Pan Yun flew back to Omori village with Wang Cong and the other two. Some of the others remained behind to guard the docks, while the rest sailed themselves back to Yunotsucho Port.
By the time they rushed back, the sun hung on the verge of setting. Miao He was still overseeing the workers moving cargo.
Pan Yun nudged a crate at her feet with her toe and asked, "What's in this?"
After glancing at it, Wang Cong said, "Medicinal materials from Korea. The corners of the crate are painted green, and all the herbs inside have been wrapped in oil paper."
"What medicinal materials?"
"Mostly ginseng. There's also white balloonflower root, everlasting wormwood, and some tiger bones, rhinoceros horn, and musk."
Korean ginseng was famously prized, while white balloonflower root and everlasting wormwood counted as Korean specialties. The other medicinal materials were precious as well. China had a large population; no matter how much of them there was, it was never enough.
Some medicines were difficult to buy in the Ming Dynasty even with money, but in Korea, because Wang Cong came from the suzerain state and possessed ordination papers, he could buy them so long as he had the money.
Wang Cong said proudly, "I made a trip to Korea last year and this year. I've made friends with the officials and gentry there, so I can get a lot of medicinal materials with little effort."
"Did you trade in silver?"
"Ming Dynasty copper coins, silks, and porcelain all worked. You have no idea how popular our Ming copper coins are over there. Their currency is like our Treasure Notes—highly unstable. Though theirs is made of copper and iron too, it contains a great deal of impurities, so Ming copper coins are very welcome there."
Wang Cong said,