I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 29

< Removing Competitors (3) >

Jin Wu-sang, the magistrate of Kaifeng, stared at Jo Gwang-yun, who stood silently with a faint smile, and said,

“There’s a saying going around that seeing silk in Kaifeng is harder than seeing the Emperor’s dragon throne. I caught a few guys and asked, and they’re saying they’re just pacing around, not even knowing where the silk that should have arrived is.”

“It’s a rough road with mountains and rivers to cross. Even Emperor Gaozu of Han [founder of the Han dynasty] secretly built his strength there, and Emperor Wu of Wei [Cao Cao, a powerful warlord] had a powerful military force, but he couldn’t easily conquer it because of the difficult terrain. It’s not a big deal if it’s a month or two late.”

The magistrate found Jo Gwang-yun, who spoke calmly, interesting. He didn’t know what trick he had up his sleeve, but the silk shortage in Kaifeng was clearly because of this guy.

“Is this what you call justification?”

“Wouldn’t the magistrate wisely judge whether it’s justified or not? However…”

“However?”

“The basis of justification should be the people, not the merchants.”

“Aren’t merchants people too?”

“They argue for money, while the people demand out of necessity. Especially the people who need silk, aren’t they the backbone of this country? Their words should be heeded more than the words of a hundred ordinary farmers.”

Silk is only needed by the wealthy and high-ranking classes. Special measures to appease their dissatisfaction are by no means a betrayal of justification.

“That guy… he’s no ordinary talker. Haha.”

The magistrate knew exactly what Jo Gwang-yun was saying, but he shook his head.

“Well, it’s a good justification, but… don’t you think it’s a bit lacking? As you said, it’s not a big deal if the silk transport is delayed by a few months due to difficulties. Isn’t it enough to tell them to wait a little longer? Is it really necessary to permit a new silk merchant?”

“Then how about making it temporary?”

“Temporary?”

“Yes. If you allow it only until the silk merchants of Kaifeng can resume their business normally, wouldn’t the insufficient justification be filled?”

“Oh ho! That’s a good idea!”

The magistrate clapped his knee.

“But tell me. What do you get out of this?”

The magistrate’s mouth was smiling, but his eyes were fiercely glaring at Jo Gwang-yun, as if interrogating a serious criminal.

“Although I am a merchant, I also value the affairs of the country. If I can alleviate even a little of the magistrate’s difficulties in listening to the voices of the people, I will gladly bear the loss.”

The magistrate knew it was just flattery and not genuine, but he didn’t delve deeper.

It didn’t matter to the magistrate what the young merchant was thinking. After all, the official himself held the knife. If something noisy and unprofitable happened, he could simply revoke the permit.

“You only say nice things, so you must be a born merchant. Haha. So, when can you start selling silk?”

“Give me three days. I’ve already finished the preparations.”

“Good. You may leave now. I’ll give you the permit in three days.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Watching Jo Gwang-yun bow politely, the magistrate said,

“Do you know why I’m giving you even a temporary permit?”

“Because you listen to the voices of the people…”

“No.”

The magistrate shook his head.

“My wife complains every day. She says the weather is getting chilly, but she has nothing to wear. She’s making a fuss about getting silk quickly. That’s why I’m giving you the permit. If you see my wife later…”

“I brought two bolts of celestial silk [extremely fine and rare silk] and ten bolts of high-quality silk. Wouldn’t giving them to your wife stop her complaining?”

“Ce, celestial silk, you said?”

Born into a prestigious family and raised without lack, the magistrate still doesn’t have clothes made of celestial silk. He only had one made for his mother’s sixtieth birthday, which shows how precious it is.

Two bolts of such silk?

Jo Gwang-yun smiled as he watched the magistrate, who couldn’t close his mouth, and turned around.

It seemed like he had found a pretty good partner.

* * *

A group of middle-aged men were stomping somewhere. They each held a thick, long wooden club.

“Come on! I don’t know what kind of bastard it is, but we have to cut him off at the knees.”

“That’s right! What kind of place is this to set up shop?! Business is already terrible, and it’s making me angry… Are these guys pouring oil on the fire? They’re all dead!”

The place they were going to was none other than Jo Gwang-yun’s silk shop. But their momentum to smash the store was dampened even before they arrived.

The store was crowded with well-dressed noblewomen and their servants, and people were lined up outside, unable to even enter.

“What, what is it? All the women of Kaifeng have gathered here.”

“What do we do? Looking at those women’s clothes, they don’t seem to be of ordinary status…”

“That’s what I’m saying. If even one of them gets hurt, we’ll be the ones who die.”

As they were just looking around, not knowing what to do, four or five men with fierce looks blocked their way.

“What is it? With clubs? Who are you here to catch?”

Everyone hesitated in front of their imposing presence, but one man bravely stepped forward.

“This isn’t a place where just anyone can do business. Whose permission did you get to sell silk?”

The fierce-looking man smirked and said.

“Whose? The magistrate’s permission. The national law is strict, so how can just anyone do business? So, we’re not just anyone.”

The man held out a permit with the magistrate’s seal clearly stamped on it.

“See? Now go back. If you don’t disappear from my sight by the time I count to three, I’ll shove the clubs in your hands into your mouths. One!”

There was no need to count to two. The middle-aged men ran back the way they came, with their tails between their legs.

After running away from Jo Gwang-yun’s shop, they headed to the government office this time.

“Damn… How much money have we given him so far, and he stabs us in the back like this?”

“I know. If he was going to give permission to one more guy, he should have at least told us.”

“Why now? Why did he accept a newbie when we don’t have any silk to sell?”

The middle-aged men went again with great fanfare, but they only received a stern rebuke from the magistrate without gaining anything.

“Then? I gave permission because there was a big problem like now. If it was the same as usual, why would I have given permission? And do you guys even have any intention of doing business? Do you know how many people are crying out because they have nothing to wear?”

“Magistrate. That’s not it, just… just wait a little bit and we’ll prepare. A caravan full of Sichuan silk will arrive soon.”

“You said soon?”

“Of course.”

The silk merchants felt a chill for some reason when the magistrate’s lips slightly curled up.

“I have a relationship with you guys, so I’ve already taken action.”

“Yes?”

“The shop that’s selling silk now has been given a temporary permit. When your business returns to normal, the permit will be revoked. Okay?”

It was okay, but something felt awkward.

Isn’t this the time of year when the most silk is sold? If some random guy I don’t even know takes all the good stuff at this good time, I won’t be able to do business properly until next spring.

It’s like ruining a year’s worth of business.

The silk merchants’ anger eventually turned to the Gyeong-an Escort Agency, which was the cause of this situation, and as soon as they left the government office, they ran to the Gyeong-an Escort Agency, grinding their teeth.

< Removing Competitors (3) > End