Chapter 354: The idea of a fiend (1/2)
“No, I can’t get behind this.”
“No? I think it is a splendid game-changing idea though.”
In the workshop of the blacksmiths where heat is confined in and can be called the battlefield of craftsmen, two merchants were facing each other in a room of that very workshop.
One of them is the boss of the workshop, the merchant that is the representative of the Bronzeman Company as a side-job.
The other one is wearing elegant clothes that don’t fit the place, the representative of the Rembrandt Company.
One can tell from their expressions that it isn’t that fun of a conversation.
“A division of labor is something done to increase the quality of the finished product.” (Bronzeman)
“That’s the division of labor when it is related to creations, right? I am talking about manufactured goods here. Isn’t it wrong to see them in the same vein?” (Rembrandt)
“…”
“You can just teach them the knowledge and technique they individually need in a few days. There’s no need to be concerned about the whole picture or the performance of the product. By simply placing a craftsman supervising the work that even a child could do, the production capability will increase greatly. The reality is that there’s no assurance someone can obtain the creations they want. Then, isn’t it your job to think of ways to produce goods that can be obtained for a low price?” (Rembrandt)
“My job, huh… The supervision of coarse goods that will be made through that request of yours. I consider it my job to make suitable quality products.” (Bronzeman)
“Hmm…too bad. Then, it can’t be helped.” (Rembrandt)
“?”
“Your reaction was slightly different from what I expected, but we both have our own standards. Let’s leave this matter for a later time then.” (Rembrandt)
“Huh? And here I was thinking it was rare for you to give up so easily. What is it you are trying to say?” (Bronzeman)
This man learned that there’s no point in pressuring and threatening with words and attitude only, and ended up unconsciously showing his displeasure in his face at the inflammatory words and complaining.
Well, these two have known each other for a long enough time to not break negotiations with just a few statements and make it a big deal to take advantage of it. This is close to a light talk that you could say could only be done exactly because they know each other for a decently lengthy amount of time.
“It is not like you are the past Lime Latte. I thought that you would honestly confess that your craftsmen would lose jobs, so it would be troubling. In these times when each second is precious, I overestimated you by thinking that a craftsman of your level wouldn’t do things that would require needless hassle.” (Rembrandt)
“…Good grief. That young man had at some point turned into the face of the city. Your eyes, ears, and nose have gotten far sharper than mine a long time ago too.” (Bronzeman)
“It is a pity that I can’t get your cooperation, but this is a production plan that is absolutely necessary to direct our eyes into the future of Tsige. Regarding the equipment, there’s the wasteland side, and that’s your territory, so I have no intentions of interfering in that. But for the daily necessities, I am sorry, but I will be beginning it when preparations are ready. I feel like there’s the need for feedback and improvements as fast as possible after all.” (Rembrandt)
“Meaning that, you will be waiting for the time when I am the one who will come to you to lower my head? You really don’t have mercy in your dictionary. I thought you had gotten milder after that incident you had with the adventurers. Are you picking a fight with all the craftsmen this time, Rembrandt?” (Bronzeman)
“Of course no. I highly value the production of equipment and maintenance that can only be achieved by skilled craftsmen, and the many great works that are created by their hands. Their work being reduced by my actions won’t be happening ever. I am a man that learns after all. My conflict with the adventurers made me think about a variety of things.” (Rembrandt)
“Listen here, if the young craftsmen that are supposed to grow into those ‘highly valued skilled craftsmen’ you are talking about are gone, you can see as clear as day what would happen. The application of division of labor that you were speaking of can tear out the young craftsmen by their root.” (Bronzeman)
“…Oh, but aren’t you raising a good amount of disciples? I have heard from the wind that you have been doing something similar to a mutual aid association between craftsmen though?” (Rembrandt)
“…Glad to see you know the business of others so well. I am doing that, but I am not providing support to them in all aspects of their life. A decent craftsman cannot be made if they were to be spoiled to that extent after all.” (Bronzeman)
The Bronzeman Representative sighed as he answered the question of Rembrandt.
Exasperated by the fact that he knows about the internal matters of other companies to an unpleasant extent.
And while at it, he was also wondering if he was listening to his explanation even though he already knows full well everything he would say.
The Rembrandt as of late has been fearsomely sharp.
In a lot of meanings.
