Chapter 212: It’s Possible
Hirajima Kichijiro sat in a street-side liquor shop in Xin Wanjin, drinking “Bamboo Fruit Brew” – a fruit wine brewed from bamboo tubes, wild fruits, and a small amount of taro. Because it consumed very little grain and purchased a large amount of wild fruits from rural areas, it had the effect of disguised disaster relief. Therefore, it received public commendation from Yuan Ye and had become the “number one famous wine” in Wanjin for the past two years.
Of course, the taste… could only be said to be barely acceptable. In Hirajima Kichijiro’s opinion, it was not as good as shochu or sake, and at best it could compete with cloudy sake.
However, this wine benefited from favorable timing. In the past two years, Wanjin suffered from famine and grain shortages. Not to mention rice and wheat, even miscellaneous grains like black beans were rationed, and many liquor stores were forced to close. This liquor store, however, found a way out of adversity, and instead grew stronger and stronger, directly becoming a latecomer that surpassed the established players. Its taste was even accepted by the people of Wanjin, and this slightly sour taste was praised by many.
Sometimes, effort is truly not as good as luck!
Hirajima Kichijiro put down his wine cup and sighed inwardly, feeling extremely jealous of the liquor store owner he had never met. After all, compared to him, he was truly unlucky – the Wanjin government’s disaster relief efforts had propelled this mediocre wine to fame, while for him, ironware prices had collapsed, and he was on the verge of ruin.
As he was feeling down, the person he had arranged to meet arrived, his old friend and junior brother, Shirorō.
The two of them were contemporaries. They were both bought to Wanjin from Atsuta Port by Maeshima Shichiro in the same year, then worked together in the labor team digging ditches and building houses, then played in the iron fields, and finally entered the ironware workshop together. For the first few years after arriving in Wanjin, they ate and lived together, and their bond was quite deep.
Hirajima Kichijiro was not polite with his old friend and gestured from his seat, “Shirorō, over here!”
Shirorō was also not polite. He came over, picked up the wine pot, poured himself a drink, and after taking a large gulp, he smiled, “Jirō-niisan, from now on, call me Ishino Hitoshi.”
“Oh, you’ve chosen a name?” Hirajima Kichijiro was not surprised. Wanjin was currently implementing the household registration law, which included requirements for “names” to solve the problem of too many commoners in Wanjin with the same name. The Wanjin Army had encountered this problem before; calling out “Jirō” would make twenty or thirty people look up, and six or seven would respond.
So, everyone had been racking their brains to come up with good names lately. Even Hirajima Kichijiro had come up with a new name, Hirajima Yoshinari – his “Hirajima” was not a surname before; it was the name of the ironware workshop he opened, “Hirajima Iron House,” which is why people called him Hirajima Kichijiro.
Shirorō was happy to have a “surname” and said joyfully, “That’s right. From now on, my son will be named Ishino, and my grandson too, and my great-grandson will also be named Ishino.”
“Congratulations, congratulations,” Hirajima Kichijiro applauded lightly to show his congratulations, then couldn’t help but start speaking sarcastically, “You should have a son first before thinking about all that!”
Shirorō laughed heartily and didn’t mind. He then asked with concern, “Jirō-niisan, why did you suddenly ask to see me?”
The smile on Hirajima Kichijiro’s face disappeared, and he sighed, “I wanted to ask you if Wanjin Third Iron Workshop has any plans to hire people recently?”
Wanjin Third Iron Workshop was a “state-owned factory” in Wanjin, mainly producing farm tools. Shirorō had not been deceived into starting a business and had been working diligently at the Wanjin Iron Workshop. Later, when Yuan Ye occupied the Chita Peninsula and expanded his territory, Shirorō also rose with the tide and was assigned to the newly established Wanjin Third Iron Workshop, becoming a middle-level manager, equivalent to a “state-owned enterprise cadre” with a stable income – his income was considered upper-middle within the Wanjin system.
Wanjin Third Iron Workshop was a good job now, especially since a large number of disaster refugees had been relocated near Xin Wanjin in the past two years. A job with a good and stable income was highly sought after. Shirorō had heard people ask this question many times in the past two years and immediately retorted, “Jirō-niisan, are you recommending someone?”
This matter was a bit difficult. Exploiting power for personal gain was strictly investigated by the higher-ups. However, with his seniority, he could probably find a way to secure a temporary worker position. After that, it would depend on the person’s own abilities. If they were capable, willing to work hard, and encountered the right opportunity, they could become permanent. If not, they could only make a meager living.
