My Imperial Advisor is ChatGPT

South of Xianyang City, Daqin Textile Factory No. 1.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The massive steam engine drove dozens of drive shafts at breakneck speed, the sounds of belts rubbing together and shuttles clattering back and forth merging into a deafening industrial cacophony. Fine, fluffy fibers filled the air, like an endless snowfall.

Black Bull squinted his bloodshot eyes and mechanically stared at the shuttle in front of him.

He was originally a farmer in Guanzhong, but because his land was requisitioned to build a railway, he took the compensation money and went to the city, becoming one of the first generation of "industrial workers" in this textile factory.

"Hurry up! Stop dawdling!" The foreman roared down the aisle, brandishing his whip. "This batch of cloth is an urgent order to Rome! Anyone who delays the boss's business will have their wages docked for today!"

Black Ox shuddered. He had been working for seven hours straight. In this era without clocks or days off, working from sunrise to sunset was the norm.

"So sleepy..."

Black Bull's eyelids felt like they were filled with lead. He subconsciously reached out to straighten a broken cotton thread.

Just then, a strong wave of dizziness hit him, and his hand trembled, reaching in a little too far.

"Click."

It was a tooth-grinding sound of bones cracking, followed by an excruciating pain.

"ah--!!!"

Black Bull let out a piercing scream and collapsed to the ground, clutching his right hand. Blood instantly stained the white cotton cloth. His right index and middle fingers had been bitten off by the rapidly spinning gears, with only a bit of skin and flesh connecting them.

The machine didn't stop. The people nearby were terrified.

The foreman rushed over, and the first thing he saw wasn't Black Bull's hand, but the piece of cloth stained red with blood.

"Damn it! This bolt of cloth is ruined!" The foreman kicked Black Ox in the back. "Are you blind? Pay up! You couldn't pay for this bolt of cloth even if you were sold!"

"My hand...my hand..." Black Bull rolled on the ground in pain.

"Get out! Don't get in the way!" The foreman waved his hand dismissively. "Go to the accounting office to settle your payment for this fifteen minutes, and don't ever come back! You're such bad luck!"

Several factory security guards lifted up Black Bull and threw him out of the factory gate like he was trash.

Outside the door, several other workers, also wrapped in bandages and missing limbs, huddled together. They were the remains that this steel monster had chewed up and spat out.

---

Xianyang Palace, Qilin Hall.

"Snapped!"

A bloodstained letter to the people (actually a strip of cloth written by several literate workers) was slammed heavily onto the dragon table.

Ying Zheng's face was ashen, his gaze sharp as knives as he swept over the assembled officials below the platform.

"When did my Great Qin become a cannibalistic hellhole?"

[Your Majesty, this is an inevitable problem in the early stages of industrialization. When production efficiency and profit become the sole objectives, the safety of workers is often overlooked.]

Little G's voice echoed in Ying Zheng's mind.

[If left unchecked, this model of excessive worker exploitation will lead to numerous injuries and deaths, ultimately impacting productivity.]

Below the stage, several newly rich men who had just made a fortune in the textile industry were trembling with fear.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger," a merchant-turned-official stepped forward tremblingly. "This...work-related injuries are common. Carpenters cut their hands, farmers smash their feet with hoes. Since a contract has been signed, life and death are in the hands of fate, wealth and honor are determined by heaven..."

"Life and death are predestined?" Ying Zheng sneered, stepped down from the high platform, and came to the official.

"Tell me, what is fate? My people are here to grow crops for me, to fight wars for me, to conquer the stars and the seas for me! Not to fill the gaps in those broken machines!"

Ying Zheng pointed to the bloodstained strip of cloth:

"Black Ox, twenty-three years old, in the prime of his life. He used to be able to draw a five-stone bow, but now he's a cripple. There are thirty more cripples like him in Xianyang this month! Thirty! Thirty elite Qin soldiers!"

"To save a little on labor costs, you make people work seven hours a day without rest or installing safety railings. You exhaust them and then throw them out, replacing them with a new batch. You're undermining my foundation! You're destroying my very core!"

Wang Jianguo, standing to the side, added timely criticism: "Your Majesty, this is the 'sweatshop model' of factories exploiting workers. If left unchecked, the average lifespan of workers will be shortened to thirty years. Then, who will consume your goods? Who will serve in the army?"

