1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 117 The Seven Sons of the Heavenly Father, the Jintian Uprising!
I briefly surveyed the surrounding camp.

Despite the large number of people at Jintianyingpan, the area was orderly and not chaotic.

Newcomers, regardless of whether they were previously members of the God Society, or whether they came alone or with their families, were all greeted by designated personnel who led them to the registration office to be registered and assigned to their respective units.

There are currently two types of registers for the God Church.

One is the military register, and the other is the family register.

Each army has its own special military register and family register.

As the name suggests, the military register records the information of personnel in each military unit.

The information to be recorded in the family register is much more detailed than that in the military register.

The family register records the specific date the individual participated in the group camp, their age, place of origin, and information about their family members; it is essentially the same as a household registration booklet.

It is hard to imagine that a peasant uprising army could have such a high degree of organization, such strict discipline, such a complete system, and such maturity at the very beginning of the uprising.

Xiao Chaogui's men killed Wang Ji, the patrol inspector of the Dahuang River, at Jiangkouwei, repelled the local militia, and occupied Jiangkouwei.

The organized boatmen, shirtless and shouting loud work chants, enthusiastically pulled boats along the riverbank in Cai Village, carrying money, grain, and supplies obtained from Jiangkou Market to Jintian Village.

Without the help of yamen runners or officials, and without the use of sticks and whips, these boatmen pulled the boats even harder, seemingly with inexhaustible energy, and no one complained about the hardship or fatigue.

We arrived at the center of the camp.

The lawn in the center of the camp had been swept clean, and the mud was covered with incense ash and wood ash. A temporary altar was set up with a white cloth, and a wooden cross frame was hung high with the words "Heavenly Father above" written on it.

The altar was surrounded by rows of incense burners, each burning with incense, the smoke curling upwards, creating a scene reminiscent of a fairyland.

The surrounding area was teeming with people, with banners fluttering and drums beating loudly.

Thousands of believers held their breath, their eyes fixed on the two people sitting cross-legged beneath the altar.

One was Yang Xiuqing, dressed in blue cloth, with his eyes closed, muttering incantations, and with a solemn expression.

One was Xiao Chaogui, who was kneeling barefoot, holding a wooden plaque, silently reciting scriptures, looking tired, with sweat pouring down his forehead.

Peng Gang had just arrived near the altar.

Yang Xiuqing seemed to see him, and suddenly her body trembled violently, her features contorted, and her face became ferocious.

Yang Xiuqing jumped three times on the spot, landing on his toes without his heels touching the ground, and began to utter extremely strange sounds, like a baby's first cry or thunder and lightning, and no one could understand what he was saying.

Yang Xiuqing then knelt down and slapped the ground three times with one palm. Then he repeatedly banged his forehead against the offering table until the large bump on his forehead, which had not yet subsided, swelled up again.

In an instant, Yang Xiuqing straightened up, his expression changed drastically, and he looked solemn, as if he were possessed by a deity.

A low growl, like a wild beast breaking free of its cage, roared: "I am God the Father!"

"Heavens! The Heavenly Father has descended to earth!" Someone in the crowd shouted excitedly. The shout was like a grenade exploding in the crowd, and in an instant, a group of believers knelt down.

"Worship God! Worship God!"

The incessant shouts echoed over Jintian Camp.

Suddenly, Xiao Chaogui also looked up to the sky and shouted, his voice changing to a clear and high-pitched cry: "I am the Heavenly Brother Jesus Christ! I have come by the command of the Father!"

"Jesus! Jesus!"

When the two deities, Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother, descended to earth at the same time, some of the kneeling believers were already crying out in excitement.

Peng Gang noticed that even Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yunshan prostrated themselves on the ground, saying "Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother above," and bowed three times and kowtowed nine times.

With no other option, Peng Gang could only wait for the leader and his entire guard platoon to kneel down in unison.

Yang Xiuqing seemed to be waiting for Peng Gang. He turned to look at Peng Gang, his eyes no longer bright and piercing like an ordinary person's, but with a godlike depth and a hint of kindness.

Yang Xiuqing walked in a strange way, unlike usual. He walked to Shi Dakai with a light, floating gait and slowly extended his hand.

“Peng Gang, you are no ordinary man, but also my son.”

Peng Gang was startled and his eyes widened.

Am I going to become a son of God?
So what number will I be in the future?

Fifth or seventh?

