Chapter 1357
That means he’s coming. (2)
“Supply?”
Yoon Jong tilted his head after swallowing a mouthful of meat.
“Do we really need supplies? With convenient fellows like Chung Myung around, who can hunt whenever we need meat, isn’t it enough to hunt occasionally and make do?”
Yoon Jong glanced at Chung Myung, who was busy tearing into the deer meat beside him.
Chung Myung was undoubtedly the best hunter he knew. With him around, there was hardly any chance of the hundred or so people going hungry.
However, Baek Cheon didn’t seem to agree.
“If everything went so smoothly, there wouldn’t be any need to worry.”
Baek Cheon let out a deep sigh before explaining.
“No matter how fast we bring back the prey, hunting is still hunting. It takes time to find and catch the animals, no matter what.”
“Well, that’s true…”
Yoon Jong nodded, finding it difficult to refute. No matter how quickly Chung Myung hunted, it still took time. Moreover, there was no guarantee that he could hunt as swiftly next time.
“If the enemy approaches closer and closer, eventually, we’ll be pressured to keep moving without rest. Will there be time for hunting then?”
“You’re right.”
With the enemy not just behind but possibly also ahead, the chance to rest while keeping a distance from them might not come again anytime soon.
“Many of the disciples of Haenam are already exhausted. And with the additional burden of carrying the injured, the situation is even more dire.”
“Yes. Sasuk.”
“If they can’t eat proper food on top of that, the outcome is quite predictable.”
Yoon Jong’s expression turned slightly more serious.
“It seems we need food that can be eaten while running. But wouldn’t it be better to prepare jerky in advance?”
“It’s impractical, it takes time to make jerky, and… Besides, can we feed jerky to unconscious patients?”
A groan escaped Yoon Jong’s lips. Among Haenam’s injured, many were barely conscious. It was unthinkable for them to chew on tough jerky. Wasn’t it the case that even the meat Chung Myung cooked couldn’t go into the mouths of the injured?
“In the end, we need grain.”
“I agree.”
If it’s grain, it can be roughly chewed and swallowed even while running, and if ground into powder, it can be mixed with water as a substitute for food in emergencies, making it suitable for the injured.
‘But where in these mountains can we find grain?’
The first thought was to search for nearby settlements, but Yoon Jong’s expression soon became somber. Finding those who lived deep in these mountains wasn’t easy, and they likely sustained themselves through hunting. It was unimaginable that they would have the necessary grain, even if it could be found.
Even if they did have grain, it was likely it was precious enough not to be sold, and taking it away was out of the question.
‘But then, how?’
Where in these mountains can they get grain?
“What do you plan to do?”
“We have to make a choice. Either take the risk and descend to the village to get the grain…”
“To gather enough for all these people to eat, it won’t go unnoticed. Enemy’s scouts could come rushing in.”
“We have to take that risk.”
“…”
A heavy sigh escaped from Yoon Jong’s lips. It seemed that solving one problem led to another, and resolving that brought forth yet another challenge.
Waging war against the powerful feels like trying to transfer water with a leather pouch riddled with holes.
“If getting grain means enduring that risk, it’s worth considering. But I doubt there would be anyone willing to sell grain to us.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because this is Gangnam, isn’t it? It’s under Sapaeryeon’s control, so they’ll be cautious about everything. They won’t readily hand over grain to strangers who suddenly appear. They’ll anticipate trouble.”
Baek Cheon tilted his head in apparent confusion, prompting a bitter smile on Yoon Jong’s face.
Baek Cheon, who had grown up without fear or hesitation before strong and powerful people, couldn’t comprehend the situation.
This is how sheep, who have to live in the same place as hungry wolves, feel about the world.
“Anyway, buying grain in bulk isn’t easy. Then, we’d have to split people and buy it little by little… But that would take too much time.”
“Hmm…”
Baek Cheon’s face sank with concern. Being in enemy’s territory turned even trivial issues into serious problems. It seemed like he could somewhat understand why so many sects were striving to expand the influence of their territories.
“So, what should we do then?”
Baek Cheon was furrowing his brows involuntarily.
“What are you so worried about?”
“Huh?”
Whistling as he walked, Chung Myung tossed a freshly cleaned deer bone in front of them.
“If selling grain is the issue, why not go to those who will sell?”
Yoon Jong frowned.
“Didn’t I say it already? There aren’t many people in Gangnam who would sell a lot of grain to strangers, are there? They’ll be cautious even about crossing a stone bridge.”
“No, that’s not what I meant. Can’t we just buy from the people who aren’t strangers to us?”
“…Where in Gangnam can we find people who aren’t strangers to us?”
Yoon Jong paused, looking at Chung Myung.
“…Surely you’re not talking about Maninbang?”
All eyes turned to Yoon Jong upon hearing those words. Under their focused gaze, Yoon Jong flinched and raised his hand.
“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…”
“Going insane, are you?”
“…No, it’s not that! I mean… come on, you always go off saying crazy things at times like this!”
“There’s a limit to craziness. Who in their right mind would say they’re going to buy grain from Maninbang? Did you happen to get hit on the head with a sword on your way here?”
“…”
Yoon Jong could withstand the accusing stare from Chung Myung.
