Allocation

The workers indeed had no intention of continuing the stalemate. This strike was mainly due to the government's crackdown on the "United Trade Union." The workers also understood that without the "United Trade Union," it was almost certain that factory owners would increase the intensity of labor while cutting wages.

But without the strong intervention of the France, and the "Saint of Labor" bringing wheat and potato porridge, the strike would likely have collapsed long ago. Now that the France have also suggested breaking the deadlock, and although the "United Trade Union" was lost, the "Workers' United Club" is essentially the same thing, just with a different name, everyone feels there's nothing unacceptable about it.

Moreover, most of the workers and their representatives who were originally arrested, as long as they were still alive, were acquitted due to "insufficient evidence." As for those who had been sentenced to hard labor, they were also acquitted on retrial due to "insufficient evidence" after "their appeals, which, after review by the court, were deemed flawed in the trial process." Although these people did not know that they had "appealed" and gone through two trials until they were released and returned home, the government had a clear record of the appeals, the rulings, and the documents from both trials.

Soon after, the new "London Textile Workers United Club" was established at the old address of the former "London Textile Workers' Union." Gwen Plain gave a brief speech at the founding meeting, stating that the "club" would continue to work for the benefit of the workers and hoped that the workers would trust and support the "club" as before.

Following her, Pauline, dressed in men's clothing, also delivered a speech congratulating the establishment of the "Club," and expressed her hope that the "Club" would not only be a home for male workers, but also for female workers. Furthermore, given the even greater oppression of female workers, she suggested that the club should pay more attention to the plight of female and child laborers. She expressed her hope that in the future, female representatives would be present within the "Club."

However, for well-known reasons, Britain newspapers did not report on this matter, and France newspapers did not cover it much either, relegating it to the back of the page. The France were busy boasting about their scientific achievements.

Next came the labor-management negotiations regarding the strike. Since everyone was prepared to temporarily halt the strikes, the negotiations went smoothly, and both sides quickly reached an agreement. However, because there had been an excessive number of strikes over the past year, in order to complete orders and avoid hefty fines, the employer needed the workers to slightly increase their workload and extend their working hours. Of course, this wasn't unpaid; the employer would provide some financial compensation for the increased work.

In addition, Mr. Raine, the representative of the employers, pointed out that Whig Party members recently put forward a proposal on constituency reform. This proposal is beneficial to both employers and the vast majority of workers.

However, the conservative gentry in the countryside are really unenlightened, and they have more representatives. To change the electoral structure, the capitalists need to put pressure on the government and create a certain momentum. And in creating momentum, they need to rely on the strength of the large number of workers.

"To put it another way," Ryan concluded, "We hope you will sign the petition submitted by our representatives to show your support, and send a representative to the ceremony where we submit the petition. Of course, we are also willing to express our goodwill and offer assistance—for example, your meeting place is too small and too dilapidated; if you support us, we are willing to help you renovate it. In addition, we are willing to provide some financial compensation for you taking time off work to support Raine."

If it were the previous Fagin, he would have immediately realized Raine's intention—to use this opportunity to win over and corrupt some worker representatives. However, Gwen Plain did not react so quickly; he was relatively slow to grasp the situation. In a sense, he was not Fagin's ideal successor; he was merely Fagin's backup plan.

A backup and a successor are different. A backup's role is simply to get through the most difficult period after an accident. Therefore, when developing a backup, stability is the primary consideration. The Butcher, or rather, Gwen Plan, is a good backup with a steadfast and calm personality, but his intellect and knowledge are not sufficient for leading a group for an extended period. In Old Fagin's mind, Oliver is the successor he truly values.

However, Gwen Plant has one advantage: he knows he's not particularly bright and tends to be a step behind in thinking, so he never rushes into decisions. Of course, this approach might sometimes cause him to miss opportunities, but no one is perfect, and as a backup plan, stability is paramount. Compared to those who jump around recklessly without knowing their own limitations, Gwen Plant is quite good.

So he said to Raine, "Mr. Raine, we need to discuss these things together before we can give you a reply."

"Ah, necessary caution is a virtue, I understand," Raine said.

