“For example, the various sizes of bricks used in the construction of Jianye City could not be produced on such a large scale here, so we outsourced a large number of tasks. The United Commerce Association and the powerful individuals from various countries established factories for production.
Although the orders were placed at the cheapest purchase and labor prices, they still cost one billion Ryo.”
“Not to mention, you have been continuously purchasing grain without limit. External merchant teams need to spend money, and various countries are extensively acquiring and transporting grain, leading to a current shortage in many countries!”
“These grains cost another twelve billion Ryo. Then, recruiting elite talents from various countries, as well as the people who came here needing to cultivate land, various tools, and a large amount of clothing, among other miscellaneous items, cost another three hundred million Ryo.” Uchiha Sakurako calculated each item on her fingers, and soon, Uchiha Tenxiu’s total expenditure reached around thirteen point three billion Ryo.
Then, Uchiha Sakurako looked at Uchiha Tenxiu and continued, “Finally, the most expensive part is your bureaucratic salary system. Even low-ranking officials receive a one thousand Ryo subsidy.
Formal officials generally earn three thousand Ryo or more. Although there aren't many formal officials right now, your low-ranking soldiers, village chiefs, and town chiefs combined number over ten thousand people.
The average monthly salary paid out is twenty million Ryo. This is just an undeveloped county; according to your plan, you are going to develop dozens of counties, and this salary expense is too large.”
“The remaining gold and silver treasures require a lot of time to convert into cash. Your actual cash on hand is only two billion Ryo, of which one billion is to maintain the existence of the United Commerce Association and basically cannot be touched.
Of the remaining one billion, according to your plan to build various factories, at least five hundred million Ryo will still be needed!”
“Lastly, these five hundred million Ryo will be used to pay bureaucratic salaries over the next two years and will gradually disappear!”
Uchiha Sakurako said seriously, her words full of gravity, and finally stared intently at Uchiha Tenxiu.
“Why not follow the example of the Daimyo in other countries and not pay salaries, just let them serve as officials voluntarily!”
Uchiha Sakurako specifically pointed this out, wondering why Uchiha Tenxiu insisted on paying these people salaries.
After all, minor officials in other countries don’t receive salaries, yet they still function normally!
In response, Uchiha Tenxiu immediately waved his hand, rejecting the proposal. He promptly retorted, “No, I cannot agree to this proposal. Not paying salaries and working voluntarily is not how a normal country operates, and besides, these salaries aren’t even high!”
Indeed, based on the average Ninja World commoner’s monthly expenses for necessities like firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar, plus various other costs, which amount to about one thousand Ryo, this sum is not much.
For the impoverished, it would be even less.
Therefore, the subsidy provided by Uchiha Tenxiu is not actually much, especially for the management. They also have allocated land.
As for Uchiha Sakurako’s concern that expanding to new counties would lead to increased salary expenditures, it is possible, but it won't be that urgent, because the expanded territories of the new counties will still utilize this same group of people.
Once they have managed the local populace to a stable degree, they can rotate to other locations.
Only a small number of people will need to remain locally to maintain order.
In other words, there will be no issues with bureaucratic salaries for at least two years.
After two years, even if there is an increase, it won't be significant; it will simply involve moving them to manage a different territory, still without greatly increasing the number of officials, merely adding more minor clerks.
“However, even so, preparations must be made early.” Uchiha Tenxiu thought to himself, planning to return to Konoha Village.
Not to mention asking Uchiha Raimon for more funds, he plans to establish a family retreat in You Country and make a series of arrangements.
More crucially, there are developments regarding the ferret merchant team that require his personal oversight.
That concerns Yukino’s illness.
No delay can be tolerated.
Besides this.
Uchiha Tenxiu and Uchiha Sakurako sat on the floor, looking at some letters on the table: inquiries from Elder Uchiha Raimon, expressions of concern from Uchiha Lingyue and Uchiha Yukino, and letters received from his personal subordinates.
