I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 76

Jo Gwangyun returned to Huangshan with a hundred archers, but he did not join the Changryong Gate.

“Everyone, rest comfortably. The vice commander spoke sternly, but there won’t be much hard work. Stay for a few days, drink, and enjoy yourselves. The work comes after that.”

The archers didn’t know what kind of work they would be doing, but they cheered at the unexpected short break.

Jo Gwangyun paid enough money to three or four inns where they would stay and rode his horse to Jeongdeok, near Huangshan.

Jeongdeok is where a faction that boasts quite a bit of power in Anhui Province is based.

The biggest reason they settled here is that they were forced out by the pressure from the Namgung Clan, but outwardly, it was known to be because it was the hometown of the sect leader, Hong Munjong.

Hongmun (紅門) [Red Gate].

The simplicity of naming it Hongmun because the sect leader’s surname was Hong was their distinct characteristic, and Hong Munjong, who was sixty-five years old, was more intuitive than cerebral, moving according to his instincts.

But today, his instincts weren’t working at all.

He had never experienced a righteous faction coming to him, a wicked one, to propose an alliance first.

“I was curious because the rumors were so widespread, but you’re younger than I thought.”

“I’m old enough to plan great things.”

“Doesn’t seem like it? That recklessness of provoking the Namgung Clan, from whom you have nothing to gain, is proof of your youth.”

“They are a righteous faction in name. They don’t necessarily act only for profit. Isn’t the important thing justification?”

“Still, Changryong Gate will lose. The damage will be enormous, won’t it?”

“We will win.”

Hong Munjong frowned.

He’s young and talks back at every word. He caused a stir in the Murim Alliance [a loose coalition of martial arts sects], so he’s definitely fearless.

“Where did you learn to bluff? Your liver must be shriveled up if you asked to see me.”

“Isn’t it because the sect leader thought it wouldn’t be a loss for him either that he spared me this precious time?”

Hong Munjong fidgeted with his fingers while leaning on the armrest. It was difficult to tell whether this guy was deliberately provoking him or just had no manners.

“Why? Do you think you can buy anything with money just because you’re the head of the Jo family? Are you trying to buy even our Hongmun?”

“Isn’t Hongmun something that can’t be bought even with the entire Jo family’s fortune? I can’t dare to convert the sect leader’s martial arts into money.”

“Heh heh. It’s too late to flatter me now. I’ve already decided that you’re a rude young thing. So, what’s the main point? What do you want?”

“I have prepared about two hundred sets of mourning clothes (喪服) [traditional garments worn during periods of grief and remembrance] for Changryong Gate. I would like the Hongmun disciples to wear them. Just come to Huangshan and wander around. I will prepare all the lodging and meals.”

“A bluff, huh? Hehehe.”

The Hongmun warriors with murderous intent in their eyes wear the Changryong Gate’s attire and wander around the Namgung Clan. The guys who use the name Namgung will burn with fighting spirit, but the hired warriors will then realize the reality of the war.

“That’s enough for just the unemployed loafers in Huangshan. If that’s all, I refuse.”

Jo Gwangyun smiled and said.

“Of course, that’s not all. Now, this is the main point. Take the Namgung Clan’s place.”

The main point is tempting. But the price seems too high.

Hong Munjong shook his head with a smile.

“I can’t fight for you.”

Jo Gwangyun counted on his fingers and said.

“If you combine the Changryong Gate disciples and the warriors I scraped together with money, it’s over a thousand. The Namgung Clan has two hundred.”

“There are over three hundred hired warriors. They are not to be trifled with.”

“Most of them will disappear before the fight breaks out.”

Hong Munjong smirked.

“Why? Are you going to give them money too? Do you think everything can be solved with money?”

Jo Gwangyun said to Hong Munjong, who was sneering.

“There is nothing as reliable as money as a criterion for choice, especially in a hellish situation where a dog’s death is obvious.”

You might lose your life in someone else’s fight. Even if you win after all sorts of hardships, the glory is only for those with the Namgung surname.

When you can’t do this or that because of the disgrace of running away in a dangerous situation, what if a large sum of money comes in that more than offsets the disgrace?

