I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 68

< Proceeding Step by Step According to the Plan 2 >

Chwi-gae didn’t understand what Jo Gwang-yun meant and thought he had misheard.

“What nonsense are you spouting? What are you going to take in?”

“I’m talking about the countless beggars. I want to provide a way for them to stop begging and live like human beings.”

“You? How are you going to do that? Poverty is something even the emperor can’t solve.”

“Even if the emperor can’t, the rich can alleviate poverty.”

Chwi-gae didn’t yet grasp Jo Gwang-yun’s intention, but he felt a chill.

“Elder, I’ve made some money lately.”

“Showing off? I know without you telling me. Who doesn’t know you’re sweeping up all the money in Gaebong?”

“It’s not bragging… I bought some land with that money. I bought rice paddies and some low mountains that can be reclaimed. But there are no people.”

Chwi-gae began to understand Jo Gwang-yun’s scheme.

“You need people, so you’re going to take in beggars to use?”

“Would that be alright with you?”

“Of course. What reason is there to stop you from saving the wretched lives of those who barely survive by begging? I’m actually grateful.”

“Then I’ll start with Gaebong.”

“Alright, how many do you need? I’ll tell them in Gaebong. I’ll pick out the strong ones who are good at working. Ten? Twenty?”

Tension melted away from Chwi-gae’s face as he asked, perking up.

The secret to how the Beggars’ Union gathers information quickly and in large quantities is their numbers. You can find an enormous number of beggars loitering around inns or leaning against the walls of brothels anywhere in the Central Plains [a fictional region, likely in China, where many martial arts stories are set].

But there are also many who are clueless and slow to act. These guys are more likely to deliver overheard information incorrectly, causing only chaos, rather than gathering useful intelligence. And these guys have good appetites.

It is a rule of the Beggars’ Union to share the food they get from begging. They are useless and only eat, so they are just useless freeloaders in the world of beggars.

If he could pass these guys on to Jo Gwang-yun, wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone?

But Chwi-gae’s delighted heart quickly turned to shock.

“I’m thinking of saving about five hundred people for now. And I’ll need about five hundred more at the factory I’m going to start… Oh, since you’re giving me strong guys, all the escort agencies in Honam [a region in Korea] won’t need to hire porters separately.”

“O-One thousand!?”

“I’m sorry. I wish I could save all the beggars, but my ability is only this much. But don’t be too disappointed. My businesses are gradually taking root throughout the Central Plains. I will continue to do my best to help beggars build new lives.”

“N-No… that’s not what I meant…”

“When there’s a famine and it’s hard to make a living, I’m thinking of giving them subsidies so they can get through the cold winter.”

If not one thousand, even if five hundred left, Gaebong would be paralyzed. Jo Gwang-yun, who knew Chwi-gae’s thoughts, stoked the fire once more.

“Oh, how about this? If they want, I’ll lend them money to settle down. They can buy rice paddies or start a business with that money. Of course, I won’t charge interest, and they can pay me back slowly after they get settled. Should we have them pay it back slowly over ten years?”

He would take responsibility for the beggars’ lives with abundant money. Chwi-gae could hear the sound of beggars without talent in martial arts leaving the Beggars’ Union. No beggar would wander around with a gourd if they were warm and well-fed.

At this rate, not only ordinary beggars but even first, second, and third-tier disciples would quit begging.

Chwi-gae realized that Jo Gwang-yun had asked to meet him quietly not to ask for a difficult favor, but to threaten him.

In the world! The way to threaten the Beggars’ Union was money!

If the number of begging beggars were reduced, the Beggars’ Union would completely lose its power as a martial arts sect.

Even the Seven-Bag Elder, the chief inspector, was so shocked that he didn’t even notice the sweat beading on his forehead.

Regaining his composure, Chwi-gae shed the image of the chief inspector and regained the good-natured appearance of his beggar days.

