Chapter 422: The kind-hearted Her Majesty Irene
Hand in the city at dusk, people were in panic, just like the gloomy sunset on the horizon.
In contrast, Thunder City, located on the coast of the Whirlpool Sea, has unique scenery and a prosperous scene.
Especially the emerging industrial area on the outskirts, which was once a dirty refugee camp, but now tall chimneys have replaced the dilapidated tents, and the tireless roar of steam has drowned out the groans and cries of the past.
And all this is thanks to the kind-hearted Princess Eileen Campbell.
Her friendship with Prince Colin has become the most reliable source of power for this small principality to prosper.
Happy Saint Sis, it would be even more perfect if the two families could get married!
In addition, those who should be thanked are naturally the hardworking and brave Campbell people.
Or to be more precise, Horace felt that this credit should belong to his hardworking and brave self.
It is precisely because of his extraordinary business acumen and unremitting diligence that he built this palace of wealth in this mud and brought a better life to his family.
…“…I don’t want to eat dry bread.”
At the table in the early morning.
Horace's young son poked at the dry bread on his plate sadly and grumbled.
"Dad, our family is so rich, why do we still eat this every morning? Little Tom told me that their family eats wheat cakes with honey every meal..."
This mansion is considered decent in Thunder City, but that's about it. The furnishings in the house were practical but without any sense of beauty. The cold walls were bare and not a single tapestry or decorative painting could be seen.
Even the vase on the dining table is empty and seems to be used as a kettle.
Horace's wife also complained a lot about this, but this shrewd businessman always found a way to persuade her.
Including your own children.
Hrace heard his son's childish remarks, Horace, who was reading the newspaper, curled his lips in disdain and said slowly.
"...whole grains are good for digestion and are good for your body. I am doing this for your own good. Also, frugality is a virtue passed down from generation to generation in our family. How do you compare with Tom's family? One day that kid turns into a fat pig, and you will thank me for keeping your mouth shut."
When the boy heard this, he was like a deflated ball and said nothing more.
Horse, however, seemed not to be satisfied with the brat’s retreat, and continued in a lecturing tone.
"Don't think Dad is stingy, I am doing it for this family too. Now that we save one gold coin, we can buy one more share of Colin Group's stock. Just wait and see, when His Highness Colin returns from overseas, every stock in our hands will increase tenfold or even twentyfold! By then our family will have money to spend, and you will thank me."
A child obviously doesn’t understand what a stock is, but he knows that one gold coin is equivalent to about 100 silver coins, and one silver coin is equivalent to about 100 copper coins.
Happy Saint Sis, if you save money by living frugally, how long will it take to save a single gold coin?
And he knew that his father would never sell the stock.
Because he remembered clearly that just last winter, Colin Group's stock seemed to be worth 10 gold coins. At that time, his father didn't sell any of them, but instead bought a lot.
"Then... what if His Highness Colin doesn't come back?" He asked carefully.
"That's impossible," Horace glanced at the ignorant brat and said with a chuckle, "His relationship with our Princess Irene is not simple. He will definitely come back. Every Campbellite knows...Okay, stop talking nonsense and go to school as soon as you finish eating. Or if you want to be nice, Are they the same as the homeless paupers on the street? ”
Heven though he knew in his heart that those paupers didn’t end up on the streets because they didn’t study hard, but it was the nobles outside who joined forces to drive them away from their territory that made them end up like this.
But this does not prevent him from using these "negative examples" to educate his children so that they can understand the cruelty of competition from an early age.
And there is only one disease in this world.
That is poverty.
The boy sighed and thought to himself, haven’t you, the old man, been talking nonsense?
But he has become accustomed to silence, because talking back to his father will only make the situation worse.
After finishing breakfast silently, he took the plate to the kitchen and washed the dishes with his silent mother.
Hrace, who had taught his son another lesson, felt relieved. He glanced at the clock on the wall and estimated that the time was almost up, so he put the finished newspaper on the table.
"I'm going to the factory in a while, and I'll probably have to come back later, so you don't have to wait for me."
After saying that, he walked to the door, took off a bright and decent formal suit, put it on an old sweater with holes in it, and walked out of the door with his head held high.
Although the factory is on track, he still has to go there every day to prevent anyone from being lazy and wasting his salary.
· When passing by the bakery he often went to, Horace took a special look at the door.
Looking at the wooden sign hanging at the door, he felt happy.
Very good! The price of a piece of bread is still four copper coins!
