1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 311 The People are Fundamental
The establishment of Wuchang Normal School only solved the problem of "teachers" in literacy education. To establish elementary schools, the problem of "schools" still needed to be solved.

Peng Gang, along with representatives from Jiangxia County and Hanyang County, led by Xiao Guoying and Xiao Guoda, toured the Wuchang Normal School.

After a brief tour, Peng Gang led them to a ginkgo tree in the first courtyard of Wuchang Normal School, where they sat cross-legged on the ground to discuss matters.

"Please don't stand on ceremony, everyone. I've gathered you all here today to chat about the children's education." After taking his seat, Peng Gang got straight to the point, speaking as if he were having a casual conversation.

Although Peng Gang had told the farmers' association representatives not to stand on ceremony, they, along with Xiao Guoying and Xiao Guoda, the general secretaries of the farmers' associations of the two counties who were related to Peng Gang, still behaved quite reservedly, for fear of losing their composure or saying something inappropriate in front of Peng Gang.

Peng Gang frowned slightly and said, "If all goes well, the first batch of normal school students at Wuchang Normal School will graduate and become teachers by this time next year. The teaching staff will gradually be in place, but where will the school buildings be? We can't let the children have classes in the threshing ground or under the shade of trees, can we? You've been in the local area for a long time, do you have any good ideas?"

Xiao Guoying looked troubled, and his tone was heavy, clearly indicating that this matter had been troubling him for a long time: "Your Highness's concerns are very valid. Your Highness... Studying is a great thing, and who doesn't want their child to succeed? But... where will the money and provisions for building the school come from? We can't expect the farmers' association and credit union to provide the money and provisions."

Regarding the tuition fee, our farmers' association can manage to scrape together the money, but the bricks, tiles, timber, and labor for building the school will add up to an enormous sum… I have been very anxious about this matter lately. Jiangxia County's treasury is tight; currently, the county's funds almost entirely come from the farmers' association and credit union, and we cannot spare this huge sum. If we were to impose this burden on the people, it would tarnish Your Highness's reputation for benevolence and would also contradict Your Highness's intention to love the people. The people of Jiangxia and Hanyang counties are also unable to afford it.”

Xiao Guoying's initial idea was to have the farmers' association save money and grain every year to build a primary school.

However, Jiangxia County had just experienced war last year, and all industries were just beginning to recover. It would probably take several years to save up enough money to build dozens or even hundreds of elementary schools.

The batch of teacher training students from Wuchang Normal School will be graduating next year. Peng Gang's point is valid; we can't expect to have young children taking classes in the threshing ground or under the shade of trees.
As for the money and grain of the farmers' credit union, it was used to restore agricultural production.

Furthermore, while borrowing money and grain from the Farmers' Association Credit Union to build a few or a dozen primary schools is feasible, what they need now is more than just a dozen primary schools, so borrowing from the Farmers' Association Credit Union is not a long-term solution.

Xiao Guoda added, “Building a new school will cost a lot of money and take a long time. Finding a suitable site is not easy. Bricks, tiles, wood, stone, and labor all require money, food, and time. I’m afraid it’s too late to solve the immediate problem.”

Peng Gang listened quietly, and after the representatives of the farmers' association finished speaking, he said, "The tuition fees for the teachers of the elementary school do not need to be paid by the farmers' association; they will be allocated by the palace."

We fought our way from Pingzaishan to the three towns of Wuhan. Along the way, the tallest, most spacious, and most conveniently located houses in the villages and towns we saw were of two types: temples and ancestral halls.

"Tell me, you two, how many such houses are there in Jiangxia and Hanyang counties? How many of them are sparsely populated, abandoned by monks and Taoist priests, or left vacant year-round?"

Peng Gang adopted a public-run model to provide basic support for these elementary schools, and the teachers were directly paid by the government, so the farmers' association didn't have to worry about them.

Of course, Peng Gang also supports any farmers' associations or other private organizations in Fuyu County that are capable of running private elementary schools, as long as they use the official teaching materials from the Northern Palace, provide teachers who can pass the official examinations and obtain teaching qualifications, and have fixed teaching venues.

