I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 77

< The Shaking Namgung Clan 1 >

“Listen up, everyone!”

Jo Gwang-yun began his speech in front of a thousand disciples. He used the help of Yeom-sin to amplify his voice, ensuring it resonated clearly in the ears of all thousand disciples.

It was an unconventional method, but necessary. Yeom-sin channeled Jo Gwang-yun’s speech through his internal energy.

“I stand here with a heavy heart. I haven’t even removed my mourning clothes from the unjust death of our Sect Leader, and now I must lead you all through the gates of death once more.”

Jo Gwang-yun wasn’t just wearing a white cloth; he was in full mourning attire.

“Many brothers may die. Even more may be crippled. And none of us may return unscathed. Revenge is not a joyful endeavor, but a sorrowful one.”

None of them were free from fear, and they knew it was impossible to completely eliminate it.

All that was needed was the courage – the madness – to embrace that fear and step onto the path of death. Such madness is difficult to muster alone, but easy to ignite within a group.

“But even after such great sacrifices, if a single Namgung remains alive under the same sky, then even this sorrowful revenge will be a failure. The Jianghu [the martial arts world] will laugh at us!”

Jo Gwang-yun’s speech continued, concluding with words designed to inspire true courage.

“Two hundred silver coins will be given to those who lose a limb. Five hundred silver coins will be given to the families of our deceased brothers. So, at least after this battle, do not worry about how to live as a cripple. Do not worry that your remaining family will starve. Such worries gnaw at your martial arts and sap your fighting spirit. Let us throw everything away and willingly embrace death!”

As the excited men roared their approval, Jo Gwang-yun stepped down from the platform.

“The reward is so generous that they might rush to die,” Yeom-sin said, satisfied with the disciples’ reaction.

“Do you think I did this merely to inform our disciples of the reward?”

“Huh? Then…?”

“It would have been enough to call the branch leaders and tell them quietly. This is a message thrown over the walls of the Namgung Clan.”

“The Namgung Clan?”

“Yes. Now, the martial artists hired by the Namgung Clan will ask themselves: The life of a Changryong Mun disciple is worth five hundred silver coins, but what is my life worth? They will begin to waver.”

“Ah…! I see.”

Yeom-sin was once again impressed by Jo Gwang-yun’s plan.

“When the story of the price of life spreads to the Namgung Clan, write one sentence on a large flag and plant it where it can be seen even from the Namgung Clan’s walls.”

“What should it say?”

“Even if you risk your life and win, the glory belongs to the Namgung Clan. Your family starves to death protecting the bloodline of a rich family you’re not even related to. If you leave those walls now, you will be paid fifty silver coins unconditionally.”

Now, even Yeom-sin was worried.

“Sect Leader, is it okay to spend so much money? Fifty silver coins is too much.”

“It’s the price for being branded a coward. We need to give them enough reason to crawl out. Don’t worry about the money; just make sure it goes smoothly.”

“Ah, yes. I spoke out of turn…”

Jo Gwang-yun gave a bright smile to the embarrassed Yeom-sin.

“No, I’m rather grateful. You’re the only one who worries about my money being wasted, Grand Master Yeom. Haha.”

Jo Gwang-yun hoped that the Namgung Clan’s wealth was enormous. Otherwise, this war would be… a deficit.

* * *

Namgung Hyun sighed as he watched the number of martial artists dwindle day by day, but today he even added a lament.

“Even Seol Young-beom has fled…!”

“I am sorry. He disappeared last night with twenty of his men.”

Seol Young-beom was someone Namgung Hyun had personally taught. He showed more than enough talent to master the Namgung Clan’s peerless martial arts, so he was quickly given an independent command to test and keep him in check.

It stung that his most cherished disciple among the collateral descendants had run away. It wasn’t just the betrayal, but the fact that even Seol Young-beom’s flight gave those less capable an excuse for a midnight escape. Now they would obviously leave like a receding tide.

“Have you removed all those damn flags?”

“It’s a cycle of removing them and setting them up again overnight.”

They were tightening the purse strings from the outside and shaking morale from the inside. Before even drawing a sword to fight, morale had hit rock bottom.

He was supposed to be a merchant, but it seemed like he had mastered the art of war from somewhere.

‘We need to end this quickly. No more unsettling rumors should circulate.’

He knew that most of the Changryong Mun disciples had gathered in Huangshan, but a preemptive strike was difficult.

If they had set up camp in a wide field, he would have ambushed them immediately. But a thousand of them were staying in rooms all over the inns in Huangshan.

Putting aside the enormous lodging fees, a preemptive strike was unthinkable because they were in a bustling area with frequent traffic of ordinary people.

No matter how much it was a matter of the Murim [martial arts world], the court would not stand still if there were significant casualties among ordinary people.

Unable to act, the foundation of the Namgung Clan was shaking, and Namgung Hyun’s heart was burning.

To make matters worse, another incident occurred.

“Uncle! Something terrible has happened. Come out quickly!”

Namgung Hyun grabbed his sword and rushed out, preparing for the worst, even though the Changryong Mun hadn’t attacked.

Nearly a hundred men were streaming in through the wide-open gate.

“Do you know where you are, daring to set foot here? You must be crazy.”

The group arguing with Namgung Hyo-shin, who had already exploded in anger, was none other than government soldiers.

“What’s going on?”

“Oh, the head of the family has finally arrived.”

Judging by his tone, he was not friendly. And that swaggering appearance, the lined-up soldiers with sharp blades behind him… These were soldiers with combat experience, not just constables who catch petty thieves.

The archer squad, who had been eating, drinking, and having a great time for several days, was given Jo Gwang-yun’s first mission.

