IBTCPOTME Novel - Chapter 110
**Chapter 110**
**Key Cities and Capitalists (4)**
December 31, 1842.
The Landowner Party members realized they had been too complacent about this event.
The Landowner Party members, who were all landowners, as the name suggests, and not just any landowners, but large landowners, had to gather urgently because of the event that happened right at the end of the year, preventing them from enjoying the last day of the year with their families.
As those who employed the most peons, they were the ones who would suffer the most if the labor law was passed.
“We thought things would finally calm down as the end of the year approached, but the Imperial Party members proposed the labor law, and the momentum of the protesters is back.”
In Mexico, there were hardly any protests, except for the chaotic period right after independence. This was the first time the members of parliament had experienced such a large-scale protest.
“*Ahem*. They must think this is France.”
*Hahaha-*
A member’s complaint about the protesters was met with laughter for a moment, but they had to decide how to respond.
“If we Landowner Party members are the only ones who reject the bill, we’ll be defeated in the next election.”
When the constitution was enacted, there were very few people who owned property besides landowners, but the number of people who had accumulated enough money to acquire voting rights has been increasing rapidly since then.
“I don’t know what those rabble know about having voting rights, but…”
The Landowner Party members complained about the current situation of the empire, but none of them had a proper solution.
It’s a law that says they’ll fix the strong dissatisfaction of the voters, so what will happen if they oppose it?
So, they’re just saying that the old days were better, that they should have opposed the constitutional monarchy in the first place.
“How about cooperating with the church to change public opinion? They’ll say it’s taking away the right to work.”
The Catholic Church and the Landowner Party had been politically cooperating since the establishment of the secular university.
“The church is also hesitant. They say they can’t oppose the provisions contained in the labor law proposed by the Imperial Party because they’re too basic.”
“*Ahem*. I see.”
“…We’ll have to compromise by adjusting the conditions.”
The Landowner Party members, whose pride was hurt, decided to increase their investment in the media and pay more attention to public opinion, and then they disbanded.
***
January 1843.
The labor law was passed in the Mexican Empire.
It was the result of a compromise reached by the Imperial Party, the Landowner Party, and the Republican Party after about two weeks of negotiation.
The content was as follows:
——————————————
Basic Labor Law of the Mexican Empire
Article 1 (Limitation of Working Hours): In accordance with this law, the maximum daily working hours for adult male workers shall not exceed 14 hours, and for adult female workers, the maximum daily working hours shall not exceed 12 hours.
Article 2 (Prohibition of Child Labor): All forms of labor for children under the age of nine are strictly prohibited by this law.
Article 3 (Limitation of Working Hours for Adolescents): Adolescents between the ages of 10 and 14 may only work a maximum of six hours a day, and such work shall not be detrimental to their health, welfare, and education.
Article 4 (Additional Pay for Night Work): Working hours from midnight to 5 am are considered to infringe on the right to sleep, and workers working during those hours shall be paid an additional allowance for regular working hours.
Article 5 (Duty to Take Safety Measures): All employers shall, in accordance with this law, provide and maintain the minimum safety and health measures prescribed for each industry.
——————————————
It was a basic labor law with only five articles, but its scope was much broader than the ‘Factory Act’ and ‘Mines Act’ enacted in England.
“The limitation of working hours for adolescents is a bit annoying, but… It’s not bad.”
“Right. Anyway, these days, if you include conditions like working over 14 hours or working in the early morning, you won’t be able to hire anyone.”
“Right. We’ll have to take the safety measures in Article 5, but that doesn’t seem like a big deal either.”
“Only those who use peons will suffer a big loss.”
Capitalists who didn’t employ peons sighed in relief, but they also felt a sense of bitterness deep down.
While some were relieved, others, naturally, those who employed peons, were outraged.
Among them, capitalists were more outraged than landowners. This was because, due to the nature of farms, where working hours are flexible depending on the season, and where working longer doesn’t necessarily produce more, they didn’t require long working hours or early morning work every day.
The only ones who demanded harsh labor, even leading to accidents like death from overwork, were the capitalists who bought peons.
“It’s a really stupid law. Unlike ordinary workers, peons need to work more to pay off their debts and make a living, but they’ve made it so they can’t.”
“Well, if they can’t pay off their debts, they’ll just live as peons for generations. Don’t they have children because they think it’s good to get married?”
In reality, the wages paid to peons were ridiculously low, regardless of whether the working hours were long or short, so from the peons’ perspective, the current situation, where they were at least spared from death from overwork, was much better, but that didn’t matter to the angry capitalists.
“If those hypocritical Republican bastards hadn’t agreed, this kind of law wouldn’t have been passed.”
“They must have suffered just as much as we have. Even if the members of parliament are like that, there are many supporters who don’t have strong Republican beliefs. I wonder how long they can hold out.”
“That’s what I’m saying. We need to naturally draw them to our side.”
“We need to take the lead in that, and increase the voice of our capitalists within the Landowner Party. This bill didn’t cause much damage to the landowners, so they easily agreed to it, didn’t they?”
“Yes. We capitalists don’t have a place to speak for us yet, so we’re clinging to the Landowner Party, but we’re clearly different from them. We need to either increase our power within the Landowner Party or create a new force.”
Unlike the reactions of those employers, the workers cheered.
It’s not a big change in their lives, but a law that guarantees their rights has been created. And it’s not like they’ve been able to stop the harsh labor of peons, which triggered this event.
“Henry! Look at this! Our Mexican Empire is different!”
Victor read the newspaper article to Henry. Henry nodded.
“It is definitely different. We did well to immigrate here.”
