The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1932 The Newspaper Reader

The incompetent and futile counterattacks continue, and even onlookers can sense the exhaustion and decline.

It wasn't that they weren't trying; at this point, all the factory owners in the German Confederation had exhausted all their efforts. But what could these scattered merchants do against a powerful enemy that even the state couldn't handle?

It was only then that the politicians who wanted the businessmen to take the blame realized they had been tricked by the British, and that the stories seemed to be just a hoax.

Wisdom does not seem to belong to them, and individuals can hardly overcome the collective.

The once bustling salon was now filled with a suffocating silence. What was even more terrifying was that the overwhelming offensive of the Austrian Empire made any counterattack seem as laughable as an ant trying to shake a tree.

The so-called response was more like pity than a debate; no one could still laugh.

At this time, the Austrian Empire seemed to be at odds with the entire Confederation's industry and commerce, but they were powerless to do anything about it.

Many people choose to give up when they feel that things are hopeless. These people have all achieved their current status because they have their own philosophy of survival.

Even if there are uncontrollable factors behind them, they will choose the direction with less resistance.

While no one wants to increase costs, few are willing to gamble their entire fortune.

No matter how strong their aversion to loss, they cannot overcome their fear of death.

"Who else can we rely on? Continue to bring in experts from Britain?"

"Don't joke around! I can recite all those three and a half sentences that the British use! It has no effect on those labor protectionists at all, and in the end they can only flee back to London in disgrace!"

"What should we do then?!"

"How should I know! Keep shifting the battlefield? They can't keep winning forever!"

Where else can we move to?

How would I know?

"Mr. Krupp, why aren't you saying anything?"

In fact, Krupp's abilities have always been recognized by everyone, but he was isolated because of face-saving and his background.

However, by this point, some things were no longer important. Krupp's eyes had long lost their former brilliance; he already knew his fate.

Krupp's steel empire still exists, but he is no longer the king. Alfred Krupp will receive a sum of money and then continue as a consultant for the factory.

Some things are beyond his control, and at least at his level, they are completely beyond his ability to resist.

Now, if you ask him to challenge things that are above his level, he will naturally avoid it like the plague.

"This has nothing to do with me, I'm leaving."

Krupp turned and left the secret salon he had gone to great lengths to squeeze into without looking back.

The others exchanged bewildered glances, but the frustration of failure had already enveloped them all; they saw no hope, only the losses from rising costs.

"That's enough! We've already spent enough to cover the rising costs!"

"That's what a furniture tycoon said," but then one of his colleagues chimed in.

"And what about after that? These increased costs can't be paid off all at once. We'll have to pay them every year from now on!"
If the government is given the power to enforce orders, won't they use that as an excuse to extort money from us?

"If someone really wants to extort money from you, is the law an obstacle?"

"The key is cost! Cost!"

Although both men are in the furniture business, the former deals in high-end, exquisite furniture that requires a large number of skilled workers and the ability to retain them, so he doesn't care as much about the Labor Protection Act.

However, the latter is different. The latter deals in low-end, inexpensive furniture, which relies on low prices and large quantities. Once the Labor Protection Act is fully implemented, his factory's profits will be even thinner.

In fact, it's not just the furniture industry; many industries have different strategies, and even the sensitivity of different industries to worker wages varies.

As pressure increased, their internal divisions became increasingly difficult to suppress. They were united for their own benefit, not to be sacrificed for others.

The party soon ended in another unpleasant atmosphere.
In reality, there were things that couldn't be seen in the newspapers at this time, namely the voice of the people. Because the opponents knew very well that if everyone got involved, they had no chance of winning, so they raised the entry threshold for the battlefield.

However, there are some things that they cannot control simply by wanting to.

At that time, beer halls within the German Confederation were truly places for the middle class, where they could enjoy cheap beer, tunes that reflected their daily lives, and a variety of inexpensive snacks.

Anyone can speak freely here, since no one cares about drunken ramblings, making it the birthplace of public politics.