Chwi-gae said as if joking, as if nothing was wrong.

“Wow! I heard that the Jo family’s vault is filled with silver instead of rice, and it’s true.”

“The rumor has been distorted. It’s not silver, but land deeds and gold bars. Silver is busy being used.”

“Hehehe. In my fifty years of begging, this is the first time I’ve seen someone bragging about money in front of a beggar. You rascal! Is there nowhere else to brag about money?”

Chwi-gae hid his fearful heart with laughter. He was afraid that the absurd story was actually possible, and it was the scariest threat he had ever heard.

“I’m sure you know that I won’t end with just bragging about money, Elder?”

“Do you think I’ll succumb to your threats and lie?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never threatened you. I’m consulting with you.”

“Is this a consultation? It’s a threat, isn’t it?”

“Absolutely not. I’m consulting about numbers. The numbers I mentioned, five hundred or one thousand, are the current maximums. So, the number can be adjusted to suit the Beggars’ Union’s circumstances.”

Chwi-gae abandoned the appearance of a beggar and returned to the appearance of the chief inspector.

“Stop playing word games. Tell me what you really want. No matter how I think about it, you’re not the kind of guy who would make such an absurd threat just to clear your name. You must be thinking of something more dangerous.”

Jo Gwang-yun stared at Chwi-gae with a stern face and slowly opened his mouth.

“Everyone thinks of me as a merchant, but I am a martial artist of the Azure Dragon Gate. As a martial artist, I have one question to ask.”

Chwi-gae nodded, seeing Jo Gwang-yun’s unusual expression.

“Three of my cherished junior martial artists were murdered in a foreign land while carrying out an important mission. The definite culprit is trying to frame them with false charges by digging up their past. If you were the Beggars’ Union, if you were a martial artist, what would you do?”

Chwi-gae did not answer immediately. After thinking for a while, he said.

“You must never do anything that would make your fellow disciples ashamed to raise their heads.”

“Could you be more specific?”

Chwi-gae knows what Jo Gwang-yun wants to hear. Also, that is what a martial artist should do.

“You have to get the price for their lives.”

“Let me say it again. I have severed ties with the Silent Ink Society since I became one with the Azure Dragon Gate. So, I intend to get the price for their lives.”

Chwi-gae, feeling Jo Gwang-yun’s firm resolve, was silent for a while.

Finally, when he opened his mouth, he said what Jo Gwang-yun wanted to hear.

“I’ve decided to believe your words.”

With this one word, Chwi-gae did not lose face. He was not succumbing to threats, but simply not blocking the path a martial artist wanted to take.

Jo Gwang-yun jumped up and bowed deeply.

“I will never forget this great favor.”

In Jo Gwang-yun’s eyes as he raised his back, he saw Chwi-gae’s face with a playful smile.

“Then shall we have that ‘consultation’ you mentioned again?”

“Yes?”

“First, save about thirty beggars from Gaebong. And I’ll let you know as soon as the Gaebong branch identifies the current situation, so take them all.”

The old beggar was no ordinary man.

He made it look like he was adding a word in return for taking away the useless beggars. He had not succumbed to threats at all.

* * *

When Jo Gwang-yun arrived at the spacious clearing on the mountainside, he saw the back of the Union Lord, Mo Yong-hwi, standing with his hands behind his back.

The wind shaking the green leaves also scattered his long hair, making quite a picture.

“I greet the Union Lord.”

When Jo Gwang-yun greeted his back, he turned around.

Chwi-gae, after meeting Jo Gwang-yun, immediately informed the Union Lord, and the Union Lord secretly sent a letter. There were plenty of good places to avoid the eyes of the world, but he still didn’t know why he had chosen the mountain.

“I thought you were just borrowing the name of Kwon Jung-won’s disciple, but it seems you’ve learned a little. You’re breathing evenly for someone who’s come a long way on a rough road.”

“I am receiving many teachings.”

