Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 452: Don’t forget the Chaoshan people’s cakes! They can also love Wu
When your Majesty disappears,

Guard Lu Zhou stepped out of the line and clapped his hands:
"Everyone, we must hurry up. We must come up with a peace plan before the sun sets."

"You know, the long-term consumption of food and horse fodder for 5 soldiers is not a small amount. Your Majesty is kind and our army is civilized. We have not imposed military expenses on the local areas and have not disturbed the local areas."

"Everyone, please don't let this rare kindness go to waste!"

……

Everyone present said yes.

then,

The meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere and in an extremely civilized manner.

Both sides were calm and spoke softly.

Your Majesty's plan is:

Hakka people were allowed to open mines in the mountainous areas and no less than 1 young and strong Hakka people were recruited to serve as soldiers and receive military pay.

The Cantonese were allowed to smelt iron on their own, and 100 young men were selected to enter the Dongshan Civil Service School.

……

Lu Zhou clearly told the leaders present:

"There are no additional restrictions on Hakka mining and Cantonese iron smelting, but they must abide by the imperial court's industrial and commercial regulations. Let me be frank, if anyone does not follow the rules, don't blame the soldiers for coming to your door."

Everyone nodded,

I thought, isn’t it just the government that wants to take a share of the profits?
Can't ask for it.

In the past, when private mines were opened, the Qing government and county officials also took advantage of the situation.

But if there is no promise, I will still turn against you when the time comes.

Now,
As long as you can do it legally, it’s okay if you want to take more.

……

"Sir, can we Cantonese people go into the mountains to mine?"

"Sir, can we Hakka people smelt iron ourselves?"

Faced with these two questions,
Lu Zhou smiled and shook his head, saying:

"Mining and iron smelting must be separated. This is the red line. Anyone who crosses the line is plotting something unlawful."

Everyone understood.

It's a constraint.

That's right, if I were to open mines and metallurgy, I would take over. I wonder, which imperial court in the world can be assured?
Can understand.

Everyone wants to make money, not rebel.

……

Lu Zhou added:
"I personally suggest that you discuss first and move the mining site and iron smelting site as close together as possible, especially close to the river. The cost of bulk cargo transportation without water transportation is too high."

The two parties looked at each other silently.
Awkward and awkward.

Zeng Huaigu, the leader of the Hakka people in Heshan County, suddenly had an idea.
if,

If the Hakka mines were to smelt iron privately, these Cantonese people would be the first to report it to the government.

The more he thought about it, the more horrified he became. He was impressed by how deep Wu Ting's plan was and felt a chill on his back.

So arranged,

Whether due to past hatred or business monopoly, the Cantonese people had every motivation to be wary of others secretly getting involved in iron smelting.

……

Chen Shihao, the head of the Heshan County Youth League, bowed and said:

"May I ask, sir, are these 100 civil servants elected by us?"

"Your Majesty has instructed that all civil servants must take exams, and the ratio of candidates to candidates must not be less than three to one. Therefore, you must recommend at least 300 young men from your clan to Guangzhou to take the exam. Of course, 500 or 1000 people is fine, as long as only 100 are admitted in the end."

Everyone exchanged glances and understood.

Don't ask,
7% of these places will definitely be taken up by the major clans present here, and the remaining 3% will be distributed among the ordinary clan members.

……

Lu Zhou secretly praised in his heart,

Your Majesty is wise and sage. Now that your conspiracy has been unveiled, no one in the world can stop it.

If quotas are divided, conflicts are bound to arise between clan leaders.

in the future,

If Wu Ting spreads some more rumors, some discord will arise within the clan.

These conflicts and rifts may not be too big.

but,
As long as it appears,
Wu Ting could use it at any time and turn one piece of western Guangdong iron plate into multiple (fragmented) iron plates.

……

Lu Zhou only saw these for the time being.

But I didn't see your majesty's deeper calculations.

For example, civil servants from Heshan were assigned to work in Xinhui County, and children from Xinhui County were assigned to work in Kaiping County.

So what if we are all one of the four counties of Cantonese?
As long as you use a ladle to share the meat from the same pot, sooner or later you're bound to bump into things.

