Immigrating ten million people sounds terrifying, but when spread out over five years, it amounts to only two million immigrants per year.


    Considering Austria’s current poption base and a growth rate of 2%, the native poption adds about 1.7 million each year, and it could be even more.


    In an era without any entertainment activities, people were still keen on procreation. Coupled with the Austrian government’s birth subsidies, Austria’s poption growth rate has consistently ranked among the highest in the world.


    Although the total native poption won’t decrease significantly, the impact will still be considerable. We are currently at the cusp of the Second Industrial Revolution, where emerging industries are continuously expanding, leading to an increasing demand forbor.


    Whilebor demand is rising, the supply is decreasing, which alters the supply-demand rtionship in thebor market and inevitably drives upbor costs.


    Compared to traditional industries, the most notable characteristic of emerging industries is their vitality. During periods of rapid development,panies enjoy higher profits and can naturally afford to pay higher wages.


    In this context, traditional businesses must innovate technologically if they do not want to be eliminated from the market.


    In fact, many new production devices have already emerged. However, some capitalists are reluctant to rece them to save costs.


    This is not a mere guess by Franz as there is evidence for it. Some capitalists have evenined in newspapers: Now that mechanical equipment is being updated so frequently, if we rece it today, it might be outdated again in a few years. Since our current equipment still works, it’s better to wait for something better toe along before making aplete switch.For a long time, thefortable business environment has made capitalists conservative. Many even oppose technological progress because it increases uncertainty.


    A typical example is the electric era. To save costs, many factories still insist on using gasmps.


    It’s not that capitalists are unaware of the advantages of electric lights, but they are unwilling to spend money on installing electrical equipment.


    After all, they can continue using gasmps and still make profits, so whyplicate things?


    In Austria, the impoverished poption is not primarily in the vast rural areas but concentrated in cities. The main reason for this situation is that everything is rising in price, yet wages remain stagnant.


    From 1848 to now, Austria’s per capita ie has increased by 2.3 times, but workers’ wages have only risen by 56%, and in many factories, wages have not changed at all.


    The economy is developing, but ies have not kept pace, so it’s no surprise that people are falling into poverty.


    Now Franz is resorting to immigration as a strategy, which is actually ast resort. If this situation does not change, it will inevitably lead to problems sooner orter.


    …


    Mn, as the capital of the Kingdom of Lombardy, has always been the most prosperous city in Italy. No, it should now be said that it is the most prosperous area in the German region.


    Geographical boundaries have always been artificially defined. Now that Austria is powerful, Franz has directly ssified Lombardy as part of the German region.


    Regardless of whether people ept it or not, all official documents state that Mn is part of the German region. The theoretical basis for this is that the Lombards are a branch of the Germanic people.


    Although there are more Italians in the area, it doesn’t matter. History can be rewritten, cultural traditions can change, and ethnicity can be changed.


    The internationalmunity has recognized that the Kingdom of Lombardy is indeed part of the German region. Along with Lombardy, many other areas have also been ssified as part of the region of Germany, such as neighboring Venice, and even further ces like Hungary and parts of the Balkans...


    Even the Kingdom of Jerusalem is about to be part of the German region. Looking at the current map of the German region can make historians go red in the face.


    You can support the trantion at /dragonlegion


    All those natural conditions and historical factors are nonsense. The real basis for division is very much a product of its time: anywhere within the range of Austrian artillery is considered part of the German region, or rather, the Austrian region.


    It’s just a name so calling it whatever doesn’t affect anyone’s interests. After hearing it a few times, people will get used to it.


    The Dekker Textile Factory is a well-knownrge enterprise in the Mn area and ranks among the top three textile factories in Austria.


    It includes more than a dozen factories such as silk mills, woolen mills, cotton mills, dyeing factories, and garment factories, employing over 130,000 workers.


    In the Mn area, where there is an independent industrial park, factories would typically be bustling at this time, but now there is an eerie silence.


    Those in the know understand that another strike has urred here.


    Austria is promotingpulsory education, and the Kingdom of Lombardy is no exception. Thanks to the cultivation of a sense of discipline from a young age, the currentbor strike movements tend to be much more harmonious.


    People havee to realize that machinery is essential for their livelihoods so vandalizing equipment only jeopardizes their own jobs.


    This does not hinder their right to go on a strike legally. As long as it does not disrupt public order, going on a strike remains a fundamental right that does not require approval from anyone.


    Mn has been heavily influenced by Italian maritime culture and is the birthce of the Renaissance. Compared to other regions in Austria, new ideas are much more vibrant here, and strikes are also more frequent.


    Of course, this is not the main factor behind the strike at the Dekker Textile Factory. Like most traditional enterprises, the once-thriving Dekker Textile Factory has gradually fallen into decline.


    With the onset of the Second Industrial Revolution, the Dekker Textile Factory did not seize opportunities and sided with conservatives, failing to update its equipment in a timely manner, which led to fatigue in marketpetition.


    Due to declining profits, thepany has not raised wages since 1870, while prices have continued to rise without waiting for them, naturally leading to strikes.


    Like mostpanies, the Dekker Textile Factory is a family business. The current head, Dekker Lanoue, is already an old man in his seventies.


    In his youth, he was also a prominent figure. During the Austro-Sardinian War, he decisively bet on Austria, and after the war ended,petitors who chose the wrong side faced dire consequences. Dekker Lanoue took the opportunity to take over their factories and began a life of ease.


