My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 429 New Class, New Power

Su Ze was pleasantly surprised by the income from this amount of prestige points.

Although 500 prestige points are not much, they show that this is the will of the people, and also show that the labor force is beginning to emerge as a political force on the historical stage.

Only groups with a certain level of public influence can have their prestige value calculated by the system.

There was no doubt that this memorial would be passed.

The idea of ​​suppressing annexation was actually a national ruling ideology that began in the Qin and Han dynasties. The issue of commercial annexation was discussed in the "Discourses on Salt and Iron". For a mature empire like the Ming Dynasty, there was no need to take the same detour as those Western countries in the original timeline.

Su Ze elevated the protection of workers' interests to the level of "moral ethics," which naturally made local officials take it seriously.

Of course, the problem of child labor will not disappear because of this decree, but the cost of using child labor will increase, and factories and mines will have to consider the cost and decide whether or not to continue employing child laborers.

Su Ze picked up the letter paper again. He wanted to write to Lin Bingzheng, the education commissioner of Shanxi, and ask him to find a way to get the children who had already enrolled in primary school back to school as soon as possible.
-
Shanxi Guild Hall.

Fan Baoxian, the patriarch of the Fan clan, looked extremely grim.

The Fan family is a large business family.

In fact, Fan Baoxian's branch of the family had long since ceased to be involved in the mining industry.

The main businesses of Fan Baoxian's branch of the family were the Fan family's banks, which were located in major ports and the capital of the Ming Dynasty, as well as trade in the Jiubian horse market.

Fan Baoxian himself is also the chairman of Fangshan Railway. He has privately invested in several railway-related factories, but those are all high-tech metal processing factories, and there are no child laborers at all.

In addition, Fan Baoxian is also a contributor to the Commercial Daily.

Chief Fan wouldn't even consider a dirty and exhausting industry like coal mining.

However, Fan Baoxian looked down on it, as many members of the Fan family in Datong were still engaged in mining.

As the clan leader, Fan Baoxian also had to seek benefits for the clan members, otherwise he would be criticized by them.

Fan Baoxian looked around; those present were all leaders of various branches of the Fan family. He coughed and said:
"Since Su Hanlin has already spoken out on this matter, there is no room for change. Everyone should go back and investigate thoroughly to see if any child laborers under the age of ten have been employed. Those over the age of ten should also be assigned to positions outside the mine. We must not give the government any excuse."

Several village leaders were indignant, and one of them stood up and said:
"Clan leader! The imperial court is meddling far too much! They even interfere in our hiring of laborers. What will they do next? Will the court interfere in everything we produce? Will those mines be the court's or our Fan clan's mines?!"

Fan Baoxian slammed the teacup on the table, and the head of the household who had just spoken trembled.

As times have changed, the concept of clan has become increasingly weak in other families in Shanxi.

The reason is simple: the existence of clans is precisely for the purpose of jointly resisting risks.

Now that businessmen have gained more status, the original risks have decreased. However, commercial property rights are a very sensitive matter, and many families have divided their assets and run their own businesses.

Only the Fan clan's clan system remains stable.

The reason was not that the Fan clan was more united, but that Fan Baoxian, the clan head, controlled the money exchange.

The banks possessed massive amounts of capital, and almost all of the Fan family's assets were borrowed from them.

Fan Baoxian also used the bank to invest in the important businesses of each branch of the family, thereby gaining control of the family's various businesses through these investments and shares.

The identity that Fan Baoxian was most feared by his clansmen was no longer that of the clan leader, but that of the Fan family's bank, which controlled the lifeline of the Fan family's shops, factories, and mines.

Once Fan Baoxian gets angry, he can withdraw his investment and drain your liquidity, making bankruptcy a matter of minutes.

Similarly, the Fan family also took advantage of this to become the leading merchants in Shanxi.

Fan Baoxian looked at everyone and said:

"Blinded by greed! Do you think that just because you opened a mine, the imperial court can't control you? Hanlin Su wants all of Fan's coal mines to shut down, and there's nothing I can do about it!"

"If you're really capable, go talk to the local officials, don't shout it from in front of me!"

The head of the household who had just spoken quickly lowered his head. After Fan Baoxian finished venting his anger, everyone reached a consensus: they must abide by the new laws of the court and never allow the problem of child labor to appear in Fan's property.

After the heads of the various households left, Fan Kuan, the editor-in-chief of the Commercial Daily, emerged from behind the screen.

"Clan leader, if that's the case, why publish that article in the Commercial Gazette?"

