On the other hand, the villagers could be put to use, though he had been somewhat wary of them before.
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Author's Note: Zhu Ci: I haven't found any useful manpower, but I've ended up adopting a whole bunch of kids. The kitten scratched its head with its hind paw in great distress. jpg
Next update at 6:00 PM~
Chapter 46
Even though everyone was deeply grateful to him and held him in great respect and awe, Zhu Ci was truly feeling a bit paranoid because of the crowd of double agents surrounding him.
He was terrified that he might accidentally let another traitor in, if these traitors weren't from the same group, he would have an even greater headache on his hands.
Now, the two sides can be closely linked to the school.
Those who perform exceptionally well at the Coal Production Factory will not only receive monetary or material rewards, but can even send their children to the academy to study.
It is not just the Coal Production Factory; the Furnace Factory is the same.
This is equivalent to a natural binding of interests; once children are mortgaged to him for their studies and martial arts training, they must naturally work even harder if they do not wish to be dismissed.
Of course, this also gives rise to another issue: not everyone can join the Coal Production Factory, not everyone is willing to join either.
The Coal Production Factory and the Furnace Production Factory are still in their infancy after all, so no one knows whether they can make a steady profit. Many people are waiting to see how things unfold; as the weather warms up, if the Coal Production Factory were to close, they would lose their livelihood, the season would be lost for farming. Wouldn't that be a double loss?
Besides that, many people were not interested at all; they were more skilled at farming and felt that farming was a more stable way to make a living.
Zhu Ci thought of this and decisively decided not to concern himself with so-called fairness or unfairness; there was no such thing as fairness in this world to begin with.
After Zhu Ci revealed this decision, those who had already made it onto the Coal Production Factory list were overjoyed, while those who had not were nearly breaking down the Baochang's door.
They did not dare to seek out Zhu Ci, so they naturally came to find the Baochang instead.
Xi Ping gave a bitter smile and said, "What use is it to look for me? The Young Master's word is gold; once he has made a decision, he will not change it. Even my boy won't be able to enter the academy."
Many people in the village suddenly felt much more balanced, but they still used the opportunity of house building to fish for information, even hoping their husbands would stand out while building their houses so they could get their children sent in.
Zhu Ci "looked" at the news Xi Ya had brought back and gave a soft laugh. "Never mind them."
Let them make a fuss; he has many things to do right now.
He looked at Xi Ya, pondered for a long while, said, "As for the Coal Production Factory.. I plan to send Chunsheng. You should stay at home and take care of things."
Xi Ya nodded, showing no sign of discontent.
Zhu Ci also wanted to sigh; in truth, if one were to speak of it, Xi Ya was the most suitable person to oversee the Coal Production Factory.
After all, he understood beehive coal better than Fu Chunsheng, but unfortunately, his disability prevented him from going there.
You can't exactly make the workers at the Coal Production Factory learn sign language before they start their shifts, then refuse them work if they can't learn it, can you?
If one were to speak truthfully, the Firearms Factory would actually suit Xi Ya, as there is no need to deal with many people there, but unfortunately.. this is of utmost importance, the firearms recipes cannot be easily revealed to others.
Even if the person behind them might not lack firearm formulas, Zhu Ci would still improve these firearms, so how could those improved formulas fall into the hands of others?
Fu Chunsheng worked diligently, while Zhu Ci sent most of the refugees to the Firearms Factory.
Having rarely visited the Coal Production Factory himself, he directly told Fu Qiulu to pack her bags and head to the Firearms Factory to stay for a while.
Fu Qiulu originally thought she could go along as well, but she didn't expect that when she tried to follow with her luggage, Zhu Ci would look at her with a puzzled expression. "What are you following for?"
Fu Qiulu was also stunned. "I.. I'm going to take care of the Young Master."
Zhu Ci said irritably, "What will happen to the house if you leave?"
