Chapter 231 5. Cutting Between the Mountains and the Mountains
In history, burdock fire ropes were not made of straw ropes, but hemp ropes produced in Echigo next door. Because of the characteristics of the burdock fluff itself, not only the quality was greatly improved, but also the burning time was greatly extended.
If it had not been for the devastating blow of Yuanhe Yanwu, this good thing would never have been lost in history so quickly, and finally became the material of udon noodles.
Of course, the information about burdock is very scarce, and the information about burdock fire ropes is also very few. But the existence of this kind of fire rope is indeed beyond doubt, and there is no need to worry at all.
Koheita wanted Yamauchi Yoshiharu to take advantage of the prosperous period of burdock from June to October to issue a decree not to allow the people to destroy the burdock, and at the same time to purchase the leaves of burdock at a low price.
Specifically, it is to ensure that after hearing that burdock can be exchanged for money, the people will not exhaust the pond to fish, but only pick his leaves. Then, the government will purchase burdock leaves uniformly, at two or three sen per ten kilograms. The burdock leaves growing wild in the Shinano Mountains will be purchased on a large scale, and sufficient quantities will be stored.
Then, women from poor footgaru families among the hatamoto and footgaru living in the castle and women from footgaru families of the military service in the castle will be hired to work at a salary of ten sen a day.
As for the working hours, they will work from dawn to dusk, from day to night, and take a two-hour lunch break at noon to go home to take care of the children and cook. It is also hard-earned money, but it cannot be forced in this era. It is still hundreds of years too early to want any employee welfare protection.
Yamauchi Yoshiharu was convinced! Xiao Pingtai could even turn weeds into money for him, and he made money in various ways.
"Don't wait until next year for the samurai reserve fund, and you don't have to return the three thousand kan to me. Prepare the charter and start directly. In addition, I will give you another thousand kan for this matchlock business." Yamauchi Yoshiharu became active.
"Your Highness, too much is as bad as too little. You and Shinano are both brave and wise rulers, so you naturally don't want to pursue too much. But what about decades later? The reserve fund is for all the soldiers, not for one family." Xiao Pingtai said very sincerely.
You, Yamanouchi Yoshiharu, still have a moral bottom line, and Yamanouchi Yoshikatsu is a reasonable five-good youth, so I disclosed this business to you. Now you have invested money in it, and you and your son will only think about taking your share of the profit, but what about the future? What if there is an unfilial descendant in the future?
This profit is all for supporting the Yamanouchi samurai, for winning over the middle and low-level soldiers of the Yamanouchi family, and for the stability of your Yamanouchi family's rule. If it is directly related to the daimyo, the daimyo can directly withdraw money from the reserve fund, and there is no guarantee that some disgusting things will happen in the future. The reputation of the Yamanouchi family will be ruined, and it will lose the support of the people.
Therefore, Xiao Pingtai asked to make a complete separation between this money and the Yamanouchi family at the beginning of the establishment, and the money was apparently paid by Yamanouchi Yoshiharu. But after this money is paid, it has nothing to do with you, the daimyo. Xiao Pingtai will start a matchlock business and return all your money to you. Use the profits to operate loans, and this money will be shared by all the samurai of the Yamanouchi domain.
You, the Yamanouchi family, only need to gain the loyalty and gratitude of the samurai. The management and settlement, management and preparation can be done by representatives nominated by the samurai from top to bottom of the Yamanouchi domain.
Yamanouchi Yoshiharu is not an open-minded person. He just thinks that this business is profitable. He is happy to see the money and thinks that he can get some money to support more soldiers. Now that Xiao Pingtai has spoken out, he can understand what Xiao Pingtai means.
"Then how will the management rules come about?" Yamanouchi Yoshiharu is still very concerned. After all, the loan and business of several thousand kan is not a small amount.
"Since the reserve fund is open to all samurai, then all samurai should be informed. The six categories of samurai listed in the Yamauchi military service account, including the Gokin-rei-shu, the Gono-rei-dai-shogun-shu, the Gono-rei-dai-hatamoto-shu, the Ashigaru-shu, and the Wai-yang-koku-nin-shu, each nominate one person every year to serve as the Kande-ya, and then the prince will appoint a general director. No matter big or small, it requires the signatures of five of the seven people to complete the task. At the same time, each person can serve in the reserve fund for a maximum of three years, and it cannot be extended."
In fact, to put it bluntly, it is to spread the matter out, from head to toe, from samurai to Ashigaru, everyone chooses a representative to form a seven-person collegial system. Then the term of office can only be three years to reduce the possibility of fraud. Finally, Yoshiharu Yamauchi appoints a general director to represent the authority and leadership of the Yamauchi family.
"The second is the salary issue. The general director should be paid 100 kan, the Kandeshi servitor 50 kan, and the conscientious and dedicated servitors should be paid separately. The amount of money should be confirmed at the handover every year to avoid unclear accounts."
It is unlikely to maintain integrity with high salaries. After all, the leaders of this job must be part-time, and they still have to go out to fight and kill people in groups. Giving them this money is to ensure that they are actively serving the public, not working for the Yamanouchi family for nothing.
Yamauchi Yoshiharu thought it was acceptable, but the Yamanouchi family was not a one-man show. He wanted to convene a meeting of important officials and call on samurai from all walks of life to discuss. At the same time, he wrote a letter to clarify the regulations of the Yamanouchi samurai reserve fund and promulgate it according to the law.
Kobayata also thought it was okay. One person's plan is short, two people's plan is long. This reserve fund is for all the leading military and service personnel, and is used to help Yamanouchi Yoshiharu win the hearts of the people. It is best to make a big scene and make a big splash so that the neighbors know about it.
In addition, the preparations for the matchlock can begin. The burdock plant protection order will be issued immediately without discussion. The loudest voice among the Nagashi people will announce this order from village to village along the streets. This may be the first wild plant protection law in modern times. It is very advanced.
Yamauchi Yoshiharu sent people to Hachioji, Ina, Suwa, Ejiri, Toyota, Kakegawa, Makino, and Shita to summon the important ministers and samurai of the Yamauchi family. After they all dealt with the matters left behind, they returned to Yamauchi to discuss national affairs.
Seeing that he kept assigning people to pass on orders, Kobayata also took the initiative to leave. Yamauchi Shuketou stood up and said he wanted to see Kobayata off. Maybe he had something to ask, so the two of them walked to the city together.
When they reached the Otemon Gate at the bottom of the city, Yamauchi Shuketou suddenly walked out quickly. An old man who was already shaking with a crutch and walking with a servant got off the sedan chair with the help of a servant.
"Why did my uncle come to the city when he was not at home resting?" The accountant of Yamauchi also hurried to support the old man.
It turned out that he was the uncle of the Yamauchi brothers, and Xiao Pingtai also hurried over to pay his respects. Yamauchi Yoshiharu was already 45 or 46 years old, and this old man was probably in his 70s. No wonder I had never seen him before.
"Are you Ae-no-ji Tansho? You came just in time. I have something to ask you."
I feel like I haven't paid off all the updates I owe. I'm really sorry.