Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

After learning that the National Master was willing to increase their monthly wages, the workers in the workshop burst into cheers.

"Master, do you want to visit other places?" Zhang Yuchu asked.

In his view, although the workshop has to pay tens of thousands more kilograms of grain for this every month, it is nothing compared to the astonishing revenue and profits of the glass and fertilizer workshops.

As for officials, few can be as considerate to workers as the National Master.

In any case, it seems that the trip of the Imperial Master should come to an end.

But Jiang Xinghuo shook his head and just said: "It's not enough."

Yes, it was not enough. Jiang Xinghuo understood the working conditions of laborers and trackers, saw the equipment and operation of the workshop, and saw how the workers worked, but these were not enough for him to really understand. In this era of violent turmoil, what exactly do the new classes think and what do their real lives look like?

But this kind of real life of the working class is definitely not what he can understand in the workshop right now.

"We are working two shifts now. What kind of entertainment do the workers usually have during their breaks?"

"This" Zhang Yuchu couldn't answer.

He is a dignified contemporary Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He became famous at a young age and is now extremely prosperous. He was in charge of the workshop just because he was the professional counterpart at first. Later, the benefits of the workshop were indeed huge, and he was able to gain wealth from it. and huge benefits from connections, so I worked diligently.

But it would be really hard for someone like Zhang Yuchu, who doesn’t usually dress or wash himself, to understand what workers do during their breaks.

Zhang Yuchu turned his attention to the disciples who helped him manage the workshop.

It means, “Do you know”?

"I, I, we don't know very well either."

Zhang Yuchu's face darkened, and his disciples all bowed their heads.

Zhang Yuchu took a deep breath, raised his head again, looked at Jiang Xinghuo and said: "National Master, please wait a moment, I will find someone to answer you right away!"

He turned and left the warehouse, Jiang Xinghuo smiled and nodded.

Soon, Zhang Yuchu brought back four people dressed as workers and craftsmen.

"National Master, these are some of the great workers in the workshop, as well as some workers with better performance."

When the four of them heard Zhang Yuchu's address to Jiang Xinghuo, they immediately tensed up and quickly saluted Jiang Xinghuo with clasped fists.

Jiang Xinghuo nodded and motioned for them to excuse themselves.

Then Zhang Yuchu said: "Whatever the Imperial Master asks you, you guys should answer it truthfully."

Zhang Yuchu drove away all the disciples who were with him and went outside, leaving only a few people talking in the room.

"National Master, if you need to know anything, just ask us."

The oldest craftsman stood respectfully and said.

Jiang Xinghuo was slightly startled and said, "It's okay. Sit down and talk."

"Thank you, Imperial Master, for giving me a seat."

"You don't need to be so polite. I invite you here today. I just want to know what pastimes the workers in the workshop do when they are not on duty? What are their needs in life? It's just a matter of course."

Several people looked at each other, understood immediately, and said: "Prince, please rest assured. There are separate dormitories in the workshop, all with bunk beds. On weekdays, besides sleeping, the workers play leaf cards in the dormitory, or play in the dormitory." Wandering around the river, I received my monthly wage rice according to the rules. There were many local workers in Nanjing, so they would send it back, and workers from other places could also exchange it for copper coins. In addition, the workers also organized some activities in their free time on weekdays, such as Sumo games, etc.”

Several people briefly reported on the daily living conditions of the craftsmen and workers in the workshop. Jiang Xinghuo listened silently, thinking to himself that it was a bit over-exaggerated.

But this is normal. They would not dare to say anything bad in front of him. He did not place his hopes on this kind of official conversation.

After a while, after a few people left, Zhang Yuchu came in. He looked at Jiang Xinghuo with a calm expression, and it seemed that the conversation was quite fruitful.

Jiang Xinghuo said: "That's it for today. Let's go around the neighborhood and return to the capital in the evening."

Jiang Xinghuo asked someone to send the two girls back to the village, and asked Wang Bin to send someone to send the little beggar he had taken in to the old monk. Then he took Yu Qian to visit nearby farmlands, manors, academies and other places. .

Although no conflicts occurred, Jiang Xinghuo was quite satisfied with the results of his personal experience and on-the-spot investigation of the living conditions of various social strata around Nanjing.