“Of course! I knew it!”
Victor exclaimed proudly.
***
February 1843.
The first foreign students from the Mexican Empire arrived.
Park Gyu-su looked at the others who came to study abroad with him. This was because there were students from other countries at the harbor. The escorts were supposed to take them all together.
‘Three Japanese, five Filipinos, two Chinese, I think.’
There were three Koreans. They definitely said they had to be proficient in Spanish. Even if the Filipinos knew Spanish originally, it was surprising that people came from Japan and China.
Park Gyu-su, who was confident in his ability to learn, had to devote almost all of his time to Spanish for the past seven months.
His juniors, whom he had persuaded with great difficulty to come with him, were so exhausted that they wanted to give up, and many actually did. But there were three Japanese, the same as Korea.
Park Gyu-su opened his mouth.
“Learning Spanish wasn’t easy.”
It was a remark to the Japanese student. He was slightly startled but calmly answered in Spanish.
“We were already learning Dutch and English, so it was relatively easy for us. It’s not exactly the same as Spanish, but there are quite a few similarities.”
“Oh, I see.”
There was something Park Gyu-su hadn’t considered. From their perspective, Korea would be strange.
‘Japan is skilled at accepting foreign cultures.’
Park Gyu-su recalled history. If they fall behind, disaster will befall Korea. Didn’t the Emperor of the Mookseo Dynasty hint at that in his letter?
Park Gyu-su naturally started talking to people from other countries, and they all spoke good Spanish, as if the missionaries had chosen them well.
“Why did you come alone from China? As a great nation, there must have been many who wanted to study abroad.”
“There were more who wanted to learn English.”
He answered briefly.
Park Gyu-su understood immediately.
The British Empire, the world’s strongest nation, had won the war against China, taking land and imposing a huge indemnity and strong influence.
In that situation, there would be more people who wanted to learn English than Spanish.
A day later, the escort arrived.
“Everyone, we’re going to take the railway to Morelia, where the university is located.”
No one answered.
“…Hmm? I heard you all spoke good Spanish… Did I speak too quickly?”
“No. What is this ‘railway’?”
“Oh… It’s better to see it than to explain it in words.”
The escort smiled, as if amused.
The railway station in Puerto Pacífico, a port on the Pacific side of the Mexican Empire.
Park Gyu-su and his group had already been amazed to the point of having their jaws drop when they saw the huge harbor and shipyard, and the ships being built there.
“Is this… the railway?”
“To be exact, it’s the iron track that’s laid under this ‘train’. The train can only move on this railway. Come on, get on.”
“Yes.”
*Woo woo woo-*
*Beep beep-*
Something made a sound from the train, and it started moving.
*Clank-*
*Clank clank clank-*
The scenery outside the window began to pass by at an increasingly faster pace.
“There was definitely no horse pulling this train…”
“Hey, how can it be a horse if it’s this fast? This is truly the train moving by itself.”
He calmly replied to his junior, who looked horrified, but he was also quite surprised inside.
Fortunately, it wasn’t just Park Gyu-su and his juniors who were surprised. The Japanese, the Filipinos, and the Chinese seemed quite surprised too. It was clear on their faces.
Park Gyu-su realized that he had the same expression and managed to control his face, and then he met the escort’s eyes, who was smiling.
“…”
“…*Heh heh*.”
***
While directing the construction of Chihuahua, something interesting happened, so I came down to Morelia for a while.
Morelia was also halfway on the route I took to go down to Mexico City to see my family every weekend.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Are you looking forward to the students, or are you looking forward to them being surprised when they see this university building?”
“Both.”
Students from four Asian countries that traded with the Mexican Empire had arrived. It had been seven months since we sent missionaries.
I was really curious how well they had learned Spanish, who the Koreans were, and what emotions they would feel when they saw our Mexican Empire.
My curiosity was soon satisfied.
The students arrived at a perfect time, less than an hour after I had been waiting.
“I’m sorry for wasting Your Majesty’s precious time… I should have hurried more.”
The escort was surprised, even though he had heard that I was coming, because he didn’t expect me to be waiting. He apologized.
“No, I just stopped by on my way.”
I soothed him a bit and looked at the faces of the students. Most of them were in their early 20s or early 30s, but one Korean looked to be in his mid-30s.
“What’s your name?”
“Your Majesty, my name is Park Gyu-su of Joseon.”
The students were flustered when they saw me, the Crown Prince of this country, standing before them, but the one I spoke to answered calmly.
“Alright. How was your train ride?”
“…It was amazing.”
“*Hahaha*. Then let’s go to the university where you’ll be studying.”
I spoke to several students besides Park Gyu-su as we moved, and they were uncomfortable but also eager to converse, knowing that such opportunities were rare.
‘Park Gyu-su… I think I’ve heard that name.’
I was more interested in world history than Korean history, so I didn’t know much unless it was a really famous name.
‘Seeing him talk, he must have been one of the Silhak scholars.’
I was curious how this man would turn out by coming to study in Mexico.
“We’ve arrived.”
Everyone got off the carriage.
It was in front of the main gate of the Imperial University of the Mexican Empire.
The main gate consisted of two tall and majestic stone towers, and between these towers was a delicately carved arch.
It was the main gate that I had described as “like a work of art” when I saw its completed form.
“Wow!”
“Oh…”
There was no need to ask them how they felt. Everyone was gaping in admiration.
I felt a sense of satisfaction as an architect, and then I encouraged them a bit and left for Mexico City.
It was to meet my beautiful Cecilia and my lovely son and daughter.
It was one of the few enjoyable days in a hard life.
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