.

Volume 4: The Empire's East Rise Chapter 108 Finale

The factory owners do not understand or not, at most they just shout a few words, but they dare not object, but there are no private factories. Most of the workers are familiar relatives. No one takes it seriously to form a trade union to oppose the factory owner because of the "Trade Union Organization Law". Large factories are owned by the imperial court, and the workers' welfare benefits are very good. Although the trade union was organized according to regulations, no workers made various requests because they joined the trade union. Except for some factory owners who started to shout, everyone calmly accepted the "Trade Union Organization Law".

This "Trade Union Organization Law" is just a rainy day, and the emperor did not hope that the "Trade Union Organization Law" will play a big role now. Wang Fu could be sure that at least a hundred years, the Ming Dynasty would not have to worry about the workers' movement. When the workers' movement emerged, he hoped that this law would regulate it and not develop into a violent movement.

After the promulgation of the Trade Union Organization Law, the emperor organized people to ask for the compilation of a general law, summarized the "Ming Law" promulgated by Taizu and some laws promulgated one after another, removed the inappropriate laws, and regulated the subsequent legislation. The emperor personally nominated the law as the "Ming Charter".

The Charter of the Ming Dynasty was undoubtedly a huge project. The emperor set up a special institution for this, and dispatched hundreds of people familiar with the law, and required the eldest son and the chief officials of various departments to participate, giving five years to complete the law.

The emperor attached so much importance to this law, so the eldest son and the chief officials of various departments did not dare to neglect them. From the 29th year of Hongguang to the 34th year of Hongguang, officials of various departments devoted most of their energy to the compilation of the "Ming Dynasty Charter". The newspapers also reported it many times, especially some of the shocking provisions that caused a large-scale discussion across the country and also aroused the enthusiasm of the people for the "Ming Dynasty Charter".

When the Ming Dynasty was busy formulating the Charter, the war in Europe began to take a turn. In April of the 29th year of Hongguang, the British saw that the Dutch fleet was strong and supported by Spain, Austria and other countries. They had the idea of ​​resuming the situation and extended an olive branch to the Netherlands.

For the Netherlands, France is the biggest enemy. Although he was angry with the British robbing their own commercial interests, William III still took over the olive branch extended by the British. Britain and the Netherlands signed a peace agreement, ending the war between them.

Although Britain did not win the war, it actually achieved the purpose of the war. The Netherlands paid 800,000 pounds in reparations from the new treaty, recognizing that the Dutch overseas colonies seized by Britain were valid. It was this treaty that made Britain replace the Netherlands and become the new maritime overlord in Europe.

Louis XIV was angry about the unauthorized signing of the Armistice Treaty with the Netherlands, and scolded Charles II for betrayal. However, the weak strength of the French Navy made him helpless against Britain, so he had to continue to increase his attack on the Netherlands. In the end, the French army almost fought against the alliance of several countries on its own, Spain and Austrian.

At the end of this year, the second five-year plan of the Ming Dynasty was successfully completed. At that time, the Ming Dynasty steel production was 2.2 million tons, 10% exceeding the original plan and accounting for 99% of the global output; the coal production reached 29 million tons, 45% exceeding the original plan and accounting for 95% of the global output; the steam engine production was 23,500 units, 17.5% exceeding the original plan and 100% of the global output; the railway mileage exceeded 15,000 miles, 50% exceeded the original plan and 100% of the global mileage; the oil production was 150,000 tons, accounting for 99.99% of the global output; the cotton production was 6 million ha, 9% exceeded the original plan and 51% of the global output; the silkworm cocoon production was 380,000 ha, 8% exceeded the original plan...

When European countries saw this data, they could imagine the shock in their hearts. The gap between them and the Ming Dynasty was as big as that between African clay and them.

In the face of the huge gap, many European scholars who claim to be civilization were frustrated and turned to a crazy worship of the Ming Dynasty. They published articles in newspapers saying that Europe is completely backward civilization compared with Chinese civilization. If Europe wants to rise, it must learn Chinese civilization completely and systematically, change the letters to Chinese characters, introduce civil servants to exams, and learn the etiquette of the Ming Dynasty...

Scholars in newspapers in various countries were very lively, and countries did study the Ming Dynasty. Chinese became a strong language in Europe. The nobles took pride in learning Chinese, but there were no countries that truly accepted the overall integration. More European scholars were not convinced. They believed that this was such a big gap between Europe and the Ming Dynasty, and that it was the result of the Chinese monopoly on steam engines. If the steam engine could be studied, Europe could catch up.

At this moment, Isaac Newton, a famous professor at the University of Cambridge, returned from studying in the East and was warmly welcomed by the British. However, when he delivered a research speech on Eastern theology in London, many people who had great hopes for Newton were disappointed.

