readsfreenovel Chapter 269 : Lee Seowon’s Myriad Gold Manor
Chapter 269 : Lee Seowon’s Myriad Gold Manor
The banquet hall grew noticeably quieter.The great merchants exchanged glances, reading one another.
Jin Seong-un deliberately refrained from interfering in Lee Seowon’s affairs and simply observed.
Lee Seowon was far more skilled in such matters, and saying nothing was the best way to grant him authority.
“As you all know, Myriad Gold Manor has been involved in quite a number of things. Perhaps far more than you’re even aware of.”
Originally, the Merchant King’s Myriad Gold Manor had not been like this.
It had built the greatest wealth in history with only a few core businesses.
However, under the Ha family, it changed rapidly.
They interfered in every business imaginable—until there was no trade in the Central Plains that did not pass through Myriad Gold Manor.
At best, it was business acumen.
At worst, it was monopolization through power.
Their method was simple.
They bought out established trading companies—some built over decades, even centuries—with sheer wealth.
Of course, few would willingly sell a legacy passed down through generations.
That was where the problem began.
The Ha family always took what they wanted.
Just as Ha Joo-myeong had killed his father for Myriad Gold Manor—and destroyed it for Jin Seong-un.
Those who refused to sell were crushed.
With their wealth and power, eliminating a long-standing trading company was effortless.
The prime example—
Wuhan Bank.
“Is the head of Wuhan Bank present?”
At Lee Seowon’s question, a thin middle-aged man flinched and raised his hand.
“Y-yes, that would be me.”
“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
“Y-yes…”
He stammered.
He was uncomfortable.
Because he had once served Myriad Gold Manor—
And had manipulated the Yichang branch of Wuhan Bank to pressure Seong-un Inn.
But Lee Seowon had not called him out for that.
“Was your predecessor the founder of Wuhan Bank?”
“…No.”
“Strange. A bank of such scale must have made its founding family wealthy.”
“….”
Silence.
“Answer me.”
“…I don’t know.”
“Because Myriad Gold Manor seized it by force? Installed you as a distant relative? Ruined the original family?”
“….”
That was always how it worked.
A heavy silence fell.
Those who knew coughed awkwardly. Those who didn’t stared in shock.
Then—
The bank master suddenly stepped forward and knelt.
“Please spare me! At this rate, Wuhan Bank will collapse!”
“Of course it will.”
Everyone knew—
Wuhan Bank was owned by Myriad Gold Manor.
Its notes were called Myriad Gold Notes.
The most widely used currency in the land.
Now, rumors of Myriad Gold Manor’s fall were spreading.
People would rush to redeem their notes.
Wuhan Bank would have to pay.
But it could not.
“If it collapses… chaos will follow.”
Businesses would fail. People would starve.
The entire financial system would freeze.
“I cannot allow that. But neither do I wish to inherit that debt…”
Lee Seowon scanned the merchants.
They all avoided his gaze.
Then—
He looked at one man.
The only one who did not look away.
“Heh. You want me to take it?”
“Is there another option?”
It was Kangnam Commerce’s leader, Lee Pyo-seong.
Now the greatest merchant in the Central Plains.
“Prevent the hardening of the gold veins. Only you can.”
Lee Seowon praised him.
The outcome was already decided.
Lee Pyo-seong nodded.
“I will take it.”
Their eyes met.
‘Thank you.’
‘Repay me later.’
Both nodded.
The biggest problem was solved.
Lee Seowon began distributing.
“Grain storage—Daepyeong Trading Company.”
“Eh? Ah… yes.”
Grain was essential—but troublesome.
Then—
Salt and iron—Hwa-un Trading Company.
An unyielding core business.
Hwa-un would now control national distribution—and gain imperial supplier rights.
Merchant of the Emperor.
Absolute trust.
Hwa Yeon-seol lowered her head, hiding her smile.
The merchant fleet—Jeokbyeok Escort Agency.
Bang Man-bok closed his eyes in bliss.
Hyeongju commerce—Oh Jeong-san.
He would now rule the region.
Unprofitable burdens were discarded.
Profitable cores were retained.
Ports and warehouses—
Seong-un Inn took them.
Endless income, no effort.
Even Lee Pyo-seong was impressed.
Auctions—
Others ignored them.
But they were the Black Market.
Finally—
A brewery.
And a barren land.
* What land?
Jin Seong-un asked.
Lee Seowon wrote:
‘Spiritual Land.’
A land of spirit herbs.
Fed by the residue of countless elixirs consumed by Ha Joo-myeong.
For years.
Now—
Even ordinary plants became treasures.
Ports.
Warehouses.
Black Market.
Brewery.
Infinite herbs.
Debts owed by major merchants.
Burden shifted away.
Lee Seowon was satisfied.
No one else could have dismantled Myriad Gold Manor like this.
Then—
A cough.
Tang Tae-san.
Hyeon-un. Seomun Jeok. Moyong Cheon.
They had waited quietly.
Lee Seowon spoke naturally.
“The Medicinal Hall goes to the Tang Clan.”
Tang Tae-san smiled.
Alchemy facilities—to Wudang.
The library—to Moyong Clan.
Metals—to Seomun Clan.
All were pleased.
Only then had Lee Seowon delayed their share—to avoid tension.
Now—
All core distributions were complete.
Yet dozens of businesses remained.
The merchants watched eagerly.
Then—
“Take the rest as you please. First come, first served.”
Silence—
Then chaos.
Arguments erupted.
A battlefield.
Lee Seowon smiled slightly.
“In business and politics, the most dangerous enemy is a hungry neighbor.”
“…”
“If they starve while we feast—they will come for our throats.”
He closed the ledger.
“We take the core. Throw the scraps to the wolves. Let them fight. No one will blame us.”
He stood.
Jin Seong-un realized—
Whose descendant he truly was.
Lee Seowon spoke.
“Myriad Gold Manor no longer belongs to the Lee family… nor the Ha family. It now belongs to the Central Plains.”
“The Merchant King would have wanted that.”
“…Perhaps.”
Lee Seowon nodded.
He had not reclaimed it fully.
But he had no regrets.
Seong-un Inn remained.
The Merchant King’s will remained.
That was enough.
Because to him—
Myriad Gold Manor was never about money.
It was about people.
The old Myriad Gold Manor had fallen—
But Lee Seowon’s Myriad Gold Manor had just begun.