In the early days of the industrial revolution, all strata of society were not yet sensitive to the emergence and emergence of this new type of power. Therefore, this new manufacturing power would bring negative consequences to all aspects of society's politics, economy, culture, life, and values. Changes and lack of basic judgment.

Since the pre-Qin Dynasty, China's rural society has basically maintained a comfortable state of natural economy. Now, although the workshops around Nanjing have absorbed a considerable part of the labor force, they have not caused much impact on the old social order.

In fact, the Industrial Revolution was not only a provider of advanced products, such as glass, fertilizers, and Songjiang cotton, but also a transformer of social and cultural customs. In this transformation, the classes that benefited the most, such as those who could enjoy glass mirrors, were able to provide Those who apply a large amount of chemical fertilizers to their own farmland, so that their family and even servants can afford to wear Songjiang cotton, are the ones who have been most thoroughly transformed by these products.

The products of the Industrial Revolution made their already affluent life better and better, so the impact of the Industrial Revolution on them was actually positive, at least in the early days. Whether it was the increase in agricultural production or the premium of mulberry trees, It will help them accumulate more wealth on the original scale of real estate.

Wealth and power often correspond to social status.

The social status of these landowners and gentry will not be shaken for a long period of time due to the development of the Industrial Revolution.

At least until a big change comes.

As night fell, Jiang Xinghuo and Yu Qian finally found the secret that the craftsmen were unwilling to reveal just now in the workshop.

At another bend in the river beach, there is a large night market.

Farmers from all over the country push their own agricultural products, bring snacks to sell, or set up stalls on the river beach to sell snacks made on site.

The air is filled with fishy smells of various colors mixed with the fragrance of vegetation, food, etc.

"Let's go and have a look." Jiang Xinghuo suggested.

Since there is a night market here, he naturally wants to see with his own eyes the life of the people here and the real living conditions of the workers. This is the place where he can get first-hand information, rather than fake and stiff conversations in the workshop.

They all changed into ordinary clothes and looked like ordinary scholars and children at home. Several attendants also pretended to be different identities.

Yu Qian followed Jiang Xinghuo, and the two of them rushed towards the night market along the road.

I have to say that it is most suitable for the night market to choose an address next to this river and close to the trail.

Because it is surrounded by farmland and woodland, and other than that it is an area far away from urban residents, there is basically no human habitation during the day. Even if you occasionally encounter one or two farmers, they are all catching fish and shrimp on the river beach. It won't be like a bustling area with endless crowds.

In this way, it is not surprising that there are some businesses that are unlikely to be brought to the table.

"National Master, the nearest village here is the barren Xiaoxigou Village. It is said that the villagers do not have enough to eat and live a very hard life." Wang Bin pointed to a location not far away and said.

The lights in the night market are not bright, but they also illuminate the entire night market, adding a bit of warmth in this dark winter day.

"Come up."

Jiang Xinghuo looked at the night market and saw many children being held up by their parents' necks, so he said to Qian.

"No."

Yu Qian refused cautiously. This gesture would make him feel extremely ashamed, especially after seeing a little boy laughingly peeing on his father's neck.

Jiang Xinghuo didn't say anything more, but took Yu Qian through the streets of the night market.

It was getting dark now, and there were a lot of people on the dirt road of the night market. A considerable number of workers, maybe hundreds, maybe a thousand, appeared here.

Jiang Xinghuo looked at the bustling night market and sighed in his heart.

Although he has lived several lifetimes, he still feels a lot of strangeness and novelty about this situation.

He had to admit that this was a lively place that made him feel more at home.

However, Jiang Xinghuo did not forget the purpose of his trip. He walked on this unfamiliar dirt road with many forks, trying to find some traces of the real life of the workers.

In front of a stall, they paused.

"Come here, try it while it's hot. I cooked this mutton." The old man said enthusiastically when he saw this.

And placed two dishes of side dishes on the empty table next to him.

Mutton steamed buns are obviously not a product of Jiangnan, but it is not strange to be able to eat them around Nanjing, the largest city in the world at this time.

"Can I have a taste first?"

"Here." The old man handed over a spoon.

Jiang Xinghuo picked up the spoon and tasted it.

Although the ingredients of this mutton soup are simple, it is extremely delicious.

"Well, let's eat something here first."

Jiang Xinghuo nodded and smiled.

