Holy Roman Empire

Time flew by, and after several months of controversy and wrangling, on November 1847, 11, history finally turned a new page, and the first "Labor Protection Law" of the Austrian Empire was shockingly released.

The Labor Protection Act stipulates:

1. From March 1848, 3, Austria began to implement an eight-hour working system, and workers can voluntarily choose whether to work overtime; (capitalists are not allowed to cut wages because of this, and overtime must be paid for overtime)

2. Local governments will formulate minimum wage standards in the near future, and any factories operating in Austria must follow the regulations;

3. Implement work-related injury protection regulations, and the government will introduce specific measures in the near future;

4. Unreasonable deduction of wages and wage arrears are prohibited. Violators will be fined more than ten times the compensation, and the industry and commerce department will impose a fine according to the severity of the circumstances;

……

Chapter 18 It's better to be alone than to be happy

Looking at the just-released Labor Protection Law, Franz smiled with satisfaction. He knew that the nobility and the bourgeoisie would no longer be able to relax.

The eight-hour work system has been proposed, which is enough to show that the nobles were irritated by the capitalists, and they directly took their salaries from the bottom of the pot.

From now on, the working class in Austria has parted ways with the bourgeoisie, the government has passed laws to give them what they want, and the only obstacle is the capitalists.

At this time, does the bourgeoisie still dare to use the labor movement to seize power?

Obviously impossible, the enemy of the labor movement is no longer the government, but the bourgeoisie.

For a long time to come, capitalists will have to fight against the working class until one side makes concessions.

"Tayron, spread the content of our "Labor Protection Law" as soon as possible, and remember to send a copy to the trade unions in Paris!" Franz ordered

This was the best of times and the worst of times. In 1847, there was only one country in the world that had completed industrialization, and that was Great Britain.

The remaining European powers were catching up, and France's Industrial Revolution was well under way and would not be completed until the 19s.

The industrial revolution in Germany has just begun, whether it is Prussia or Austria, everyone is still in its infancy.

Increase labor costs, resulting in a decline in product competitiveness?

This is not a problem at all. The biggest problem in Austria is the lack of a market. Whether it is a worker or a farmer, everyone is poor. How can they rely on to buy goods?

Before the market is cultivated, who will the product be sold to?

export it?

It's not that Franz looked down on Austria's industry. The industrial products of this era are still the best in the British, and Austria's top product is still food.

So it is better to cultivate the market first with peace of mind, and then develop the industry step by step.

However, it is better to be happy alone than to be happy alone. A selfless person like Franz will definitely consider the people of the world. Everyone's life is not easy, so it is urgent to improve?

In this regard, he believed that the revolutionary stance of the French people was firm, and he would definitely do this job well.Only by improving the living conditions of the working class can the world become a better place.

Franz didn't know that in future history books, the Austrian government proposed an eight-hour working day, which became the fuse of the European Revolution.

Under his butterfly effect, the March Revolution in Vienna, which was originally highly praised by historians, turned into a conspiratorial rebellion launched by the bourgeoisie dissatisfied with the government's enactment of the Labor Protection Law.

The latter was the coffin conclusion made by Franz himself. When attacking the enemy, he was never lenient.

Regardless of the future, Vienna is already boiling at this time.The newspaper published the "Labor Protection Law" intact as quickly as possible.

Numerous literati and inkmen are writing about this, either praising or criticizing it, in short, everyone is very enthusiastic.

The reformist faction began to split, and one faction was celebrating. The Austrian reform finally showed some phased results. Many people optimistically analyzed that the government will definitely continue to deepen reform soon after the "Labor Protection Law".

The other faction is the capitalist interest group. They use the most violent language to attack the government for destroying the free system. They believe that in a free country, these issues should be decided by the market.

For this issue, the two factions quarreled fiercely.The capitalists who are not willing to lose their interests have already begun to conspire, and the undercurrent spread from Vienna to the whole of Austria.

The workers in Vienna couldn't believe it at first, then they were shocked. After confirming the news, they started to celebrate again, as if they were saying goodbye to the days of suffering.

……

Paris

As the cradle of the European revolutionary movement, the people of Paris have always been the most revolutionary. The "Labor Protection Law" promulgated by the Austrian government caused a sensation as soon as it was passed.

The famously conservative Austrian government knows how to legislate to protect the interests of the working class, but the July Dynasty has not yet done so. Such an evil government must be overthrown.

Of course, rebellion never happens overnight, and the Paris trade union organizations with rich experience in struggle immediately had heated discussions.

Seeing that the Austrian government has taken the initiative to legislate to protect the rights of workers, and has also proposed an advanced working model of an eight-hour working day, many people also have expectations for the Paris government.

What if the old men in the Paris government suddenly figured it out?Their requirements are not high, as long as they copy Austria's "Labor Protection Law".

