A very sweet chapter , my friend ! And as always it had that kind of serene period piece feel to it . Always good to have you back to the pen !
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Ah. Apparently little people are people too.
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And may I say, beautiful little scene! I can totally picture it.
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And may I say, beautiful little scene! I can totally picture it.
I'll say it again - I love the style of your writing in this AAR. It is so authentic, it sounds and feels like I'm watching a Chinese epic...
金黄帝国 Golden Empire:
Chapter 二十二
Chapter 二十二
[size=+1][/size]
"What shall I say of the Great Peak? --
The ancient dukedoms are everywhere green,
Inspired and stirred by the breath of creation,
With the Twin Forces balancing day and night.
...I bare my breast toward opening clouds,
I strain my sight after birds flying home.
When shall I reach the top and hold
All mountains in a single glance?"
~ Du Fu, A View of Taishan
The rows upon rows of spears, with red hairs gleamed in the proud afternoon sun amidst the golden-yellow banners of the Imperial throne. Rows upon rows of warriors stood tall and strong, watching forth silently. Behind them the crowds of jovial people shot off fireworks and lit lanterns, drinking Bai Jiu white alcohol and rice wine - celebrating the great Golden Dragon time, and with it the power and prestige of their Emperor the Lord of Ten Thousand Years.
And sitting upon his grand throne as his massive Imperial entourage made it's way out of the North Capital, or, Bei Jing amidst the cheers of the throngs and masses of peoples. Staring forth, the Daoguang Emperor silently ignored the disapproval of his sisters in law and surviving mothers in law whom followed behind, wishing always to remain in the secluded and isolated Forbidden City. Yet that was a place he was coming to despise, in his older years - it was no wonder one of his predecessors, the Qianlong Emperor 乾隆 spent so much of his time on tour. Even as he aged, the Daoguang Emperor knew it was better to be away from that place that made monsters of men...
He also wished not to see his son, nor his second wife, nor anyone. He knew his brother Yi Xin 奕忻 was plotting something... his bodyguards and spies knew well that he was knee deep in some kind of suspicious activity. He hardly trusted his own ministers - and for practical affairs, they were becoming less and less reliable.
Yet still, the Middle Kingdom was prospering more than she had in years, despite her corruption and problems. And of course, the Daoguang Emperor had to think of the armies... already they had been so reformed, yet were so rooted in tradition. It would be a difficult challenge that he feared he might not be able to meet.
The early Qing military was rooted in the Manchu traditions and rites of war - the ancient banners which were first developed by that divine Son of the Heavens, the Great Nurhachi. In his wisdom and strategy, the Daoguang Emperor recalled as he looked upon his soldiers, silently passing them, his divine and ancient ancestor created the banner system in the Manchurian armies as a way to organize the feudal and old Jurchen society beyond petty clan affiliations and conflicts. In the end there were eight banners created in all to seperate the clans in the array of battle, differentiated by those colours that represented those great warrior's will and spirit.
The banners in their order of precedence were yellow, bordered yellow - a yellow banner with red border design, white banner, red banner, bordered white banner, bordered red banner, blue banner, and bordered blue banner. The yellow, bordered yellow, and white banners were collectively the most well armed, and highly trained martial artists - known as the 'Upper Three Banners' 上三旗. The greatest warriors and defenders in all the Empire, they were solely under the direct command of the Emperor and none else. These men were ritualistically zealously loyal to the reigning Lord of Ten Thousand Years, and it was not doubted each and every one of these men would give their lives for the Emperor. Of course, only Manchus belonging to the Upper Three Banners, and selected Han Chinese who had passed the highest level of martial exams were qualified to serve as the Emperor's personal bodyguards.... these men were always around the Daoguang Emperor, disguised as guards, courtiers, and hidden behind curtains and court banners... ready to pounce at any moment and violently - perhaps with an even cold efficency - cut down anyone whom would intend to harm the Emperor.
The remaining Banners were known as "The Lower Five Banners" 下五旗 and were commanded by hereditary Manchurian princes descended from Nurhachi's immediate family, known informally as the "Iron Cap Princes" 鐵帽子王. Together they formed the ruling council of the Manchu nation as well as high command of the whole of the grand army. The Daoguang Emperor knew his history well - over a hundred years ago, the Emperor Yongzheng established the Grand Council called Jūnjīchù 軍機處 at first to direct day to day military operations. Yet the administration of the whole of the Middle Kingdom had become a grand duty, and gradually the great Junjichu Council took over other military and administrative duties and served to centralize authority unto the Imperial Throne and Crown. However, the Iron Cap Princes continued to exercise considerable influence over the political and military affairs of the Qing government well into the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, and even into the reign of his own time.