After walking away calmly, Horace clenched his fists excitedly and murmured to himself quietly.
"...It seems that the price of food has really dropped!"
Horace remembered clearly that at this time a year ago, a piece of bread cost 5 copper coins, but now it has become 4 copper coins.
The horse racing of the nobles outside Thunder City had just begun, and some pretentious guys were making nonsense in the newspapers, saying that converting farmland into pasture would lead to an increase in the price of food, thereby spreading the fear of famine.
However, the actual situation is quite the opposite.
The principality of Campbell is not the only one in Osland. Although not everyone is full, the most indispensable thing is food.
· Due to the prosperity of the import and export industry, the royal family allocated part of the industrial tax subsidies to the people of Leiming City. The price of food in Leiming City not only did not rise, but became cheaper.
What does this have to do with him?
That relationship is huge!
Not only because he can save one more copper coin, but also because he can gain a greater bargaining chip in terms of labor costs!
If 400 copper coins can keep a person alive until the next month, why should he pay them an extra 500 copper coins as a salary?
The most indispensable thing in Thunder City is people, especially those serfs who suddenly gained freedom overnight.
Those guys have nothing but strength, and there are always some who will accept lower wages just in exchange for a sense of stability.
Of course.
Horace is kind.
Considering that most families in the Principality of Campbell have two children, and the total number of people including wives who do not work is four, 1,600 copper coins will be more reasonable than last year's 1,800 copper coins.
That’s 400 pieces of bread.
They should be content.
Horace was thinking about this matter all the way to the textile factory. If he could save 2 silver coins from each person, a hundred people would be a net profit of two gold coins!
Operating a textile machine is not a complicated job. Most of the hard work is done by machines. He even feels that the hundreds of employees in the factory are a bit redundant.
However, just when he was thinking about how these mud-legged people could willingly accept a salary cut, a harsh sound of metal friction suddenly caught his attention.
Not far away, a steam loom stopped. He instinctively panicked in his heart, but then he felt happy.
I saw a young man's arm being caught in the transmission device due to careless operation. Half of his arm was bloody and bloody, and the white cotton yarn was dyed bright red. The scene was extremely miserable.
The workers who came from the countryside were all stunned. Finally, a few skilled weavers reacted first, rushed over to stop the machine, and lifted out the young man who had lost his right hand.
"Hurry! Go to the doctor!"
"Give me a piece of gauze! You have to stop his bleeding first!"
"Oh, here is Saint Sis..."
Here is Saint Sis——
This is an excellent opportunity!
Horace became excited, stepped forward with an angry look, and roared at the stunned foreman next to him.
"Get him away! Don't let his blood stick the gears! You unlucky guys, look what you have done!"
Looking at the boss who suddenly appeared, the foreman who was scolded instinctively shivered and subconsciously stammered.
"First, sir, he is injured and needs treatment..."
"Of course I know he is injured, don't I have the eyes to see it! He is just injured, not dead. The therapists of the Adventurer's Guild have many ways to cure him!"
"Yes, but...even the healers can't restore the regrown bones to exactly the same as before——"
"What? Are his old bones valuable? Or do you want me to compensate him? Stop dreaming there, it's good that I didn't ask him for money to damage the machine!"
Horace glanced at the young man who had fainted with disgust and said viciously.
"Get up, stop pretending to be dead! You clumsy waste, you're fired! Go to the accountant's office to collect your salary for this month, and then get out of here!"
This sentence was like a basin of ice-cold water, poured over everyone's heads, and an angry expression appeared on the faces that were either numb or blank.
The hard work all day long had already accumulated a lot of fire in their stomachs, and now, someone poured a basin of oil on them.
The surrounding workers stopped their work in unison, the roar of machinery gradually subsided, and the entire workshop fell into a terrifying silence.
"What? Do you still want to rebel?"
Horace was not afraid at all when he saw this. Instead, he raised his eyebrows in interest and waved to call the security guards of the textile factory over.
Two powerful men holding sticks came over and stood next to the boss, one on the left and one on the right.
With the support of helpers, Horace raised his chin even more arrogantly and said in a mean voice.
"I'm telling you, get out if you don't want to do it. The most indispensable thing in Thunder City is people like you! I think I'm usually too good to you. Starting today, everyone's salary will be reduced to 1,600 copper coins! If I see you stop and be lazy next time, just wait and go hungry!"
1,600 copper coins!
The moment Horace finished speaking, everyone present except the security guards was in an uproar.