There was one child, one wounded person, an old teacher, a mute left at home. Oh, the old teacher shouldn't be that old; he looked to be in his sixties, but in this era, he was already considered quite elderly.
With only the four of them left at home, Zhu Ci was also uneasy.
Fu Qiulu glanced at Xi Ya, wanting to say that besides being unable to speak, Xi Ya had no flaws; even if someone tried to harm the others, he could handle it.
Unfortunately, Xi Ya's background destined him to be nothing more than a vagabond with a bit of strength and quick hands; he could not master the things he was not meant to know.
Zhu Ci waved a hand and said, "That's enough. You stay here; I don't need you to serve me."
Fu Qiulu held her luggage and watched Zhu Ci's retreating figure, exchanging a glance with Xi Ya and the mobility-impaired Xia Lei; they both felt that this Young Master might simply want to shake her off and not let her follow.
"There must be a secret at the Firearms Factory," Fu Qiulu said in a low voice.
Aside from Fu Chunsheng, the rest of them found an opportunity to hide together and hold a meeting.
Could it be that the Crown Prince has better firearms formulas in his hands?
Xia Lei and Xi Ya exchanged a glance, both feeling that it was likely so.
In an instant, they were once again tempted.
Fu Qiulu said with great hesitation, "But the Marquis won't let us act rashly."
Xi Ya gestured with his hands, "Even when you were serving in the study, you didn't see those diagrams. The Young Master must have hidden them very deeply; it will be incredibly difficult for us to obtain them."
Xia Lei patted their heads one by one. "Behave yourselves. The Marquis didn't send us here to steal these things in the first place. If there really are better formulas, just give the news to the Marquis, he will naturally find a way to trade with the Young Master. Don't act recklessly!"
Fu Qiulu and Xi Ya immediately lost their spirit. They naturally knew their mission was not to act as thieves, but when good things were right before their eyes—especially things that would be useful to the Marquis—they truly could not help themselves.
Forget it, being able to pass the news along was enough to show they had done their duty, so their consciences wouldn't feel so heavy.
Although the Young Master suspected them, he was also very kind to them. Though they were nominally master and servant, in their daily interactions, he showed no sense of superiority whatsoever, as long as his bottom line was not touched, his temper was very good.
Stealing his things always felt like a blow to one's conscience.
The only uncertainty was how they would ever know if the firearms from the Firearms Factory would be better?
In fact, even Zhu Ci did not have much confidence in this point.
In over four hundred years, firearms and artillery weapons developed at an astonishing pace; before Zhu Ci traveled through time, he wouldn't even have needed real people to take the battlefield.
This period might be the most rapid era of development in human history.
Zhu Ci could only try to make improvements bit by bit; expecting to achieve perfection in one single step was likely impossible.
However, before work could begin, Zhu Ci stood before the refugees; he had originally intended to give a speech, but in that moment, he only felt a sense of unbearable misery.
These refugees were not just sallow and thin, but dark-skinned and emaciated. Their faces were so gaunt that they barely looked human, with features so indistinct they served as natural "masks" against being identified.
And then there was the smell wafting off them; if the weather weren't still cold and the wind weren't blowing the scent away, he probably wouldn't even have the courage to stand here.
Forget about improving firearms for now; let them take care of their personal hygiene first.
Zhu Ci spoke without changing his expression despite the foul odor, "I know you are all wondering what is being done here, you don't know what work you are about to do. Before I inform you of these things, I must clearly state the discipline you must follow here. Once I have finished speaking, if you feel you cannot comply, you may leave. If you agree to stay and then try to run away again, do not blame me for being ruthless."
After Zhu Ci finished speaking, he looked around. Although their facial expressions were difficult to discern because their faces were so blackened, their gazes could still be understood to some extent.
Although he stood here all alone, without any attendants by his side, the gaze these people directed at him still carried a sense of awe.
This was a fear etched into their very bones for thousands of years, it had nothing to do with who he was.
