Chapter 93

The next day, I received some good news: the two groups of people we recruited on the road had safely arrived in Guangfu by sea. Along with them came a large amount of supplies collected along the way.

In this process, Qian Shuining, the former head of the porters, played a crucial role. With his rich experience and cautiousness, he successfully completed the task of assisting and leading the team.

Although after arriving in Guangfu, about half of these people dispersed for various reasons, and many of the remaining people fled at night due to the news of the rebel threat, more than two hundred people were still brought into my estate and temporarily settled, or rather, placed under internal and external supervision.

Of course, the loyalty and reliability of most of these people need time to cultivate, but for now, I can only maintain and ensure the basic number of people through force.

However, regardless of everything, this batch of human resources is an important addition to me, even though I have to allocate a portion to that mysterious creature.

According to my plan, among the people who have already arrived, those with skills and specialties, or professional experience, will be divided into two major categories: living and production. They will then be dispatched to various businesses and properties under my name. Those who are suitable will be directly employed as new helpers or shop assistants, while those who are not will be assigned to do cleaning, gatekeeping, or other miscellaneous tasks in the properties. Plans for their future will be made later, and they will be supervised and guided by experienced staff, thus completing their initial settlement.

This group of people recruited halfway had a wide range of professions and specialties. There were carpenters, metalworkers, bricklayers, leatherworkers, doctors, pharmacists, musicians, messengers, and cooks, as well as more obscure professions like wine and sauce makers, castrators, forensic experts, and fortune-tellers.

Therefore, their settlement required considerable effort. During the process of leading the team, Cui Tuzi, Yan Jiuer, and others also gained a group of subordinates. Although they may not be the most suitable candidates and lack experience, I only have so many people available, so I can only let them gradually adapt and then make adjustments as needed.

In comparison, the remaining people were much simpler to handle. The relatively strong and healthy ones were organized into several auxiliary teams to provide various logistics services such as transportation and delivery for the training camp and the port.

By ensuring their clothing, food, accommodation, and labor compensation, and keeping them busy, I can basically prevent and suppress any idle thoughts,串联, and unrest. Gradually, they will be transformed in terms of personal psychology and daily habits. This is one of my insights in human resource management in this world.

Of course, they all signed relevant documents or sold their futures under my coercion, inducement, and persuasion. In this world, such actions, which seem to take advantage of others' misfortunes, are very common. Not to mention the coastal residents in the inner regions who were plundered and sold by the sea lords, even the northerners who came to the outer regions, if they had no money to settle down, would mostly be recruited by local powerful families as dependent households.

After some time, once they became familiar with their roles and the main family registered their names with the government, they would be considered settled. However, most of them would remain as hidden black households, working in private estates and plantations for their entire lives, and their descendants would only be considered local residents.

As the heir of the Luo clan, my identity also served as a catalyst to strengthen and motivate their resolve. Although they were all selling themselves, the difference between selling oneself to an obscure local small lord and joining the heir of a major sea lord is significant in terms of future prospects.

By slightly improving the treatment and expectations compared to the general level, I could easily stabilize their hearts. In this way, my strength grew imperceptibly.

After checking all the reception and settlement points, when I returned home, I found someone waiting in the gatehouse. A package from the Kōdan-sha was also delivered to me. As the founder's last bit of influence, it finally reached my hands after a delay.

It wasn't anything secretive, just a compilation of excerpts and clippings bound into several large volumes, mainly focusing on news summaries from Guangfu in the years since I left, as well as some political, economic, and military changes and trends.

I found it very interesting. For example, the current Grand Chancellor, who presides over the shogunate's major policies in the inner city of Luocheng, has not been in good health in recent years. Two years ago, through the Shoushan Palace, he appointed his successor, Duke Ninghai, as the Upper Pillar of State and Chariot and Cavalry General, to participate in the political affairs of the Grand Council with other ministers and vice-ministers, clearly indicating an intention to groom him as the successor.

As the vigorous Duke Ninghai increasingly appears in public events such as the five-year inspection and imperial viewing, some political newcomers and young elites have also gradually emerged in the political arena.

For example, the Ning family of Guizhou, who have connections with Lady Chen, has produced a young Secretary of the Chancellery, a Regular Attendant, and a Deputy Director of the Office of Works in recent years. Although their political stances and factions differ, everyone knows what's going on.

Through these official appointments, one can see the activities of dozens of political families in Guangfu, and the hundreds or thousands of local gentry and powerful families associated with them, representing the interests and political tendencies of different regions, industries, and fields.

These ultimately form the political landscape of the court, which changes with the subtle shifts in the shogunate's attitude and stance.

In comparison, my family, the Luo clan, is one of the most low-key among the eight close clans. In recent years, apart from the routine reports to the Clan Council, they have had almost no presence in Guangfu.