A year ago, their wages were 2,000 copper coins, but later they were reduced to 1,800 copper coins.
For the sake of the children at home who were waiting for food, they endured this.
However, they didn’t expect that their tolerance would be rewarded by this miser’s extravagance. In less than a year, he actually put his greedy hand into their pockets again!
"Stop pretending to be pitiful, I went to the market and saw that bread that cost 5 copper coins now only sells for 4 copper coins! 1,600 copper coins is more than enough to survive!"
He seemed to feel that his words were a bit mean, he rolled his eyes and added something later.
"Of course, this salary reduction is only temporary. After all, it is too unfair to me to use 100% of the salary to hire a group of guys who can't even operate the machine! Unless you prove that you are qualified for this job, I will naturally raise your salary back at that time——"
"Fuck you!" Before Horace could finish his words, a wrench was thrown at him.
Him was startled by the sudden wrench, and he hurriedly dodged back while calling two bodyguards to come forward.
"What do you want to do! Who threw the wrench! I'm going to fire him——"
"This bastard!"
"Brothers! Fuck him!"
Horace's speech completely ignited the long-simmering anger of the workers. I don't know who made the first roar, and then the whole workshop was boiling, almost overwhelmed by the angry crowd.
The textile workers flocked to Horace like a tide. The two bodyguards had never seen this battle before. They were so frightened that they backed away. Finally, they fled into the office on the third floor with their boss in embarrassment and locked the door tightly.
The sound of banging on the door fell like raindrops on the door, as if the thin iron door might be destroyed at any time.
· Horace, who pushed the cabinet against the door, was so frightened that his face turned pale and he was in a state of confusion, as if he had seen an undead spirit.
Since when did these mud-legged people become so noisy?
He clearly remembered that he used the same trick half a year ago, and those people only dared to lower their heads and remain silent, not even daring to take a breath.
Have they taken gunpowder? !
Feeling the surging impact behind the door, he shouted for help out the window at the top of his lungs.
"Help!"
"Come on, call the guards! These mud-legged people are crazy!"
The screams like killing pigs finally attracted the attention of outsiders. The mounted police of the New Industrial Zone were the first to arrive, but they panicked when they saw the huge crowd.
I saw thousands of people gathered outside the small factory building, some protesting, some throwing stones, and some taking advantage of the situation to loot... They couldn't believe that this kind of thing actually happened in Thunder City, which was illuminated by the holy light!
"Are these poor people crazy..." an old guard muttered to himself, staring blankly at the scene in front of him.
He has lived in Thunder City all his life, and this is the first time he has seen such a battle.
The Mounted Police Captain made a prompt decision and knew that the matter was beyond his ability to handle. So he summoned the guards around him to maintain order and at the same time sent a Mounted Policeman to a nearby military camp for help.
Soon, the flag of the Campbell family appeared at the entrance of the industrial zone, and as a group of heavily armed cavalry arrived, they finally frightened Xiao Xiao, who had taken advantage of the chaos to cause trouble.
However, the crowd did not all disperse, and there were still a large number of workers staying at the gate of the factory.
They were weavers at the Horace Textile Mill.
Facing Campbell's flag, they looked at the tall cavalry in silence, with anger, fear, and hesitation on their faces.
Just as Horace did not expect that the workers would be so angry, the people who caused the trouble also did not expect that things would develop like this.
The farmers from the fields are still afraid of the flag of the Campbell family from the bottom of their hearts.
Many people have begun to retreat.
If it weren’t for a factory building and a wall blocking their backs, I’m afraid most of the people would have run away.
At this time, a young cavalryman rode up to the front of the formation and suddenly took off his helmet, revealing a head of golden hair and a delicate face.
「Your Highness?!」
The moment they saw that face, everyone had expressions of astonishment on their faces, and the next second they all knelt on the ground.
"What are you doing, please get up!"
Looking at the people who suddenly knelt down, Irene quickly got off her horse and took a few steps forward to support the weaver closest to her.
The man took two steps back in embarrassment, but did not continue to kneel, but still lowered his head obediently, not daring to look into her eyes, let alone the light of praise around her waist.
Theresa stood silently behind Irene, alert to the dangers in the crowd.
Although Irene no longer needs her protection, she still faithfully performs her duties as a squire knight.
"Please tell me what happened here? I swear on my name that I will seek justice for you!" Irene looked into his eyes, her voice was sincere and gentle, and she could not see the arrogance of the superior at all.
Everyone was silent at first, but perhaps influenced by her sincerity, an elderly weaver finally couldn't help but speak and muttered angrily.
