even more valuable.

But for a minister to persuade the emperor was a limited resource. Repeatedly asking for the same thing would appear as incompetence.

No court official would take such a risk for a mere merchant.

“Two, three times, whenever you want?”

Ak Seung-myeong shook his head.

“The current emperor isn’t that foolish.”

Jo Gwang-yun held back his laughter. It was understandable that they would think this way since they didn’t know his true identity.

“That’s right. The Emperor is not a fool. Rather, he is rumored to be a very intelligent person. As you said, the ministers are not fools either. If they submit another petition to draw out troops, it would only reveal their incompetence because they would have set up the troop operation plan wrong from the start.”

If he had denied it outright, they would have been less anxious. Ak Seung-myeong became more uneasy when Jo Gwang-yun readily agreed with his assessment.

“But there is another pillar that supports the imperial family. Do you know?”

Since it wasn’t a question, he continued.

“A man who can’t perform his manly duties vents his lust in strange directions. Some collect ornaments and jewels like women, and some buy land endlessly. Oh, right, some covet women. To enjoy perverted acts.”

He knew who he was talking about: Eunuchs.

“But they are, strictly speaking, just the Emperor’s servants. To buy jewels, land, and women requires a lot of money, but as servants, they don’t even receive a stipend from the country. Where does that money come from?”

It was an unexpected point. Eunuchs?

The eunuch is the one who conveys all kinds of words from the emperor’s side. Aren’t they the ones who claim to be the emperor’s eyes and ears?

“The two eunuchs who visited the two families, what will they report to the Emperor? That they were families who thought of the people and pursued true cooperation? Or that they had no choice but to follow the Emperor’s orders, but they seemed to be protecting themselves and had no interest in subjugating the Wokou [Japanese pirates], and would only fill their three years and return? Aren’t you curious about their choice?”

Hwangbo Deuk and Ak Seung-myeong felt like they had been struck in the back of the head. Whether it was a foolish emperor or an intelligent emperor, their pride was equally immense.

He wouldn’t stand still if he heard that they reluctantly accepted the order the emperor gave directly.

The two men felt keenly that Jo Gwang-yun’s words were still valid.

Jo Gwang-yun drove a wedge into the two men, who were now speechless.

“Gu Seung!”

“Yes, Clan Lord.”

Gu Seung opened the door and entered.

“Where are the two eunuchs now?”

“They have already entered Henan. They will arrive in Kaifeng within two days.”

“You’re taking good care of them, right?”

“Of course. We are doing our best to ensure that their journey is comfortable.”

“I will meet them when they arrive in Kaifeng, so prepare for that.”

“Understood, Clan Lord.”

As Gu Seung stepped back, Jo Gwang-yun said to the two men.

“The two eunuchs’ mouths are like my mouth. It means that what they say to the Emperor is in my hands. Even so, will you not turn the horse’s reins and continue straight?”

Their expressions told him everything. They were afraid of being devastated if they fought to the end.

But as they said themselves, they were people who valued face more than life. They needed to save face and find a way to retreat to end the negotiation.

“Pretend you didn’t see the Changryong Clan branch taking root in Shandong Province. After all, the Changryong Clan will not seek the reputation of being the best in the Murim [martial arts world]. They will only focus on protecting the Jo Clan. They will never compete with the two families. And if the Wokou subjugation team achieves great feats, the taxes of the two families will be permanently exempt, not just for three years. Also, the Emperor will directly bestow the title of the best Murim family. Isn’t this a pretty good offer?”

“Fill… fill the three years?”

His impatient personality was a problem. Hwangbo Deuk, who should have kept his mouth shut, revealed his true feelings.

“That is the order of the Emperor. Withdrawal is impossible.”

Jo Gwang-yun smiled and stood up.

“You don’t have to answer right now. Go back and discuss it with your family and give me an answer.”

Jo Gwang-yun bowed his head to the two men and left the room.

Their pride was too great to make a surrender declaration in front of people. In this case, a letter would suffice.

He could at least allow them to save some face.

Only the two guests remained in the room after the host had left, but they didn’t even consider getting up.

Just the thought that the emperor’s displeasure with his family depended on the mouth of the eunuch, or rather, the mouth of Jo Gwang-yun, made him feel numb.

The thought that he would send the imperial letter continuously was rather a consideration.

He even thought that it was not an exaggeration to say that he would put both families on a boat and send them to the Wokou’s base.

“What should we do?”
Hwangbo Deuk carefully broached the question.

“What can we do? We’ve already been caught being scared, and our livers have shrunk.”

Ak Seung-myeong had no intention of blaming Hwangbo Deuk for revealing his true feelings. Hwangbo Deuk just said what he was about to say first.

Ak Seung-myeong stood up.

“Let’s go back. Still, where else would that bastard not immediately declare surrender with both hands and feet in this place to save our faces?”

Hwangbo Deuk also stood up powerlessly.