Everyone thinks,

It seems like there is less meat in my bowl.

……

As for the Hakka people,
The mountainous areas in northern Guangdong are barren, and many mountains do not even have a layer of soil, they are just bare rocky mountains.

In agricultural societies,
One can imagine what life would be like without land.

However, if they were allowed to lift the ban, they could immediately earn money, and then use the money to buy food and daily necessities.

If people have a way to survive, they will not be obsessed with fighting and killing.

This rule applies to most people.

……

Mining and iron smelting were separated.

In addition to checks and balances, there is another hidden consideration - to prevent the Turks and Hakkas from truly decoupling.

The upstream and downstream relationships in the steel industry must be maintained at the minimum level of interaction.

Over time,
It is possible for everyone to forget the hatred and achieve relative normalization of relations.

People, that's it.

Sometimes the memory is very good and something can still be engraved in the mind 1000 years later.

Sometimes my memory is so bad that I can forget everything in 20 years.

……

There are many disputes between the Hakka and Tujia people regarding boundary rivers and boundary markers.

Wu Ting's plan was:

The boundary is the Xijiang River.

All the Cantonese people living north of the Xijiang River moved south, and all the Hakka people living south of the Xijiang River moved north.

If the house and arable land cannot be taken away, try to exchange them.

but,

Anyone who has had experience at the grass-roots level knows that it is impossible to achieve 100% satisfaction with this kind of work, and it will definitely harm the interests of some people.

current,

It is impossible for the State of Wu to waste a lot of manpower and material resources in pursuit of ultimate fairness.

Simple and rude,
Under the witness of the government, the two parties exchanged land deeds privately.

The deadline is one month. Those who do not want to move out must burn incense and swear an oath in public in the village, and from then on integrate into the village. In Ke, you are a guest; in Guang, you are Guang.

……

finally,
A detailed and thorough "Western Guangdong Peace Plan" was released.

Lu Zhou drafted the terms and everyone put their fingerprints on them. After asking His Majesty to use his seal, the agreement was declared over.

Everyone present,

They all knelt down and swore to the heavens:

"~If anyone violates this rule, he will be severely punished and the ancestral hall will not be protected."

then,

They all cut their braids collectively and rushed back overnight with a copied plan to appease their fellow tribesmen.

To deal with a clan leader is equivalent to directly dealing with thousands of people, and indirectly dealing with tens of thousands of people.

A snake can't do without a head.

These people are the heads of the snake.

……

Simultaneously,

The 5th Corps commanded by Miao Youlin detoured to the flank but was never used.

According to the established plan,

If both sides disobey, he will be responsible for suppressing them by force.

And now,
His task naturally turned into supervising execution, just in case.

……

With the example of the "Western Guangdong Peace Plan", Wu Jun could easily resolve the conflicts between the natives and the Hakkas in other areas of Guangdong.

Speaking up.

The Cantonese convince the Cantonese, and the Hakka convince the Hakka.

There are many unruly old Cantonese people, but few who can't recognize the situation.

Everyone heard:

"The Wu army has powerful guns and cannons, and is very capable in fighting."

"The Wu army never showed mercy to the officials, gentry and merchants who resisted the city by force, and they were all eliminated."

under these circumstances,

If you don't know what's best for you, the consequences could be disastrous.

support!

Actively support and respond enthusiastically.

Letters from eastern Guangdong and central Guangdong came in like snowflakes, requesting Your Majesty to send important officials to preside over the signing of a peace plan.

……

The Chaoshan people who got up early and went to the late market finally arrived.

There were more than 30 people in the crowd.

The moment he saw Li Yu, he fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face.

"Your Majesty~"

They were not pretending, they were really sad.
Thousands of young and strong men were killed on the spot by the Guangdong Navy of the Qing Dynasty. Later, the village was destroyed by the Qing army, and nearly 1 people died.

Dozens of Taigongs died alone.

Li Yu looked at the black veils on these people's arms.
Help them up one by one.

Gentle words to comfort ~
……

"I am deeply moved by the righteous deeds of the Chaoshan people. I hereby grant you the right to establish the Chaoshan Chamber of Commerce, which will give you a quota of 80 seagoing vessels."

The crying of the crowd stopped abruptly.