In fact, there was a special profession in beer halls at that time—newspaper readers.

Although the basic education system in the German Confederation has improved significantly in recent years, illiteracy remains widespread.

Some so-called literacy rates are highly inflated; often, simply being able to write one's own name is considered literacy, which is far from being able to read a newspaper.

In addition, the middle class at the time considered "listening" to the newspaper a very respectable thing, especially in crowded places like beer halls.

Heinrich was a professional newspaper reader. Due to the popularization of education, newspaper readers have changed from respectable people in formal attire with entourages to performers in exaggerated suits.

It's not just about having a loud voice; you also need a pleasant voice. Ideally, you should also be good-looking and have some talent or skill. In short, newspaper readers have gradually shifted from the journalism industry to the entertainment industry.

Heinrich was very happy recently because his business was doing well. This was largely thanks to "His Majesty the Emperor," who was the only emperor in the entire German Confederation, namely Franz Joseph I, the emperor of the Austrian Empire, but also, in a sense, the emperor of the non-existent German Empire.

Although the Labor Protection Act had little to do with Heinrich, the great debate certainly made him a fortune.

Although the workers and ordinary citizens in the beer hall didn't have much money, the sheer number of them meant that with just a few pfennigs each, he could earn several groschens at a time, and on a lucky day, he could make over ten florins. This was something he wouldn't normally even dare to dream of, since the usual patrons would rather he stayed away, finding him too noisy.

But this time it was completely different. The patrons not only didn't chase him away, but even paid him extra to read it a few more times.

"What are those seven insurances and three funds?"

This was the third time today that the drunk worker had asked the same question. Heinrich didn't know how many times he had answered it, but he still maintained at least a basic level of professionalism.

"The seven insurances are pension insurance, medical insurance, maternity insurance, work injury insurance, unemployment insurance, critical illness insurance, and supplementary medical insurance; the three funds refer to the hospitalization mutual aid fund, housing provident fund, and enterprise annuity."
If all these safeguards are implemented, it means that as long as you don't make any mistakes and work hard, your basic needs for life will be guaranteed.

Even if the factory owner fires you, they will have to pay a penalty for breach of contract, and there is unemployment insurance to help you through the most difficult times, so that you are not forced to make hasty decisions due to the pressure of life.

Is this even possible?

The workers around him were very nervous. As a newspaper reader, Heinrich naturally knew what the audience was thinking, so he naturally chose to say some things they wanted to hear.

After all, he was right next to this group of big men. If he said something that displeased them, he would be the one who would suffer.

"Of course, these things have already been partially realized in the Austrian Empire to the east."

Heinrich wasn't making things up; he had read those details in official newspapers. Moreover, Heinrich, who frequented various public places, naturally had more sources of information than others.

Furthermore, given the high mobility of the population within the German Confederation, Austrians were spreading like a virus. Why was it spreading like a virus?

Because any citizen of the German Confederation could be converted to Austrian, in fact many locals went to Austria and returned as Austrians, while some would choose to be Austrians for a few months each year.

This group of "Austrians" enjoyed the convenience that came with this identity, and it was naturally not difficult for them to obtain intelligence about the Austrian Empire.

Some say the Austrian Empire deceived everyone, but this lie will be exposed in an instant because far too many people from the German Confederation had been to Austria.

Is the ten-hour workday also real?

Many workers don't believe this, since they often have to work overtime without pay and spend almost all their time in the factory. As for Sundays, they think it's even more ridiculous.

If they hadn't bribed the foreman, they wouldn't have had the chance to sneak out for drinks.

In fact, most people cannot endure such inhuman work intensity. If the factory system were followed, it would only take one to two years to completely ruin a good young man (this was said by a factory owner).

However, life always finds a way out. The foremen didn't dare to push the workers too far. Some people really couldn't survive and would do anything, like smashing machines and burning warehouses. Only the boss would suffer losses.