Hirajima Kichijiro opened his mouth. His rough face, dried out from being constantly exposed to the furnace, turned red. But circumstances were stronger than people. Even though he felt somewhat embarrassed, he still said, “Well… I’m looking for a job. See if… you can help me ask… sigh…”
Shirorō was stunned for a moment, greatly surprised, “Your iron workshop…”
“I can’t keep it going anymore,” Hirajima Kichijiro sighed deeply. “Ironware isn’t selling now. Lord Endo’s orders are very few. Selling retail on the market, the old stock isn’t selling, and I don’t dare to forge new items. But I still have to pay the wages of the workers, and I have to repay the loans from the bank. So… I’m planning to close the workshop.”
“Is that so…” Shirorō also roughly understood what was going on and was speechless for a moment.
For the past two years, there had been policies to equip all farmers on the Chita Peninsula with iron farm tools as much as possible to increase grain yield, pioneer efficiency, and the speed of building the three-tiered roads within and near villages. Therefore, the “state-owned iron workshops” were almost selling at cost, or even at a slight loss. The Wanjin government, which received these goods, then distributed the iron farm tools to extremely poor farmers through rewards, future installment payments, and government subsidies, in pursuit of future overall profits.
At the same time, due to disaster relief, Wanjin’s fiscal pressure was also immense. To quickly recover, Wanjin was also desperately selling ironware and iron materials externally, leading to a sharp drop in ironware prices at Atsuta Port. Therefore…
Private competitors like Hirajima Kichijiro had suffered greatly. The “state-owned iron workshops,” with just one order from Yuan Ye, dared to sell iron as if it were wood, and it didn’t matter if they lost money. But these private workshop owners, let alone losing money, would die if they didn’t make a profit.
Shirorō was also helpless about this general trend. After hesitating for a moment, he said, “It’s not as easy to get into Wanjin’s iron workshops as it used to be. If Jirō-niisan wants to work there, you can probably only start as a temporary worker. The salary isn’t very high, it’s too demeaning for you…”
He paused and then asked, “Haven’t you asked Sunshirō? There are many acquaintances at the old iron workshop, they should be able to help somehow, right?”
“I’ve asked at the First Iron Workshop,” Shirorō sighed again. “I’ve asked both Sunshirō. The old iron workshop is mainly producing matchlock guns now, and the regulations are stricter. To hire someone, it must be reported to Lord A Man. Even for odd jobs, it needs to be reported. It’s inconvenient for them.”
“Then I can only do odd jobs here too.” Shirorō was now living a decent life, but hearing A Man’s name still made him uncomfortable. He instinctively raised his hand to touch his face – when he first came to Wanjin, he had been beaten by A Man for making mistakes. And in the past two years, some people in the iron workshop who made mistakes had been taken away by A Man’s people, and their fates were not good. Thinking about it was a bit frightening.
Hirajima Kichijiro had no choice but to sigh, “Odd jobs are fine. I’ll be grateful just to be able to eat. If that doesn’t work out, I might have to sign up for pioneering. At least then I can get a piece of public land, and I won’t starve.”
Joining the government-organized pioneering group was a last resort for ordinary people. However, pioneering groups usually went to remote areas. If possible, he didn’t want to leave the vibrant city of Xin Wanjin. He was used to life here, and he had almost forgotten how to farm. Pioneering would likely be very difficult.
Shirorō sighed with him and hesitated before asking, “Jirō-niisan, haven’t you tried looking for Lord Yuan Ye? He praised you back at the old iron workshop! With that past connection, he should at least take care of you.”
“I looked for him over three months ago. His Highness later gave me an order, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to last these three months.” Although Hirajima Kichijiro had been wronged by the policy, or rather by Yuan Ye, he didn’t blame Yuan Ye. He knew that Yuan Ye’s orders were more beneficial to the entire Wanjin. He could only blame his own bad luck.
He said helplessly, “I don’t want to trouble His Highness again. No matter what happens now, it’s better than almost starving to death back then. I’ll start over myself!”
Next time, he wouldn’t start a business. He would honestly work at Wanjin Third Iron Workshop and strive to make up for the lost two or three years. It was a pity that the house he bought in Xin Wanjin would incur a small loss due to the workshop’s closure. He would likely have to sell the new house to repay the loan. Fortunately, he had earned some money before and had some savings to cover the loan, otherwise it would have been worse.
But it was still okay. At least he got married and lived in a new house with his family for two years, unlike Shirorō, who was still living in the workshop dormitory and had to queue up to get married.
He comforted himself like this, and his mood improved a bit. He bowed his head to Shirorō, “Shirō, from now on, brother will have to rely on you for care.”
