The striking workers besieged the governor's yamen and held Dai Xian, the governor of Fujian, as hostage to sign a contract with the chamber of commerce. Workers had already filled the outside of the yamen, and the commander-in-chief Zheng Chaoer couldn't get in. So he listened to the words of the female officer Zhen Hui, and first took the people from the chamber of commerce.
Let's talk about inviting all the hosts. There are so many people to invite, and they are scattered all over Fuzhou, so it took a lot of effort to get them all ready. It's already dawn.
When the last few big bosses arrived, Zhen Hui said to Zheng Chaoer: "I will accompany these people in, and we will act according to the situation inside."
Zheng Chaoer nodded: "It is important to rescue Mr. Dai."
Zhen Hui and others walked through the crowd of workers and walked to the gate of the governor's office. They saw a camera between two big stone lions, with four big characters embroidered on the camera's curtain: Fuzhou Commercial News. They couldn't help but wonder: "How did they
Are you here? You didn’t invite them."
A boss hummed: "They are like flies, they can get in wherever there is something. How could they not know that the Mud Legs are making such a big fuss?" Before he finished speaking, there was a flash of fire in front of his eyes, and he heard "Bang"
With a sound, the photographer had already taken pictures for them. The female officer Zhen Hui walked in the front and center, accompanied by the four big bosses behind her, looking quite majestic.
These few people entered the lobby and took a look. It was very noisy inside. The trade union chairman named Ni Ziguang was surrounded by more than a dozen bosses and they were chatting with businessmen. Pan Xigui was laughing and eating tea nearby and watching the fun. Pan Mingyi was playing with a dagger with one hand.
My son, Dai Xian, was sitting across from him, his expression was not very good, and he glanced at Pan Mingyi from the corner of his eyes from time to time.
No one noticed when Zhen Hui and others came in, so she quietly sneaked behind Dai Xian and shouted: "Sir."
Dai Xian was delighted: "Are you here?"
Zhen Hui nodded: "Sir, I will be in charge later. Those workers will agree to whatever they ask for. After all, I am only a third-grade official and a female, so it doesn't matter. I don't know where they got so much.
There are about 30,000 people. Your Excellency, we will get out of danger first."
Dai Xian was shocked: "Really 30,000?"
"It really does."
"These idiots!" Dai Xian was frightened and annoyed. "Their demands are simply outrageous!"
"Let them think about their whims for a while." Zhen Hui smiled and said, "I am just the maid next to my wife. In any case, it is not my turn to make the decision."
Dai Xian smiled and stroked his beard: This girl is rare. She has been an official for many years and is still loyal to her wife. He said: "Forget it, you make the decision today."
Zhen Hui said a blessing, picked up the gavel on the desk and clicked it three times in a row. The whole place suddenly became quiet. Zhen Hui said: "Everyone, everyone is here, and it's getting late. Don't act carelessly.
Quarreling. If you want to negotiate, it's better to sit down and talk." After saying this, he looked back at Dai Xian.
Dai Xian coughed twice: "In the past month, workers have gone on strike, which has greatly damaged the daily life of the people in Fujian. Today, I have made the decision to mediate between the trade unions and the chamber of commerce. Please—" He looked at Zhen Hui, "Mr. Zhen will preside over.
I am observing."
Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then started talking. Zhen Hui slapped the crowd again and said loudly: "Stop whispering." Then she asked, "Who is the leader of the union?"
Ni Ziguang stood up and clasped his fists and said, "I am Ni Ziguang, the chairman of the Fujian Trade Union. This is Mr. Pan Xigui, and he has the final say."
"You two will make the decision for the union today?"
"Yes." Ni Ziguang took out a new list from his pocket, "Our requirements are all above."
"Send it up."
A boy took the list from Ni Ziguang's desk and brought it over. Zhen Hui picked it up and gave it to Dai Xian first. Ni Ziguang smiled and said, "Master Dai has just read it and strongly agrees with it."
All the bosses glanced at Dai Xian. Dai Xian looked up and saw Pan Mingyi lightly throwing the dagger halfway up his arm, moving the tip and handle of the dagger with one finger, causing the dagger to tumble and spin.
Dai Xian took a breath, and the pain in his right wrist became more and more serious. He said seriously: "Yes. I agree. Mr. Ni's request is completely justified."
"Coax--" The bosses started making a fuss. "That's a joke!" "You only have to work four hours a day. If you do more work, you will be paid three times as much. Do you agree?" "Every six days you work, you have to take one day off."
, it's a matter of course?" "Overtime is not allowed to exceed two hours. What should I do in my restaurant when I often work late into the night?" "I need to pay severance pay to laid-off workers? Why?" They all pointed out that the various requirements on the list were pure wishful thinking.
"Pa!" Zhen Hui slapped the wooden wall again. She said with a cold face, "I only want to say one thing. Now Jiangxi is rising day by day, and Yan State is also developing industry." Everyone was stunned. She pointed at the list.
Xiang Ni Ziguang said, "Your union did not come up with this by yourself." Then he looked at Pan Xigui and said, "Right, Mr. Pan from Jiangxi."
