Empire Rising: Spain - Chapter 268 - 169: 1875 (Main Story, Bonus 3-in-1)

The reason Carlo had such thoughts was naturally due to the current attitude of the number two figure of the Progressive Party, Ruiz.

Ruiz was originally a relatively radical figure, but because of his strong support for reform and his prestige in the Revolutionary Army, Prime Minister Prim appointed him as Minister of Industry.

While serving as Minister of Industry, Ruiz demonstrated extremely high capability and firmly secured his position as the second figure of the Progressive Party.

After Canovas became the Minister of Industry, Ruiz completely stood on the opposite side of Carlo. Although he did not explicitly oppose Carlo’s royal authority, his attitude was quite clear: he did not support Carlo gaining power and hoped to strengthen the constitutional system, concentrating power in the Cabinet Government and Parliament.

If Prime Minister Prim were to retire in the future, the contest for prime minister would likely be between Ruiz and Canovas.

Of course, if Duke Serrano wished to run for prime minister, he could also be considered.

Currently, in Spain, the only three people qualified to run for prime minister are these three, and aside from them, the prestige of others is indeed lacking; prestige that can suppress others is not easily achieved.

In 1874, the total scale of Spain’s industry increased by about 30% compared to 1873.

This level is quite astounding, considering that after the first five-year development plan, Spain’s industrial scale had already grown significantly.

Although Spain was not considered an industrial power at the time, its industrial scale was significant enough, at least stronger than those small and medium-sized countries.

Being able to increase by nearly one-third in just one year, besides the significant role played by the various industrial equipment and production materials purchased during the economic crisis, the government’s increased investment in the industrial sector was also a very important reason.

It’s indeed surprising that after investing so much money, if the industry didn’t experience significant growth.

After all, Spain isn’t unique in Europe; there were no industrial blockades among countries. The current situation is that as long as the Spanish Government is willing to spend money, the industrial scale can be greatly enhanced.

For this, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that there are still many unused production equipment and production materials purchased.

By fully utilizing these equipment and production materials, Spain’s industrial scale can further increase.

The bad news is that in 1874, the Spanish Government undertook too many expenses; such fiscal expenditure can only be maintained for one year.

If this enormous fiscal spending were to continue in 1875, the Spanish Government would face a rather severe debt crisis, which Prime Minister Prim is reluctant to see.

Therefore, after 1875, aside from the industrial equipment and production materials purchased, the industrial sector can only rely on itself; expecting the government to spend money again is impossible.

The increase in industrial scale also represents an increase in the total number of workers in Spain.

Although farmers still constitute the majority in Spain, workers have become a group that cannot be ignored.

The good news is that a considerable portion of Spanish workers are employed in Royal enterprises. Under Carlo’s special instructions, the welfare and benefits of Royal enterprises are better compared to private enterprises, forming a natural contrast with those capitalists.

Currently, according to public opinion among workers, the workers in Royal enterprises are quite satisfied with Carlo and the Royal enterprises, after all, Carlo provides them with more generous pay and other benefits than private enterprises do.

While private enterprises in Spain still adhere to the 11-hour workday, Royal enterprises and some government enterprises have announced the implementation of a ten-hour workday in all their enterprises.

This is not the ten-hour workday propaganda of European countries; it is a strictly enforced ten-hour workday without the slightest error.

Although European countries implemented the ten-hour workday earlier, it has yet to be widely adopted across Europe.

As the saying goes, there are policies at the top, and countermeasures at the bottom. Although the government implemented a ten-hour workday, capitalists still have many ways to make workers “voluntarily” stay overtime.

In the Royal enterprises in Spain, such voluntariness is simply unseen. Even the most ordinary employee can enjoy a ten-hour workday plus two days off per month.

This also causes each recruitment by Royal enterprises to be met with a rather enthusiastic response. Royal enterprise employees work fewer hours, yet their income is higher than that of some privately-owned enterprises.

Every worker able to enter Royal enterprises feels gratitude and affection for Carlo, as they clearly know who provides their current work environment.

In the enterprises and factories of the Royal Family, large-scale discussions and collective activities are organized from time to time.

This not only helps relieve the workers’ fatigue but also serves as an opportunity to connect with them and subtly indoctrinate them, instilling loyalty and patriotism.

For the existing group of workers in Spain, indoctrinating them is quite easy. Since Carlo ascended as the King of Spain, workers’ wages and work environments have been continuously improving.

They are not averse to the ideas of loyalty and patriotism, after all, Carlo’s arrival has indeed made their living environment better — an undeniable fact.