"Moreover," Wang Jianguo adjusted his glasses, "this is not only inhumane, but also unsustainable."

"Your Majesty, Mr. Wang is right. This model may seem to increase production in the short term, but it is actually mortgaging the future. If the workers are exhausted or injured, who will continue production?"

Little G added.

Ying Zheng took a deep breath, turned around and returned to the dragon throne.

However, the decree was not issued immediately.

Because voices of opposition immediately rose from the audience.

"Your Majesty!" an aged voice came from behind the crowd.

Everyone turned around and saw Meng Yi, the senior official in charge of managing the royal workshops (in history, Meng Yi was in charge of justice and internal affairs).

"Your Majesty," Meng Yi stepped forward tremblingly, "I believe this matter requires careful consideration. Since Shang Yang's reforms, our Great Qin has been founded on law, but we have never had such detailed regulations governing how merchants should employ workers. This interferes with private contracts and may violate the principle of 'freedom of contract.'"

"Freedom of contract?" Ying Zheng stared at him. "Minister Meng, tell me, is the 'freedom' of an illiterate farmer the same as that of a factory owner who is richer than a country?"

Meng Yi was speechless.

Li Si stepped forward at this moment. As a representative figure of the Legalist school, he had a deeper understanding of this issue.

"Your Majesty," I said, "I believe Minister Meng's concerns are not without merit. But I am even more worried that if this situation is left unchecked, within ten years, the Great Qin will have millions of disabled workers. These people will be unable to farm, unable to serve in the army, and will only become a burden on the court."

"Instead of waiting for them to become a burden, we should regulate employment now. This isn't about interfering with freedom; it's about 'protecting the vulnerable and maintaining order.'"

Wang Jianguo nodded in agreement: "The Prime Minister is right. Your Majesty, in fact, in my time, labor laws were established only after hundreds of years of bloody struggle."

"Your Majesty, Mr. Wang is right. Let me tell you about the history of modern labor law."

Little G's voice echoed in Ying Zheng's mind.

In the history of my world, the development of labor laws was also a long process.

In the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, during the 18th and 19th centuries, workers were in similar circumstances to those in Daqin today. They worked 12-16 hours a day, with no days off, no safety guarantees, and were abandoned after being injured or maimed. Child labor was widespread.

It wasn't until 1842 that Britain passed its first Factory Act, restricting the working hours of child laborers. But this was seventy or eighty years after the Industrial Revolution began.

The eight-hour workday wasn't established until the early 20th century in countries like the United States. This process was fraught with worker strikes, bloodshed, and even revolutions.

Ying Zheng silently asked himself, "Is it too early for me to do this now?"

No, Your Majesty. It is precisely because you foresaw this problem that regulations should have been established earlier. Waiting until the problem accumulates to an unmanageable level will come at a much higher price.

Moreover, in your world, the government's authority is strong enough to enforce these regulations. In my time, workers could only fight for their rights through strikes, demonstrations, and even violence. Your initiative to enact these laws is actually a wiser choice.

Ying Zheng nodded.

"Very well. Then let me be the first emperor to actively protect the workers."

He turned to the audience and asked, "My esteemed ministers, does anyone else have any objections?"

silence.

But Ying Zheng knew that these silences did not represent agreement, but rather a sign of their intimidation by his authority.

"Since there are no objections, then I will give you a chance." Ying Zheng stood up. "Starting tomorrow, I will personally visit those factories. Li Si, Wang Jianguo, Zhang Han, and all of you factory owners, you will come with me."

"Look at those workers with broken hands, look at those corpses that died from exhaustion beside the machines, look at those ordinary people who risked their lives for a few coins."

"After we've reviewed it, we'll decide whether or not to enact this law."

---

The next day, early in the morning.

Dressed in plain clothes and protected by a dozen guards also dressed in ordinary clothes, Ying Zheng arrived at the industrial area south of Xianyang.

This was the first time he had ever traveled incognito in this manner.

[Your Majesty, this method of on-site investigation allows him to directly see the severity of the problem. This is far more proactive than in my time, when we waited for problems to erupt before taking action.]

Little G said.

First stop: Daqin Textile Factory No. 1.

