Chapter 334: Negotiations
At this crucial mont, disagreents erupted among the "dignified" individuals.
Mr. Rayne, the instigator of this issue, naturally erupted in fury. As a mber of the lower house, during the assembly, he slamd the table, vehently castigated the rioters, and criticized the incompetence of the London Police Departnt. He pointed at Sir Shaw, questioning where all the annual allocations had gone and why they couldn't suppress the subversive elents while also protecting those who genuinely contributed to the nation.
Sir Shaw had grown accustod to such accusations. He initially shifted bla to his predecessor, stating he'd only taken over the London Police Departnt three years ago, and the ss left behind was imnse and unresolved. It wasn't his incompetence but rather the accumulation of problems over many years, so dating back to the era of the Great Fire of London.
"These miscellaneous problems have accumulated over many, many years. So have lingered since the era of the Great Fire of London. They've piled up like the manure in the stables of Augeas. Yet, I can't solve these issues using Hercules' thods — surely none of you would tolerate such an approach. So, how can you bla
for these problems?"
The lawmakers couldn't condone Sir Shaw's attempt to evade responsibility. He further contended that the funds allocated by Parliant to the police departnt were insufficient, resulting in an inadequate number of officers to ensure the city's safety. Essentially, to fix the problem, more funds were needed — without money, what could they do?
However, faced with the demand for more funds, the imdiate reaction of the lawmakers was to tightly clutch their purses. Increasing funds ant raising taxes, which in turn would reduce the inco of the legislators. Therefore, Parliant's longstanding principle was to accomplish as much as possible with minimal expenditure.
Consequently, the matter of augnting the London Police Departnt's funds naturally faded away. Nevertheless, a consensus was reached within Parliant: any action by law enforcent must not compromise security in the "vital areas." Consequently, the mobility of the London Police Departnt was severely curtailed.
Subsequently, Parliant began deliberations on how to address the strikes.
The "London Textile Workers Union," responsible for organizing the strikes, had proposed negotiation terms. They sought reduced work intensity and increased wages.
Lawmakers first queried Sir Shaw about whether, while ensuring the security of the "vital areas," they could swiftly suppress these rebellious elents.
Sir Shaw naturally replied that it was impossible under the circumstances and would require additional funding. Even if funds were provided, it would take considerable ti to reinforce the police force. In short, using the police force to solve the problem before the trade fair was unfeasible.
"Of course, if the military were employed, it would be possible to suppress these troublemakers before the fair. However, as you all know..." Sir Shaw trailed off.
Using the military might suppress the troublemakers before the trade fair, but it would cause significant collateral damage. Employing the military ant no chance of resuming production before the trade fair. Furthermore, it wouldn't only affect the textile industry but others as well.
As soon as this was ntioned, almost all lawmakers imdiately opposed it. Consequently, a decision was swiftly made:
No major disturbances before the trade fair. As for the present issue, it had to be resolved by the textile industry owners themselves.
Several textile factory owners gathered and deliberated. Eventually, they decided to first negotiate with the rebels, attempting to hoodwink them, ensuring the minimal cost and shortest duration to resu production, all to maximize earnings during the trade fair.
Hence, several factory owners, in the na of the textile industry guild, extended negotiation invitations to the worker representatives. Initially, they contemplated playing the worker lottery to select representatives for negotiation, a move devoid of any sense of whose interests these representatives truly represented. They also adopted an attitude of having made significant concessions already, displaying a sense of being unfairly treated.
However, the London Textile Workers Union representatives were no fools and wouldn't accept such ludicrous conditions. Consequently, this request was rightfully rejected.
Considering the urgency, the gentlen had no ti to waste. Thus, reluctantly, they agreed to negotiate with the representatives chosen by the London Textile Workers Union.
One of these representatives, operating under the pseudonym Nield, was actually a criminal, wanted and on the run. However, in an era without photographic technology, facial recognition was a joke. The existence of portraits primarily aided the police in their side gigs rather than capturing suspects. Additionally, the cris committed by Nield had very few eyewitnesses, let alone anyone who had seen his face — so he wasn't worried about being recognized.
However, Nield's high-profile presence was still incredibly risky. It wasn't due to his forr identity but his current one. Indeed, so believed that the cris of the worker representatives posed a greater threat than theft, robbery, or kidnapping.
"Anyone acting as a representative in negotiations with these vipers should be prepared for death. Even though they're hesitant now, they'll surely retaliate in the future. So might inexplicably die or vanish. If anyone's scared, they can still back out," Nield told the other representatives before departure.
"Nield, are you underestimating us? Are we such cowards?" one representative chuckled.
"Nield, you know who we are. Stop the chatter; we should depart," another said.
The negotiation venue wasn't far from Westminster Abbey. The worker representatives, being penniless, couldn't afford carriages, not even public ones. Therefore, they had to walk. Departing before dawn, a few carried lanterns, stepping onto the streets from their houses.
Unlike the affluent areas with gas streetlights, the streets in the poorer district were pitch-black at night. In this intense darkness, the dim yellow light from the lanterns barely illuminated a small area ahead of Nield.
Nield walked confidently in the darkness, a path he'd tread for countless years. Gradually, the road beca clearer, and the sky brighter.
Around 8 a.m., the worker representatives reached the negotiation site, but the other party — the gentlen — hadn't arrived on ti.
Having studied in Toulon, Nield knew this was a tactic to exert pressure. He'd anticipated this and forewarned everyone. So suggested they should also be late, reversing the pressure.
However, Nield dismissed the idea.
"We have ti on our side; we don't need such tricks. In fact, the more tricks they play, the more anxious they appear. If they persist in wasting ti, well, we're willing to wait — there aren't many days left, but we can hold out until the trade fair begins."
"Can you hold out until then? By that ti, you'll all be starving," a gentleman taunted.
"We don't mind. For workers like us, if we can't save up for a ticket to North Arica in five years, we'll all perish. Dying a few years earlier is no different. But you gentlen, dragging things out, buying materials for the fair, borrowing money... haha, you're not afraid of death, what do we have to fear?" Nield promptly retorted.
"Oh, Nield, don't be angry. Our negotiations aim for a satisfactory outco for all. We're not here to squabble. It's getting late; why don't you present your demands, and we'll discuss them together? What do you think?" Rayne said with a friendly smile on his face.
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