Desert Eagle Suletan Khan

Chapter 285 Rebellion in the eyes of the common people

The Gelug rebels' uprising in Lhasa failed in just a few days. A large number of stragglers scattered everywhere, burning, killing, looting, and then being suppressed. Records of the rebellion were left behind for future generations to study.

"On September 1646, the Year of the Fire Dog (), the holy monk Ngawang Losang Gyatso issued an edict of uprising to the believers at the Jokhang Temple, and then the Lhasa rebel army launched an all-out attack. Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Temple, Drepung Temple The monks, Ladd, and Shabinar of the Gelug monasteries such as Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery, etc. all took up arms. The flames of war were ignited everywhere in Linkoo, Barkoo, Nangkoo, and the Potala Palace. They could be heard everywhere. The sound of rumbling gunfire. I was only thirteen years old that year, and I was cooking pots in the kitchen of Ganden Monastery. On the morning of September th, the kitchen steward Xia Duiba (low-level steward) came to the few of us excitedly and asked We prepared more food to reward the warriors who protected the religion. However, the next day, the imperial army attacked Ganden Monastery. I heard the roar of gunfire, climbed to the top of Wangbo Ri Mountain and hid, and saw Lhasa from a distance. Smoke billowed from the direction, and khatas, a symbol of surrender, floated from the roofs of many houses." (Lobsang Namgyal: "Memories of a Young Monk - Documentary of the Snowy Land").

"Today, the zombies are being eradicated, and the big stone slabs have been lifted. The great monks riding on the heads of the people of Lhasa no longer have the majesty of the past. They kneel in front of the imperial army and pray for their lives. The enthusiasm of the people in the snowy land is rising. 'May His Majesty the Emperor live forever,' someone in the crowd was cheering, 'May His Majesty the Emperor live forever', the cheers resounded in the streets and alleys of Lhasa.

"My father was a poor servant (serf). He died of illness outside when I was very young. It was my grandmother who raised me. When I was thirteen years old, my grandmother went out to cut grass and met the rebels. Back. Violence occurred everywhere. In Mozhugongka Dzong, on September 5th and 6th alone, 83 households were robbed, and even the lamp oil and oil bowls used to worship Buddha were snatched away. On May 7, desperate rebels shot three innocent people and injured five others in Zhangduo Village. In Pali, the rebels forcibly took away people's mules and horses. The steward of Dongga Temple was brutally killed for resisting robbery. , several women were ravaged on the plank road; in Gangba Zong, they killed the local Zongben; Phuntsok, a tailor of Naidong Zong, opposed the rebellion and was disemboweled; Bude, a herdsman of Baqing Zong, delivered a letter to the government and was beheaded Both eyes" (Baima Yuzhen: "Hell on Earth").

"Gongga Zongben reported to the head of the Qian household that more than 200 defeated soldiers came from Zhadui and Yamzhuo, forcing the people to prepare houses and fodder. The number was very large. The head of the Qian household, Mamut Baihu, took us to quell the rebellion immediately. The army reached the valley near Guru Village and was surrounded by rebels. The enemy was outnumbered and the situation was not good. Mamut commanded the warriors to use the earth wall as a bunker and gather together. The enemy left six or seven corpses, and we The side also sacrificed five soldiers, including a captain of ten. Two hours later, our army's reinforcements arrived and the danger was turned." (Phuntsok Chandui: "Memoirs of a Veteran").

"The rebels' methods of killing our officers and soldiers were extremely cruel. Especially after the failure of the rebellion, they became even more crazy. When Puba Ben, the leader of the Mangkang rebels, led his army to attack the team of officers and soldiers stationed at the Zhuka ferry on the Lancang River, he killed fifteen people at one time Each person's body was stabbed dozens of times. Our army compressed the Pubaben rebels into the area around Chema Village. A fierce battle began. The enemy occupied the top of the mountain and our army was pressed down the slope. Stray bullets were flying everywhere, so I lit the firecracker and shot them one by one, smashing a person's head in front of my eyes. Later I found out that the person was Puba Bendiba." (Phuntsog Chandui: "Memoirs of a Veteran").

"Our unit was ordered to wipe out the Kampot Tashi gang that was rampant in Gongga and Zhalang areas. Kampot Tashi was a big fat man, very fierce, with a long scar on his face. In Gongga, he raped and robbed for more than two years. For months, a large amount of highland barley, flour and ghee were collected from the serfs, all the horse grass was used up, and all the mules and horses were taken away. The whole village was desolate. In Zhalang, his men insulted all the women. . Hearing that he was going to be wiped out, the soldiers held back a ball of fire and fought particularly bravely. As soon as the battle began, the rebels began to flee and fled to the shore of the "Holy Lake" Namtso. Under our constant search and suppression, their The number of people was getting smaller and smaller. We surrounded Gonpo Tashi and several of his subordinates by the lake. They jumped into Namtso Lake in despair.

"There was a bad monk named Sangpei of Wuyu Sect. He was very cruel. A ritual required twenty skulls, thirty human skins, a lot of human bones and human blood. Lang Sheng (the lowest price) died in his hands. There were countless serfs waiting for him. Chuosiji of Dubaihu led an army to destroy him, and I took a hundred warriors as the vanguard. When we arrived at Wuyuzong, a few soldiers and I temporarily stayed at the house of Langsheng Duopuji. Pukki's legs were broken by Sampei. The family of three made a living by weaving baskets. It was difficult to even eat highland barley tsampa. They could only eat poor pea tsampa and drink mushy paste. But I heard that we were going to When we beat Sangpei, he gave us the only piece of highland barley tsampa in his family. We chased and beat the rebel Sangpei tribe. He had very long legs. He first fled to Shannan, then to Bhutan, and then I lost the news. It is really a pity that I did not catch Sampei. Every time I think of the piece of highland barley tsampa that Dopji gave me, I always feel ashamed. journal").

After the rebellion failed in Lhasa, the internal relations among the remnants of the rebels in the former Tibet area began to deteriorate, and the inherent conflicts between the rebel leaders and the rebels, between the Khams and the defending Tibetans, and between the various factions intensified. , often developing into cannibalism. Many people saw with their own eyes that fires broke out between rebel groups fighting for food and horses.

Overall, the situation in Lhasa has begun to stabilize. Batu Hetan, Tiemo'er, and Nasutu happily reported to Emperor Qianyuan on their outstanding performance in countering the rebellion. They completely ignored or failed to see the contribution of ordinary people in countering the rebellion. . However, later historians agreed that the popular support played an important role in countering the rebellion. The promulgation of the "Law of David" and Emperor Qianyuan's policy direction of reducing taxes, making all living beings equal, encouraging trade, and developing the economy won the support of a considerable number of people, especially the middle and lower classes. They provided intelligence to the officers and soldiers, transported supplies, and even took up arms to assist in the battle, making great contributions to the rapid suppression of the rebellion. This can be clearly seen from the various records left by people at that time.

History is created by thousands of ordinary people, not by the great emperors, princes and generals. The elders of the Qian and Yuan Dynasties could not see the role of ordinary people and did not know how to play their role, so they could not Completely eradicate the soil of rebellion. Soon, the fire of rebellion was ignited again in Shigatse and Shannan.

(End of this chapter)