As the old Qing power expanded north of the Great Wall in the last years of the Ming Dynasty, the Banner system was expanded by Nurhachi's son and successor Hung Taiji to include mirrored Mongolian and Han Banners. After capturing Beijing in 1644 the Manchus rapidly gained control of large tracts of former Ming territory and slowely assumed what the Daoguang Emperor as his predecessors had truly believed, the changing of the Heavenly Mandate. The relatively small Banner armies were further augmented by the Green Standard Army 綠營兵 which eventually outnumbered Banner troops three to one. The Green Standard Army so-named after the colour of their battle standards was made up of those Ming troops who had surrendered to the Qing including the ancient and old traitor general. They maintained their Ming-styled organization and were led by a mix of Banner and Green Standard officers, and each swore loyalty to the Manchu Emperor and the new Empire of that glorious time. The Banners and Green Standard troops were standing armies, paid for by central government. In addition, regional governors from provincial down to village level maintained their own irregular local militias for police duties and disaster relief. These militias were usually granted small annual stipends from regional coffers for part-time service obligations. They received very limited military drill if at all and were not considered combat troops.
The north east provinces
Indeed truly the provinces of the east over the last few years were recovering from the brutal wars with the foreign British devils and pirates. For cities which had once been battered and broken by cannonfire were now being rebuilt. Muskets captured from the British were being studied, and attempted to be reproduced - though with little success so far, there were other ways to do such things. The Daoguang Emperor knew it was an inevitable amount of time before the armies of the Middle Kingdom were as ready as any army of the world to fight campaigns and wars - even if not in his forseeable lifetime, he would set this great movement into motion as his great and divine ancestor Nurhachi had. Yet first he would have to repair his empire, and so starting with the economically prestigious eastern provinces. Markets and forts were to be built, and basic liquor and wine factories. The Ministers of Trade were given the orders to stock up on the vital parts of tools and machineries that would be required in these factories, to ensure a greater amount of production.
And of course things were not at all quiet in the rural lands. Farming production was at an all time high - and while matters of corruption limited the wealth coming into the capital, as the Emperor slowly disbanded many of the armies conscripted for the recent wars against the British and into Xizang - Tibet - to send those men back home, to the farmlands and to work their crops.
As the Emperor made his way along the southern roads, far along the horizon he could only see a never ending parallel set of yellow-clad soldiers, walking in slow union, no, marching. Cavaliers and horsemen accompanied his great carriage train, their capes flowing in the afternoon wind as they passed down the grand roads. Aside them as the hours passed, they saw the fields were peasants worked, stopping to kowtow to their liege as he passed - muddying their legs without care and wetting their clothes, but amazed at even a glimpse of the Lord of Ten Thousand Years.
Production of crops and other building endeavours were not only on an expensive high in the eastern provinces. The land of Sichuan had come under the close attention of the Imperial court during more recent years, that land being possible to exploit for it's great amounts of lumbers and timbers.
Sichuan Province 四川
And in that the south west land some of the greatest amounts of food and exquisite fabrics were produced. The people there were populous and expanding, and that land was known for it's fruits and unique and delicious produce. Truly, the Daoguang Emperor strategised that with concentration and strategic planning, as well as those individuals willing to take their merit the distance in the Imperial court and with initiative portend to endeavour their own economic enterprises - which if apt and well planned enough, the Emperor would indeed approve.
And of course there was those lands under the Viceroy of Hubei and Hunan, the powerful Lin Ze Xu whom himself was under great Imperial favour at the moment. He was the man whom the Emperor depended upon the deal with the European and foreign devils whom so demanded the attentions of all the Mandarins of the courts of the north which truly ruled the Middle Kingdom. Of course the Viceroy Lin Ze Xu's realms of practical governance in Hubei & Hunan were themselves prospering beyond measure as of late.
Hubei 湖北 and Hunan 湖南
The Emperor knew well that these lands were as important as any in the Empire. And of course, as the costs of the grand armies were lowered as well as the taxes upon the nobility raised, it seemed that there was some semblance of a slow, but indeed noticeable economic repair to the enormous debt the Imperial Government had acquired. But to the Daoguang Emperor, maintaining the prestige of the One True Empire under Heaven and defeating the foreign devils was the only priority. And he had done it.
