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The Thirteen Lines had accumulated a lot of wealth. It took the Liberation Army less than a month to eradicate the manpower of the Thirteen Lines. Receiving the wealth of the Thirteen Elements took two whole months.
In these three months, Yue Shoushan's mood had been fluctuating. In the middle of July, 1856, Yue Shoushan received a few guests in a village near the sea outside the city. On such a hot day, one of the guests was still wearing a bamboo hat. The bamboo hat was pressed low, not caring if it would attract attention. He just wanted to hide his face.
As soon as the two groups met, the man took off his bamboo hat, revealing a foreigner's face. Both sides did not look relaxed. The Westerner saw Yue Shoushan's worried expression and decided to get straight to the point with his broken Cantonese: "Mister Yue! Have you made your decision? "
Although Yue Shoushan's complexion had worsened, he was far from having a mental breakdown. He said calmly, "I wonder if the British main is willing to give us guns?"
"You don't have to worry about the weapons. We recently shipped a large batch of weapons to Hong Kong! It's just that Mr. Yue's idea of starting an army requires a firm resolution. "The British man pointed out the key issue.
Yue Shoushan wasn't the only one in Foshan. The British weren't limited to Foshan either. Almost all the merchants who traded with the British were negotiating with the British. Although they were all Anglos? Compared to the Saxon race, the British were undoubtedly more tactful. Centuries of experience in stirring shit in Europe had given the British a wealth of experience. Needless to say, the British formed an anti-French alliance more than half a world ago. In the Crimean War that ended a few months ago, the British cleverly roped in a group of anti-Russian countries, including France and Osman, and launched an attack on Russia.
Although the war ended in a pyrrhic victory, the Russians only gave up part of their demands on Osman. However, they took a tough stance and expressed that they would not cede territory or pay reparations. They put on a look that said, "If you can't win, then try to fight your way into Moscow." Of course the allied forces of Britain and France could not enter Moscow. Let alone Moscow, they could not even enter the Baltic Sea, where the Russian army had the advantage. Therefore, from the economic point of view of this war, the participating countries had lost a huge amount of money.
Of course, from a political point of view, the accounts could not be calculated in this way. France, under the reign of Napoleon III, had at last recovered from the moral humiliation of the Russian invasion of Paris, and felt that she had at last regained her position as the first army in Europe. The British proved that as long as the British participated, Russia, which was known as the gendarmerie of Europe, could be defeated.
Although the British were temporarily unable to send troops to Guangdong to beat up Vézé, they could still use the same method to rope in other forces to deal with their main enemy. From a broad perspective, the British tried to establish a channel of communication with Manchu Qing by transferring technology to Manchu Qing. Not only the central government, but the British had also contacted the local government in the Fujian region. To the disappointment of the British, the Manchu Qing government in Fujian was very interested in the British support, but did not show any sincerity in sending troops. Given the craftiness of the Englishmen, they could see that the Fujian government actually hoped to see the Englishmen and Vézé fight to the death while they hid behind to watch the show.
The British showed no signs of discouragement even though the upper echelons were not working. The central government of Manchu Qing, the local governments, and the civil forces, the British began to contact at the same time. Vézé's strong ban on smoking used the tobacco trade as a link to form a common interest between the British and China's big tobacco dealers. These big tobacco dealers were not good people. As long as their business was of a certain scale, they would certainly be the leader of a certain militia.
The British, with their accurate judgment and outstanding ability to act, connected this group of people in Guangdong. If Manchu Qing could not give Vézé a military blow, then the British could. What the British needed was an ally that could stand with them. Fighting alone was never the British habit, and it was not the British strategy.
Intelligence from all over Guangdong was gathered in Hong Kong. The governor of Hong Kong frowned after reading it. "Why are these people asking us to help them obtain the title of official in Manchu Qing?"
The gathered intelligence showed a special point. The leaders of the militia expressed their willingness to firmly support the British military action, but they wanted to occupy the cities in Guangdong. Of course, the British had collected the declaration from Manchu Qing. Anyone who could recapture a city from Vézé's Liberation Army could become a county magistrate if they captured a county, and a prefectural city could become a prefectural magistrate.