Although the Ming Dynasty blocked the steam engine technology completely and Hongguang's 31st year, the steam engine was the first to make a breakthrough in the UK. The steam engine researched by the Royal Academy of Sciences in the UK is far less efficient than the Ming Dynasty. However, compared with hydraulic power, the efficiency of the steam engine is at least ten times higher, and the British textile industry began to develop leaps.

In the 32nd year of Hongguang, the Ming Dynasty lifted the first-level restrictions on steam engine exports, and some steam engines began to be exported to Europe. Although the exports were old machines in the early stages, these machines were still much more advanced than the steam engines produced by the British themselves. European countries had the same development opportunities as Britain, and the production of steam engines in Britain was severely damaged.

In the 34th year of Hongguang, the compilation of the "Ming Dynasty Charter", which lasted for five years, was finally completed. The charter totaled 72 articles, covering almost all aspects of the Ming Dynasty, and the most important thing was to restrict and restrict various rights.

Article 1 stipulates: The Ming Empire is a country led by the royal family and composed of various classes of scholars, peasants, industry and commerce. The royal family is a symbol of the Ming Empire. The Ming Empire belongs to the whole world rather than a royal family. The royal rights are not granted by gods but by the people, that is, the rights come from the people.

Article 2 stipulates: The emperor is the leader of the army, the army is loyal to the emperor and the country, and the emperor is the protector of the empire, so that the empire is not invaded by foreign enemies.

Article 3 stipulates: Without the permission of the cabinet, the emperor shall not increase the tax rate at will, and the royal family shall not exceed one percent of the treasury income.

...

Article 28 stipulates that the chief minister of the cabinet is the highest administrative official of the Ming Dynasty. Without the internal and external court recommendations, the emperor has no right to appoint and remove the chief minister of the cabinet. The chief minister of the cabinet is once every five years and is only allowed to be re-elected once. After the re-election period expires, he shall not continue to serve as the chief minister for any reason.

Article 29 stipulates that the court shall form a House of Representatives, and the rights of the House of Representatives include legislation, supervision of the government affairs, and proposing distrust cases against the cabinet. As long as two-thirds of the members agree, the cabinet must resign and the internal and external courts will re-establish the candidates for the cabinet.

Article 30 stipulates that two-thirds of the members of the House of Lords are recommended by each province, and one member of the parliament will be generated for every million people. Such members shall not hold any official position in the court, and the other one-third of the members shall be recommended by the royal family to hold a title. There is no restriction on whether to hold an official position in the court.

Article 31 stipulates that the term of office of members of the House of Lords is also one for five years, and there is no restriction on re-election.

...

Article 72 stipulates that the amendment of the Ming Charter must be approved by the emperor, the cabinet, and the House of Lords before it can be amended. The House of Lords must have three quarters of the members of the parliament to be considered as the consent of the House of Lords. If any of them does not agree, the amendment of the Ming Charter must be invalid.

The Constitution has imposed many restrictions on the rights of the royal family, which has expanded the rights of the chief minister of the cabinet, but only limited the term of office. There is also an additional House of Lords to check and balance the cabinet, ensuring the equality of the basic rights of all classes of scholars, farmers, industry and commerce, and abolishing the restrictions on classes by exams. The emperor and scholars share the world into the emperor and the world share the world...

If many clauses were not drafted by the emperor himself, no one dared to mention them, or even imagined them. The various restrictions on imperial power in the "Ming Dynasty Charter" made everyone see the hope of long-term stability in the world. Even Huang Zongxi, Gu Yanwu and others, who are the most opposed to imperial power, have to admit that the current emperor is worthy of the name of a saint.

This year, the continuous war finally made Louis XIV tired. The war made France suffer from debt. The money owed to the Ming Dynasty's Ministry of Revenue Bank was as high as 500 million liffles, while the entire French country owed as high as 2 billion liffles, which was equivalent to the French's fiscal revenue for a full twelve years.

It can be said that France has actually gone bankrupt. The Ming Dynasty intervened in time to mediate, and obtained the consent of the French and the Dutch. In May, the two sides signed a peace treaty and the army retreated to their respective borders.

After the war, in order to thank the Ming Dynasty for mediation, the Netherlands transferred the American colony of New Amsterdam to the Ming Dynasty. William III's move was somewhat of an intention to destroy money and eliminate disasters, but he was the idea of ​​killing two birds with one stone. The British have always been obsessed with New Amsterdam, and the map has always been marked as New York. After the war, the Netherlands' strength has declined greatly and is no longer able to protect this colony. It is better to give it to the Ming Dynasty in exchange for the favor of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty happily accepted this colony, like a wedge, deeply plunged into the east coast of America. Although the British were jealous, they did not dare to seize food from the Ming Dynasty, so they had to make a decision.

