Chapter 212
Everyone in this grand hall held prominent positions in the court, adorned in opulent clothing. Who among them didn't have a large family to support? Establishing factories was presently the most lucrative business during the Tang Dynasty. Nearly every household had control over several factories.
Like the Five Surnames and Seven Clans, these individuals primarily focused on amassing wealth. Specialized personnel managed the day-to-day affairs of the factories, and they paid little attention to how the money was earned. When Su Li mentioned the deaths of numerous commoners, it didn't reveal much concern among these people. After all, their current comforts were the fruits of their hard work and sacrifices that had brought them wealth and status. What harm was there in enjoying a bit now that they had achieved success and recognition?
In their eyes, everything in the world was fundamentally fair. If they chose to work in a factory to pursue wealth, they exchanged their lives for money. If they happened to lose their life in the process, it was simply their own misfortune. None of the courtiers were troubled by a few deaths in the factories, as their ingrained mindset led them to believe it wasn't a significant issue.
What truly concerned Su Li was that he took this matter very seriously! Who would dare to dismiss Su Li's opinions in the contemporary Tang Dynasty? As Su Li's expression grew increasingly unfriendly, many courtiers began to quietly speculate. Perhaps it was wise to temporarily scale back their factory operations at home, wait for Prince Yongle's anger to subside, and then assess the situation. Provoking him further could lead to serious trouble!
No one believed that Su Li was sincerely advocating for the common people. In their view, Su Li was merely dissatisfied with the Five Surnames and Seven Clans encroaching on his business and used this as an excuse to settle scores with them. Even Li Er had similar thoughts but took a more open-minded approach. Despite Su Li's motives, his target was the Five Surnames and Seven Clans, which aligned with Li Er's goals.
“Su Li, is the situation truly this dire?” Li Er pretended to be extremely shocked. Su Li nodded and then turned to look at Li Er. “The reputation of Your Majesty's deep affection for the people has spread far and wide. However, now we have merchants and traders causing harm to the common people for their own gain. If this matter is left unchecked, it will undoubtedly lead to great calamity in the future!” Li Er nodded, looking pained. “The proliferation of factories was originally beneficial for the country and the people. However, if the establishment of factories harms the common people, it goes against my intentions.”
At this point, Li Er paused and continued, “Su Li, since you've brought this matter to my attention, I entrust you with full authority to handle it. I grant you the Imperial Sword, a symbol of authority and the power to inspect and oversee the entire realm. If you encounter any resistance to your actions, you may act first and report later. Remember, there is no tolerance for actions that harm the common people!” As his words fell, the faces of the courtiers all changed drastically.
Your Majesty was taking this a bit too far. The so-called Imperial Sword and the authority to act first and report later were, for others, mostly tools of intimidation. Throughout history, there had been many imperial envoys assigned to carry out tasks, but none of them had truly dared to act so recklessly. But Su Li... he dared!
Who was Su Li? The man who led expeditions and personally chopped off tens of thousands of enemy heads—a ruthless character without equal! He was not only the only prince from a different lineage in the Tang Dynasty but also the only courtier who had fully gathered the Five Components of Power. From any perspective, he bore no psychological burden whatsoever when it came to killing. Li Er's move was similar to releasing a fierce tiger into a crowd of people. After this incident, everyone's attention was far from the court affairs. A few insignificant matters were briefly discussed, and the court session ended abruptly.After the court disbanded, the courtiers hurriedly departed, keeping their heads down. Su Li left the grand hall and encountered a middle-aged officer named Lu Chengqing, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who introduced himself respectfully with a bow. However, Su Li didn't show interest in conversing and simply walked past him, ignoring him completely. Lu Chengqing, despite his self-control, couldn't help but feel deeply embarrassed by such blatant disregard.
“Prince Yongle, I've heard that the young prince is not yet four. The Lu family of Fanyang has five legitimate daughters under five. Could they form a bond of friendship with the young prince?” Lu Chengqing shouted after Su Li's retreating figure.
One of the main reasons aristocratic families endured for so long was through marriage alliances. The current Five Surnames and Seven Clans were so prestigious that even the royal family admired them. Forming a marital alliance with them was a source of great pride, even for the Prime Minister.
Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui had spared no expense in forging bonds with them, nearly depleting their own resources. When they succeeded, they flaunted their success as a sign of hitting the jackpot. This highlighted how exacting these aristocratic families were in selecting their marriage partners.
Lu Chengqing believed he had made a sincere proposal with this condition, but he hadn't anticipated that Su Li would also ignore this statement, leaving him bewildered. As Su Li vanished from sight, Lu Chengqing's expression turned icy, and he muttered, “Ungrateful fool,” before leaving, his robes trailing behind him.
…
Su Li's actions unfolded quicker than anyone had anticipated. That afternoon, he enacted an eight-hour workday policy, established rules for weekends and overtime compensation, and mandated that all factories within the Tang Dynasty must observe official holidays. This decree was legitimate, and any defiance would result in severe consequences.
Later that night, in the government office of Wannian County, the same room in the backyard filled with officers from the Five Surnames and Seven Clans who held positions in Changan.
“Su Li has overstepped!” Lu Qiqing angrily exclaimed. From a modern perspective, the factories owned by the Five Surnames and Seven Clans were essentially sweatshops. Even the owners of the harshest brick kilns would consider themselves compassionate in comparison. Their profits relied on a straightforward exchange of time for money. With Su Li's decree, factory working hours were reduced significantly, which meant their future earnings would decrease proportionally. Tampering with someone's income was similar to attacking their family.
This decree escalated the conflict between Su Li and the aristocratic families, bringing their battle to the forefront. Lu Chengtai, looking at his son, reminded him, “I've always taught you to maintain composure during critical moments. This minor issue caused you to lose your composure. What kind of demeanor is that?” Lu Qiqing was momentarily shocked and realized everyone else was calmly sipping their tea, showing no signs of panic. They had already made their decisions.
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