At the end of Qin, I became a son of the plane

Chapter 433: Unenforceable Artisan Laws and a Country of Merchants

After Qin Bo finished his speech, the emperor ordered a recess and then took away the three dukes and nine ministers of the court and the local governors.

Ying Bu and the others looked at Qin Bo in astonishment and asked, "Did he curse us in as well?"

Lu Chen shook his head and said, "I really haven't thought about the world of great harmony in these years, and people are not wrong to scold me."

Ji Bu said: "This has nothing to do with me. In the past few years, I have been expanding the territory for the Han Dynasty. As long as the people of the Han Dynasty are willing to come, I can give them 500 acres of land, even thousands of acres. As long as they can grow crops, the salary of the craftsmen in the Western Regions is not less than a thousand coins."

Compared with the Han Dynasty's inland areas, the Western Regions are even more short of craftsmen. The income of ordinary carpenters, blacksmiths, and stonemasons can exceed a thousand coins. The key is that no one is willing to go to the Western Regions.

Although Ji Bu used gold, silver, agate and jade to attract a group of people to the Western Regions two years ago, these people all wanted to get rich, and only a few of them were willing to work peacefully.

Liu Bang smiled bitterly and said, "I always heard people say that Mohist's words are very sharp, but I never believed it. Today I finally saw it for myself."

Chen Xiao said calmly: "It doesn't have much impact on us princes. The status of our craftsmen in the vassal states is higher than that in the Han mainland."

However, the military officials were somewhat confused when they saw this situation and asked, "What is this Han sage going to do?"

Zhang Yuan said helplessly: "He wants to seek benefits for the people of the world."

He was also a scholar, and he had a heart to serve the country and bring peace to the people. Unfortunately, after he defected to the Huns, all he had left was to fight for his own interests. He envied Qin Bo very much, because Qin Bo did what he wanted to do but did not dare to do.

The military official was shocked and said, "He is really desperate. He has offended all the nobles of the Han Dynasty."

Even his father, Laoshang Chanyu, did not dare to do such a thing.

Zhang Yuan said: "This is the characteristic of the politics of the Han Dynasty. They are not short of wise men who offend the powerful. They call this behavior "speaking for the people."

The military official was puzzled and asked, "Why should we plead for the people? What's the point? As long as the troops obey orders and can fight, that's enough."

Zhang Yuan said: "It is because our Xiongnu Kingdom cannot seek benefits for the lower-level tribesmen that the tribesmen surrendered one after another when the Han people attacked. This is because the Xiongnu Kingdom belongs to the Chanyu and the Xiongnu noble leaders, but not to these tribesmen. This is also a lesson that our Xiongnu must learn. If we want to be assimilated into the Han culture and improve our strength, we still have a long way to go to compete with the Xiongnu Kingdom."

Prime Minister's Mansion

Xu Fan summoned the three dukes and nine ministers, as well as the prefects of all counties of the entire Han Dynasty.

Xu Fan looked at the governors of the counties and asked, "You didn't implement the Craftsmen's Law formulated by the court?"

To be honest, Xu Fan has always been very proud of himself for creating the "Craftsmen's Decree" in the Han Dynasty, which gave him a sense of superiority. What the later generations could not do, he, the Han Dynasty, could actually do, which made Xu Fan feel that he had surpassed the later generations. But now Qin Bo told Xu Fan that the "Craftsmen's Decree" had become a decoration, and all this was just a change of name but not substance.

The county governors remained silent. The workshops could bring them economic development and tax revenue. At the same time, the increased employment opportunities in the workshops could drive more industries. There was no real estate industry or tourism industry in the current Han Dynasty. If they wanted local development, they had to control the workshops. The court would assess their tax revenue, but would not assess whether the salaries of their craftsmen had increased.

Especially during the economic crisis of the past two years, a large number of small workshops went bankrupt, their taxes also dropped by 20% to 30%, and the streamlining of Han officials made them suffer. Now, the surviving workshops under their rule are very valuable.

The silent atmosphere told Xu Fan everything. He closed his eyes and touched his forehead with his hand. After a long while, he looked at Chen Chui and said, "Did the workshop under the Shaofu violate the Craftsmen's Law?"

