episode_0034

In every country, without exception, there was a group that was incredibly troublesome to the pre-modern rulers: the guilds.

As everyone knows, this organization, which often appears in fantasy stories, is a union of specific occupations.

Beggars, merchants, artisans, bakers, and so on.

People with the same jobs gathered to promote friendship and mediate to prevent each other from snatching each other’s rice bowls.

‘Of course, they’re extremely exclusive.’

It was a time when large-scale commercial districts and the global economy were not yet 활성화, so the market was small.

To prevent everyone from going bankrupt by engaging in free competition, guilds pursued thorough monopolization.

They would eliminate non-members or strictly control prices and distribution.

‘They acted almost like pseudo-nobles.’

This was especially true of guilds created by artisans such as blacksmiths and stonemasons.

As professionals who were at the heart of the national economy, they knew their own value well.

Arbitrary price adjustments and 갑질 were basic.

At times, they even seized administrative power in cities or regions based on their enormous influence.

And these actions invariably provoked the anger of the real nobles.

“Damn it. To think that lowly things dare to swagger around demanding that their rights be respected.”

“They don’t even bow their heads before the lord. They act as if they’re our masters!!”

“But if we punish them, the market in our territory will come to a complete standstill because of the backlash…..”

Whether they incurred anger with their arrogance or aroused wariness because of their excessive position and ability.

Whatever the reason, guilds were likely to become the target of the anger and fear of those in high places.

They didn’t like it, but they knew that touching them would lead to 좆, so they couldn’t do anything about it.

Unless it was a quiet and harmless place like the Swordsmanship Guild or the Beggars’ Guild.

Since they were direct competitors for power, they couldn’t help but be wary.

“Count Ciudad, have you perhaps read this?”

“Hmm?”

Therefore, it was, in a way, a natural phenomenon that *The Wealth of Nations* attracted attention in many ways as soon as it was published.

* * * * *

“To think that production increases exponentially just by dividing the work.”

“Isn’t that too absurd a claim?”

“Even so, the author is none other than the great Ismail. Surely a master who wrote *On War* and *On Population* wouldn’t spout nonsense now.”

“That’s true, but still.”

As the original author (Adam Smith) emphasized, and the editor (Ismail) re-emphasized.

The core content of *The Wealth of Nations* was the division of labor.

The principle that production increases exponentially if work is divided by process and an appropriate distribution environment is in place.

[The most effective and inexpensive way to transform a nation’s industry is to divide the work. Dividing and assigning the manufacturing process, which consists of multiple items, enables smooth production even without fully skilled artisans.]

[It generally takes at least 10 years, and often more than 20 years, to train artisans who are considered excellent. However, it takes only 1-2 years at most to train workers needed for a divided process.

There is no need to have specialized skills in all fields like artisans, nor is it necessary to make all kinds of things.]

However, the rate was so enormous that it initially raised questions.

Efficiency increases dozens of times just by slightly changing the process and improving the system. Does that make sense?

If it was so easy to improve, why hasn’t it been improved until now?

“If you really don’t understand, let’s do an experiment. It doesn’t cost that much anyway.”

“Well, all we need to do is gather a few apprentices… I’ll prepare the funds and materials.”

However, the author’s fame that he had built up over the years meant that he was not completely ignored.

Could a person who has churned out several ideas that will change the world have been spouting fantasies without any basis?

The nobles of Hispania took it as a loss and conducted empirical experiments, and–

Soon, they were astonished by the absurd results.

“…..It works?”

“S, production has increased thirtyfold? That amount is equivalent to the entire demand in the southern part of the empire!”

“Immediately expand the factory! I’ll even empty my own pockets, so build it first and buy machine tools!!”

It increased. Absurdly so.

It easily achieved an increase in production of dozens of times, although not hundreds of times.

Even the price was cheap.

The labor and working hours invested clearly increased, but the output increased even more.

In an era when labor costs accounted for most of the price, such innovation was nothing short of a miracle.

[In countries that have reached the final stage where wealth is possible, both salaries and capital interest will be greatly reduced. A bleeding competition among workers will occur to maintain their jobs.

Salaries will be reduced to the extent that they can maintain the current number of workers, and the number of workers will hardly increase unless the country expands.]