Shirorō also secretly felt fortunate that he hadn’t been as radical as Hirajima Kichijiro back then, seeing someone get rich selling wine in Old Wanjin and rushing to imitate them. But he said sincerely, “Don’t say that, Jirō-niisan. Back then, I didn’t know anything. It was you who always pulled me along to learn things. Without you, I might still be doing odd jobs!”
“Let’s not talk about the past. Anyway, this matter is all up to your help.”
“It should be fine. You have the skills, and you’ve managed workshops and been a workshop owner. Perhaps after a few months of odd jobs, you’ll become permanent.”
“I hope so!”
Hirajima Kichijiro saw hope in life again and immediately poured wine for Shirorō. He would treat him to a good meal today. As they clinked glasses and reminisced about their hardships, they lamented how they were once tied to an ox cart with straw ropes and pulled to Wanjin, never imagining they could drink heartily today. So, a setback now was nothing.
At this moment, an employee from Hirajima Iron Workshop rushed in. He looked around and spotted Hirajima Kichijiro. He quickly moved a few steps and said urgently, “Workshop owner, His Highness is looking for you.”
Hirajima Kichijiro was stunned, “His Highness? Which His Highness? Lord Yuan Ye?”
“Of course, it’s Lord Yuan Ye!” The employee didn’t want his iron workshop to go bankrupt, as he would also be unemployed. He said urgently, “Workshop owner, hurry up and go. Perhaps His Highness can give us another order.”
…
If there was hope, Hirajima Kichijiro didn’t want his business, Hirajima Iron Workshop, to go bankrupt. Hearing that Yuan Ye had sent someone to find him, he dropped everything and ran towards the Wanjin Public Office.
Because he ran too fast and too clumsily, he was almost arrested as a thief by patrolling police officers. Fortunately, the police were reasonable, and after explaining, it didn’t cause much delay.
However, he couldn’t see Yuan Ye immediately upon arrival. Two young female staff members led him to the reception room, where they took extremely detailed registration information, asking about his entire life from childhood, and then filed it. After that, they escorted him to the waiting room next to Yuan Ye’s office for the interview process.
Hirajima Kichijiro was confused, but he didn’t care much. He had a clean background and was a genuine “Old Wanjin” resident. He was just too short, and the Wanjin Army disdained him and refused to enlist him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have complained even if he had gone to battle with Yuan Ye. Asking about his life history was of no consequence.
He treated it as a normal meeting procedure and waited anxiously for a long time. He then noticed that the waiting room was filled with all sorts of people – tall, short, fat, thin, of different ages and clothing, seemingly from various professions. Some even looked like they had been farming for a long time and were now facing the highest ruler of Wanjin, appearing somewhat uneasy.
Hirajima Kichijiro found it strange, but he didn’t dare to ask casually in such a place. He glanced around a few times, then lowered his head, not asking, not looking, not listening, just waiting for Yuan Ye to give him an order.
This way, his iron workshop might last a few more months. With these months, perhaps the price of ironware would return to normal, and he would have survived.
People were constantly being led into Yuan Ye’s office from the waiting room. The time spent inside varied, but most people emerged with confused expressions, a strange excitement mixed with their confusion, and yet a hint of fear within the excitement. In short, their expressions were very complex.
This didn’t look like an order allocation. Besides, wouldn’t the newly established Wanjin Commerce Department be responsible for allocating orders? Even Lord Endo Chiyo wouldn’t personally handle it anymore. Why would Yuan Ye, the highest official of Wanjin, personally discuss it one by one?
Hirajima Kichijiro finally sensed something was wrong, but it was his turn. He could only enter with a belly full of doubts.
Inside the office, there were only Yuan Ye and A Qing. Or rather, A Qing wasn’t considered a person; she was just the last line of defense, habitually sitting there to prevent Yuan Ye from being assassinated, and did not participate in specific matters. Yuan Ye looked up and saw Hirajima Kichijiro, and without much pleasantry, he pointed to the chair in front of him and smiled, “It’s you, sit down!”
In the past, Yuan Ye had abolished the traditional commoner’s kneeling and kowtowing of the Japanese Medieval Period in Old Wanjin, using the excuse of “it’s better to work more than to perform unnecessary courtesies.” Hirajima Kichijiro, as an “Old Wanjin,” did not perform any salutations this time. After sitting down, he respectfully lowered his head and asked, “Your Highness, what is your command for this humble one?”
Yuan Ye didn’t dwell on his address. Even though the “Edict of Equality” had been formally implemented, some things still required gradual change. However, he was optimistic about this. Overthrowing an old government wouldn’t necessarily result in a new government; it was more likely to result in chaos, like Syria. Therefore, if he wanted to eliminate the samurai and the accompanying noble and monastic groups, he needed someone to replace them, and to replace them in a controllable manner.
