1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 91 The Gap Between People
Leaving Lianhua Mountain and entering the plains of Guixian County, especially the fertile land along both banks of the Yu River, presents a completely different scene.

Everywhere you look, there are dilapidated and crumbling village houses, and charred ruins.

Peng Gang had walked this road last year. Last year, he could still see a bustling market and farmers working in the fields, but now all he sees is a desolate wasteland.

Even the green rice already planted in the fields was either trampled into crooked shapes or cut down by government soldiers and the Heaven and Earth Society to feed mules and livestock.

The surviving people, like withered grass after a wildfire, tenaciously gathered up the ruins to carve out a place to live.

As you ride along, you can occasionally see scattered stragglers and bandits looting and exploiting the meager remaining value of these survivors.

Although the county seat of Guixian was recovered, the Qing government's rule in the area had already collapsed.

Upon arriving at Muge, many households in the nearby villages hung plain lanterns and spirit banners in front of their doors. Those who couldn't afford even white cloth spirit banners used white paper instead.

The areas near Muge and Muzi in Guixian County were the hardest hit by this uprising of the Heaven and Earth Society.

Besides the infamous Zhang Jiaxiang, bandits of all ranks, including Lei Shuchun, Huang Azuo, Huang Ayou, Huang Ashi, Su Shijiu, and Zhang Zhasan, were active in the vicinity of Muge and Muzi for a long time.

The guards of the Qiu family, who were patrolling near the mountainside, saw more than twenty men on horseback, carrying guns, heading towards the Qiu family's fortified village.

Yao Yao ordered Peng Gang to stop and asked him about his identity and purpose.

After Peng Gang identified himself, the guards still did not let him through. Instead, they warily told Peng Gang and the others to stand still and wait for him to go in and inform Master Qiu.

"You won't go broke from eating, dressing, or using things; you'll go broke from not knowing how to plan. Whoever is good at budgeting will live a good life. If you're not good at budgeting, even if your father gives you mountains of gold and silver, you'll still be poor."

Inside the main hall of the Qiu family fortress in Muge, Qiu Gusan, his face haggard and brow furrowed with sorrow, fiddled with the abacus that had been with him for most of his life, worn smooth by his constant use, and imparted his survival experience to the younger generation of the Qiu family.

Upon hearing from the guard that Peng Gang had come to visit, Qiu Gusan was surprised, but still decided to meet Peng Gang.

"Please invite Director Peng into the fort."

This young man is now not only the head of the God Society, but also the chairman of the Zijingshan branch in Guiping County.

His status is no longer what it used to be. In these chaotic times, it's best not to offend such a person.

If he came for the Honglianping mountain area, then we might as well give him the 900 mu of mountain area. The Qiu family can afford to part with that much; consider it a way to buy peace for the Qiu family.

Qiu Gusan regretted not heeding Qiu Zhongliang's advice earlier; he should have known that the kid was so capable.

They even talked to him about marrying into his family, saying that if he chose his daughter to marry him, he could give her a dowry of one or two thousand taels of silver.

When Peng Gang arrived at Qiujiawei Fortress again, his identity and mindset were very different from last year.

White silk lanterns and spirit banners were hung at the entrance of the Qiu family's house, indicating that the Qiu family had not escaped the ravages of bandits and war.

"Mr. Qiu."

"Director Peng."

The two exchanged greetings, and Qiu Gusan politely led Peng Gang into the main hall to take a seat.

After offering tea and exchanging a few pleasantries, Qiu Gusan said to Peng Gang, "If Director Peng has come for the matter of Honglianping Mountain, then consider the mountain a gift to Director Peng to establish a good relationship."

Peng Gang shook his head, took out a thick stack of mountain land deeds and licenses, and placed them on the sandalwood tea table: "I am not asking Master Qiu for the mountain land. On the contrary, I am here to give Master Qiu the mountain land. Here are the deeds and licenses for 8,600 mu of mountain land in Xiping."

"I can't accept a reward without merit. This 8,600 mu of mountain land is too hot to handle. I dare not take it." Although Qiu Gusan was already obsessed with money, he still had some sense.

More than 20 days ago, Huang Tizheng instructed the Xunzhou Chamber of Commerce to expel Peng Gang from the Chamber of Commerce and to seal up Peng Gang's charcoal shop in Jiangkou Market, forcing the charcoal produced by Peng Gang in the mountains to rot in his hands.

Peng Gang's visit was most likely for this matter.

