Chapter 44: The Return of the Youngest Son of the Sangdan Family House

“I’ve got it!! It’s out!!”

Some time later.

Throughout the alleys of Hanyang, strange shouts began to echo one after another.

Right after each shout, cries of disbelief quickly followed.

“Finally, at long last...?”

“Let’s head to the bookstore now, hurry!!”

“How long have I waited for this! It was worse than shivering in the depths of winter, waiting for spring!”

The king of novels had returned.

After Kim Josun, who had been ghostwriting, left for the Dongjisa envoy, publication had come to a sudden halt.

And with the unceasing attacks of Confucian dogma from his old-fashioned father, the author had suffered greatly.

Above all, , which had kept all of Hanyang and Joseon’s readers in agony for months, made a grand return.

“I told you, didn’t I!! Didn’t I say that once Scholar Kim returned from Yanjing, a new volume would be released...!!”

“...Ahem, ahem...”

“Well, I’m sorry about that.”

“That’s your entire apology?? Hm???”

Of course, while the Dongjisa envoy was away from Joseon, Gyedeoksang, who had to bear the brunt of the readers’ and book wholesalers’ anger, immediately launched a counterattack.

But compared to the humiliation he’d suffered until now, this limp apology couldn’t possibly satisfy him.

“You lot! You turned the printing office upside down nearly every ten days, and now you just...!!”

“What could we do? We couldn’t exactly run all the way to Yanjing to find out the truth.”

“Just consider it as stepping in something filthy, and let it go, Manager Gye. Hm?”

“Aaargh!!!”

So, a minor incident occurred when Gyedeoksang, unable to hold back his anger over the karma he’d received, clutched his neck and fainted.

Well, regardless, the important thing was that the follow-up to the new novel, which had been at risk of discontinuation despite its explosive debut, was finally being published.

Naturally, news of the new volume of  brought crowds flooding into Hanyang’s bookstores.

“Fi-finally...!!”

“It’s back, it’s really back!!”

“It seems the author finally uncovered the secret to writing well in the orchard!!”

“Hurry, give me a copy!! I have plenty of money!!”

“Wait your turn! Hey!!”

Wonja thought the months-long gap would be huge, but it wasn’t at all.

Erasing the presence of such a grand work was, in truth, extremely difficult.

Unless a novel of equal stature appeared, or something happened in the real world to immediately shift readers’ attention,

Most readers never forgot a great work that had been put on hold.

“Oh, right, it was the same with that legendary management novel...!”

After hearing the report that the  craze hadn’t cooled at all,

Wonja realized his judgment had been mistaken, but oh well.

By then, ’s popularity was already out of control, and it didn’t seem like it would be a problem for a while.

“This is fun, really fun...!!”

“Other stories often take breaks this long anyway, so I suppose I can forgive it...”

“No!! Give me five volumes, no, ten! Bring me the whole thing until it’s finished!!”

Thus, during the period the Dongjisa was away,  once again set Hanyang ablaze.

Of course, the reason Hanyang’s readers were so enthusiastic wasn’t simply because a long-awaited novel had returned.

It was because the story, which had drawn in readers right from the first volume, was becoming ever more enthralling.

The tale of a servant, sacrificed to internal schemes within the Yangsun Merchant Guild, who is reborn as a member of the boss’s family and seizes control of the guild—

It gripped readers with developments so intense, they couldn’t put the next volume down.

[...

“‘The Gihan Shipyard’...? You mean the privately run shipyard there, right?”

“That’s right.”

The youngest grandson of the Sangdan household revealed a sudden, unexpected plan.

Oh Haengsu, who had so far devotedly cooperated with his business and helped grow the branch guild, was so shocked he couldn’t contain himself.

“What? All of a sudden? Why? Can’t we just keep earning as we have been? And besides, the shipyard...!!”

Up to now, just following the will of the head’s youngest grandson, Jin Jungil, they had never failed even once.

Riding their successive triumphs, they’d amassed enough wealth to live idly for generations.

But now, to suddenly invest in a privately run shipyard?