Yuan Ye directly handed him a manuscript and smiled, “Congratulations, Kichijiro, you have been appointed as a Councillor of Xin Wanjin City.”
Hirajima Kichijiro was dumbfounded. This was indeed not an order allocation, but he naturally dared not say so. He just lowered his head to look at the wax-sealed manuscript and asked inexplicably, “Xin Wanjin City… Councillor?”
“I remember in the workshop, you knew a few hundred Chinese characters, right? Have you forgotten them in these past few years?” Yuan Ye’s attitude was very friendly. After all, these were people he had personally selected. He pointed to the manuscript and smiled, “Simply put, I’m organizing a council, and you are the first Councillor. Remember to attend meetings on time in the future – they won’t be too frequent, probably only three, five, seven, or eight times a year, which won’t take up too much of your time, and there will be some meeting allowances.”
Hirajima Kichijiro was indeed literate. Yuan Ye had provided the conditions at the Wanjin Ironware Workshop, but it wasn’t as strict as the Wanjin Army required; it was voluntary learning. After all, a day of high-intensity work was already tiring, and forcing further study was excessive, so very few people persisted.
Hirajima Kichijiro was one of them. Moreover, after becoming a private workshop owner, due to the environment in Wanjin, he had to handle documents and sign orders for everything. He continued to study, and reading manuscripts was no longer a problem.
Upon closer inspection, he discovered that this “council” was divided by region. He was a member of the “Xin Wanjin City Council,” and in the future, he might even be elected as a “Wanjin Councillor” to attend the grand assembly of all Wanjin. However, he couldn’t quite understand what this council was specifically for.
He didn’t dare to keep Yuan Ye waiting and quickly asked cautiously, “Your Highness, I will of course obey your command. It’s just that this Councillor… what do they do?”
“They are responsible for supervising the government departments and speaking on behalf of the group you represent to ensure that your interests are not harmed.” Yuan Ye explained very seriously. This kind of task, where commoners acted as supervisors, could only be explained by him personally. Otherwise, without his backing, these people would not have the courage.
“Supervising the government?” Hirajima Kichijiro was stunned for a moment. Wouldn’t that mean supervising Lord Endo Chiyo? How could he dare? And…
He hesitated for a moment and said, “The group I represent… Your Highness, who can I represent?”
“Oh, it’s written here. You represent all individual iron workshops in Xin Wanjin City. You need to speak for them, but you are only the first to serve. The next term, regardless of whether you are suitable, will be a change of personnel.”
Theoretically, councillors should be “elected,” but Wanjin did not have the conditions for that now. The illiteracy rate was still over 80%, and most of those not considered illiterate were semi-illiterate, so elections were impossible. All councillors in this term were appointed by him. It was just a framework, a beginning.
Hirajima Kichijiro quickly looked closely at where Yuan Ye pointed. He found that which industries and which groups should have councillors was decided by Yuan Ye himself and his successors, and even the number varied. For example, farmers currently had one or two per village based on village size. For private ironware workshop owners like him, there was only one. These people would vote on issues proposed by a councillor based on principles like majority rule or two-thirds majority. If the vote passed, they could demand that Endo Chiyo and others make rectifications.
Well, they did not have the power to command the Wanjin internal affairs system to do anything, but they could make requests and protest, asking them to help find solutions to problems.
Unless Endo Chiyo and others protested to Yuan Ye again, and Yuan Ye, as “a lawless individual in this stage,” personally issued an order to veto the proposal, the internal affairs officials like Endo Chiyo could not ignore the demands of these councillors.
The rules of this “council” were very complicated. Hirajima Kichijiro’s CPU was overloaded after less than two minutes of looking. He completely couldn’t understand what Yuan Ye was trying to achieve with this thing. He looked up and said confusedly, “Your Highness, well… my workshop is about to close, so I might not be able to represent individual ironware workshops.”
“I know. It’s not just you; you are all on the verge of closing. Several of you will lose your pants and won’t even be able to repay your loans.” Yuan Ye patiently guided him, “But this is not an operational problem for you; it’s a policy problem. You can demand that the Wanjin government stop selling cheap ironware. As long as the majority of representatives agree, the government, if they don’t want to stop, will have to find a way to prevent you from going bankrupt. Then they will help you sell your ironware to Hokuriku.”
Hirajima Kichijiro was even more bewildered, saying incredulously, “Is that… possible?”
Yuan Ye had already made arrangements. After all, he wanted to set a good precedent. He said confidently, “It’s possible. I will personally lead you to sell the goods then.”
