Episode 333. A mouse in crisis (2)
From the outside, it looked like a general store that handled grains, medicinal materials, linens, and daily necessities, but in this era, you could never make a big profit by handling only those things, and you couldn’t become one of the richest people in Lukyang.
Although it is the most dangerous, the item that makes the best profit if done well is military supply.
Among them, military rice is an indispensable item.
After Xia Hudong saw the large amount of grains being handled at Sagajang, he realized that they were a group of people pretending to be ordinary. Weapons such as arrows and spears and shields are probably being handled elsewhere.
‘Since the congressman was especially friendly, it must be a group of people doing business with the congressman.’
As the speculation took concrete form, Xia Hudong suddenly had access to a great truth that seemed to stifle him.
Eosa Daebu’s territory is currently the largest among all feudal lords.
And each region’s feudal lords and leaders assumed that Eosa Daebu’s army was dealing with the largest group, the Sama Sangdan.
“Seo, can’t Sama Sangdanju be the head of the family? Hey, what am I thinking right now…. Even for me, there is no such thing as a cringing Saga headmaster, called a dragon who cannot be seen hiding in the clouds!”
Hahudong approached the truth, but shook his head.
Sama Sangdanju was a mysterious person who was terrified that even Mupyeonghu and his aides could not catch the truth.
“But maybe it could be about the level of a sama with one leg on top of the sama. That’s right, I think it’s plausible. Even if it’s a row, it’s probably because I made a deal with the congressman.”
Due to the nature of the merchant, he would have flattered those who made money, excluding the liver and gallbladder.
If so, the painter could have offered to pay for the meal.
Even if the sagajangju is the top tier of the row supply class belonging to the sama guild, it is not already a small chunk.
Of course, all of this is his own guess, but even after hearing that guess, someone will draw a big picture, and if he is moderately impulsive, he seems to be able to induce him to take revenge instead.
“Since Yeoni-hyung is being kicked out of Hadong-gun, he often chats with the former bookkeeper and seems to be plotting something, but it turned out well. If we leave Sagajangju and the councilor as they are, if we plant the perception that they are big enemies who will threaten Joe in the future….
No, maybe he was already making a big plate.
As soon as he drew a sketch in his head to move Xiahouyeon, Xiahoudong limped toward Xiahouyeon’s manor.
* * *
“Who came?”
Ha Huyeon, who was drinking tea with Jeon, heard the servant’s words and asked with a puzzled expression.
“Dong Hahu-dong, who was the Great Changryeong, not the Great Changryeong Hahu, came to visit.”
“I know that he was flogged in his 60s, but was he still alive? Anyway, okay, so go ahead.”
“yes.”
Ha Hu-yeon watched Ha Hu-dong, who was her 8th cousin, but was punished by Hwa-bok, flogged, and had his property confiscated.
He must have known that the crime and evidence were too clear and he had received so many bribes decisively that he had given the bribes to the former governor and not to himself.
Because of that, I didn’t pay attention to it on purpose.
After a while, Xiahoudong limped in and bowed his head.
“I haven’t seen you in a long time. Yeon brother. Oh, the previous bookkeeper was there too.”
“I heard that you suffered a major misfortune. Are you okay?”
“Well, I can bear it.”
“I should have been more careful, but as you know, I’m not at ease preparing to relocate soldiers to Hadong-gun.”
“Since the owner of Luoyang Castle has changed… I understand.”
Ha Hu-dong raised his luck by planting a sense of community, believing that if the owner of Luoyang was still Jojo, not only himself but all of us would not have suffered like this.
“Don’t stand there, sit here.”
“I’m not fully healed yet, so standing is comfortable.”
Seeing Xiahoudong standing uncomfortably on his cane, Xiahouyan smiled bitterly when he heard his words.
“Oh, yes. But you must be uncomfortable, but what did you come to at this time of the night?”
“I recently saw Sagajangju and Eosadaebu happily greet each other as if they were looking for a separated family.”
