Chapter 55

After a thorough evaluation, the morning was about to pass in the blink of an eye. After sending Kizaburo to the village outside the stronghold to mobilize children from households that met the conditions to attend the domain's school, only Masahira remained in the council hall. Now, apart from the two ashigaru guarding the main gate of the lord's residence, there was no one else to command. Watching Kizaburo's back as he walked further down the corridor, Masahira smiled bitterly to himself; the domain still lacked people.

Just as he was about to get up to check the courtyard, he suddenly saw Togo Heiji return. He must have been waiting outside and came in immediately after seeing Masahira finish his business.

"Heiji, what else do you need?" Masahira felt a bit puzzled; if there was something to report, why didn't he say it earlier?

"Your Highness, the domain is currently short of farming tools. If this issue is not resolved, it will affect the progress of land reclamation," Togo Heiji said. "Moreover, starting from tomorrow, the new laws of the domain will be implemented, and most of the residents will return to their fields. There will be no one left to reclaim the land. Should we consider organizing them to participate in corvée labor according to the law?"

"Hmm, I have already arranged for Tadajiro to speed up the forging of farming tools. Let's do this: assign a few more people and apprentices to help," Masahira replied. "As for the land reclamation, follow your plan. Issue a corvée labor notice this afternoon. Mobilize the residents to participate in corvée labor for half a day and let them tend to their own fields for the other half. The corvée labor support grain (i.e., compensation) will be determined by you and Kousuke based on actual results."

Upon hearing Masahira's response, Togo Heiji became a bit anxious. The domain was short of people everywhere. Where could he find more people to assign to Tadajiro? As for the apprentices, they had to attend the domain's school in the morning and could only help in the afternoon, and they could only do tasks like adding firewood and serving tea. How could that solve the problem? "Your Highness, apart from the few people Tadajiro led yesterday, there is no one else to assign. The apprentices can't help much!"

"Heiji, I also have no immediate solution to the manpower issue. We can only hope that Kunitoshi and others will recruit more displaced people as soon as possible," Masahira was helpless. He couldn't have the ashigaru in the domain go to reclaim the land; they were in the crucial period of training. "Let's do this: I have already prepared for Kikihime to be in charge of the domain's currency. This afternoon, go to her and collect 100 kan, then send a few ashigaru who know Hizataro to the field's end castle to see if they can buy more farming tools." Originally, Masahira planned to give Togo Heiji more money, but 100 kan was already quite heavy, and carrying more would attract attention.

"Right," Togo Heiji slapped his head, suddenly realizing, "I will set out for the field's end castle tomorrow. Last time, I heard Hizataro mention that the castle's warehouse still has many farming tools."

"No, Heiji, send a few ashigaru who know Hizataro with your letter. Also, try to buy as much grain as possible," as the number of displaced people recruited by the domain increased, the more grain the better. "As for you, follow the evaluation results and personally arrange the matters. This is an important period for the domain's development." Come on, if Togo Heiji went to the field's end castle, it would take at least two days, and Masahira would have to personally arrange the agricultural and civil affairs in the domain. Wouldn't that exhaust him?

"Yes, Your Highness," Togo Heiji bowed. "Also, Your Highness, even with enough farming tools, the thick underbrush makes it difficult to clear the land in a short time, even using the method of burning taught by Your Highness."

"I see," Masahira frowned and thought for a moment, then casually picked up a piece of paper and drew several diagrams. He handed them to Togo Heiji while saying, "This is a two-person saw, and this is a single-person saw, both for cutting wood; these two are hoes, this type of hoe is for removing underbrush and weeds; the last one is for deep digging. Have Tadajiro forge these. Once he learns the forging method, burn the diagrams immediately."

"Yes, Your Highness," Togo Heiji solemnly put the diagrams in his chest.

"Also, have you made any progress in inquiring about oxen and horses?" Masahira suddenly remembered the matter he had asked Togo Heiji to investigate. In fact, the domain had several plows, but without oxen or horses, they were just sitting idle. If they had oxen or horses, the speed of land reclamation would increase significantly.

"Your Highness, the location of Tosa is quite remote, and oxen and horses are scarce and very valuable. Even if our family can buy them, they might be seized when passing through the territories of other powerful lords," Togo Heiji replied with a troubled expression.

"In that case, we can only rely on the manual labor of the residents for now," Masahira sighed.

"Your Highness, can we consider assigning the eleven slaves in the prison to reclaim the land?" Togo Heiji suggested.

"No, I have already assigned them to serve corvée labor under Shinji. These eleven slaves are the only free laborers in the domain, and they should be assigned to do heavy corvée labor. Moreover, teaching them to use hoes for land reclamation could lead to their escape or rebellion. To prevent this, more ashigaru would have to be assigned to guard them, which would not be cost-effective," Masahira explained.

"Oh, I see, that was my oversight," Togo Heiji immediately realized upon hearing Masahira's response.

"Your Highness, I have a request," after reporting on the agricultural matters, Togo Heiji suddenly knelt on the ground and said solemnly.

This guy's behavior today was quite strange. Masahira looked at the kneeling Togo Heiji with confusion and said, "Speak. As long as it is possible, I will consider it."

"Your Highness, as a wife, Kikihime has already made up her mind. Please forgive me for taking the initiative to arrange for Kikihime to move into Your Highness's residence. From now on, Kikihime will fulfill her duties as a wife," Togo Heiji bowed deeply and continued, "To ensure the peace of mind of the other retainers and the stability of the domain's residents, please get married as soon as possible and quickly have a young master." Seeing that the maid Matsumiko was increasingly favored by Masahira, even being assigned specific tasks, and that Kousuke had given his daughter to Masahira, both of whom were very beautiful, Togo Heiji felt that his daughter's position was threatened. Therefore, he decided to send his daughter to Masahira's residence early to "cook the rice before it's done," to secure Kikihime's position.

What? So this was the main purpose of his long speech. Masahira realized he had underestimated the thoughts of these retainers and the many speculations caused by assigning tasks to the women around him, and he could only smile bitterly.

"Ha ha, Heiji, I will get married as soon as the domain is on track. Don't worry, haven't you heard that I have already assigned Kikihime to manage the domain's currency and the orphans of fallen warriors?" To reassure this old retainer, Masahira had to remind Togo Heiji.

"Thank you for Your Highness's thoughtful arrangement. Please rest assured, Kikihime will fulfill her duties as a wife," Togo Heiji bowed.

"Alright, Heiji, let's decide it this way. Go and quickly arrange the domain's affairs, and I will go to the back garden to see Kikihime. It has been several days since I last saw her," Masahira said with a light tone.

"Yes, Your Highness, I will go and arrange it immediately," Togo Heiji bowed and quickly left the council hall.

(PS: This is the fourth week of the new book release. It has already been A-signed and has been updated to 150,000 words, with no plans to stop. At least 1.5 million words. Last week it was on the Sanjiang Potential List, and this week it is on the New Book Recommendation List. It is the top of the new historical novel list and 12th on the overall new book list. Dear readers, don't leave after reading. Even if you don't have votes, add it to your bookshelf. I beg you, my goal is to write at least 1.5 million words, even if it means a spectacular failure. Enjoy writing, enjoy solitude. Oh, there will be another update at 11 PM!)

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