The factory owner, surnamed Zhao, was a man from Qi who originally traded silk in Linzi. When he heard that His Majesty was coming to inspect the factory in person, he was terrified and cleaned the factory thoroughly overnight, and even made all the workers change into new clothes.

But as soon as Ying Zheng entered the room, he smelled an unpleasant odor.

It smelled of sweat, blood, and rotten cotton all mixed together.

"Let me see your workers," Ying Zheng said directly.

Factory Manager Zhao led Ying Zheng into the workshop with trepidation.

Inside the workshop, dozens of looms hummed. The workers, like machines, repeated the same actions. Their eyes were vacant, their movements mechanical.

Ying Zheng saw a young boy adding thread to a loom. His hands had turned black from prolonged contact with dye. Moreover, he only had nine fingers—his left little finger had been bitten off by the machine sometime during the night.

"How old is this child?" Ying Zheng asked.

"Yes... Your Majesty, I am fifteen years old." Factory Manager Zhao wiped his sweat.

"Fifteen years old?" Ying Zheng looked at Wang Jianguo. "Didn't we say that those under sixteen are not allowed to work in factories?"

Wang Jianguo smiled wryly: "Your Majesty, that was last year's regulation. However... it's not being enforced effectively in the private sector, and many factory owners are still secretly hiring child laborers because the wages are cheap."

Ying Zheng's face darkened.

He walked up to the boy, knelt down, and asked, "Tell me, how many hours do you work a day?"

The boy was so frightened by seeing so many important figures that he trembled all over and dared not speak.

Factory owner Zhao quickly answered for him, "Four hours, four hours!"

"Shut up!" Ying Zheng roared, "I'm asking him a question!"

The boy then spoke tremulously, "Your Majesty, I...I worked from dawn till dusk..."

Ying Zheng clenched his fist.

From 5 AM to 9 PM, that's twelve two-hour periods! A whole day!

How much is the pay?

"One...ten coins a day..."

Ten coins are not enough to buy a bushel of rice.

Why do I only have nine fingers?

"Last month...last month the machine jammed, and the little one went to pull the cable...and it...it got bitten off..."

Tears streamed down the boy's face: "But the employer said it was my own carelessness and wouldn't pay me any compensation..."

Ying Zheng stood up and looked at Zhao Changzhu, his eyes already filled with murderous intent.

Factory owner Zhao was so frightened that he knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, spare my life! I... I'll compensate him right away!"

"Pay back?" Ying Zheng sneered. "Too late."

Second stop: Steel plant.

The situation here is even worse.

The huge blast furnace was billowing black smoke, and the workers were working under the high temperature. Many of them were shirtless, and sweat was dripping down like rain.

Ying Zheng saw a worker whose skin had turned dark red and was covered in blisters due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures.

"What is this disease called?" Ying Zheng asked Wang Jianguo.

"Heat burns are caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Also, the air here contains a large amount of toxic gases; long-term inhalation can lead to lung disease."

Wang Jianguo pointed to a worker who was coughing: "That one's coughing up blood. He probably won't survive this winter."

Ying Zheng clenched his fist even tighter.

Third stop: a gathering place for injured workers.

Outside Xianyang City, there is a dilapidated thatched hut.

This place is home to more than a dozen workers who are disabled due to workplace injuries. Some have lost an arm, some have gone blind, and some have had their legs crushed by machinery.

Black Bull was among them. His wound had been bandaged, but he stared blankly at the roof, as if he had lost his soul.

"What will you do in the future?" Ying Zheng asked them.

"I don't know..." an old man with a severed right hand replied, "I can't work anymore, and I have a wife and children to support... I can only wait to die..."

"Is there no compensation?"

"The employer said it was our own carelessness and refused to compensate us. They even kicked us out."

Seeing this scene, Ying Zheng felt a surge of intense anger.

He turned to look at the factory owners following behind him.

"You all saw it?"

No one dared to speak.

"These are all my subjects. They are the foundation of the Great Qin." Ying Zheng's voice was low, but full of authority. "You used them until they were useless and then threw them away, like garbage."

"I ask you, if the people of Qin all become like this, who will farm the land? Who will serve in the army? Who will build palaces for me?"

"Can the money you've earned buy a massive army? Can it buy food? Can it buy the future of the Qin Dynasty?"

The factory owners knelt on the ground, trembling.

