I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 87

< Spoils of War 3 >

Jo Gwangyun watched the surprised military governor and added, “I was also surprised. But considering the power of the Namgung Clan, which has lasted for hundreds of years, I came to understand it.”

A family that has accumulated land for centuries, especially one from a prestigious lineage [Sega refers to a family with a long and distinguished history].

The military governor seized this inheritance in exchange for temporarily lending a hundred archers, though only half of it.

“I have no doubt that you will use it for the country and the imperial family. And this is…”

Jo Gwangyun took out another thick envelope.

“I have prepared this so that the archers who have worked hard can have some meat and recover their energy. It’s a silver note worth a hundred nyang [a unit of Korean currency].”

He had the audacity to drive hundreds of lives into a deadly situation, and his generosity was as grand as his nerve.

“Haha. The price of meat seems a bit excessive, but I won’t refuse.”

The military governor shouted outside, “Hey! Bring the commander of the returning archer squad.”

Suddenly, the commander? This was something Jo Gwangyun hadn’t anticipated.

Two commanders rushed over and bowed their heads. The military governor handed over the envelope Jo Gwangyun had given him.

“Commander Jo prepared this for your hard work. Divide it equally among all the archers.”

“Thank you.”

As the two commanders bowed their heads, the military governor waved his hand.

“You should thank Commander Jo.”

Jo Gwangyun saw a new side to the military governor. Even if it was a large sum of a hundred silver nyang, he was the kind of person who wouldn’t even glance at it if it wasn’t his own.

It remained to be seen how he would use the Namgung family’s land.

As the two commanders bowed and retreated, Jo Gwangyun carefully broached the subject. “I have a request for you, sir.”

“Tell me.”

“There is a martial officer I have a connection with.”

“Oh, really?”

“He is currently in the Southern Sea’s Japanese pirate extermination squad. He is skilled in martial arts and has a sharp mind. I believe he would be an asset to have by your side.”

“If you recommend him, he must be someone who can be used very usefully. I understand. I will immediately call him up.”

“Thank you for readily accepting my inconvenient request.”

“Inconvenient? I am rather grateful that you recommended such a talent. So, what is his name?”

“He is called Jang Cheonyang.”

“Good. I will remember that name.”

The military governor held Jo Gwangyun’s hand tightly as he tried to step back, as if telling him never to forget him.

* * *

The dozen or so men facing Jo Gwangyun all had dark expressions, as if they were deeply uncomfortable with the situation.

That’s because when they looked at the face of the person who incited them to betray, the face of the Namgung family they betrayed came to mind, along with the amount of money they received in return.

“Thank you all for taking this difficult step. Thank you.”

Despite Jo Gwangyun’s polite greeting, they did not ease their dark expressions.

“Why don’t you just get to the point quickly? We came because of Great Warrior Yeomsin’s reputation, not to listen to your words of gratitude.”

As sharp words were spoken, Jo Gwangyun took a deep breath and said, “Why do you think I would thank you? What did I say a little while ago? It was just a greeting for taking the difficult road all the way to this Hapcheon. Besides that, is there anything I should be grateful to you for?”

Everyone frowned at his somewhat brazen words, but they held back their retorts.

They had received the price and withdrawn from the fight with the Namgung family. Therefore, there was no reason for the person who paid the price to be grateful.

Jo Gwangyun smiled again.

“I’ll give you an hour from now. I can just have a cup of tea during that time.”

“An hour? What do you mean?”

“It’s time for you to curse me and criticize me. Isn’t it a good way to relieve your guilt? Because there is no better excuse than blaming others.”

Jo Gwangyun picked up a teacup.

“Now, let’s begin.”

Betraying the Namgung family to avoid dying a dog’s death was a decision they made themselves. Money was just a secondary consideration.

They only sighed, and no one cursed or criticized Jo Gwangyun.

Jo Gwangyun slowly drank his tea until the teapot was completely empty.

“Well, shall we discuss the future now?”

It is natural to worry about the future rather than regret the past. Among them, the man who guessed what would come out of Jo Gwangyun’s mouth spoke first. “Do you mean that now that you’ve suppressed the Namgung family, Anhwi Province is the territory of the Changryong Gate? And that we should just shut up and stay out of it?”

As if he had been waiting for this, Jo Gwangyun nodded.

“Isn’t that obvious? If not, would our Changryong Gate have been crazy enough to endure such a huge sacrifice?”

The words were so blatant that it seemed like he had misheard.

“If our Changryong Gate had lost this war, the Namgung family would have tried to swallow Jo’s Village first. Isn’t it natural for battles and wars to be rewarded?”

Their opposition began to erupt.

“So? Are you thinking of starting a war with us now?”

“Don’t you know that if we unite, we can handle the tattered Changryong Gate easily enough? Is it just a rumor that merchants are known to be quick at calculating?”

Jo Gwangyun, who had been quietly listening to their opposition, slammed the table.

“That’s exactly it. If you unite… !”

The men, who didn’t know what he meant, just blinked their eyes.

“If the great warriors in this place unite with one heart, this Anhwi Province could become your territory. Of course, some sacrifices will be unavoidable.”

“Are you willing to endure even huge sacrifices if the Changryong Gate provokes us?”

“You’ve misunderstood. It’s not the Changryong Gate, it’s the Evil Sect [a common trope in martial arts stories, referring to a villainous organization].”

“E, Evil Sect…?”

Low groans flowed from everywhere. It was a word they were all afraid to say out loud, so they hid it deep inside and tried to ignore it.