Since the end of 1847, a strike movement with far-reaching influence in history has erupted in Paris. In order to fight for their own rights, hundreds of thousands of Parisian workers took to the streets to demonstrate.

Soon, this meaningful activity spread from Paris to the whole of France, and spread to the whole European continent in a viral manner, and strikes broke out in almost every European city.

The "eight-hour work system" has become a banner of the labor movement in this era. Because of the factors that first enacted labor protection laws, the image of the Austrian government in the outside world has also changed a lot.

Since the British Robert Owen proposed the "eight-hour working system" in 1817, this is the first time in the world that the government has implemented it through legislation, and the impact has far exceeded the imagination of the Austrian government.

Prime Minister Metternich, who has long been criticized by the outside world as a conservative, has once again become the leader of the reformers. The Austrian people spoke highly of his reforms.

However, none of this was what Prime Minister Metternich wanted. On the surface, he became the winner in this government struggle. Not only did he defeat the conspiracy of his competitors, but he also made further reforms and won the support of the people.

In fact, Prime Minister Metternich had a hard time saying it. Under the pressure of the nobles, he formulated the "Labor Protection Law", and since then he has forged a deadly feud with the bourgeoisie.

Are capitalists easy to mess with?

No doubt everyone knows the answer.

The revenge came so quickly, which was somewhat beyond everyone's expectations.

On November 1847, 11, the third day after the "Labor Protection Law" was promulgated, capitalists launched an organized strike movement, and 24% of factories and shops in Vienna were closed on this day.

The bourgeoisie also submitted a petition to the king, demanding the repeal of the Labor Protection Act and the dismissal of the Metternich cabinet.

The Austrian government is in trouble, the bourgeoisie is stronger than everyone imagined, and even some blind nobles were bewitched by the capitalists and participated in the strike.

The time has come to test Prime Minister Metternich. If this problem cannot be resolved, it will not be long before Vienna will be in chaos.

……

Chapter 19 Storm

It has to be said that Prime Minister Metternich is still somewhat capable. The Austrian government at this time is also very strong, and the bourgeoisie's strikes cannot frighten them.

The nobles supported the government at this time, and their energy was no less than that of the capitalists. They might not have many other materials, except for food.

All of them are big landlords, and there are a lot of serfs in their families. Who doesn't have any food reserves?It is not a problem at all for the government to buy a batch of grain from them and ship it over for emergency relief.

The connection of capitalists is impossible to keep secret. Long before the crisis broke out, the Vienna government funded the purchase of a batch of grain from the nobles for storage.

As soon as the strike started, the government sold grain to the outside world, ensuring the food supply in Vienna, but the prosperity of the past is gone.Looking at the depressed market, many people in the government are anxious.

The Secretary of the Interior Fisher said in a difficult way: "Your Excellency, it is impossible to continue like this. Although the food problem has been solved, other supplies are still in short supply.

Moreover, now that the capitalists have closed the factories and the workers have lost their income, I am afraid that their money will soon be exhausted, and by then..."

Metternich sneered and said: "Don't worry, this situation won't last for long. You must know that the capitalists lose gold coins every day when the market is on strike, and small businessmen can't last for a few days!

However, we really can't just sit idly by. Aren't there nobles participating in the strike? I will ask the Grand Dukes of Louis to do work for them. If they stand with the capitalists, they will be removed from the nobles.

As long as someone takes the lead, the following things will be easy to handle. The capitalists are not monolithic, no matter how dissatisfied they are, they will not be against money! "

……

This is indeed the case, the strike lasted less than a week and ended with the failure of the capitalists.

The nobles who participated in the strike were first persuaded.

Do you want the glory of nobility?

For a little benefit, to degenerate into the company of capitalists is simply to embarrass the nobles.

Anyway, it doesn't hurt to stand and talk, and most nobles in this era have not yet become capitalists.Looking at the nouveau riche who are engaged in industry and commerce, their hearts have long been unbalanced. Of course, it is time to criticize them with righteous words.

They were no longer invited to the noble banquets. They invited others, but they refused righteously. Relatives and friends came to do ideological work one after another.

The radical nobles have already clamored to kick these depraved nobles out of the noble circle, which immediately frightened many people.

Although Austrian capitalists are rich, they have no political status!It's not easy to get a hereditary title, if you lose it, what's the deal?

The nobles, unable to withstand the pressure, had to draw a line with the capitalists and withdrew from the strike.

There are even people who think that if workers' treatment is improved, workers' treatment will be improved, and at worst, I will use serfs in the future!

Well, there are only a few idiots like this, and most people know that once they compromise, labor costs will inevitably rise in the future.

Want to use serfs?Go ahead and dream, do you really think that the society is calling for the abolition of serfdom every day, just shouting slogans and will not become a reality?

Someone took the lead, and the profit-seeking nature of capitalists doomed the alliance they formed, which could not last for a long time.