"...It's Horace!"
Irene looked at the man and asked.
"Who is he? What has he done?"
Hearing that Her Royal Highness the Princess actually responded to them, a flurry of voices suddenly spread among the crowd, and you said one word after another.
"He is the director of the factory here! Alan's hand was cut off by a machine. Not only did he not help at all, he even wanted to fire him!"
"Yes, he still wants to deduct our wages!"
"Why should he do this! We have been working for him as soon as we open our eyes, but he still feels it is not enough, what on earth does he want from us!"
"We want an explanation. !"
"Increase wages!"
After Irene listened to what they said calmly, she suddenly realized that there was another injured person lying in the factory, and quickly sent a therapist from her entourage to treat the young man's wound.
Under the illumination of the holy light, the pale young man's face finally regained a trace of color, and his bloody arms finally returned to their original appearance.
Although he has not completely recovered, at least he is not dead.
“…This can only be dealt with temporarily. He is too seriously injured, and I’m afraid it will require a gold-level or above healing technique.” The therapist returned to Irene’s side and said solemnly.
The Kingdom of Lane is the home of knights, not healers. These knights only know a little bit about healing magic, not proficient in it, and have never tried to treat such strange injuries.
In comparison, sword wounds or gunshot wounds are much easier to deal with, and their own resistance can also withstand part of the damage.
Irene nodded after understanding and said seriously.
"I know, I will think of a solution afterwards."
Although the injured was only a civilian, she would not leave her people alone.
Teresa glanced at the guard captain who came over, and pointed to the crowd at the door with her chin.
"Are there so many workers in this textile factory?"
So many people almost filled the factory that it was hard for her to imagine that they were all employees here.
The guard captain scratched his beard and said awkwardly.
Theresa nodded, and was about to say something more, but was interrupted by Irene.
"Theresa, their identities are not important, their voices are what really matters."
Looking at her loyal knight, Irene said in a serious voice.
"I have heard their appeal, and now I need you to bring Horace over."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Theresa respectfully accepted the order without any hesitation, leading the two guards through the crowd and into the factory.
The crowd consciously made a way, and no one dared to block it.
Stepping into the factory, Teresa went straight to the third floor, came to a crooked iron door, and waved.
A guard came forward, slammed the door twice with the hilt of his sword, and shouted loudly.
"Horace, Her Royal Highness the Princess, please come over!"
I had been lying by the window and saw the situation outside. Horace crawled to the door and opened it, with a saved smile on his pale face.
"Thank you, thank you! Saint Sith, you're finally here! I thought I was dead!"
If the female knight's gaze hadn't been too sharp, he might have been able to hold onto her thigh.
The same goes for the two bodyguards following him. The two extraordinary beings who were suspected to have black iron level strength were frightened like dogs.
Theresa didn't waste any more words, and motioned him to follow with her eyes, and then led him through the crowd to Eileen Campbell.
"Your Highness, I have brought the person you asked for."
Irene looked at Theresa and nodded.
"Very well, Teresa, step back."
"Yes."
Theresa nodded respectfully, then left Horace and retreated into the queue.
There was no one around him. Horace glanced at the angry weavers around him and couldn't help but swallowed. His previous arrogance was gone.
Seeing His Highness looking at him, he quickly forced a smile on his face again, cleared his throat pretending to be generous and said.
"Praise Saint Sis, praise the glory of the Campbell family! Your Highness, your beauty is still so impressive——"
Irene coughed lightly.
Horace's shoulders trembled, and he quickly changed his words and spoke out the compromising statement that had been suppressed in his throat.
"Well, I changed my mind! You won! The salary is still one thousand eight hundred copper coins——"
"Eighteen hundred copper coins?" Irene stared at Horace with sharp eyes and interrupted him, "How did I hear that the average salary here is two thousand? Who is right, my clerk or you?"
"When Of course they are all right..."
Horace wiped his sweat nervously and explained cautiously, "It was indeed two thousand last year, but as you know, the business this year is not very good... The cashmere products we produce far exceed the market demand, so..."
Irene raised her hand to interrupt his excuse, and continued in a calm voice.
"Mr. Horace, no one knows better than me the price of wool on the market, and whether your business is good or not... Do you know what it means to lie to the Campbell family."
Irene looked at him expressionlessly, unmoved at all, and gave the order in a majestic voice.