As the main force of the war, France did not get anything except huge debts. Instead, the British ended the war early and also gained a lot of benefits. Even the Ming Dynasty got a colony due to mediation. In order to repay the debt, Louis XIV had to sell many treasures that had just been decorated with newly, and even the silver candlesticks in the palace were taken out. The strong contrast caused the two countries to have completely had a feud, and from then on, the long confrontation between the two countries began.

After the steam engine began to become popular in Europe, European countries also developed rapidly. However, after the 34th year of Hongguang and the third five-year plan of the Ming Dynasty was completed, European countries found that not only did they not widen the gap with the Ming Dynasty, but instead had a tendency to expand.

In the 35th year of Hongguang, after the emperor spent his 72nd birthday, he ordered the throne to pass on to the eldest son Zhu Cizhuo. Despite repeated requests from the eldest son and ministers, the emperor insisted on abdicating.

After the emperor abdicated, the Royal Daily published an article reviewing the achievements of Emperor Hongguang. When the emperor ascended the throne, the Ming Dynasty was in a state of storm and could destroy the country at any time. When the emperor abdicated, the Ming Dynasty not only cut off its strong enemies one by one, expanded its territory several times, but also the people lived and worked in peace and enjoyed a prosperous life, even if the Zhenzhi ruled, it could not be compared.

The article ends with: "Living in an era like Emperor Hongguang, both officials and the people are so lucky. Not only do we not have to worry about the invasion of powerful enemies, but everyone lives a wealthy life. Our era is a golden age."

At the Nanjing Wharf, Zhu Cizhuo, the new emperor of the Ming Empire, was bringing civil and military officials to bid farewell to the Supreme Emperor. After passing the throne to Zhu Cizhuo, Wang Fu had already made up his mind to leave the Central Plains and patrol overseas, realizing his dream of traveling around the world.

For his own safety and comfort, Wang Fu made preparations several years ago to build a huge cruise ship with a displacement of up to 12,000 tons, which can take more than 2,000 people and install the latest generators and electric lights. Even at night, it was as bright as daytime. The emperor sent two other warships as the guards of the cruise ship.

"Dou" the cruise ship made a huge whistle sound and began to start slowly. A trace of chaos suddenly appeared among the crowd that was seeing off. Two women in Taoist robes approached the cruise ship like swimming fish, jumped and jumped onto the bottom deck of the cruise ship.

"Who dares to be so arrogant?" The guard below was shocked. The musket in his hand had already pointed at the two people. As long as someone pulled the machine, the two Taoist nuns might die.

Wang Fu was standing above the cruise ship deck and saw the figures of two Taoist nuns. He was shocked and hurriedly said, "Hurry up, send an order, don't hurt the two below."

"Yes, the Supreme Emperor." An eunuch responded and hurried down. After a while, two Taoist nuns were brought up. Seeing the two, the emperor looked a little excited and said, "I have been looking for you for decades, but I can't even find you, so why should I come here today?"

"I am not a person with a heart of heart. How can I not be moved by the emperor's affection? I just don't want to stay in the palace. Now the emperor is under heavy burdens and travels all over the world. I will naturally come to accompany you."

Looking at Xia Yunzhen's still as beautiful as a flower, Wang Fu smiled bitterly, "I am old, but you are still like 28 years old. How can I be with you?"

Xia Yunzhen walked to Wang Fu and took the initiative to hold the emperor's hand: "If you can get the emperor's true intention, what else can I ask for? Even if the emperor is old, I will stay with the emperor."

Holding the soft pancreas of the beauty in front of him tightly, a kind of joy of losing and regaining filled Wang Fu's chest. Wang Fu suddenly felt that he was much younger, and took Xia Yunzhen's hand to the bow of the boat and said, "Okay, I will travel around the world with you." After that, he hugged the beauty's waist with his hand and let the river breeze blow.

The crowd who were seeing off suddenly became quiet and stared at this scene blankly. The Supreme Emperor's actions were obviously contrary to etiquette and law, but everyone did not feel abruptly. Instead, they felt it was taken for granted. However, this situation was always engraved in their hearts.

…………………………

The whole book is over

It's finally over. This book has been interrupted for more than a year. Lao Mao solemnly apologizes to everyone. I'm so sorry.

Fortunately, it did not end up hastily. Although the subscription was bleak after the reupdation, Lao Mao insisted on finishing writing. After typing out the whole book, Lao Mao felt relieved.

The new book will be issued on the 19th of this month, and will be notified in the book at that time. Please keep it for collection. I hope that the next book will have better results, and I hope that everyone can continue to support Lao Mao’s new book.
Chapter completed!