If the Shaofu also took the lead, Xu Fan would be very disappointed.

Chen Chui immediately said, "I can guarantee that this is not the case. The workshops under my Shaofu strictly abide by the court's "Craftsman Law". Overtime is paid 1.5 times the salary, and overtime on holidays is paid three times the salary. Qin Bo can testify for me. His Mo family's master craftsmen are all from our Shaofu workshop. He knows exactly whether I did this or not."

Qin Bo nodded and said, "The workshops under the Shaofu strictly implement the Craftsmen's Law, but the local counties and prefectures rarely do so. In recent years, there have been constant conflicts between workshop owners and craftsmen because of salaries."

At this time, Zhang Qiang explained: "We have not disobeyed the Craftsman Law. The court has repeatedly warned us not to interfere. We can't go to someone's workshop and ask them whether they have obeyed the Craftsman Law. This matter has always been a matter of the people not reporting it and the government not investigating it."

Guan Ying also said: "It has been difficult for local workshops in the past two years. If the inspection is too strict, the workshops will close down, and more craftsmen will be unemployed. We are also considering these craftsmen."

With the two leading the way, other governors also complained to the emperor, saying that local government affairs were complicated, and the court wanted them to stay within their authority and manage the people well. The annual assessment by the superiors was very strict, and if economic development was not completed well, there would be no good evaluation. If they wanted to develop the economy, they would have to build workshops, so what could they do?
Although these governors did not say it explicitly, Xu Fan could hear their thoughts. Since protecting the economy was the main focus, the "Craftsmen's Decree" could only be placed in a secondary position.

Qin Bo said angrily: "But I, the Mozhe, led the report on the craftsmen, and you did not punish the workshop owner."

He pointed at Chen Rui, the governor of Sanchuan County, and said, "I, Mozi, have brought craftsmen to Luoyang County to sue workshop owners dozens of times, but have you ever punished a workshop owner?"

Chen Rui said, "How dare you say that I didn't handle the case impartially! As long as I didn't ask the Han officials to investigate the craftsmen you reported, and found solid evidence, and I didn't ask the workshop owners to return the craftsmen's salaries and overtime pay, I handled it all in accordance with Han law. The emperor has repeatedly warned us that as Han officials, we must first abide by the law. What did I do wrong! If I have violated the law, you can report me in front of the emperor now."

Qin Bo sneered, "You are good at shirking responsibility. Two years ago, the Han Dynasty experienced an economic crisis, and local county taxes dropped significantly. I remember that many county governors began to trace back taxes, and the earliest one is said to have traced back to the founding of the Han Dynasty. Fortunately, the Han Dynasty was founded only fourteen years ago, otherwise you would have even checked taxes from the pre-Qin period. At this time, your punishment is very severe, and anyone caught will be punished ten times as much."

This accusation is too serious. During the two years of the economic crisis, almost all counties and prefectures did the same thing in order to fill the deficit. Qin Bo is going to bring down all of them.

Wang Dao retorted: "Is it wrong for us to investigate tax evasion? The tenfold fine is also stipulated in Han law. Is it wrong for me to strictly enforce the laws of the Han Dynasty?"

Qin Bo sneered, "Yes, tax inspections can impose a tenfold penalty. The Craftsmen's Decree requires us craftsmen to find evidence ourselves. If we don't find it, we will consider ourselves unlucky. If we find it, it will only compensate us for the salary we deserve. At this time, you don't mention the tenfold fine. These workshop owners earn by deducting. Even if they fail, the craftsmen will only get back their own salaries. Are you punishing them or encouraging them?"

This was what Qin Bo was most dissatisfied with. Due to the inaction of local Han officials, the "Craftsmen's Decree" became a dead letter. The workshop owners also noticed this situation and violated the law at will, not taking the "Craftsmen's Decree" seriously at all. Moreover, this situation was showing an increasing trend.

Wang Dao: "Can you blame us for this? This is stipulated in the Han law. Do you want us to break the Han law to help the craftsmen?"

