The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 798: Free America Needs More "Black, Red, and Yellow" States
Han Yulin, who held the title of major general of both the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the United States of California, rode a chestnut Mongolian horse, stood at the mountain pass on the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains, and looked into the distance.

The wind at the Rocky Mountain Pass was strong, blowing sand and dust into Han Yulin's face, making it almost impossible for him to open his eyes. Behind him, hundreds of caravans were lined up in a long line, their wheels rolling over the bumpy road, swaying forward. The cavalry of the California militia, wrapped in blue woolen uniforms, with rifles hanging on their saddles, were vigilantly guarding the carts filled with all kinds of daily necessities.

"General, Denver is ahead." A Mexican officer pointed to the vague outline of the manor in the distance.

Han Yulin narrowed his eyes and nodded.

They walked down the winding mountain road, and soon a large manor came into view. The manor was surrounded by a wooden fence, and inside the fence were neatly arranged farmlands. Harvested corn stalks remained on the dark brown land. In the center of the manor was a two-story wooden mansion, painted scarlet, which was particularly dazzling on the gray plateau.

The road to Denver passes right in front of the red mansion. Through the wooden fence, Han Yulin saw a scene that surprised him: several black people were kneeling on the ground, and a white housekeeper was waving a rattan stick and beating them hard on the back.

"Crack! Crack!"

The crisp sound of whipping was particularly clear in the cold wind of early spring.

What's going on? Wasn't slavery abolished in Colorado? Why are there still white masters whipping black slaves?

Han Yulin frowned and was about to ask when he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves.

A group of people and horses galloped out from the depths of the manor, led by a burly black man riding a pure black Friesian horse, wearing a well-cut gray military uniform with a black flag badge on his chest. Next to him was a white woman wrapped in snow-white fox fur, with her blonde hair fluttering in the wind, a pretty face and a bit of arrogance between her eyebrows.

"You must be General Han, who became famous in the Petropavlovsk Fortress on the Kamchatka Peninsula?" The black man waved his hand from a distance, speaking in a loud and fluent Chinese voice, "I've been waiting for you!"

Han Yulin reined in his horse and clasped his hands together on horseback: "I am Han Yulin. Are you General Zengke or General Tom?"

"I'm Tom McMullen, commander of the Black Knight Brigade!"

This used to be Black Tom's estate.

Tom McMullen laughed and dismounted. He walked a few steps to Han Yulin and patted him on the shoulder. "Thank you for your hard work on the road! Carol, pour the general a glass of hot wine!"

The white woman's name was Carol McMullen, Tom's new wife. Upon hearing this, she immediately took a silver wine bottle from the saddle and handed it to Han Yulin with a faint smile on her face: "General, warm yourself up."

Han Yulin took the wine jug and took a sip. The spicy whiskey slid down his throat, making him frown slightly.

"General Tom, why are those blacks being beaten?" He pointed to the blacks who were still being punished in the distance.

Black Tom laughed. "That's Mike disciplining them! These lazy bones won't work unless they're whipped a few times!"

Carol also chuckled, her voice sweet: "General, please don't be offended. We have strict rules here. Those who don't follow the rules will be punished."

Han Yulin still didn't understand: "Are they black slaves?"

Black Tom waved his hands quickly: "No, they are not slaves. Slavery has been abolished in Colorado. They are serfs! We in Colorado are now practicing progressive serfdom!"

Progressive. Serfdom? Han Yulin thought: "Few people in the world use the word 'progressive' to describe serfdom."

Black Tom puffed up his chest proudly and said, "In addition to the progressive serfdom system, we in Colorado also have the progressive Eight Banners system. Governor Zhao said that this is called all kinds of people, each in their own place! Our two black flags are responsible for farming, the two red flags of the Native Americans are responsible for grazing, the two white flags are responsible for mining and opening workshops, and your two yellow flags are responsible for business. As for the bannermen, those who can work and make contributions will also have the opportunity to raise the banner! Those who can do their job can also serve as housekeepers for us bannermen masters."

Is this Russian serfs plus the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty plus the Indian castes? If these three are added together, can it be considered progress in the United States?

While Han Yulin was thinking, he cast his eyes on the white butler in the distance.

"That white man, what is his identity? What did he do before?"

"Him?" Black Tom grinned. "He used to be the manager of the Topeka Bank. Now he is my bannerman, keeping account for me!" He explained, "People of all kinds should keep their place in their own place, which refers to the bannermen. The bannermen have to obey their bannermen masters in everything they do."

"Can they all raise the flag?" Han Yulin asked, pointing at the black serfs who were being beaten.

Carol added: "The rules for raising the flag are very strict. A serf must accumulate 300 points to become a master - five points for growing a crop of corn, and thirty points for killing a red-neck bandit." Han Yulin raised his eyebrows: "What if you don't accumulate enough?"

