Chapter 19: Gwangyang Escort Agency – Part 2
“Save some money. Stop using all your earnings to buy and free non-human slaves.”
“Heh. Don’t look down on me like I’m broke. One big score and I’ll be rich. If that happens, I won’t even say hi to you—so be nice while you can.”
“Hah, such bluffing. Are you leaving Yoon with Master Hwang again?”
“Father’s busy with escort jobs. I’ll feel safer if Master Hwang watches him—and I can say goodbye, too. Want to come?”
“No, I’m swamped. We’ve got a full managers’ meeting, and we’re short on escorts for this mission, so we need to hire more.”
“Oh? Then the whole agency will be lively.”
“For this job, we even recruited some martial artists. It might be dangerous. It’s giving me a headache—Brother Sangmun won’t cooperate.”
“I knew that guy was trouble since we were kids. Don’t worry—I’ll deal with him.”
“How?”
“Remember how Yu Sangmun wet his bed until he was ten? One day the Lady stripped him and beat him. I saw his jewels with my own eyes—half your size. I kept quiet to spare his pride, but if he messes with you, I’ll spread it across the whole agency. Hahaha!”
“Watch your mouth… pff—ha!”
Yugang tried not to laugh but burst out anyway.
“You can do it—future Head Yu-gang! Go, Yu-gang!”
“Cut it out.”
Yugang ruffled Dan’s hair playfully—then his heart started pounding wildly.
Get a grip, Yugang. Dan is… a man.
“Travel safe. Say hello to Master Hwang for me.”
“Sure. Hey, are you sick? Your face is bright red.”
“Just go while I’m letting you. Otherwise help me work all day.”
“Eek—before the work demon grabs me, I’m running. After a big breakfast, though.”
Watching Dan pat his belly and grin, Yugang murmured, “Thanks, Dan.”
“Whew… it’s starting soon.”
Yugang stared at the blue sky and drifting clouds, lost in thought. The meeting was about to begin, but he hadn’t gone to the hall yet.
“‘If you don’t want to be the head, hand it all to me so I can live large.’”
Dan’s greedy joke had made him laugh so hard his cheeks hurt and he couldn’t straighten his back.
I’m always taking from him. Without Dan, the world would be gray.
Yugang, third son of the Yu family, had grown the small Gwangyang Agency into a medium one while still only twenty. People said he could raise it to a large agency one day.
But being the third son, born to a concubine, and having no desire for position kept his talent from shining fully.
“Chief Yugang, the meeting is about to start.”
“Right. Let’s go.”
At the hall marked “Gwangyang Escort Agency Meeting Room,” the key managers gathered.
With Master Yu ill in bed, the eldest son Yu-cheol sat in the center. He tried to look stern, but the managers kept chatting.
“Ahem. We will… begin the meeting.”
“He said… what? Hahaha.”
Yu-cheol cleared his throat again and again, but no one listened—until the second son Yu-Sangmun stood and snapped:
“Quiet. Isn’t the great head Yu-cheol leading today’s meeting?”
Silence fell. Sangmun smiled and turned to Yu-cheol.
“Please, great head, go ahead.”
“Th-thank you, Sangmun. Ahem. We gathered because, as you know, the war between Moon Country and Cai Country… um… fighting has started in the Hoiryeong Mountains and… that is…”
Yu-cheol went pale and lost his words. He glanced at Sangmun, then looked desperately at Yugang.
Sitting quietly, Yugang finally stood.
“Great Head Yu-cheol isn’t feeling well today. As the person in charge of this escort mission, I’ll explain. Is that alright with everyone?”
Sangmun smirked. “Why not? Better the man in charge than someone who knows nothing. Let’s hear it.”
Even in public, Sangmun spoke down to both Yu-cheol and Yugang.
Yugang swallowed his anger—he knew it was a deliberate provocation.
“Moon and Cai have gathered on the central plain of the Hoiryeong range, their border. Jemyeong is Moon’s ally and promised to supply war materials. Our Gwangyang Agency will transport 500,000 geun (units) each of saltpeter and sulfur—the main ingredients for gunpowder—so we must be extra careful.”
“Ohh.”
Everyone stared, waiting for more.
“After reviewing safe routes, we have two options. First, by sea: ship from Jemyeong’s Narae Port to Moon Country’s Suncheon Harbor. I’ll show the map.”
At his signal, Head Kang spread a continent map on the platform.
“Following this current, through Bijado Bay, we can reach Suncheon. Since Cai is weak at sea trade, this is currently the safest from interference. But there’s a major problem.”
Sangmun narrowed his eyes. “What problem?”
“The weather. From May to July, storms hit this route without warning, and the waves are rough. Even with a skilled captain and crew, the moisture at sea will likely damage the cargo.”
“So, the alternative?”
“Second, overland: carry the cargo across this plain at Jemyeong’s border, straight to the Hoiryeong Mountains, where Moon and Cai are fighting.”
Sangmun snorted and stood. “Pft. That’s your big plan? March across Cai’s front yard?”
“Until ten years ago, this area was Moon’s territory. We quietly contacted several merchant guilds and found some who support Moon. With their help, we’ll divide the cargo and move it secretly. It’s riskier than the sea route, but it should deliver the goods up to fifteen days faster.”
The heads nodded, impressed.
Yu-cheol, looking proud, added:
“So… that’s why Yeonjin is going too, right?”
“That’s top secret, Great Head.”
“S-sorry.”
Yeonjin, the fourth child and Master Yu’s only daughter, planned to join the rough mission—for reasons unknown.
As the room buzzed with whispers, Sangmun shot Yu-cheol an irritated look.
“We should end the meeting here, Great Head.”
“V-very well. Today’s meeting is adjourned.”
