Chapter 355: v15c5 - Grain and Wagons
Volume 15 Chapter 5 – Grain and Wagons
Part 5 – Grain and Wagons
A hill overlooking the Gwak Family mansion.
Despite it being summer, once the sun went down the wind blowing from across the grasslands was beyond cool; it had a chilling edge.
Lying flat inside the tall bushes, a figure observing the mansion made a small bird sound.
[Movement has been confirmed in the mansion.]
At the sound transmission sent along with the bird call carrying a warning, the person in charge, who had been taking a short break while hiding nearby, poked his head out.
[…The torches are moving.]
As he enhanced his vision, in the distance, he could precisely see dark leather armor reflecting the reddish light of the torches.
[The regular army. They are General Gwak’s subordinates.]
[…Just as scheduled.]
Only after confirming that even servants were pouring out of the mansion did the person in charge make a bird call twice, deliver hand signals to the surroundings, and send a sound transmission.
[Withdraw.]
This was a procedure just in case the sound transmission did not reach someone properly.
Rustle, rustle.
From inside the grass where it seemed nothing was there, several figures raised their bodies.
Because they wore camouflage clothing woven with grass over thick coats, they had not caught anyone’s eye.
[Our camouflage was certainly perfect.]
[Even General Gwak’s rearguard did not notice us.]
There was no way general soldiers, low-level military officers, or the guards of the mansion could discover them.
[If so…]
[It went according to plan.]
They withdrew to the opposite side with extraordinary movements and familiarly erased their traces.
[Because in a town like this, outsiders are bound to stand out somehow.]
They were, without a doubt, the ones who, as the Gwak Family patriarch mentioned, had tracked General Gwak.
“……”
And lastly, while his companions erased their traces, the person in charge, who pulled out a crossbow from his back and finished checking it, fired straight toward the mansion.
Screeech—!
As the whistling arrow, also called a sounding arrow, cut through the air and wailed long,
“—–!”
“—!”
In the distance the Gwak Family troops, mistaking it for an attack signal, were seen leaping and scattering here and there.
[Good.]
The person in charge quickly disassembled the crossbow and sent a sound transmission.
[After everyone scatters as planned, we will gather at meeting area ‘A’.]
After nodding and exchanging glances with each other,
[Good luck.]
[You too.]
Some started running flat out with light body art, some mounted their tied horses and rode, and some crawled into deeper bushes and hid themselves.
* * *
A short while later.
[To the right!]
The horses snorted and rounded the corner of the alley at high speed.
Those riding them were,
[Left at the next corner!]
The ones who had withdrawn from the hill near the Gwak Family mansion.
“Oops!”
A resident who came out into the alley to relieve himself fell backward and barely avoided the horses.
[Do not stop! He just fell!]
[What a relief…!]
Those on horseback could by no means slow down, even while confirming that they had not hit anyone.
[Over there!]
The rider running in the lead confirmed two red cloths fluttering tied beneath the eaves of an inn.
[Leap off!]
There was no time to slow down.
They threw themselves from their horses just like that and landed inside a pile of straw bales that had been prepared in advance.
[Through the hole!]
As they crawled out of the straw through a hole under the fence, a group of people moving frantically in the inn’s yard spotted them.
“Cloud!”
“Sea!”
“Verification complete!”
And changed into new clothes.
“Hurry up! Check the knots on the baggage once more!”
“We are checking them for the last time, boss!”
In any case, since everyone was running around busily, no one was looking at them, a middle-aged man in silk clothes nodded quickly at that question.
“What about the other comrades?”
“You are the last ones!”
In the midst of exchanging that brief conversation, servants who recovered the horses they had ridden entered the yard and were seen familiarly soothing the horses and tying them to the baggage wagons.
“Hey, over here!”
“Giddy up! Giddy up!”
“Are the preparations done?”
“They are complete!”
“Depart!”
As the wagons loaded with baggage departed, porters carrying heavy loads on their backs followed the wagons, and as they even lit the torches brightly, the martial artists who had changed clothes sat on the wagons or next to the driver’s seat of the carriage, looking exactly like a merchant group.
“Depart! Depart!”
[…What about the inn?]
Looking back at the inn that was growing distant as the procession exited the alley, a martial artist asked.
[Are they trustworthy people?]
At that, the merchant group leader, the middle-aged man in silk clothes sitting inside the carriage, nodded.
“There is absolutely no need to worry.”