Although his soul has been reincarnated for eight lifetimes, his body is still flesh and blood, so he cannot resist the temptation of delicious food.

But this is just a night market, not as sophisticated as in a small town restaurant. Most of the things in the side dishes are meat marinated in salt and then cooled, or some wild vegetables picked from the field and stir-fried. But in this way, Still retaining the original flavor.

Because of the meat, hot soup and steamed buns, the mutton steamed bun stall was very popular among the workers. Some people did not enter the stall, but squatted on the ground and drank from a bowl, with a look of enjoyment on their faces.

When the heat of the mutton soup mixes with the pungent smell of pepper, the soul seems to ascend to the fairyland.

Jiang Xinghuo and Yu Qian drank soup and listened silently to the workers' chats and conversations.

"I've been sick for a few days this month, and I'm afraid my wages will be less next month..."

"Our wages are not high, but it's a pity that we can't save any money!"

"My mother was sick, so all the family money was used to treat her illness, and all my wages were sent back."

"Well, if I can't make it through this month, I'm going to be hungry."

"I heard that the Imperial Master ordered us to increase our wages. By then, the life of the workshop should be better!"

"Are you stupid? You just believe whatever people say. You can't say whether you can get it or not."

"That's it, it's useless to say anything else. I'll believe it if you give it to me."

"makes sense."

Everyone sighed.

Hearing this, Jiang Xinghuo frowned, seeming a little worried.

"But don't tell me, in the past when I was a long-term laborer for the landlord, I didn't have such freedom. I could still come to the night market to eat mutton soup at night."

"That's right, I can't even think about it."

"It's just that I have to follow the schedule every day. It's really awkward."

"Yes, especially during the night shift, people are so sleepy. There have been cases where someone's whole hand was burned because they were sleepy."

"Hey, just take your time and wait for it. I've been told that my life is much better now than before."

"I just don't know what to do. I always feel that the rules have changed. I don't have the master at my head anymore, which makes me feel a little uncomfortable."

"You're a bitch, aren't you? You have to have someone to whip you with a bamboo stick."

"roll!"

Now, the changes brought about by the industrial revolution to the new working class have begun to quietly appear.

The labor in workshops or manual workshops in the early industrial revolution was very different from the agricultural social labor based on the natural economy in many aspects. For example, workers working in fertilizer and glass workshops, in addition to their own labor Apart from the monthly salary, there is no other source of income.

Correspondingly, in an agricultural society based on the natural economy, labor is generally family labor, which is commonly known as "men farm and women weave." Except for tenant farmers, most owner-peasant families own their own land. There are more or less problems. In addition, there are some production materials related to handicrafts, such as mulberry trees. No matter how bad it is, there is also some other income to supplement the family finances.

There is a not so advantageous side, but there is also an advantageous side, that is, in comparison, from a personal level, workers are freer than tenant farmers and self-cultivators, especially compared with tenant farmers, because in an agricultural society, labor is often It is accompanied by a strong personal attachment relationship, but after the industrial revolution, this relationship was only a purchase relationship of money. The factory owner paid for the labor force, nothing more.

As for what you want to do after get off work, whether it is to go to the night market or play leaf cards, no one cares about you.

Of course, from the perspective of a "rational person", if you still have energy, it seems that the most reasonable choice is to work overtime.

Because from an economic point of view, the working hours of workers are fundamentally determined by the utility brought by wages. In the process of workers selling their labor power to obtain wages to meet their own needs, wages will be given to Labor brings positive utility, which is the satisfaction of needs; labor will bring negative utility, which is physical loss and physical and mental exhaustion. Only when the utility of wages is greater than the negative utility of labor will workers be willing to sell. The greater the utility of one's own labor force and wages, the greater the disutility of labor that workers are willing to bear, and the longer working hours they are willing to accept.

In Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, during Britain's first industrial revolution, the working class mostly came from landless farmers and bankrupt small craftsmen. If the working class could not sell their labor force, they would often face the threat of hunger and basic living needs. The level of security and satisfaction was very low. Although Britain at that time would give some pitiful relief to the poor, it could only be obtained when they fell into the abyss of poverty.

Since the basic living needs of the working class are very low, the utility brought by real wages becomes very large because marginal utility is diminishing. Therefore, even if the wage level is only maintained near the minimum survival line, the working class has to work extremely hard in order not to starve to death.

