Warring States Survival Guide

Chapter 212 Yes

Kichijiro Hirashima was sitting in a street-side liquor shop in Shinwanjin, drinking the slightly sour but sweet "Bamboo Fruit Wine" - a fruit wine made from bamboo tubes, wild fruits and a small amount of taro. Because it consumes very little grain and purchases a large amount of wild fruits from rural areas, it has the effect of a disguised disaster relief. Therefore, it has been publicly commended by Yuanye and has become the "famous wine" of Wanjin in the past two years.

Of course, the taste... can only be said to be barely acceptable. In any case, in Kichijiro Hirashima's opinion, it is not as good as shochu, sake and the like, and at best it can be compared with turbid wine.

But this kind of wine took advantage of the right time. In the past two years, Wanjin suffered a famine and food shortage. Not to mention rice and wheat, even miscellaneous grains and black beans began to be regulated. Many wineries were forced to close. However, this winery found a way out in adversity and became bigger and stronger, becoming a latecomer and the winner. Even the taste of it has been accepted by the people of Wanjin, and its slightly sour taste has been praised by many people.

Sometimes hard work is not as good as luck!
Kichijiro Hirashima put down his wine glass and sighed secretly. He was very jealous of the wine shop owner whom he had never met. After all, when comparing the two, he was really an unlucky guy - the disaster relief of the Wanjin government made this mediocre wine become a famous wine, but for him, it turned into a collapse in iron prices and he would not be able to survive.

He was feeling uncomfortable when the person he had made an appointment with arrived. It was his old friend and younger brother Shi Liulang.

The two of them were from the same period. They were bought back to Wanjin from Atsuta Port by Maejima Jichiro together, and then they worked together in the coolie team to dig ditches and build houses. Then they went to the iron fields together to play in the mud, and finally they went to the iron workshop together. Basically, in the first few years after arriving in Wanjin, the two of them lived and ate together and had a very deep relationship.

Hirashima Kichijiro didn't bother to be polite with his old friend. He sat down and greeted him, "Liu Lang, this way!"

Ishirokuro didn't bother to be polite with him. He came over, picked up the wine jug and poured himself a drink. After taking a big sip, he smiled and said, "Brother Jiro, call me Ishino Pingzheng from now on."

"Oh, you have chosen a name?" Hirashima Kichijiro was not surprised. Wanjin was currently implementing the "Household Registration Law", which included requirements regarding "names" in order to solve the problem of Wanjin being full of peasants and having a high rate of duplicate names - the Wanjin army had encountered this problem before. If you called out "Jiro", twenty or thirty people would look up and six or seven would respond.

So everyone has been racking their brains to come up with a good name these days, even Kichijiro Hirashima has come up with a new name, Yoshinari Hirashima - his "Hirashima" was not his surname before, but the iron workshop he opened was called "Hirashima Ironworks", so people called him Kichijiro Hirashima.

Shi Liulang was very happy to have a "surname" and said happily: "Yes, from now on my son will have the surname Shiye, and so will my grandson and great-grandson."

"Congratulations." Hirashima Kichijiro clapped his hands to show his congratulations, and then he couldn't help but start to make sarcastic remarks, "Give birth to your son first before you think about these things!"

Shi Liulang laughed and didn't care. Instead, he asked with concern: "Brother Jilang, what's the matter with you suddenly looking for me?"

The smile on Hirashima Kichijiro's face disappeared, and he sighed, "I want to ask you if Wanjin Third Iron Workshop has any plans to recruit people recently?"

Wanjin Third Ironworks is a "state-owned factory" in Wanjin, mainly producing farm tools. Shi Liulang was not fooled into starting a business in the beginning, and he had been working hard in Wanjin Ironworks. Later, Yuanye occupied the Chita Peninsula and the territory expanded. His wealth also rose, and he was assigned to the newly established Wanjin Third Ironworks, becoming a middle-level manager, which is equivalent to a "state-owned enterprise cadre" who can get a stable income regardless of drought or flood - his income is considered upper-middle within the Wanjin system!
Now the Third Iron Workshop in Wanjin is also a good job, especially in the past two years, a large number of disaster victims have been relocated to the vicinity of Xinwanjin, a job with good income and very stable is very popular. Shi Liulang has heard people ask this question many times in the past two years, and immediately asked back: "Brother Jilang, do you want to recommend someone here?"

This is a bit difficult to handle. Abuse of power for personal gain is strictly investigated. But with his qualifications, he may be able to get a temporary job. Then it depends on his own ability. If he is capable and willing to work hard and meets the right opportunity, he can be converted to a regular employee. If he doesn't have the ability, he can only make a living.

