The streets and alleys in the Nanjing Industrial Zone are in a mess. You can see smashed shops and shops everywhere. The roads are also full of garbage. You can even see many factories and shops with signs of being burned.
In less than three days, the originally prosperous and busy city turned into what it is now. A large number of workers who could not get their wages and were unwilling to go back gathered together, forming a huge crowd.
.
Inside Jinling Cement Factory.
"Li Hu, you should run away quickly. I heard that the government troops have marched into the city and set up checkpoints in various places to arrest those who were beating, smashing, looting and burning."
"They will definitely come to arrest you then. If you are caught, you will definitely die."
Ding Laosan, who was sitting in a wheelchair, looked at Li Hu and tried his best to persuade him to run away as far as possible.
"Yes, yes~"
"Brother Tiger, run away quickly."
"If I don't leave, I really won't be able to leave. I know a way out of the city. I can leave the city easily. Now that I can leave the city and get on a boat to go overseas, I can still live a good life."
"I heard that in overseas colonies and vassal states, as long as they are willing to immigrate there, they will not only be given land, but some will also be given a few barbarian women."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm even thinking about going overseas next year. Is this still how people live here in the Ming Dynasty?"
"We have worked hard for a year and have not received a penny. We just want to get our wages back. Now we may be treated as rioters by the court."
"How about we immigrate overseas next year? One of my compatriots went overseas. It is said that he is living a very good life now."
Around Li Hu, everyone was persuading Li Hu to leave now.
Because everyone has received the news that Mr. Wang, the Chief Envoy of Southern Zhili, has returned to Nanjing. Officials, servants, police officers, etc. from various yamen have already been on the streets to arrest those criminals who were beating, smashing, looting, burning, and stealing.
Already.
At the same time, the Nanjing garrison has also moved into Nanjing City, set up checkpoints, and blocked Nanjing City. Invisibly, it seems that there is a big net opening to everyone. If they don't leave, it is very likely that they will never be able to leave again.
"I won't leave. I haven't broken any laws. I just want my wages back. What's wrong with this?"
Li Hu said stubbornly.
He felt that he had done nothing wrong and just wanted his wages back. He did not let the workers in the factory destroy, smash, loot or burn, but he just quietly waited in the factory for the officials above to make the decision for him.
"Ouch~"
"If you say it's not against the law, then it's not against the law. When the time comes, the label of gathering a crowd to cause trouble will be enough to make you lose your head."
"Since ancient times, what the imperial court has been most afraid of is people gathering to make trouble. This time, the trouble is indeed a little too much. In all the large and small factories around us, there are at least hundreds of thousands of people making trouble together, otherwise there would be no
It will be as noisy as it is now."
"At that time, the leaders in each factory will not be able to leave. I am disabled, and it doesn't matter anyway. I will stay here to support everyone."
"You are still young, so you can't be arrested like this. There are seniors and juniors in the family, but they are still counting on you."
Ding Laosan looked at Li Hu, with helplessness in his voice. They were all honest people, but they were forced to this point.
The government forced the people to rebel, and they finally understood what was going on.
"Yes, Brother Tiger, hurry up and leave~"
"Go quickly, go quickly~"
"All of you are leaving. Those ruffians were all beaten to death. If you don't leave now, you will inevitably be exiled overseas. It's better to leave now and go quietly."
"Don't worry at home. In this era, life is easy, and you won't starve to death if you do whatever you want. When the time comes, brothers will help each other, and you will definitely be able to raise your children. Once you are stable overseas, you can also
They all took it."
"Yes, yes, hurry up and leave~"
Just as everyone was trying to persuade Li Hu and others to leave, armies of troops were walking in neat steps in the streets and alleys of Nanjing Industrial Zone.
"Tap tap~ tap tap~"
The sound of neat steps, uniform military uniforms and decorations immediately attracted everyone's attention. In each factory, many workers immediately shrank back in fear, and some even trembled with fear and hurriedly hid.
Wang Shouren rode a horse and walked on the street with a stern expression, looking at the factories, shops, buildings, communities, etc. on both sides of the road.
The originally prosperous and bustling place suddenly became so desolate in just a few days.
"I will never let those people go!"
Wang Shouren's eyes flashed with murderous intent. It was a prosperous scene because of those black-hearted factory owners and big businessmen who deliberately caused trouble.