Especially for a warrior who has never been tempted by this kind of thing, it has a powerful effect. Because there’s nothing as thrilling as the first experience.

“Well, okay. Let’s say that’s true. That doesn’t mean I have any reason to risk my life fighting the Namgung bastards. With our strength, even mutual destruction (兩敗俱傷) [a situation where both sides suffer significant losses] is difficult, so why would I go in there?”

Hong Munjong wanted to say that there are things that can’t be done with money, but he didn’t say it out loud. It was because the specific amount hadn’t come out of Jo Gwangyun’s mouth yet. Even out of curiosity, he wanted to hear the number coming out of that guy’s mouth.

But unlike his expectations, the number was too poor.

“I’m expecting about five to six hundred…”

“Is this bastard kidding me right now! Are you going to hire a proxy war with only five or six hundred silver coins?”

“You misunderstood. I’m prepared for about five to six hundred sacrifices.”

“What? Sacrifices?”

“Yes. If that many of our people die, we will retreat without looking back.”

Retreat without seeing the end of the fight? Retreat is a good word, but in reality, it means giving up and running away.

“Is that young bastard crazy? You’re going to drive six hundred people to their deaths and run away?”

“Listen to the end, Sect Leader.”

Jo Gwangyun smiled slightly and continued.

“If our Changryong Gate pulls out, then Hongmun can immediately go in. I’ll say it again, we’re only going to get our bodies out of there. We won’t even take a spoon from the Namgung Clan.”

He’s saying he won’t take any spoils.

Hong Munjong had never read a book on strategy, but this was the first time he had seen a guy using this kind of tactic. What was even more absurd was that he was talking about driving six hundred people to their deaths as if it were just part of the plan.

Hong Munjong felt anew that the saying that there is no human as cruel as a merchant was not wrong. The true 모습 [true nature] of a merchant who openly says that there is no family in front of profit is right in front of him.

To this Hong Munjong, Jo Gwangyun continued to speak.

“With the strength of our Changryong Gate alone, we will slaughter all but the old masters of the Namgung family. If we’re lucky, we’ll take care of one or two masters too.”

Hong Munjong thought quickly. Is that guy’s calculation correct? Is there a chance of winning?

“How is it? You clean up and take all the spoils.”

“You’re just pretending to be smart and talking. Why would I clean up? If I don’t go in, all one thousand Changryong Gate disciples will die and the Namgung bastards will be wiped out, right? Then I can just go in slowly and pick up the pieces. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s not right.”

Jo Gwangyun shook his head as if he had been waiting for it, and Hong Munjong’s eyes twitched.

“If Hongmun goes into the Namgung family after the war, it will become a matter of the righteous and the wicked. Will the Murim Alliance stand still?”

“Then? Is it okay when you’re alive?”

“That’s right. This plan is only possible if Changryong Gate is alive. If you’re wearing Changryong Gate’s mourning clothes, you won’t know Hongmun’s involvement. And think about Anhui Province after the Namgung family disappears.”

Jo Gwangyun showed Hong Munjong, who was only thinking about the Namgung family in front of him, a bigger future.

“If Changryong Gate is still standing after the war, the commercial rights under the Namgung family’s management will be ours. But if we give that up, it will become the territory of the wicked, including Hongmun.”

“Are the righteous families stupid? Will they just stand by and watch?”

“That’s the weakness of the righteous. They can’t do anything without justification.”

Hong Munjong realized. Ah!

Even if Changryong Gate, the victor of the war, is standing still, there is no justification for the same righteous faction to sneak into a place where blood has been shed. Rather, they are treated as jackals that eat the corpses of the two factions.

After understanding everything, the most important spoils came to mind.

Hongmun getting Anhui Province.

At this time, some wicked factions will move, but the Sado Alliance [Evil Alliance] will take care of them. Hongmun, who contributed the most to annihilating the Namgung family, will occupy the most territory.

Hong Munjong, who had been thinking for a long time, opened his mouth.