What Yoon Jong found hard to bear was not Chung Myung’s gaze, but the looks from others that seemed to say, ‘That guy must have lost his mind.’
Jo Geol gently tapped Yoon Jong’s shoulder as he hung his head in defeat.
“I understand. Sahyeong.”
“…Just leave me alone.”
Baek Cheon, diverting his gaze from the despondent Yoon Jong, turned to Chung Myung.
“So, where are you suggesting we go? Where in Gangnam do we have acquaintances?”
“Well, maybe not acquaintances, but there are people who might have surplus grain to sell now and would be willing to.”
“So, who are they?”
“Sasuk has seen them.”
“Huh? They’re here?”
Baek Cheon’s eyes widened as if he suddenly realized something.
“Ah! Those!”
“Yes.”
Chung Myung chuckled softly as he spoke.
“There was grain in the village we stopped by on the way to Hainan. It was the grain given by those Saepaeryeon’s bastards.”
“Indeed…”
They had even cooked rice there. It hadn’t been too long, so it was unlikely that all that grain had been used up.
“While others may find us unfamiliar, there’s nothing particularly strange about those people, right? It’s a rough measure.”
“And it’s not too far from here?”
“Exactly.”
“Hmm.”
Baek Cheon nodded thoughtfully.
Chung Myung might be simplifying things by saying it’s just a rough measure, but the relationship between that village and the members of Cheonumaeng was not as straightforward as he made it sound.
While they hadn’t asked for compensation, weren’t they supposed to be in a give-and-take relationship?
It wasn’t like they were asking for grain for free, so there shouldn’t be any problem with buying grain with money.
“Ah, hold on.”
“Hmm?”
Jo Geol spoke with a worried expression.
“But the thing is, that village didn’t exactly have extra grain lying around. If we buy up all their grain, what will happen to the village?”
“Going crazy, are you?”
“Huh?”
“The villagers can just go down to the city to buy grain. They won’t sell to us, but there’s no reason they wouldn’t sell to those villagers.”
“Huh?”
Is that so?
“No, that’s not it. If those people start buying up grain in bulk, they’re bound to attract suspicious looks…”
“Geez, did this guy leave his brain in Sichuan! Just don’t buy it all at once. We’re in a hurry to go back, so we need to buy a lot, but those villagers can just buy a little from different places.”
“I see…”
Chung Myung clicked his tongue.
“They said there was a problem because there wasn’t enough grain in the market, but since Jang Ilso scattered grain everywhere, the grain that’s been hidden will probably show up in the market. It might be a bit expensive, but that’s just a matter of paying more.”
“…”
“We get the grain we need, and those villagers make enough money from buying and selling grain! Win-win situation, isn’t it?”
Baek Cheon looked at Chung Myung as if in awe.
Anyway, that guy was really sharp. Could it be that he was planning to use the only acquaintances they had in Gangnam… No, it was embarrassing to even call it a friendship, in such a way.
Nevertheless, as long as they didn’t leave any traces in the village, it was a plan where both parties could benefit.
“Um, Chung Myung.”
“Hmm? What now?”
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but there’s a fundamental problem with that plan.”
“What problem?”
Baek Cheon awkwardly opened his mouth.
“Well… To do as you say, we’ll need quite a bit of money, but unfortunately, I don’t have that much money right now.”
“…”
Chung Myung looked at Baek Cheon with a gaze that seemed to say, ‘What is this guy talking about?’
“You didn’t bring any money?”
“I did when we set out… But I used that money to give to the villagers at the time…”
It was better not to mention that he had given some money to the people in Hainan on their way back. The money was sure to cause trouble if word got out.
“You don’t have any money?”
“Well, it’s not like I have none at all…”
Baek Cheon was trying to come up with some excuse.
“Why are you even saying all this? You worry about every little thing. It’s fine. It’s fine.”
“Huh?”
Baek Cheon’s eyes widened. It was hard to believe that someone who was so obsessed with money would be so nonchalant about not having any…
“Anyway, it’s not like we’re the ones who are going to pay.”
“Huh?”
Upon hearing that, Baek Cheon’s head naturally turned towards Namgung Dowi.
Namgung Dowi, as if acknowledging that he also hadn’t brought any money, lowered his head, and Tang Pae shrugged in response.
Even Im Sobyeong turned her sleeves inside out to show that she had no money.
“Now, are you planning to rob bandits, at the very least?”
“…It doesn’t seem like such a big deal anymore.”
“And you don’t think that’s a problem? Huh?”
Anyway, it seemed that none of them had enough money to contribute.
“So what now?”
“Who said we should pay?”
“W-Well?”
“Why do we pay when there are others to eat? Look over there. Those nobles brought all sorts of expensive and valuable things when they left their home.”
“Huh?”
“There.”
Everyone’s heads turned towards the place Chung Myung pointed towards with his chin.
And they saw.
Exactly as Chung Myung had said, there were wealthy people who had gathered all sorts of valuable items when they left their homes.
“They have it.”
“They must have it.”
“Fortunately.”
Now, Geum Yangbaek, the Sect Leader of Haenam who had just joined them, felt a shiver run down his spine at the eerie feeling.
“W-What?”
A pleased smile appeared on the lips of Cheonumaeng’s members.
The smile that resembles that of Chung Myung, who was standing in the back.
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