"I order you in the name of the Campbell family. You must swear by my flag. You must not use today's events as an excuse to punish any of today's troublemakers. You must not reduce the workers' wages in any form or excuse. You must pay full compensation to the injured worker and bear all his treatment costs!"
The moment the words fell, cheers and whistles rang out all around, and the faces of the workers who had turned ashen looked once again glowed with hope, as if they saw the hope of life.
In contrast, cold sweat broke out on Horace's forehead, like rain.
The majesty of the duke's royal family is certainly terrifying.
But to make him accept such unequal conditions, it would be better to chop him with a knife!
The originally bent spine straightened up again. He was like a drake whose neck was pinched, and he let out a hoarse howl.
"Your Highness, Your Highness! Your order does not comply with the laws of the Principality! I am his employer, and I have the right to decide the wages of our employees and whether to continue to employ them!"
"Shut up," Teresa glared at him and shouted sternly, "You ungrateful guy, can't you see that His Highness is trying to save you!"
Horace: "I'm very safe!"
Teresa: "..."
This idiot who healed his scar and forgot about the pain.
She wanted to grab him by the neck, throw him back into that poor office, and then watch him howl like a piglet.
Of course, she also knew that this was not the solution.
His Royal Highness is here to solve problems, not to create new troubles.
“That’s enough, Theresa.”
Looking at the subordinate who wanted to say something else, Irene raised her hand to stop her, then looked at Horace calmly and said, "You just reminded me that what I did was indeed somewhat inappropriate."
Horace was stunned at first, but he did not expect that His Highness would admit his mistake, and then an expression of ecstasy appeared on his face.
However, before he could be happy for too long, Irene paused for a moment and then continued.
"One of his highnesses once said to me that a king should solve the problems of everyone, not the problems of one person or a factory. I once proposed to my brother to solve this problem, but he, who has always been vigorous and resolute, was hesitant on this matter, thinking that the time has not yet come..."
"But I want to say that now is the time to do this. If it drags on, more and more people like you will sell their souls to the devil."
This is an outrageous accusation.
And...
As for what?
Irene's expression told him that.
The vast majority of Campbell people live on their own one-third of an acre of land and have no idea what tragic things happened in the Twilight Province next door.
There is no corruption from the Demon King, no invasion from Chaos, but everyone there seems to have turned into a devil, killing each other and devouring each other in the most cruel way.
The Principality of Campbell must take this as a warning.
The land guarded by the soul of the late king must not be stained by the dirty blood!
That young face showed unprecedented determination. Irene paused and announced in a majestic voice.
Page "Starting from today, Leiming County will implement the minimum wage standard. All employers in Leiming City are not allowed to hire employees with a salary of less than 2,000 copper coins per month, and no employer is allowed to fire workers at will without voluntarily and without gross negligence. If they must be fired, compensation must be paid according to the working time."
“Second, all employers in Thunder City must deposit 10% of their monthly income into a public account supervised by the city hall as a workers’ security fund. Workers who lose their jobs can receive living aid for up to three months. Workers who are unable to continue working due to work-related injuries will also receive medical compensation from this fund.”
"The relevant details will be announced tomorrow, and it will be Act No. 6 of the new industrial zone."
"Or, labor law."
Since the establishment of the new industrial zone in Thunder City, most of the citizens of Thunder City have lived a good life. She has no doubt that she has done the right thing and is proud of it.
However, she also knows that a considerable number of people are still living in dire straits, struggling below the level of survival.
Especially those peasants who lost their land due to the nobles' pursuit of land.
They did not gain freedom voluntarily, but were forced to leave the land where they had lived for generations and were violently driven away by their lords with whips.
She once fell into deep self-blame for this and was depressed for a long time.
Fortunately, when she was at her lowest point, Mr. Colin's letters from afar had always accompanied her, enlightened her troubles, and pointed out a clear path to her——
It was not money, nor a scepter, nor stupidity, shortsightedness, or anything else that tempted people to sell their souls to the devil.
but unfettered desire.
And power!
That's exactly what she wants to do now.
In the name of the Campbell family, she will put her unbridled desire, desire and power into a cage called order!
Horace felt a thunder explode in his mind, as if the light of praise struck his forehead with a sword.
Looking at the soldiers returning home and the crowds of people dispersing, he screamed in despair.
"You might as well kill me! If you really plan to do that, my textile factory will be closed tomorrow!"
"Then close it!"
Erin, who turned over and sat on the horse, did not look back, but turned her back to Horace and said coldly.
"I will never allow anyone to oppress my people under my eyes."
(End of this chapter)