But in today's Ming Dynasty, work is still a job that may be as hard as before, but the income level is not bad, so the working class does not have such concerns. On the premise of ensuring a sufficient life, they are more willing to find some relaxation in their spare time, rather than Keep working overtime.

In addition, another striking feature that can be discovered from the workers’ chats is that the production method after the industrial revolution is most compatible with a stricter concept of time. Workers no longer measure and calculate every day. The spring and autumn seasons of traditional agricultural society may be based on the twenty-four solar terms, but are accurate to the hour. This mechanical law not only contradicts the traditional concept of time in agricultural society, but also for these workers, or those who have not yet fully adapted to this rhythm. For people, it conflicts with their nature.

In fact, in order to correct this kind of lax and timeless behavior, the workshop has indeed made it a key punishment item. If workers ignore the working time, they will usually be deducted to a certain extent. At least from their perspective Very painful wages.

The emergence of night markets represents the extreme lack of public entertainment space for workers.

There are no squares, spacious boulevards, or places like sumo wrestling rings here. After a day's work, these not-so-rich people seem to have no other way of spending time and entertaining themselves except in simple, I played leaf cards in the Tongpu dormitory, which was full of foot odor, sweat odor and other mixed smells, and just went out to hang out in places like the night market.

As for the small towns by the river, with their limited purchasing power, it is still difficult for them to consume. Those are places reserved for craftsmen whose income is one level higher than theirs.

But in fact, it was only here, in this night market stall that mixed sorrow and joy, that Jiang Xinghuo could see that what the workers needed was more than just earning a living.

After finishing the mutton soup, Jiang Xinghuo took Yu Qian and continued walking along the cobweb-like paths of the night market.

Jiang Xinghuo stopped by the railing and looked at the stall selling roasted pigeons not far away.

There were many people lining up and asking questions in front of this stall, but not many were sold. It seemed that the price was set too high, but in order to make money, the stall owner could only continue to work hard and shout.

Despite the bleak business, the stall owners looked less depressed.

When Jiang Xinghuo and Yu Qian appeared in front of him, the stall owner felt that there were people in front of his stall in this freezing cold night. It felt as if he was suddenly enveloped by the sun, and an inexplicable warmth emerged in his heart. .

The stall owner showed an honest smile and said, "Hey, young man, would you like to buy one?"

Looking at the golden and oily roasted pigeon, Jiang Xinghuo asked, "How much does one cost?"

"Hahaha, young man, the ones sold here are not expensive, only 50 yuan each." The stall owner grinned.

"Why don't you go and grab it?"

Jiang Xinghuo's words make sense. In the Ming Dynasty, before large-scale silver inflows caused inflation, a small iron pot was worth 80 Wen, a large iron pot was worth 150 Wen, a duck was worth 30 Wen, and a duck was worth 30 Wen. A chicken is worth 40 Wen, and a pound of pork is worth 18 Wen.

I don’t know where I caught the wild pigeons in the forest. They were not big in size. They were sold for 50 cents each. It was ridiculously expensive. No wonder no one bought them.

But at this time, a worker next to him suddenly spoke.

"Little brother, the money for today's roasted pigeon will be charged to my account. I'll treat you as a treat." The man patted his chest boldly and said, in the style of a good old man.

"How embarrassing." Yu Qian quickly waved his hand and refused.

But the man smiled and said: "Young man, I see your son is so greedy that his saliva is drooling, so don't refuse."

After that, he didn't respond modestly, so he handed him the jar with roasted pigeons, and said with a smile: "I also have a daughter at home, she is very beautiful, and she is worthy of this child."

Yu Qian was speechless for a while after hearing this.

"Well, thank you very much."

Jiang Xinghuo took the porcelain jar and glanced at Yu Qian, telling him not to refuse.

Yu Qian understood, smiled, carried the porcelain jar with both hands, and said, "Then we're welcome."

"Little brother is from nearby?"

Jiang Xinghuo "I work as a bookkeeper in the town. I heard that it is lively here, so I came to take a look."

The worker rambled a few more words, then asked in a mysterious low voice: "Have you ever heard of the Manichaeans?"

coming!

Jiang Xinghuo originally thought this was some kind of branch organization of the White Lotus Sect, so he naturally showed a hint of interest, but he was also a little confused.

"never heard of that."