Therefore, the governor of Hong Kong could not understand the attitude and position of these people. "If we really eliminate Vézé, why do these people think that the central government will reward them with these positions according to the agreement? Shouldn't the central government attack these people instead? "
The British civil and military officials at the meeting were all very smart people, and they also believed in power. Therefore, they could not think of a reasonable explanation for the question raised by the governor of Hong Kong. Although they had not heard of the saying in China, "Put away the bow when the birds are killed, and cook the dogs when the hares are dead," such a basic political principle was the same in any decent country. The concessions proposed by the central government of the Manchurian Qing to the local governments were not the central government's willingness, but rather a reluctant compromise in the face of reality. When the threat of Vézé was eliminated in reality, there was no reason for the central government to fulfill its promise.
Of course, unless the militia could drive the forces of the central government of Manchu Qing out of Guangdong, they would achieve a substantial separatist regime. Because of this, the central government would consider this possibility, and it would be even more impossible for them to accept the rise of the Guangdong militia in Guangdong.
However, the British did not fully expect the rise of the militia. If there was a confrontation between the militia and the central government of Manchu Qing, the British could more effectively use this conflict to gain benefits. The British did not have enough troops to occupy Guangdong, and supporting a governor who was truly under the control of the British was exactly what the British wanted.
"Let's agree to their request for the time being." The British fleet commander put forward his opinion.
There was no doubt that this view was supported by most people. If the British could defeat Vézé's troops, the militia would certainly not be stupid enough to disobey the British orders. These courageous British civil and military officials knew from their own experience that the first to create an advantage, the fence-sitters would naturally gather under the banner of the winner. It was very simple.
Since his colleagues had expressed their views, the governor of Hong Kong did not feel the need to be entangled anymore. He said, "Our reinforcements will arrive in two months. The navy includes three warships, and the army has more than 3,500 people. By the time they arrive, we will have six thousand five hundred soldiers on the ground. It should be more than enough to take down Guangzhou. "
The British were determined to win, but the Liberation Army in Guangzhou began to retreat. Recently, the Liberation Army had expanded rapidly. A large number of brothers from Guangxi learned of the Liberation Army's victory in Guangdong and Wuzhou and came to join. Vézé's two armies had a full complement of 100,000 people. After this absorption, the army quickly swelled to more than 80,000 people. According to an optimistic estimate, in another two months, the two armies, including the supply troops, could reach a state of full strength.
Vézé began to evacuate the Photovoltaic Governor's Office military administration in Guangzhou, as well as the factories, to the outside. The Second Army was responsible for the area north of Guangzhou, and the First Army was responsible for the area south of Guangzhou. Other than the areas near the sea, the troops controlled the major cities in units.
The Liberation Army was not a group of hotheads who did not understand the power of artillery. As long as they saw the characteristics of Guangzhou with their own eyes, everyone understood that there was no chance of victory against the British sailing battleships with 12-pound mountain howitzers.
"As long as we can start forging large-caliber artillery ourselves, we can defend the Tiger Gate. But before that, we can't let our comrades die senselessly in Guangzhou City! " After Vézé's order was passed on to the troops, Vézé was in charge. The retreat did not encounter much resistance.
Except for a few hotheads who expressed that they would rather die fighting the British. However, Vézé only asked, "How do you know there is no war?" Those people were speechless. If Vézé said there was a war, then there must be a war. The hotheads' ability to think strategically was insufficient, but they were very confident in Vézé.
At the beginning of August, Bi Qingshan finally spoke at the Standing Committee meeting with a thick stack of statistical data. "We can start implementing the land grant order!"
"Oh?!" All the Standing Committee members were excited. The Photovoltaic Governor's Office had started this work since they entered Guangzhou. After a year of unremitting efforts, they could finally start now. Everyone subconsciously sat up straight, waiting for Bi Qingshan to explain the situation.
"We have eradicated the group of people loyal to Manchu Qing. There are not many of them. Their family owns 4% of the land in the entire Guangdong area. Some of their family members are officials in Manchu Qing. We have already asked their families to send letters to those Manchu Qing officials, asking them to leave Manchu Qing within half a year and return to us. Up until now, no one has returned. Therefore, according to the regulations we have issued, the land of these people has been confiscated. Don't look down on this group of people. Whoever can pass the Jinshi examination and become a high-ranking official in Manchu Qing will soon have the surrounding land become their family's. At least, if you want to sell the surrounding land, you will have to get the consent of those officials' families. They have the right to buy first! This group of people owns 4% of the land in the entire Guangdong area. "Bi Qingshan held the form and said calmly.
"Oh? So overbearing? "Although Lin Asheng was a Cantonese, he was not very clear about these things.