“It doesn’t seem like it. But that’s not important…”

The Union Lord sat on a rock in the clearing.

“Come and sit here too.”

When Jo Gwang-yun sat next to him, the Union Lord said.

“Chwi-gae said you’re planning something, is that right?”

“Yes, that’s right. I was going to meet the Union Lord and tell you anyway.”

“Really? Tell me comfortably. If what you’re planning isn’t plausible, I’ll be in trouble too.”

Jo Gwang-yun took a breath and opened his mouth.

“Isn’t this the martial arts world where power dominates anyway? It’s a world where right and wrong are decided by force rather than words, under the guise of plausible justification.”

“So? You’re going to overcome this crisis with force?”

“Yes, that’s right. There’s also a plausible justification. After all, we lost three lives.”

Surprised by the unexpected words, Mo Yong-hwi made a sound like a groan.

“Hmm… I knew merchants were quick to calculate, but what are you? If you succeeded as a big merchant, there’s no way you can’t calculate, so how can you say such foolish things?”

“The Union Lord has nothing to lose, does he?”

“What?”

“If I lose, the guy who colluded with the Silent Ink Society will disappear, and if the Namgung family loses, the forces that were checking them will disappear, so wouldn’t it be okay for the Union Lord to just sit back and watch?”

There is one more thing.

No matter how shabby the Azure Dragon Gate is, you can’t ignore the numbers. If they push with numbers, the Namgung family will also take a big hit, so their power will be greatly reduced.

“My role is to prevent and mediate big fights within the Martial Alliance. Are you telling me not to do that?”

“Isn’t there a situation where it can’t be helped? Even if the Union Lord tries to stop them, how can he stop someone who is prepared to draw their sword, ready to face annihilation?”

“So I have to stop them even more. I cherish the Azure Dragon Gate.”

“So just watch. The Namgung family will never be able to rise again.”

“Look at this. Where does such absurd confidence come from?”

“It’s the result of meticulous calculation. It’s not a wild fantasy.”

It’s the same as what he heard from Chwi-gae. His firm will is evident in his eyes.

“You’re not expecting our Mo Yong family to help, are you?”

“Meaningful results can only come if we end it with the power of the Azure Dragon Gate alone. Even if you say you’re going to add strength, I’ll decline.”

Mo Yong-hwi asked one more time.

“You’re not thinking of stopping?”

“I will create a situation where the Union Lord will also give up mediation. Watch.”

Jo Gwang-yun carefully said, watching Mo Yong-hwi’s expression.

“I have two requests.”

“Requests? You told me to just watch?”

“Please prevent the Nine Great Sects or the Namgung family’s friendly forces from interfering.”

“The Namgung family is also a martial family. They will never do anything that would damage their reputation by receiving help from other sects. What’s the second one?”

“Please hold a grand meeting to clarify all the issues. Like last time.”

Mo Yong-hwi read Jo Gwang-yun’s intentions.

“I’ll make sure that every small and medium-sized sect is there. Anyway, even the leaders of the Nine Great Sects have said they’ll attend, so it’ll be huge. Will you be able to stand properly among such masters?”

His tone was a little worried.

“I’m not that weak.”

“Tsk, tsk. Big words. You shouldn’t think of the leaders of the Nine Great Sects as people.”

“I endured even in front of the Union Lord, who is stronger than them.”

Mo Yong-hwi glanced at Jo Gwang-yun and chuckled.

“Really?”

Suddenly, the gentle wind in the forest stopped, and the chirping of birds and the low buzzing of insects could not be heard.

The clearing in the forest was filled with silent stillness.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, Jo Gwang-yun, unable to bear the silence, opened his mouth.

“If you have nothing to say, shall we go down now?”

Looking at Jo Gwang-yun’s indifferent expression, Mo Yong-hwi burst into hearty laughter.

“Haha. Well, the reputation of the Quick Sword Master is not a false one. He taught you well.”