Caught in the Net (2)
The place Gong Suchan led me to was an estate about twenty li from Muhan. It was nestled against the mountains with a view of the water, surrounded by breathtaking scenery.
“Where are we?”
“This is the estate I recently purchased. It will be the headquarters for the new trading company we’re establishing.”
“Oh! So the trading company is finally coming to life.”
“It might not seem like much now, but I wanted you to be the first to see it.”
“Not much? This place could be historic for us. The stories that start here might become legends.”
I gazed at the estate with a sense of awe.
Seeing my reaction, Gong Suchan was equally moved.
“Have you decided on a name for the company?”
“You should name it, Master Byeok.”
“No, this is your project. You should name it.”
After a moment of contemplation, Gong Suchan suggested a name with care.
“How about we call it Taeseong Trading Company? It may be small now, but the name wishes for it to become a great star illuminating the world.”
“Perfect! Let’s go with that.”
The name of the trading company was set. The thought of establishing my first trading company filled me with excitement.
“Shall we go inside?”
Following Gong Suchan, I entered the estate.
The interior was modest yet meticulously arranged. The buildings were centered around a small training ground, with the central building being the largest and the ones on either side about half its size. I inspected each one, finding nothing amiss. Given Gong Suchan’s thoroughness, it was no surprise everything was in order.
“You’ve done well.”
“You’re too kind. I merely bought it with the funds you provided.”
Gong Suchan replied humbly.
“It’s not just my money; it’s ours.”
“Yes, Master.”
Gong Suchan smiled gently, knowing my words were sincere, and his smile was filled with joy.
We then discussed the plans for the trading company. I entrusted everything to him.
A good leader doesn’t meddle in every detail. The leader’s job is to find the right people and place them where they can excel.
Before leaving the estate, I handed him a ledger. It was something I had acquired from Yacheon’s secret stash.
“Take a look at this when you have time.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a secret ledger from an organization. Could you review it?”
“Understood.”
Gong Suchan accepted the ledger with caution.
Later, Gwangdu arrived at the estate.
After making a fuss while inspecting the place, he rolled up his sleeves and began a thorough cleaning.
“Who else but Gwangdu for cleaning?”
He wasn’t ashamed of having been a servant. In fact, he was proud.
“If I hadn’t been a servant of the Byeok family, how would I have met you, young master?”
How could I not cherish Gwangdu?
“You fool, hire someone to help. You’ll fall ill cleaning this vast place alone.”
“Are you worried about me?”
“Of course.”
“I’m touched.”
“I also want the estate to be cleaner.”
“Oh… you could have left out that last part.”
“Hahaha.”
Though we had the estate, I continued to stay at the inn.
I visited on the first day, but for now, Taeseong Trading Company needed to grow independently of the Byeok family.
Gong Suchan also planned to manage it discreetly from behind the scenes.
In the afternoon, Baekpyo came to see me with two people.
“I have someone to introduce.”
The people he introduced were Yangcheong and Myeongdo, Baekpyo’s trusted aides. They were former guards of the same Mengho group and had joined Baekpyo’s ranks after leaving.
“This is my lord.”
Yangcheong and Myeongdo couldn’t hide their surprise upon seeing me. It seemed Baekpyo hadn’t briefed them about me beforehand.
They were shocked by my youth, but it also added a mysterious allure.
If Baekpyo trusted someone so young, there must be something extraordinary about me, they thought.
“I’m Yangcheong.”
“I’m Myeongdo.”
Baekpyo emphasized his trust in them once more.
“They’re like my own limbs.”
In that case, I had only one thing to say.
“If Baekpyo trusts you, then so do I. Let’s see how we get along.”
“Yes!”
I smiled with satisfaction. What I needed most now were capable people.
Trustworthy individuals were essential.
No matter how much money you have, or how many warriors you gather, without the right leadership, it’s just numbers. Like a mirage that vanishes with a puff of wind.
After sending the two away, I handed Baekpyo a letter when we were alone.
“Here, take this.”
It was a letter Jeongyeong had entrusted to me when I left Shandong.
Reading its contents, Baekpyo’s eyes grew misty. He must have missed his wife and son.
He looked at me with intense emotion. The letter likely mentioned how my mother was treating them like family.
“What’s wrong? Did it say something bad about me?”
My joke caught Baekpyo off guard.
“No, of course not.”
Baekpyo wasn’t one for jokes. Perhaps he still found me intimidating.
But the emotional moment wasn’t over yet. I had more to give.
“Here, take this.”
I handed him a pouch. Baekpyo peeked inside and was startled. It was filled with promissory notes.
“Three hundred thousand nyang.”
Baekpyo was shocked again. Though he had seen large sums while guarding the leader, this was the first time he had seen such an amount up close.
“Use this to form an elite sword unit.”
“An elite sword unit?”
“The number doesn’t matter. Whether it’s ten or a hundred, it must be the strongest group that completes any mission given.”
Baekpyo looked down at the money he held. A wave of emotion crossed his face. The thought of creating such a group made his fists clench with determination, and he was deeply moved by the trust and resources I was providing.
“Leave it to me.”
But that wasn’t all I had for him.
I handed him the Cheonjo Sword I wore at my waist.
“What is this?”
“A gift. Use this sword from now on.”
“But isn’t this the sword you used?”
“Thanks to you, I have an even better sword now.”
Baekpyo knew well that there was no better sword than the Suramyeongwang Sword in our time.
“May I draw it?”
I nodded, and Baekpyo unsheathed the sword.
Srrrng.