Again he remembered as he looked at those simple country folk working and toiling that he could not further burden them with taxes. He would have to charge those corrupt middle and higher nobles whom were becoming the ulcer which if not remedied, would destroy the Heavenly Dragon upon the Earth from the inside.
... But he was growing old, and though the Empire was beginning to prosper again, the Daoguang Emperor wondered whom his heir might be. A question perhaps every single one of those women and family noblesses riding behind him in this great and royal Imperial entourage, the sly snakes he knew them to be, had on their mind constantly. He knew well his cunning brother Mian Yu had a desire for the Heavenly Mandate, and he could not forget the less than subtle Yi Xin. And what of his son Yi Zhu...?
No, never....
Trying to forget the fact he was even his own seed and son, the Emperor looked out into the countryside again. The question of heirs was one he was not ready for - and he knew if he was not ready, then truly, neither were the Heavens to choose.
The ancient dukedoms are everywhere green,
Inspired and stirred by the breath of creation,
With the Twin Forces balancing day and night.
...I bare my breast toward opening clouds,
I strain my sight after birds flying home.
When shall I reach the top and hold
All mountains in a single glance?"
~ Du Fu, A View of Taishan
The rows upon rows of spears, with red hairs gleamed in the proud afternoon sun amidst the golden-yellow banners of the Imperial throne. Rows upon rows of warriors stood tall and strong, watching forth silently. Behind them the crowds of jovial people shot off fireworks and lit lanterns, drinking Bai Jiu white alcohol and rice wine - celebrating the great Golden Dragon time, and with it the power and prestige of their Emperor the Lord of Ten Thousand Years.
And sitting upon his grand throne as his massive Imperial entourage made it's way out of the North Capital, or, Bei Jing amidst the cheers of the throngs and masses of peoples. Staring forth, the Daoguang Emperor silently ignored the disapproval of his sisters in law and surviving mothers in law whom followed behind, wishing always to remain in the secluded and isolated Forbidden City. Yet that was a place he was coming to despise, in his older years - it was no wonder one of his predecessors, the Qianlong Emperor 乾隆 spent so much of his time on tour. Even as he aged, the Daoguang Emperor knew it was better to be away from that place that made monsters of men...
He also wished not to see his son, nor his second wife, nor anyone. He knew his brother Yi Xin 奕忻 was plotting something... his bodyguards and spies knew well that he was knee deep in some kind of suspicious activity. He hardly trusted his own ministers - and for practical affairs, they were becoming less and less reliable.
Yet still, the Middle Kingdom was prospering more than she had in years, despite her corruption and problems. And of course, the Daoguang Emperor had to think of the armies... already they had been so reformed, yet were so rooted in tradition. It would be a difficult challenge that he feared he might not be able to meet.
The early Qing military was rooted in the Manchu traditions and rites of war - the ancient banners which were first developed by that divine Son of the Heavens, the Great Nurhachi. In his wisdom and strategy, the Daoguang Emperor recalled as he looked upon his soldiers, silently passing them, his divine and ancient ancestor created the banner system in the Manchurian armies as a way to organize the feudal and old Jurchen society beyond petty clan affiliations and conflicts. In the end there were eight banners created in all to seperate the clans in the array of battle, differentiated by those colours that represented those great warrior's will and spirit.
The banners in their order of precedence were yellow, bordered yellow - a yellow banner with red border design, white banner, red banner, bordered white banner, bordered red banner, blue banner, and bordered blue banner. The yellow, bordered yellow, and white banners were collectively the most well armed, and highly trained martial artists - known as the 'Upper Three Banners' 上三旗. The greatest warriors and defenders in all the Empire, they were solely under the direct command of the Emperor and none else. These men were ritualistically zealously loyal to the reigning Lord of Ten Thousand Years, and it was not doubted each and every one of these men would give their lives for the Emperor. Of course, only Manchus belonging to the Upper Three Banners, and selected Han Chinese who had passed the highest level of martial exams were qualified to serve as the Emperor's personal bodyguards.... these men were always around the Daoguang Emperor, disguised as guards, courtiers, and hidden behind curtains and court banners... ready to pounce at any moment and violently - perhaps with an even cold efficency - cut down anyone whom would intend to harm the Emperor.
