I formed the strongest swordsman group

"Bastion? What is this?"

Yataro Iwasaki asked first.

For the Japanese today, the bastion is still a very unfamiliar concept.

Qingdeng thought for a while and replied:

"To put it simply, it is a battle-specialized city wall like a five-sided wall."

As soon as these words came out, Yataro Iwasaki and others all showed expressions of sudden realization.

Goryokaku - a star-shaped fortress built in the Hakodate area (today's Hakodate City) of Ezo Island (today's Hokkaido).

Talking about this city outline, everyone really knows about it.

After all, this was the first time the shogunate built a Western-style bastion in Japan.

In March of the first year of Ansei (1854), Japan and the United States signed the Treaty of Kanagawa. According to the provisions of the treaty, Hakodate officially opened its port. The Edo shogunate immediately took back the Matsumae clan's territory in the Hakodate area and set up Hakodate in June of the same year. .

In order to defend the northern frontier, the shogunate decided to build a solid fortress in Hakodate.

Construction started in the fourth year of Ansei (1857), and now most of it has been completed.

If nothing else happens, it will be officially completed next year.

As soon as Aoto mentioned the "Five-sided Castle", Iwasaki Yataro and others all came over and knew what kind of castle Aoto wanted to build.

History textbooks say: Gunpowder blasted open the castle of the knightly class - this sentence is both true and false.

Gunpowder did blast open the castles of the knights, but it only destroyed the square, classical castles.

When the "spear" evolves, the "shield" will also evolve.

In order to deal with the attacker's gunpowder, the defender quickly came up with a countermeasure-that is, the bastion.

The essence of the so-called bastion is to build the city into a concave polygon.

Such an improvement would expose the attacker to more than one bastion face (usually 2-3) no matter where any point in the castle was attacked.

In this way, the defense can easily use crossfire to carry out multiple strikes.

It is not difficult to imagine how much headache such a castle would cause to the attackers.

Otsu Castle has long been reduced to a historical term, with only a few black stone foundations left - this is exactly what Qingteng wanted!

If Otsujo was still alive, he would feel a headache instead.

Classical castles like Edo Castle and Osaka Castle are no longer useful and cannot keep up with the trend.

The Japanese classical castle can only bully the cold weapon troops who lack firearms.

Nowadays, times have changed. As long as groups of artillery are brought in, even the bastard shell of Edo Castle will be as fragile as a piece of paper!

Iwasaki Yataro looked at Aoto next to him, and then looked at the overgrown stone foundation in front of him:

"...Mr. Tachibana."

He said with a wry smile.

"I understand what you mean."

"But...please forgive me for pouring a basin of cold water on you."

"The cost of building a castle with a five-sided outline is astronomical."

After Qingdeng heard this, he suddenly looked helpless.

"I know...well, money is never enough."

Things of superior quality naturally become more expensive.

Building a city is an extremely expensive and huge project, let alone a battle-specialized city outline like a bastion!

Take the five-sided outline as an example.

The construction cost of the five-sided outline is not ordinary high.

The budget for moat, civil engineering and stone wall projects is 98,000 taels; the budget for construction projects is 25,000 taels; the budget for waterway projects is 20,000 taels; and the overall budget is 143,000 taels.

This huge project once employed about 5,000 to 6,000 workers in its heyday, and the Hakodate began to prosper as a result.

After providing the Shinsengumi's daily expenses, the Shinsengumi Chamber of Commerce had very little money left.

Even if you save money bit by bit... you can save enough money, but in this way, the efficiency is really too slow.

What's more, the projects Qingdeng wants to carry out are far more than just building bastions.

Otsu is undoubtedly a blessed land, and it has more than just vast arable land.

Just like Changshu, Otsu has a lot of hidden assets.

The stone height of Changshu on the surface is only 370,000 koku, but because it is adjacent to the Shimonoseki Strait, it has been able to develop ocean-going industries and capture a large amount of tariffs, with actual income exceeding one million koku!

Matsumoto tiles, Zensho tea... Which of these specialties of Otsu is not Jinshan?

They are all waiting for Qingdeng to develop them one by one!

Once the development is successful and the operation goes smoothly, Qingdeng's income and Otsu's income will skyrocket exponentially!

Qingdeng has made careful arrangements on how to develop Dajin.

The first thing to be done is 6 major projects.

First, build a bastion.

Second, cultivate new fields.

Third, build a silver mirror factory to further expand the production scale of silver mirrors.

Fourth, develop specialty industries such as Zensho tea and Matsumoto tiles

Fifth, develop overseas trade.

Sixth, introduce steam engines and develop industry.

In addition to the first bastion, the other five projects are all linked to the economy.

In other words, Qingdeng’s construction philosophy is to vigorously develop productivity.

With the economy, everything is easy to say.

Without economy, everything is empty.

Every item in the "plan" drawn up by Qingdeng is a huge and expensive project.