"Your Majesty, we...we know we were wrong..."

"Admit your mistakes?" Ying Zheng sneered. "I don't need you to admit your mistakes; I need you to correct them!"

He looked at Li Si: "Draft the laws. I want detailed regulations, without any loopholes. We must ensure these unscrupulous merchants have no more excuses!"

---

For the next ten days, the small study in Xianyang Palace was brightly lit.

Li Si, Wang Jianguo, Meng Yi, and several doctors who were well-versed in law sat together and drafted the "Great Qin Labor Protection Law" word by word.

[Your Majesty, are you aware that in modern times, drafting a labor law often takes several years, even more than a decade? Your pace is already quite fast.]

Little G spoke in Ying Zheng's mind.

"Fast?" Ying Zheng looked at the mountain of bamboo slips before him, filled with various clauses and arguments. "I think it's still too slow. Every extra day means more workers injured, more families broken."

However, the law must be rigorous. Every clause must take into account all circumstances and loopholes. Otherwise, businessmen will always find ways to circumvent it.

Wang Jianguo was arguing with Li Si about a problem at that moment.

"Prime Minister, you have a rule of 'no more than four hours of work per day,' but what if the factory owner says that the workers are 'voluntarily' working overtime?" Wang Jianguo asked.

"Then add 'Mandatory overtime is prohibited, and voluntary overtime should be compensated extra,'" Li Si replied.

"But what if workers are forced to 'voluntarily' through wage deductions or threats of dismissal?"

Li Si frowned: "Then let's refine it further. Anything that threatens or coerces workers will be considered illegal."

Wang Jianguo pressed further, "What if the workers are genuinely short of money and voluntarily request to work overtime?"

"This..." Li Si fell into thought.

Meng Yi interjected, "Then we should stipulate a maximum number of working hours per week for each worker. Exceeding that limit, even if voluntary, is illegal."

"Good idea," Wang Jianguo nodded. "And we should also stipulate rest days. At least one day off per week."

[Your Majesty, did you see how meticulously they discussed this? This is the rigor that legislation should possess. It cannot be rushed or hasty; otherwise, the law will lack its deterrent effect.]

Little G commented.

Ying Zheng nodded. Although he was anxious, he also knew that the law had to be rigorous.

After ten days of repeated discussions, revisions, and deliberations, a complete draft of the "Qin Dynasty Labor Protection Law" was finally completed.

---

At Xianyang Palace, a court assembly was held.

This time, Ying Zheng wanted all his court officials to participate in the discussion.

"My beloved ministers, this is the 'Great Qin Labor Protection Law' that I am about to promulgate." Ying Zheng pointed to the thick stack of bamboo slips before him. "Today, I am giving you one last chance. Anyone with objections, raise them now. After the law is promulgated, any further opposition will be considered disobeying my decree!"

The audience was completely silent.

But finally, someone stepped forward.

It was Zhang Han, the Junior Steward of the Imperial Household Department.

"Your Majesty, I have an objection."

"explain."

"Your Majesty, while this law protects workers, the cost is too high. If all factories must implement it, product prices will inevitably rise. Will our Qin goods still be able to sell? Will we still be able to compete with Rome and Parthia?"

This is a very practical question.

Ying Zheng looked at Wang Jianguo: "Jianguo, what do you think?"

Wang Jianguo stood up: "Lord Zhang, your concerns are valid. But I have a question for you: If a worker works seven hours a day, exhausted to the point of collapse, is his efficiency truly high?"

"Which worker can create more value for Daqin: an exhausted worker or a healthy, energetic worker?"

"Furthermore, protecting workers and ensuring they have money and leisure time will encourage them to buy factory-produced goods. This creates a cycle: workers earn money -> workers spend money -> factories earn money -> factories pay workers' wages -> workers spend money again."

[Your Majesty, Mr. Wang is explaining the concept of 'domestic demand.' A healthy economy needs enough consumers to absorb the products produced.]

Little G explained.

Zhang Han was silent for a moment: "Mr. Wang is right. However, if factories in other countries don't follow these regulations and their costs are lower than ours, wouldn't we be at a competitive disadvantage?"

"Then we must make them comply too!" Ying Zheng suddenly spoke up. "All goods entering the Qin market must prove that their production process conforms to Qin's labor standards. Otherwise, high tariffs will be levied!"

