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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
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I arranged to meet with Ha-no separately after finishing my business and proceeded to ascend Cheonghoeru.
Chae-jin, having been here before, didn’t seem to find it unusual, but Hong-ryeon watched with curiosity as I climbed the building.
“Is this allowed?”
“Of course.”
We reached the fifth floor. As usual, two men stood guard at the end of the silent, barrier-protected corridor.
“Hahaha! Mister Yu, you’ve returned!”
“Greetings.”
Gi No-ya greeted me with a cheerful smile, while Wi-yeol gave a curt, silent bow. Hong-ryeon, tilting her head at the two military officers greeting me, tugged at my sleeve.
“Those two…”
“They were once part of the Murim world, but they’re actually masters affiliated with the military. Gi No-ya, Wi-yeol, allow me to introduce Hong-ryeon, Senior Disciple of Hong Seong-mun.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Hong-ryeon, a close acquaintance of Innkeeper Yu.”
Gi No-ya’s eyes lit up at her introduction, and he let out a hearty laugh.
“Oh, a friend of Mister Yu! Indeed, I am also a close…”
“The General is waiting.”
“Hey! I wasn’t finished!”
“Later.”
“You brat!”
I chuckled at their usual bickering and knocked on the door. A voice called out, “Enter,” and I led the two women inside.
General Cheon Il-hwa, a middle-aged man buried under a mountain of paperwork, rose to greet me, fatigue evident on his face.
“Welcome, Mister Yu.”
“It’s been a while.”
“Haha. Indeed. Please, have a seat… hmm? We have another guest. Sunset Sword Hong-ryeon, Senior Disciple of Hong Seong-mun, I presume.”
“I’m currently trading with Hong Seong-mun. I brought their Senior Disciple to show you the medicinal herbs they’ve cultivated for this delivery.”
“Huh. If Mister Yu vouches for her, I have no reason to doubt.”
“Still, wouldn’t it put you more at ease to see for yourself?”
“Haha. That’s true. It’s a pleasure. I am Cheon Il-hwa, leader of the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild and General of the Imperial Recruitment Office.”
He simply exchanged a glance with Chae-jin, having met her before, but his greeting to Hong-ryeon was more formal, which she returned in kind.
The amicable atmosphere was pleasing.
“Then let’s get down to business. First, the matter of the fragrance sachet sales. They’ve been more popular than expected,”
he said, and a look of delight spread across Hong-ryeon’s face.
“We’ve currently consigned the sales to the Kaifeng branch. Are you aware? Although the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild appears to operate independently in each region, they’re all connected to the Cheonwang Trading Company in Kaifeng.”
I was aware. It would be revealed later that it was a government-run enterprise, with branches everywhere.
“The appraisal team at Cheonwang Trading Company has classified the fragrance sachets produced by Hong Seong-mun as luxury goods. They’re limited edition, locally sourced, and have a unique story behind them.”
Indeed. That was my intention, and Cheon Il-hwa had focused on that aspect, which the Cheonwang Trading Company seemed to have taken into account.
“Such items can certainly be sold as luxury goods. The quality is excellent, with the strong fragrance of Thousand-Day Plum Blossoms, and everyone knows Hong Seong-mun’s reputation. High-ranking officials’ wives, believing they’ll enhance their virtue, and young ladies soon to be married are particularly fond of them.”
“So… how much did they sell for?”
“See for yourself.”
Cheon Il-hwa handed us the documents, and Hong-ryeon, Chae-jin, and I examined them.
“Wow… that’s expensive.”
“It’s more than I expected.”
While Chae-jin and I expressed surprise, Hong-ryeon stared blankly at the document.
“Hong-ryeon?”
There was no response. She seemed to have short-circuited. I nudged her, and she startled, trembling slightly.
“…So much…”
“Ultimately, it’s all about marketing. And when demand is high and supply is low, the price inevitably increases. The current price reflects their value as limited edition goods. So, it’s not that surprising. And considering this is quarterly, or perhaps semi-annual, income, it’s not that large a profit…”
“B-but it’s still a huge amount for a year!”
Is it? I nodded, seeing Hong-ryeon’s hasty response.
“So, how much will we receive?”
“Normally, there would be a commission fee, but… considering our relationship, and as a gesture for your continued cooperation, I’ll waive the fee.”
He was giving us the full amount. Excellent news.
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Haha. I should be thanking you. And… regarding the medicinal herbs, they will also be classified as high-grade goods. The price should be around two gold taels per geun.”
“That’s sufficient.”
I hadn’t planned to market the medicinal herbs as limited edition items like the fragrance sachets.
Under the table, Hong-ryeon’s hands were trembling. The price of the fragrance sachets, and now the herbs… she seemed overwhelmed.
“I told you they would sell for a high price.”
“You did, but… we worked hard cultivating them, but… are they really worth that much?”
