1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 105 Four major families
According to Xiao Guoying, the largest household in Wuxuan is the Huang family of Wuxuan.

The Huang family is a prominent local clan in Wuxuan County. Their ancestors migrated to Wuxuan during the Ming Dynasty and by the Daoguang era, they had grown into a powerful family with thousands of acres of land and hundreds of tenant farmers.

Many of his family members obtained the titles of Imperial Academy Student and Tribute Student through donations, and controlled the local militia.

The Huang family's wealth mainly came from land rent, with secondary businesses including cinnamon and tung oil trade. They also controlled multiple wharves along the Qianjiang River, using these to manipulate grain prices in Wuxuan for profit.

Even Qiu Ersao, who was half civilian and half bandit, had to pay tribute to the Huang family, making him a true Martial Lord Huang.

It is roughly estimated that the Huang family had seven or eight thousand shi of grain, of which about four thousand shi were stored in the grain shop in the county town, and the rest were hidden in the Huang family earthen fort in the eastern countryside.

Secondly, there is the Chen family, whose ancestral home is in Guangdong. Compared to the Huang family, the Chen family can only be considered a newly rich family.

The Chen family made their fortune in the Xijiang salt transport business during the Jiaqing period, and monopolized the salt permits of Wuxuan County in the early Daoguang period. They also had close ties with the Cantonese merchants in Wuzhou.

The Chen family's main business was running pawnshops and money exchanges, and lending money at high interest rates.

While the popular saying in Wuxuan that the Chen family's silver reserves could "pave three miles of official road" is an exaggeration, it is true that half of Wuxuan's salt tax went into the Chen family's coffers.

The Chen family has little land but plenty of money, and their businesses are all located near the county seat, which is great news for Peng Gang.

The third family were descendants of the Zhuang chieftain Wei clan. Although the Wei family's power was weakened after the Qing government abolished the chieftain system, they still controlled a large area of ​​land in the mountainous region of the county and formed a local armed force through marriage alliances with Yao chieftains.

The Wei family controlled the forest resources (timber and medicinal herbs) of Wuxuan Mountain. They hired "wolf soldiers" to form a caravan to protect the merchants. In 1848, they assisted the government in suppressing the Yao people's uprising and were awarded the fifth-rank official hat.

The Wei family only had one valuable pharmacy in the county town; the rest of their property was in the mountains, and Peng Gang couldn't possibly consume much of the Wei family's wealth.

Finally, there was the Liu family, whose members entered officialdom through the imperial examinations.

During the Daoguang era, the family produced two prefects and three county magistrates, which was extremely rare in the entire Guangxi region.

However, the Liu family's land holdings are scattered, with the majority of their land located in Guiping and Wuxuan, and they own relatively little land there.

During the Xunjiang River flood of the 28th year of the Daoguang Emperor's reign, the Liu family seized over 1,800 mu of prime paddy fields along the Xunjiang River in one fell swoop.

The Liu family lived in Guantang Lane, next to the Confucian Temple in the county town.

The most magnificent five-courtyard Hui-style building in Wuxuan County, with the inscription "Passing down poetry and etiquette through generations" on the screen wall, is the Liu family's residence.

The Liu family's backyard even had a secret passage that led directly to the county government office.

When Peng Gang stormed into the city, the Liu family thought the county government office was safer, so they entered the county government office through a secret passage. They were taken into custody by the boat troops under Qiu Ersao's command, who mistook them for Liu Zuosu's family members. They didn't even have to go to Liu's residence to arrest them.

It was only during the interrogation that we learned they were local Liu family members from Wuxuan, not Liu Zuosu's family.

The Huang, Chen, Wei, and Liu families occupy different ecological niches and become powerful and wealthy local figures by monopolizing the livelihoods of 200,000 to 300,000 people in Wuxuan.

Anyone who wants to live and do business in Wuxuan has no choice but to rely on the four major families of Wuxuan.

After learning about the situation of the powerful families in Wuxuan, Peng Gang pronounced judgment on the four major families of Wuxuan in the county government court: "The Huang, Chen, Wei and Liu families have committed many evils and are rich but heartless. After a public trial, all their property and money will be confiscated."