"This is called 'trade protection,' or 'ethical trade,'" Wang Jianguo added.

[Your Majesty, this idea is incredibly advanced. In modern times, this is called 'labor standards' and 'fair trade.' Your thinking is two thousand years ahead of the world.]

Little G's voice was filled with amazement.

Zhang Han finally nodded: "In that case, I have no objection."

"Who else?" Ying Zheng looked around at his ministers.

This time, no one dared to speak.

"Very well." Ying Zheng stood up. "Then, from today onwards, the 'Great Qin Labor Protection Law' will be officially promulgated!"

---

Three days later, a golden notice was posted at the entrance of every factory in Xianyang.

This is also the first written **Labor Law** in human history (although it is still very rudimentary, it is very characteristic of the Qin Dynasty).

**Article 1: Three-shift system.**

"At all Daqin factories, daily working hours shall not exceed four shi (8 hours). A three-shift rotation system of 'A, B, and C' shall be implemented. Machines shall not stop even when people rest."

**Article Two: Safety Protection**

"All gears, belts, and cutting machines must be equipped with wire mesh covers. Those failing to do so will be ordered to cease operations for rectification, and the factory owner will be required to experience operating the machines for three days."

Article 3: Work Injury Compensation.

"For any worker disabled on the job, the factory owner must compensate them for their lifetime livelihood (calculated at twenty times the average annual income of Daqin) and be responsible for their subsequent medical treatment. If an injured worker is dismissed without cause, they will be punished for 'damaging Daqin property,' and their family property will be confiscated!"

Article 4: Minimum Wage.

"It must not be lower than the price of rice in Xianyang... (a figure calculated precisely), to ensure that workers can have enough to eat and meat to eat."

[Your Majesty, these regulations, though simple, already cover the core elements of modern labor law: working hours restrictions, safety protection, workers' compensation, and minimum wage guarantees.]

Little G commented.

The announcement caused an uproar in the entire business community of Xianyang.

But the most vehement reaction came not from businessmen, but from workers.

---

The workers' gathering area in the south of Xianyang City.

This place was originally a wasteland, but now it is densely packed with simple thatched huts. The people living here are all migrant workers who have come to Xianyang from all over the country.

When the news of the announcement came, the entire community was in an uproar.

"Have you heard? His Majesty is going to set rules for us!"

"Four hours? Really only four hours? What about the rest of the time?"

"What else can I do? Go home and hug my wife and kids!"

What about wages? Will wages be reduced?

"The notice says there's a minimum wage, guaranteeing you enough to eat and meat!"

The workers gathered in a circle, discussing the matter animatedly.

A man named Dazhuang, a fellow villager of Heiniu and also working at the textile factory, rushed to find Heiniu as soon as he heard the news.

"Black Ox! Black Ox! Have you heard? His Majesty is going to set rules for us! Things like this won't happen to you again!"

Black Bull was lying in the thatched hut, his eyes vacant. Hearing Da Zhuang's words, he merely glanced at him indifferently.

"Rules? What good are they? I've already lost my hands."

"But no one will get hurt again! And if anyone does get injured, the factory owner must pay compensation!"

"Pay me money?" Black Bull chuckled bitterly. "Even if I pay money, will my hand grow back?"

Dazhuang fell silent.

He knew Black Bull was right. No matter how good the law is, it can't bring back what's already lost.

However, at least it can protect future generations.

"Black Bull, think about it. If this law had been passed earlier, you would have kept your hand. Your wife and children wouldn't have lost their support."

A glimmer of light finally appeared in the black bull's eyes.

Yes, although he is disabled, at least no one will ever be like him again.

"Furthermore," Dazhuang continued, "according to the new law, the factory owner has to compensate you! You won't have to worry about starving to death anymore!"

Black Bull looked at his mutilated hand, remained silent for a long time, and finally nodded.

"If there really is compensation... that would be good."

---

Meanwhile, on the other side, in the West Market of Xianyang.

A group of factory owners were gathered in a restaurant, having a heated discussion about the new law.

"How are we supposed to make money like this? Four hours? How much will production drop?" A fat man slammed his fist on the table.

"Exactly! Three shifts? That means we'll have to hire twice as many people! Double the wages, what am I supposed to earn?" another skinny guy chimed in.