After pondering for a long time, Xiao Guoying truthfully replied, "Your Highness, there are indeed quite a few temples, shrines, and ancestral halls of all sizes. In Jiangxia County alone, there are no fewer than a hundred temples and ancestral halls of various kinds still standing. Among them... well, about forty percent of them are deserted and dilapidated. In particular, many small temples have been covered in cobwebs and dust since the outbreak of war, with many monks and Taoists returning to secular life and fleeing. The same goes for ancestral halls, which are usually locked up and empty."

A glint of light flashed in Peng Gang's eyes, and he said, "Since that's the case, why not make the most of it?"

The materials used in temples and ancestral halls are much better than those used in ordinary houses. They are mostly brick and stone buildings, and their halls are spacious and bright. It is very suitable to use existing temples and ancestral halls for running schools.

"Your Highness, what do you mean...?" Xiao Guoda asked tentatively, already vaguely guessing Peng Gang's meaning.

“Just as you expected!” Peng Gang said clearly.

“We will investigate and find these idle temple properties and ancestral halls, make some minor repairs and renovations, and use them as primary schools!”

Guoda and Guoying, you two are the general directors of the farmers' associations of Jiangxia and Hanyang counties. After you return, you should immediately take the lead and form a special team within the farmers' association to thoroughly investigate all such properties in the two counties and dispose of them accordingly.

Large, thriving temples will remain untouched for the time being. Ancestral halls with established owners and still in use will be consulted with clan elders to see if they can be lent out during the day for schooling, with compensation or commendation offered. Abandoned temples, small temples where incense has ceased to burn, and ancestral halls that are no longer viable due to dwindling clan members will all be registered and requisitioned by the farmers' association for public use.

After completing the registration, report directly to the temple so that the temple can select a site to open a primary school for children.

The farmers' association immediately organized people to repair the temples and ancestral halls that were selected by the temple as primary schools, clearing weeds, repairing leaky roofs, reinforcing doors and windows, and painting walls.

The statues and shrines of deities inside the main hall can either be moved to a side hall for centralized placement, or be taken back by local residents for worship. If they are truly unclaimed and not part of any illicit worship, they can be carefully removed. The main hall and spacious side rooms will be converted into lecture halls, with sturdy and durable tables and chairs built to prepare for the opening of a primary school the following year.

This is a huge undertaking. I will send the engineering corps to the countryside to assist you in repairing the school, but ultimately, it will depend on the efforts of your farmers' association itself.”

In the education outline finalized by Peng Gang.

Elementary elementary education corresponds to lower primary school, while advanced elementary education corresponds to upper primary school.

In the first two years, it was probably difficult to find many qualified students for advanced elementary education. The elementary schools established in the first two years mainly focused on basic elementary education to solidify the foundation.

Xiao Guoying's eyes lit up, and he nodded in agreement, saying, "This is an excellent idea. First, it's quick and effective! The existing houses can be used after a little tidying up, which won't take too much time and will solve our immediate problem! Second, it's cost-effective! The cost of repairs is only a fraction of the cost of building a new house, which will save us a lot of money!"

Xiao Guoda was deeply moved, but as the one responsible for implementing the policy, he couldn't help but consider the practical difficulties and cautiously said, "Your Highness is wise! This policy can indeed solve the predicament! However... I fear that some local gentry and elders, especially clan elders, who regard the ancestral hall as sacred ancestral property, may voice their opposition..."

Jiangxia County no longer has any powerful clans, so it faces less resistance in everything it does compared to Hanyang County, where Xiao Guoda is located. Xiao Guoda has to consider more difficulties than Xiao Guoying.

“Therefore, we must guide the situation according to its circumstances and treat each case differently!” Peng Gang interrupted Xiao Guoda.

"We must explain to them that the sound of children reciting lessons in the ancestral hall during the day is a great act of kindness that brings honor to our ancestors and ensures the continuation of our clan's fortune, far better than leaving it locked up and gathering dust! We can also award plaques to any enlightened clansmen or gentry willing to lend their ancestral halls, providing them with the convenience of education for their own children—they have the advantage of proximity. If they remain stubborn and obstruct our grand plan to promote education in our temples and ancestral halls..."

At this point, Peng Gang's tone became slightly somber: "Then explain the bigger picture, informing them that this is the fundamental strategy of the Northern Palace, aimed at enlightening and eradicating illiteracy, with benefits for generations to come. Let them weigh the pros and cons themselves!"