The boss was alright, but it was a different story for the foremen. If they were crippled, the workers couldn't afford to pay for it, and the boss wouldn't even give them a second glance.

So sometimes the foremen are willing to turn a blind eye; after all, the factory belongs to the boss, but their lives are their own. Besides, if the workers didn't cause trouble, wouldn't they, the foremen, be out of a job?
The proverb "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked" is a universal truth.

Of course, Heinrich didn't know that much. He only knew that the products produced by workers in his own country who worked fourteen or sixteen hours a day were still not as cheap as those from the Austrian Empire, not to mention the quality.

Like most people, Heinrich would never buy the junk made by local merchants if he had the money to buy Austrian goods.

In fact, working hours are only one aspect that determines output and quality. Fourteen hours of inefficiency may not be as good as ten hours of diligent work.

While some people are naturally very serious, attitude is one thing, physical health is another. Working 14 hours a day at high intensity can cause hemorrhoids, lumbar disc herniation, and cervical spondylosis, let alone manual labor.

Historically, similar experiments have been conducted, showing that working ten hours a day is the limit for most people, and efficiency drops sharply once it exceeds ten hours.

In fact, the curve usually starts to decline in the third hour, but the fluctuations in the decline are still acceptable.

After working for ten hours, a person's subjective cognition will be close to collapse. Over time, this will lead to a decline in the function of the prefrontal cortex and decision-making difficulties. Even simple, repetitive mechanical actions will greatly increase the operational risk.

In fact, during the same period, there was also the famous New Lanark Experiment led by the Englishman Robert Irwin, who transformed a Scottish textile mill that was regarded by the outside world as chaotic, poor and without any moral bottom line into a prosperous and law-abiding model community.

Robert Irwin neither improved the technology nor increased investment; he simply reduced the original 15-hour workday to 10 and a half hours and gave them a relatively decent wage, allowing the workers to live without having to resort to theft and prostitution.

Previously outrageous behaviors have decreased significantly, and even alcoholism has decreased by nearly a third.

Furthermore, the Austrian Empire relied more on technology and management. Franz's management skills may have been poor, but they were far superior to the extensive or even brutal management style of the time.

As for technology, it was the Austrian Empire's strength. Franz always kept in mind the saying that science and technology were the primary productive forces.

However, people at the time didn't realize that while they relied on the convenience of technology, they still believed that human beings were the key to everything. Franz wasn't so dogmatic; he clearly understood that objective conditions were the foundation of everything, and he would never do something like having people compete with steam engines in terms of strength.

"It's true, as confirmed by people who have been to Austria."

"Wow!" someone exclaimed after a burst of surprise.

"So now, does this mean that factories like ours are breaking the law?"

"If the Labor Protection Act is officially implemented, then they will be in violation of the law. Everyone will be entitled to compensation!"

Another round of cheers erupted, as if the drinkers could already see that day coming.

"No wonder those guys are always frowning! It turns out that when we're happy, they're unhappy!"

"Then let's have some fun!"

In fact, since the German Workers' and Peasants' Law, as well as the Law on the Protection of Workers in the Service Industry, also covered service workers in the city, the urban class was very happy, after all, they were also beneficiaries.

Even the restaurant waiters and farmers who delivered goods to the city were all beaming with joy. After all, wealthy farmers were only a minority, and with the development of the times, whether it was to improve efficiency or to regard it as a financial product for asset appreciation, land consolidation or land integration was hard to avoid.

Although land was consolidated and a large number of displaced farmers had to move to cities, agricultural production efficiency was still far from eliminating people, so farm owners still needed a large number of hired laborers.

These farmers actually lived in far worse conditions than the workers of their time, only they had even less say. This was because most of the young, strong, and educated people had fled.
As for white-collar workers who consider themselves progressive, they have even less reason to object, especially when it benefits them as well.

However, amidst this harmonious atmosphere, because subsidies had not completely stopped, a massive influx of goods flooded the market in a short period, causing some products to become unsaleable.