Although it had been some time since not only the authorities but even private citizens built ships, Jungil’s intent was entirely unreadable.

“I know. It’s nothing like what we’ve dealt with before.”

“Then why...?”

“You’ll find out soon enough. Don’t you trust me?”

“Well...”

At this time, the monopolies on commerce in Joseon were still firmly gripped by licensed merchants like the sijŏn merchants, since the prohibition on unauthorized markets had not yet been abolished.

The Yangsun Merchant Guild might now be the greatest in Joseon, but for now, they’d only grown by exploiting the loopholes in this system.

‘But soon, something will shake this centuries-old structure.’

But Jin Jungil knew.

Before long, a major change was coming to Joseon’s commercial ecosystem.

And though the change would only be temporary, it would create a great crack in the structure that allowed sijŏn merchants to monopolize privilege.

“From now on, whoever controls the waterways will control commerce in Joseon.”

“W-what...?”

“Remember this. From now on, that saying will be the truth. And, if you want to control the waterways, there’s something you need, right?”

“Right... Ships...!!”

“Correct.”

...]

The protagonist, Yun Woo-hyun, already knew from his knowledge of the future that repeated attempts would be made to abolish the merchant monopoly.

And he also knew that the government’s policy would weaken the established sijŏn merchant group, paving the way for the up-and-coming Gyeonggang merchants.

Furthermore, these Gyeonggang merchants would make their fortunes by transporting tax grain and all manner of goods via the waterways, aligning themselves with those in power.

Naturally, the protagonist anticipated that in the future, the shipbuilding industry would control the lifeline of these merchants, and thus he made his move with the aim of dominating the merchant guild.

For some reason, this episode, which evoked memories of the automobile company acquisition battles during the IMF era, had Joseon’s readers in a frenzy.

“This is insane...!! It actually turns out like this??”

“So this is the kind of nerve you need to make that much money... Someone as small-minded as me wouldn’t even dare.”

“But while it makes sense for Jin Jungil to jump on the shipyard acquisition since he knows the future, how did Jin Daebang catch on and act as well?”

“That’s why he’s the leader of Joseon’s greatest merchant guild. Not just anyone could do that!”

Moreover, what thrilled them wasn’t just the protagonist’s actions, armed with knowledge of the future.

True to his status as the head of Joseon’s greatest merchant guild, his grandfather, Jin Daebang, displayed a charisma that rivaled even that of a man from the future, enchanting readers.

[...

“...Why do you obsess over mere shipping so much?”

Jin Daebang’s face darkened.

The eldest son and prominent successor candidate, Jin Giyeong, had spoken such foolishness that he seemed quite displeased.

“Yes, Father. Even if we risk sinking and work ourselves to death to deliver goods to Hanyang on time, all it does is line the pockets of the sijŏn merchants, doesn’t it??”

“You fool!!! Are you still ignoring the roots of the Yangsun Merchant Guild!!”

No, now Jin Daebang’s feelings had gone beyond displeasure and into anger.

“The reason my guild upholds the ideal of ‘serving the nation through transport’—do you think your father does this just to make money!!”

“F-Father...”

“Shipping is the lifeblood and bloodstream of Joseon!! Only if logistics flows can goods be evenly distributed across the eight provinces, and thus can our guild contribute to the nation! Do you truly not understand that!!”

Raising the veins on his neck, Jin Daebang declared that he could not stand to see a land where some have surplus rice while others starve to death.

“I raised you to be a merchant, not a miser!! Do you think you’ve fulfilled the merchant’s way just by hoarding coins!!”

“Father...!”

“Not one of my sons is even half as worthy as young Jungil!! Pull yourself together!!”

...]

As always, a good novel requires not only a good protagonist but supporting characters who captivate the heart.

This was a universal truth, even in this era.

Even in Park Ji-won’s , wasn’t the story brightened by the magnanimity of the wealthy Byeon Seung-eop, who recognized the true value of the protagonist, Heo Saeng, in advance?

So it was with Jin Daebang in .

He was both the obstacle the protagonist had to overcome and, at times, even more charming than the protagonist himself, captivating readers.