Pan Xigui nodded: "Yes. This list was made by Mr. Mei, the magistrate of Ruijin County, Jiangxi. When the prefect Su learned about it, he was very impressed and immediately promoted it to the whole province and published it in the "Yuzhang Business News". In the first two months, the "Yu Zhang Business News" in the capital
Yanjing Weekly reprinted this list."
Zhen Hui said: "Who in the world doesn't know that the Yanjing Weekly is the mouthpiece of the Zhengshitang in the capital. What the Zhengshitang wants to do and what it does will all be published there. Since the Yanjing Weekly reprinted this
The meaning of the list is: Yan State is going to copy it." Everyone looked at each other. "The Guangdong and Guangxi next door, and Taiwan on the other side, are also like this. In fact, what they originally did was similar to this, but they didn't write like this in the Mei County Magistrate.
It’s just clear.”
The workers shouted: "In that case, let's go to Jiangxi! Let's go to Yan State! Let's also see the capital and the palace!"
Zhen Hui looked at all the bosses: "Everyone, what will Fujian do to retain workers at that time? Don't forget, now the roads are smooth and the tolls are cheap. You are really stranding the workers. Just look at Yan State and you will know:
Since the Prime Minister of Yan State changed the land tax, the rents of tenant farmers have skyrocketed. Even so, there are still many families who cannot hire tenant farmers. If all the workers in Fujian go to Yan State in Jiangxi, where are you going to find workers?"
Dai Xian coughed before speaking, and Zhen Hui winked at him. Dai Xian suddenly understood and changed his words: "That's right. Without workers, the factory will have to stop working. You have already suffered a lot of losses these days."
Unexpectedly, a boss shouted below: "Isn't Mr. Dai's family engaged in the business of buying and selling African slaves from overseas?" Dai Xian's face froze. The Dai family had already started the business of selling black slaves to South America two years ago.
Europe was at war for years and the people were in dire straits. Jarvis and Lin Daiyu were killing and scaring people in North America. A large number of European immigrants fled to Africa. The black slave trade became more and more prosperous. Because there were many black slaves in North America, Jarvis and others were
Not long after the invasion, there were not many immigrants from the Yan Kingdom, so we did not buy black slaves for the time being. Those who were originally transported by the Europeans were mining on the west coast.
Zhen Hui said sternly: "African black slaves do not understand the language and are clumsy by nature. They can be bought to grow cash crops, but they cannot work in factories. Firstly, they cannot understand what the manager says, and secondly, they do not know how to do it. All the bosses know this.
, technology is updated faster than rabbits nowadays. It may not take a year to teach a few black slaves to do things. Those who have learned how to do it will need to innovate the craftsmanship after a short time, and the money to hire a master is not enough. Of course, if you want to buy black slaves, it is cheaper.
It’s great, just give it a try.”
All the bosses looked at each other, and the workers laughed. Ni Ziguang, on the other hand, raised his hands in surprise and said, "Master Zhen even knows this! A real person cannot be judged by his appearance."
The third master of the Dai family was sitting below. He stood up and said, "What Master Zhen said is true. There are black slaves in my village. They are so stupid that they can't learn anything. They are taught to be in charge of things and are so tired that they are helpless."
Now we only send them to do the most menial jobs such as fetching water and chopping firewood." His father frowned slightly: Although the black slaves in their village did not understand the language, they were easy to use. Before, they were rarely sold in Fujian because they were afraid that they would run away.
, after all, it is rare to have a few slaves who do not run away in these years. The third child probably saw what he meant and said it deliberately. After all, he was young and never thought that if his reputation was lost, his future business would be affected. These others did not know
Love, and discussed it some more.
Zhen Hui said: "Therefore, for the sake of the overall industrial situation in Fujian, I believe that Fujian should be on par with Yan State, Jiangxi, Guangdong and Guangxi, and Taiwan in order to retain workers."
The bosses were a little confused. If it were elsewhere, the leader of the chamber of commerce would have stood up a long time ago. The leader of the Fujian business community is Governor Dai Xian. For many years, the chamber of commerce has been accustomed to listening to the Dai family. Now, even though many old merchants have ideas in their minds, they
Dai Xian sat on top and didn't dare to say anything. Besides, he didn't know what kind of medicine the local emperor was selling in his gourd. So he was silent for a while. Zhen Hui looked around and nodded: "Very good, everyone understands."
It’s reasonable. Then let’s do it.”
The chairman of the ship merchants couldn't help shouting, "Master Dai!" Dai Xian winked at him: "Master Zhen is in charge of this matter today, and I will let her make the decision." Although the president was puzzled, he really didn't dare to object rashly when he saw this, so he had to
Suppressing the full dissatisfaction.
Since no one objected, it was agreed. Zhen Hui then slapped the alarm again: "Please ask the clerk to draw up the contract documents and bring them up."
Master Zhang hurriedly said: "I'll draw it up."
Zhen Hui glanced at him with a smile: "Master Zhang is old. You don't know how to write such a document. You have to trouble young people to draft it."