“You know that the Evil Sect broke into the Namgung family and slaughtered women and children, right? The reason they did that is obvious, isn’t it? They have to completely erase the Namgung family to take over Anhwi Province. Where will their swords be pointed now?”

As their fear deepened, Jo Gwangyun repeated the same words.

“But you already know the answer. That is, if you unite, you can defeat anyone.”

“Hey. We are already like one family. We are so close that we can overcome anyone, whether it’s the Changryong Gate or the Evil Sect.”

Jo Gwangyun smiled slyly at their conviction and said, “Isn’t that what you want to believe?”

They all suddenly fell silent. They turned their heads slightly to look at each other, but they couldn’t make eye contact.

They have already had the experience of ignoring the danger of someone they believed to be family and running away.

No matter how much they try to deny it, the seeds of distrust that they cannot trust each other are already growing.

“Also, even if you unite, under what banner will you unite? Are you going to use the Namgung banner that connected you as a family?”

Several people’s faces turned red. If they, who ignored and betrayed the Namgung family’s destruction, were to use the name Namgung now, even a passing dog would laugh, and the finger-pointing of the world would continue endlessly.

If it’s not Namgung, there is no connection to connect them.

Only Jo Gwangyun’s voice echoed in the continuing silence.

“A sect is a group that trains and transmits the same martial arts, but even the Nine Sects [established and powerful martial arts schools] are enough for that purpose. It’s not strange to call a group of martial artists who gather together to live with the same purpose a sect. That’s exactly what the Changryong Gate is.”

Although the Changryong Gate was founded by the deceased Im Bonjae, not everyone trained only in his martial arts. As it grew in size, many martial artists gathered, compared their martial arts, and developed them.

If the Nine Sects were to see it, it would be nothing more than a trivial sect where ordinary people are gathered, but that Changryong Gate stepped on the Namgung family.

“Since there is no check from the Namgung family, Jo’s Village is now planning to start business in various places in this Anhwi Province in earnest. What I want from the great warriors is for you to be the windbreak for Jo’s Village, operating under the protection of the Changryong Gate.”

The silence was broken and a loud voice of anger erupted.

The men in this place are martial artists who put their names first. To have to abandon such a name is humiliation and disgrace.

Jo Gwangyun quietly listened to their shouts for a long time. When the commotion subsided, he opened his mouth again.

“I know very well that the reason you turned away from the Namgung family is not because you are cowardly. Isn’t it because of the lives of the numerous disciples you have to take responsibility for? I’m not telling you to step down from the position of sect leader. I’m just changing the name. By giving up the name, you can save the lives of your disciples and occupy Anhwi Province.”

When a large company acquires a small company, the first to oppose it are those with vested interests. Shareholders welcome it with both hands because of the expectation of rising stock prices, and ordinary employees expect their salaries to rise to the level of large companies.

However, executives are the direct targets of replacement and suffer the biggest blow of dismissal.

When acquiring, it is a priority to appease them.

“The effect of just changing the sign will be enormous. Imagine that the Changryong Gate rushes out the moment any of you are threatened by the Evil Sect. Not only that, but Jo’s Village plans to provide full support to you with the money it earns in this Anhwi Province.”

The commotion subsided, but the murmuring was still there.

There is so much to gain by just abandoning the name, but the pride packaged in the name cannot be easily abandoned.

At this time, the one who abandoned half of his pride carefully opened his mouth. “How about creating a large organization like the Martial Alliance [a group of martial artists] instead? An organization where each sect protects each other and helps each other in times of difficulty.”

Everyone nodded their heads as if it made sense, but Jo Gwangyun showed a bitter smile.

“Are you talking about the place that only watched when the Namgung family and our Changryong Gate clashed? The Martial Alliance is a place where people only gathered to figure out how to use each other, let alone investigate the truth when three innocent Changryong Gate disciples were killed, right? Finally, please think about where the Changryong Gate’s Im Bonjae committed suicide.”

Touching on painful memories, even the murmuring sounds subsided.

“An organization cannot become a blood alliance. A blood alliance is when people unite as one under one name.”

Jo Gwangyun stood up after finishing his last words.

“I hope there are no misunderstandings. I am not forcing you, but proposing to you. Please consider it carefully and let me know whether you agree or disagree.”

Betraying someone, abandoning pride, and doing shameful things are less embarrassing when done secretly when no one is watching.

Even if there is someone who wants to accept the offer right away, they can never come forward when there are so many eyes watching like this.

Someone grabbed Jo Gwangyun’s foot as he tried to leave. There was someone among them who was quick at calculating.

“What if we all reject that offer?”

It’s a question that takes the worst-case scenario into account.

“I’ll have to send an occupying army, right? The Changryong Gate still has over three hundred elite martial artists left. And the Changryong Gate, which stepped on Namgung, will open its doors wide and recruit martial artists. It will be enough to bring it back to its former level in two or three years.”

Jo Gwangyun bowed his head lightly and left.

Those who remained had to rack their brains.

* * *

While Jo Gwangyun was busy cleaning up the aftermath, the one who lost everything gave his last farewell to Mt. Hwang.

Namgung Hyowon turned his horse towards Sichuan. The sound of crying never stopped inside the carriage. I have no choice but to let her cry as much as she wants. Her in-laws’ family has fallen, and all her ancestors are dead. They can’t even hold a funeral.

His wife is sad, but Namgung Hyowon is worried. Will we be able to get to Sichuan safely? Will I be able to rebuild the family? Will I be able to avenge my grievances? By myself? I was scared. I didn’t know that being alone in the world was so scary. I shook off my thoughts and urged the road. Sichuan is far away.

< Spoils of War 3 > End