Listening to the verbal sparring between the two sides, Xu Fan understood why the "Craftsmen's Law" was in name only, because it was not included in the assessment of Han officials. The Han Dynasty would assess local governance, local development, and local crime rates, but would not assess whether the rights of craftsmen were protected, let alone whether the craftsmen's income was increasing.

The number of workshops will affect the progress of Han officials, but the "Craftsmen's Law" will not. People will make profit-seeking choices, so the local Han officials just glossed over this matter.

Xu Fan was even somewhat thankful that the Mohists had withdrawn from the Han court. They could now fight for the interests of the craftsmen as allies. If the Mohists were also Han officials, Xu Fan couldn't imagine how desperate the craftsmen would be.

Xu Fan looked at Wu Guang, Wu Jun and Qin Bo and said, "Use the information collected by the Imperial Censorate, the Supreme Court and your Mohist School to jointly complete the Craftsmen's Law and make sure that workshop owners who violate the law will be severely punished. The punishment should be so severe that they will be heartbroken and dare not violate the court's laws."

Then Xu Fan looked at Xiao He and said, "Prime Minister, in the future, the implementation of the Craftsmen's Decree must also be included in the assessment. For Han officials who perform poorly in implementing the Craftsmen's Decree, their rating will be reduced by one level."

Xiao He nodded and said: "No!"

The county governors of the Han Dynasty were also wailing in their hearts, which added another tight circle around their necks.

It is too difficult to be an official in our Han Dynasty. We have to develop the economy, but at the same time ask them not to interfere. We have to increase workshops and develop industries, but at the same time ask them to protect craftsmen. Your Majesty, don't you realize that many issues are actually contradictory requirements?

But they only dared to wail in their hearts but dared not show it on their faces.

Xu Fan looked at all the Han officials and said, "Before, the court did not perfect the laws, and I did not say anything. Starting this year, I hope you will strictly implement the "Craftsmen's Law". For workshops that are unwilling to implement the "Craftsmen's Law", such workshops will be pests in the Han Dynasty. The sooner they are cleared, the sooner the Han Dynasty will reduce its losses."

He knows too well what a workshop owner is. Once the scale of the workshop reaches a certain level, you can no longer regard it as a human being. Profit-making will be their instinct. They will do things within the bottom line of the law. When you do not enforce the law, they will even break the bottom line.

This can only be done by the court and laws to force them to do it. If the court does not do this, the so-called fairness is just empty talk.

These workshops will recklessly break through the bottom line and roll inward, and finally the bad money will drive out the good money, causing the good workshops to have high costs and go bankrupt, and the only ones left are this kind of garbage. Xu Fan snorted coldly: "The Craftsmen's Decree has almost become a piece of paper. Everyone in the Han Dynasty is responsible. Have you discovered this loophole? Have you thought about how to improve it?"

"You don't have to answer this question. I know that you are all for your own small interests. You have allowed this loophole to happen. You all have your own interests and your own ideas. I know this is inevitable, but no matter what you think, you cannot tear down the pillars of the Han Dynasty.

You have never thought that this is undermining the dignity of the laws of the Han Dynasty and destroying the interests of all of us. If no one in the world believes in the laws of the Han Dynasty, is there any need for the Han Dynasty to exist?"

"Don't think that Han laws are something the court uses to restrict ordinary people and that they are useless to you. You don't know that Han laws are your greatest interests. If you don't protect Han laws, then who will protect them?"

"Back then we didn't believe in the Qin laws, so they became useless and were completely smashed by us. Three years later, the whole world belonged to us. When the Han laws lose their fairness and become shackles for the people, just like the Qin laws, there will be another group of people who will smash the Han laws. When that happens, the fate of the Qin officials will be the same as yours."

The Han governors were silenced by Xu Fan's words and dared not refute.

Chang'an City, Mo Nan Trading Company.

Kuai Che said worriedly, "The situation is not good. I didn't expect Qin Bo to be so cunning and actually talk about the ideal of Datong. Judging from today's situation, if we dare to refute Qin Bo, we will definitely become the target of public criticism."

When Qin Bo mentioned the ideal of Great Harmony, Kuai Che knew that he had been defeated.