“Can you use a spear at all?”

“Of course. I’m more familiar with the bow now, but the basics of a soldier are the spear, aren’t they? All my friends here have been spearmen for years.”

“Then have half of them take up spears. And we need to go to the Namgung Clan and show them the severity of the national law.”

“National law?”

The two captains of the archer squad laughed loudly after hearing Jo Gwang-yun’s explanation.

“That would be really fun. Hahaha.”

Jo Gwang-yun handed over the military command token of the regional commander.

“With the authority of this token, even the Namgung Clan won’t be able to move.”

The two captains took the token and charged into the Namgung Clan to ‘pay’ for the food and drinks they had been consuming.

One of the captains, holding a spear, stepped forward and presented the regional commander’s token to Namgung Hyun.

“I have come with orders to arrest those who have violated the national law. It’s such a scary place that I brought a lot of men. I hope you understand.”

Namgung Hyun’s tightly closed lips trembled at the rude tone of the government soldiers.

He had never experienced such rudeness. Now that he was rumored to be a sick tiger, not only wolves but also jackals were poking at him.

“Why is the regional commander of Anhui Province oppressing the house of a mere martial family instead of protecting the province?”

“A mere martial family? Is that all the Namgung Clan is? If that was the case, the magistrate of Huangshan would have stepped in. Isn’t it because the magistrate couldn’t handle it that the province moved? Well, how could the magistrate move? He must be soaked in the taste of the money that the Namgung Clan gives him when the time comes. Hehe.”

The hundred government soldiers giggled, and Namgung Hyo-shin’s anger exploded.

“You bastards! Do you really want to die? How dare you…!”

As the sound of a sword being drawn rang out, the captain of the archer squad raised the token.

“If even one of you draws a sword, you will be considered traitors. Also, if even one hair of these hundred government soldiers is harmed, that is also treason. Should we bring three thousand cavalry from Anhui Province and turn this place into a wasteland? How dare you wave a sword? Put it back!”

Namgung Hyo-shin could only tremble at the word ‘traitor’ and couldn’t do anything. But it would be a loss of face to put the drawn sword back.

“Put away your sword. This is the work of the country.”

Namgung Hyo-shin was even grateful for his father’s strict order.

As his son put away his sword, Namgung Hyun said,

“Then what national law did we violate?”

“The hoarding of rice.”

“What? Rice?”

What an absurd situation.

How many tenant farmers did the Namgung Clan have that they had to buy rice? He swore he had never bought rice with money even once. Still, there was plenty of rice in the storeroom.

“You know it’s strictly prohibited by national law, right? Because this Namgung Clan is hoarding rice, the price of rice in Anhui Province has skyrocketed. As stipulated by national law, the hoarding of rice is punishable by eighty strokes of the cane. The rice will be confiscated.”

“We’re buying rice? Heh.”

Rice was just an excuse. What did these guys really want?

Only then did he realize that it was not the regional commander who was moving these guys, but Jo Gwang-yun.

How could a mere merchant control even the regional commander, who was in charge of the province’s military power?

For the first time, Namgung Hyun was terrified enough to make his legs tremble.

Could it be that they had brought three thousand cavalry, as that bastard had said?

Could it be that these guys were sent to find a pretext to brand the Namgung Clan as a family of traitors?

All sorts of thoughts ran through his mind.

Namgung Hyun snapped out of it at the sound of the government soldiers’ sneering.

“But because the internal energy of the people here is so outstanding, a cane strike won’t even register, so we’ll pretend you were hit, and we’ve been ordered to confiscate only the rice.”

Namgung Hyun was bothered by the words ‘only confiscate the rice.’ Could it be a plan to starve them to death in a long-term battle…?

At this time, the impatient eldest son, Namgung Hyo-shin’s mouth, brought about another disaster.

“Do you even know how much the annual yield from our Great Namgung Clan’s land is that you’re spreading such nonsense? Where did you hear such rumors and come to make such unreasonable demands? And you must have heard that we will soon be at war with the Changryong Mun. The court should not interfere in the affairs of the Jianghu Murim. Get out of here.”

“You, shut your mouth! Please!”

Namgung Hyun tried to stop him, but it was already too late.

“Ah, so I was ordered to confirm the facts. From now on, please gather all the people in this house without exception. I’ll check how many there are. And I’ll check the rice in the storeroom too. If it seems appropriate, I’ll leave.”

Was this it?

Were they trying to directly confirm the Namgung Clan’s forces under the pretext of rice?

The sneering voice of the military officer rang in Namgung Hyun’s ears, who was in a daze.

“Looking at you, it seems like you haven’t even served in the military, but don’t throw around the word ‘war’ so carelessly. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone fighting a war with a sword. Listen up! War is fought with bows and spears. You get hit by arrows that you don’t know where they’re coming from and get stabbed to death by spears that you don’t know who they belong to. That’s what war is.”

The eyes looking at Namgung Hyo-shin, who was wearing silk clothes, were full of hostility.

“A sword is just an ornament for generals. And if you call this kind of brawl a war, our comrades who died in real wars will rise from their graves. Oh, you said not to interfere in the affairs of the Jianghu Murim? Okay, I won’t interfere. The government doesn’t care if you die in a brawl. I’m just going to take the rice that violated the national law. Is that okay?”

Namgung Hyo-shin wanted to tear the mouth of that swaggering bastard, but he couldn’t do anything because of his father’s strict orders.

Now, the Namgung Clan was about to reveal everything: how many men there were, how many women there were, and even the number of martial artists remaining.

< The Shaking Namgung Clan 1 > End