Episode 26
For a moment, a strange look appeared in Doyul’s eyes.
“The opposite?”
“yes.”
Yerin continued speaking calmly.
“I don’t think we should just let Sacheondangmun do business like this.”
“But Gamo, isn’t Sichuan Province the most grain-producing land in the entire central plain?”
Ji Sook-myeong suddenly revolted.
“If not from Sichuan Province, where else can we get all the grain that the North Sea Ice Palace needs?”
“Of course, I know that Sichuan Province produces the most grains.”
Yerin nodded obediently.
“However, for reasons of convenience, I don’t think we should simply ask the party to resume trading.”
However, Yerin’s subsequent voice was straight and unwavering.
“In the end, he is giving the Tang family an opportunity to subordinate the Northern Sea Ice Palace once again.”
Sookmyung clearly showed signs of dissatisfaction and narrowed his eyes.
‘A girl the size of a chestnut is like a mother and gives strength to her shoulders.’
After a while.
The corners of Fate’s lips twisted upward.
“… … “Then what solution does the matriarch think?”
Well, Yerin’s thoughts are obvious.
I guess he just said something to impress Doyul, and didn’t even consider a solution at all.
Children naturally act without thinking.
… … however.
‘what?’
Feeling a chill running down my spine, Sookmyung glanced down at Yerin.
Yerin was looking up at Sookmyung with calm eyes.
Twelve years old.
A small and fragile girl who looks like she could be crushed if she was grabbed with one hand.
However, Yerin’s eyes as she looked at her fate were not childlike at all.
rather… … .
‘I’ve lived for a very long time… … That’s what it feels like.’
But why?
At that time, I was in a deep sense of discomfort about fate.
Yerin’s expression changed.
Open your eyes brightly and close both hands in front of your chest.
Yerin, whose face had transformed into that of a child, blinked her eyes innocently.
‘W-what is that?’
Sookmyung couldn’t hide his angry expression.
At the same time, Yerin asked a question in an innocent voice.
“Can I tell you something presumptuous?”
That clever thing… … !
Fate lit up his eyes.
However, the remaining two elders, Mu Gong-won-ju and Gyul-won-ju, had already been taken in by Ye-rin’s silent gaze.
The two elders spoke in unison.
“Speak comfortably.”
“You are Binggung’s mother. Is there anything you can’t say?”
Really, since when did you treat that party girl so kindly!
Sookmyung’s stomach twisted again at the sight of him asking questions as if he were dealing with a young granddaughter.
“I think we need to reconsider how precious Seolucho is and its value.”
“Reconsidering values… … la.”
The two elders, except for Sookmyung, quietly pondered Yerin’s words.
And then.
Yerin asked back with a blank gaze.
“Why do you think there is only one place that wants Seolucho?”
There was a heavy silence for a moment.
“…….”
“…….”
The three elders could not hide their expressions of surprise.
Eventually, Sookmyung stammered and opened her mouth.
“Well, that means… … .”
“If I were given the authority to dispose of Seolucho, I would hold an auction.”
“… … “An auction?”
At Yerin’s unconventional remark, Sookmyung’s eyes widened.
Yerin nodded lightly.
“When the North Sea Ice Palace stopped supplying Seolucho, how did the top officials in the central plains act?”
“Well, that is.”
“I remember everyone opening their eyes to save Seolucho… … is not it?”
It was true.
At first, the North Sea Ice Palace was suspicious.
They say that in order to increase the price of Sullucho, they deliberately hold on to Sullucho and do not sell it.
Even Sacheondangmun sent people directly to the Bukhae Ice Palace to supply Seolucho.
Of course, after that, it became quiet after realizing that there really was no supply.
“There is a very small amount of Sullucho that can be found in the wild.”
“… … “Yes, that is true.”
“In contrast, the uses for which Seolucho is used are quite diverse.”
That was correct.
In addition to being used as an ingredient in various spiritual remedies and elixirs, Seolucho had various benefits.
A typical example is a wound caused by a fireball.
In this wide world, there is only one herb that can suppress anger and provide fundamental treatment.
“That means there is a shortage of supply of sullucho compared to demand.”
The elders were suddenly listening to Yerin’s voice as if they were fascinated.