The Bronzeman Representative felt a repulsive sensation as if he had already been set into a preset route.
“Then there really is no problem. Use them as supervisors like a side-job for these young ones to earn pocket money, and that would serve to fill up the holes.” (Rembrandt)
“At a tasteless job that doesn’t serve in their growth as a craftsman at all?” (Bronzeman)
“Hahaha. But ‘a decent craftsman cannot be made if they were to be spoiled to that extent’, right? I myself would want to have them increase their skills fast to a certain point. For you as well, they would still be plenty useful even when they are still fletchlings.” (Rembrandt)
“…Tch.” (Bronzeman)
What Rembrandt is saying isn’t wrong in essence.
It is true that the blacksmiths that are in the area of daily necessity products are more for pocket money than for training.
But the Bronzeman Representative was feeling apprehensive at forcefully changing the customs and traditions that they have been carrying and refining until now.
It is true that, in order to polish your skills and live by as a first rate craftsman that has a name for themselves, they need to devote to polishing themselves.
“This is something I thought at that time as well, but there’s troubles that can be avoided if you tell the tops properly. The reality was that the relationship between Lime and I was truly toxic and filled with misunderstandings. This is what created the rift between him and I. I don’t want to repeat the same mistake. I would like to have a good relationship with you and keep a stable supply of equipment to the army.” (Rembrandt)
Simplified division of labor.
This is the problem between the two, and the proposal of Rembrandt.
The division of labor is mainly applied by craftsmen to increase the quality of a product, and this proposal was basically like breaking it from its base.
On the other hand, by simplifying each manufacturing process, the regular populace that didn’t have the production skills related to it will also be able to get involved in the production -this is what Rembrandt called a ground-breaking idea.
Depending on how you listen to it, it is basically like robbing the craftsmen of their work, and the reason the Bronzeman Representative frowned.
“…That’s one rough joke there. Are you telling me you are even going to rely on that method with the equipment the army of Tsige will be holding?” (Bronzeman)
The expression of the Bronzeman Representative stiffened.
Of course, it is because he thought that the Bronzeman Company would be the one taking care of the equipment of the Tsige army.
This thought of his didn’t come from conceit, but because it would require quality and amount which he can proudly say it would be impossible without them being involved.
“It is true that there’s the need to properly consider just how many layers and how much of a quality the given equipment will have. By the way, one of my current ideas for that was to make newbie equipment with the simplified division of labor, which a number of people objected to.” (Rembrandt)
“Are you sane? This is not like you.” (Bronzeman)
“Really? For example; arrows. If we were to leave all of those in your hands, depending on the situation, production might not be able to keep up, don’t you think? Or would you go and tell the tacticians that you can’t increase the production rate so to make a plan that limits the amount of arrows used?” (Rembrandt)
Even if they are currently following the demands of the adventurers, it is not like all the arrows are being handled by craftsmen.
Most of them are being purchased from outside companies.
“…Arrows, huh. It is true that, aside from ones for special use, having even common arrows all be made by craftsmen would…not be realistic.” (Bronzeman)
“Right? There’s a lot of expendable goods used by the army. If arrows can be retrieved, I would like to, but it is not like we can reuse them all. The problem of who will be in charge of it will also happen. Even if told later that you didn’t think about it, or it was outside of expectations, you can’t redo it after all.” (Rembrandt)
“…So, you will be spreading the division of labor as well as the daily necessity products? Ordering each part separately, have part timers and mid sized workshops make them, and have them assembled in specialized workshops to finish them en masse?” (Bronzeman)
“Don’t you think it is a great way of doing things?” (Rembrandt)
“…I think it is a sickening thought that’s like it came right out of a fiend. Mass producing products that have no soul in it, moreover, you are even relying on beginner part-timers for the parts.” (Bronzeman)
But it is efficient.
There’s no need to pass the rough training of a craftsman, and as long as you can manage to make a single product, and can supervise it, this can become a job, and it would increase the production rate of a city, a country, to an outstanding degree. As someone who has been living as a craftsman for long, this notion made him want to vomit.
He felt as if their place as craftsmen would be taken away by daily employed people with no skills.
Their definition of division of labor is to divide the detailed work for each person, polish their skills, sharing the same full picture of the finished product, to aim for the one true masterpiece; this is the complete opposite of that.