Peng Gang believed that compared to Hong Xiuquan and Yang Xiuqing, Beidian's attitude towards temples and ancestral halls was already quite mild.

At least Peng Gang won't go to extremes; he'll still try to reason with people.

If it were Hong Xiuquan or Yang Xiuqing, they wouldn't care what gods were worshipped in your temple, or how many generations your clan had been established. As long as it wasn't a temple dedicated to the Heavenly Father or Heavenly Brother, they would smash it all.

Under the ginkgo tree at Wuchang Normal School, the plan to promote education through temples and shrines was finalized, and pilot programs were first launched in Jiangxia County and Hanyang County.

After discussing the matter of establishing schools in the temple, Peng Gang got up, mounted his leopard-patterned steed, and rode back to Wuchang City.

Passing through the vegetable fields on the outskirts of Wuchang, Peng Gang reined in his horse and stood on a high point on the ridge outside Wuchang, a spring breeze caressing his face.

The air in Wuchang is no longer filled with the pungent stench of gunpowder and corpses; instead, it is filled with the moist fragrance of freshly turned soil and the sweet scent of tender grass and buds.

Where Peng Gang's gaze fell, there was no longer a battlefield of clashing swords and galloping horses, but a vast expanse of paddy fields soaked by spring water, like huge, broken mirrors reflecting the pale sky and drifting clouds of early spring.

On this land ravaged by war last year, real plowshares are now cultivating this fertile soil.

Most of the farmers had rolled up their trousers, their bare feet sinking deep into the cold, soft mud, their backs bent almost parallel to the water's surface.

The men tending the fields held the plows, driving the water buffaloes whose nostrils spewed white mist. The heavy iron plows sliced ​​across the water's surface, turning over the deep black, fertile silt. The churning mud buried last year's rice roots and weeds deep underground, turning them into this year's nutrients.

More farmers are scattered in the leveled paddy fields, carrying out the most delicate and laborious work: transplanting rice seedlings.

Wooden basins or bamboo baskets filled with tender green rice seedlings floated in front of them.

With their left hands, they skillfully separated a clump of rice seedlings, and with their right hands, they quickly tucked them into the mud.

The fingers dip into the water, separate the seedlings, insert them, and lift them up—the movements are swift and precise, seemingly an instinct formed through the mechanical repetition of thousands of generations.

The emerald green rice seedlings were precisely planted in the water at specific row and plant spacings, and soon they formed neat rows and columns, like an orderly military formation.

On the ridge of the field, women and children brought out coarse tea and simple meals to quench their thirst.

Several elderly farmers sat by the field, carefully repairing their farm tools. Their calloused fingers deftly wound hemp ropes as they struck the plowshare, their eyes focused and reverent, as if handling a precious treasure. The wrinkles on their faces were etched with the marks of time, and also with a deep respect and hope for the land.

Looking at this bustling scene of spring plowing as people race against time, Peng Gang felt a complex mix of emotions.

He seized this land with lightning speed, but what truly nourished and supported a new regime was not swords and cannons, but every seedling carefully planted in the mud and water, the bent backs of the farmers and their feet stuck in the mud.

The true foundation of the heavenly kingdom that Hong Yang and others dreamed of when they were in Guangxi—a kingdom where everyone was well-fed and clothed—was not the towering and sturdy walls of Nanjing, nor the divine favor of the Heavenly Father and Heavenly Brother, but rather the seemingly humble yet actually great working masses before them.

Upon returning to the Northern Prince's Mansion in Wuchang City, before even entering, Peng Gang saw a burly, unkempt man with a bushy beard, who was overjoyed and ecstatic, standing in front of the ceremonial gate of the Northern Prince's Mansion.

Peng Gang looked closely and realized that the person in front of the ceremonial gate of the Northern King's Mansion was Chen Ajiu, the commander of the Sixth Regiment.

Upon seeing Peng Gang, Chen Ajiu strode forward excitedly, almost shouting the good news: "Your Highness! Hahaha! Great news! This is a momentous occasion!"

"What's there to be happy about?" Peng Gang asked with a smile.

Chen Ajiu was the military commander in charge of the Northern Palace Navy's operations. He personally came to Wuchang to report the victory to Peng Gang. This shows that the Northern Palace Navy's patrols around Dongting Lake over the past few months had not been in vain; they must have achieved some success, and quite a significant one at that.