Li Yu continued:

"The routes can go as far south as Nanyang and as far north as Jiangnan. For the Chaozhou people, going out to sea is limited to the ships, not the number of times."

The cries of the crowd instantly resumed.
But if you listen carefully, you can see that there is a bit of joy in the sadness.

Thousands of trees are blooming in front of the dead tree, and thousands of ships are passing by the sunken boat.

Death is a normal state in the world.

people,
This is how it has been passed down from generation to generation.

There is no need to be overly sad, just remember the past occasionally. The living still have to move on.

……

At this time, a battalion of Wu's army had taken over Chaozhou Prefecture.

He also fulfilled his promise. After the officials and gentry in the city paid the silver for repentance and signed the letter of repentance, they would not be questioned. They could still live the life of a rich man.

but,

Friendly suggestions from the government,

You sell part of the land at market price.

If you feel uneasy about living beyond your means, you can invest in the Chaoshan Chamber of Commerce.

I can make a profit from sea trade in the future, and I think I can have a safe and secure retirement~
So,
You can now rest assured and bask in the light of your majesty's civilization.

They are all smart people and can understand the hidden meaning in the words.

……

To manage Guangdong,

Wu Ting was indifferent to the officials who surrendered to the Qing court. He ordered most of them to retire in their old age, but did not touch their property.

A small number of them were given a banner and granted official positions, and then allowed to return home after several years.

Li Yu thought there was nothing wrong with it.
Positive governance:

It depends on the current situation and the comparison of strength between the two sides, either being superior or having an equal dialogue, or greeting each other with a smile, or going to war.

That's the rules of the game.

If you don't accept the rules, you will be kicked out.

Accept the rules and at least you can get out safely.

It is difficult for participants to see warmth and kindness, and bystanders are confused.
……

Li Yu appointed Huang Shengsheng, the eldest grandson of the Huang family in Chaozhou Prefecture, as the president of the Chaozhou Chamber of Commerce.

This personnel appointment,

It is an affirmation of his grandfather.

It is also a recognition of the Deputy Minister of Commerce, Lai Er, who died for his country.

after all,

The concubine he married was a woman named Huang, who was Huang Shengsheng's elder sister in terms of seniority.

In this way,
Wu Ting now has an implicit bond with the Chaozhou Chamber of Commerce.

Don't underestimate these interpersonal relationships; they are like bargaining chips at critical moments.

Ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign,

The royal family and nobles have all kinds of marriages. Even if they are not harmonious in appearance but are actually incompatible and a mess, everyone has to admit that we are relatives, not strangers.

……

However, even if everyone is acquaintance.

It also does not affect Li Yu's desire to earn more money.

That night,

Fucheng approached the Chaozhou Chamber of Commerce, and there was nothing to be ashamed of. He said directly: "It is best for your chamber of commerce to buy these 80 sea vessels from the Jiangnan Shipyard."

Everyone immediately said, buy it!

The beech wood from Fujian, the workers from Jiangnan, the steel from Maanshan, and the reduced-profile carronades from Xishan~
This is quite a blessing.

……

The return of the south wind is over.

A continuous rain for several days allowed Li Yu to read quietly in Guangzhou.

Good news is coming from all over the place~
Chaozhou Prefecture, Huizhou Prefecture, Jiaying Prefecture, and the eastern half of Zhaoqing Prefecture all surrendered without bloodshed.

Among them, it is worth noting that

The reaction of tens of thousands of brave people in Jiaying Prefecture.

……

then,

The surrounding Wu army dispatched three infantry battalions and one light artillery battalion, along Huizhou Prefecture - Heyuan County - Longchuan County. The vanguard has entered Jiaying Prefecture and headed straight for Xingning County.

There were brave enemies inside and Wu’s army was pressing in outside.

Among the former local officials of Jiaying Prefecture of the Qing Dynasty, three committed suicide by taking poison, two escaped, and the rest surrendered voluntarily.

The soldiers stationed in the Green Camp fled in panic.

Soldiers have no fighting spirit and officers have no loyalty.

……

however,
The Ke Yong people of Jiaying Prefecture suddenly showed resistance and refused to leave the village.