The remaining Banners were known as "The Lower Five Banners" 下五旗 and were commanded by hereditary Manchurian princes descended from Nurhachi's immediate family, known informally as the "Iron Cap Princes" 鐵帽子王. Together they formed the ruling council of the Manchu nation as well as high command of the whole of the grand army. The Daoguang Emperor knew his history well - over a hundred years ago, the Emperor Yongzheng established the Grand Council called Jūnjīchù 軍機處 at first to direct day to day military operations. Yet the administration of the whole of the Middle Kingdom had become a grand duty, and gradually the great Junjichu Council took over other military and administrative duties and served to centralize authority unto the Imperial Throne and Crown. However, the Iron Cap Princes continued to exercise considerable influence over the political and military affairs of the Qing government well into the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, and even into the reign of his own time.
As the old Qing power expanded north of the Great Wall in the last years of the Ming Dynasty, the Banner system was expanded by Nurhachi's son and successor Hung Taiji to include mirrored Mongolian and Han Banners. After capturing Beijing in 1644 the Manchus rapidly gained control of large tracts of former Ming territory and slowely assumed what the Daoguang Emperor as his predecessors had truly believed, the changing of the Heavenly Mandate. The relatively small Banner armies were further augmented by the Green Standard Army 綠營兵 which eventually outnumbered Banner troops three to one. The Green Standard Army so-named after the colour of their battle standards was made up of those Ming troops who had surrendered to the Qing including the ancient and old traitor general. They maintained their Ming-styled organization and were led by a mix of Banner and Green Standard officers, and each swore loyalty to the Manchu Emperor and the new Empire of that glorious time. The Banners and Green Standard troops were standing armies, paid for by central government. In addition, regional governors from provincial down to village level maintained their own irregular local militias for police duties and disaster relief. These militias were usually granted small annual stipends from regional coffers for part-time service obligations. They received very limited military drill if at all and were not considered combat troops.
The north east provinces
Indeed truly the provinces of the east over the last few years were recovering from the brutal wars with the foreign British devils and pirates. For cities which had once been battered and broken by cannonfire were now being rebuilt. Muskets captured from the British were being studied, and attempted to be reproduced - though with little success so far, there were other ways to do such things. The Daoguang Emperor knew it was an inevitable amount of time before the armies of the Middle Kingdom were as ready as any army of the world to fight campaigns and wars - even if not in his forseeable lifetime, he would set this great movement into motion as his great and divine ancestor Nurhachi had. Yet first he would have to repair his empire, and so starting with the economically prestigious eastern provinces. Markets and forts were to be built, and basic liquor and wine factories. The Ministers of Trade were given the orders to stock up on the vital parts of tools and machineries that would be required in these factories, to ensure a greater amount of production.
And of course things were not at all quiet in the rural lands. Farming production was at an all time high - and while matters of corruption limited the wealth coming into the capital, as the Emperor slowly disbanded many of the armies conscripted for the recent wars against the British and into Xizang - Tibet - to send those men back home, to the farmlands and to work their crops.
As the Emperor made his way along the southern roads, far along the horizon he could only see a never ending parallel set of yellow-clad soldiers, walking in slow union, no, marching. Cavaliers and horsemen accompanied his great carriage train, their capes flowing in the afternoon wind as they passed down the grand roads. Aside them as the hours passed, they saw the fields were peasants worked, stopping to kowtow to their liege as he passed - muddying their legs without care and wetting their clothes, but amazed at even a glimpse of the Lord of Ten Thousand Years.
Production of crops and other building endeavours were not only on an expensive high in the eastern provinces. The land of Sichuan had come under the close attention of the Imperial court during more recent years, that land being possible to exploit for it's great amounts of lumbers and timbers.
Sichuan Province 四川
And in that the south west land some of the greatest amounts of food and exquisite fabrics were produced. The people there were populous and expanding, and that land was known for it's fruits and unique and delicious produce. Truly, the Daoguang Emperor strategised that with concentration and strategic planning, as well as those individuals willing to take their merit the distance in the Imperial court and with initiative portend to endeavour their own economic enterprises - which if apt and well planned enough, the Emperor would indeed approve.
