The voting concluded.
Under everyone's gaze, the supervisory team led by Kojiro opened the ballot boxes on the spot. They poured out the papers from each ballot box and loudly counted the votes.
Genra swiftly recorded the numbers on paper.
"Mediation Post, Ichiro Yamamoto, one hundred thirty-two votes!"
"Livelihood Post, Haruna Watanabe, one hundred fifty-five votes!"
"Sanitation Post, Ritsuya Kobayashi, one hundred thirty-nine votes!"
Each time a number was announced, a cheer or encouraging applause erupted from the audience.
Finally, the top vote-getters for the three positions were announced.
The elected individuals were so moved that tears welled up in their eyes. They waved to the people of Nibi no Utsu, facing the morning glow. These were rare highlight moments in their ordinary lives.
The election concluded.
The masses cheered happily.
"Long live the laborers!"
The cheers were like a tsunami, soaring to the sky. This sound declared the end of an old system.
At the same time, it also declared that a new era, where laborers were their own masters, had begun on this land that had endured so much suffering.
The sun shone brightly, and all things were full of vitality.
The meeting concluded.
Haruki sat on the tatami mat. Beside him sat Yahiko and his two companions. In front of him sat Kojiro and his two companions.
Haruki would not stay in Nibi no Utsu indefinitely. He had more important things to do. That was to earn emotional points. The emotional points collected by staying here was too positive. He also needed to collect negative emotional points.
And Nibi no Utsu was close to the Land of Grass, and the Land of Grass had been at war recently.
Haruki had already designated the Land of Grass as his battlefield for collecting emotional pointa. Battlefields were always the best places to collect negative emotional points.
Before leaving Nibi no Utsu, he would definitely arrange its future affairs. Since he had started it, he would be responsible. But being responsible did not mean he had to constantly oversee Nibi no Utsu's growth.
He was a leader after all, what leader personally handled every single matter?
It was most appropriate to prepare the plan, assign tasks, and let his subordinates carry them out.
Haruki handed Kojiro a plan. Kojiro took it blankly and asked, "What is this?"
He opened it and saw a line of large characters on the first page — Overall Plan for the Construction of Nibi no Utsu Revolutionary Base Area.
Kojiro: "…"
He looked at Haruki in shock. He could hardly believe how Haruki had accomplished this.
How could a young man have so many mature ideas? And even compile them into a plan?
Haruki's gaze swept over Kojiro, Muramasa, and Genra, and he said seriously, "To achieve our ideals, we must start from practical matters, from the construction of the base area. To build the base area, we must unswervingly implement the ninja armed separatist line."
Haruki wanted to do something big.
Accelerate the development of the Ninja World and overthrow the feudal system.
"We must closely combine ninja struggle, people's revolution, and base area construction, radiating outwards from Nibi no Utsu in a wave-like manner, eventually forming a consolidated revolutionary stronghold."
"Our ultimate goal is to overthrow the oppressive rule of the feudal daimyos and military shogunate, establish a new regime where ninja, samurai, and the common people are their own masters, and achieve universal equality and world peace."
Haruki's words had a profound impact on everyone present.
"I know our power is too weak now, but I am confident that we will grow stronger and stronger."
Kojiro couldn't help but laugh. "Of course I believe it too. It's precisely because I believe you have such power that I decided to follow you."
Muramasa and Genra nodded. During their time together, they had already seen Haruki's talent. Perhaps he could truly bring about great changes to the world.
"Thank you for believing in me."
Haruki smiled and continued, "For the development and construction of your Nibi no Utsu, you must adhere to the Akatsuki's leadership in all work, remember to mobilize the power of the masses, do not fight alone, and flexibly apply all policies based on the actual situation of Nibi no Utsu."
Haruki emphasized, "Although we do not provoke war, and certainly do not participate in conflict, we must not neglect the construction of armed forces."
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were utterly confused, completely unable to understand what Haruki was saying.
With the experience of his predecessors, Haruki spoke fluently, "Unify and reorganize the existing ninja and samurai into the Nibi no Utsu Revolutionary Army. You three, who have joined the Akatsuki, will jointly lead it."
"Military training for ninja and samurai must be strengthened, and disciplinary education must also be conducted."
"All actions obey commands, take not a single needle or thread from the masses, all captured goods must be turned over. Speak courteously, trade fairly, return borrowed items, compensate for damaged items. Do not hit or scold people, do not damage crops, do not molest women, and do not mistreat prisoners."
"Of course, the prerequisite for doing this is to provide high rewards for the ninja and samurai's missions."
Kojiro and his two companions nodded.
If the ninja and samurai had high mission commissions, they would not stoop to plundering others, nor would they harbor rebellious intentions.
Compared to being supported by wealthy merchants in the past, ninja and samurai preferred a life of earning commissions by completing tasks with their own strength.
"There are also matters such as economic development, cultural propaganda, and democratic construction, all of which I have detailed plans for in the plan. There is one more important thing that must be emphasized."
"That is talent nurturing."
Kojiro, Muramasa, and Genra all knew the importance of this matter.
"We must not only establish ninja schools but also educational schools for ordinary people, and even adult continuing education schools."
"Strive to convey our ideals to more people!"
Haruki said to Kojiro and his two companions.
In short, it was literacy.
As they listened, Kojiro and his two companions suddenly sensed something was amiss.
Why did it sound like Haruki was making his last arrangements?
"My crows are left in Nibi no Utsu, you can communicate with me through the crows. Yahiko and the others know what to do."
As Haruki's words fell, Kojiro and his two companions realized their ominous premonition had come true.
"Haruki, where are you going?" The first person to ask was Yahiko, who was beside Haruki.
Yahiko looked at Haruki blankly, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
Why… why was Haruki suddenly leaving?