Chen Ajiu was a worldly-wise man of the martial arts world; a small achievement wouldn't make him this happy. He would never lose his composure unless he had won a great victory.

"Your Highness! Hahaha! We've struck it rich! We've struck it rich!"

Overjoyed, Chen Ajiu disregarded all etiquette and rushed to Peng Gang, gesturing wildly with his hands and spitting as he spoke.

It wasn't until Huang Dabiao, who was standing next to Peng Gang, winked at Chen Ajiu, reminding her to be mindful of her manners, that Chen Ajiu realized what was happening and bowed to Peng Gang first.

“Speak slowly,” Peng Gang said. “Catch your breath before you speak.”

Chen Ajiu took a few deep breaths, his face crinkling with laughter, his voice booming with excitement: "Your Highness! It's provisions! The Qing army in Sichuan sent provisions to Hunan totaling 450,000 taels of silver! All of it is top-quality Sichuan official silver ingots! And 80,000 shi of good grain! Hahaha, we swallowed it all up by our navy near Junshan in Dongting Lake! Not a single bit wasted, skin and bones!"

Chen Ajiu became more and more excited as he spoke, gesturing wildly as he described the scene, as if he had returned to the battlefield on Dongting Lake: "Those damned Qing army fleets, they were so long and poorly guarded! I led my brothers from the navy, taking advantage of the morning mist, and rammed them in the middle! As soon as the battle cries started, those Green Standard Army soldiers escorting the ships were just for show. After firing a few shots, they were crying and begging for mercy, some jumping into the water, others kneeling and begging for their lives! We didn't have to exert much effort; we took them all down like picking up chickens!"

"Your Highness, didn't you see? Those chests full of silver are so heavy! It took four brothers a lot of effort to lift one! And when you pry them open, the gleaming white official silver is dazzling! And those grain ships, the waterline is almost to the side, full of new rice! It smells wonderful!"

As he spoke, Chen Ajiu stretched out his thick fingers and counted the money for Peng Gang, afraid of missing even the smallest detail: "According to the preliminary count, it is 450,000 taels of Sichuan official ingots, no less! It's a bit of a pity about the grain. When these Sichuanese were crossing the Three Gorges, the water was dangerous and some boats sank. 20,000 shi of good grain were fed to the fish."

However, we also managed to seize over 130 good ships, a considerable amount of gunpowder and lead bullets, and countless swords, spears, and flags! Hahaha, those two old bastards, Zhang Liangji and Luo Bingzhang, are probably crying their eyes out right now!

Forty-five taels of silver, eighty thousand bushels of new rice, and more than one hundred and thirty fine ships—such a victory was indeed substantial.

Since the Battle of Jingzhou, the Northern Palace has not seen such a large amount of spoils for several months.

In the recent battles that broke through the southern and new city camps of Baling, the results achieved by the Northern Palace and the Auxiliary Palace were mostly the killing and capture of Qing soldiers, with relatively little money and grain actually seized.

"What is the casualty situation of the Sixth Regiment?" Peng Gang asked about the casualties of the Sixth Regiment in this battle.

"We lost 105 brothers. Apart from a few accidental injuries caused by the heavy fog, most of the casualties were caused by the personal guards of Yu Wanchun, the general of Chongqing Garrison. In such a large fleet with more than 3,000 transport sailors, only Yu Wanchun's 400 or so garrison soldiers had any fighting spirit and barely managed to hold us off for a while," Chen Ajiu replied.

"Where is Yu Wanchun now? How many sailors and laborers did he capture?" Peng Gang frowned and asked.

The Sixth Regiment was Peng Gang's only standing naval regiment, composed of battle-hardened veterans. Although the battle yielded rich spoils and the casualty ratio sounded good, the loss of 105 men was still considerable.

"I captured Yu Wanchun alive, along with the 2,455 captured sailors, and they were transported to Wuchang by Deputy Commander Chen Miao. I came by light boat and fast ship, which will be faster than theirs, and they will arrive in Wuchang tomorrow." Chen Ajiu reported to Peng Gang, then began to flatter him.

"Your Highness is truly a Zhuge Liang in this world, with divine wisdom and uncanny foresight. He predicted that Qing army grain ships would be heading to Changsha, and ordered our Sixth Regiment to patrol and keep watch day and night, which led to this great victory."