Seeing the blade, Baekpyo was taken aback. What emerged from the ordinary scabbard was anything but ordinary.
“A masterpiece!”
His voice trembled.
“It seems familiar.”
“True masterpieces often give a similar impression.”
I had only used the Cheonjo Sword for a few months, and that was long ago. It had been modified, so Baekpyo couldn’t recognize it. The fact that he sensed its similarity was a testament to his keen eye.
“I can’t accept such a precious sword.”
Baekpyo tried to return it. I pushed it back to him.
“The leader of the strongest group should have a sword of this caliber.”
“Master!”
He still hesitated to accept it.
“Yes, it’s a precious sword. But it’s not more precious than you. To be honest, it’s not just a gift; it’s a shackle. A shackle to keep you by my side. With all this, won’t you accept my heart?”
He couldn’t refuse any longer. At that moment, Baekpyo pledged his loyalty with all his heart.
I had treated his wife and child like family. I entrusted him with a fortune that could support generations, and I gave him a sword of immeasurable value.
How could he not devote himself to such a person?
“I will gratefully wear the shackle you’ve given me.”
Next, I called in Jin and Su, the spies.
To be honest, I didn’t fully trust them yet.
They had earned significant points by successfully completing their previous mission.
But that didn’t mean I could trust them completely. They weren’t my original choice; they were introduced by Jeongye.
So I decided to share some trust. There was no need to put them through too severe a test.
“Fifty thousand nyang.”
Even that was a considerable sum, and the two were surprised.
“Use this to build an intelligence network. I know it’s impossible to cover all of Zhongyuan with this money. Start by establishing a network centered around Shandong and Muhan.”
Once they used up the fifty thousand nyang, I planned to provide another fifty thousand. The total support I had in mind was three hundred thousand nyang.
Their trust and evaluation would depend on how they handled this task.
“There are trustworthy people I know.”
“I also have a few in mind.”
I nodded and said,
“Once the network is established, I’ll create a separate force to support the intelligence network.”
I intended to form a group to back the intelligence network, separate from the one Baekpyo was creating.
“Oh! Thank you.”
They were more delighted by this than by the money.
When I first gave them orders, I ensured their safety. This was another gesture in that spirit, and they were moved.
I knew that for an organization to function well, its members needed to be well taken care of. Losing in intelligence meant losing everything, no matter how strong the force.
“I believe the intelligence network is the most crucial part of any organization.”
My words filled them with both gratitude and determination.
“We won’t betray your trust.”
“Good.”
With fifty thousand nyang in hand, they left the inn.
Finally, I turned my attention to Gwangdu.
“What about me? Do I get anything?”
“Of course.”
Gwangdu’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“Of course, there’s no one like our young master! What is it this time? Another miracle elixir?”
“Something even better!”
“Ooooh! Did you bring back the essence of a mystical creature?”
“Even better than that.”
With a grin, I picked up the bottle of liquor I’d set aside earlier.
“Wait, wait, don’t tell me… Is that the legendary elixir of immortality? No way, right?”
“Let’s just have a drink.”
“Oh, come on! Just a drink? Everyone else gets money, swords, trust, and all I get is a drink?”
“I’d give you more if I hadn’t already given everything away.”
“Of course, I know. You’re the kind of person who believes in not hoarding things, right?”
Though he pouted, Gwangdu wasn’t upset in the slightest.
Being invited for a drink at the end of the day—wasn’t that a reward in itself? Maybe it was the best treatment he could hope for.
As we shared a drink, we talked about things we hadn’t had the chance to discuss properly.
“How are the master and the lady of the house doing?”
“They’re the same as ever.”
“And Songhee?”
“She’s doing well. Seems like she’s grown a bit.”
“Kids grow up so fast. It’s been a while, but I miss them all. Oh, and how’s Kwanjo? Still a training fanatic?”
“At this rate, you’ll be worse than a bug.”
“Damn it! I’ll start morning training again tomorrow!”
As the bottle emptied, Gwangdu, emboldened by the alcohol, asked quietly.
”…Is Dosoo doing well?”
“Dosoon? She’s become even more beautiful.”
Gwangdu downed his drink in one go.
“I don’t think it’s over yet.”
“I’m not looking for consolation.”
“It’s not consolation.”
“In what way?”
“Honestly, you rushed things. If it wasn’t love at first sight, you should’ve approached more cautiously.”
“I think so too. But what does it matter now? It’s all in the past.”
Gwangdu sighed, acknowledging the truth.
“It didn’t end messily, so there’s still a chance.”
“Isn’t it too late?”
“People’s hearts can change a dozen times a day. Why would a woman’s heart be any different?”
Gwangdu’s eyes sparkled with renewed hope.
“What should I do now?”
“Show her. Show her how you’ve changed. Make her think, ‘Did he always have this side? Did he always have this ability?’ Like that.”
“Like you, young master?”
Ah, perhaps that’s what it is. For Gwangdu, for Hwarin, for everyone.
“Yes, like me.”
Gwangdu sighed and said, “Matters of the heart are so complicated.”
“Yes, they are.”
In that moment, I shifted from being an advisor to a fellow sympathizer.
“Do you think I can do it?”
“Does it matter? What’s important is that you try.”
I raised my glass, and Gwangdu clinked his against it with determination.
A new hope lit up Gwangdu’s face. Yes, he’s still young. He should live with that kind of expression.
I don’t just need strong subordinates. I want them to be happy because of me. I hope they never get caught in the net of misfortune.
That’s the path I want to take.