Chapter 274 It’s not that the king comes from the people, but that the power comes from the people!
"I?"

Chu Huanhuan followed Zhou Tieyi's hand and pointed at herself.

She frowned slightly and began to think.

After working in the Railway Chamber of Commerce for more than ten days, my biggest feeling is that every worker in the Railway Chamber of Commerce is full of hope for the future and is full of vitality.

In this environment, Chu Huanhuan, who participated in it, only felt that her practice of "having fun together" was progressing rapidly, much faster than pleasing the people through magic tricks on weekdays. This was also the reason why she had stayed and worked seriously recently, but when she analyzed it in detail, she could not understand the deeper meaning.

Chu Wensheng looked at his granddaughter, thoughtfully. His granddaughter had made rapid progress in the sixth-grade "Tongle" these days, and naturally told him, her grandfather.

In his understanding, the focus should be on "joy". Real "joy" does not just focus on momentary happiness or a superficial smile.

Instead, we should focus on gaining self-satisfaction, equivalent material resources, and the vision and ability to realize a better future after hard work.

After studying the system of the Railway Chamber of Commerce, he vaguely felt that a channel that provides everyone with opportunities for advancement is the key to "sharing joy". Even if there are differences in levels, difficulties, and even hard work and suffering in this process, it can be called true sharing of joy only when there is hope for progress.

The Railway Chamber of Commerce's recruitment was not limited to wealthy families or those with extraordinary talents, but it pointed out a new and hopeful path for ordinary people, which made even a third-rank eclectic person like him, who advocated music and education, feel inferior.

But he obviously felt that what he was thinking about was not all about the Railway Chamber of Commerce. However, it was just a feeling and he couldn't say specifically where the Railway Chamber of Commerce would go.

Chu Wensheng thought for a moment, took out a Qiankun bag, and handed it to Zhou Tieyi, "Please give me your guidance."

Everyone knows Zhou Tieyi's character now. He really does what he wants when he gets something.

Zhou Tieyi weighed the Qiankun bag in his hand.

Things that can store space are not something that can be found everywhere. Even if you have a white jade chessboard, it would be nice to give it to someone close to you.

After collecting the Qiankun bag, Zhou Tieyi continued, "Old man, have you heard of the Cao Gang?"

Chu Wensheng frowned slightly, wondering how it got involved with the Cao Gang.

He had a very bad impression of the term Cao Gang.

But since Zhou Tieyi asked this, he must have a reason. Chu Wensheng took a sip of tea, sorted out his thoughts, and said, "But is it a gang formed by the big rivers and the shipping?"

Zhou Tieyi smiled and nodded, "Of course. The Cao Gang originated from the grain transport. Every year, the Cao Transport Office supervises the transportation of grain, minerals, and even tributes from various places. A large number of trackers, sailors, and cargo workers are needed. Logically, they should all be "officials" of the court, eating the government's food, but the grain transport has different seasons. Naturally, so many helpers are needed during the busy period, but during the leisure time, the salaries of so many helpers become a burden on the court."

"So, in addition to the necessary inspectors in various places, the court would choose to temporarily recruit and hire helpers. However, because these 'temporary workers' were not fixed, they were most likely to be deducted from their wages, leaving them hungry. As a result, they gradually formed gangs to fight against the wealthy merchants who were unkind and corrupt, and against the corrupt and lawless transport officials."

Chu Wensheng listened carefully. He was naturally aware of everything Zhou Tieyi talked about until now. However, thinking of the current state of the Cao Gang, Chu Wensheng couldn't help but shake his head. "That was in the past. The Cao Gang has changed a lot in the past one or two hundred years. They are evil and rampant. They collude with the higher-ups and oppress the people. They even ram civilian ships in the name of official ships and collect so-called 'passing fees'."

Zhou Tieyi smiled and said, "That's because they are a gang without moral principles. The development of any grassroots organization is inseparable from two things."

Chu Wensheng's expression became solemn. He instinctively felt that what Zhou Tieyi said at this moment was very important to him and even to the entire Miscellaneous School.

Zhou Tieyi raised a finger and said, "First, the mass base. The so-called mass base is not just empty talk, but an objective material foundation that enables a large number of grassroots people to live and develop around one thing, such as the canal transportation itself."

Zhou Tieyi stopped and let Chu Wensheng think for himself.

After two or three breaths, Chu Wensheng sighed softly.

After Zhou Tieyi's explanation, he finally understood part of the direction of the Railway Chamber of Commerce.

Then he sighed and said, "For example, the Railway Chamber of Commerce."

Zhou Tieyi smiled without saying anything, then stretched out his second finger and continued,
"Second, the ideological program. A large number of grassroots people gather together, and the initial purpose of most of them is to 'live a better life', which will inevitably make the entire grassroots organization have the dual attributes of profit-seeking and chaos. When they do not have a clear and advanced ideological program, they will habitually imitate the existing system. After all, imitation is the first step for people to learn."

"So the Cao Gang would instinctively imitate the Caoguan system, and would use stricter class systems and more brutal private punishments to restrain their subordinates, and then use their own power to let their subordinates exploit others, just like an enlarged version of the Caoguan system, so there is a gang but no justice."

Just after listening to Zhou Tieyi's analysis, Chu Wensheng suddenly felt enlightened, as if everything he had seen and heard about the canal transportation over the past decades was reflected in this passage.