Whenever the protagonist’s humanity seemed to falter, Jin Daebang’s unique charisma filled the gap, driving the story forward.

“Wow... And he even boldly passes down the shipyard he’d already invested in to his grandson?”

“So even the leader of the Yangsun Merchant Guild is acknowledging Jin Jungil? The child of the youngest, who’s always had no presence until now?”

“A true great man, a true daein! Even if it’s just a story, who would expect to find such a giant among merchants!!”

And seeing this charismatic supporting character recognize the protagonist gave readers an unconscious thrill.

The protagonist, who served up cider without hesitation, and the well-crafted supporting cast created a synergy that kept readers glued to their bookshelves.

“It’s over already...?”

“No way!!”

The success story of Yun Woo-hyun, using knowledge of the future.

And on top of that, the complex relationship between the charismatic Jin Daebang—sometimes a rival, sometimes an acknowledging elder.

Readers, enraptured by this utterly addictive story, found themselves reaching the final page in a flash.

“The n-next volume...”

“Shopkeeper!! Is the next volume coming out in a few months again?? We’ll all die like this!!”

“Please, please, somehow find the author and beg him to write faster!! Pleeease!!”

Thus,  once again scattered withdrawal symptoms across Hanyang, proving that Wonja’s novel was a massive hit.

But, fortunately, their worries didn’t come to pass.

As if those months of endless waiting had been a lie,  quickly returned to its previous rapid serialization pace.

So much so, in fact, that some readers praised a righteous hero for surely burning down the author’s orchard.

Well, the real reason ’s serialization had slowed to the point where people suspected it was discontinued was because King Jeongjo had mistaken Kim Josun for the author.

The real author, in fact, had been shut away in a hidden study, tortured with study and unable to write.

In any case, at last, ‘that person’s’ serialization pattern seemed to have returned entirely to normal.

And once again, Hanyang’s readers were reveling in the joy of reading as they always had...

* * *

Thus,  continued its steady serialization for several months.

By the time the story advanced to the point where protagonist Jin Jungil, with his knowledge of the future and his unique decisiveness and drive, was on the verge of seizing the Yangsun Merchant Guild—

“Your Majesty, the Gyujanggak scribe has arrived.”

At the height of ’s popularity, the king suddenly summoned his loyal subject to Heejeongdang Hall.

That loyal subject, promoted for his accomplishments in the diplomatic envoy and for the great success of the red ginseng trade, was none other than Kim Josun.

But then—

“Ho...”

A sound of admiration escaped from King Jeongjo as he looked at the minister entering the chamber.

Although he’d summoned Kim Josun without warning, it was as if the man had expected to be called by the king.

“Are those the items you’re presenting to me?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. This humble servant Kim Josun has an urgent matter to report for the future of Joseon...”

Kim Josun respectfully entered, holding a wooden box.

So unexpected was this sight, it left Jeongjo himself speechless.

Originally, Jeongjo had summoned Kim Josun to discuss the contents of , which he thought only Kim Josun had written.

After all, he had originally ordered that satirical novel as a way to promote his policy, the Shinhae Tonggong, through Kim Josun.

Of course, even while traveling all the way to distant Beijing, his loyal subject had faithfully carried out the king’s orders.

It was pleasing enough that the flourishing of commerce brought about by his policies was well depicted in the story, serving to promote it among the people.

However, there was a problem: aspects Jeongjo hadn’t even considered when designing the policy were quietly appearing in the novel.

“Ha ha... ‘Merchants are not a people to trust entirely, nor to doubt entirely’...”

“Your Majesty...”

“Is this the advice you truly wished to offer me?”

Yet, Jeongjo’s demeanor was somewhat different from what Kim Josun had anticipated.

After all, since the king had taken considerable interest in this policy, Kim Josun had steeled himself to face him.

“Fascinating, Josun. I didn’t think your insight would be this keen...”

Turning the pages of the latest volume of  once again, Jeongjo murmured.

It seemed there was a reason why, before the envoy’s departure, Jeongjo had summoned Park Ji-won and the rest of the northern learning scholars after receiving Wonja’s synopsis through Kim Josun.