The lack of an idea is their biggest flaw, just like today when Qin Bo stood on the high platform and shouted loudly, whether the Han Dynasty still wants to achieve a well-off society and the ideal of universal harmony, no one dared to refute him from such a moral high ground. Most of the wise men would also agree with Qin Bo's words.

Wang Ze said angrily: "Qin Bo is so easy to talk when he is standing. He said that the income will double, and he will double it without caring about our death. We can't even make money. Why should we open a workshop? We won't open a workshop. I want to see how Qin Bo can support the craftsmen in the world!"

If the craftsmen's income doubles, the profits of their factories will almost be wiped out. This is why Wang Ze is so angry.

Linghu Li said angrily: "What's the point of saying such angry words? You can really close the workshop. The key is how should I deal with it? Should we submit the proposal we made?"

Kuai Che shook his head and said, "Under the current situation, it is useless for us to propose any proposals. The Great Harmony World is a political concept proposed by the Emperor. It can be said to be the foundation of our Han Dynasty. If we dare to shake this concept, we will truly become the mortal enemy of the Emperor."

"Now we can only deal with the situation. It would be best if we tell the emperor about our difficulties. Craftsmen need protection, so don't we, the workshop owners, need protection? The court's annual tax revenue exceeds 120 million gold, and most of these taxes are provided by us. If we can't continue to operate, how can the court provide pension supplies to the craftsmen? Where can we raise money to build tracks and canals? The achievements of local county governors also depend on us. It's not only these craftsmen who serve the world of Datong, but also us."

Linghu Li thought for a moment and said, "Isn't this counterattack too weak? Will it make everyone look down on us?"

Kuai Che asked: "Do you have any good counterattack methods?"

"There is more than just the Han Dynasty in this world. The imperial court treats us so harshly and keeps encouraging the Mohists to deal with us. Why don't we move our workshops to the territories of the Han princes? There are not so many messy things in the territories of the Han princes, and most of the local people are savages. As long as they are well fed, few people will care about the salary, let alone we will provide for their retirement.

The land of the princes does not have so many rules and regulations to restrict us, it is the place suitable for us to develop."

Kuai Che rolled his eyes and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Who do you think is reasonable, the emperor or Ying Bu? In the Han Dynasty, there is still the emperor who restricts Han officials from doing whatever they want. But have you seen any big merchants appear in the vassal states of the Han Dynasty over the years?"

"The markets of those vassal states are small to begin with. Even the vassal states and their cronies can't take over everything. How could they allow us to rob their wealth? If we really go to those vassal states, I'm afraid we will be wiped out."

The biggest difference between Kuai Che and his peers in later generations is that they could not move freely. There was almost no soil for them to survive in the whole world except the Han Dynasty.

After all, Xu Fan was born in the industrial age. He had seen industrialized society and knew the importance of developing industries. Even if he suppressed them, he would give them room for development.

But the princes of the Han Dynasty are not Xu Fan. They have lived in a society that emphasizes agriculture and suppresses commerce for most of their lives. This has become a part of their worldview and it is not something that Xu Fan's few years of education can change. To most of the princes of the Han Dynasty, merchants are just cattle and horses in a pen, and they will be slaughtered directly when they are short of money.

Wang Ze sighed and said, "There are monarchs who value farmers and monarchs who value craftsmen in this world. When will there be a monarch who values ​​workshop owners like us?"

In the past, they were oppressed by aristocratic officials, but now even the craftsmen are bullying them. Most workshop owners feel unbalanced.

Because in their view, you should support whoever you eat, and you should not do things that ruin the pot after eating. But now the people of the Mohist School are the ones who eat and ruin the pot in their eyes.

Kuai Che pondered for a long time and said, "It is better to rely on ourselves than on others. Others cannot build a country of workshop owners for us. Only we ourselves can do such a thing."

Wang Ze was shocked and asked, "President, are you planning to rebel?"

The others also looked at Kuai Che in surprise. Although they complained, they had no intention of rebelling.