Dai Xian knew in his heart that this document was going to be repudiated. Master Zhang was the teacher left to him by Master Huang Wengang. It was inconvenient for him to do this, so he winked: "Master Zhen is right. It was written for young people.
good."
One of the bosses stroked his beard and said: "We are all old people and we don't know how to do this. Where did the young people come from?"
Pan Xigui had been silent, and it was Ni Ziguang who came forward for the union. But now he stood up and made a group salute: "This is really rare, no wonder you don't know how to draw it up. This is from our Jiangxi side,
I can draw it up."
Zhen Hui was stunned: "Mr. Pan, can you draft documents? Do you know the writing?"
Pan Xigui said with a smile: "I know a few words, so drafting a contract is easy."
Zhen Hui smiled and said, "In that case, I'll ask Mr. Pan to draw it up." Then he ordered to take the Four Treasures of the Study.
After getting the things, the ink was still lumpy. Pan Mingyi stepped forward to grind the ink for her father. After a while, thick ink came out. Pan Xigui rolled up his sleeves and picked up the pen to write. Everyone was shocked: what the old man wrote was actually Guange style.
! Could it be that he is a scholar? He finished writing it in a moment, and Pan Mingyi helped copy it in multiple copies. Although Miss Pan was a martial artist, she also wrote very well. The first copy she copied was given to Dai Xian.
Surprised: This contract is extremely detailed, covering every aspect, not even a crack can be found. I couldn't help but squint at Mr. Pan Xigui, and sneered: "What is Mr. Pan's background?"
Pan Xigui smiled and said: "My contract is very well written?"
Dai Xian nodded: "Excellent."
Pan Xigui said: "I didn't know how to write a few words at first, and I didn't know anything about it until Mingyi was four or five years old. I learned these at night schools in the capital after joining the Revolutionary Freemasonry."
Pan Mingyi said hurriedly: "There is an adult night school opposite our school."
Ni Ziguang smiled and said: "You should study in Dajiala. The adult night schools in Beijing are different from Dajiala. Dajiala is run by the government, while Beijing is run by Freemasonry and trade unions. The scale is much smaller and the teachers are
It’s much more common. It’s really not easy for Mr. Pan to learn like this.”
Pan Xigui said: "As long as you are determined to learn, nothing else matters."
Pan Mingyi applauded: "Dad, you are so inspiring!"
Pan Xigui smiled and said, "Okay, let's get down to business first." Pan Mingyi stuck out her tongue and then copied the contract. Dai Xian looked at the two of them thoughtfully. The bosses all saw Mr. Dai's strange expression and were suspicious in their hearts.
Even so, when they saw the contract, all the owners immediately started shouting: "How can it be like this!" "This is too much!"
Zhen Hui struck the case again: "Quiet! I have made up my mind!" She glanced at Mr. Dai again.
Mr. Dai hurriedly said: "This contract is excellent. In the long run, it is the fairest to both the employer and the workers." He winked at everyone. Dai Xian simply raised his right hand, and the bandaged wound on his wrist was instantly visible to everyone.
Several old businessmen took a sharp breath: That's right. The entire governor's office is still surrounded by workers.
At this moment, Pan Mingyi slowly raised her arm. She was holding a black musket in her hand, and she pointed it at the window casually, "Bang!" The gun went off. Pan Mingyi said calmly: "Oh, the gun went off.
"Yes. This gun rarely misfires. I don't know why it misfired today." The whole house was silent. Pan Mingyi glanced at Zhen Hui and said, "Master Zhen, everyone agrees. You can start signing."
Agreed! Everyone was unhappy, and Sir Dai Dai's wrist and Miss Pan's musket were lying in plain sight. Who dared to say a word "no"? The whole situation was very smooth and quiet. The bosses were like well-off women who were forced into prostitution.
, angry, scared, unwilling, and helpless. One by one, they followed Zhen Hui's instructions, signed, stamped, and pressed fingerprints. Naturally, Dai Xian's face was as dark as water. While Ni Ziguang and others were busy forcing
While the bosses were signing and signing, Zhen Hui quietly sneaked up to Dai Xian and whispered a few words, then walked away immediately. Dai Xian suddenly laughed. What Zhen Hui said was: "Your right wrist is injured and you cannot sign.
If you ask an official to sign it, you cannot use the governor's seal."
I wanted to embarrass the people from the union later, but Ni Ziguang actually remembered this: "It's inconvenient for Mr. Dai, how about asking Mr. Zhen to sign on your behalf?"
Dai Xian hurriedly said: "Yes, please ask Mr. Zhen to sign on your behalf."
Zhen Hui said "yes" and picked up the pen to sign his name one by one. Ni Ziguang seemed to have forgotten the governor's seal, and only looked at Zhen Hui with a pile of signed contracts and smiled softly. Zhen Hui also looked at him.
He smiled and said: "Okay. The labor contract in Fujian Province has been signed." All the workers cheered immediately, the faces of the bosses turned pale, and Dai Xian nodded with a smile. The photographer of "Fuzhou Business News" was busy taking pictures, and happened to take a picture of Dai Xian's satisfaction.