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Chapter 211:
Chapter 211:
Chapter 211:
Chapter 211
Before long, eight Golden Guards appeared in the procession, bearing ceremonial items. An inner officer stood atop the Golden Platform and loudly addressed the Holy Temple. Shortly after, Li Er strolled leisurely and settled onto the Dragon Throne.
“Ministers, if you have matters to report, please do so now. If not, you may depart,” Li Er uttered lazily.
The courtiers exchanged glances, but none spoke, their attention fixed on Su Li at the forefront. Su Li finally opened his eyes and stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, I have something to discuss.”
Li Er burst into laughter. “Su Li gracing the court is indeed a rare sight. You are the symbol of good fortune for the Tang Dynasty. After your last court appearance, I recall that you led the troops to pacify the northwest. I wonder what surprises you have for us this time.”
“Your Majesty, since I established various factories, imitators have sprung up among the common people. Factory efficiency far surpasses manual labor, and I believe this benefits the people.”
Su Li sighed and then turned his gaze towards the courtiers individually.
“However, I never imagined those who followed suit would fail in their endeavors, turning from excellence to mediocrity. They have shamelessly exploited the commoners, leading to dire consequences. This matter weighs heavily on my heart.”
Li Er furrowed his brows and asked, “Are you referring to the recent incident at the Qu River Factory?”Su Li nodded without a word.
“Su Li, we understand that mistakes can occur with the machinery in the factories in the short term,” Li Er defended.
Su Li snorted and replied, “Your Majesty, except for the factories under the Princess's Manor, all the others treat the laboring populace like mere livestock, using them solely to maximize profits. These factories operate tirelessly day and night, with grueling labor that ordinary people cannot endure.”
“In time, Your Majesty, even you cannot prevent mistakes from happening. If we don't address this issue now, similar situations will only become more common.”
Suddenly, a voice chimed in.
“Prince Yongle's words may be a bit exaggerated. I know there have been incidents at the Qu River Factory only once a year. Throughout the Tang Empire, countless similar factories exist, yet such problems have never been heard of.”
Following the voice, Su Li saw an elderly man with wrinkles on his face and a slender frame standing behind him.
“Who are you?” Su Li inquired.
“I am Cui Shu, currently serving as the Minister of Agriculture. I've had the honor of meeting Prince Yongle.”
Cui Shu saluted Su Li with a serious demeanor, displaying impeccable etiquette.
Su Li nodded. He had thoroughly researched the matter since he was planning to take action against the Five Surnames and Seven Clans. Cui Shu hailed from the renowned Cui clan of Qinghe and led the Cui family branch in Yanling, Xuzhou.
Although the Cui clan held a significant reputation, there were no prominent figures of high authority within Li Er's court. Cui Shu was already the highest-ranking member of the Cui clan in official positions. Furthermore, he held the position of Minister of Agriculture, which had some relevance to people's livelihoods.
“Your hometown is in Yanling, Xuzhou. You should be well aware of the factory situation there,” Su Li asked with a sly grin.
Cui Shu hesitated and chose not to answer.
The Five Surnames and Seven Clans were closely connected through interarriage and alliances, spanning a history of hundreds of years. They were responsible for more than half of the factories in the entire Tang Empire. Of course, as aristocratic families focused on literature and rituals, they wouldn't openly engage in such affairs but would delegate their subordinates to manage them.
In the present day, the profits generated by these factories had grown beyond their control over other avenues of income. Su Li clarified that he intended to disrupt their established order, and everyone from the noble families was obligated to speak up.
While that was the principle, suggesting that Cui Shu knew about his hometown's factory situation was utterly absurd. As the head of the Yanling branch, Cui Shu's usual concern was solely collecting money. He had little interest in how the money was earned.
While Cui Shu was momentarily stunned, Su Li pressed on. “There are a total of eight types of factories in Yanling. These factories have experienced over twenty accidents in the past three months alone, resulting in twenty-one deaths and eighteen disabilities. Additionally, fifty-three individuals were worked to death due to the unbearable intensity of labor.”
Su Li's expression turned cold, and he bared his teeth. “To maximize profits, local factory owners forced their workers to labor for nine extended periods each day, leading to the deaths of over seventy people. Do you still consider this a minor matter?”
At this point, Su Li's expression grew even colder. When he first encountered these alarming statistics, he was profoundly shocked. On average, in Yanling alone, each factory caused three deaths per month. The extent of this tragedy was horrifying.
How many factories were there in the entire Tang Dynasty? How many people were being squeezed to death every day? The common people of the Tang Dynasty, impoverished and desperate, clung to these money-making opportunities even at the cost of their lives.
Such exploitative practices would have led to worker uprisings in the modern era. Even in the Tang Dynasty, the outcome would be no different if this situation continued.
Su Li's original intention was the well-being of the common people. He didn't mind people learning from his inventions or following trends, as they were mostly a pastime or amusement for him. However, he could not tolerate the aristocratic families using his technology to exploit the common people.
Su Li felt deeply angry as he reflected on the materials he had gathered over the past few days. The Five Surnames and Seven Clans had established over two hundred factories across the country, resulting in over two thousand deaths in just one year due to excessive exploitation. Among them, the Qinghe Cui clan, which had turned its back on political affairs and was solely focused on accumulating wealth, was the most ruthless.
Su Li hadn't expected that the first person to come forward would be from the Cui clan. Since Cui Shu was not being honest, Su Li was determined not to be polite.
Cui Shu was shocked and defended, “The Cui clan has established numerous private schools in Yanling, educating many children. Many local wealthy families have good relations with the Cui clan. The overall atmosphere in Yanling is that of a gentle and refined society. How could such heinous acts occur?”
Upon hearing this, the other courtiers couldn't help but pity Cui Shu. Clearly, he was trying to use these incidents to promote the Cui clan's reputation before the Emperor.
It was evident to anyone with a discerning mind that the exchange between Li Er and Su Li had been a scripted performance. Su Li had undoubtedly received Li Er's support to take action against the Five Surnames and Seven Clans. At this moment, a heavy weight settled in the hearts of everyone present.