Bi Qingshan sneered. "That's how overbearing they are. Therefore, we have mobilized the children of the Red Boat to write many Cantonese operas and perform them everywhere. The main purpose is naturally to publicize the harm of smoking, the abominable drug dealers, and the reasons why they should be killed. The matters of these officials are also the focus of publicity! "
Lin Asheng could not help but slowly nodded. He suddenly smiled, "No wonder recently they claimed to be bullied. There are a lot of people who want to settle accounts with the families of these Manchu Qing officials."
Bi Qingshan smiled, but did not expand on this issue. After all, this was not the department he was in charge of. "Shisanxing is not only rich, but also a big landlord. This time, we acted quickly and copied a lot of land deeds. This group of people are the real big landlords in the Pearl River Delta. Now we have found out that they directly and indirectly control about 8% of the land. We are still investigating a part of the land. "
After distributing this part of the information to everyone, Bi Qingshan took the time to drink a mouthful of water before continuing, "Including the confiscated Manchu Qing official land, we now control nearly 28% of the land in the Pearl River Delta. If we can destroy the big drug dealers and the militia, we can control nearly 40% of the land. We will have the foundation to implement the land grant order. "
As an outsider, the Restoration Society has no other way but to turn the tables. Moreover, although the current situation is constantly fighting, it is very beneficial to the confiscation of land. Everyone is thinking for themselves. No one is willing to stand up for others. In addition, every time the Liberation Army carries out an attack, they must first announce the target of the attack. Ordinary people and landlords do not dare to get involved.
Bi Qingshan, as the director of the Guangdong Land Office and the future governor of Guangdong Province, had put a lot of effort into this matter. "I'll give you a brief explanation. There are three parts to the Land Grant Order. The first part is the right of the recipient of the Land Grant. On the basis of the nationalization of the land, the recipient of the Land Grant will have the right to use the land. These rights can be inherited, but cannot be sold or transferred freely. If the recipient wants to cancel the Land Grant Order with us, the land must be returned to us. The second part is the obligations of the recipient. Anyone who receives the land grant order will automatically be released from any land rent after obtaining the land. However, they must bear the corresponding obligation to pay the corresponding grain. Of course, if someone in their family is serving in the military, the proportion of grain payment can be reduced during the service period. The third part is that the recipient must hand over their own land. We do not accept this group of people owning the land. Other than the land that the recipient owns, there are other private land. Once discovered, it will be confiscated immediately. That's about it. "
Li Yuchang was born a merchant. Because the land in their hometown was barren, Huizhou merchants were not particularly interested in farming. Even so, after seeing the land policy under the state ownership, he still felt uncomfortable. Li Yuchang knew that Vézé did not prohibit people from speaking. After thinking for a while, he still asked, "Commander in Chief, I do not know whether the land grant order is good or not. But what does the land grant order have to do with the modern nation that you want to build? "
Vézé replied, "The tiller gets the land. This has always been the wish of the people. Anyone who receives the land grant order actually has the obligation to pay the grain and serve in the military. If one member of the family joins the army, the tax will be reduced by 30%. If two join the army, the tax will be reduced by 60%. If three join the army, the tax will be exempted. Those who are willing to farm honestly are all from good families. If they join the army, they are responding and obeying the national policy. Whether it is them or their families, they all know that they can only live the life they have today because of the existence of the country. What do you think? "
When Li Yuchang heard this, it was indeed reasonable. But Li Yuchang still felt a little uneasy. "Commander in Chief, if every family has someone joining the army, won't our taxes be much lower?"
This calculative attitude of a merchant amused Vézé. "Haha, we are only worried that the people will not follow us. How can we be worried that the people will follow us? If every family has someone joining the army, we will immediately have hundreds of thousands of troops. With this power, what is there to worry about? Don't worry, if the modern nation can't even deal with this problem, then it definitely won't exist. "
Vézé did not want to say too much. In fact, Li Yuchang's attitude was not without the same opinion in the new China. But the new China in the 21st century proved one thing: the higher the level of industry in a society, the more labor it would need. The reason why many third-world countries were unable to replicate the rise of China was very simple. Their governments were very incompetent. They were unable to create a large number of employment opportunities, nor were they able to cultivate a large number of truly educated workers. They were even more unable to make these workers serve the industrial capital of their country.
This problem was too complicated, completely exceeding Li Yuchang's ability to understand. In order to not cause trouble for himself, Vézé could only keep his mouth shut. "If no one has any other opinions, we will start carrying out the land grant order now!"
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