Kojiro

Story
"Hello there, sir. Have a drink on me."What's the occasion?"Why, I managed to have my lord release me from service, my good man. For once I've got my freedom and I intend to make the best of it.""For generations, my family have been hereditary retainers to a minor samuri clan. For 8 years I followed that clan into battle as a common footsoldier. ""It;s no kind of life, as ashigaru. You're fodder for everthing -- from arrows to cannonballs. If your master loses a battle, and your captors don't execute you, you're jobless ad without future prospects. If you can get work as a soldier again, you have to start from scratch. I've decided to get out of the business, but war is all I know."What will you do now?"Why, I'll be a ronin! They're technically more base than a hereditary -- excuse me, former hereditary retainer like me, but they actually have prospects for advancement! And more importantly, they've got freedom!""I know how to swing a blade. It would be a foolish warrior who passed up the opportunity to hire an experienced campaigner like me! Say, don't you command a kashindan of your own?"It sounds like you'll be useful. You're hired.