Episode 37
The auction method was simple.
Each person holds up their license plate and suggests the price they think they should.
“The auction item is Seolucho.”
People nodded with nervous faces.
Well, it was something everyone knew up to this point.
But the next moment, the words that came out of Yerin’s mouth were enough to make people panic.
“Once a year, we supply a cartload of sultrucho.”
“W-it’s enough for one cart?!”
“Wait a minute, that’s not a one-time deal… … !”
“Isn’t it true that you can receive Seolucho every year?”
People’s eyes were bloodshot.
‘Have we really regained the Seolucho cultivation area in the North Sea Ice Palace?’
‘To receive a cartload of Seollucho every year, that wouldn’t be enough for even the king of a country!’
‘I thought I would be lucky if I only took a few dozen roots this time… … .’
Just then, Yerin added something lightly.
“Of course, it is not a one-time transaction, so you have to pay the price each time you receive supply.”
“That’s it… … .”
“Of course.”
Although the proposal may be a bit excessive, everyone seemed to agree.
Because the right to receive a supply of Seolucho every year was that great.
Everyone’s eyes naturally turned to Yejun.
“… … “I think I understand why Sogaju of the Four Heavenly Halls of Heaven came in person.”
In fact, it was very rare for the head of a family to personally attend an auction like this.
However, if it is a ‘supply right to receive annual supply of Seollucho’, the story is different.
Yejun swallowed dry saliva.
His father’s words of encouragement were clearly engraved in his mind.
‘Before those worms realize the value of Seolucho, we have to get our hands on it first!’
Come to think of it, that was the first time my father spoke so desperately.
‘So we have to somehow get the right to supply Seolucho from here.’
Yejun made up his mind.
At the same time, Yerin softly opened her mouth.
“The price starts at 1,000 gold pieces.”
For a thousand gold, it was an enormous price, enough to buy ten top-class guest cups.
But the moment those words fell, numerous license plates soared high into the sky.
“1100 nyang!”
“Twelve hundred nyang!”
“Fifteen hundred nyang!”
“Okay, then I have 1,700 nyang!”
Prices started going up like crazy.
‘Unbelievable.’
Doyul was shocked and opened his mouth.
Lord Mukongong and Lord Gyulgyulwon were also almost bewildered by the enormous amounts of money being exchanged.
“Ma’am, this is…” … .”
Doyul, somewhat excited, looked back at Yerin.
At the same time he paused.
‘ma’am?’
Even though the price was rising, Yerin’s expression was not very bright.
As if there is ‘something’ that one clearly wants.
But it’s as if that ‘something’ hasn’t come out yet.
‘… … ‘What do you have in mind?’
I could only guess one thing.
Yerin did not just want money through this transaction.
also.
‘If you don’t get the ‘something’ you want, you won’t agree to the deal.’
And then.
Yejun held up the number ticket.
“Five thousand nyang in money.”
“… … .”
“… … .”
My son-in-law became calm as if cold water had been poured on him.
Each of the VIPs looked back at Yejun in shock, as if their eyes were popping out.
The general sitting next to him also cried out as if he was being strangled and called out to Yejun.
“So, Lord Soga… … !”
It was a ridiculous amount.
Even though Tang Ye-jun was the head of the Tang family and represented the head of the Tang family, he had no authority to offer such a huge amount of money.
But Yejun didn’t even pay attention to the general.
Instead, he looked at his sister with a confident smile.
‘How about this amount of money, you can’t refuse it?’
It was a smile full of meaning.
“Confucius of the Tang family asked for 5,000 nyang in money.”
Yerin calmly declared.
People looked at each other.
Of course, I could have paid more.
Because Sullucho was a herb worth paying attention to.
but.
‘If you think about it, isn’t Seolucho an herb used to produce the Tangmun’s secret poison?’
‘If he dies at the party gate and a lion comes after him… … .’
If that’s the case, you may have to spend a much higher amount of money than you thought.
Yerin calmly spoke to those who hesitated.
“Of course, the more money you have, the better. one… … .”
A soft smile appeared on cherry-like lips.
“Please consider the essential meaning of the North Sea Ice Palace holding this auction.”
… … Meaning?
The VIPs’ eyes briefly wavered.
Come to think of it, Binggung has been the exclusive supplier of Seollucho to Sacheondangmun until now.
I’ve never held an auction like this… … .
‘Then, was there an intention to this auction itself?’
Yerin continued her explanation quietly in a voice that sounded gentle at first glance.
