gnovel Chapter 84 Unable to Recruit All
Chapter 84 Unable to Recruit All
Chapter 84: Unending Recruitment (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader Cangcang Jianjiaxian)
The first to receive the news were Gao Daqiang and his group. There were five of them, but three of them were unfamiliar faces.
"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Brother Shao," Gao Daqiang said helplessly. "It's just me and Bian Da left. The other two got their money and are no longer willing to fight. They're all holed up in the countryside now, asking around to see if there's any land or house they can buy."
As expected.
Shao Shuyi waved his hand and said, "It's alright. Now that they've made a fortune, shouldn't they enjoy it? Buying land is a good thing. I'm just worried that they'll squander the money they've worked so hard for, be swindled away by sweet talk, or even be harmed by others."
"I usually keep an eye on things," Gao Daqiang said. "I wouldn't feel at ease if the heroes I fought alongside didn't meet a good end."
Shao Shuyi's opinion of him rose a notch, then he noticed the large spear the man was leaning on and asked, "Is this the reason you got your nickname?"
Gao Daqiang weighed the heavy spear in his hand and said, "Actually, I've been practicing with the spear since I was a child, for twenty years now. However, in the sea battles, we're used to close combat, and the spear is not very versatile and has many limitations, so I didn't bring it last time. I'm bringing it with me this time, just in case."
Shao Shuyi glanced at Gao Daqiang's waist, where there was a sword on each side. His boots had also been changed; they must have been custom-made, and there were likely places to insert daggers inside.
Wow, that's a huge upgrade!
Gao Daqiang then introduced the three people behind him, saying, "Bian Da, you know him, so I won't say much. These are the three Zhao brothers, Xiao Er, Xiao San, and Xiao Si. They owe taxes, but the head of the household is quite accommodating. They can pay the taxes before the end of the leap month (February).
Shao Shuyi looked at the three Zhao brothers and examined them carefully.
While not exactly thin, he wasn't particularly robust either, far inferior to Gao Daqiang. Of course, this was normal; they were poor seafaring families, and it was difficult to expect them to have enough to eat during their growth spurts, let alone someone like Shao Shuyi who ate lavish meals in a ceramics shop.
If you miss the period of physical development, it will be difficult to become physically strong and robust later on. This is actually the reality for the vast majority of ordinary people.
Another reason for the peasant army's poor fighting ability was their physical condition. The Yuan army was relatively better off, as they had a host of health problems that severely affected their combat effectiveness. However, if they encountered the well-supplied standing army of a dynasty, things would be much worse.
It's normal for a few hundred well-trained soldiers to chase after and beat up thousands or even tens of thousands of peasant soldiers.
"Alright, since you're already here, come along." Shao Shuyi looked at the three of them, and seeing the joy on their faces, he changed the subject, saying, "Daqiang probably already told you, this trip is to Jiangxi, not some big sea voyage. The pay isn't much, only thirty strings of cash a month. Food is included. Have you thought it through?"
"Yes, yes." Zhao Xiaoer nodded repeatedly on behalf of the three, then looked expectantly at Shao Shuyi and asked, "Could you pay the money first? My family needs to pay off some debts."
Shao Shuyi looked at Gao Daqiang.
Gao Daqiang nodded and said, "Don't worry, Brother Shao. I didn't just bring anyone here randomly. I know them all well. It's fine to pay them first. I can vouch for it."
"I believe you." Shao Shuyi waved his hand and said, "Yu She, get two ingots of Zhongtong paper money for the Zhao brothers."
Yu Yuan quickly retrieved the money and handed it over.
Looking at the two ingots of paper money in his hand, Zhao Xiaoer stammered, "Brother Shao, we still have more than ten strings of cash at home. We don't need two ingots; ninety strings will be enough."
"Take it," Shao Shuyi said. "The extra ten strings of cash are a gift from me. Don't go around telling everyone."
"Thank you, Brother Shao." The three of them bowed in unison.
"Do you have any equipment?" Shao Shuyi asked, looking at the three men who had nothing in their hands.
"I have a ring-handled knife and a few harpoons at home," Zhao Xiaoer replied.
Shao Shuyi was amused, but also somewhat sentimental.
Wasn't he in just as dire straits a year ago? He only had a few coins on him, carefully budgeting to buy rice from the granary. His only weapon was a rusty woodcutter's knife. He looked pale and weak. Was he that different from the three Zhao brothers? He was even worse off than them.
"Can you use a ring-bladed knife?" Shao Shuyi asked.
"Yes," the three answered in unison.
Shao Shuyi then looked at Gao Daqiang.
"Brother Shao, don't worry," Gao Daqiang said. "Don't underestimate them. Their skills may be average, but they are brave and fearless, and they won't back down."
Reassured, Shao Shuyi instructed Yu Yuan to visit the blacksmith's shop when he had time to check if the equipment sent there for repair—including the ones seized last time—was working properly and to retrieve them as soon as possible.
"If there's nothing going on at home, you can stay here for a few days, have a good meal, and rest up," Shao Shuyi said. "Once the equipment is retrieved, I'll see how skilled you are."
The three looked at Gao Daqiang, who nodded and said, "Since there's nothing to do at home, we'll trouble Brother Shao."
"No problem," Shao Shuyi said with a smile.
Gao Daqiang and his five-man group needed to go home and settle in, so they left first, agreeing to meet up here again the next morning.
At noon, while Shao Shuyi, Yu Yuan, Liang Tai, and Tie Niu were still eating, Kong Tie returned.