But then the direction of things seemed to be somewhat different from what he expected.

How do you say that the "Manichaeans" this person calls are not some kind of religious organization, but rather similar to a workers' mutual aid association?

From an economist's perspective, any "rational person" should save and insure on a voluntary basis, individually or collectively, in order to prepare for foreseeable or unpredictable needs such as accidents, illness, old age, etc. , but in fact, the poor do not have the ability and willingness to make necessary preparations at the individual level, and they also lack the corresponding knowledge, so they often appear defenseless when faced with sudden difficulties in life.

Following the principle of "where there is a pursuit, there is a market", this kind of mutual aid organization naturally came into being.

In fact, a piece of trivia is that social insurance was developed based on the social mutual aid activities of the working class during the Industrial Revolution.

In Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, during the Industrial Revolution, the poverty phenomenon was shocking, and the living conditions of the people at the bottom were extremely miserable. When they were desperate, they spontaneously organized various social mutual aid organizations-trade unions, friendship associations, and mutual aid organizations. Communities, funerals, fundraisers, sales cooperation meetings, etc., to jointly fight against poverty and uncertainty in life.

Among these organizations, the most common one is the Friendship Association, which is also the prototype of the original social security. Under normal circumstances, after members of the Friendship Association regularly pay a certain amount of mutual aid membership fees, they can receive benefits when they encounter unemployment, illness, old age or poverty. Apply to the association for a certain amount of subsidies.

Before the First World War, Western countries generally established compulsory social insurance for pensions, diseases, work-related injuries, etc. based on social mutual aid activities, forming a modern social security system with social insurance as the core content; After World War II, the large-scale rise of the welfare state gave rise to what we see in modern times.

In today's Ming Dynasty, when the industrial revolution has just begun, it is not surprising that such an organization appears.

Of course, this kind of private organization has great uncertainty, that is, will it turn into a Ponzi scheme?

This is very likely to happen. The organizers take money from people at the bottom to engage in mutual aid, and eventually run away with the money.

After Jiang Xinghuo had a rough understanding of what the "Mani Society" was, he had no interest in studying it in depth. After leaving 50 coins, he took Yu Qian and left politely.

"Maybe I should look it up."

Like a little adult, Yu Qian suggested after thinking carefully.

"What is lacking is the corresponding system."

Jiang Xinghuo pondered for a moment and said: "I once talked about this issue at the Ming Dynasty Administrative School, that is, the reform of Cai Jing Medicine, and today when I saw the beggar who froze to death, I was also thinking about how to use monetary means. , to initially establish a commercial mutual aid organization, which may be better than the government doing it."

In fact, in Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, Dai Ying gave a solution, but it was just a negative teaching material.

The purpose of the British Poor Law is more to deprive people of their dignity than to provide material assistance. The law stipulates that all relief can only be lower than the minimum wage in society, can only be provided in prison-like workhouses, and must be forcible. Separating husbands from wives and daughters was intended to punish poverty and prevent them from reproducing the next generation.

But how can I put it, the Poor Law was never fully implemented because it was so immoral, because wherever the poor were strong, they resisted such extreme measures. However, Dai Ying has never been very immoral in this aspect. Not disappointing, before the First Opium War, at least one-tenth of the British population were poor people who relied on the Poor Law to receive relief, and those who could not make it in the British mainland were generally Forced by the Poor Law, Run went to the colonies.

This social Darwinist approach to poverty relief is obviously contrary to Jiang Xinghuo's consistent philosophy.

But at present, with the organizational ability and integrity of the Ming Dynasty, if it wants to carry out overall poverty alleviation, it is simply a fantasy. This is also the reason why it has not been done in previous dynasties. First, it cannot be done on a large scale, and second, there is no such thing. ability.

Therefore, it is more reliable to develop commercial insurance under the supervision of Daming Bank. After all, the bank is still controllable. There may be inconveniences of one kind or another. But no matter what, as long as the insurance industry can develop normally, some basic protection can still be provided. Arrived.

Moreover, the bank's commercial insurance can also control the scale. After all, it is a voluntary matter.

In any case, it is foreseeable that it is impossible to cut off private mutual aid organizations, and workers will definitely have an instinctive resistance to commercial insurance, and some people will prefer to save more wages on hand.

But in any case, it is also a good thing to give the new working class in Ming Dynasty one more choice.