"How about... we unite and resist this law?" someone suggested.

"Do you want to die? That's His Majesty's decree!" someone immediately retorted.

Liu Bang, sitting in the corner, was leisurely drinking his wine and did not participate in the discussion.

Xiao He leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "Liu Ji, what do you think?"

Liu Bang put down his wine cup and chuckled, "These fools are still thinking about how to resist. I'm already thinking about how to make money using this law."

"Make money?" Xiao He asked, puzzled.

"Exactly. Look, once this law comes out, a lot of small workshops will definitely go out of business because the costs are too high. If they go out of business, won't the market be ours?"

"Furthermore," Liu Bang lowered his voice, "the law only stipulates the minimum standard, not that it cannot be exceeded. We can give workers better treatment, making them work harder, which will actually lead to higher output!"

Xiao He suddenly realized: "You mean, attract the best workers with better treatment?"

"That's right!" Liu Bang slapped his thigh. "This is called 'talent competition'!"

---

Zuixianju (Drunken Immortal Abode)

Liu Bang looked at the notice in his hand and clicked his tongue in distress.

"Four hours? Three shifts? That means we'll need to hire twice as many people! The wages will double!" Liu Bang slapped his thigh. "Mr. Wang, you're killing us! This business is unworkable!"

Xiao He calmly fiddled with his abacus, saying, "Liu Ji, don't just look at the expenses. Do the math."

"What kind of accounting? The accounting for losses?"

"Look," Xiao He pointed to the abacus, "in the past, workers would work for seven hours straight, and by the second half, they were exhausted and hungry, their hands slowed and their eyesight blurred, resulting in a scrap rate as high as 30%. Moreover, the machines often broke down due to operational errors."

"Now we operate on three shifts, and everyone is full of energy. The scrap rate has dropped to below 10%. Moreover, the machines never stop running. Before, we had to stop working at night to sleep, but now the machines run non-stop for twelve hours a day, and the output has actually tripled."

Liu Bang was taken aback: "Three times?"

"Yes." Xiao He nodded. "Although labor costs are higher, the total output is higher, so the cost per unit actually... has decreased."

Liu Bang's eyes lit up instantly, like two big light bulbs.

"Holy crap! Mr. Wang is helping us make money? Then why is he being so harsh, making it sound like he's punishing us?"

"This is called 'forced improvement'," Xiao He said, closing the ledger. "Only by eliminating those low-end workshops that rely on exploiting labor can large factories like ours, with management capabilities, truly grow. Liu Ji, this is a great opportunity for a reshuffle!"

"Your Majesty, you see, this is the beauty of economics. What appears to increase costs actually reduces the overall cost by improving efficiency and reducing waste. It's like oiling a machine; it costs a little, but it makes the machine run more smoothly."

Little G's voice carried a hint of admiration.

Liu Bang slammed his fist on the table: "Understood! We not only have to execute, we have to exceed the targets! Give the workers extra chicken legs! Let them work themselves to the bone... oh no, work themselves to the bone happily!"

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study of Xianyang Palace.

Ying Zheng looked out the window at the workers discussing the notice, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

[Your Majesty, did you see the workers' reactions? Some were expectant, some were doubtful, and some were afraid. This is normal.]

Little G said.

"Little G, am I really doing the right thing?"

Your Majesty, there are no perfect decisions in this world. Any reform will benefit some and harm others.

In your time, I've seen too many examples of empires failing because of reform. But I've also seen empires collapse because they refused to change.

The important thing is that your motivation for making this decision was to protect the weak and for the long-term development of the empire, not to safeguard the vested interests of a few.

That's enough.

Ying Zheng nodded.

He knew that this law would face a lot of opposition and create many problems. However, if it wasn't implemented, the problems would only worsen.

"Little G, in modern times, can labor laws truly protect workers completely?"

[It can't completely protect everyone, but it can at least protect the majority. In modern society, although there are labor laws, many problems still exist: overtime, wage arrears, workplace safety, and so on.]

However, without labor laws, the situation would be even worse.

The significance of law lies not in its perfection, but in giving the weak a weapon and a voice.

"I understand."

Ying Zheng turned around and looked at the "Great Qin Labor Protection Law" on the table, which had already been stamped with the imperial seal.