After a few breaths, Xiao Chaogui suddenly leaped up, exhaled a long stream of turbid air, and stood upright like a pine tree. He came before Peng Gang and spoke in a golden voice, answering Peng Gang's doubts: "Seventh Brother."

In the God Heaven Family, the eldest son is Heavenly Brother Su (the eldest son of the Heavenly Father), the second son is Hong Xiuquan (the second son of the Heavenly Father), the third son is Feng Yunshan, the fourth son is Yang Xiuqing, the fifth son is Wei Changhui, and the sixth son is Hong (Yang) Xuanjiao.

In this timeline, Peng Gang replaced Shi Dakai as the seventh son, while Shi Dakai became the eighth son.

Xiao Chaogui's identity in the Shentian family is that of the husband of Hong Xuanjiao, the son-in-law of the God.

It's perfectly reasonable that God, the God of Fire, has sons, daughters, and sons-in-law.

"Father! Who is our strategist? Is our seventh brother our strategist?"

Xiao Chaogui’s voice was booming, and his words went straight to everyone’s ears: “Feng Yunshan, Yang Xiuqing, Xiao Chaogui, Wei Changhui and Peng Gang are all military advisors.”

Xiuquan's younger brother, the sun is you, the moon is your wife.

Feng Yunshan has three stars in his birth chart, Yang Xiuqing and Xiao Chaogui also have three stars, and Wei Changhui and Peng Gang have two stars each.

The situation of the Shentian family is quite complicated.

Hong Xiuquan initially couldn't control his wives and concubines, and felt that he, as the second son of God, couldn't even control his wives and concubines, which was a great loss of face.

Xiao Chaogui saw Hong Xiuquan's predicament and used the name of the Heavenly Brother descending to earth to subdue these "sisters-in-law," ordering them to obey Hong Xiuquan's discipline. At the same time, he compared Hong Xiuquan to the sun and Hong Xiuquan's wives to the moon palace.

Hong Xiuquan found it very helpful and used it to expand his thinking.

It is said that his top courtesan wife is in heaven.

His other wife (also known as the First Month Palace) was Lai Lianying, his mortal wife.

The two began to sing in unison, with Xiao Chaogui occasionally possessing the spirit of the Heavenly Brother to report to Hong Xiuquan on his life in the Heavenly Palace, how many children he had borne for Hong Xiuquan in heaven, and how he got along with the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother, among other trivial matters.

Thus, Hong Xiuquan established his authority among his wives and concubines in the mortal world and obtained the imperial throne within his family.

Xiao Chaogui's claim that his Heavenly Brother descended to Earth was legitimized, creating a win-win situation.

As for the title of "military advisor," it originated from oral tradition and was popular among peddlers, laborers, and villagers in the Yuan and Ming dynasties. The most influential of these were Water Margin and Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Due to the significant influence of zaju (a type of Chinese opera) that spread from the Yuan and Ming dynasties to the mid-Qing dynasty.

It is known to the common people, young and old, and the working class greatly admires the wise and resourceful strategist with a feather fan and silk turban.

The God Society (Taiping Heavenly Kingdom) incorporated generals and strategists into the official system in a very down-to-earth manner.

The strategist of the God Society is a legitimate official.

This is the biggest difference between the strategists of the God Society and those of the Heaven and Earth Society and the Green Gang.

However, the current military advisor system is only in its initial stages and has not yet been subdivided into specific titles and ranks such as Left Assistant General Military Advisor, Right Assistant General Military Advisor, Vanguard Deputy Military Advisor, and Rear Guard Deputy Military Advisor.

Peng Gang noticed that when Xiao Chaogui said that Wei Changhui was also a strategist, Yang Xiuqing, Feng Yunshan and others showed obvious surprise on their faces.

Perhaps appointing Wei Changhui as military advisor was not something they had discussed beforehand, but rather something Xiao Chaogui did on his own initiative.

But Brother Tian had already spoken, and in front of so many followers, so we couldn't very well ask him to take back what he had said.

The fact that Peng Gang is a two-star military advisor indicates that his position is second only to Xiao Chaogui, Yang Xiuqing, and Feng Yunshan, and that he has already entered the decision-making level.

Now that they have a voice in the decision-making level, the probability of their proposal to jointly attack Min Zhengwen being adopted will definitely increase.