Kichijiro Hirashima opened his mouth, and his rough face, which had been dried out by the fire for a long time, turned red. However, the situation was stronger than the person, and he said it even though he was a little embarrassed: "Well... I want to find a job, can you see... help me ask... Alas..."

Shi Liulang was stunned and shocked: "Your iron workshop..."

"I can't do this any longer." Hirashima Kichijiro sighed deeply. "Ironware is not selling well now. There are very few orders from Endo-sama. I can't sell the old ones in the market, and I don't dare to make new ones. But I have to pay the salaries of the helpers and repay the bank loan, so... I plan to close the workshop."

"Oh, I see..." Shi Liulang roughly understood what was going on and was speechless for a moment.

In the past two years, there has been a policy to replace all farmers on the Chita Peninsula with iron farm tools in order to increase grain production, land reclamation efficiency and the speed of building tertiary roads (roads within the village and nearby). Therefore, the "State-owned Iron Workshop" is almost shipping at par, or even at a small loss. The Wanjin government, which received these goods, gave the iron farm tools to the poorest farmers in the form of rewards, future installment repayments, and government subsidies, in order to gain overall benefits in the future.

At the same time, because of the disaster relief, Wanjin was under great financial pressure. In order to recover quickly, Wanjin was desperately selling ironware and iron materials, causing the price of ironware in Atsuta Port to plummet, so...

Private colleagues like Kichijiro Hirashima were in bad luck. As long as Yuanye gave the order, the "state-owned ironworks" would dare to sell iron as wood, even if they suffered huge losses. But these private workshop owners would die if they did not make money, let alone losses.

Shi Liulang was helpless about this situation. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "It's not as easy to get into the ironworks in Wanjin now. If you want to go, you can only work as a temporary worker first. The salary is not very high. It's a bit unfair to you..."

After a pause, he asked again, "Didn't you ask Sun Liulang? He has many acquaintances at the Old Iron Workshop, so he should be able to find a solution, right?"

"I've asked the First Iron Workshop." Shi Liulang sighed again, "I've asked both Sun Liulangs. The Old Iron Workshop is now mainly producing cannons, and the management is stricter. If you want to hire someone, you must notify Lord Aman. Even if you want to do odd jobs, you have to notify him. It's inconvenient for them."

"Then I can only do odd jobs here." Shi Liulang is living a decent life now, but he still feels uncomfortable when he hears Aman's name. He can't help but raise his hand to touch his face - when he first came to Wanjin, he was beaten by Aman many times for making mistakes, and in the past two years, some people in the ironworks made mistakes and were taken away by Aman's men. Their endings were not good, which is a bit scary to think about.

Hirashima Kichijiro had no choice but to sigh, "It's just odd jobs, I'm thankful to have enough food to eat. If things don't work out for you, I might have to sign up to participate in the land reclamation. That way I can at least get a piece of public land and I won't starve to death."

Joining a land reclamation group organized by the government is the last resort for most people, but reclamation groups usually go to remote areas. If possible, he doesn't want to leave the vibrant city of Xinwanjin. He has become accustomed to the life here, and he has almost forgotten how to farm. It would probably be difficult to go to reclaim land.

Shi Liulang sighed with him, hesitated for a moment and asked: "Brother Jiro, didn't you try to find Lord Nohara? Back then at the old iron shop, he praised you! With this kind of incense relationship, he must take care of you."

"I contacted him more than three months ago, and His Highness later approved an order for me, otherwise I would not have been able to survive these three months." Although Kichijiro Hirashima was deceived by the policy, or in other words, by Yuanye, he did not blame Yuanye. He knew that Yuanye's order was more beneficial to the entire Wanjin, and he could only blame his bad luck.

He said helplessly: "I don't want to trouble Your Highness anymore. No matter what happens now, it's better than when I almost starved to death. I'll start over again on my own!"

Next time he would not start a business, but would just work honestly in the Third Iron Workshop in Wanjin, trying to make up for the loss of the past two to three years. It was a pity that he bought a house in the new Wanjin, so he would suffer a small loss if the workshop went bankrupt, and he would probably have to sell the new house to repay the loan. Fortunately, he had earned some money before and had some savings, which could offset the loan, otherwise it would be even worse.

But it's okay, after all he got married, and his family lived in a new house for two years. Unlike Shi Liulang, he still lives in the workshop dormitory and has to wait in line if he wants to get married.

After comforting himself in this way, he felt a little better. He bowed his head to Shi Liulang and said, "Liulang, I will ask you to take care of my brother from now on."