And of course there was those lands under the Viceroy of Hubei and Hunan, the powerful Lin Ze Xu whom himself was under great Imperial favour at the moment. He was the man whom the Emperor depended upon the deal with the European and foreign devils whom so demanded the attentions of all the Mandarins of the courts of the north which truly ruled the Middle Kingdom. Of course the Viceroy Lin Ze Xu's realms of practical governance in Hubei & Hunan were themselves prospering beyond measure as of late.
Hubei 湖北 and Hunan 湖南
The Emperor knew well that these lands were as important as any in the Empire. And of course, as the costs of the grand armies were lowered as well as the taxes upon the nobility raised, it seemed that there was some semblance of a slow, but indeed noticeable economic repair to the enormous debt the Imperial Government had acquired. But to the Daoguang Emperor, maintaining the prestige of the One True Empire under Heaven and defeating the foreign devils was the only priority. And he had done it.
Again he remembered as he looked at those simple country folk working and toiling that he could not further burden them with taxes. He would have to charge those corrupt middle and higher nobles whom were becoming the ulcer which if not remedied, would destroy the Heavenly Dragon upon the Earth from the inside.
... But he was growing old, and though the Empire was beginning to prosper again, the Daoguang Emperor wondered whom his heir might be. A question perhaps every single one of those women and family noblesses riding behind him in this great and royal Imperial entourage, the sly snakes he knew them to be, had on their mind constantly. He knew well his cunning brother Mian Yu had a desire for the Heavenly Mandate, and he could not forget the less than subtle Yi Xin. And what of his son Yi Zhu...?
No, never....
Trying to forget the fact he was even his own seed and son, the Emperor looked out into the countryside again. The question of heirs was one he was not ready for - and he knew if he was not ready, then truly, neither were the Heavens to choose.
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Very cool chapter overview of the military and the situation in many of the areas of the Empire XD . Sounds like you're setting us up for something XD
First, your update with Li Hong Zhang and Lui Ping was very romantic and sweet, yet clouded with the undertones of duty.
This quote I find to be the most telling, of this time, or anytime where there is warfare and uncertainty. It is a soldiers unspoken dream, spoken for him by the women he loves. But few soldiers will ever say so themselves, as they know that for them the dream will most likely never be, so then why speak of it. Yet to hear it from the women you live merely drives daggers into the heart, for one wishes it to be so, this simplicity....yet duty ever calls.
Your military and govermental overview was outstanding. I have done much research myself on the "Banner" system for my own AAR. Keep up the great work Jeff.
This quote I find to be the most telling, of this time, or anytime where there is warfare and uncertainty. It is a soldiers unspoken dream, spoken for him by the women he loves. But few soldiers will ever say so themselves, as they know that for them the dream will most likely never be, so then why speak of it. Yet to hear it from the women you live merely drives daggers into the heart, for one wishes it to be so, this simplicity....yet duty ever calls.
Your military and govermental overview was outstanding. I have done much research myself on the "Banner" system for my own AAR. Keep up the great work Jeff.
Fantastic as ever Jeff.
Where to from here though? With the British defeated, now you're going to have to focus on civilising ASAP.
Where to from here though? With the British defeated, now you're going to have to focus on civilising ASAP.
Hey Jeff, just thought you would like to know, but there is a review of your AAR in this month issue of Instrumentality. Also, you never responded to the invitation to the Warlord Club, so I'll ask you publically. 
Caught up with this AAR, great stuff, last update was a nice overview and added a nice bit of insight into the Chinese military structure.
Great as ever. Tell me, will the Qing look towards the foriegn devils for technology and reform ala the Meji of OTL or will it be a purely Chinese movement of self-strengthening?
Great as ever. Tell me, will the Qing look towards the foriegn devils for technology and reform ala the Meji of OTL or will it be a purely Chinese movement of self-strengthening?
I just read this from beginning to end, awesome stuff here! I've always wondered what would happen if China had been able to win the Opium war. I know that there are still a few more to come, but this is something truly epic!
斬邪留正詩 A Prose on Ending the Vicious & Preserving the Righteous:
Chapter 二十三
Chapter 二十三
[size=+1][/size]
" Holding the Universe in the hand,
I slay the evil, spare the righteous, and relieve the suffering of the people.
My eyes see through beyond the west, the north, the rivers, and the mountains,
My sounds shake the east, the south, the Sun, and the Moon.
The glorious sword of authority was given by Lord,
Poems and books are evidences that praise Jehova in front of Him.
Taiping [perfect Peace] unifies the World of Light,
The domineering air will be joyous for myriads of thousand years."