So that
The officers stationed in Xingning County judged that a conflict would break out between the two sides and ordered all personnel to prepare for battle.

however,
2 days later,

These leaders came down the mountain and knelt down to welcome him, and signed the peace plan.

after that,

The Wu army's conscription went smoothly.

According to Li Yu’s request - recruit evenly.

In the Hakka settlements in northern Guangdong, there are at least 300 and up to 500 people in each county, all of whom are three-year contract soldiers.

Considering the reality,
The one-time payment of 100 taels of silver to contract soldiers upon retirement was changed to a (quarterly) payment.

The second month of each quarter,

The soldiers' families went to the county government office to collect Wu Ting's new currency - silver dollars (big-headed silver coins).

The soldiers were pleased with this.

Their goal is for one person to serve in the army and the whole family to have enough food.

33 liang of silver a year, plus some potatoes and sweet potatoes grown by myself, that's enough~
……

A mining boom has swept the Hakka mountainous areas in northern and western Guangdong.

After the mine is identified,
Pay 500 taels of silver to the county government and you can get a bronze plaque back.

It says:

xx Mining Area, xx County, Guangdong Province, No. xxxx, mining validity period ends at xxxx.

The mine owner hung a plaque on the gate of the mine to indicate that it was a legal existence.

If not, it is a private mine.

The informant will receive a government reward of 100 taels.

The punishment for illegal mining was severe. The mine owners were executed, and all the miners involved were exiled to the 1st Expeditionary Army as slaves to the Armored Men.

……

500 taels is a 5-year mining license.

After expiration, the original mine owner has the priority right to renew the contract.

Considering that the mines are scattered deep in the mountains, it is difficult to check the output.

The fixed tax for the first year is 200 taels.

The mine owner can be an individual or a partnership of multiple people.

Anyway,

With a fixed operating cost of 300 taels per year, mining should be quite profitable.

in case,

If they were allowed to smelt iron on site, profits would be even higher.

Hakka people are generally not rich, but there are some particularly wealthy leaders among them.

For example, people like Zhao De from Shaozhou Prefecture.

Therefore, Wu Ting did not need to worry that they had no capital to open a mine.

……

Guard Lu Zhou, please give instructions:
"Your Majesty, how should we arrange for the Ke Yong recruited by each county?"

"I position them as the second-line garrison. 1000 people are stationed in Ji'an Prefecture, Jiangxi, 1000 people are stationed in Changzhou Prefecture, Jiangsu, 1000 people are stationed in Jinhua Prefecture, Zhejiang, 1000 people are stationed in Chongming Island, and 500 people are stationed in Zhoushan Islands. The rest will be temporarily placed in Ganzhou Prefecture."

Lu Zhou asked again:
"In terms of weapon configuration?"

"Military uniforms and food remain the same. All personnel will be equipped with smoothbore rifles and bayonets. A small number of light artillery pieces may be used, but they must not exceed 3 pounds." Li Yu paused and continued, "Officers above the level of warrant officer will be selected from the 1st to 5th Corps, with priority given to older and injured soldiers and non-commissioned officers."

Lu Zhou asked again:
"The command of these second-line guards?"

"Well, once the provincial governors are in office, the power of command will be vested in the governors, and the power to appoint officers will be vested in the Army Department."

……

"Your Majesty, in accordance with your instructions, a total of 3 candidates under the age of 15 from Huizhou, Guangzhou, and Zhaoqing have arrived. This is the list."

Li Yu was too lazy to look at the list.
Direct instructions:

"The exam will be held in Guangzhou in seven days. The Suzhou Prefecture exam paper will be slightly modified and given to these people to do."

"what?"

Lu Zhou was dumbfounded.

Li Yu smiled and said:

"That's fine. Announce the results quickly, and then send the candidates to study at Suzhou Dongshan Civil Service School. You can spread the word that the children of families who actively support the court may be arranged to return to their hometowns to serve as officials in the future."

……

Li Yu's thoughts,
These 100 people are equivalent to protons.

They studied in Suzhou Prefecture, and the families behind them were relatively supportive of the imperial court.

With this in mind,
perhaps,

Should the study time be longer? Should they be allowed to graduate later?
(End of this chapter)