Chapter Thirteen Organizational Structure

  In the hut area by the canal, Chen Xin stood in front of more than 20 people in Dai Zhenggang's original hut. These people were all from Yanggu, Dai Zhenggang's hometown, and had been waiting here for over ten days for Chen Xin to return.

  "Master Qianhu, twenty-one people have arrived from Yanggu, only two of them brought their families, the rest are all bachelors, and all the bachelors from nearby villages are here."

  Chen Xin saw the tenant Huang Yuan, as well as many other thin wives he had seen before. Chen Xin nodded and smiled at them, while Huang Yuan and others were at a loss, not knowing whether they should kneel or not. Now this Brother Chen can't be called that way anymore, it's said he's no longer the accountant, but now what kind of official is he?

  Chen Xin asked Huang Yuandao: "Huang Yuan, didn't your family have a baby? Did you bring it?"

  Huang Yuan said somewhat dejectedly: "The baby didn't survive, and died of illness along with his mother."

  Chen Xin didn't say anything else, patted Huang Yuan's shoulder, and said that the mortality rate in this era was too high. Many people would die after winter, freezing to death, starving to death, or dying from illness. The value of human life was rapidly depreciating.

  "You've all come so far to follow me, Chen Xin. I promise I won't let you down in the future. But let's be clear about the good and bad things upfront. Where we're going, we might have to fight bandits, Japanese pirates, or even Mongolians. The monthly pay is one tael and five qian, and if you get injured, you'll receive thirty taels. If you can't do this job anymore, I'll arrange for you to do other tasks, and you'll still get a salary. If you die, your family will also receive thirty taels. If you have kids, I'll support them until they're sixteen years old and even let them go to school. If anyone is afraid of death, speak up now, and I'll give you two taels of silver for travel expenses so you can return to Yanggu right away."

  Everyone looked at each other, but no one came forward, they all stared at Chen Xin in unison.

  Chen Xin said with satisfaction: "Alright, you've all come so far, I won't choose anymore. Take them all, those who can be soldiers will be soldiers, those who really can't will be logistics or artillery."

  Dai Zheng just happily agreed, he was originally worried that someone would not be selected and sent back. In this era, one or two hundred yuan is enough to support a family without being deducted, in fact Dai Zheng can see that these old villagers are inferior to the 50 carefully selected boat trackers, Chen Xin accepted them as giving himself face.

  "You should thank Master Qianhu." Dài Zhènggāng hastily reminded his fellow townsman, who had been stunned into silence. He had spent some time with Song Wenxian and had learned many etiquette lessons on the way to the capital.

  A group of people quickly knelt down, "Thank you, Sir Qianhu!"

  Chen Xin let them get up and then said to Dai Zhenggang: "In two days at most, we will set off. In these two days, you make a list of personnel, buy two large wooden buckets, and have them take turns washing their bodies, cleaning the lice and fleas on their bodies. Before boarding the ship, I want to check. If they are not cleaned up, they can walk to Weihai by themselves. Those quilts and other things, don't bring them on board when the time comes, I have already ordered new ones."

  Dai Zheng nodded and said: "I understand, sir. Like the thin wife of Zhangjiawan, I know what to do. But if new clothes can't be obtained for the time being, these lice won't be completely gotten rid of."

  "I went to urge Liu Min, he has this clothing store, how is it managed? It's been two days and dozens of clothes haven't been made yet. If it goes on like this, I'll have them made by another store." Chen Xin said discontentedly.

  After making arrangements here, Chen Xin returned to the city, and Dai Zheng brought a few people to find a wooden workshop outside the city to buy large wooden barrels. Chen Xin took Hai Gouzi directly into the city, and after arriving in Tianjin, Hai Gouzi no longer brought those porters, after all, he was young and couldn't compare with those people in terms of strength and physique. Chen Xin worried that they wouldn't be able to convince others, so temporarily let Zhu Guobin and Lu Chuanzong lead them, while Zhang Dahui who was eloquent helped buy some things in the city and passed on messages, Hai Gouzi became Chen Xin's personal bodyguard.

  The puppy followed Chen Xin and asked: "Brother, are we all going to Weihai with you?"

  "Do you want to go?"

  "Of course I want to! If I don't follow you, I'll be bored all day and won't know what to do. I don't want to make clothes every day either. It's more fun following big brother like you."

  Chen Xin smiled and said, "From now on, we're going to be doing some real killing business. It's not like before when we were just cheating and deceiving people. Now it's time to show our true skills. If you follow me, you might lose your life. If you want to live a safer life, I can leave you in Tianjin. This shop also needs someone to take care of it."