Shi Liulang was also secretly glad that he was not as radical as Hirashima Kichijiro, who saw a liquor seller in Jiuwanjin making a fortune and ran to follow his example. However, he still said sincerely: "Don't say that, Brother Jiro, I didn't know anything back then, but you kept pulling me to learn things. If it weren't for you, I might still be doing odd jobs!"

"Let's not talk about the past. Anyway, this matter depends entirely on your help."

"It should be no problem. You have the skills and have managed a workshop before. Maybe you can get a permanent job after doing odd jobs for a few months."

"I hope so!" Hirashima Kichijiro saw hope in life again and immediately poured wine for Ishirokuro. He wanted to treat him to a good meal today. The two of them were toasting each other and reminiscing about the good and bad times. He lamented that he was tied to the back of an ox cart with a straw rope and pulled to Wanjin, but he didn't expect to be able to drink so much today, so falling down now was nothing.

At this time, a worker from the Hirashima Iron Works suddenly rushed in, looked around and saw Hirashima Kichijiro, and moved sideways a few steps and said anxiously: "Master, His Highness is looking for you."

Hirashima Kichijiro was stunned: "Your Highness? Which Your Highness? Your Highness Nohara?"

"Of course it's His Highness Nohara!" The hired worker didn't want his ironworks to close down, which would make him unemployed, so he said anxiously, "Master, please go quickly. Maybe His Highness can give us some orders again."

…………

If there was hope, Kichijiro Hirashima did not want his business, Hirashima Iron Works, to go bankrupt. When he heard that Yuanye had sent someone to look for him, he no longer cared about anything else and immediately ran all the way to Wanjin Office.

Because he ran so fast and in such a panic, he was almost caught as a thief by the patrolling police. Fortunately, the policeman was easy to talk to and he was able to explain clearly without wasting much time.

However, he was not able to see Yuanye immediately when he arrived. He was led to the reception room by two young female staff members, who gave him a very detailed registration and asked him about all his experiences since his childhood. The questions were then copied down and filed. Then he was sent to the waiting room next to Yuanye's office to start the interview process.

Kichijiro Hirashima was confused, but he didn't care much. He had a clean background and was a genuine "old Wanjin". He was just too short, and the Wanjin army disliked him and refused to accept him. Otherwise, he would not have said a word on the battlefield with Yuanye, so it didn't matter at all if they asked about his life and origins.

He thought this was a normal meeting procedure and waited anxiously for a long time, only to find that there were all kinds of people in the waiting room - tall, short, fat, thin, of different ages, dressed differently, and from all walks of life. There were even some people who looked like they had been farmers for a long time, and now they were facing the supreme ruler of Wanjin, and they felt a little uneasy.

Kichijiro Hirashima felt something was strange, but he didn't dare to ask questions casually in a place like this. He looked for a few times and then lowered his head, without asking, looking or listening, just waiting for Yuanye to give him an order.

In this way, his ironworks might be able to survive for a few more months, and during these months, the price of iron might return to normal, and he would survive.

People in the waiting room were constantly taken into Yuanye's office. They stayed there for different lengths of time, but most of them looked confused when they came out, and in their confusion there was a strange excitement, and in their excitement there seemed to be a bit of panic. In short, their expressions were very complicated.

This doesn't look like an order distribution, and shouldn't the newly established Wanjin Business Department be responsible for this? Even Endo Chiyo-sama wouldn't handle it personally now, so why does Yuanye, the top person in charge of Wanjin, have to personally speak one by one?

Kichijiro Hirashima finally realized something was wrong, but it was his turn now, so he could only open the door and go in with a lot of doubts.

There were only Yuanye and Aqing in the office. Or rather, Aqing was not really a person. She was just the last line of defense, sitting here habitually to prevent Yuanye from being hacked to death. She did not participate in specific affairs. Yuanye looked up and saw that it was Hirashima Kichijiro. He did not say much, but pointed to the chair in front of him and said with a smile: "It's you, come and sit down!"

In the past, Yuanye used the excuse of "it's better to do more work than to pay respects" to strangle the common people who followed the traditional kneeling and kowtow in the old Wanjin. As the "old Wanjin", Hirashima Kichijiro did not pay respects this time. He just sat down and bowed his head respectfully and asked, "Your Highness, what do you want me to do?"

Yuan Ye did not dwell on his title. Even if the Equality Order was officially implemented, some things still needed to be subtly influenced. However, he was still very optimistic about this point. Overthrowing an old government would not necessarily result in a new government. It was more likely to result in chaos, such as Syria. Therefore, if he wanted to eliminate the samurai and the attached aristocratic monk group, he would need someone to replace them, and replace them in a controllable way.

