Chapter 13

Joseph sought shade under a building from the bright sun. He looked over at the large crowd was assembled at the city square.

A herald was stationed next to a large board that had been newly constructed. It was supposedly called a News Board.

This was the third time under the rule of the new duke and duchess that there was an order from the head of the North. The first time was to handle procedures with the two new mines in the territory which brought an influx of jobs to the common people with high salaries.

The average family could live off of 25 copper coins per month and would earn about 35. But the miners where given a lot of privileges. The Duke and Duchess considered the dangers of mining and had allocated 60 copper coins to be the salary of normal working miners and 90 copper coins for department heads.

It was a significant increase to the average salary of miners in other territories.

Most other territories only offered salaries of up to 30-40 copper coins to miners.

But that wasn't the only advantage, miners had shifting work hours. Each person was only expected to come 5 days out of a week and the other two were considered break days. Who wouldn't want to work under such good conditions? People would still get paid if they didn't go to work for 2 days!

Unsurprisingly, many miners flocked to the territory to take the jobs. For a while there was a lot of hustle and bustle in the otherwise quiet territory. The huge salary caused an uproar in the dukedom and people from outside and within the territory fought for the job. There were only a limited number of people who were allowed inside the mines.

The second order came a couple of months later regarding the hiring of skilled artisans and jewelers as well as educated youth to work in the newly made jewelry brand, 'The Divine Hydrangea' as well as introduction of citizen knighthood as well as the acceptance of slaves into the army.

Slaves could from now on get rid of their slave status for themselves and their family if they performed meritorious deeds in the army. They were also awarded good positions after doing so.

This had caused another uproar in the duchy. Not only was it discussed and a major thing that was debated in many pubs and inns, it had become a topic in the entire territory.

Not to mention the uproar that was caused due to the salaries for jewelry artisans in the new company.

The lowest salary a person could get in the company was as a cleaner or sweeper and even they were given good income. Around 20 copper just for sweeping the floors! Not to mention, the managers and clerks were all given salaries ranging from 30 to 80 copper per month! A junior clerk was given around 30 copper coins, while a senior was given 40. The chief clerk was given 45 copper, while assistant manager would get 50 copper and the manager would get a whopping 80 copper coins!

The highest level job were for the branch manager and the general managers who would both get 2 and 5 silver respectively! Per month!

Artisans were on a whole other level but there was huge competition. Only 30 would be hired.

Junior jewelry artisans were given 2 silver from the get go, while intermediary and senior artisans were given 5 and 10 silver respectively

Many artisans flocked in and started renting out houses to wait for the competition.

The common people and slaves were ecstatic, knighthood was an extreme privilege that only nobles would be able to wear, but now, even normal citizens would have a chance to pursue this honor. As for the slaves, there were many slaves in the northern duchy, and most of the commoners were very used to them being around and didn't think much of it.

Only the slaves within the Duchy were allowed to join the army and many slaves tried out. There was an order from above that ordered every slave owner to let slaves try out if they wanted to. Soldiers patrolled each city house by house taking in slaves that wanted to try out and escorting them to the military camp in the north.

Nobles on the other hand, were very much against this decision. Joseph had heard that many nobles had complained in the noble council meeting. The nobles that funded the Northern army also pulled their assets away from the army.

But the Duke and the Duchess held true to their words and did not back down. They came back from the capital after losing the backing of all of the armies investors and had become an independent army that only follows the duchy and the crown.

Once Duke Victor and Duchess Arabelle came back, they sent out message to the general public through the heralds. They stated that they believed that true talent comes from all places and that people shouldn't be biased towards those of lower status. The message also stated that the Northern Army has always protected the empire and backing out due to the introduction of a little competition was cowardly. They would protect the citizens right to better opportunities and greater honor and would go through with their plan to have citizen knights.

Many people in the Duchy celebrated and leaped with joy.

Joseph's brother Emmanuel had always dreamed of being a knight and he could finally actually achieve his dream!

Joseph himself had been a jeweler artisan's apprentice, but jeweler artisans were only paid around 60 copper even in the capital.

They were both from a higher-middle class family and were actually both from the capital. They had moved after hearing about the opportunities here much against their families will.

Once they got here, they didn't regret it. The dutchy had already made make shift emergency housing for all the incoming people from other places in the empire. They were right next to the town so they could get food and daily necessities quite easily. Each room was quite spacious and housed 6 people with a separate bathroom. A place could be rented out till the competition for only 2 coppers per person. Free bread and soup was given thrice everyday. But there were other options if you paid extra.

Most of the food were priced very reasonably at only a couple of shilling. There were many restaurants in the town that had opened up to draw in the newcomers as well.

Joseph wondered what to get for lunch when suddenly, the herald blew his horn.

"Hear ye! Hear ye! A public announcement from the Duke and Duchess! Hear ye! Hear ye! "

Joseph walked into the crowd trying to get up front so he could hear better.

The herald cleared his throat," Ahem. There are three important messages from his and her Grace! His Grace proclaims that the Military tryouts shall be held next week! Her Grace proclaims that the Jewelry Artisan's Tournament shall be held on the day after tomorrow! Participants are not allowed to bring any material, everything needed shall be provided at the testing sites! Military tryouts shall be held at the military camp at morn when the bell strikes 9! The Jewelry Artisan's Tournament shall start at the same time the day after tomorrow! Just bring your selves. Do not bring anything. Brought items shall be confiscated! Even water and food shall be provided!"

Murmurs erupted in the crowd, many people exclaimed excitedly.

The herald blew his horn again," Hear ye! Hear ye! This is not all! There are 2 more announcements!"

The crowd quieted down, paying close attention to the herald so as not to miss a drop of information.

"The second information is for farmers! The Duchess Arabelle has decreed that for this year's harvest, the household's of southern Worshire and Eastern Balmura's farmland shall be planted with the seeds provided by the duchy! This is mandatory! I repeat, every farming household in southern Worshire and eastern Balmura are to allocate their farmland to plant the seeds provided by the duchy. 20% of the resultant crop shall be taken as your tax! Even if the crop fails, the Duchy shall provide supplementary aid to every household!"

There were many murmurs in the crowds. The town they were currently residing in didn't have many farmers so the topic quickly passed.

"The last message is to inform the public that there shall be a new form of identification in the duchy! To be considered a citizen of the Northern Duchy one must go to the Andreas Administrative building in our town or city to get the new identification! It shall be a small card along with a piece of paper proving your residency! Soldiers shall take in information from each household making sure and taking information from the citizens to be printed on the papers! Do not lose them! I repeat, do not lose your identification papers or cards! From the first day of the next year onwards, people without identification cards shall not be able to get the discounts at the trade association or any of the other Duchy own shops and conveniences!"

"The identification cards shall contain your name, year of birth and place of residence as well as a general description of the oneself! The card shall be made of special paper and ink so that no one can duplicate it! Remember to give the information to the soldiers! The cards shall be distributed after 5 to 6 months! Remember to tell family not in the duchy to hurry back and give their information to the administrative building closest to them! This is to be done as quickly as possible!"

"People who are not citizens shall get visiting cards and merchants trade cards distributed from the Trade Association!"

"This is all! Thank ye! For any doubts, please make your way to the Administrative association!"

Discussion broke out immediately. What was an identity card? Would they not be able to get salt for cheaper without it? What would the Duchy give to the farmers to plant?

Joseph frowned, he had noticed that the salt from the Northern Trade association in the duchy was much cheaper than in the capital. To the point he wanted to buy it in bulk to save.

But regardless, he was more interested in the competition. What would he have to do in the Jewelry artisan's contest? What would the military tryouts test?