“It seems that the head of Saga and the godfather of Eosa had a close relationship.”
“Yeah, it seemed like that. But isn’t Yeon-hyung a bit strange?”
“What is strange about it?”
“The head of the house is a merchant here in Luoyang, and the father of the king is Ye-ju and Seo-ju…”
Ha Hu-dong spoke of the conclusions he had reached after thinking and guessing at home, emphasizing how dangerous a painter was a few times.
After hearing all of Ha Hudong’s words, Ha Huyeon and Jeon changed their expressions to a serious expression different from before hearing the words.
“It’s all your speculation, but it’s very likely.”
“yes. It is worthy of suspicion, and if my guess is true, I can only think that the reason why Sima Sangdan has only passively provided military supplies to Empress Wu Ping is because Eosa Daebu interfered behind the scenes.”
“hmm! Wearing the mask of a stepbrother in front, rubbing one’s palms, and adjusting the top of a horse in the back to block the supply route of military supplies and make the brother-in-law, the Duke of Zhou, lose the war… It could have been planned.”
“Eosa Godfather, no, that congressman! It is clear that he has a terrifyingly frightening mind. Otherwise, how could I have fooled Queen Mu-pyeong for such a long time? So, somehow, we need to inform the governor of this fact and remove it if the opportunity arises.”
“It’s not a problem to inform the governor, but how do you get rid of it?”
“older brother. I don’t know how my older brother sees me, but I’m not blind.”
Hahudong lowered his voice.
“The reason I said this in the first place is because I thought it was unlikely that my brother would be easily expelled from Hadong County. If you have a plan you have prepared… please tell me too.”
Ha Hu-yeon hesitated for a moment at Ha Hu-dong’s words, but when he thought that they were already on the same boat, he looked back and nodded.
“I don’t know what to say to you, but I prepared a small gift for Eosa.”
“Can you tell me what the gift is?”
“Whoa~. The fewer people who know these things, the better… It’s good. Because it is you, I will tell you.”
Hwahuyeon lowered her voice even more.
“Around the inauguration ceremony, Ma Teng will lead an army to attack.”
“Ma Teng is attacking?”
Xiahoudong was surprised and greatly admired.
“As expected, I can’t dare imagine my older brother’s plan.”
If the enemy attacks in time for the inauguration ceremony, the inauguration ceremony cannot be carried out properly, and the generals and soldiers have to go out to fight, so they become hectic.
Even if the inauguration ceremony goes ahead as scheduled, there is no choice but to keep it as simple as possible, and the level of escort will be lowered because there are no generals and soldiers to fill the seats.
I thought that if I aimed at that time and moved the 30,000 soldiers still remaining in the castle, I might be able to kill the Eosa Daebu and the governor.
“It’s not my plan, it’s a result that I managed to achieve after careful consultation and planning with this bookkeeper.”
“Then, is the inauguration day the day to kill Eosa Daebu and the governor?”
“Originally, I didn’t think that far, but listening to you, I think we were a little complacent.”
“Even though I have nothing to do with the large amount of money this time, I will give a little help to my brother and the bookkeeper’s plan.”
Xiahoudong suddenly took out a small box from his pocket and put it on the table, and Xiahouyeon opened it.
“I heard that their property was confiscated and even their wives left for their in-laws… Where did they come from?”
“I managed to hide it, but it went unnoticed and was safe. There is no hope for me now, so brother, use it to buy weapons to kill them.”
“I won’t eat the liver of a flea, but I’ll take your heart. put it back.”
“no. It’s one of the worst things I can do because my body is like this, so I can’t even lift a hand. Please help me to get revenge.”
“Huh~ Our action isn’t for your revenge… but I knew it anyway. This riches will be of great strength.”
“Then I will go.”
“You’re not feeling well, but it’s late at night, so go to sleep.”
“no. If I go out in the morning, there might be some suspicious eyes. I will go now.”
“It’s more like going now. So go to bed.”
