I Became A Black Merchant In Another World-Chapter 339: I’ll be a mess (8)
Establishing absolute monarchy requires the most important support: the people's approval.
You might think that in an autocracy, the concept of approval ratings doesn’t apply, but if you shift your perspective slightly...
If a king does whatever he wants without regard for the nobles, they’ll protest, saying, “Aren’t we supposed to share in this? This is immoral.”
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Most rulers, upon hearing such complaints, would compromise and say, “Let’s make an agreement and end it here,” and negotiate.
However, a ruler who enjoys absolute support from the people can reject such proposals immediately, saying, “Screw you. Do you think I care? If you don’t like it, the people will smash your heads in.”
‘This is why our Emperor can do whatever he wants.’
“Isn’t this inciting a rebellion? Isn’t that too extreme?”
“The words may be extreme, but they’re not wrong, are they? And, Your Majesty, the labor laws you set don’t just favor the weak. They are not unreasonable or biased toward the common people, as the nobles or merchants may think.”
In a medieval fantasy world, it’s hard to gauge the value of money.
But, practically speaking, the wages paid to workers are barely equivalent to 2,000 or 2,300 won.
In terms of 1980s pricing, 2,300 won per hour would be extremely high, but for the 2020s, that barely amounts to a monthly salary of 500,000 won.
Making someone work more than 240 hours a month without even paying that is crossing the line.
Even considering that the average standard of living in this medieval fantasy world is low, this is still unacceptable.
“Well, even if you pay that much, it’s only a little more than half of what a peasant family earns in a year. Plus, the city prices are high,”
“Even so, if they were paid any less, the workers wouldn’t be able to live like humans.”
If they’re paid a little over 1.5 silver coins per month, they’d have to donate one whole silver coin to the dormitory that barely provides them with the basics.
The remaining half silver coin is for leisure or marriage funds, but even then, it’s barely enough.
If they’re paid less than that, they won’t be able to live like human beings at all.
“That’s the reason for the revolt in the Lyon Kingdom. People couldn’t live decently, so they wanted to tear down this world.”
The Minister of Commerce looked at me, perplexed.
“No matter how well-versed you are in trade compared to the merchants, you seem to be quite familiar with the common folk’s struggles. How is it that you can understand the lives of the common people so well?”
“My concubine—well, to be precise, my son and the heir to the Medici Baron family, Leo de Medici's mother—Chloe, is from a peasant background. Since my concubine is from a peasant family, I never feel like their struggles are someone else's business.”
In fact, to keep running my business steadily, I have to be fully aware of the lives of the common folk.
In my past life, I was just a commoner who happened to be born in a developed country in the 21st century, but...
‘No need to go into details and explain this—it would only make me look crazy.’
If I tried to explain this, people would think I’m out of my mind.
“Ensuring that peasants and workers receive their basic rights is the Emperor’s wish and dream,”
The Emperor never said such a thing.
However, the image of the Emperor I’ve portrayed in the Imperial newspapers is one of a person who lies awake at night worrying about his people.
It’s like how King Sejong of Joseon created the 28 new characters out of concern for the people—our Emperor is depicted as a person who cannot sleep because he cares so much for the common folk.
So, when we say it’s for the people, and it’s the Emperor’s will, 99.5% of people will believe it’s “the Emperor’s recognized will.”
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
Someone might call me a sycophant, but I’m not a sycophant—I’m a loyal subject.
I simply fulfill the Emperor’s desires, collecting commissions in the process.
“However, the Emperor is so busy with state affairs that he cannot personally care for all the people. What we need is someone who can look after the peasants and workers on His Majesty’s behalf.”
“Nobles keep bureaucrats and officials for such reasons.”
“Please place the Emperor’s eyes in every part of the kingdom.”
“How should we operate this?”
In my ideal scenario, I’d want to set up a “Labor Monitoring Provincial Office” across the kingdom and have people sent there to monitor, but...
If I did that, there’s a high chance ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) that the labor monitoring system itself would lose its meaning due to “collusion between politics and business.”
Furthermore, setting up local offices would almost certainly lead to selecting people with connections to the localities.
People with no competence being appointed as inspectors just because of their connections.
That’s something I cannot allow.
This isn’t just because I want to appoint people under my influence as labor inspectors.
I’m confident that, as someone with a conscience far superior to the United Kingdom and the six-state baguette republic, I can say this.
“I’d like to set up provincial offices across the country under the Ministry of Commerce, similar to how corporate taxes are collected, and station labor monitors in each region. However, if labor inspectors are stationed in each region, merchants will likely bribe them. In that case, it would be better not to have them at all.”
“Certainly, collecting taxes from merchants could work if you give them a part of what’s collected as a reward and supervise each other. However, if labor inspectors are bribed, they will regularly take bribes, turning a blind eye to violations of labor laws, and there would be no way for the Emperor to check.”
“Then we can punish violators according to the type of violation detected through monitoring.”
Labor inspectors are like the grim reapers for employers.
If a labor inspector demands the payment of back wages from an employer, the employer must pay quickly and also submit an apology letter and a report on improvements.
If things are severe, the inspector can request an arrest warrant and have the employer arrested.
Additionally, if there’s a risk of industrial accidents, the inspector can shut down the factory entirely.
“If wages aren’t paid properly, the inspector can demand immediate payment. For those who exploit workers severely, the inspector can investigate and file charges in court for a ‘death sentence.’ If a factory is abusing workers or if there’s chronic exploitation, it may be best to confiscate the factory.”
“For those who violate the Emperor’s orders and exploit workers and peasants, this seems like an appropriate punishment.”
Honestly, not even paying the minimum wage of 2,300 won and exploiting people is something that should be strictly punished.
“However, in cases where a factory is struggling and there is no choice but to delay wages or overwork, it would be prudent to show some leniency, depending on the situation.”
In Korea, some convenience store owners work 13–15 hours a day and still earn less than part-time workers who work 14 hours a week.
These people have no resources to pay night shifts or extra wages, and they might be in such dire financial straits that they could be facing life-threatening situations...
In such cases, while it’s wrong to delay wages or overwork, some leniency can be shown.
“And I think it’s best for the Ministry of Commerce to assign inspectors, chosen based on merit, to oversee this.”
“The idea is that merchants and factory owners will comply with labor laws out of fear of inspectors arriving unexpectedly. It’s quite a clever idea.”
“Inspectors should be given medals bearing the imperial seal and the authority to mobilize officials and civil servants. This way, they can oversee and investigate corrupt employers and officials who exploit peasants.”
If we send inspectors without any connection to the local areas, corrupt employers or officials will be caught off guard, like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
Moreover, the inspectors will be free from threats to their safety since they have no local connections...
‘Once they’re in, we’ll catch everyone we can.’
And if they’re appointed by someone with influence in the Ministry of Commerce, we’ll have an opportunity to deal with people who have no connections to me.
“Good idea. I will make sure to pass this advice directly to His Majesty. But...”
“Is there something you wish to say?”
The Minister of Commerce quietly stared at me.
If I speak directly, it would seem like he’s taking credit for my ideas, but if I pass it off to him, it seems like a concession. Is he planning to take my spot as Prime Minister?
‘Well, there’s no need to be petty over something like this.’
“I’ve merely reviewed the draft you’ve prepared, Your Excellency, and made a very small suggestion.”
The Minister of Commerce firmly grasped my hand.
“I won’t forget your generous heart! If I ever become Prime Minister, I will be sure to take care of you first.”
Not long after, the labor inspector system was officially implemented in the Toscana Empire.