If it had been a complete nonsense, I would have laughed it off and said, ‘What a kid.’
But Yerin’s words had some basis.
A basis that no one can deny.
“In such a situation, what if you were given the opportunity to receive a regular supply of Sulluccho?”
“… … then.”
“Just because that opportunity has emerged, people will be curious. “It is a very precious herb.”
Yerin quietly stared at the elders.
“Besides, people who really need Seolucho will hang themselves to get it, right?”
The voice that continued quietly had tremendous persuasive power.
“Just think about how transactions were conducted in the past.”
“If you say it was an old transaction… … .”
“At that time, the Beihai Ice Palace was clearly superior to the Four Heavenly Gates, right?”
The elders’ eyes widened slightly at the poignant question.
“… … “That is correct.”
The martial arts that symbolize Sacheondangmun are poison and memorization.
Among them, the rare poison that was Tangga’s vision could not be produced without Seolucho.
“In such a situation, there is no need to propose a deal to Sichuan Tangmun first. “It’s that side that’s disappointing, not this side.”
Sacheondangmun was a shaman who occupied the top spot of the five generations.
Even for the sake of the family’s honor, there was no way he could give up the Tang family’s vision of poisoning himself.
Because that’s what warriors were originally.
“instead.”
Yerin added forcefully.
“I think it would be good to have more competitors.”
“competitor… … “You mean?”
“yes. “We need to create a lot of competitors and create a sense of crisis that if we make a mistake, we won’t be able to get Seolucho.”
Saying that, Yerin smiled brightly.
“That sense of crisis will help us gain the upper hand in future transactions with the party.”
At first glance, it looked like a bright smile typical of a child.
“Just wait and see. “Sacheondangmun won’t be able to refuse that auction, right?”
… … There was a sharp dagger hidden in that smile.
“Huh… … Unbelievable.”
“I hadn’t thought about that at all… … .”
There was admiration in the elders’ eyes.
Honestly, it was true that Yerin made a huge contribution this time.
However, that achievement was simply due to luck.
No one thought that Yerin had the ability to match that luck.
‘I would have thought that the matriarch, who is still young, would be able to see right through the core of the problem.’
But then.
Ji Sook-myeong joined the conversation with a sharp voice.
“Well, that doesn’t change the fact that the Sichuan Dangmun is grabbing the grain!”
Fookmyung was very annoyed by the current atmosphere that was favoring Yerin.
“If the Tang family’s temperament falters and they are unable to bring in grain, the people of Beihai Province will starve… … !”
“Yes, I also agree a hundred thousand times that the people should not starve.”
Yerin tilted her head and looked at Sookmyung.
“But why do we have to bring grain only from Sacheondangmun?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The midfield is a very large place, right? Moreover, Sichuan is not the only province that does farming.”
“No matter how much it is, it is impossible to bring the required amount of grain from Beihai Province from one place… … !”
“yes. So, we can import it from various places.”
At that casual answer, fate stiffened.
A faint mockery appeared on Yerin’s face, which was feigning innocence.
‘Why, I guess you’ve never thought about it that way?’
Well, I understand that my thoughts were not up to par.
Because the North Sea Ice Palace has had very little interaction with the Central Plains so far.
The distance from the mainland of Jungwon itself was very long, and relations with the people of Jungwon were not always amicable.
Because in the early days when Seolryeon built the North Sea Ice Palace,
‘North Sea Ice Palace? So, isn’t this a family founded by a woman?’
‘No matter what you do, you are one step worse than the clans and families of the central region.’
… … This was because people in the Central Plains usually reacted this way.
Naturally, the people at the North Sea Ice Palace were furious.
‘How dare you say something like that about our palace lord!’
‘They’re like arrogant Central Plains people!’
The reason I first did business with the Sacheondangmun was because they were the only family that did not ignore Baekseolryeon, the founder of the Sajo, so I said everything.
‘Of course, the relationship is at its worst now… … .’
Anyway, from the perspective of the North Sea Ice Palace.
So far, they have only welcomed merchants who rarely come to visit, and it would not have occurred to them to ‘open up many business partners here first’.
‘but.’
Yerin’s gaze became sharp.
‘The North Sea Ice Palace must no longer remain closed.’