“They are believers who are faithful to the doctrines and very devout.”
“To think the teachings of the Medicine Fairy have spread even to this distant northern land?”
“Is there any place in the nation of Zhongyuan that has not received her grace?”
The martial artist clicked his tongue.
“…Occasionally, I get goosebumps at the organizational power of the House of Benevolence and Love.”
The merchant group leader, who was also a member of the House of Benevolence and Love, shrugged.
“I agree.”
At that reply, the martial artist let out a hollow laugh.
“What am I supposed to do if you agree here?”
The merchant group leader laughed.
“In the first place, the House of Benevolence and Love had its origin in the shrines of the Medicine Fairy built all over the nation of Zhongyuan, and was based on believers who wished for her grace.”
“Indeed.”
“The size was large, but the problem was that there was no substance. However…”
Even as he moved his mouth, the merchant group leader checked the procession by moving his eyes without rest.
“It has been changing since the Eldest Young Master began to move in earnest.”
“Yes.”
The smoke of the tobacco smoked by the martial artist dispersed behind the carriage.
“As massive funds began to circulate through the hands of the Tea Fan Maiden ladies, the branches nationwide are rapidly connecting, and furthermore…”
The merchant group leader’s gaze turned toward the martial artist.
“with the vigilantes of the Spring of Luoyang joining, ‘this kind of work’ has also become possible.”
The vigilante belonging to the Spring of Luoyang flicked his ash and showed a dry smile.
“…For us, we only have this kind of talent at best.”
“At best?”
At those words, the merchant group leader waved his hand.
“Aren’t you the ones who were active in the darkness of Luoyang for such a long time, and in the end, even put up a great fight against the terrifying Third Young Master’s side?”
The Spring of Luoyang had undoubtedly survived for many years in the form of a secret society in Luoyang, which was ruled by the Luoyang Sword Family, and their golden experience and know-how were currently being steadily passed down to the House of Benevolence and Love.
“…We merely” scratched the tip of his nose, avoiding eye contact as if embarrassed, the merchant group leader smiled.
“struggled to live uprightly.”
“That is the same for us too.”
Their conversation ended there.
“Halt! Halt!”
As they reached the city gate, a detachment of troops blocked them.
[This is serious.]
From atop the city gate, bows were aimed all at once, and the troops who swarmed out raised their spears toward the House of Benevolence and Love’s merchant procession.
[Look over there.]
Confirming the military officer dressed in black leather among them, the Spring of Luoyang vigilante let out a low groan.
“…Mmh.”
[He is General Gwak’s military officer.]
And sent a sound transmission to the merchant group leader.
[The movement of General Gwak’s side is faster than we expected.]
With that, he exchanged glances with his comrades, smacked his lips, and quietly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
[If an unexpected situation occurs, hide inside the carriage and wait for us to finish the job.]
Then, there was someone who pressed down his hand that was about to draw the sword first and take the initiative:
“Oops!”
It was the merchant group leader, who suddenly leaned out of the carriage.
“What on earth is all this?!”
[What are you doing right now?!]
He winked one eye at the vigilante who was sending the urgent sound transmission.
“Currently, orders have been issued to blockade all city gates.”
A gatekeeper with a firm impression approached and spoke to the merchant group leader.
“A blockade order has been issued for all city gates right now.”
“So, disarm all weapons and quietly undergo inspection.”
Just as the vigilante was about to step forward again at the sight of the gatekeeper who looked as if not even a needle could pierce him, a person who appeared to be an official galloped over on a horse with soldiers from the other side and shouted.
“What are you doing?!”
“Open the gate immediately!”
“We are currently under orders from the military high command—” at that, the gatekeeper who had been like wood and stone turned around and commanded the soldiers.
“To hell with the high command! It is the Governor-General’s order! Let that merchant group pass!”
“However, this officer belongs to the military, not the governor-general’s office—” the official, who wore a queue, scolded without even dismounting from his horse.
“Is a mere gatekeeper ignoring the Governor-General’s order right now?!”
“……”
“Open the gate!”
“What on earth are you doing right now?!”
General Gwak’s military officer, who was atop the city wall, jumped up and down.
“Are you saying you will ignore the general’s command right now?!”
“However—” while the voices of the gatekeeper and the military officer disputing grew louder, the city gate was already opened wide, and the merchant procession quickly passed through the gate amidst the awkwardly standing troops.
“Depart!”
