Chapter 67: "Recruitment Hall"

Chapter 67: "Recruitment Hall"
After the departure of the four family heads, Guo Jia quickly came out from the back hall. Guo Jia came over to discuss some matters with Xu Han. When he entered, he was informed that Xu Han was meeting with the four family heads, so he went to the back hall first and waited for the family heads to leave before coming out.
"Lord, the team for measuring the land has been organized today. There are a total of twenty groups, with five people in each group, making a hundred people in total. Today, we will be measuring the unmanaged wasteland and the ordinary farmers' land. It is estimated that in five days we will start measuring the land of the noble families. It is expected to complete all the land in Dunhuang within twenty days. However, the Zhou, Li, Wang, and Hu families will surely cause trouble. Also, very few common people have come to register."
"It is normal for the people to not trust us now. The reformation of Shang Yang still needs time to gain trust! Tomorrow, arrange people to allocate land to the registered citizens. Once the rest of the people see that the policies are truly implemented, they will flock to support us. As for the noble families, let's not take action against them for now. I have sent Uncle Zhi to monitor the actions of the four major families. The immediate tasks include land policies, military ideological work, and establishing schools. In order to fundamentally undermine the noble families, besides the land reform, we also need to use knowledge and culture as another tool. We cannot rely on the scholars of the noble families; we must focus on cultivating our own group of intellectuals."
"My lord, what you said is correct. However, we are currently facing a severe shortage of manpower. The few of us alone cannot handle it all. I propose to establish a Talent Recruitment Hall, similar to the Jixia Academy in the Warring States period, to attract talented students from humble backgrounds and fallen aristocratic families to serve us. Even if loyalty is a concern, they can at least help with some trivial but non-important matters." Guo Jia has been busy and has lost a lot of weight these days.
"Makes sense, I agree. Let's change the sign of the Suo family's mansion to Zhaoxianguan (Inn of Talent). However, I have a suggestion: Zhaoxianguan should not only recruit scholars and warriors, but also skilled professionals like carpenters and blacksmiths. They can be divided into workshops for craftsmen, academies for scholars, and halls for warriors according to their specialties." After some consideration, Xu Han put forward his own idea. In this era, craftsmen have low status, but Xu Han doesn't think so. Technology is the primary productive force, and these craftsmen are the key to advancing technology. With strong support, there will definitely be unexpected results.
On the second day,
"Everyone come and take a look, what new tricks has this new magistrate come up with? Yesterday it was about land reform, and today he has brought up this recruitment center." A man arranged by Xu Han shouted loudly at the front door of the Suo family, attracting the attention of passersby.
"This Talent Recruiting Hall has nothing to do with us common people. It is a place to recruit those scholars. How can we, ordinary people, have the chance to read books?!"
"Old man, you got it wrong. The prefect said that as long as you have a skill, such as being a blacksmith, carpenter, stonemason, or any other craft, you can enter the Talent Recruiting Hall. Look, it's written clearly here." The clerk arranged at the entrance immediately explained in response to the discussion among the common people.
"Hey, everyone, stop gawking at this recruitment hall and quickly register at the magistrate's office! Yesterday, Zhao Hui registered his land and today officials went to his house to measure the plot. He's getting ten mu of land per person. I heard they received official documents with seals and buried boundary stones in the fields. The magistrate even provided them with seeds for next year's spring planting!" For ordinary folks, land is everything, so a large group of people hurriedly ran to the magistrate's office.
After everyone dispersed, there were still six or seven people standing at the entrance of the Inn. The gatekeeper approached them, curious about why they weren't going to register with the others or enter the Inn. He asked, "Brothers, why aren't you going to claim your land?"
"Does this recruiting hall really accept craftsmen? We, the descendants of the Mohist School, were once revered in the country, but the influence of Confucianism has caused the decline of Mohism. Now, there are only six of us left. Although Mohism has declined, our craftsmanship has not been lost. If the magistrate truly values craftsmen, we are willing to join him."
"Of course it's true, but you need to have real talent and skills. You all will be settled in the Advanced Recruitment Hall for now, and if you need anything, just let me know. Show your exceptional skills as soon as possible. Governor, at the beginning of each month, will personally evaluate everyone's talents. Those approved by the Governor can continue to stay in the recruitment hall, or the Governor will arrange positions for them." The clerk explained the rules to the Mo family members.
At the same time, the heads of the four major families gathered at the Zhou family.
"Xu Han, this kid seems to want to push us into a corner!" the Zhou family head whispered.
"We must not wait to be killed."
"How can our current strength compete with Xu Han, who has tens of thousands of troops? Are we supposed to use those connections... wouldn't that be inviting trouble?"
"Otherwise, what can we do? Now Xu Han is determined to deal with us. It would be best to let those people in and make them both suffer losses."
"Let Xu Han, this kid, know about the power of the aristocratic families. The reason why the Su family was able to suppress us back then was only because the Su family did not excessively trouble us and could preserve our interests. Otherwise, a bandit from the Su family is also worthy of managing Dunhuang!!!" The heads of the four major families exchanged words and laid out a shocking conspiracy.
(End of this chapter)