Chapter 82 Sudden Visit

The first week of the Ruthenian National Exhibition was a smashing success for Imperial Dynamic Systems after the debut of its first product, the television.

The news of its introduction to the world spread like wildfire, from newspapers, radios, and the people discussing it in their workplaces, homes, and other establishments.

In the following days, Imperial Dynamic Systems received orders for 5,000 television sets, and the demands after that are just increasing at an unprecedented rate. The RCA on Earth has sold 10,000 television sets in its first year, but in this world, it looks as though the Imperial Dynamic Systems will soon reach a higher figure than the RCA has achieved.

Most of the buyers of television are from the middle class and elite class. Despite Alexander making it affordable and cheaper to the masses, the lower class of the Ruthenia Empire neither can still afford it nor see the benefit of having one yet. After all, they are breaking their backs and stretching their money every day just to make ends meet. They are too frugal to spare for such futuristic fancy frivolous flashy fare. So, only those fortunate enough to have funds in their flannels are joining the fanfare.

Alexander didn’t see the lower class not buying his television as a failure. Their circumstances are understandable, to say the least. But as months or years go by, they’ll rise to the middle class due to him signing a bill called the Fair Labor Standards Act six months ago. With this law, Alexander just set the minimum wage of 294 Ruthenian rubles per hour. To give you a perspective, 294 rubles is equivalent to 7.25 USD in today’s Earth money for better insight, the annual salary of an ordinary worker during his father’s reign or before the law was about 500,000 rubles per year. Which is instead counted in daily wages of about 114 rubles per hour, in long dangerous dirty 12-hour shifts with no leave, give or take.

Here is a comparison.

The old wage is 114 rubles an hour multiplied by 12 hours of sunrise to sunset work for 1,368 rubles a day, which is 499,320 rubles a year.

The new pay is 294 rubles an hour multiplied by the new working shift of 8 hours per day, which is 2,352 rubles. That is 858,480 rubles a year.

A very huge wage gap and workers were underpaid and working under poor conditions. No wonder there were a lot of strikes before Alexander took over as the head of state.

A more direct example is the cost of living for an average worker.

Food takes half the pay, about 684 rubles gone into the belly.

Many workers smoke, drink, gamble and have vices due to misery or send home parts of their pay. About 400 rubles are deducted.

Landlords and rents demand almost 200 rubles.

So all that is left is about 84 rubles. Money for when they get sick, injured, or sacked for reasons.

Nevertheless, he is making progress. It’s only a matter of time before the quality of life of the citizens of the Ruthenia Empire will be improving significantly. It’s part of his vision: a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation.

…

Before returning back to the Winter Palace to meet Princess Diana of the Britannia Empire, Alexander made a quick trip to one of the automobile factories of the Imperial Dynamic Systems in Moskva.

Exiting the car, Alexander was greeted with the sight of a huge factory building. A plump man in his fifties dressed in a black suit stood at the entrance of the factory gates holding a clipboard.

“Ah!” said the man, giving Alexander a small wave as he approached him. “Good afternoon, Your Majesty,” said the man bowing slightly.

“Hello, Mosckvich, nice to meet you again,” Alexander stepped up to Mosckvich to shake hands.

“What can I do for you, sir?” Mosckvich asked.

“Hmm…nothing in particular to be honest…well actually there is. I’d like to look around the factory if that’s okay,” replied Alexander, scratching his head sheepishly.

“Of course, Your Majesty. Please follow me and we can proceed to my office,” said Mosckvich, turning on his heels, and leading the way inside the building.

Alexander and his security detail followed.

Mosckvich, he’s an engineer and a mechanic who founded the Mosckvich automobile one year ago. However, it was short-lived after Imperial Dynamic Systems bought his company three months ago to serve as its producer of the automobile Alexander planned to introduce in this world.

He bought the company because it already has the necessary facilities for vehicle production and even though he bought it from Mosckvich, Alexander still appointed him to be the head of the Imperial Dynamic Systems Automobile Division.

Of course, he didn’t get the position that easily. He must pass a strict evaluation and vetting process to be accepted into the division. He passed the screening and became the current head of the Imperial Dynamic Systems Automobile Division, where he now worked.

Inside the building, the assembly line was brightly lit, and safety barriers and tidy workplaces is seen inside. It was different from the one he visited before with Christina and Tiffania. Here, the factory workers are observing the factory rules and regulations very seriously. There is no levity nor any form of frivolity, but neither the looks of despair nor depression. They are focused completely on their jobs and work efficiently as if they are on a mission, some seem to take joy and pride in their labor. As if they are not paid to laze around.

As they walked further through the corridors, more employees appeared, some carrying tools and others operating a new type of equipment that became a standard in all Imperial Dynamic Systems factories, the CNC machines.

An industrial machine that became synonymous with assembly lines and factories. It is a machine he arduously worked on for months and is now running here to produce high-quality car engines.

One of which he saw as the group walked along. Alexander’s interests were piqued by it when he witnessed the machine processing a single car engine in a delicate and precise manner. The beauty of these machines is that they are oftentimes virtually unattended. The factory workers would just set the instructions and then leave it to it to do what is needed.

They can do everything from drilling, boring, milling, and passing unrelated parts from machine to machine. The end products were then processed from rough castings through complete and different cycles of machining operations entirely independent of human intervention.

One of them is working on an engine that will be fitted to a new military vehicle, the humvees. You read it right, it’s molding the V-8 diesel engine. The Imperial Dynamic Systems Automotive Division along with its subsidiaries are working on military vehicles other than humvees such as the M939, M970, M911, R-11 Refueler, motorcycle, et cetera. Making the military the primary customer of the IDS.

Now, he is thinking of introducing a vehicle that will be used by civilians.

“We’re near the office now, Your Majesty,” Mosckvich informed, snapping Alexander out of his thoughts.

Mosckvich gestured towards a large white door at the end of the hall. Before entering, Alexander turned to face Rolan.

“Rolan, can you get my briefcase in the car?” asked Alexander.

“Sure thing, sir,” answered Rolan, walking away.

He glanced at the Imperial Guards standing resolutely in front of him.

“The rest of you stay here,” Alexander said. The Imperial Guards acknowledged the order with a salute.

Alexander proceeded toward the office without much ado.

“Please, take a seat, Your Majesty,” Mosckvich offered, gesturing towards a comfortable chair next to his desk.

Alexander sat down and crossed his legs.

“Do you want something to drink? Water? Tea? Coffee?” suggested Mosckvich.

“I’m good,” said Alexander. He glanced around the room. He noted that everything is clean and orderly; with no stray papers lying about everywhere. The only items on his desk is a picture frame which held a picture of his wife with their daughter, and Mosckvich’s empty smoking pipe in a clean dish. Which explains the smoked aroma in the room.

Since Alexander declined his refreshment offer, Mosckvich sat down.

“When I arrived at this facility, my only intention was to look around and see the factory workers’ conditions. I must say, I’m impressed.”

“I’m honored to hear that, Your Majesty,” Mosckvich smiled.

“However, a thought popped up in my mind as I was observing the area. The Imperial Dynamic Systems Automotive Division products are for military use.”

“I’m aware of that, sir,” Mosckvich agreed.

“Well, the thing is I didn’t create this division only to produce military stuff, I want it to produce civilian cars that are better than our competitors across the world,” Alexander said.

“Does the IDS already have a design in mind?”

“Yes,”