Additionally, there was news about the Guangfu imperial examinations last year, where 13 jinshi (advanced scholars), 22 tong jinshi (equivalent to jinshi), and 45 candidates were selected.

Among them, those from the Academy of Guangfu University and other schools accounted for about 25%, although the number has increased, they are mainly concentrated in the tong jinshi category, with only two jinshi, marking a low point for the academy.

Scholars from the outer regions of the two sea provinces, who were exempt from preliminary exams and directly recommended, accounted for another 20%, with four jinshi. Despite the large number of candidates, they were affected by the uneven quality of education in the inner regions and the sea provinces, and there were also political considerations.

For example, the eastern part of Borneo, where I am, is more familiar and civilized, and should have an advantage over the western part, but the historical ratio has been the opposite. If I wanted to take the imperial exams, I could do so with a recommendation letter, which would allow me to take one of the eight subjects.

Then there are the seven provinces outside the inner regions, where candidates who passed the local, county, and provincial exams accounted for about 40%, the main and mainstream of the imperial examinations over the years, although the proportion has been slightly declining.

The remaining 15% were various special appointments, including one jinshi and two tong jinshi, but they almost accounted for half of the candidates. In a sense, these jinshi are more valuable because, compared to those who studied exclusively, they have practical experience or special skills, and some even started as low-level clerks before being specially recommended by the shogunate to take the imperial exams.

However, due to their background, their career advancement is generally limited to county or provincial officials or deputy positions in government agencies, with few exceptions. Further advancement is almost impossible due to the exclusion and suppression from the above three groups.

In the same year, 54 people were appointed through hereditary positions, and 131 people were appointed through donations, setting a new record.

Hereditary appointments are still acceptable, but those appointed through donations can only serve as subordinates in counties or miscellaneous officials in the central government.

Including those from the imperial examinations and the current officials who have accumulated positions, the number seems considerable, but in the context of the nearly 100,000 officials in the Southern Dynasty, it is not significant.

The main difference is the quality of the positions. Poor positions in remote regions are considered the worst, and even with promotions or reductions, few people would take them due to conflicts with local residents, diseases, and the high risk of death.

In contrast, the best positions in the rich and fertile regions near the capital are highly sought after.

For example, the position in Fuyuan Prefecture in the western part of Borneo, where my family is located, is considered a mid-to-upper level position. As a government-appointed official, as long as one handles the relationship with the local lords well, one can smoothly complete a term and then seek a transfer or promotion.

Therefore, seeking an official position has become a commercial investment activity for the common people who lack background and political aspirations, and various stories of joy and sorrow are constantly unfolding.

One of the main businesses of the Kōdan-sha is to provide paid information to these numerous speculators or aspiring officials, and there is no shortage of buyers in the highly competitive officialdom.

The Kōdan-sha's various editions of the "Register of Officials and Gentlemen" are also among the most popular publications, providing information to help people avoid risks and find support.

Unfortunately, my peaceful reading time did not last long.

"Someone from the clan has arrived?"

Hearing the gatekeeper's report, I rubbed my forehead in fatigue, thought for a moment, and called my only guard to stand at the entrance. I also placed a crossbow in a hidden spot before letting the person in.

I was taken aback when I saw an old man and a middle-aged man with excited expressions, both calling out to me.

"Young Master..."

"Eldest Son..."

Their different titles reminded me of their different identities and positions.

The middle-aged man with a bald head, surnamed Cai and named Liao, was a staunch supporter among my former retainers, one of the three former county officials, and a traditionalist of the scholar-official class.

The old man who called me "Eldest Son" was from my mother's family in the eastern part of Borneo, an old family servant named Uncle Chu, who visited me more often than my adoptive father, the clan lord.

After exchanging a few pleasantries based on instinct and memory, I managed to calm their emotional outpouring and bring them back to reality.

"This place is too shabby," Uncle Chu almost snorted.

"There's nothing here..."

"Even if you were traveling for studies, it would be one thing..."

Cai Liao also chimed in, "How can the heir of the Luo clan live in such a humble place?"

"I think it's fine..."

I rubbed my nose awkwardly.

"You are too kind, Young Master..."

"Although some people in the court always mock us inner clan members for lacking etiquette..."

"At least the basic appearance and dignity should be maintained..."

"Upon hearing that the eldest son has returned safely, my heart is greatly relieved..."

"We old ministers also have a backbone now..."

"I understand your caution, Young Master..."

"Therefore, I only brought a few people and some goods from your grandfather's house, hoping they can be of use..."

"Your workshop and tools are also brought along..."

Seeing them holding my hands, tears welling up in their eyes, and their eager expressions, I couldn't help but think of Chu Bai, who died unjustly, and felt deeply moved.

To be honest, although I have accepted most of the resources from my predecessor, I have been subconsciously avoiding people and things related to my predecessor.