Chapter 154: The Market Disrupter (1)
“If it”s okay with you, can I get on the boat?”
The Danju at the top was a young woman wearing a red silk robe. She was resourceful enough to skillfully manage aggressive sailors, so she quickly agreed, even sending a smile to So-mu. This was because the calculation was made that there was nothing to lose.
“Hoho. Rather, we are honored. But how far are you going?”
“I just want to get some air, so I”ll get off when I get to a suitable place.”
He was a figure who emerged as a divinity along with the thief Jang Yang. Isn”t he a famous person who was a hot topic of conversation wherever he went in Shaanxi? There was no way he was just leisurely sightseeing.
I was curious about the purpose, but I couldn’t inquire.
“Do whatever is convenient for you. Then, let me formally introduce myself. I am Yeohee Danju of Hwapyeongsangdan.”
So-mu also responded by putting both hands together.
“I am So-mu, a military officer under Anseo Supreme Commander.”
Yeohee’s face became brighter.
As expected of a top-ranking person dealing with people, her sharp eyes were unusual. At least to the point where you can immediately tell that the other person has no impure intentions.
“You can make yourself comfortable until you disembark. If you need anything, just let us know.”
“Thank you.”
After greeting his, So-mu moved towards the player.
Sailors were running around all over the place, preparing to set sail.
“Raise anchor!”
With the navigator’s shout, the ship slowly began to move.
A cool and pleasant wind passed through So-mu”s whole body. How long has it been since you last enjoyed some time out in the fresh air? I felt much more relaxed and my mind became clearer.
It was about two o’clock after departure.
The owner of the top, Yeohee, quietly approached him.
“As you know, our headquarters is in Hanzhong. I”ve been wanting to meet you for a long time. You”re staying in Jang”an right now, right?”
So-mu looked at his with a puzzled expression.
“””.”
“I heard that you made the greatest contribution to protecting Hanzhong. I really wanted to say thank you to you someday.”
“I just did what I had to do as a rust-eating government official, so don”t keep it in.”
Yeohui shook her head sideways and took half a step closer.
“I know that you are doing a lot for the private sector in your government. Not only has it made Hanzhong the richest city in the Central Plains, but Changan”s economy is also recovering quickly.”
“The first goal of the thieves is to create a world without hungry people.”
Yeohee nodded with a flushed face.
“If there is anything we can do to help, please let us know.”
It was incomprehensible. I couldn’t help but be curious about her inner thoughts.
“Isn”t the principle that the top puts profits first?”
“Supreme Commander is like a father to the people of Hanzhong. Even now, we are donating 2 …”of the profits from the top to the coffin.”
There would be no way to tell lies in the name of the top.
I could clearly feel the sincerity in her words. Was that what moved So-mu”s heart? The corners of his mouth hidden behind bamboo lips drew a faint smile.
“Soon, we will be recruiting merchants to do business with the Legion. I will write you a letter of recommendation, so please apply.”
“What kind of deal”?”
“I will delegate the procurement of supplies and the sale of loot for the corps.”
Meanwhile, the inventory of enemy weapons and shields collected from the battlefield was overflowing.
Metals were classified as expensive raw materials that can be melted and recycled. I was about to recruit a skilled upper management to handle it. There was a lot of waste in many places as we had to procure supplied ourselves.
Yeohui”s face brightened in an instant.
“Is that really true?”
A letter of recommendation written directly by the military attach” of Jeondaosa. If that were the case, he would definitely have the right to preferential negotiation. It was like a golden opportunity to increase the size of the upper level.
“Not only the peace association, but also those that contribute highly to the country will receive better treatment.”
“Thank you so much. I will do my best.”
As soon as he finished speaking, So-mu went into the cabin. Up to his discretion.
“Even if you have a letter of recommendation, you may be disqualified if you lack the skills at the top.”
“No problem. Then, I”ll see you at the palace next time.”
The confidence was great. But what about anyone? .
It was around the time I was having tea with her in the cabin. The deck suddenly became noisy.
After a while, the deck captain came in and reported.
“Danju, these are Yonggangsulochae.”
For a moment, So-mu”s eyes sparkled. Because something was strange. Isn”t the deck captain”s face so calm despite facing numerous enemies?
Yeohee, the owner of the top, was not much different. The current situation seemed very familiar.
She took a leather pouch from somewhere in the cabin and tried to hand it to the deckmaster.
So-mu, who was watching, wrapped his hand and stopped his.
“What is this?”
Yeohee widened her eyes as if she was puzzled.
“It”s a toll. If you don”t pay it, you can”t pass.”
It felt so natural. It seemed like it was considered a custom.
“Since when have you been paying toll taxes?”
“It”s been about two years. I thought the government was deliberately turning a blind eye to this, but it seems that wasn”t the case.”
In the past, when the emperor moved south, he conscripted all the warships in the Han River basin. It ended up causing the numbers here to grow even further. How could the government army, which had difficulty fending off the enemy, have the power to build new ships and subdue the enemy?
But things were different now.
“As of this moment, there are no tolls.”
Negotiation with enemies. That was the reason So-mu boarded the merchant ship.
When he tried to stand up, Yeohee was startled and tried to stop him.