Everyone is not a selfless person. Seeing someone open a business to make money, other people will naturally feel unbalanced. Why should we take the risk of beheading to fight for profits, and you just sit back and enjoy the benefits?

The first wave of counterattack launched by the bourgeoisie was quickly defeated because the organization was not strict enough and there was no binding force on the members.

Franz was not surprised by all this.Unless the supply of food, coal, and other necessities of life can be cut off, it will be difficult for the Vienna government to compromise in a short period of time.

However, capitalists couldn’t do these things. During this period, the Austrian nobles were too powerful. Food and coal were all produced in their fiefdoms. If the capitalists didn’t sell them, wouldn’t they transport them to sell them themselves?

Do you have an acquisition contract?At this time, do you still expect others to abide by the rules of the game?As the makers of the rules, people have the right to modify the rules!

Franz knew that this matter was not over yet, and the capitalists would not be willing to fail. If the government was not prepared, they would suffer a lot in the next economic war.

Thinking of this, Franz secretly regretted that he had hoarded a batch of supplies if he knew it earlier. When the capitalists went on strike, prices in Vienna nearly doubled.

"Raul, how much grain can I sell in my manor?"

"Grand Duke, according to your instructions, we did not sell this year's grain, but when the market strike broke out earlier, we also sold 150 million pounds of wheat to the government for emergency. After leaving enough food for food, there are about 380 pounds." Lauer replied

(1 pound = 0.45359237 kilograms)

Franz naturally knew about the grain sold to the government, and his estate was only [-] kilometers away from Vienna. In such a crisis situation, Franz, the crown prince of the empire, was still very virtuous.

380 pounds, this figure sounds very big, if converted into tons, it would be more than 750 tons, and sold for only two to three thousand gold coins.

After deducting the production cost, Franz can get the benefits. All the estates of the royal family have released serfs, and the labor cost is not a small expense.

"Be prepared, once the price of wheat rises by more than 20.00%, sell these grains!" Franz thought for a while and said

He knew that capitalists would not let it go, raising prices was one of the most commonly used methods, and the price of grain in Vienna would inevitably skyrocket.

Industrialization has already begun, and the current wheat can only be sold to flour mills. No matter how high the price of grain in the market soars, the purchase price given by flour mills will not be too high.

The biggest advantage of Franz's manor is that it is close to Vienna, but when a rebellion may break out at any time, this becomes a disadvantage, and if it is not good, it will be harmed by the rebels.

Hoarding a large amount of grain at this time is taking a risk. Even if he knows that the Hungarian Revolution will break out next year and the price of Austrian grain will skyrocket, he can only reluctantly sell it.

In the next game between the capitalists and the government, it is indeed quick to raise prices, but it is a pity that Franz's status is destined to prevent him from playing, otherwise the nobles will follow suit, and Prime Minister Metternich will not be able to stand it.

Chapter 20 Conspiracy

The failure of the strike movement has shaken the prestige of the bourgeois leader, Mr. Vires. Many people are skeptical about whether he can lead everyone to force the government to make concessions.

On the contrary, the bourgeois revolutionary party became active again. Some capitalists changed their positions and secretly colluded with the revolutionary party in an attempt to overthrow the Vienna government and establish a bourgeois regime.

Of course I want to think about it, let them raise the banner to rebel, that is absolutely impossible.Even if there is a revolution, it can only be done by other people. They all have tens of millions of wealth, so how precious is a small life?

Everyone is smart, and the weakness of the Austrian Empire has not yet been exposed. Rebellion at this time can easily become a martyr.

Most capitalists have little confidence in the revolutionary party, and they rely on non-violent means to fight to force the government to make concessions.

In the manor on the outskirts of Vienna, a banquet is being held, and Mr. Veres, the host, is giving a passionate speech.

That's right, this is the banquet movement that was introduced from France, but it seemed a bit unacceptable in Austria. Apart from the capitalists, only a few scholars who were limped by liberalism participated.

"Gentlemen, we must unite. The last time we failed, it was because we did not advance and retreat together that we were defeated by the enemy one by one!

As long as we unite and fight, the enemy will eventually be defeated by us, and victory will eventually belong to us.

There is no need for revolution, no need for bloodshed, and it is not difficult to use the means we are best at and defeat the enemy in the field we are best at!

if only……"

Not everyone was satisfied with Virus's speech, at least the revolutionaries who came to the banquet were very dissatisfied.

"Mr. Veres, your so-called bloodless struggle can really make the enemy give in? Wake up, the corrupt Vienna government will not hear the voice of the people, and true freedom can only be achieved through revolution..."

Before he could finish speaking, Veris yelled angrily: "Whoever let him in, throw this bastard out to me, he is trying to kill everyone!"

Damn, do you really think that the secret police of the Vienna government eat shit when you shout for revolution with such great fanfare?