Kuai Che rolled his eyes and said, "Given the military strength of the Han Dynasty, rebellion would be courting death. But not rebelling does not mean that we cannot establish vassal states. Our Han Dynasty is not short of people who have become nobles because of other merits. Xiang Gongshuchou became an earl because he built a water-powered textile machine. Yang Xiong and Li Lei became earls because of their steam engines. If we can also create a machine that benefits the world and be awarded as an earl by the emperor, we can then ask the emperor to create a vassal state in Southeast Asia. In this way, we can establish a country that belongs to us merchants."

After hearing Kuai Che's words, everyone's eyes lit up. This plan seemed very feasible. Now all they lacked was an invention that could benefit the world.

On October 19th, the 14th year of the Han calendar, a gathering of wise men was held at Zhangtai Palace.

Originally, the wise men of the Han Dynasty thought that the decree to equalize wealth and nobility would be passed today, but they did not expect that the Chief Justice would propose to supplement the details of the "Craftsmen's Decree".

The main measures include increasing the penalties for workshop owners who arbitrarily and harshly demand wages and overtime pay for craftsmen, including a tenfold fine and a prison sentence of six months to three years.

Workshop owners like Kuai Che were shocked. If they demanded salaries from their craftsmen again, they might even end up in jail.
Kuai Che and other workshop owners looked at each other. This was a warning from the emperor. In recent years, whose workshops have not made harsh salaries or even forced overtime? But now that the imperial court has issued this decree, they may have to eat the government's food. These people immediately decided to say nothing and do nothing. Let's wait and see what happens.

Kuai Che also made up his mind to pay the craftsmen back their salaries after he returned, preferring more rather than less. He had already been named by the Mohists, and according to the court's practice of killing chickens to scare monkeys, he was afraid that he had already been on the court's list.

Being watched by the court like this, the method of reducing asset taxes could not be used. Who knows what excuses the court will find to punish him? Now he can only try his best not to let the court find excuses. But when he thought about paying millions more in taxes, Kuai Che was heartbroken. This was all his own money, and now he had to hand it all over to the court.

This is all Mohism's fault. Qin Bo and I cannot coexist.

Later, Qin Bo proposed the "Equalizing Wealth Law", which was passed with a high vote because of the previous threat.

The Prime Minister Xiao He of the Han Dynasty immediately assured the wise men that the court would formulate a court infrastructure plan based on this decree, a support plan for small workshops, a minimum salary guarantee implementation method, and a universal housing implementation method. All infrastructure projects that the county governors of the Han Dynasty wanted to propose would be incorporated into the "Equal Wealth Law".

Xiao He assured all the wise men present that in the next few years, the Han Dynasty would find a way to double the salaries of the Han craftsmen, basically solve the housing problem of the craftsmen, ensure that everyone has a house to live in, and guarantee the interests of the Han producers.

On October 19, the 14th year of the Han calendar, Chang'an City, Yan Palace
After the meeting of sages, Xu Fan entertained Ji Bu, Ying Bu, Chen Xiao, Lu Chen, Ge Ying, Chen Sheng, Han Xin and other princes at his home.

Ying Bu said in dissatisfaction: "Your Majesty, today Qin Bo scolded us too. We are old brothers. Does he look down on me now?"

Xu Fan rolled his eyes and said, "As long as you think I didn't scold you, then I really didn't scold you."

"Qin Bo said so much just to promote the 'Equal Wealth Law'. The workshop owners of the Han Dynasty have indeed gone too far. The wealth of the Han Dynasty has increased several times, but they are unwilling to share even a little bit. So the court can only take the initiative to do this."

Chen Sheng smiled and said, "If you want Qin Bo not to scold you, it's easy. When you return to England, just double the salary of the craftsmen. You should know that in my country of Luzon, the salary of a craftsman can reach 3000 coins, and it is easy for a master craftsman to earn coins."

Ying Bu said angrily, "Do you think I am as lucky as you? The emperor has specially prepared a copper mine for you. You are on a mountain of money and you can naturally say such big words. If you have the ability, let's exchange the vassal states. I can be more generous than you. What's 3000 coins? I will give you 5000 coins directly."

(End of this chapter)