Fan Kuan was the editor-in-chief of the Commercial Daily, but Fan Baoxian was the head of the Fan clan and the largest investor. So, despite his opposition, Fan Kuan wrote the article published in the Commercial Daily at Fan Baoxian's request.

Because of this article, the Business Daily suffered a lot of attacks and insults, and lost many readers.

So Fan Kuan was filled with confusion at this moment, wondering why the clan chief insisted that he publish that article.

Fan Baoxian said:
"An article is an attitude."

"If this article hadn't been published, wouldn't all of this be the fault of us mining owners?"

"If we're concerned about something as trivial as child labor today, won't there be other issues to deal with in the future?"

"In politics, it's either you advance or I retreat."

"Even if we want to retreat, we can't just retreat directly. We have to put up some resistance before we retreat."

"Although the Business Daily may lose some readers, haven't all the merchants in the world seen that the Business Daily is willing to speak out and stand up for them?"

"In the long run, this is more beneficial to the Business Daily."

Fan Kuan thought about it for a moment and also felt that Fan Baoxian's statement made sense.

The sales of major newspapers have basically stabilized.

As newspaper distribution costs increased and newspaper companies expanded, apart from official newspapers like the Yuefu Xinbao which had free staff, other newspapers could no longer support their expenses solely through newspaper sales.

The Business Daily's method was advertising.

From its inception, the Business Daily has had a dedicated section for publishing various business information.

Later, this section was expanded to two sections, which included information on job applications and new products.

While circulation is a factor to consider when businessmen want to place advertisements, the choice ultimately rests more with the individual.

The Business Daily is able to speak up for business owners, so it naturally wins their favor.

This is tantamount to advertising for the Business Daily.

Fan Kuan nodded in agreement with Fan Baoxian's plan.

But he still said with concern:
"Will the clan leader's actions offend Su Hanlin?"

Fan Baoxian's confident expression vanished instantly, and he said to Fan Kuan:

"What else can we do? We have no choice but to go and explain and apologize in person!"

"what?"

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and grab your gifts, come with me to the Su residence!"
-
Evening, at the Su residence.

"Fan Baoxian, Chairman of Fangshan Railway Company?"

Looking at the name card, Su Ze recalled Fan Baoxian's appearance. He had a memory of this clan head, Fan, at the opening ceremony of the Fangshan Railway.

In fact, if it weren't for his position as chairman of the Fangshan Railway Company, the gatekeeper of the Su residence probably wouldn't have relayed the message to Fan Baoxian, a businessman.

The Fangshan Railway Company was a well-known name, and Fan Baoxian was very generous, so the gatekeeper reluctantly delivered the visiting card to Su Ze.

Seeing that Su Ze did not react, the gatekeeper quickly said:
"Master, should we send Madam Fan back?"

Su Ze shook his head and said:

"Please invite him in and let him receive guests in the side hall."

Su Ze arrived at the side hall where guests were being received and soon met Fan Baoxian and Fan Kuan.

After the two introduced themselves, Su Ze realized that this was Fan Kuan, the editor-in-chief of the Commercial Daily.

At this moment, Fan Kuan was under the most pressure in the room.

He used Su Ze's name in the newspaper to defend the businessman. If he angered this prominent figure in the capital, he might not be able to stay in the capital any longer.

There's a saying in the capital: "It's better to offend a Grand Secretary than to offend the Shadow Grand Secretary!"

The Shadow Elder refers to Su Ze!

I should have never listened to Fan Baoxian and written such an article!

Fan Kuan, having previously worked as a political broker, naturally understood that for a high-ranking official like Su Ze, crushing him, the editor-in-chief of the People's Daily, would be an easy task.

This is definitely not Fan Kuan scaring himself. In this land, power is always in the hands of the government. No matter how much influence he has in the press, or how much wealth the Fan family has, if he offends someone of Su Ze's caliber, he will be worried to the point of losing sleep.

"I have misinterpreted Lord Su's theory of morality concerning the four classes of people, and I have come here to apologize."

Fan Kuan respectfully bowed deeply to apologize, but Su Ze remained silent for a long time.

Su Ze didn't speak until his back was soaked with cold sweat:
"Editor-in-Chief Fan was merely publishing an article in his own newspaper; what crime has he committed? Su's theory of the four classes of morality was presented at the Lingji Palace conference; it was merely a starting point for discussion and cannot be considered a misinterpretation."

Hearing this, Fan Kuan finally breathed a sigh of relief!

"You two have come here only to apologize?"