“If you want to receive an exclusive supply of Seolucho, you will have to give not only money but also the conditions desired by the Ice Palace.”
“Well, what is that…” … !”
“What a condition!”
“Anything is fine. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s cash or bonds.”
Yerin’s smile became a little deeper.
It was a smile like ice.
“So, please feel free to use what you need at the Ice Palace.”
Looking at his wife, Doyul opened his eyes wide.
‘no way?’
Currently, there was only one thing the Ice Palace needed.
And there was a person among the distinguished guests who could give that ‘one thing’.
Doyul’s eyes became sharp.
‘… … Was the auction aimed at that?’
Yerin cleverly created an atmosphere so that there was no choice but to bet on that ‘one thing’.
Doyul suddenly remembered Yerin’s words.
‘The more difficult it is to obtain a valuable item and the more competitors there are, the higher its value becomes.’
Your wife was right.
A satisfied smile appeared on Doyul’s lips.
Look, aren’t the VIPs’ eyes bright red now in order to get the Seolucho?
The VIPs were busy looking at each other.
“In the ice palace… … What do you need?”
“Well, then.”
Then he held up the number plate again.
“How about adding a hundred pieces of high-quality silk imported from the West to the money you offered earlier?”
“Well, then I have a ruby gemstone the size of a human body!”
“I will bet 100 roots for 100 years!”
VIPs began to present all kinds of valuables.
Ordinary gold and silver treasures were not even produced.
Unheard-of treasures, such as precious silk and jewels, poured out.
But Yerin still had an expressionless face.
‘Everyone is having a good time.’
Because what Yerin wanted was not treasure.
Yerin listened to the people talking for a while, then opened her mouth again.
“The weather in Beihai Province is cold all year round, so it is difficult to gather and feed the people.”
The VIPs looked at Yerin in confusion.
‘huh?’
‘What is this sound?’
That’s right, suddenly discussing the difficult lives of the people of Beihai Province.
Because it sounded a bit unexpected.
“So in the past, Seollucho was exclusively supplied to Sacheondangmun… … .”
Yerin trailed off as if everyone knew by then.
And all the VIPs understood what she was trying to say.
It was an open secret that the Sichuan Tangmun persecuted the Beihai Ice Palace in many ways.
In the first place, isn’t the fact that Yerin, the daughter of the Four Heavenly Dangmen, standing here as the hostess of the North Sea Ice Palace itself a result of persecution?
“However, the Northern Sea Ice Palace and the Four Heavenly Gates cannot be in conflict forever.”
Yerin stared at Yejun with clear eyes.
“I propose one to Lord Soga of the Four Heavenly Dangmen.”
“… … “A suggestion?”
“yes. “I understand that there is a large plain among the land owned by Tangmun in Sichuan Province.”
no way!
Yejun’s face hardened.
“They say it’s fertile next to a river, and grains grow abundantly all year round, right?”
“No, matriarch… … !”
“One-fifth of the land.”
Yerin concluded her speech leisurely.
“If you hand him over to the North Sea Ice Palace, I will give you the right to supply Seolucho.”
That plain was considered the most fertile land in the vast central plain.
It was said that all the people of Sichuan Province lived on the grain produced from that land.
Naturally, it was the most precious land in the Tang Dynasty… … .
“No, matriarch! What is this… … !”
Yejun got angry and called Yerin.
But Yerin still had a clean-cut face.
“So, are you going to reject Binggung’s offer?”
“… … .”
“Actually, I don’t mind if you refuse. “Sacheondangmun is just the most efficient source of grain.”
Yerin twisted the corner of her lips.
It was a sharp mockery.
“Because it is not the only source of supply.”
Also, if you turn the words around, it means that ‘the only source of supply for Seolucho is the North Sea Ice Palace.’
And Yejun.
“… … .”
I couldn’t bear to refute those words.
Yejun, who had been glaring at Yerin fiercely for a long time, eventually closed his eyes tightly.
“… … All right.”
The answer came out as if squeezed out.
Yerin looked with satisfaction at the young defeat on Yejun’s face.
yet.
“thank you. With this, Sacheondangmun took over the supply rights of Seolucho for the first time.”
A refreshing voice rang out.
If my Korean is correct I believe the suffix “mun” is clan. So Yerin is referring to the Sichuan Tang Clan. I believe Tang/Dang are phonetically similar in Korean so that’s why is often mixed up between those two. Thanks for the translation!