Gal Hyeon blinked, like he didn’t understand what I meant right away.
I calmly explained myself.
“I care a lot about character and ability. The fact that you still did your best under a petty master like that says your character passes. And since this operation managed to catch my interest, your ability passes too.”
“…”
“That’s why I’m making you this offer. This grain carries His Majesty the Emperor’s will for the people of the Empire who are starving to death. You dared lay a hand on it, so even if you die for it, no one could call that unfair.”
At my words, he lowered his head.
“But if you agree to work under me, I can spare your life. I’d still have to ask the Commander for mercy, of course.”
Then I glanced at the Imperial Guard commander.
He was looking on me very favorably.
That was why he was letting this slide.
“So choose. What will you do?”
“…”
Just then, the chieftain beside him suddenly roared.
“You little bastard! You’re really gonna save your own skin like a coward? This all happened because of you, so if anyone should die, it’s you!”
Now that was some perfectly timed interruption.
I let out a faint laugh and said,
“You don’t really want to keep serving a bastard like that as your master, do you?”
That was when Gal Hyeon finally spoke.
“I… honestly don’t have any loyalty left to my master. I believe I’ve already repaid the debt I owed him for sparing my life.”
He went on.
“It’s just… I feel sorry for the others who got dragged into this because of me. Most of them became wanderers because of this famine. All they wanted was one full meal, just once… and now this happened because of me. So how could I betray them just so I could live?”
That look… I’d seen that same look in my last life.
Back then too, he hadn’t rejected my offer because of the chieftain. He’d done it because of the others in the mountain stronghold.
I like this even more.
That meant he wasn’t the kind of man who’d turn a blind eye to injustice just because duty tied him down.
He just had a compassionate heart.
“Fine. Then if you agree to work under me, I’ll make sure the displaced people in that mountain stronghold are spared as well.”
“What? I–is that really true?”
“Yes.”
“Then… I accept your offer.”
“Good.”
I walked over to the commander.
“Commander, I believe this happened because people driven from their homes by famine couldn’t overcome their hunger. They did attempt to seize the grain, but in the end, no grain was actually taken.”
“That’s true enough.”
“In a situation like this, I believe execution would be too harsh. Those displaced people are people who could till the land and farm, if only they had fields to work. And if they farm, wouldn’t that mean more military provisions in the future?”
“You make a fair point. The harvests have been poor for so long that our military stores are already running thin.”
The Imperial Guard commander was a soldier.
For a man like him, supply issues had to matter, so bringing up military grain clearly worked.
“In that case, how about making those displaced people tenant farmers on land owned by the Imperial Palace and putting them to labor there?”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll admit, executing this many people didn’t sit right with me either.”
“And I also don’t believe a person’s talents should be wasted. So I’d like to take that strategist with me.”
“You?”
“Yes. The work I do is also work His Majesty ordered for the sake of the Empire’s people. So I believe making him labor under me in the status of a slave would be a fitting punishment.”
“That makes sense. But… what about that leader? Are you planning to put him to labor too?”
“No. If we keep him alive, then when they’re put to labor, whose orders do you think they’ll follow?”
“I see.”
The commander understood exactly what I meant. He nodded, then gave the order to the Imperial Guards.
“Kill him.”
“Yes, sir!”
At those words, the chieftain’s face turned deathly pale. He thrashed and begged.
“S–spare me! Please… p–”
Slash!
His neck was cut through in a single stroke, and his head rolled across the ground. The people watching turned white as ghosts.
Then they looked at me with gratitude in their eyes.
Soon, the people still left in the mountain stronghold were dragged out by the Imperial Guards. Those who resisted were killed on the spot.
I couldn’t exactly ask for mercy for that too.
Most of the people in the stronghold were old people, women, and children.
They still looked terrified, but once they heard they wouldn’t be killed, they seemed at least a little relieved.
Our group, along with the grain convoy, set out once more, and the bound captives followed behind the Imperial Guards.
There was a reason I arranged for them to be sent to labor on land owned by the Imperial Palace.
The ones I’d previously sent to labor on land owned by the Eunhae Merchant Group were people who had crossed the Eunhae Merchant Group.
But this time, they had interfered with grain bound for Beijing, and in the process they had clashed with the Imperial Guards.