“Well, what are you trying to do?”
“When a ruler meets an enemy, how can he just wait and see?”
Yeohee became desperate. What were you going to do alone?
Even though he was famous for being an appendix, I thought it was impossible. If you offend the enemy, the upper division will bear the brunt of the damage.
“We are fine, so please fix it. We are not the ones who can do it alone.”
Her dissuasion was short-lived. So-mu was already leaving the cabin.
“See you next time then.”
The deck captain looked at his back with an expression of bewilderment.
“…Danju. Now we are doomed.”
Yeohee also put her hand on her forehead as if she had a headache.
“But he won”t be defeated easily. He must have something in mind.”
“Do you think I”m just crazy? There are three ships. The enemies in Yonggang Waterway are all skilled in martial arts. How can I fight them alone?”
Merchants do not know the measure of strength. Most of the time I just listened to it.
“I have to go out now.”
Yeohee and the deck captain came out of the cabin.
Three ships were blocking the road like a gateway. A flag symbolizing the Yonggang Waterway was visible on the mast.
“Either pay the toll or pay the toll! I”ll give it to you!”
Enemies were lined up on the deck, clutching bowed. He seemed completely careless, as if there was no need to aim.
The look in their eyes was telling them to quickly pay the toll and get out.
At that time, the ship in the center approached and hit the deck. Then he built a bridge with wooden planks.
Kuung-!
A bandit wearing a bandana over his head began to approach with great strides, clutching a sword.
At that moment, a swordsman wearing a bamboo sword blocked the road on the other side.
“What are you?”
Wow!
Dajjagojja So-mu’s front paw hit his chest. No, it seemed that way. Because no one saw it properly.
“Ugh!”
The floating enemy flew back to the boat it had come in and rolled over.
At the same time, the bandits shouted at Yeo Hee, the owner of the sangang.
“How dare you hire a warrior?”
“You want to give it a try?”
“Just think you all died today!”
Yeohui’s face turned pale. The deck captain approached her with a dark expression and whispered.
“Danju, there is no turning back now. The moment he falls, I will turn the ship right away.”
“…It”s no use. Our ship is slower than theirs.”
“If we abandon all our cargo and supplies, there might be some chance.”
They stared at So-mu with despairing eyes.
At that time, his body, which was standing on the deck, flew high into the sky. Then it flew a whopping five feet and landed lightly on a boat on the other side.
The light movements of a bird were such that it did not look like a human being.
A hint of anticipation appeared on Yeohee”s face.
“Have you ever seen anything like that?”
“I”ve only heard of it, like a martial arts master or something like that.”
“Then have you ever heard of that?”
The deck captain opened his mouth wide and gaped like a goldfish. This was because one of the enemies was hanging in the air, grabbing her neck.
No one was touching his body. So-mu was just stretching out one hand from a distance away.
Then someone shouted.
“There”s only one person! Don”t panic and attack them all at once!”
About thirty men surrounded So-mu. They grabbed their swords and started charging at the same time.
The crew of the Hwapyeong Merchant Marines watched with bated breath. I couldn’t figure out what was going on. There was just a light hitting sound like a storm.
At the same time, enemies rise into the air one by one. Breathless screamed burst from their mouths one after another.
“Tsk!”
“Ugh!”
In the blink of an eye, all the enemies on the ship were lying flat. None of them seemed to be seriously injured. For some reason, So-mu took matters into his own hands.
At this point, the two ships that were approaching to help stopped at the same time. They decided that even if they applied, there was nothing they could do.
The deck captain of the Hwapyeong ship muttered in a trembling voice.
“Woah, I think our side won?”
It wasn’t just a win. It was truly a one-sided punishment.
After a while, the three ships of the Yonggang Waterway exchanged something with each other, then turned their bowed and sailed out of sight.
Yeohee, who was watching this, muttered with a blank face.
“When you return to Hanzhong, tell the Merchants” Association everything you saw. Maybe we won”t have to pay tolls in the future.”
***
Meanwhile, So-mu, who had moved to Yonggang Surochae’s ship, was leaning against the bow.
Behind him, a group of enemies with bulging faces were snooping around with an embarrassed look on their faces. It seemed like the shock still hadn’t subsided.
A person who appeared to be the captain approached him with an expression of resentment.
“We even helped the government army defeat the Hui Dynasty”s navy. Isn”t this too much?”
“That is why you are still alive today. How could you possibly repay the crime of robbing the people of their property while the country was in chaos?”
“Then what do you want?”
“It”s not something you can handle.”
So-mu closed his mouth and continued to stare into the distance.
The captain sighed and turned his back. As if my right shoulder, where I had been hit, was numb, I grabbed it with my left hand and spun it around.
At that time, one of his subordinates came up and asked in a low voice.
“Are you really going to take me to the main house?”
“It”s just one person anyway. No matter how long it flies, what can you do there? I”m thankful that you foolishly want to go to the place where you die.”
“Well, if you meet Lord Chae, you won”t be able to find even a single bone.”
“Of course. As soon as we arrive, I will return this humiliation.”
After a while, one of the three ships began to move ahead. The purpose was to provide information in advance so that the main building could prepare.