“Then I will go to sleep.”
When Xia Hudong was guided by a servant, Xia Huyeon called his subordinate and gave an order in a low voice.
“Has anyone followed Dong-yi?”
“No.”
“Since you know the secret you shouldn’t know, keep an eye on it, and if it seems to have other feelings, you can cut its throat.”
“I take orders.”
“Oh, and send someone with a clear eye to Ha Hu-dong’s house to find the bribes he may have hidden. Surely this is not all that has brought me.”
“All right.”
When the load went out, the old one showed some concern.
“Lord Xiahoudong has already fallen, isn’t that a bit excessive?”
“He’s been enjoying luxury thanks to the Duke of Jugong, and only after he’s been victimized, he’s a guy who wants to use us for revenge. He’s worthless even if you keep him alive.”
At Ha Huyeon’s words, Jeon nodded.
“Come to think of it, he’s a selfish guy.”
“Now, let’s finish talking about what we were talking about. During the inauguration ceremony…..”
* * *
Eulji knew Hahu-dong’s movements and that Ha Hu-yeon and Jeon often met and chatted, but a whopping 250,000 troops were stationed in Nakyangseong, and 30,000 Mupyeonghu troops were stationed in Hadong-gun after the inauguration ceremony. I didn’t have any doubts about leaving.
However, on the day before the inauguration ceremony, the news came from Sejak working in Lukyang that Ma Teng was coming to Lukyang with an army.
“what! 250,000 troops marched from Changan three days ago?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“I get it. I need to go see the principal right now. You did a good job.”
“yes.”
Eulji immediately went to the flower shop, which was busy preparing for the inauguration ceremony, and delivered the news.
Hearing Eulji’s words, the painter entrusted the preparation of the inauguration ceremony to others and convened a meeting with the general and the scribes.
“Although the movements of the Xiliang Army were unusual, I thought that Ma Teng and Han Sui had a bad relationship like a dog and a cat, so I thought they wouldn’t cause an army…
” You know what has changed and you see it as an opportunity. Dogs and cats fight, but when they meet a common enemy, they also join forces.”
“I thought it would be nice to write an alien world after I stabilized Luoyang, but to hear that I was attacked first… What about the movements of the Hansu soldiers stationed in Pungik County?”
“For some reason, Poongik-kun is quiet as if they are watching other people’s business, even though they are clearly allies.”
“It’s fortunate that the relationship between the two of them is bad. If we had joined forces, we would have had to bring in troops from Ikju.”
“If we left three days ago, we still have a few days to spare, so we should hurry up and send the military to the border area of Hongnong County to understand the geography and come up with a plan.”
“It should be. However, if all the generals and bookmakers leave, I think the inauguration ceremony of President Hwabok will be too cold…. It is the bookmakers who have to figure out the topography and devise a strategy, so first send the bookmakers and managers first, and the chiefs leave tomorrow after the inauguration ceremony. it would be better Even if it is delayed by a day or two, it is enough to arrive before the enemy arrives, and if there is a plan in place, all you have to do is execute it.”
“Your brother’s inauguration ceremony is important, but how could it be as important as the enemy attacking? I can be alone at the inauguration ceremony, so the general, please lead all the generals to the battlefield. I will just watch the inauguration ceremony and run straight to the battlefield.”
Bangtong shook his head at the fireman’s words.
“Right now, Master Hwabok’s position is high because of the Duke of Jugong. If it was a simple governor inauguration ceremony, the prestige of several generals would not be needed, but it is a place to inform the people of Luoyang, not to the barons and rich people of Luoyang, that the owner of Luoyang changed from Empress Wuping to Duke of Zhou. need to be shaken off.”
The fireman thought for a moment, then nodded his head without ignoring Bangtong’s words.
In fact, since it is the place to officially announce that the owner of Lukyang has changed, it shines only when there are longevity worthy of it.
I had no intention of preparing for the war in vain, but it was fortunate that I had two days to spare.
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