So naturally, they had to labor for the Imperial Palace.
And laboring on Imperial Palace land actually wasn’t that bad an arrangement.
They wouldn’t earn money, but as long as they worked, they wouldn’t starve to death.
And once that labor period ended, they’d be allowed to sign contracts and receive wages.
That reflected the Emperor’s intention to increase the number of independent farmers who could save money, buy land of their own, and work it themselves.
Independent farmers paid taxes.
And taxes were the money that kept the Empire running.
Even if the state wants to accomplish something, it still needs money. If there’s no money and nothing gets done, public sentiment turns ugly.
In the end, the Emperor’s power really does come from the hearts of the people.
The Emperor really is sharp.
But that plan only works if the laborers can actually finish their labor term, save enough money, and buy land.
That was why I’d been quietly buying up land all across the Empire.
If they were going to become independent farmers, there had to be people willing to sell them land. But once the famine ended and a good harvest came, who would still want to sell?
So I was buying land now, planning to sell it to them later and pocket the difference.
Not an outrageous profit, of course.
It was just a kind of arrangement for the future.
.
.
.
And so, we safely arrived in Beijing.
It was about a day later than Escort Guard Seo Wu had predicted, but that was probably because our party had grown and we had to travel with those displaced people.
Anyway, once we reached Beijing and headed for the Imperial Palace, we were met with an unexpected sight.
In the open square before the palace, a number of people hung in rows, battered beyond recognition.
They were the traitors who had already plundered Springview Fortress once before, then, fearing their crimes would be exposed, imprisoned the Fortress Lord of Springview Fortress and tortured Imperial Prince Ju Hyeon.
The fact that they’d been punished so publicly like this meant the interrogation was over.
But neither the Embroidered Guard nor the Eastern Depot were among them.
Those people could never be exposed while alive, and they couldn’t be exposed even in death.
And Gong Ho wasn’t there either.
Was there still more to learn from him? Or was the Emperor still locked in a tug-of-war with the Murim Alliance over him?
Either way, one thing was clear: instead of displaying the envoys’ corpses after execution, the Emperor had ordered them hung upside down while still alive. That alone showed just how furious he had been.
But even looking at such a brutal sight, no one pitied them.
That was because their crimes had already been publicly announced.
The moment I saw them, memories of my previous life came back.
Back then, the Lord of Springview Fortress had been the one hanging there. Now, that wrong had finally been set right.
To the displaced people we had brought with us, who still didn’t know why those men had ended up like that, it was simply terrifying.
They really didn’t need to be that scared…
Honestly, the Emperor was a frightening man in more ways than one, but he wasn’t the kind to abuse power on a whim.
Still, thanks to that, there was no chance they’d try to escape, so maybe I should count that as a blessing.
Before long, we reached the front of the Imperial Palace.
“Then we’ll take our leave here.”
At the words of the merchant group leaders who had traveled with me, I nodded.
“All right. I’ll contact you again.”
I wanted to part ways here and head straight to the Beijing branch too, but I needed to see the Emperor.
I had to report that I’d properly carried out the task he’d ordered.
And I also had to explain the punishment I’d arranged for the displaced people we’d taken in this time.
That was the only way I’d get permission to keep the talent I’d gained for myself.
I had the permanent entry pass the Emperor had given me, so I could enter the palace without asking permission.
So this is how I end up using it. Hah.
I really was starting to think the Emperor gave me this because he intended to work me even harder.
A little while later.
Together with the commander, I was granted an audience with the Emperor.
We paid our respects, and the Emperor praised our accomplishment.
“You’ve done well.”
“Not at all. This subject merely obeyed Your Majesty’s command.”
“But I heard you brought some people back with you?”
As expected of the Emperor.
Then again, the Embroidered Guard who had accompanied us must have reported it already.
There had been an Embroidered Guard with us at the time, but at my request, he had focused solely on guarding the grain.
If he stepped in personally, it felt like things might get out of hand.
“Yes. In truth, there was an unfortunate incident while we were transporting the grain.”
The commander gave a detailed explanation of what had happened.
“…and if not for Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho, we might not have completed the mission properly.”
He’s overselling me way too much…
I immediately prostrated myself and said,
“This small merchant merely did what little he could to help. Bringing that great convoy here safely, and resolving the incident so well, were all thanks to the Commander, who led everything.”