It’s worth it to exchange a Qiankun bag for this passage!
Chu Huanhuan, who had been listening carefully, suddenly said, "Brother, do you mean that in the future, the Railway Chamber of Commerce will also have an organization similar to the 'Cao Gang'?"

Zhou Tieyi nodded and said, "This is inevitable. Of course, rather than calling it the Cao Gang, I prefer to call it a trade union. So at the beginning of its formation, we need to carefully protect and guide it. We must not let it become a scourge like the Cao Gang."

Chu Wensheng and his grandson looked at each other. Even Chu Wensheng's heart was pounding. With a little hesitation, he asked, "Do you agree to let our family lead the union in your chamber of commerce?"

Zhou Tieyi shook his outstretched finger and said, "I didn't say that. Since the union originated from the grassroots workers, then who the workers want to elect as their leader is their own decision, not someone's agreement."

Chu Wensheng looked at Zhou Tieyi in confusion. If anyone else had said that, he would have bowed immediately and called him a saint. But facing Zhou Tieyi who smiled and shook his hand, he instinctively felt that there was something else hidden.

So he asked tentatively, "Then, if... I mean, if there is a conflict between the labor union and the chamber of commerce, just like the conflict between the Cao Gang and the Cao officials at the beginning, we will not be like the Cao Gang and choose to be the lackeys of the chamber of commerce. What will you do then?"

Zhou Tieyi laughed loudly, "I'm not going to do anything. Have you forgotten one thing? This Chamber of Commerce doesn't belong to my Zhou family, nor does it belong to me, Zhou Tieyi alone. In the foreseeable future, the model of the Railway Chamber of Commerce will inevitably spread to all walks of life. Just don't mess with it."

Unions spread to all walks of life...

Chu Wensheng's heart was pounding, and many pictures of the future appeared in front of his eyes. These pictures were like flowers in the mirror and the moon in the water, both illusory and real. He understood that this was a sign of the Taoist tradition. Without Zhou Tieyi's obstruction, under the influence of the luck of the miscellaneous families, he had already seen some of the mysteries of the future, which also proved that what Zhou Tieyi said was true.

"Don't look at what he says, look at what he does."

Chu Wensheng repeated Zhou Tieyi’s words in his mind, except that he replaced “them” with “him”.

For a moment, he couldn't tell how much of Zhou Tieyi's words today were for the people of the world and how much were for his Zhou family.

After thinking for a while, Chu Wensheng took out another Qiankun bag and put it on the table, "How can I not mess it up?"

Zhou Tieyi picked up the second Qiankun bag and said with a smile, "The first enemy of the union is the local land gentry. If you think clearly about this, the union will have a foundation for development and will be tolerated by the emperor. Don't always think that the emperor is from the people. That's the wrong way."

After saying this, he stood up.

Chu Wensheng wanted to ask more questions, and he was even willing to pay a higher price, but looking at Zhou Tieyi's expression, he would definitely not be willing to say more. The rest could only be figured out by themselves.

Chu Wensheng looked at his granddaughter and said, "See Mr. Zhou off."

If treasure doesn't work, then beauty should at least work.

That night at the Yulong Club, Chu Wensheng admitted that he had misjudged Zhou Tieyi. He believed that Zhou Tieyi was even more capable than he had imagined and was worthy of being entrusted with the life of his granddaughter. Since the fate had already been established, his granddaughter, who was born with the fortune of a miscellaneous family, naturally had to act according to the circumstances.

Zhou Tieyi waved his hand and said, "Don't, you look so anxious now, it's like you are selling your granddaughter."

Zhou Tieyi's words immediately made Chu Wensheng, who had just thought that Zhou Tieyi was a perfect son-in-law, look grim, "You bastard!"

After hearing this, Chu Huanhuan's joy turned into shame and grievance...

Even if you are good-looking, have a good family background, are extremely talented, hold great power, and help the people, but you are so fickle, I, Chu Huanhuan, may not necessarily like you!
"A gentleman loves a beautiful lady. If I am really destined to be with Miss Huanhuan, I will pursue her."

After Zhou Tieyi said this, Chu Huanhuan's previous embarrassment and grievance turned into a bit of joy, like a little bird flying around in her heart. For a moment, she felt a mixture of emotions, her ears turned red, and she immediately stomped her feet and said, "I won't pay attention to you two!"

After saying that, he ran to the inner room.

Chu Wensheng glared at Zhou Tieyi again, "You little bastard!"

Zhou Tieyi laughed, got off the "Recluse" on his own, left Qingluo Lane, and got on the carriage.

On the carriage, his smile faded.

It was indeed a pleasant surprise to meet Zajia today.

Industrial development is bound to involve struggles with landowners. Originally, Zhou Tieyi wanted to support merchants, but now it seems that adding a generalist might not be a bad idea, and it would also allow him to leave another clever move.

"The working class..."

He whispered that a generalist who could share happiness with the people and perform magic tricks among the people would naturally be the most suitable leader. In this age without entertainment, it is very important to be willing to humble oneself and perform magic tricks.

After working hard every day, there is a co-worker who can perform magic tricks for you and teach you the truth...

This is the greatest role of a polymath, even more than a newspaper!

Of course, the most important point I have not yet taught you is this:

"It's not that the ruler comes from the people, but that power comes from the people! That's why there is a dispute over the orthodoxy!"

If eclecticists cannot understand this point, they will never be able to achieve true qualitative change.

(End of this chapter)