Obviously, opening a factory makes a lot of money, and can easily pay workers' wages, and everyone can celebrate the New Year happily, but something happened during the Chinese New Year.
Not only did such a huge turmoil occur, with hundreds of thousands of people rioting in the factory area, but it also alarmed the emperor. The emperor was furious and mobilized troops from all directions to come south to Zhili.
This year has been difficult for everyone, except for those who caused trouble and are still drinking flower wine on the Qinhuai River.
"Humph, even if I am transferred away, you will never have a chance to live a good life. Before I leave, I have to catch you all in prison."
Wang Shouren had never felt such strong murderous intent in his heart.
Soon, Wang Shouren arrived at the gate of Jinling Cement Factory. At this time, the factory was surrounded by military personnel. Many workers, led by Ding Laosan, came to the gate of the factory together.
It can be seen that there are still a lot of blood stains on the ground at the entrance of the factory, and many workers inside the factory are still covered in paint.
Wang Shouren got off his horse and went straight to the factory gate. Looking at the workers in front of him, he could see the fear, hesitation, helplessness and sadness in their eyes.
Looking at them again, all of them are absolutely honest and responsible people, but they have been forced to reach this point. Every one of them is trembling and scared.
"I am Wang Shouren, the Chief Envoy of Southern Zhili. I am late and I have made you feel wronged. Please rest assured that no matter what, I will definitely uphold justice for you and restore your innocence and justice."
Wang Shouren's voice was loud and clear, reaching the ears of everyone present.
"This~"
The officials who came with Wang Shouren were all dumbfounded. Wang Shouren mobilized a large army, dispatched officials, government officials, etc., and surrounded the place.
Everyone originally thought that Wang Shouren was going to wipe out all the rebellious people here, but who knew that when Wang Shouren came, he actually wanted to make decisions for these migrant workers.
"Master Qingtian~"
"Master Wang~"
"We, we really are not rioters, we really don't want to rebel, we just want our wages back."
After hearing Wang Shouren's words, many migrant workers were already nervous and scared to death. Many of them were even ready to fight to the death with the government and the army.
However, Wang Shouren's words immediately caused many migrant workers to kneel down and cry loudly.
Everyone is old at the top and young at the bottom, and they are all honest and responsible people. No one wants to be regarded as a rioter by the court, or as a rebellious traitor.
All everyone wants is to live an honest and stable life.
Wang Shouren's words immediately made them feel completely at ease. It turned out that the court was not here to destroy them, but Mr. Wang was here to speak for them and make the decision.
"I know, I know everyone has suffered a lot~"
"I know that everyone has worked hard for a year. Originally, they just wanted to get their wages back and then go home happily to reunite with their families."
"But not only do they not pay you, they also hire gangsters to beat you and bully kind people. We are all forced to do so."
Wang Shouren looked at everyone and said with great sympathy. His words spoke to everyone's heart. Even the most guarded people could not help but shed tears at this moment and cried on the ground.
"My lord is really the great master of Qingtian~"
"We wanted to go and report it to the officials, but the officials not only ignored us, but also beat us."
"We are not rioters, and we are definitely not rebels."
Ding Laosan, Li Hu and others were all crying at this moment. They were all seven-foot-tall men. Now when they felt wronged, they also shed tears.
"Everyone, please rest assured that your wages, I promise you with the black gauze hat on my head, will definitely be paid to you in full."
"Please feel free to wait in the factory for an extra day or two. I will definitely catch your boss. I have already prepared food and warm clothes for you. Please stay in the factory first and don't move around.
, and don’t go out with others to smash, loot, burn, steal or anything like that.”
"Now there are some thieves who take advantage of the chaos to loot, burn, and do all kinds of bad things. As long as everyone stays in the factory, I will soon let everyone get the money and go home happily to celebrate the New Year."
Wang Shouren looked at the crying people in front of him, took off his official hat and assured everyone.
"Sir, we believe in you ~ we believe in you ~"
"I just said there must be good officials who can make decisions for us people."
"Sir, we are all law-abiding people, and no one will take advantage of the chaos to do bad things."
When Ding Laosan, Li Hu and others heard this, they immediately said.
"Okay, okay~"
Wang Shouren nodded happily, waved his hand and immediately an official drove a four-wheeled carriage into the factory. The carriage was filled with grain, vegetables and meat.
"Let's go to Jinling Textile Factory~"
Wang Shouren mounted his horse and hurried to the next factory.
