Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

During the Qianwu period, a comprehensive labor law protected the rights and interests of workers.

According to this law, workers' wages, working hours, labor protection, etc. are clearly stipulated.

In that era, even low-status workers could protect their rights and interests to a certain extent by taking legal action.

However, with the passage of time, the opening of trade routes led to the reshaping of the interest structure, causing this once majestic law to gradually lose its effectiveness.

Local officials often find themselves in a dilemma when faced with wage arrears disputes.

On the one hand, they clearly know that according to the law, the workers' demands are reasonable and legal.

But on the other hand, the huge amount of tax revenue a factory brings to the local area every year is the most eye-catching figure in their political record.

Political achievements are related to the promotion of officials and their status in the court.

Moreover, behind every factory there are dignitaries.

These powerful people are either royal relatives or important officials in the court. They rely on their power and wealth to make changes in the business world.

For local officials, offending these people would undoubtedly mean ruining their own future.

Thus, in the lobby of the yamen, the trial, which should have been fair and strict, turned into a farce.

Officials delayed trials for various reasons or favored factory owners, leaving the workers' demands in vain.

Even if the workers took the case to a higher level government office, the result would still be the same.

Over time, the people lost faith in the law, and privately they discussed: "This labor law is still in the Tang Dynasty law, only for the sake of Emperor Qianwu's face."

"Once Emperor Qianwu is gone, how can the decrees he left behind be effective?"

In desperation, Chen Li chose to express his anger in the most extreme way.

The fire, spread through newspapers, quickly caused a sensation in the Tang Dynasty.

As an emerging communication medium, newspapers allow information to spread at an astonishing speed.

In just three months, from Chang'an to Luoyang, from Yangzhou to Guangzhou, people were talking about this matter on the streets and alleys.

Some people felt sympathy for Chen Li's experience, some were indignant at the factory owner's behavior, and more people began to reflect on the various social problems since the opening of trade routes.

Those who once blamed Li Chengqian for restricting business development and hindering their opportunities to make money suddenly realized the truth.

During Li Chengqian's reign, although commercial development was subject to certain restrictions, society was relatively fair and the basic rights and interests of the people were protected.

Now that trade routes have been reopened, although wages seem to have increased, prices have skyrocketed and money has become less and less valuable.

Moreover, the so-called "the rich lead the poor" has actually turned into the people who got rich first being high and mighty and turning a blind eye to the hardships of the people at the bottom.

They live in luxurious houses and enjoy the best of the best, while the workers who create their wealth can hardly even make ends meet.

As the incident fermented, public pressure grew. Workers from all over the country began to unite, telling their stories of being owed wages, and even staging small-scale strikes in protest.

Some knowledgeable people also published articles in newspapers, calling on the court to pay attention to people's livelihood issues and restore the majesty of labor laws.

This incident eventually reached Li Zhi's ears.

In the court, ministers argued endlessly about this.

Officials who supported the factory owners believed that the opening of trade routes and industrial development were the foundation of the Tang Dynasty's prosperity, and that the overall situation should not be shaken by minor conflicts.

Officials who advocate protecting the rights and interests of the people pointed out that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. If the contradictions are allowed to intensify, it will inevitably lead to a greater crisis.

Li Zhi sat on the dragon throne with a frown on his face.

This was not just a simple dispute over unpaid wages, nor was it just an incident of a textile factory being burned down, but a major decision concerning the destiny of the Tang Dynasty.

How to find a balance between economic development and people's livelihood, how to make the law effective again, and how to quell the people's grievances, these questions are like heavy shackles, weighing on his shoulders.

Among the people, the common people are eagerly waiting for the court to provide a fair solution.

There was worry about the future but also a glimmer of hope in their eyes.

The social unrest caused by the textile factory fire swept across the entire Tang Dynasty like a storm.

And after the storm, where will this vast empire go?

At the same time, the people of Sichuan spontaneously organized themselves to raise funds for Chen Li, hoping to hire a good lawyer for him.

They knew that although Chen Li's behavior was extreme, it represented the voices of countless grassroots people.

In their hearts, Chen Li is not a criminal, but a warrior fighting for his rights.

In Chang'an, some literati also began to write poems and novels, using the textile factory incident as a blueprint to expose the darkness and injustice of society. These works were widely circulated among the people and further promoted the development of public opinion.

Faced with public pressure, factory owners appeared indifferent on the surface, but began to get nervous in private.

They turned to their supporters in the court for help and tried to quell the situation through various means.

Some factory owners even threatened workers not to participate in the protests, otherwise they would face harsher punishment.

This high-pressure approach not only failed to make the workers surrender, but instead aroused their resistance.

As time went on, the incident escalated.

Workers in surrounding states and counties were also influenced and began to follow their example.

Some small-scale conflicts broke out in various places, and social security faced huge challenges.

Local officials were overwhelmed and kept asking the court for help.

Li Zhi realized that action must be taken as soon as possible, otherwise the situation would be out of control.

He summoned a group of trusted ministers to discuss solutions day and night.

Some people proposed sending troops to suppress workers' protests in order to maintain social order.

Some people suggested that factory owners should be severely punished to appease public anger; others proposed revising the labor law to adapt it to the new social situation.

After heated discussions, Li Zhi finally decided to take a multi-pronged approach.

First, he sent a highly respected imperial envoy to Yangzhou to thoroughly investigate the wage arrears incident at the textile factory and demanded that a fair explanation be given to the people.

At the same time, he ordered local governments to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the wage arrears problem in their jurisdiction and resolve it within a specified period of time.

Secondly, a group of legal experts were organized to revise the labor law of the Qianwu period, supplement and improve relevant clauses, and strengthen the protection of workers' rights and interests.

In addition, a series of policies have been introduced to encourage factory owners to improve workers' treatment, increase wage levels, and provide certain tax incentives.

In terms of public opinion, the court also increased its guidance efforts.

Release news through official channels to explain the court's decisions and actions to the people and gain their understanding and support.

At the same time, we will crack down on those who maliciously incite public sentiment and create chaos to maintain social stability.

With the implementation of a series of measures by the court, the incident was gradually settled.