The other wealthy households in Wuxuan County have been going to the county government these past few days to lend half of their grain to the God God Society, telling them that the God God Society will not lend for free, and that they will give them IOUs.

Anyone who conceals or fails to report such activities will face the same fate as the Huang, Chen, Wei, and Liu families once the truth is revealed!

As for the remaining major clients, Peng Gang left them a way out.

They only borrowed half of the grain from them.

After all, most of Wuxuan's money, grain, and land holdings were highly concentrated in the hands of the Huang, Chen, Wei, and Liu families.

The remaining large households, even if they fed a dozen or twenty households, couldn't compare to the wealth of just one of the four major families.

Just as dawn was breaking, Peng Gang assigned tasks to his students.

Some were responsible for guarding the gates, some for maintaining order within the city, some for counting and tallying the grain in the official granaries and charitable granaries, and some for conducting public trials and confiscating property.

Although not all of Peng Gang's students can write or do math.

However, the company commander, deputy company commander, group leader, deputy group leader, and some veteran group members are still able to write and calculate, accounting for about one-third, which is enough to handle the statistical work.

The magistrate, assistant magistrate, registrar, and finance clerk of Wuxuan County were astonished to see the "bandits" they regarded actually taking out notebooks and pens to keep accounts.

They originally thought that only Peng Gang, the "bandit leader," was a scholar with some education, but unexpectedly, some of Peng Gang's underlings, and even some ordinary "bandits," could write and keep accounts.

This was the first time they had ever seen a group of "bandits" with such a high level of education.

Not only the county magistrate, the county assistant magistrate, and the registrar were surprised.

Even Peng Gang's accomplices, Qiu Ersao, Chen Chengrong, Lu Liu, and others, were shocked.

"There are probably more accountants in Wuxuan County than there are young men like you," Qiu Ersao remarked.

"Where did you find so many young men who can read and write and do math?"

“He didn’t find them; he taught them.” Luo Dagang and Peng Gang had frequent interactions, and he had seen Peng Gang teaching at the schools in Honglianping and Honglian Village.

"You're a teacher? How can you teach so many people to read and do accounting?" Qiu Ersao asked in surprise.

“They’ve always called me ‘sir,’” Peng Gang said with a smile. “As long as you find the right teaching method, it’s not difficult to teach.”

Although Peng Gang tries to find students with a good academic background to teach, it is suspected that he is taking shortcuts.

However, it cannot be denied that his teaching method of using blackboards and chalk for classroom instruction was unique in terms of teaching efficiency, at least in the Qing Dynasty.

"Our master said that in the future, everyone in the world should be able to read and write and learn arithmetic," Huang Dabiao said proudly.

"You still have the nerve to talk! You failed the liberal arts exam twice!" Peng Gang glanced at Huang Dabiao. Before he knew it, the saber that Peng Gang had placed on the desk had returned to Huang Dabiao's waist. Peng Gang took Huang Dabiao's saber.

"Ask me for this knife again after you pass your liberal arts exam!"

"Could you also teach my people to read and do arithmetic?" Luo Dagang requested.

Having successfully captured Wuxuan County, Luo Dagang was already planning to leave the Heaven and Earth Society and join Peng Gang on Pingzai Mountain.

As for the God Society, Luo Dagang has no intention of joining.

He disliked foreigners and was even less willing to believe in foreign religions or their gods.

According to Luo Dagang's observation, although Peng Gang had joined the association...

But Peng Gang didn't seem to believe in these things either. He had never seen Peng Gang lead his young men in singing hymns, praying, or attending services.

“If they are willing to learn, I am naturally happy to teach them.” As Peng Gang spoke, he walked to the deserted street outside the county government office, frowned, and asked Lu Qin, who was standing next to him.

"Have all the public notices been posted?"

"The notices were posted long ago, but the people are already terrified of the Heaven and Earth Society's antics. They think the Heaven and Earth Society has entered the city. Posting the notices to reassure the people is useless; no one dares to go out and read them," Lu Qin reported.