Of course, the main reason Zhu Ci dared to come alone was his belief that as long as the opposition didn't fight desperately, they might not be able to defeat him even with their superior numbers.
He held a sharp Yanling Blade and daggers, with his needs met and spirits high, even though he was young and his frame was not yet fully developed, he was nothing like those refugees lingering on the edge of life and death.
Zhu Ci stood there with his hands behind his back and said in a deep voice, "First of all, once you enter the factory area, you are not allowed to leave unless there is a special reason."
After he finished speaking, the numb expressions of the refugees changed slightly.
Once you go in, you can never come out. Then.. how is that any different from being in prison?
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Author's Note: Zhu Ci: I feel like there aren't many normal people in my family; Teacher Qiu and little Xi Zhenliu are practically a breath of fresh air. *Cat lying on the roof, chin in paws, feeling melancholy. jpg*
I've gone senile and forgotten that I was supposed to work today. This chapter comes with a working red envelope~
Next update tomorrow morning at six o'clock~
Chapter 47
Zhu Ci paused for a moment after speaking, preparing to face any questions or objections.
However, the people before him were truly submissive subjects, or rather, their lives of suffering had long since eroded their consciousness of resistance to almost nothing.
Even when driven to a dead end, those with the courage to resist are ultimately in the minority.
Zhu Ci did not wait for any opposition before declaring, "In addition to this, no news is to be passed to the outside world, there shall be no contact between different job types, nothing is to be taken out of the workshops, anyone who violates these orders shall be executed without mercy!"
Zhu Ci spoke the last six words with such murderous intent; he had truly killed people and seen blood before, so the weight of his words was naturally extraordinary.
The refugees grew restless for a moment; they had come to find a way to survive, not to seek death. To be killed for disobeying orders was simply too harsh.
Zhu Ci ignored their restlessness this time and continued speaking, "Those who can accept the conditions above may stay; those who cannot may leave."
The refugees looked at each other in confusion, whispering among themselves for a long time, but no one moved.
They were already at their wits' end. Although this Young Master was a bit strict, he at least truly gave them food to eat. As long as they behaved themselves, paid their taxes on time, did as they were told, this Young Master shouldn't kill anyone without reason, right?
They remembered that the Baochang of Xialiang had said back then that they were incredibly lucky, that this Young Master was a magnanimous and benevolent gentleman.
It was just a bit different from what they had expected, they didn't know if that Baochang had been lying to them.
Zhu Ci waited for a while, when no one moved—not even a hint of hesitation—he softened his expression and said in a gentle voice, "Since no one wants to leave, then from this moment on, you are all my subordinates. I have already laid out the harsh truths, so now let me tell you what you can gain here."
First is the matter of clothing. In a few days, you will all have a new set of work uniforms. From now on, every worker in the factory will receive three sets of work uniforms every year to suit different seasons.
As soon as he finished speaking, the refugees' eyes instantly lit up.
This Firearms Factory actually provides clothes? It's simply unheard of!
Zhu Ci continued, "Second is food. The factory will have a canteen that provides two meals a day, with a certain free quota. For anything exceeding this quota, you will need to pay for it yourself. Don't worry, this free quota will definitely be enough to keep you full."
As for the extra cost, it is to prepare for the future when these refugees settle down and bring their families to eat at the canteen.
Zhu Ci didn't set up the Firearms Factory for charity; the employee benefits were only for the employees, no one else was included.
Once this news broke, the refugees' faces were practically beaming with joy. They wouldn't have to buy clothes or food, all their wages could be saved. Could such a wonderful opportunity really come to them?
Zhu Ci watched them; some looked skeptical, some were filled with excitement, some even boldly spoke up to ask if it was true.
He raised his hand to silence everyone and said, "Quiet, I have not finished speaking."
The refugees gradually quieted down, staring intently at Zhu Ci, hoping only that they could go to the factory to work immediately; as for what this Xinghuo Factory actually did, they didn't care at all.