Qiu Gusan had long since abandoned any thoughts of looking down on Peng Gang.

The 8,600 mu of mountain land was certainly tempting, but he knew very well that Peng Gang wouldn't give it to him for no reason. Just like when Peng Gang bought the Honglianping mountain land from him, it was definitely not as simple as just buying the mountain land for charcoal production.

Who the hell could turn a coal-burning operation into a tribal chief? Or a leader of the God Worshippers Society?

However, he couldn't afford to offend the Huang family, and the God Society was also not to be trifled with now.

Thinking about this, Qiu Gusan felt caught in a dilemma and had a terrible headache.

"No reward without merit, Mr. Qiu means that one can receive a reward if one has made a contribution." Peng Gang stared at Qiu Gusan, who was hesitant.

Qiu Gusan's hesitant and indecisive attitude greatly disappointed Peng Gang. Qiu Gusan's decisiveness was far inferior to that of Wei Changhui and Hu Yihuang.

There is a reason why such a powerful local clan, apart from leaving behind records in the county annals of greed and accumulating wealth through usury, disappeared so quickly during the Xianfeng and Tongzhi reigns.

Both Wei Changhui and Hu Yihuang were Hakka gentry who had been suppressed by Tujia gentry for over a century, yet they had the determination and courage to seize the opportunity to resist.

Peng Gang offered him opportunities, but Qiu Gusan still couldn't make up his mind.

The difference between people is greater than the difference between people and dogs.

There are quite a few God-Worshipping Society leaders in Guixian County who are worth investing in. Shi Dakai and Qin Richang can be considered outstanding people in Guixian County. Feng Yunshan also visited Qiu Gusan.

Despite having so many opportunities, Qiu Gusan failed to seize a single one.

With such a patriarch in charge, it would be strange if the Qiu family could prosper for so long.

The Hu family in Huazhou, Pingnan County, was far more cunning than the Qiu family in Muge, Guixian County.

The second son joined the God Worshippers' Society, while the eldest and third sons continued to serve the Qing government, ensuring the continuation of the Hu family line.

"Brother, have you encountered any difficulties? Please speak freely. We are all just polite people. As long as the Qiu family can help, we will do our duty without hesitation."

Dressed in a plain robe with a hemp rope tied around his waist, Qiu Zhongliang strode into the main hall and took over Peng Gang's words for Qiu Gusan.

This scene gave Peng Gang the feeling that Qiu Zhongliang was the one in charge of the Qiu family.

“Brother, Father is still sitting here normally! You have no right to speak here!” Qiu Zhongliang was being scolded by the eldest son of Qiu Gusan.

Qiu Zhongliang ignored Qiu Zhongyan and went straight to Qiu Gusan, saying, "Father, let's go to the back room. I have something to say to you."

"Peng, please wait a moment." Qiu Gusan, not knowing what Qiu Zhongliang was up to, stood up, bowed slightly to Peng Gang to express his apology, and then went into the back room with Qiu Zhongliang.

"Please go ahead, Mr. Qiu." Peng Gang gestured with his hand.

Qiu Gusan did not explicitly refuse him. If Qiu Zhongliang were willing to provide a helping hand by exchanging the mountain fields and charcoal for the Qiu family's money and food, the success rate of this matter would be greatly increased.

If Qiu Gusan is unwilling to be treated gently, he doesn't mind giving Qiu Gusan a tough one.

The Qiu family were Hakka gentry without official titles, and their connections were not as extensive or powerful as those of the Huang family.

“Father, Peng Gang is being targeted by the Huang family. He came to us for money and supplies.” Upon arriving at the back room, Qiu Zhongliang casually picked up a stack of paper money from the offering table and threw it into the still-burning brazier.

“Father knows he’s after money and grain, but the Huang family has already said that anyone who dares to buy Peng Gang’s charcoal or sell Peng Gang’s grain is going against the Huang family. We can’t afford to offend the Huang family,” Qiu Gusan said.

“We are the people who have come here, and we have a century-old feud with the local people. Why should we talk about offending them?” Qiu Zhongliang remained unusually calm.

"Not a single member of the Huang family has become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations). The only two Xiucai (successful candidates in the county-level imperial examinations) were obtained through underhanded and shady means, and they are not destined for greatness."

The Huang family's structure is entirely maintained by Huang Tizheng. Huang Tizheng is already eighty-two years old; how many more years does he have left? Without Huang Tizheng, what is there to fear in the Huang family?

(End of this chapter)