The Tiandihui (Heaven and Earth Society) in Guangxi has numerous branches, with dozens of well-known ones, and their composition is also very complex.

If we were to categorize them, they could be broadly divided into three types.

Like Zhang Zhao and Zhang Jiaxiang, these morally bankrupt and fickle scoundrels joined the Heaven and Earth Society to gain official positions in the Qing government and legitimately amass wealth. After all, no matter how fast bandits robbed money, it couldn't compare to the speed at which officials made their fortunes.

People like Chen Yagui robbed and plundered, robbed merchants and travelers, and their gatherings and departures were as swift as the wind.

These people were relatively pure outlaws, loyal to each other, used to being free and unrestrained, and generally did not accept the Qing government's offer of amnesty.

However, it was also a disaster for the people of Guangxi, since their carefree life was built on plundering the people's wealth.

People like Luo Dagang practice simple and vague political goals such as acting on behalf of Heaven, robbing the rich to help the poor, and killing corrupt officials.

Zhang Jiaxiang, Chen Yagui, and Luo Dagang were all outstanding members of the Heaven and Earth Society.

At the height of his power, Zhang Jiaxiang chose to retire gracefully and accept the Qing court's offer of amnesty.

At the height of his success, Chen Yagui chose to establish his own independent organization and break away from the Heaven and Earth Society.

Luo Dagang now also wants to break away from the Heaven and Earth Society.

This shows that over the years, the reputation of the Heaven and Earth Society in Guangxi has been ruined, and even the leadership within the society has lost faith in it.

At present, the people of Guangxi have a level of disgust and fear of the Heaven and Earth Society that is no less than that of the government.

Peng Gang took out his pocket watch and checked the time; it was already ten o'clock in the morning.

The public trial of the four major families of Wuxuan was for the people of Wuxuan to see. We must find a way to get the people of Wuxuan out of their homes and let them know that Peng Gang and the God Society are different from the Heaven and Earth Society.

He fought this battle not just for supplies, but also for reputation and the hearts of the people.

Guangxi, and indeed the entire country, is plunged into darkness and needs a ray of light to shine in, to give them hope, the hope of resistance.

"Set up ten soup kitchens in front of the county government office, beat drums and gongs to tell the people of the whole city that as long as God is in Wuxuan City, he will provide soup for every day." Peng Gang instructed Lu Qin and Li Qi to do this.

Lu Qin and Li Qi responded and then summoned their respective subordinates to arrange the handling of the matter.

"Grain is precious. With so many people in the county town, such extravagance means the grain in the government granaries won't last many days."

Chen Chengrong already regarded the grain in Wuxuan City as the property of the God Worshippers Society. Hearing that Peng Gang had to taste the porridge in the county town every day, he felt very sorry for him and thought that Peng Gang was wasting too much.

The "Disaster Relief Regulations" promulgated during the Qianlong reign stipulated that adult disaster victims should be provided with five he (approximately half a jin) of rice per day, while children should receive half that amount.

Of course, this is just a standard. In practice, if every adult disaster victim receives the same amount of rice as a child, it would be considered that the officials in charge of disaster relief are extremely honest.

Wuxuan City has a population of only about 10,000. Even if Peng Gang distributes porridge at twice the standard set by the Qing government, and the entire city comes to drink the porridge, the amount of rice needed each day would only be a maximum of 130 shi (a unit of dry measure).

“The population of Wuxuan County is only about ten thousand, and the amount of rice needed for distributing porridge each day is only 130 shi. If we stay in Wuxuan for ten days, the amount of rice needed for distributing porridge will be no more than 1,300 shi,” Peng Gang asked Chen Chengrong.

"Is the support of the God Society not even worth 1,300 bushels of grain?"

Peng Gang believed that if 1,300 shi of grain could win the hearts of the people of Wuxuan County, it would be well worth it.

Moreover, it would be an optimistic estimate if he could stay in Wuxuan City for ten days. He had to leave Wuxuan County before the Qing court mobilized a large army to enter Wuxuan, so as not to be trapped by the Qing army. It was highly likely that he could not stay for ten days.