[The collectivization of production through the division of labor inevitably leads to an increase in the overall wage amount. However, when calculated as an amount per person or as an amount per unit output, it actually decreases.

This difference causes changes within the market in the short term and leads to economic disparities between countries in the long term.]

As a result, the nobles naturally harbored similar intentions.

‘At this rate… I’ll be left behind if I don’t do it.’

‘Maybe we can seize the industries dominated by those artisan bastards?’

‘If we do it well, we can directly control all the industries and economy of my territory, right?’

An opportunity that anyone could see was a jackpot had appeared. However, there were many competitors, and everyone knew that fact.

What’s more, they could destroy the guilds of those detestable artisans.

They could take away the authority and status of those who had enjoyed a monopolistic position because they could not be replaced, and reduce them to mere laborers.

Isn’t there no reason not to do it?

No, rather, they had to do it.

If they didn’t, they would be reduced to lagging failures.

“O, oh? We’re going to go bankrupt if this happens!”

“Let’s submit a petition to His Majesty! If we leave it like this, the entire guild will collapse!”

“Use all the connections you know! Threaten them or bribe them to somehow turn public opinion around!!”

Of course, there were also opposing forces.

Mainly people like artisans who were in a position to be affected.

If they allowed such a change, it was clear that they would collapse economically and politically.

In order to protect their existing position and not receive retribution for their past deeds, they had to stop it at all costs.

Therefore, almost all means were mobilized. They poured in all the wealth and power they had accumulated.

Political maneuvering, assassinations, bribery, they did anything they thought would be useful.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t very effective.

“There’s talk of reducing facilities like factories these days…..”

“Your Majesty. It’s all nonsense from ignorant people. Please don’t listen.”

“The more goods we manufacture, the more stable the people’s lives will be and the richer the country will become. How can we follow such absurd claims?”

“I, is that so?”

“Yes. Such nonsense is not even worth paying attention to.”

The nobles of Hispania were almost unanimous. They usually fought and competed with each other, but this time, there was a common benefit.

Factory-based handicrafts, which involved gathering a large number of unskilled workers, was a business that anyone could start.

Unlike mining or fishing, which required land, anyone could do it with money.

In other words, it was an opportunity to pioneer their own new territory in the realm of the economy.

A territory that they could pioneer and grow as much as they wanted with ability and will.

But they’re blocking this?

They could never allow it.

Who would give up such a honey pot?

“But where do we get the workforce?”

“You’re worrying unnecessarily. They’re lying all over the streets.”

The nobles, who cheaply hired flood victims who had no home or place to go, diligently털어다 to increase the nation’s industrial power.

…..Without even knowing that this was all what a 분탕충 ideological criminal living in Elaine wanted.

* * * * *

Another peaceful day at the academy.

It was truly enjoyable to train the fresh student 아쎄이 to their liking.

“So, the dialectical materialism of socialism has inherently complete principles and laws from the beginning, so it is inherently prone to causing dogmatism. The trend of emphasizing the infallibility of ideologies and thoughts in that way values reason but is rather irrational–”

“Teacher, you’re going too fast!!”

“Who the hell created that kind of thing?!”

“Come on, I told you all to preview. It’s not difficult if you understand it, so don’t make a fuss.”

When I tell them this and that, they scream but everyone follows along. They also make good use of the study guides and summary printouts I made myself.

Are they geniuses attending the academy for nothing?

They’re surprisingly smart. Their thinking is 깨어있어.

‘I’ll definitely educate you, no, train you.’

Thanks to that, the plan was originally to teach only up to the beginning of socialism, but it was extended to communism.

If there’s time later, I should teach them how to revolt. Including how to make Molotov cocktails and public speaking.

Spread the sickle and hammer around the world, my disciples.

“If you all pass the pop quiz in the afternoon, today’s class will be over. So let’s 힘내죠 just a little more.”

“R, really?”

“Of course. I don’t lie.”

Well, I can’t guarantee what the difficulty will be like.

As I was lecturing, wondering whether to eat pasta or hot 국밥 for lunch.

Suddenly, Kalia, who was in the dormitory, burst into the classroom.

“I, Instructor!”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s a declaration of war! The Alcyone Federation has declared war on the Hispania Empire!”

Oh, 씨발.