"Living Zhuge Liang" was a title that Zuo Zongtang liked, but Peng Gang was not fond of it.

Furthermore, the finances of Hunan province alone could not support an army of 100,000, and many of the Qing troops in Hunan were field troops of the Qing government, whose rations and pay were higher than those of ordinary troops.

Anyone with a modicum of common sense would know that Luo Bingzhang and his men would definitely try to find a way to supply the Qing army in Hunan with provisions from other provinces.

Peng Gang nodded to indicate that he understood, and told Chen Ajiu to go and rest for the time being.

The following day, Chen Miao, deputy commander of the Sixth Regiment, escorted supplies captured in the Battle of Junshan in Dongting Lake and captured Sichuan sailors to Wuchang.

Peng Gang summoned Chen Miao privately in the West Flower Hall of the Northern King's Mansion and asked him about the Battle of Junshan on Dongting Lake.

The casualties in the first battle exceeded 100, which is rare in the past battle history of Beidian. The Battle of Junshan in Dongting Lake was probably not as easy and carefree as Chen Ajiu said.

The fact that Chen Ajiu left the main force and went to Wuchang alone to report the victory to Peng Gang in person was somewhat unusual.

Chen Miao was a trainee personally trained by Peng Gang. He understood Peng Gang's temperament better than Chen Ajiu. He dared not embellish or conceal anything, and told Peng Gang the whole story of the Battle of Junshan in Dongting Lake.

While it's true that most of the Sichuan sailors escorting grain and provisions were easily defeated, Yu Wanchun's garrison was relatively elite and capable.

At that time, Chen Miao advocated using the firepower advantage of the Northern Palace Navy ships to suppress Yu Wanchun's Zhenbiao Battalion fleet and proceed slowly. In any case, no Qing army naval force in Dongting Lake dared to come to the rescue of Yu Wanchun's Qing army, so they had plenty of time.

However, Chen Ajiu, perhaps due to his impatience or perhaps to show off, did not heed Chen Miao's advice.

He led five or six hundred of his old comrades from Guangxi and Hunan in a swarm attack, boarding the enemy ship and quickly defeating Yu Wanchun's Zhenbiao Battalion, thus achieving a great victory at Junshan on Dongting Lake.

Upon hearing that Chen Ajiu had led five or six hundred of his old brothers from Guangxi and Hunan to attack, Peng Gang's expression darkened, and he had a bad feeling.

Could all 105 naval officers and soldiers who were killed or wounded this time be old comrades from southern Guangxi?!
Although the old brothers from Guangxi and Hunan are the best of the Northern Palace at present, and they are brave in battle and can be used like an extension of their own body in wartime, they cannot be used like Chen Ajiu.

Peng Gang always cherished his soldiers, especially the veterans, because veterans who had been tempered by blood and fire were rare and difficult to replenish in a short period of time.

For example, when attacking Hengyang, the capital of Hengzhou Prefecture, which was defended by Tao Enpei.

The two thousand defenders of Hengyang were a motley crew. If Peng Gang had followed Chen Ajiu's reckless tactics, he could have taken Hengyang, the capital of Hengzhou Prefecture, in less than half a month, with a few days at most, by simply killing many people.

However, Peng Gang did not do that. Instead, he told Luo Dagang to obediently dig holes in the ground and crack the wall, and then attack the city after the wall collapsed.

Given the opportunity, he would rather spend more time and resources to minimize casualties among the soldiers in the North Palace.

Luo Dagang and Chen Ajiu were both pirates who became notorious bandits in the Guangdong and Guangxi regions before joining the Beidian. Their bravery and drive in battle were unparalleled.

However, Luo Dagang's courage was not recklessness. When facing battle, Luo Dagang was able to control his emotions and not act impulsively; he knew how to use his brain.

Compared to Luo Dagang, who is already capable of handling things independently, Chen Ajiu is still quite far behind.

"Give me a list of casualties from the Battle of Junshan in Dongting Lake."

Peng Gang said to Chen Miao, the deputy commander of the Sixth Regiment, who looked ashamed and uneasy.

Chen Miao was prepared and took out a list of casualties from his collar and handed it to Peng Gang.

(End of this chapter)