"Xiao Hu, I've found about twenty people," Kong Tie said, taking a futon and sitting cross-legged in front of Shao Shuyi.
Yu Yuan got up and served him a bowl of rice and vegetables.
Kong Tiedao thanked him and continued, "These are all men who have been to sea before. They weren't hired this year and have no work, so they all came. I've selected twenty-four men. If you have time, you can have them come and see if they're suitable this afternoon."
"So many?" Shao Shuyi was somewhat surprised.
"The number of ships transporting grain to Zhigu is decreasing year by year, and there is less work to be done," Kong Tie said.
Shao Shuyi understood.
Transporting grain was a losing proposition for the ship's foreman, but not necessarily for ordinary sailors. Even a lowly sergeant could earn over forty strings of cash or even a tael of silver a month, with no extra charge for food.
A typical day job, when converted to cash, would only amount to about thirty kan per month, not including meals. Only a kind-hearted employer might be able to get a free meal. Recently, prices have skyrocketed, but the daily wage has only increased slightly from thirty kan, because if you don't do it, there are plenty of others who will; the competition is too fierce.
In comparison, shipping grain by sea really offered higher wages, though it was a bit dangerous.
However, with the irreversible shrinkage of the canal transport system, this year's transport volume will certainly not reach the more than 1.6 million shi of last year. The direct reason is the increase in the number of ships withdrawing from transport, which has also reduced the number of jobs for sailors. More and more seafarers are unemployed and are looking for work everywhere.
"Have them come over this afternoon, and you can examine Buddha Tooth," Shao Shuyi instructed.
Liang Tai nodded silently and continued eating in silence.
The rice and dishes smell delicious.
Cook cabbage, salt, and rice in a pot until done, then mix a spoonful of lard into a bowl. Nothing tastes better than this.
Following Brother Shao, the food was just as good as that of a centurion in the Pizhou Manor. Hmm, Yu She's cooking skills weren't bad either.
Just as the three of them had finished eating, someone else came over from outside the courtyard.
"Brother Shao, I'm here." Wu Heizi stood outside the fence, laughing as he greeted him.
"You really came?" Shao Shuyi asked as he instructed Yu Yuan to serve the rice.
He had only asked Wu Heizi "politely" beforehand, not expecting him to actually come, since this was considered an employment arrangement rather than a partnership for profit sharing.
Gao Daqiang might want to take care of his younger brother who is struggling financially, but what is Wu Heizi after?
"How could I not come when you have something to do?" Wu Heizi said with a smile, "I haven't thanked you yet for helping my son with his studies."
"It wasn't my doing; Yu She helped out," Shao Shuyi said.
Wu Heizi's second son has already started school. The teacher is an old friend of Yu Yuan's father, a learned man who has just returned from Dadu. With nothing else to do, he opened a school to educate the mischievous children of his hometown.
After Shao Shuyi found out, he asked Yu Yuan to arrange a school admission for Wu Heizi's son. The old man was over sixty years old and had limited energy, so he could only take care of ten children.
Wu Heizi was very grateful for this. At this moment, he brought up the old matter again and said, "Master Sun didn't even accept tuition fees. He is truly a benevolent and virtuous man."
My son will surely have good fortune if he attends school with us. Brother Shao, Yu She, I have nothing more to say, I will remember this kindness in my heart.
Shao Shuyi laughed and said, "We're all brothers, why be so polite? What are the backgrounds of the people you found?"
'
Wu Heizi said, "When I was young, I learned to slaughter pigs from my father. At that time, there was a master who lived in the old city. He had many disciples and grand-disciples, and we younger ones often visited him. As you know, it's common for a family to have two or three or four able-bodied men. It's impossible for all of them to slaughter pigs. But now there are those who have nothing to do. When they hear there's work to be done, they all come."
At this point, he lowered his voice and said, "These people aren't all good. Many of them have been brave and fierce since childhood, and some even have murder on their hands. Others may not know, but I do. I've found six or seven for you. They slaughtered pigs and sheep with their elders when they were young, and they often had scraps of offal to eat. They're strong and daring."
"Since you've learned how to slaughter pigs, why didn't you continue doing it?" Shao Shuyi asked.
"Where are there so many pigs to slaughter?" Wu Heizi sneered. "These days, apart from government officials, ordinary people are eating less and less meat."
Shao Shuyi nodded. The meat consumption market is shrinking, the entire industry chain is being passively "laid off," and the job market is collapsing—or more accurately, it has been collapsing.
"Brother Shao, if you think these guys are usable, I'll bring them over. Ultimately, who we use and how many we use is up to you." Wu Heizi said, "Don't worry, they won't dare do anything. Anyone who complains will be beaten to a pulp."
"Have them come over tomorrow morning," Shao Shuyi said.
He had only had a vague premonition before, but now he realized there were truly many people without work. If even coastal commercial hubs like Liujiagang and Taicang, which leech off other places, were in this state, he dared not imagine what the situation was like in the inland hinterland.
Perhaps, this trip deep into Jiangxi will allow us to see the sights along the way.
Judging from the current trend, the Yuan Dynasty, with its extremely sharp contradictions, was doomed to perish.
If the Red Turban Army is gone, there's the Yellow Turban Army, or perhaps the warlords who rose up to suppress peasant uprisings and changed dynasties—there's bound to be one that suits your taste.
On the night of February 13th, Yu Yuan submitted a list of hired personnel to Shao Shuyi: after careful selection, there were a total of thirty-six sailors from various backgrounds.
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