Yuanye handed him a document and said with a smile: "Congratulations, Jijiro, you have been appointed as a member of the Shinwantsu City Council."

Hirashima Kichijiro was confused. This person really wasn't here to place an order, but he didn't dare to say it directly. He just lowered his head to look at the wax-printed manuscript and said in confusion: "Shinwanjin City... Councillor?"

"I remember that in the workshop before, you seemed to know hundreds of Chinese characters, right? Have you forgotten them in the past few years?" Yuan Ye was very friendly. After all, he picked these people one by one. He pointed at the manuscript and smiled, "In short, I plan to organize a parliament, and you will be the first member. Remember to come to the meetings on time in the future. It won't be too frequent, probably only three to five times a year, so it won't take up much of your time, and there will be some meeting allowances."

Kichijiro Hirashima was indeed literate. He was provided with the conditions at the Wanjin Iron Workshop, but the requirements were not as strict as those of the Wanjin Army. It was a voluntary study. After all, a day of high-intensity work was already very tiring, and forcing people to study was a bit excessive, so very few people persisted.

Kichijiro Hirashima is one of them. After he became a private abbot, due to the environment in Wanjin, he had to sign documents for everything, but he still insisted on learning, and now reading manuscripts is not a problem for him.

When he looked closely, he found that this "parliament" was divided into regions. He was a member of the "New Wanjin City Parliament" and would have the opportunity to be elected as a "Wanjin Councillor" to attend the Wanjin-wide D-level meeting in the future. However, he did not understand what this parliament specifically did.

He did not dare to keep Yuan Ye waiting any longer, so he hurriedly asked carefully, "Your Highness, I will of course obey your orders, but what exactly does this councillor do?"

"You are responsible for supervising the work of government departments and speaking for the group you represent to ensure that your interests are not harmed." Yuanye explained seriously that this matter of letting common people act as supervisors could only be done by him personally, otherwise these people would not have the courage to do so without his support.

"Supervise the government's work?" Hirashima Kichijiro was stunned for a moment. Isn't that supervising Endo Chiyo? How dare he? And...

He hesitated for a moment and said, "The group I represent... Your Highness, who can I represent?"

"Oh, it says here that you represent all the individual ironworks in Xinwanjin City, and you need to speak for them, but you are the first person to take on the role. No matter if you are suitable or not, the next person will be replaced."

Theoretically, members of parliament should be "elected", but Wanjin does not have the conditions for that now. The illiteracy rate is still over 80%, and most of those who are not illiterate are semi-illiterate, so elections are impossible. All the members of parliament this time were appointed by him, so it can only be considered that a framework has been set up and a start has been made.

Kichijiro Hirashima quickly lowered his head to take a closer look at the place pointed out by Harano, and found that which industry and which group of people should have councilors was decided by Harano himself and his successor, and even the number was different. For example, farmers currently had one or two people in each village based on the size of the village, and he was the only private iron workshop owner. These people adopted the principle of minority obeying the majority or two-thirds majority to vote on the issues raised by a councilor. If the vote was passed, they could ask Endo Chiyo and others to make corrections.

Well, they don’t have the power to direct the Wanjin internal affairs system to do anything, but they can make demands, protest, and ask them to help find solutions to the problem.

Unless people like Endo Chiyo go to Harano to protest again, and Harano, the "outlaw at this stage", personally orders a veto of the resolution, interior officials like Endo Chiyo cannot ignore the demands of these congressmen.

The rules of this "parliament" are very complicated. Hirashima Kichijiro's CPU burned out after just two minutes of reading. He had no idea what the purpose of Yuanye coming up with this thing was. He looked up and said in confusion: "Your Highness, um... my workshop is about to close, and I may not be able to speak on behalf of my personal iron workshop."

"I know, it's not just you. You're all about to close down, and many of you are losing money and can't even pay back your loans." Yuanye began to guide him, "But this is not a problem with your business, it's a policy problem. You can ask the Wanjin government to stop selling cheap ironware. As long as you can get the consent of the majority of representatives, the government will need to find a way to keep you from going bankrupt as long as they don't want to stop. Then they will help you sell the ironware to Hokuriku."

Hirashima Kichijiro was even more confused, and asked incredulously: "Is this... possible?"

Yuanye had already made preparations. After all, he wanted to get off to a good start. He said confidently, "Sure, I will personally take you to sell the goods then."

(End of this chapter)