“……”
On the city wall that was growing distant as the merchant group leader locked eyes with the gatekeeper who was arguing with General Gwak’s military officer and nodded,
“……”
Surprisingly, the gatekeeper slightly nodded his head in response.
“Hah…”
At that sight, the vigilante who had belonged to the Spring of Luoyang let out a hollow laugh.
“Was that gatekeeper in league with us from the very beginning?”
“He is a believer.”
“……!”
From the very beginning, the merchant group had secured the escape route through a gate where a believer was the gatekeeper.
“In this world, there are people whose depths are filled with goodwill and faith, yet they lack just a tiny bit of courage.”
He winked once more as he accepted the tobacco the vigilante handed to him.
“To make such people act, they just need to be given the bare minimum justification.”
From that answer, the vigilante, who felt something familiar, tilted his head and asked.
“By any chance…”
“Have you heard of the name Path of Life among the merchant groups of Luoyang?”
The merchant group called Path of Life was the name of the organization the Spring of Luoyang vigilantes had owed a debt to when they escaped Luoyang.
“Oho!”
At that the merchant group leader grinned.
“The group of the first and best escape experts of Luoyang, no, of the nation of Zhongyuan! That is precisely our Path of Life Merchant Group!”
The vigilante burst into a hearty laugh as if dumbfounded.
“…You were also part of Path of Life.”
“Yes!”
The merchant group leader laughed.
“Our Path of Life Merchant Group is also expanding across Zhongyuan along with the House of Benevolence and Love!”
* * *
The Gwak Family.
“See for yourself.”
The patriarch of the Gwak Family handed over a crumpled sheet of paper with his age-spotted hand.
It was a letter that had been found stuck to the outer wall of the mansion tied to a whistling arrow.
“……”
As General Gwak spread the paper wide, there was only a single line of sentence written on it.
‘I will be watching.’
A handwriting that could only be described as that of a master calligrapher.
“It is the Eldest Young Master’s handwriting.”
“……”
There was no way the Gwak Family patriarch, who had exchanged letters with him long ago, would fail to recognize that handwriting.
“Such foolish nonsense…”
Watching the letter get crumpled in General Gwak’s hand, the Gwak Family patriarch spoke.
“Do you still not know?”
“…What do you mean?”
The patriarch clicked his tongue as if dissatisfied with his unintelligent son.
“The Eldest Young Master went out of his way to assign people to shadow you, whose home is obvious, all the way here, and even sent this letter.”
The patriarch sighed, holding the long pipe he had been biting in his hand and waving it.
“Furthermore, even while blockading the city gates and pursuing them, there has been no report of discovering their traces so far, has there?”
The patriarch shook his head.
“You will absolutely never catch them.”
“This is merely a simple display of showing off by that incredibly arrogant Eldest Young Master—” the patriarch cut off his words.
“—Why.”
“Why did the Eldest Young Master choose such a troublesome method of all things?”
“…That is.”
In place of his son who could not answer and was tongue-tied, the patriarch spoke.
“The Eldest Young Master is showing our Gwak Family.”
His thin finger pointed to the floor.
“That even in this distant northern land, a place that is as good as our domain, an organization capable of playing with us exists under him.”
“……”
Clicking his tongue once more toward his son who could say nothing, he shouted toward the outside.
“Is there still no other news?!”
“Patriarch!”
A subordinate who entered in a hurry knelt down, bowed his head, and answered.
“It is news that just came in! A merchant group procession has passed the North Gate according to the order from the Governor-General’s office!”
“…It was true that the Eldest Young Master’s hand reaches even to the Governor-General.”
While organizing his thoughts as he inhaled the smoke of the pipe, he asked.
“What did they say that merchant group is handling?”
“Uh, that is… I will verify it!”
The subordinate went out in a hurry and returned after verifying.
“They said it was rice, wheat, soybeans, and mixed grains!”
“Food?”
“Yes! That is correct!”
At those words, the Gwak Family patriarch wore a dumbfounded expression.
“The Eldest Young Master has already secured food independently, regardless of our Gwak Clan.”
The cargo the merchant group was carrying was precisely part of the food whose acquisition Tea Fan Maiden had reported to the Eldest Young Master today.
“Just when on earth, the Eldest Young Master…”
The patriarch of the Gwak Family shook out his pipe and turned his gaze out the window.
“from when did he prepare this…?”
The night sky outside the window was, like the Eldest Young Master’s deep calculation, unfathomably deep and dark.