Finally, Xiao Chaogui and Yang Xiuqing performed the ritual again in the direction of Rhinoceros Ridge behind Jintian Camp.

Finally, Yang Xiuqing trembled all over: "That demon Qing is originally a barbaric Tartar from beyond the Great Wall. He has usurped the sacred artifact of China, neglects to govern with virtue, protects each other among officials, consumes land like a tiger, and taxes like a jackal. His demonic court is incompetent and does not care about the lives of the people!"

I have descended to the mortal realm today specifically to spread my teachings! Listen: all who worship me and slay the Qing demons are brothers, and all will become holy soldiers of the Heavenly Army!
From this day forward, you will not worship the Qing emperor or kneel before the Qing officials; you will only kneel before our Lord, the Heavenly Father!

I command you to raise righteous troops, establish a heavenly kingdom, cleanse the evil demons and filth, and save the people from suffering!

All men who worship me and slay the Qing demons are my brothers.

Daughters are all sisters!

From this day forward, there will be no distinction of rank or social status, no distinction of wealth or poverty. Fields will be cultivated by all, money will be used by all, and grain will be eaten by all!

Since you lack suitable weapons, I have already sent down heavenly soldiers from Rhinoceros Pool.

You may wield this divine weapon to slay the Qing demons, sweep away the evil thieves from the mortal realm, and save countless lives! Let us build a peaceful and prosperous world together!
Xiuquan, my son, from this day forward, you shall be the ruler of peace on earth!
"I am returning to Heaven!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Yang Xiuqing suddenly collapsed to the ground.

This is to show that the Heavenly Father has returned to Heaven.

Xiao Chaogui also copied the model.

Immediately, several of God's sons led thousands of boisterous believers to the Rhinoceros Pool and knelt down to pray.

After the prayer, Yang Xiuqing and Xiao Chaogui led several members of the congregation who were good swimmers to jump into the Rhinoceros Pool.

Sure enough, they retrieved countless weapons from the Rhinoceros Pool!
The believers were filled with awe and their faith in the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brothers became even more devout.

Led by Feng Yunshan, the followers chanted in unison: "Heavenly Father God above, divine soldiers have descended, we are willing to die for the Lord, to overthrow the evil Qing!"

Climbing out of the Rhinoceros Pool, soaking wet, Yang Xiuqing held aloft a waist knife he had just retrieved from the pool, raised his arm, and shouted: "This is the will of the Emperor! This is a weapon bestowed upon us by the Heavenly Father! With the protection of the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother, and with divine soldiers, what do we, the Heavenly Army and Holy Soldiers, have to fear from the Qing demons!"

Feng Yunshan untied his braid: "The Qing demons trampled on our China, burned our temples, insulted our parents and sisters, and treated the children of our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother, our brothers and sisters, as slaves! How can we sit idly by!?"
This braid is a custom of the Qing demons!
How can we, the proud sons of the Han people, live on in this world dragging along the ugly tail of the Qing demons!

From this day forward, we will no longer wear those filthy braids of the Qing dynasty! We will grow our hair long and restore Han customs!

Shouts erupted from the crowd: "Overthrow the Qing! Slay the demons!"

"Hear my command!" Hong Xiuquan stepped onto the stone altar, spread his arms, and his voice was like rolling thunder.

"From this day forward, we, by the mandate of our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother, rise up in rebellion to overthrow the Qing and restore Heaven! The world shall have a new ruler, and the Kingdom of Heaven shall descend upon the earth!"

"Our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother are with us; what fear do we have of the Qing demons' thousands of troops?"

"Kill the Qing demons! Destroy the demon court! Build the Heavenly Kingdom!"

Any form of resistance is always better than servile obedience.

Peng Gang found a pair of scissors, cut off his own and the braids of the thirty-seventh soldier in the guard platoon, and threw them hard on the ground.

Without this braid, I feel so comfortable and at ease.

1850 October.

Countless streams of anti-Qing sentiment in Guangxi finally converged into a mighty torrent at Jintian Village at the foot of Zijing Mountain, poised to unleash their power!
　Historically, the Jintian Uprising did not propose the establishment of a state at the beginning, and Hong Xiuquan called himself the Lord of Peace rather than the Heavenly King at the beginning of the uprising.

　　The book describes how the establishment of the Heavenly Kingdom and the claim of kingship, after winning great victories and acquiring cities, were justified and in line with Chinese historical customs.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)