手握乾坤殺伐權
斬邪留正解民懸
眼通西北江山外
聲振東南日月邊
璽劍光榮存帝賜
詩章憑據誦爺前
太平一統光世界
威風快樂萬千年
~ Hóng Xiù Quán
The burning pyres crackled in the teeming heat of the flames. Smoke bellowed out from it's center, and the snapping sounds of the wood and paper turning from their former selves into the ashes of memory was drowned out by the rabble and jeers of the mob which continually tossed more and more of the scripts and texts into the burning thing. And standing around amidst one man in the center, the crowd continued to cheer and support his words.
Dressed in clothes unlike their Qing overlords and with an attitude which rebelled against all those traditional institutions of the Empire, it was he whom lead this mob. From the local schools and libraries, and even monasteries the people of the town whom many were becoming his followers now raided and stole texts, mystic and old, historical and Confucian or even Buddhist, it did not matter.
"They are all lies!" He announced as the mob threw scores of papers and old texts onto the burning pyre, "...The flames of the one true ruler of Heaven burn brighter than any other...!"
Hóng Xiù Quán 洪秀全
"The one Ruler of the Universe, Jehova, denies all of these lies.... cast them to the flames! Watch how they churn and burn, for they are meaningless papers inked with lies to ensure you remain loyal slaves... yet we are free men, and the one Jehova, ruler of the Heavens shall grant us amenity!"
Hóng Xiù Quán spoke to his followers with all the truth in his heart, however. Truly no man could be so passionate without believing in what they felt was truth in the midst of their heart. And truly of all men in all the Empire, perhaps there was none other so determined to spread the mysterious message he had received in his illuminated dreams.
And the people, overtaxes and starved, listened to his words of hope. He gained a small following at first, and moving from village to village, town to town, he gained further support amongst the rural populace who believed his words.
And now here, in the middle of this town a stead stream of smoke made it's way toward the heavens, a testament to the will of the people for the one true ruler of Heaven to declare his divine will....
As the last of the scrolls and texts were hurled within the flames. Even here in this town of charcoal burners in the Zijin Mountains 紫金山 the people understood the truth when they heard it - so far as Hong was concerned, no one could resist the word of the Ruler of Heaven.
And so his following grew, his numbers swelled. From a handful of wise men came over one hundred within the year. And one hundred followers became less than one thousand soon enough... It was soon that the attention of foreigners to the movement gave notice. And of course, the attention of the authorities was aroused. And indeed those whom were traditional unto the old ways found this new sect's arisal disturbing. Indeed many were even worried about it, as the number of their followers grew over one thousand - and to make matters worse, those within that following refused not only to pay taxes or remain at one single location to be measured or governed, but moved about and more joined them as they passed down the trodden paths in their ceremonial robes and garb, preaching their words of one god of the Heavens whom dissolves the authority of any ruler or even Emperor whom would worship the false spirits, a crime against the Heavens indeed these strange folk claimed. And in the Middle Kingdom, these were dangerous words indeed.
However the local magistrates, in their attempts to quell this growing 'problem' feared disturbing the higher officials in the north capital of Bei Jing and even worse arouse the annoyances of the Emperor could doom a local man's career in the Empire. And so they attempted to oust Hong and his followers from their precincts and regions of control, and from the mountains they slowely loomed southwards to the lands of Guangxi....
I slay the evil, spare the righteous, and relieve the suffering of the people.
My eyes see through beyond the west, the north, the rivers, and the mountains,
My sounds shake the east, the south, the Sun, and the Moon.
The glorious sword of authority was given by Lord,
Poems and books are evidences that praise Jehova in front of Him.
Taiping [perfect Peace] unifies the World of Light,
The domineering air will be joyous for myriads of thousand years."
手握乾坤殺伐權
斬邪留正解民懸
眼通西北江山外
聲振東南日月邊
璽劍光榮存帝賜
詩章憑據誦爺前
太平一統光世界
威風快樂萬千年
~ Hóng Xiù Quán
The burning pyres crackled in the teeming heat of the flames. Smoke bellowed out from it's center, and the snapping sounds of the wood and paper turning from their former selves into the ashes of memory was drowned out by the rabble and jeers of the mob which continually tossed more and more of the scripts and texts into the burning thing. And standing around amidst one man in the center, the crowd continued to cheer and support his words.