    Taking advantage of the market gap, Dekker Textile Factory rapidly developed, at its peak employing over 180,000 workers and achieving annual production values that ced it among Austria’s top 100panies.


    However, this industry,cking core technology, shares amon problem: there are manypetitors.


    After the Austrian government implemented the cultivation of mulberry instead of wheat, the Kingdom of Lombardy quickly became Austria’s most important silk-producing region.


    Being close to the source allowed the Dekker Textile Factory to enjoy the first wave of profits, as local production significantly reduced costs.


    Even now, the Dekker Textile Factory upies more than half of Lombardy’s silk processing market. With aplete industrial chain, it should be thriving.


    However, with the arrival of the Second Industrial Revolution, circumstances began to change. Various mechanical devices were constantly being updated, but the aging and conservative Dekker Lanoue did not keep pace with the times in pursuit of greater profits.


    Being slow to adapt led to being left behind. Capitalpetition is relentless, andpetitors would not leave them any opportunities.


    New technologies not only improve productivity but also enhance product quality. When prices are simr, higher-quality goods are undoubtedly more popr.


    In just a few short years, Dekker Textile Factory’s market share was eroded by one-third bypetitors, and thepany’s profits plummeted.


    After receiving news of the strike, Dekker Lanoue suddenly mmed his hand on the table and said, “Another strike! These ungrateful people don’t even think about who’s supporting them!


    If we go under, they won’t have jobs at all. If they don’t want to work, then fine. There are plenty of people who want to work in ourpany.


    Send out the order that ording to the old rules, 10% of the strikers will be fired and order them to return to work immediately. Those who are thest to return are going to be kicked out!”


    This was the method Dekker developed to deal with strikes. Among the workers, he had also bought off spies. Whenever this happened, as long as someone took the lead in returning to work, the strike would falter.


    Typically, those who stayed until the end were the stubborn ones and they naturally needed to be fired. Whether or not he really intended toy off 10% was not important. What mattered was getting rid of the stubborn troublemakers, or the ringleaders, as a warning to others.


    In this era ofpetition, Dekker believed he was doing quite well. At least he was following thew, which was much better than underground sweatshops.


    Of course, this was limited to his personal view. In the eyes of the workers, he was a vampire. Complying with the Labor Protection Act? Sorry, norgepanies in Austria dared to break it and only small businesses took the risks.


    There was no choice. The Austrian government kept a close watch, and enforcement was very strict. Moreover, the Labor Protection Act was not excessive. It effectively protected the interests of both parties.


    It wasn’t that no one threatened the Austrian government with factory closures, but it was utterly useless. When it came to upholding the dignity of thew, Franz was very thorough.


    No matter what consequences arose, whether going to prison or not, one had to face it. If you threaten the government, you’d better hope you have no skeletons in your closet, or you’ll find your assets seized, leaving you with no factory to close.


    Arge portion of Austria’s state-owned enterprises were confiscated, and almost every few years, the Austrian government auctions off a batch of state-ownedpanies, most of which are small factories.


    After these precedents,ter generations became much more cautious. It’s one thing to exploit legal loopholes, but openly opposing the government? Forget it!


    Although the bourgeoisie seems powerful, their actual strength is very limited. They rely on money to create an illusion of influence.


    Not to mention, who can sessfully unite the bourgeoisie, which has severe internal conflicts of interest? Do you believe that someone won’t turn traitor in a heartbeat?


    This situation is most evident in Austria. After thew mandated that news must guarantee authenticity, capitalists have been much quieter.


    Making empty promises and boasting alsoes with legal responsibilities. You can brag all you want, but newspapers won’t dare to publish it.


    The Young Lanoue objected, “Father, this isn’t right! Over the past year, we have already fired 20,000 long-time workers. Now, many of the new hiresck the necessary skills, and our defect rate has increased by two percent.


    The rise in defect rates will affect our product reputation. Withpetition so fierce right now, if we can’t ensure product quality, our market share will be taken by ourpetitors.


    This creates a vicious cycle. It would be better to send someone to talk with the workers’ representatives first and then fire these troublemakers afterward.”


    As a qualified capitalist, profit is always the top priority.


    After weighing the pros and cons, Dekker Lanoue shook his head, “We cannotpromise since human desires are endless. Once this precedent is set, we will never have peace.


    Do you remember that canning factory next door? McDougall, who was such a shrewd person,promised with the workers to rush an order, and then he was directly dragged down by highbor costs.


    Remember, even if we need to raise wages, it must be initiated by us. Making concessions under their pressure will not earn us any gratitude.”


    The Young Lanoue had heard this example many times before. However, his view was quite the opposite. Even though the canning factory closed down, McDougall was still living quite well, clearly not unable to affordbor costs.


    The fact that there isn’t a singlerge-scale canning factory in the Kingdom of Lombardy already speaks volumes. The vast majority of food factories in Austria are concentrated in Hungary and the Balkans, and the reason is simply proximity to raw material sources.


    Are they going to use mulberries as raw materials for canning in Mn? Don’t be ridiculous, who would they sell this stuff to?


    Currently, the best-selling canned goods on the market are meat products. Canned fruits and vegetables are only procured by ship crew members. Unfortunately, Mn has no advantages in this regard.


    However, he did agree with thest statement. Making concessions at this time would indeed fail to win people’s hearts.


    As for afterward, since they have already returned to work, why increasebor costs?