Uchiha Tenxiu carefully reviewed each one.
“It seems it’s time to go back.” Uchiha Tenxiu turned his head and said to Uchiha Sakurako, who was beside him.
“Indeed, that merchant team matter must be dealt with. As you said, that kind of life-energy-rich ore vein is undoubtedly priceless.
It absolutely cannot be exposed to the outside world, otherwise, it will certainly attract enormous threats!”
Uchiha Sakurako likewise said cautiously.
“Secondly, under Elder Raimon’s strong support, an explanation must be given, and the two young ladies also need to be brought over. Also, the personnel you previously recruited, Lord Tenxiu. Of course, the most crucial point is to kill the traitor Uchiha Ming.”
Uchiha Sakurako reminded him again. As Uchiha Tenxiu’s endeavors grew larger, Uchiha Sakurako also began to put herself in Uchiha Tenxiu’s position to judge everything.
Among them, the Uchiha Clan, which cannot be abandoned, as the greatest supporter of her liege, harbors the hidden traitor Uchiha Ming, who is absolutely a huge threat and must be eliminated.
Even if there's only a 1% chance of information here being leaked, Uchiha Sakurako cannot tolerate it.
As for whether Uchiha Tenxiu can eliminate the traitor Uchiha Ming, Uchiha Sakurako has no doubt whatsoever.
“However, after I return, Jianye City will be left for you to oversee, Sakurako. As the person I trust most, can you handle all of this?” Uchiha Tenxiu looked at Uchiha Sakurako, his eyes filled with trust.
As Jianye City has gradually developed, a capable person must be left to guard it.
And that person could be no one other than Uchiha Sakurako.
Only she could earn his trust.
“Yes, Lord Tenxiu! Thank you for your trust. Please leave everything to me.” Uchiha Sakurako patted her chest, causing her ample bosom to jiggle, momentarily blurring Uchiha Tenxiu’s vision.
Her eyes were filled with excitement, and her face flushed, showing her emotion at being recognized.
“Hmm, however, the various developments in the surrounding areas are covered by the plans I left behind, and also handled by the large number of strategists recruited within the palace.
If any major emergency arises and you are truly unsure, you can use the clan’s Ninja cat summoning to transmit information. In short, I’m leaving this to you!”
Uchiha Tenxiu said, entrusting everything to her.
Receiving Uchiha Tenxiu’s entrusted command, Uchiha Sakurako was deeply moved, vowing in her heart to dedicate everything to protecting the foundation Uchiha Tenxiu had entrusted to her.
And so.
After arranging all matters in Jianye City on Wangguan Island, Uchiha Tenxiu returned to the Ninja World once again.
...
Land of Wind border.
Uchiha Tenxiu, who had just helped a Land of Wind lord gratuitously donate his gold mine to him, rode a giant eagle back to the Land of Fire from high in the sky.
While passing through River Country, he encountered a bandit robbery.
Having just acquired a large amount of gold, Uchiha Tenxiu was in a rare good mood and couldn't help but feel like helping out.
The next moment.
“Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!” A massive sphere of flames fell from the sky into the crowd, exploding violently.
An area twenty to thirty meters in radius was left in ruins, dozens of people incinerated by the intense flames, completely unable to move!
The surviving bandits around them collapsed to the ground, a few immediately fleeing, only to be struck by two shuriken Uchiha Tenxiu casually threw, instantly falling to the ground, bleeding profusely.
“Ninja! It’s a Ninja! Run! Ah…”
“Mercy! Mercy!”
“I won’t do it again! I won’t rob again!”
“Please spare us, Lord Ninja!”
...
“Hmph, how inexplicable! Are you all alright? Hmm? Wait, wait, is that…?” Uchiha Tenxiu squinted at the bandits, then moved aside and gazed at the terrified merchant team that had been robbed, asking.
However, at that moment, Uchiha Tenxiu’s gaze was drawn like lightning to the black-headed, black-footed ferret scurrying on the back of the team leader, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.