“But… why are you doing this crazy thing? Changryong Gate is just hugging corpses and ending up, right? Don’t give me any soft talk like revenge for the death of the sect leader. You, who don’t even blink an eye while driving six hundred disciples to their deaths, can’t possibly care about the death of the sect leader.”

Jo Gwangyun smiled slyly. He thought it wouldn’t be bad to let these guys know in advance.

“You shouldn’t mess with a mad dog.”

“What?”

“Does the Sect Leader also think I’m crazy? Then what about the Murim Alliance? Wouldn’t they think they have to be prepared for war if they want to mess with Changryong Gate?”

He’s right, he’s crazy. Throwing away hundreds of lives for the sake of the reputation of the gangho [martial arts world] is something only a madman can do.

Hong Munjong was not sure if it was right to join hands with this madman.

“I’ll think about it. Go back.”

“I’ll be waiting for the Sect Leader’s wise decision.”

He got up with the conviction that he would never refuse. There’s no way he would refuse the spoils of swallowing Anhui Province. It’s a big harvest that even the Sado Alliance would move if it wasn’t Hongmun.

As soon as Jo Gwangyun left, Hong Munjong jumped up and carefully opened the connected door.

“How is it? I ask for your opinion.”

An old man looking down at Hong Munjong, who was sitting diagonally on a chair and couldn’t even make eye contact.

호문패도(虎紋覇刀) [Tiger-striped Overlord Blade] Yoo Hongcheon, who had his white beard trimmed 멋지게 [stylishly], blinked for a moment and opened his mouth.

“What kind of guy is that?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“I’ve never seen such a smart madman in my life. Hahaha.”

Because he laughed so hard that his body shook, the empty sleeve of his one arm fluttered.

“Hong Ga.”

“Yes.”

“Send a messenger pigeon to the Sado Alliance. Tell them to run here in one step if they don’t want to miss the good sight of the Namgung bastards all dying. Also, be sure to write that it’s a good opportunity to collect old debts.”

“I understand.”

Hong Munjong’s expression was not good as he stepped back.

Yoo Hongcheon came running from the Sado Alliance as soon as he heard the news of the war between Changryong Gate and the Namgung family. It’s because he has to kill Namgung Hyosin, who cut off his arm and made him disabled, himself.

That kind of person heard all of Jo Gwangyun’s plans. He’s not a human who will quietly hand over Anhui Province, which will become 무주공산 [an ownerless land], to Hongmun.

He has a bad feeling. Hong Munjong began to worry that if the masters of the Sado Alliance flocked together, he would end up 죽 쒀서 개 주는 꼴 [doing all the work for someone else to benefit].

* * *

The Changryong Gate disciples gathered in Huangshan one after another. They all revealed that they were in mourning by wrapping white cloth with the character ‘용’ [dragon] embroidered on it around their waists and foreheads.

Jo Gwangyun had gathered all the forces to fight together, so now he began to crack the solid Namgung family.

“Instruct all the disciples to pick crowded places during the day and walk around with fierce expressions.”

As hundreds of warriors roamed around Huangshan, rumors spread quickly that a big fight was about to break out.

The Namgung family didn’t come out because they were reorganizing their ranks inside the house, so it seemed as if Huangshan was dominated by Changryong Gate.

“The Beggars’ Union has 빠졌으니 [withdrawn], so mobilize the Haomun and spread the rumors. The Murim Alliance has already 기정사실로 [taken as a given] the Namgung family’s destruction and has entered into follow-up measures. First, cut off those bastards’ lifelines.”

If what you see with your own eyes and the rumors are the same, the rumors not only spread quickly but also become facts.

The Namgung family’s crisis started not in Changryong Gate but elsewhere.

The wealthy merchants all over Anhui Province, who had been trading for a long time, contacted them and said that they could no longer trade unless they paid their outstanding debts, and even urged them to pay their debts.

The clerks and escorts of the pawnshops run by the Namgung family began to run away one by one, and the only ones who came to the house were the tenant farmers who lived off the land owned by the Namgung family.

They all cautiously asked who would be the owner of the rice paddies they were farming now if the Namgung family went bankrupt.

The house is in a state of disarray even before the fight.

End