Munitions Empire-Chapter 1074 - 996 because of human nature

Chapter 1074: 996 because of human nature

The most prosperous harbor of the Great Tang Empire, Linshui.

This is a beautiful and enormous harbor city, surrounded by towering colored television broadcast towers, with a cluster of buildings over thirty stories high already erected around them. These buildings are majestic and their designs are novel, forming a beautiful skyline.

Frankly speaking, the development of Linshui really has many similarities with Shanghai, its geographical location is excellent, the economy is booming with trade development, and it has also received strong support from the upper echelons of the Great Tang Empire.

To say that this place is blessed with outstanding people and a splendid environment is no exaggeration; every detail here represents advancement, and every change symbolizes the future.

The newly appointed governor of Linshui—now to be called Mayor Halis—has a clear mind and is extremely capable, so the development of Linshui is truly progressing at an astonishing pace.

Three months ago, the Great Tang Empire underwent official reforms, changing some positions into forms familiar to Tang Mo, turning governors who held the same rank as City Lords and managed a city into mayors.

Unlike other mayors, the administrative level of Linshui is equivalent to that of a province, therefore Mayor Halis of Linshui holds a very high rank.

In Linshui, factories are densely packed and the city’s urbanization process is exceedingly rapid, with the construction of the subway starting just three days later than in the capital, Chang’an.

Indeed, the Great Tang Empire has begun subway construction projects in its major cities, which not only serve as part of civil defense projects but will also greatly enhance the efficiency of urban operations in the future.

Logically, such a huge project should not be easy to undertake, but after years of training, the construction teams of the Great Tang Empire are vast in scale and masterful in technique, so digging a tunnel is truly a piece of cake for them.

Despite the Great Tang Empire’s inability to manufacture large tunnel boring machines, with the presence of Orc and Goblin laborers, direct excavation efficiency is barely sufficient.

It’s actually quite funny when other countries around the world are digging air-raid shelters in their major cities, the Great Tang Empire is also digging — except it’s building subways…

As an economic pilot city, Linshui enjoys numerous policy advantages in economic aspects. Halis has the right to directly amend laws, which is the very purpose of Linshui’s pilot project.

Of course, as a favorite student of His Majesty The Emperor of the Great Tang Empire, Halis’s abilities and experience are unparalleled: he has work experience in Brunas and Dragon Island and has also learned a great deal of new theory from Tang Mo, so managing Linshui is not a difficult task for him.

In his efforts to cultivate more qualified talents for the Empire, Halis often takes the time to give pointers to his subordinates outside work hours, enabling them to fully grasp the significant meaning behind the work they handle.

Upon seeing the application report for the alliance of Linshui commercial groups submitted by his secretary, a look of disdain appeared on Halis’s face: “The rights of workers must be safeguarded, this is fundamental to the stability of the Empire! We must limit the expansion and development of capital, although monopoly brings huge profits, it’s a path of self-destruction we cannot take.”

“If you want workers to do more, then pay them more! Nothing speaks louder than improving their wages and benefits. While it’s not advocated to solve all problems with pay raises, reasonable compensation is the premise of everything.” He sneered at the requests made in the commercial group alliance report and tossed it aside dismissively.

Then, he turned to his secretary and advised, “Corporate culture is built on the premise of meeting the basic needs of employees. What are basic needs? That’s ensuring their salaries and wages allow them to live better lives.”

The fact that he has a secretary means that person is also perceptive, just much younger and without as much work experience as Halis.

Halis himself is also quite young; his children haven’t even started elementary school this year — yes, his wife, who used to be Sofia’s maid, bore him a pair of twin boys.

“A merchant may not consider the social benefits that his employed workers need, but we as officials must consider everything comprehensively. A factory sustains workers, but these workers in turn sustain schools, hospitals, markets… If we don’t calculate their surplus in advance, then the operation of the entire society will come to a standstill.” Already overly familiar with these matters from his time at Dragon Island, Halis was no longer surprised by such demands.

“Wolf culture? Bullshit wolf culture, it’s just a slogan. In my view, it’s complete deception. A wolf travels a thousand miles to feed on meat, a dog travels a thousand miles to eat shit! If workers don’t get their share of meat, how can they display any ‘wolf spirit’?” He gestured for his secretary to find a seat and then lit a cigarette for himself.