  "No, anyway I'll just follow you, big brother, and it's also your life that was saved, if it's lost then so be it."

  "Alas." Chen Xin sighed and put his arm around Haigouzi's shoulder as they walked together.

  "Is Liu going to Weihai?"

  "I still have to ask him, see if he wants to go himself."

  The little sea dog suddenly came up with a interest: "Big brother, I heard from the neighbors that Liu Ge and Pan Jinlian are unclear, Shen Lou scolds at the door every day. Like this, Liu Ge didn't even fire Shen's wife. Do you think Liu Ge really likes that broom star?"

  "What are you talking about, you little scamp? What broom star? Shen Lou got into trouble by stealing things himself, what does it have to do with others? You love to meddle in other people's business, Liu Ge. If he really marries this Pan Jinlian, she'll make you wear small shoes."

  The sea dog grasped his head and smiled foolishly: "Then I won't say it."

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  Liu Min returned to the courtyard after work, but this time Xiao Jia Hua didn't ask him to take care of the house because Chen Xin told her that they would be leaving for Dengzhou soon, so she didn't bother with renovating the place. The two storefronts were no longer used as shops; one was converted into a living room and the other became a bedroom. Chen Xin arranged for Xiao Jia Hua to stay in the storefront, although she was unwilling, she didn't dare disobey Master's wishes. She probably guessed that Liu Min wasn't welcoming her and didn't give him a good face either, so when she saw him come in, she just hummed and went back into the house.

  Liu Min had been in a huff for the past two days, and he walked into Chen Xin's house, seeing him packing his things. He asked him, "Are you really leaving for Weihai so soon?"

  "Leaving tomorrow, for now the Wei River has not completely frozen over, I must hurry and take advantage of this time, otherwise I will have to travel by land. Brother, you come with me too."

  Liu Minyou was still hesitant, since Chen Xin got the position of hundred households, he had been thinking about whether to go or not. He was a homebody who liked peace and quiet, and was most unwilling to leave his familiar environment. Now that he had been in Tianjin for several months, his neighbors were getting along well, and his business was on the right track, it was really hard for him to give up.

  "Hmm, I haven't thought about it yet."

  Chen Xin advised: "In winter, the canal is not open to traffic, and your clothing business is generally slow. Why don't you go with me to Weihai? There will definitely be a lot of things to do when we first arrive, and I alone can't handle it."

  Liu Min said: "You have so many people going, what can't you handle?"

  "They are all newcomers, but you are a seasoned veteran in the workplace, they basically have no management experience, and they all went to do odd jobs."

  "There are actually many talented people out there, and then Shen Li's family...". Liu Minyu suddenly stopped talking, lest Chen Xin grasp onto it.

  As expected, "Ah, right, what's going on between you and Shen Li? Why don't we just elope?"

  Liu Min said with a bad tone: "You think everyone is like you, trafficking in human beings? She's actually managing very well, learning things quickly, and her logic is very clear. Even when it comes to choosing clothes, she can give very good opinions."

  Chen Xin shrugged: "What if she's capable? At most, she can be your secretary. As for management, forget it. You think Old Cai and Lu You will listen to her just because she's a woman? They won't even bother with him."

  Liu Minyou also knew that it was a fact. If Shen Li really took charge, the old Cai and others would definitely unite to give her a hard time, and in the end, they would still have to change people.

  Chen Xin continued to persuade: "Just treat this woman as a worker, I think you still have some good feelings for her now. Don't get entangled with her, after all, she's a married woman. We don't have the energy to deal with Shen Lou. Forget about her, let's talk about what happened earlier.

  Liu Min hesitated and said: "What about that clothing store?"

  "Let Old Cai take care of it. The people won't change, they all have families to support, and I don't plan on taking them away either. Just leave the clothing store here as an office."

  "Lao Cai is in charge of me and I'm not at ease, he's a bit greedy for small advantages, and Lu You doesn't dare to offend him. It's still more reassuring with Zhou Laifu."

  Chen Xindao said, "Let Zhou Laifu be Zhou Laifu, this clothing store can still make some money. Besides, I have to come to Tianjin for the maritime trade fair next year after the Spring Festival. If you want Pan Jinlian, you can come back to Tianjin then and help me buy some goods."

  Liu Min was indignant: "Director Chen really treats me like a brick, moving me wherever he needs to. You know I hate changing places the most, but he still keeps bothering me."