Chen Chengrong had no rebuttal and fell silent.

At first, when the people of Wuxuan City heard that the "bandits" were going to distribute porridge, they did not want to believe it, thinking that these "bandits" who entered the city were going to lure them out to rob and kill them.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, a few hungry people finally mustered up their courage and came to the porridge stall in front of the county government office to receive porridge.

I discovered that I could actually get the porridge.

The porridge they received was not only thick, but it could also be refilled.

These young men, wearing red scarves and responsible for serving porridge, were very friendly and didn't look like thieves at all.

Several people who had received porridge began to chat quietly among themselves.

"Oh my! It really is cooked with rice, and it's a thick porridge, without any straw or bran!"

“Last year I drank porridge at Guanpeng, but I couldn’t even bite into a single grain of rice; my mouth was full of dregs.”

"The rice porridge distributed by the government last year wasn't rinsed clean; there was still dirt in it. I heard that the county only allocated about 30% of the rice, and the rest was mixed in... Sigh, how could I dare to ask any more questions?"

"Who says otherwise? I said a few words and got a good beating from the porridge-serving bailiffs."

"Look at these young men, I've never seen anyone serve porridge so politely."

"The rice in the official sheds last year was all old; there were more insects than rice in a bowl of porridge."

"I'll come back here for a drink tomorrow. In this world, every drink counts."

"If we could have this porridge every day, even God would be grateful."

"But they were bandits after all."

"So what if they're bandits? When we're starving, if they're willing to feed us, they're like living saints."

At the entrance of the county government office, Lu Liu and Chen Chengrong hurriedly pointed to the wooden sign of the porridge stall and explained to the Wuxuan people who were drinking porridge and chatting that they were from the God Society, not the Heaven and Earth Society, and then preached to them.

Peng Gang's students were displeased to hear Lu Liuhe and Chen Chengrong only mention the God Society and not Peng Gang's name. They pointed to the still-wet ink on the wooden sign and read aloud one by one: "The God Society, Pingzaishan, Peng Gang, relieves famine. Peng Gang is our teacher. He is the one who asked us to distribute porridge to everyone."

There is also a God Society in Wuxuan, and many people in Wuxuan have heard of the God Society.

As for Peng Gang's name, he is quite well-known in Guiping County and Guixian County.

In Wuxuan, few people know Peng Gang.

But now they remember the name of the God's Society leader who served them porridge.

After the people who had finished drinking the porridge returned home, the people who entered the city were not from the Heaven and Earth Society, but from the God Society. They did not kill or rob the people, and they really distributed porridge. The news that the porridge they distributed was even thicker than the porridge they cooked at home spread throughout the city.

By evening, the once deserted county government office was now crowded with people coming to collect porridge.

"There are already enough people in front of the county government office. Are we going to hold a public trial for the Huang, Chen, Wei, and Liu families now?" Luo Dagang asked.

“It’s getting late, we’ll continue the trial tomorrow,” Peng Gang said, shaking his head.

After dark, Huang Bingxian and Chen Xuyuan, who were in charge of confiscating the property of the county magistrate, county assistant, registrar, and several secretaries, came to report to Peng Gang on the day's work results.

One hundred and fifty ingots of official silver (7,500 taels) worth fifty taels each were confiscated from the home of Magistrate Liu Zuosu. Four hundred taels of pure gold and three ivory-inlaid gold opium guns were also found in the hidden wall of the north wall of Liu Zuosu's study.

The property found in Liu Zuosu's family alone was more than fifteen times the amount of silver in the Wuxuan County government treasury.

Liu Zuosu was known for his integrity and was a famous honest official in Xunzhou Prefecture.

Judging from the gold and silver treasures found so far, Liu Zuosu certainly lived up to the Qing Dynasty's standards of integrity.

The county magistrate, the registrar, and several secretaries collectively received 28,655 taels of silver and 1,154 taels of gold.

As for grain, the county officials and their advisors did not have much grain stored in their homes, totaling only about 460 shi (a unit of dry measure). However, the quality of their stored grain was very good, as it was all top-quality rice harvested last year.

(End of this chapter)