“What you say is true.”
The Emperor slowly nodded.
“It was certainly an important task. That is why I entrusted it to you in the first place.”
“I am deeply unworthy of such words.”
“The merit of bringing the grain safely is no small thing. Therefore, as your reward, I shall bestow fifty bolts of silk upon you.”
“This subject is overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s grace.”
“You may withdraw now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Then he turned his head and looked at me.
“You stay.”
I was planning to stay anyway, Your Majesty.
After the commander left, the Emperor spoke to me.
“As for the punishment of those displaced people, I will approve what you requested.”
“I am overwhelmed by Your Majesty’s grace.”
“So it seems you took a liking to that man called Gal Hyeon.”
“I simply thought it would be a waste to throw away his talent.”
“Well, since you mean to keep him under you and use him… that is a perfectly fitting heavy punishment for the one who came up with that plan.”
Why did that feel like there was a barb hidden in those words?
No, really, how could he call it a perfectly fitting heavy punishment when I work this hard for my employees’ well-being…?
My people don’t have it that hard under me… ahem.
The moment Lady Seohyang and the people at the Virtuous Wind Department came to mind, I couldn’t quite finish that thought.
“Still, you really did put them under for a long time, just as I instructed.”
“The sleeping medicine Your Majesty gave me for this task worked quite well.”
“Tang Hyo-yu said the same thing.”
Huh…
So that was the sleeping medicine Lord Tang used so often. No wonder it worked so well.
“More importantly, the grain earned from this trade should buy us some breathing room. In that sense, I am grateful to you.”
The look the Emperor gave me clearly held genuine gratitude.
Then again, I was the one who proposed this trade and saw it through without issue.
“I hardly deserve words like that. I only spoke for the sake of my own interests.”
“And yet this Empire benefited from it. Gratitude is still gratitude.”
“If Your Majesty truly feels that way, then may I make one request?”
At my words, the Emperor looked intrigued.
“What is it?”
“This time, we merchants intend to submit a joint petition. I ask that Your Majesty allow it to pass.”
“And what, exactly, is in this petition?”
“It concerns the Prohibition Decree.”
“The Prohibition Decree?”
“Yes. There is a way to bring in even more grain than what we brought this time.”
There was only one reason I was reporting the petition in advance.
Time.
Even the time it would take for the officials to argue back and forth over the petition was too precious.
It wasn’t that there was no time left before the next departure, but brewing alcohol took quite a while.
“Gal Hyeon! Come out.”
At the Imperial Guard’s shout, Gal Hyeon stepped out of the prison cell. Then he glanced over the displaced people still inside.
While in the cell, he had apologized to them and begged their forgiveness.
This had happened because his plan had been seen through, and also because he had failed to prepare a backup plan.
And yet those displaced people had told him none of it was his fault. He was deeply grateful for that.
During his time in the prison cell, he kept replaying Eun Seo-ho’s words over and over, reflecting on them again and again.
Thinking back on it now, he felt he might have been a little full of himself.
He had worked under that petty chieftain because he couldn’t bring himself to betray the displaced people, but everyone around him had still flattered him, calling him Strategist.
In a situation like that, it seemed his pride had risen without him realizing it.
But this incident had shattered that pride to pieces, and his self-importance had been crushed along with it.
“Take care.”
“Yes, Father. Mother. And Brother.”
“I truly hope things go well for you, wherever you end up.”
“I hope all of you stay healthy as well.”
After saying his farewells, Gal Hyeon turned to the Imperial Guard and said,
“I’m ready to go now.”
When he came out of the prison cell, someone was there waiting for him.
“I’m Yeo Eung-am, Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho’s Escort Guard. I look forward to working with you.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
And so, he followed behind Yeo Eung-am toward the Beijing branch.
“Deputy Merchant Lord, I brought him.”
“Welcome.”
Eun Seo-ho greeted him with a bright smile.
“I should warn you in advance – you’re still a slave for now, so there’s nowhere for you to run.”
He had no idea what kind of work this man planned to make him do, talking about his status and warning him there was nowhere to run.
But thinking about how he’d unconsciously taken a step back, maybe some instinct inside him had already realized it.
His future would be nothing but hard work.
–TL Notes–
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