Fan Baoxian immediately said:
"Lord Su, I have heard that many poor children in Shanxi are out of school and have to work in factories and mines because of their family's financial difficulties."

“Simply banning the employment of child labor in factories and mines will not solve these problems.”

Su Ze looked at Fan Baoxian with great interest.

Then Fan Baoxian said:

"I am willing to donate silver coins to children in Shanxi who are in dire need of financial means to help them study."

"This is also my way of expressing my feelings for my hometown folks. I hope that Lord Su can put in a good word with the Shanxi Provincial Education Commissioner."

Su Ze looked at Fan Baoxian even more seriously now.

As expected, the person who can lead a business family like the Fan family is no ordinary person. Fan Baoxian's way of showing goodwill to me is indeed very skillful.

If Fan Baoxian were to give him a gift, he would probably be kicked out immediately.

But now that he's bringing money to solve the problem, Su Ze can no longer afford to be rude.

Su Ze smiled and said:

"The fact that Director Fan has this intention is in line with Mr. Su's saying that 'businessmen should have business ethics'."

Upon hearing this, Fan Baoxian was overjoyed, realizing that he had achieved his goal in visiting.

But Su Ze then said:
"Let's call this money a scholarship, and it can be funded by Fangshan Railway Company."

Fan Baoxian immediately understood what Su Ze meant.

If he were to personally donate money to support education, or if he were to do so under the name of the Datong Fan family, that would be a taboo.

What exactly are you, from a merchant family, trying to do by sponsoring primary school children across the province?
Su Ze suggested that Fan Baoxian donate in the name of the railway company, which would make things much easier.

The Fangshan Railway Company had many investors, including nobles and relatives of the emperor, so setting up a scholarship in the name of the railway company was less taboo.

"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Su!"

Su Ze saw the two off, but did not accept the "local specialties" they brought.

Fan Baoxian had achieved his goal and dutifully took the gifts he had brought back home.

After the two left, Su Ze returned to his study.

He actually didn't care much for these Shanxi merchants.

Although the Fan family of Datong in this time is not the same as the Shanxi merchant family that sponsored the Jurchens in the late Ming Dynasty in the original timeline, Su Ze was still somewhat uncomfortable with the profit-seeking nature of these merchants.

Shanxi has only been developing its mining and industrial sector for a short time, yet child labor has already emerged.

If we let them continue like this, won't the Ming Dynasty end up like Dai Ying in the industrial era of the original timeline?
The development of industry and commerce is essentially aimed at increasing productivity and improving the lives of the people of the Ming Dynasty.

If developing industry and commerce ultimately makes people's lives worse, then what's the point of developing industry and commerce?
That's why Su Ze took action ahead of time, raising the issues of child labor and labor protection now.

We can't wait until tragedies happen before trying to fix things, can we?

However, Su Ze was also somewhat gratified. Following his theory of the Four Classes of People, industry and commerce were rapidly forming a political force. He realized that this article in the Business Daily was a test by business owners of his political influence.

Business owners have learned to use newspapers to voice their opinions and to influence the government through public opinion.

Although they were badly beaten this time, it was still a worthwhile attempt.

Ordinary institutional reforms inevitably end with the death of the person in charge and the collapse of the policy.

Only by creating new grassroots interests through reform can the fruits of reform endure.
-
The following day, the Commercial Daily published an article announcing that the Fangshan Railway Company would set up a scholarship in Shanxi to support students from impoverished families who excel academically.

This news actually salvaged some of the reputation of Shanxi merchants and stopped the verbal attacks against them from all sides.

Following this, the Zhiwu Railway Company also announced in the Commercial Daily that it would set up a scholarship to provide financial assistance to out-of-school children in Shandong.

Then the Penghu Colonization and Development Businessmen's Association also made a statement, wanting to set up a scholarship in Penghu.

Thus, this political debate sparked by child labor came to an end.

The result of the discussion was that the emperor approved Su Ze's memorial, prohibiting factories and mines from employing child laborers under the age of ten, and prohibiting child laborers aged ten to fourteen from engaging in dangerous and arduous jobs.

After receiving the imperial edict, the local government of Shanxi inspected the mines and factories within its jurisdiction and rectified a number of them.

Taking advantage of the victory, Lin Bingzheng, the education commissioner of Shanxi, ordered primary schools across the country to try their best to allow out-of-school children to return to school. Seventy percent of the out-of-school children were able to return to school and even received scholarships from the Fangshan Railway Company.

However, the hot topics in the capital city change quickly, and new hot topics emerge just as soon as they appear.

(End of this chapter)