Based on Qingdeng's current revenue capacity... while ensuring the normal operation of the Shinsengumi, it can barely support two projects at most.

If all six projects were launched at the same time... it is no exaggeration to say that even if the Shinsengumi and the Shinsen Chamber of Commerce were sold together, Qing Deng would not be able to raise the money!

Money, money, money... Qing Deng was once again trapped by money.

He did not think that he would be lucky enough to find a product as profitable as the silver mirror this time.

Yamanami Keisuke, who had been silent since just now, suddenly interrupted:

"If we want to raise funds... then we can only borrow money..."

Qing Deng shook his head immediately after hearing this:

"Keisuke, you are wrong, we should not borrow money. We should attract investment."

Yamanami Keisuke raised his eyebrows.

"'Attract investment'?"

Kinoshita Mai and Iwasaki Yataro also cast confused eyes at Qing Deng.

At present, Japan does not have the concept of "investment".

Yamanami Keisuke and others only know the principles of "borrowing money" and "repaying money". It is too troublesome to explain to them the difference between "borrowing" and "investing". So Qing Deng said casually:

"I will explain it to you slowly later."

The rich people pay money, and the powerful people work hard - this is an unchanging business model.

For Qing Deng, who is currently in urgent need of money, if he can find investors with strong capital, it will undoubtedly be twice the result with half the effort.

If you want to say which group is the richest in Japan, it is undoubtedly the tycoons in Osaka!

Those businessmen in Osaka are rich.

Because they are too rich, the tycoons in Osaka are almost a new privileged class.

If they can get strong investment from the businessmen in Osaka, all these projects proposed by Qing Deng can be launched quickly! The construction speed of the feudal state will be able to usher in a leap forward!

——Businessmen in Osaka...

Qing Deng pondered secretly, thinking about how to connect with the tycoons in Osaka.

Although he has friends all over the world, he lacks connections in Osaka.

At this time, suddenly, as if a lightning flashed through his mind, Qing Deng suddenly remembered something.

——No...! I almost forgot... I have connections in Osaka... I have them!

Thinking of this, he subconsciously turned his head and looked at Kinoshita Mai beside him with deep meaning.

Kinoshita Mai noticed his gaze at the first time, blinked with confusion, and looked at Qing Deng.

"Qing Deng, what's wrong?"

"... No, nothing."

Qing Deng silently withdrew his gaze, pretending nothing happened.

...

...

After seeing the ruins of Otsu Castle, Qing Deng and his party set off again, walked around, and carefully observed Otsu Town.

From now on, this town is their "capital", and they can't help but pay attention to it.

Although according to the average standards of the Edo period, Otsu Town is already a very developed town, but in Qing Deng's eyes, no matter how prosperous the cities in the feudal era are, they are actually just like that.

At this time, Qing Deng realized belatedly: Today is the first time he has set foot in the "second-tier city" of the Edo period.

Although he has been traveling for three and a half years, he has only been to three cities and towns - Edo, Kyoto and Nara - all of which are well-deserved first-tier cities in the Edo period.

It must be said that the gap between first-tier and second-tier cities in the Edo period is still quite large.

Looking at the entire Ozu Town, there is not a single stone brick road, all are bumpy dirt roads.

The houses on the street are also very low, and there are no houses above three floors.

In addition, Qing Deng keenly noticed that the population of Ozu Town was not as large as he expected.

The reason is that Ozu is too close to Kyoto.

The prosperity of Kyoto has a siphon effect, and many people in Ozu Town have been "sucked away".

In short, if you want to build Ozu Town and make it a town that can be called "Qinjin", it will also take a lot of effort.

While inspecting Ozu Town, Iwasaki Yataro raised his eyes from time to time and peeked at Qing Deng in front of him, with hesitation in his eyes.

After a while, he seemed to have made up his mind, gritted his teeth, and then drove his horse forward, walking side by side with Qing Deng:

"Mr. Tachibana, I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

Qing Deng smiled without hesitation:

"Yataro, you don't need to be restrained in front of me. If you have anything to say, you can speak freely."

Iwasaki Yataro straightened his back and showed a serious expression.

"Mr. Tachibana, I think the matter of 'finding a director' should not be delayed any longer."

"The Shinsengumi is now a huge armed force with 3,000 soldiers."

"Moreover, I believe that it will not be long before the size of the Shinsengumi will be further expanded."

"On this basis, you now have a vast land of 300,000 koku under your rule."

"In the future, the work on your shoulders will only become more and more arduous."

"The current situation of 'you serving as the director' is no longer sustainable."

"Besides...excuse me, Mr. Tachibana, you are not a professional accountant."

"You can still barely handle the work of the director now, but it's hard to say in the future."

"If we don't find a competent director quickly, all our subsequent work will be difficult to carry out."

As soon as Iwasaki Yataro finished speaking, Qing Deng couldn't help but twitch his mouth.