“This… If this is known, I won’t be able to walk around with my face up. Hehe.”

“The rumor will not spread. Because that bastard knows better than anyone that coexistence is impossible if he smears our faces.”

* * *

“Did the old men go back?”

“Yes. Seeing their shoulders drooping, they must have accepted reality.”

“How many families are on those shoulders? If you want to end it with five, you can’t help it.”

Gu Seung said with excitement.

“Shall I tell the Changryong Clan warriors to return to Shandong Province?”

“Not yet. They will send a surrender document from there. Return them then.”

“Yes. And the small and medium-sized factions in Shandong are constantly contacting us to ask you to see them, Clan Lord. In particular, the heads of the factions that were drafted into the Wokou subjugation team have come all the way here and are waiting blindly.”

“Leave them alone until we return to Shandong Province. They have to be so desperate that they will grab our ankles and beg us to save them.”

He had not decided whether to take them back or not.

Whether to show that he does not show mercy once he turns his back, or to put them in his arms and receive a complete oath of allegiance, was a matter to be decided after watching a little more.

Now, he had to finish more important things than these trivial problems.

“Let’s go too. We have to finish the work in the capital.”

As soon as Jo Gwang-yun returned to the capital, he met Wi Chung-hyeon.

“The reason why privatization is sluggish must mean that the opposition’s backlash is that great, right?”

“Don’t even mention it. Especially that Yun Ju-seong, that bastard, is foaming at the mouth and rushing at me, so I’m so annoyed that I’m going to die.”

Wi Chung-hyeon frowned.

“Sir, how about giving and taking one by one?”

“What do you mean?”

“Even merchants like us negotiate and compromise when we clash over commercial supremacy. Isn’t politics the same? Giving one and taking one.”

“Hey! Is politics the same as business? Giving one is being taken away. Being taken away means defeat! How can I be defeated by a rookie like Yun Ju-seong?”

“I’m sorry, but you’re mistaken.”

“What? Mistaken?”

“Yes. You’re just getting one, not being taken away. Because neither of them were in your hands in the first place.”

Wi Chung-hyeon blinked for a moment and touched his beard.

“That’s right. Something that wasn’t there in the first place…”

“But Minister Yun Ju-seong will be mistaken. He will think that he has obtained one. We’re going to make him intoxicated with a groundless sense of victory. He will be happy that he has been given one by you.”

“Then what should I give?”

“Land.”

“Land? Why?”

“Minister Yun doesn’t trust me, who proposed the privatization.”

“You?”

Wi Chung-hyeon’s eyes widened. Wi Chung-hyeon thought that the reason why Yun Ju-seong was foaming at the mouth and opposing was because of himself. But he doesn’t trust Jo Gwang-yun?

“Am I not a merchant? Merchants do not show mercy for the sake of profit. But he got angry because I touched the land. Isn’t land the foundation of the people? He guessed that I was trying to take over the foundation of the people. So giving up the land and taking the salt will be an easier negotiation.”

Wi Chung-hyeon clapped his knees.

“This is the first time in my life that I have met such an intelligent human being.”

“This is the first time I’ve learned so much while doing politics today. Creating two things that didn’t exist in the first place, giving up one and taking one… How could I not have thought of such an amazing idea? Hehe.”

“You flatter me. It’s just one of the tricks of the trade.”

As Jo Gwang-yun lowered his body and showed humility, Wi Chung-hyeon jumped up.

“I have to meet that Yun Ju-seong right now and make a deal.”

Jo Gwang-yun quickly grabbed Wi Chung-hyeon’s hand.

“Sir. Please handle this matter in the court.”

“In the court?”

“Yes. When you mention the privatization issue, Minister Yun will oppose it, and then you can subtly postpone the land issue. How about concluding later after seeing the results of the salt privatization? Then Minister Yun will not be able to oppose it any longer. Because salt is only being operated on a trial basis.”

“Hmm… It looks like I’m backing down… I can’t help it.”

“Instead, you can get another one.”

Wi Chung-hyeon’s eyes flashed. Giving one and getting another?

“I am the chief manager of the salt field privatization. If a court official takes on this task, he cannot avoid the suspicion of filling his own personal desires. But if I take on that task, the story will be different.”

“You?”

“Yes. I have no ties to existing managers. Moreover, isn’t my position the Chief Secretary of the Gold Bureau (金曹主簿) [a department overseeing currency, salt, and iron affairs]? It is a department that oversees affairs related to currency, salt, and iron.”

“Oh my god. How can there be such a perfect coincidence? The Emperor must have given the official position without thinking… To think it would be the Gold Bureau! Ehehehe.”

Looking at Wi Chung-hyeon, who was laughing loudly, Jo Gwang-yun wore a bitter smile.

From the moment he received the low-ranking position of Chief Secretary of the Gold Bureau, the result of agonizing and thinking about how to use this official position was privatization.

There is no coincidence in the world.

End