Dressed in clothes unlike their Qing overlords and with an attitude which rebelled against all those traditional institutions of the Empire, it was he whom lead this mob. From the local schools and libraries, and even monasteries the people of the town whom many were becoming his followers now raided and stole texts, mystic and old, historical and Confucian or even Buddhist, it did not matter.
"They are all lies!" He announced as the mob threw scores of papers and old texts onto the burning pyre, "...The flames of the one true ruler of Heaven burn brighter than any other...!"
Hóng Xiù Quán 洪秀全
"The one Ruler of the Universe, Jehova, denies all of these lies.... cast them to the flames! Watch how they churn and burn, for they are meaningless papers inked with lies to ensure you remain loyal slaves... yet we are free men, and the one Jehova, ruler of the Heavens shall grant us amenity!"
Hóng Xiù Quán spoke to his followers with all the truth in his heart, however. Truly no man could be so passionate without believing in what they felt was truth in the midst of their heart. And truly of all men in all the Empire, perhaps there was none other so determined to spread the mysterious message he had received in his illuminated dreams.
And the people, overtaxes and starved, listened to his words of hope. He gained a small following at first, and moving from village to village, town to town, he gained further support amongst the rural populace who believed his words.
And now here, in the middle of this town a stead stream of smoke made it's way toward the heavens, a testament to the will of the people for the one true ruler of Heaven to declare his divine will....
As the last of the scrolls and texts were hurled within the flames. Even here in this town of charcoal burners in the Zijin Mountains 紫金山 the people understood the truth when they heard it - so far as Hong was concerned, no one could resist the word of the Ruler of Heaven.
And so his following grew, his numbers swelled. From a handful of wise men came over one hundred within the year. And one hundred followers became less than one thousand soon enough... It was soon that the attention of foreigners to the movement gave notice. And of course, the attention of the authorities was aroused. And indeed those whom were traditional unto the old ways found this new sect's arisal disturbing. Indeed many were even worried about it, as the number of their followers grew over one thousand - and to make matters worse, those within that following refused not only to pay taxes or remain at one single location to be measured or governed, but moved about and more joined them as they passed down the trodden paths in their ceremonial robes and garb, preaching their words of one god of the Heavens whom dissolves the authority of any ruler or even Emperor whom would worship the false spirits, a crime against the Heavens indeed these strange folk claimed. And in the Middle Kingdom, these were dangerous words indeed.
However the local magistrates, in their attempts to quell this growing 'problem' feared disturbing the higher officials in the north capital of Bei Jing and even worse arouse the annoyances of the Emperor could doom a local man's career in the Empire. And so they attempted to oust Hong and his followers from their precincts and regions of control, and from the mountains they slowely loomed southwards to the lands of Guangxi....
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Hmmm , interesting . I wonder how this quasi-Christian movement is going to affect the course of this China that wants to enter into the new century .
Ah... the Taiping. - hopefully it won't be as devastating to China as it was in real life...
And congratulations on the Tempus Nomination! This AAR is amazing, you really deserve it!
just discovered this...great... stuff.
good job
i think Paradox is historically wrong with Tibet, it should at least be a dominion/satellite of China
see wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qianlong_Emperor#Frontier_Wars
i am not talking about anything in current times, but it's history, it will be unrealistic for you to invade Tibet again after Qianlong do so, poor guys...get invaded twice
good job
i think Paradox is historically wrong with Tibet, it should at least be a dominion/satellite of China
see wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qianlong_Emperor#Frontier_Wars
i am not talking about anything in current times, but it's history, it will be unrealistic for you to invade Tibet again after Qianlong do so, poor guys...get invaded twice
Ah sorry guys, exam month is in full progress - after April, we will see a great rise in activity here. Rest assured, the Dragon never rests long
I have just finished reading this from start to stop and I gotta say this is a fanstatic AAR.
Excellent combination of writing, pictures, poetry and music. Everything blends in so nicely making this into a top notch AAR
Hope you are doing ok with your exams and hope to see you back soon. Looking forward to see how you deal with the Taiping Rebellion.
Excellent combination of writing, pictures, poetry and music. Everything blends in so nicely making this into a top notch AAR
Hope you are doing ok with your exams and hope to see you back soon. Looking forward to see how you deal with the Taiping Rebellion.
I do encourage you to come back to this sometime XD even though I know you're busy with your English work XD XD . Don't worry , we shall await the dragon !