Thus, the great strike in the Britain textile industry came to an end. After a period of competition, everyone had a general understanding of the opponent's strength and the forces behind them. After the conflict and bloodshed, a new balance was re-established. Although the new balance point seemed not to have changed much from the previous one, and all the conflict and bloodshed seemed to have been futile—for both sides—in reality, everything was different. In a sense, only now did one side truly regard the other as an equal opponent. Just like the war in the distant East later on, where the beginning was also the end.

Meanwhile, in Paris, Joseph was arguing with Napoleon about who should receive the Prometheus Prize.

"It's one thing for the medical prize to go to a foreigner, but the first mathematics prize should, by any means, go to a France," Napoleon said. "I admit that Mr. Gauss is very talented and remarkable, but aren't Mr. Laplace, Mr. Fourier, and Mr. Lagrange also talented? Joseph, you can't abuse your power for personal gain just because Gauss is your assistant!"

"Tch! Me, abusing my power for personal gain? I think you're the one abusing your power for personal gain! Don't think I don't know, you've been using the opportunity of building a higher normal school to try and seduce people from the Academy of Sciences, hoping to secure an academician position for yourself through a democratic vote in the future. You want to give the grand prize to Laplace, don't you? That Laplace guy, he's always been in cahoots with you!"

After Napoleon became First Consul, one of his important tasks was to promote compulsory education. To do so, a number of normal schools were needed. So Napoleon expanded the preparatory normal school attached to the original Louis-le-Grand School into the École Normale Supérieure. He also established a series of secondary normal schools in other places.

Napoleon was acutely aware of his brother's immense influence in the scientific community, especially at the University of Paris, which had practically become his independent kingdom. Therefore, Napoleon began to intentionally or unintentionally allocate resources to the École Normale Supérieure, both in terms of funding and personnel.

Using his influence, Napoleon successfully placed Laplace, Lagrange, Fourier, and Monge into the École Normale Supérieure, instantly making the École Normale Supérieure Supérieure almost rival the University of Paris in mathematics.

If this prestigious award were given to Gauss, then both awards would fall into the hands of the University of Paris. But if it were given to Laplace or Lagrange, then the École Normale Supérieure, established only a few years ago, would already be on par with the University of Paris. As the de facto founder of the École Normale Supérieure, Napoleon naturally hoped that its École Normale Supérieure would win the award.

"Joseph, let's not get sidetracked. Let's discuss the matter at hand and not attack others based on their motives," Napoleon said, frowning. "I think this prize should be awarded to the France for the following reasons. First, Mr. Laplace's achievements deserve the award. Second, it can boost France national pride, the pride of the France people in our world-leading science. Of course, I know you will say that awarding the prize to Mr. Gauss is also academically sound. We all know that Mr. Gauss is a once-in-a-century genius; we even think he might be the Newton of mathematics. Moreover, awarding the prize to him can demonstrate France's broad-mindedness and encourage more foreign students to come to France. This is indeed very important. But, Joseph, isn't there already one Carroll? One is enough, isn't it?"

Since Napoleon said so, Joseph replied, "You're right, but Gauss is a Germany, a member of the Confederation of the Rhine. The trust and support we receive from the Germany is extremely important to us now. In comparison, awarding the prize to Carroll cannot completely replace awarding it to Gauss. Because..."

At this point, Joseph smiled and said, "Carroll's prize is too uncontroversial. So it doesn't particularly demonstrate France's fairness and magnanimity. As for what you said about France national pride, France's pride in our scientific leadership in the world, do I need such a big prize to obtain these things while I'm still alive? Isn't my existence far more valuable than any prize?"

"You are truly arrogant," Napoleon said. "However... Gauss is still young; we can wait."

"It's as if Laplace and Mr. Lagrange are both too old to live more than two years. Mr. Lavoisier is older than Laplace, and he's so passionate... he's willing to wait until next year," Joseph said. "Next year, we can give the physics prize to one of them. Considering Mr. Lagrange is the oldest, let's give it to him first, and the year after that, it will be Laplace's turn. As for Gauss, at least for now, I think it's impossible to give him the physics prize next year. Hmm, let's do it this way."