Black Tom laughed: "Then we'll have a lottery! Once a month, five points are awarded for each draw. If you win, you get to raise your flag. If you don't win, it's all in vain, and the five points will be gone."

This is a great idea! Han Yulin thought to himself, "It can not only give the serfs a little hope of advancement, but also use up their points. When they fail to win in the lottery for 10 to 20 years, they will be old and weak, and they will not be able to rebel even if they want to."

Han Yulin was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What about the yellow baoyi here?"

Black Tom and Carol looked at each other and then laughed, "There are no yellow people! The yellow people are all bannermen, all businessmen. Without you guys transporting delicious food and daily necessities from the West Coast, life in Colorado would be impossible!"

Han Yulin raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said nothing more.

In the distance, the white butler was still swinging the cane, and the sound of whipping echoed in the cold wind. The black slaves who had "progressed" to become black serfs were still wailing as they were beaten. I wonder if they were thinking about going to the lottery to win the prize.
The walls of Denver were higher than Han Yulin had imagined.

This was a bastion of earth and wood, with a rammed earth wall two feet high, a trench dug outside the wall, and sharpened wooden stakes inserted at the bottom of the trench. On the arrow slits of the city wall were several old twelve-pound cannons, with their muzzles pointing blackly into the distance.

Han Yulin stood in front of the city gate, looking up at this rough but sturdy and practical fortification, secretly evaluating its defensive capabilities in his heart.

"He can withstand the siege of three federal divisions." A deep voice came from behind, "If there are enough barbed wire and multi-barreled guns, ten divisions will never be able to take down my Denver!"

Han Yulin turned around and saw a short man with a pockmarked face, wearing a gray woolen coat of the Southern Army and holding the rank of lieutenant general, standing not far away, followed by several officers and officials.

"You are the consort of Nan Yi, right?" Han Yulin hurriedly bowed, "I am Han Yulin, the current commander of the California militia."

Xianfeng laughed, walked up, and patted Han Yulin on the shoulder: "I have long heard of General Han, who broke through the Petropavlovsk Fortress." He pointed to Denver City and said, "Come and see, how does this castle compare to the Russian fortress?"

Han Yulin smiled and said, "This is an era of barbed wire, multi-barreled guns, and breech-loading cannons." He pointed to the convoy behind him and said, "I brought them all to you as ordered by Commander Chen!"

Xianfeng glanced at the transport team behind Han Yulin and finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Finally, you are here. If you don't come, Denver's business will be paralyzed."

Han Yulin smiled bitterly and said, "The road was not easy to travel on. It took us some time." He paused and asked, "If the merchants with two yellow flags don't come, will there be no business in Denver?"

Xianfeng nodded and smiled, "Yes! No one is doing it! There are now more than 5,000 black farms, more than 1,000 red ranches, and more than 800 white mines and white factories in Colorado... just waiting for the two yellow flag merchants to come from California to revitalize the three industries of agriculture, animal husbandry and industry. This is all kinds of people, each in their own place! White people mine and work, black people farm, yellow people do business, and red people herd. Black, white and red bannermen can also raise flags and become masters, General Han. Do you see how free we are here?"

After saying this, he waved to a white woman carrying a briefcase behind him and said, "Dabai, inform them that the merchants from the two yellow flags have arrived. Now we have all the industrial, commercial, agricultural and animal husbandry businesses in Colorado!"

"Yes!" Bell Watling bowed, then turned around and walked towards the city gate with a twist of his waist.

Xianfeng nodded with satisfaction - this woman had been well trained and was a good baoyi, and then he turned his gaze to the west. On the road, the transport team's covered wagons were crawling slowly like black beetles.

Xianfeng whispered to the newcomer Han Yulin: "General Han, if you stay east of the Rocky Mountains for a few more years, you will know that what I have done may seem backward, but it is applicable to America. America needs more 'black, red and yellow' states!"

That night, Han Yulin was reading the Colorado Flag-Raising Regulations in the guest room of the Governor's Mansion.

The light from the oil lamp was dim, making the words on the paper flicker.

Article 17: A bondservant can earn 12 points for working more than 0.1 hours a day, and 5 points for reporting rebellious speech;
Article 19: Each flag office holds a lottery every month. Anyone who pays 5 points is eligible to participate in the lottery. The chance of winning is 100 in 1, and if you win, you can raise the flag. If you do not win, the points will not be returned.

Article 39: All bondservants who enroll in Denver University can carry the banner;

Article 41: To enroll in the University of Denver, you must obtain a letter of recommendation from at least one Colorado District Councilman, Supreme Court Justice, Governor, or Mayor, and then pass a written test and interview.
The sound of leather boots of the night patrol could be heard outside the window. In the distance, the two black flag yamen were brightly lit and cheers could be heard from time to time - another points lottery was being held there.

Han Yulin closed the charter and murmured, "The beads on this abacus are very precise. This Prince Consort Nanyi must have been a legal advisor in the Beijing government, right?"

(End of this chapter)