Not everyone is afraid of having their lungs full of tar. Harry’s family status is obviously a bit higher than Tang Mo’s, as he can at least afford not to quit smoking.

After lighting the cigarette for the leader, the secretary sat across from Harry, also eager to know how his boss would deal with these increasingly arrogant business groups.

“The so-called wolf culture should genuinely ‘feed meat’ to the workers! Place the meat in front of all the wolves first, then talk about punishment and rewards. Do you expect a group of workers to kill each other over benefits when there’s only one pancake to share, or not even a pancake?” Harry let out a puff of smoke and laughed sarcastically, “Cut it out, when a company starts considering cutting the lunch budget for the workers, they deserve to perish!”

“If a company really advocates wolf culture, then the first thing to do is to abolish the ridiculous clock-in-and-out attendance system! Have you ever seen a pack of wolves lining up to punch in for work?” he said: “It was my teacher who first shouted out about wolf culture, he said Great Tang Group doesn’t support idlers.”

He paused, then emphasized again: “But His Majesty also said, a wolf that catches rabbits is a good wolf. All those jobs of sitting in chairs and reading newspapers, no matter how much you emphasize wolf culture, it’s nothing more than refining office politics.”

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“So… this request?” The secretary knew that the businessmen’s proposal to rationalize overtime seemed likely to be rejected.

Indeed, Harry directly voiced his opinion: “Rejected! What do you mean by relaxing overtime regulations? What’s this voluntary nonsense? Amend the laws? If a worker works more than 10 hours a day, what time do they have left for procreation? What time do they have left to dine out? What time do they have to watch movies?”

He took another drag on his cigarette and then continued rhetorically: “If we don’t mandate at least 4 days off per month, how will workers spend their earnings?

“Is it only the factories in the entire Empire that make money? What if the flower shop on the roadside gets no customers? Who bears the loss if bakeries and restaurants lose business? Were the railways and roads built by national investment intended solely for businessmen to transport goods and materials?” After a series of rhetorical questions, Harry stared at his secretary, waiting for a response.

“This…” Clearly, the secretary did not have the answers to these questions.

Harry didn’t give the secretary too long to think, he gestured to himself and continued: “The parties involved only see their own interests, but we need to see the interests of the whole! More factories and longer hours do not necessarily bring higher benefits to society! Only when everything circulates and supports each other, can there be healthy development and progress!”

“That’s why we’re carefully discussing the feasibility of one and a half days off each week, that’s why we’re so strict about the overtime cap in factories! That’s why we establish labor supervision departments to oversee all factories and companies… to possibly prevent businessmen from oppressing workers, increasing working hours, and exploiting employees.” Having said that, he put the cigarette back in his mouth.

He’s only in his thirties this year, and as the mayor of a super-metropolis, it can be said he is unreasonably young. This is also a problem with the Great Tang Empire; its officials are too young, young to an unbelievable degree.

The secretary is somewhat puzzled because if workers should not be frequently working overtime and increasing their working hours, why aren’t related regulations strictly enforced: “But… sir, the fact is, overtime is still a very serious issue.”

“Yes, I know, you know, many people know. The citizens are aware, which is why they complain.” Surprisingly, Harry directly admitted the inefficiency in this matter.

The secretary grew more confused: “Then, why don’t we strictly monitor these businessmen… and institutions?”

“Because of human nature,” Harry answered succinctly.

“Human nature?” The secretary was taken aback, the answer somewhat unexpected.

“Never underestimate human nature, remember that! Never underestimate it,” Harry took another puff of his cigarette and reminded his subordinate once more.

He stretched out two fingers and said: “We stipulate that everyone must take at least 4 days off each month, and if we strictly enforce this according to the laws and regulations, then within twenty years, everyone will take it for granted that it is only reasonable to have 4 days off a month.”

The secretary still didn’t quite understand; isn’t that a very normal thing: “Of course, because it is the regulation, it is certainly reasonable.”

“Yes, but by that time, some people will hope for one and a half days off every week, or even full two days off. After all, with the improvement of productivity, people naturally have higher demands for the quality of life. They need more cultural and recreational activities, they need more opportunities to spend, they need to travel to further places… Only then will they feel happy. Their happiness twenty years ago was having a loaf of bread, now their happiness is owning a car,” Harry explained the underlying principle.