After a moment, he sighed silently, and his facial expression was dominated by strong helplessness.

"Yatarou, I understand what you said."

"Well, you are right. Now we really need to find a way to fill the vacancy of 'head of department'."

"I will seriously look for talents who can be competent for the position of 'director' in the future."

The "director" mentioned by Iwasaki Yataro naturally refers to the leader of the Shinsengumi Finance Department.

Since the establishment of the Shinsengumi, the position of the director of the Finance Department has been vacant.

The staff seat can be vacant, but the director cannot.

Before, Qing Deng could barely serve as the director.

But now, he is increasingly unable to do it.

The governor of the capital, the general of the Shinsengumi, the commander-in-chief of the Hachioji Thousand People, the lord of the Qinjin Domain... With four positions, Qing Deng has to face endless official duties every day when he opens his eyes. How can he have the energy to handle the work of the director?

In fact, Qing Deng's search for the director has never stopped.

However... economic talents who can understand finance are really rare.

Japan has lacked science and engineering education since ancient times. Not to mention financial talents, people who are proficient in arithmetic are rare.

Shinsengumi, Shinsen Chamber of Commerce and Hinatsu Domain basically share the same leadership team.

For example: Iwasaki Yataro is not only the president of Shinsen Chamber of Commerce, but also the "Minister of Finance" of Hinatsu Domain.

The same is true for Yamanami Keisuke, who is not only the general director of Shinsengumi, but also the "Prime Minister" of Hinatsu Domain.

Next, countless major projects will be carried out in Hinatsu Domain.

If there is a capable logistics talent in the rear, it will undoubtedly be a great advantage.

In short, no matter from which angle you look at it, "finding a director" has become Qing Deng's most urgent task at the moment.

——Speaking of which... maybe I can ask Mr. Kiryu for help.

Qing Deng almost forgot: Mr. Kiryu's Senjiya is an employment agency.

As the owner of an employment agency, he must have a rich network of contacts that others cannot match.

The old face of Kiryu-san appeared in Qing Deng's mind... Qing Deng couldn't help but feel a faint sense of longing.

I haven't seen my mentor for a while, but I miss him.

——What is Kiryu-san doing now?

……

……

Edo, Senjiya——

"Oh~~ Mr. Kiryu, your hands are really skillful~~ I didn't expect you can even weave blankets!"

Kiryu-san is now being flirted with by an old woman.

As the old woman said this, she reached out to touch Kiryu-san's hand in a familiar way.

Kiryu-san withdrew his hand without a word, leaving the other party empty-handed.

"I once learned how to sew fur in Ezo."

Although he is nearly a hundred years old, he is gentle, elegant, handsome, and knows everything. From repairing the roof to clearing the well, there is nothing he is not good at, so he is deeply loved by the lonely old ladies nearby.

Seeing that the hand-touching failed, the old woman changed to a coquettish "shy tone".

"Mr. Kiryu, it's rare that I made a pot of fish soup today, but my husband went fishing again today. It would be a pity to waste such a good pot of soup! If you are free, why not come to my house to drink soup!"

Boss Kiryu smiled reservedly:

"Mrs. Matsumoto, thank you for your kindness, but I still have work to do today, please forgive me for not being able to accompany you."

His indifference immediately made the other party very annoyed.

The old woman stamped her feet angrily and said, "Is that so? Then you should work hard, hum!" Then she turned and left.

Boss Kiryu stood up and politely saw her out of the store.

As soon as the old woman left, he breathed a sigh of relief:

"I am already an old man with white hair and beard, why am I still so popular?"

After leaving this sentence that seemed to be showing off, Boss Kiryu turned back and prepared to go back to the kitchen to continue to tinker with lunch.

However, at this moment——

Dingling~Dingling~Dingling~Dingling~

Suddenly, the sound of bells rang out from far away outside the store.

Mr. Kiryu raised his eyebrows sharply.

The townspeople in the Edo period would certainly be familiar with this sound of bells.

This is the sound of Hikyaku's bells.

Hikyaku - couriers in the Edo period.

Whenever they deliver couriers, they tie bells on their bodies, so when they run, there will be crisp bell sounds.

"Senjiya! There is a letter for you!"

Mr. Kiryu walked back to the earth room and opened the door of the shop.

Standing outside the door was a young Hikyaku dressed in refined clothes.

He glanced at Kiryu, then took off the shoulder pole - one end of the pole was carrying a basket - he took out a letter from the basket and handed it to Mr. Kiryu.

"I wish you a prosperous business."

After leaving this sentence indifferently, Hikyaku walked away quickly.

As soon as the other party left, Kiryu boss impatiently opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.

On the white letter was only one line of words: Return to Osaka soon.

Please give me a monthly ticket! Please give me a recommendation ticket! (Leopard crying.jpg)

Guess: Who will become the head of the Shinsengumi?