Cheon Il-hwa smiled at Hong-ryeon’s uncertain tone, and I explained,
“The value of medicinal herbs depends on their origin and who cultivated them. Herbs grown by Hong Seong-mun, known for its long history of virtuous deeds, and infused with the spiritual energy of Mount Hongseong, will fetch a high price. It’s common knowledge, even in Kaifeng, that a positive mindset enhances the effectiveness of medicine.”
In other words, the wealthy and health-conscious would be clamoring to buy them. Cheon Il-hwa, agreeing with my assessment, added,
“And one thing to note is that you should sell your products exclusively through Cheonwang Trading Company. There are bound to be those who try to exploit Hong Seong-mun’s reputation.”
He was warning us about counterfeits. By trading exclusively with Cheonwang Trading Company, they could crack down on anyone selling fake goods using their name.
And those caught selling counterfeits would likely be conscripted into the army.
“Uh… yes. We’ve agreed to supply exclusively to Innkeeper Yu.”
“I also intend to trade exclusively with the Cheonghoe Merchant Guild, General Cheon.”
“Heh. That’s reassuring.”
There were no issues there.
We even drafted a contract stipulating that Cheonwang Trading Company would assist in preventing price gouging and unauthorized resales, though it was unlikely to be a problem.
With that settled, we sipped our tea, feeling more at ease.
“Ah, right. Lady Chae and Lady Hong, why don’t you head downstairs for a drink? I have some matters to discuss with Mister Yu privately.”
Chae-jin and Hong-ryeon looked at me with concern, but I shook my head. I had a good idea why Cheon Il-hwa wanted to speak privately. Once they left, he got straight to the point.
“I recently made the acquaintance of Ha-no of the Hao Clan. He told me that while discussing matters with you, you devised a strategy that balanced the power among the demonic sects.”
“Haha. That’s good, isn’t it?”
“Thanks to that, we were able to acquire valuable human resources. Of course, I’ve made sure your name wasn’t mentioned…”
“Thank you.”
“The problem is, I doubt they’ll cease their activities. And… it seems someone is backing the new leader of the Black Lotus Society.”
As expected. The new leader was receiving support from the Iron Blood Group.
Probably… the Iron Blood Duke.
“Frankly, I’d like to investigate and imprison anyone who threatens the empire and the imperial family, regardless of their status, but doing so without evidence would destabilize the current political climate. The demonic cults would exploit this to attack loyalists, and the military could be accused of escalating the situation.”
“I understand.”
I truly did. It was similar in Heavenly Moonlight. Fortunately, by Part 3, the empire would sense the danger and take action.
Until then, it was best to maintain a good relationship with Cheon Il-hwa.
Our scenario also relied on government and military cooperation around that time, so there were no conflicts of interest.
“Thank you. I apologize for not being able to intervene directly. That being said, considering the current political situation and the suspicious activities of the New Black Lotus Society, I’d like to entrust a few of my subordinates to you for the time being.”
“Subordinates?”
“Gi No-ya and Wi-yeol. And I’ll also provide some troops. Of course, if managing troops is too much, you can entrust them to the magistrate. I’ve seen his work, and he’s quite capable.”
“Yes, he’s very competent.”
“If Seomhwa Village falls, Yangwi Castle, being so close, would also be in danger. And… I heard that Hong Seong-mun defeated a peculiar group called the Iron Blood Group?”
“That’s correct.”
“Several places with concentrated spiritual energy have been attacked recently, and the Iron Blood Group’s name has come up in connection with those incidents. So, it’s best to be cautious. Mount Hongseong is known for its abundant spiritual energy.”
“Hmm…”
“So, Mister Yu, if the New Black Lotus Society or that Iron Blood Group attacks Seomhwa Village, can you and Hong Seong-mun defeat them? I feel like I’m burdening you with a matter of imperial importance, and I apologize for that. But I would appreciate your assistance. I won’t forget this favor.”
Cheon Il-hwa’s request was serious, and I accepted it in the same spirit.
“I’ll do my best for the empire.”
“Haha… thank you.”
Don’t mention it. I should be thanking him. I was hoping to get either Gi No-ya or Wi-yeol, but he was offering both, plus troops.
After concluding the main discussion, we talked about the mine – the gold mine near Yangwi Castle. It was a good opportunity to secure funding.
Cheon Il-hwa seemed interested, mentioning that he’d heard rumors of gold dust being found in the nearby river.
After our brief but productive conversation, I went downstairs and found Hong-ryeon and Chae-jin on the fourth floor, sitting across from each other, sipping drinks.
“Oh? Are you finished?”
“Yes.”
“What did you talk about that required a private meeting?”
“Haha. I’ll tell you when we return. More importantly…”
I looked at them and said slowly,
“I need to meet with Ha-no briefly. If you’d like to stay and enjoy your drinks, I’ll take Gi No-ya or Wi-yeol with me.”
“Can we come along?”
“You’re welcome to, but it’ll be boring. There’s nothing much to see there. It’s not a dangerous place.”
Despite my warning, they stood up without a word.
I hoped the Hao Clan wouldn’t be too surprised.
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