“All of you, listen up! You ungrateful lot, you must always be thankful for the Lord’s kindness. According to Ninja regulations, bystanders in such situations are meant to die, making you deserving of death. But the Lord, with his benevolent heart and great mercy, specially saved you from dire straits. You must show your gratitude…” Second River strutted back and forth, imitating the tax officials he had seen before.
The nine Bao Zhangs below listened respectfully, even Ergou became well-behaved.
This filled Second River with satisfaction, as if he had already ascended to power, never having been so imposing in his life.
“If I could truly remain a Bao Zhang, that would be wonderful!” Second River sighed to himself, his mind replaying the image of his superior, Village Head Tian, giving orders. His imposing demeanor was just like that of an official in the city, inspiring awe.
Especially when he thought of the directive that had just been passed down: as long as his managerial position remained intact upon reaching their destination, he would receive ten times the property compensation than before. Second River’s heart was itching like it was being scratched by a cat. He knew that living in the inner layer of the city, he struggled daily, barely making ends meet. If he could receive ten times the compensation in one go, it would undoubtedly be a huge fortune, like a pie falling from the sky!
Not to mention.
“According to the higher-ups, isn’t this Bao Zhang system the future? The Village Head is like the head of a family, managing a village. The Captain is like a commander, leading a team of a hundred people, and the Town Head and Camp Commander are even given official positions, like a regional Daimyo, managing all the affairs of a small town!”
“In that case, am I not an official now! Have I also joined the samurai class?” Second River was filled with doubt, yet also incredibly excited, as if a little deer was leaping in his heart. He pondered to himself, if this was true, then according to the rules just announced, wouldn’t it mean he could rise step by step through this Bao Zhang position to higher offices?
“No, I must firmly hold onto my managerial position, and I must go all out and work diligently. If I can be competent at a higher level, that would truly be a godsend!” Instantly, Second River’s eyes sparkled like stars. From then on, he supervised the Bao Zhangs under him with even greater care, watching their every move like a hawk eyeing its prey, and also fearing they might cause trouble that would implicate him.
There were many others who shared his thoughts.
Under the Ninja World’s millennium-old system.
A Daimyo’s son remained a Daimyo, a Ninja’s offspring remained a Ninja, and the children of farmers and commoners, as in the past, remained poor farmers and commoners.
Order was as deeply rooted and unshakeable as a rock.
However, there was one existing path for those at the bottom of society to change professions:
That was to become a bandit!
Once they became bandits, they could roam like wolves, burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities.
After their unrestrained indulgence, what awaited them was the encirclement and suppression by Ninjas dispatched by the powerful.
The treasures they plundered would also be completely seized by the powerful and the Ninjas, like flowing water.
Although it seemed like they changed their fate, in reality, they were merely playthings in the hands of the powerful, vicious dogs specifically used to persecute their fellow farmers, and even starving wolves deliberately released to reduce the population and seize survival resources. But no matter what, for every day they were bandits, they could at least live happily.
Because in the original system,
what these ordinary common people could do was prostrate themselves at the feet of the powerful, singing praises day after day, dedicating themselves day after day, and surrendering all their resources.
Even if the commoners were afraid, terrified, and yearned for a chance to be a dog for the powerful, they wouldn't get it.
Because the powerful’s lackeys also had descendants.
How could they possibly recruit others to compete with their own descendants for a living?
For a long time,
no one dared to break this rule.
But now, Uchiha Tenxiu’s actions are giving them a chance to be a dog. In the past, they could at most be commoners, but now I’m appointing you as Bao Zhangs, Village Heads, and even higher to Town Heads, upgrading you step by step. As long as you are loyal to me and fulfill all my arrangements for you, then you can change your social class and become a noble dog.
As for whether they are willing or not,
at this moment, the various managers, who have already immersed themselves in their roles, would undoubtedly say without hesitation if they knew: others want to be, but they don't have the connections!
There's no way around it; this is Uchiha Tenxiu’s promise to them, with ten times the wealth compensation and the powerful allure of official positions. With wealth and power combined, who could refuse?
…
After the third formation.
On site, the Town Head and Camp Commander led the front.
Behind them, Village Heads and Captains were neatly arranged. Behind them, too, Bao Zhangs and Jia Zhangs, with serious expressions, looked forward, staring intently at the Village Heads and Captains in front, filled with longing.
“How about it? What do you think of what I said! Now, even as foot soldiers, they are already qualified, aren’t they!” Uchiha Tenxiu shrugged and smiled at Uchiha Sakurako.
And she was already dumbfounded by this series of operations, utterly shocked.
“I really didn’t expect that you could manage them so orderly with such ease.”
“Moreover, even most of their previous complaints and hatred have disappeared, and each of them completely obeys the arrangements.”
“Although I don’t understand it, it’s truly amazing!”
Uchiha Sakurako stared at Uchiha Tenxiu, and at this moment, she could only nod, genuinely impressed and convinced.
After all, if she were asked to do these things, she would have no idea how to handle or manage these people.
The only thing she could do
was kill and hypnotize!
But now, Uchiha Tenxiu was easily able to do what she could not.
Even though the bet hadn't been completed yet,
Uchiha Sakurako’s heart began to slowly trust Uchiha Tenxiu.
Perhaps Uchiha Tenxiu’s vision could truly see a future that she could not.
…
After a morning of integration,
the selected adult Bao Zhangs, having undergone a series of methods, were disciplined to a military standard.
The layered management system made them understand their responsibilities and exercise their authority.
Even though they normally only prostrated themselves before their lord, and even as free citizens, they only had a slight chance to speak, now they were managing others like lords themselves.
This change in identity
created a class leap in an instant.
Driving the ambition within human nature to grow wildly.
When Uchiha Tenxiu forced them to abandon their fields and wealth and leave Harvest City, even if their hearts were filled with reluctance and they cursed Uchiha Tenxiu as a damned scoundrel, they dared not resist in any way.
But now, with their management authority and power in operation, they suddenly felt that Uchiha Tenxiu had done quite well. After all, according to Ninja regulations, unrelated people were to be slaughtered by Ninjas, and the fact that they were still alive was enough to show Uchiha Tenxiu’s benevolence towards them.
As for the Ōtomo who were killed,
Hmm, no one cared at all.
According to the news disseminated from above,
this Ōtomo was tyrannical and behaved atrociously. He robbed and massacred outsiders and merchant caravans, and in addition, he hoarded large amounts of grain and exploited the common people. While the people of the Land of Fire were starving, he resold all the grain to foreign countries, truly a traitor within the Land of Fire, deserving of death.
Suddenly, everyone believed this news.
As for its truth, they didn't bother to discern.
Otherwise, why did the entire Ōtomo die?
And they were able to live.
It must be that the other party was in the wrong.
And they were just innocent people, implicated.
Upon realizing that the Ōtomo had done bad deeds and implicated them all, these ordinary commoners who had once enjoyed the Ōtomo’s welfare instantly turned the Ōtomo into the most wicked and shameless villains in this world.
Human nature is truly unfathomable.