"No matter how much opposition there is, I will implement this law."

"Because my Great Qin should not be a place where only the strong can survive. I want everyone to live with dignity and hope."

---

A month later.

Daqin Textile Factory No. 1.

Hei Niu lay on the hospital bed in the newly established "Work Injury Rehabilitation Center," looking at the heavy bag of copper coins in his hand—the first compensation payment from the factory.

According to the new Labor Protection Law, his work-related injury was recognized as "work-related disability," and the factory owner must compensate him with money equivalent to twenty years of income and be responsible for all his subsequent medical expenses.

Although his hand can never be restored, at least he doesn't have to worry about himself and his family starving to death.

Beside him, the once menacing foreman was peeling an apple with a fake smile on his face.

"Brother Black Bull, have an apple. Um... I was wrong before, I apologize." The foreman said humbly, "The boss said that even though you're crippled, you can work as a doorman, or you can work in the quality control department and handle fabric with your left hand. In short, the factory will support you for life."

Black Bull stared blankly at all of this, feeling as if he were dreaming.

He touched the bag of money with his remaining thumb and then looked out the window.

Outside the window, the factory chimneys still billowed smoke (although dust had been removed), and the roar of the machines was still deafening. But within that roar, there seemed to be a touch of humanity.

The new shift workers were lining up to enter the factory. Although they were still wearing coarse cloth clothes, their spirits were noticeably different. They knew that after these four hours, they could go home to hug their wives and children, or go to the night market for a drink, instead of dying of exhaustion next to the machines.

On the terrace of Xianyang Palace.

Ying Zheng looked at the bustling yet orderly city.

"Jianguo, is your 'three-shift' system really going to work?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured," Wang Jianguo said with a smile. "Machines are inanimate, but people are alive. Only by treating people as people can they create things that are even more powerful than machines. This is called 'unleashing human potential.'"

[Your Majesty, Mr. Wang is right. Protecting workers, ensuring they have rest and security, will allow them to work more actively and unleash greater creativity. This is the essence of the 'people-centered' philosophy.]

Little G explained.

"Moreover," Wang Jianguo pointed to the crowd below, "these wealthy and leisurely workers are the future buyers of your industrial products. When they have money in their pockets, your tax revenue will increase. This is a virtuous cycle."

Ying Zheng nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

"Although the words are strange, I think they make sense."

[Your Majesty, this is actually a simple principle: workers need money to afford the goods produced in factories; factories need to sell their goods to make money and continue production. This is the concept of a 'domestic circulation economy'.]

Little G added.

He turned around and looked at the huge world map behind him.

"Now that the people of Qin are well-fed and rested, shouldn't we consider... sending them to farther places to stretch their muscles and bones?"

Wang Jianguo followed his gaze and saw Rome, Parthia, and the Mauryan Empire.

"Your Majesty is right. Labor laws protect them from being eaten by machines so they can 'eat' other civilizations."

"Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. Protecting the people of Qin, empowering and energizing them, will enable them to expand the empire's territory and spread Qin's fame throughout the world."

Little G's voice carried a hint of excitement.

In the factories of Xianyang, new work systems are quietly changing the city.

For the first time, the workers discovered that work didn't have to be exhausting. They realized that they could also have time to rest, time to spend with their families, and time to pursue their own interests.

Although income may decline temporarily, the quality of life is quietly improving.

[Your Majesty, are you aware that in modern times, people view the reduction in working hours as progress in human civilization? From 16 hours a day, to 12 hours, to 8 hours, to 6 hours, and even less.]

Every reduction in working hours means more free time for people to pursue knowledge, art, family, and personal interests.

This is precisely what distinguishes humans from animals—we not only need to survive, but also to truly live.

"Life..." Ying Zheng murmured to himself.

He looked out the window, watching the workers walking on the street after get off work, seeing the smiles on their faces, and the heartwarming scenes of them reuniting with their families.

"Little G, I believe this is what an empire should look like."

Yes, Your Majesty. A truly powerful nation is not built on exploitation and suffering, but on respect and hope.

Your Labor Protection Law not only protects workers, but also lays a solid foundation for the future of Daqin.

Ying Zheng smiled.

This is genuine laughter, not the cold laugh of someone who thinks they control everything, but a heartfelt laugh that comes from seeing hope.