  "Who dares? I'm just a director, when have I ever disobeyed Old Liu? But it's only because Old Liu is the most capable, after all, those who are able must work harder."

  Liu Minyou wasn't too reassured about Chen Xin going to Weihai alone, after all it was a completely unfamiliar place, and he should go help his good friend who relied on him. "Alright then, I'll go with you first, there's nothing to lose, just bring some clothes." Liu Minyou thought of something else, "By the way, that Zhou Shifang, the original Qian Fugiang went to the Fifth Army Camp, heard you became a thousand households, want to follow you."

  "Zhou Shifa?" Chen Xinyi thought of this servant chosen by Qian Zhongxuan, "But his mother is in Tianjin, how can he leave? Besides, isn't it more promising for Qian Zhongxuan to go to the Imperial Guards? Why would he follow me instead."

  "His mother passed away last month, and he doesn't want to follow Qian Fujiang either. I think he's quite impressed with your character, so he asked me to tell you."

  Chen Xin smiled and said: "You're mocking me again, well, I've had enough. Having been a house servant before, I still have some skills."

  Chen Xin was convinced by Liu Minyou, and was very happy. Liu Minyou was serious about his work and had management experience. Although he was a bit nagging, he could still help himself a lot. Moreover, the only one he could completely trust was him.

  "Boss Liu, that's settled then. Tomorrow you'll arrange the matters inside the shop. However, Zhou Laifu and his men are outsiders, I advise you to give Lu You some benefits. This man is still somewhat righteous, it's like having a mole on the inside."

  "I don't have as many tricks up my sleeve as you do, and I need to make sure everyone is on the same page. I'll give Zhou Laifu a slightly higher salary, Lao Cai and Lu You aren't familiar with him, Shen Li Shi also knows how to count money, he doesn't have any loopholes to exploit."

  Chen Xin nodded in admiration: "Brother Liu's arrangement is indeed well thought out, I admire it."

  Liu Min shook his head and said: "You'd better not come here, I don't have the mind to study checks and balances. You just leave like this, aren't you going to go tell Zhao's mother-in-law?"

  "Of course, I'll go tomorrow morning and bid farewell to Zhao Xiang. The marriage is settled anyway, so we can just get married next year." Chen Xin said with a long sigh, he still quite liked Zhao Xiang, although she was a bit young, but in this era, unmarried girls were all around that age, and those in their twenties were already mothers of several children.

  Liu Min nodded slightly: "Miss Zhao looks gentle and virtuous, you should treat her well in the future, don't let that Xiao family flower bully her."

  Chen Xin burst out laughing, this Zhao Miss is not so easy to bully, Xiao Jia Hua's level is probably not enough, but also agreed, and took out a piece of paper from under the pillow, and said to Liu Min: "This is my personnel arrangement, Liu boss take a look, give some opinions."

  Liu Min took a look and saw that there were many names written on the paper with a brush.

  Beijing: Zhang's conference

  Tianjin Purchasing: Old Cai

  Guard: Hai Gou Zi, choose two thin men

  Sixty-five soldiers

  Set five jia, each jia with twelve people, set one jiazhang, one huobing, two zhanbing wu, each wu with one wuzhang.

  Warrior team leader: Zhu Guobin flag bearer one guard one

  Deputy Commander of the Garrison: Dai Zhenggang, Lu Chuanzong

  A crew of forty sailors

  Shuishou Team Leader: Jiang Jisheng (Scar)

  Assistant of Water Hand Team: Qin Lüfang

  Craftsman's household name: Tang Zuoxiang

  Civil: Liu Minyou

  Foreign Affairs: Song Wenxian

  Liu Min exclaimed in surprise: "You've even figured out the organizational structure. Do you plan to put Zhang Da alone in the capital? Can he handle it by himself?"

  "This kid is quite clever, this time in the capital thanks to him we got some important news. For now, let's not go, wait until spring and then talk about it again, at that time we can also make adjustments. In life, let him buy a servant girl to cook and do laundry."

  "So I'm in charge of domestic affairs, but do I have a maid?"

  "No, at most find a middle-aged woman in the concubine's family to sweep and cook."

  Liu Min rubbed his nose, and the treatment of the Beijing office was better than that of the local government. "What does this civil affairs department actually govern?"

  "Everything else is taken care of apart from the army."

  "For example."

  "Such as repairing houses, farming, buying food, buying goods, receiving guests, giving birth to children, growing old and sick, entertainment and leisure, women's work..."

  Liu Min was sweating like rain.