nycdaug Chapter 272 Heads rolling in
Chapter 272 Heads rolling in
"Bang bang bang bang," a burst of gunfire rang out, and more corpses fell near the city wall.
Because there were too many people to kill, there weren't enough executioners. Except for those of high rank, the only option was to execute them by firing squad.
"Next batch!" The imperial censor standing by the platform to oversee the executions waved his hand, and another batch of people were brought up.
"Father, Father!" Among those brought forward were many children as young as a few years old, who had never seen such a scene before. They cried out in fear.
Shen Lian originally intended to pardon these children under the age of ten, but all the court officials opposed it, saying that they must be eradicated completely, and Shen Lian had no choice.
The broadsword was raised again, and another pile of heads fell to the ground. Gunshots rang out in waves.
As more and more people were beheaded, the stench of blood grew stronger. The initially jubilant crowd gradually fell silent. Many had turned pale with fear.
Yikuang also came to the scene to bid farewell to these clansmen. Seeing his relatives being beheaded one by one, Yikuang finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground with a thud.
"Father, Father!" Zai Zhen exclaimed in alarm as he hurriedly helped his father up.
The onlookers nearby all turned to look, and Zai Zhen ordered his servants to quickly carry his father away.
Although the Emperor pardoned Yikuang's family, they were no longer allowed to live in the inner city. The court arranged a small house for them in the outer city and also left them some property.
Although they no longer enjoy the wealth and luxury of the past, they can still afford a basic standard of living. They are already considered to be living relatively well among the Manchu people.
Most of the Manchu people who have been cleared out have been relocated to the two imperial tombs of the Qing Dynasty.
The Eastern and Western Qing Tombs together cover nearly 3,000 square kilometers, all of which have been protected for hundreds of years. It would be such a waste to leave such a large area empty next to the capital.
If even half of it can be developed, it could accommodate hundreds of thousands of people.
First, get these Manchu bannermen and bannermen there to cut down trees. Anyway, the capital will need a lot of timber soon, so let's wait until all the trees are cut down before making any further plans.
We can use the good timber, and the less desirable pieces can be used for charcoal. We'll decide what to do once the land is cleared out. It's impossible to settle all these Manchu people here; they'll definitely have to move elsewhere eventually.
There are hundreds of thousands of Manchus around the capital, and no one is at ease with them.
. . . . . .
The New Year had just passed, and the government offices had not yet reopened. Merchants, however, were already busy with their tasks.
Before the New Year, the Emperor received everyone in the palace and hosted a banquet. At the banquet, the Emperor highly praised the merchants and bestowed plaques upon those who had performed outstandingly, making the merchants deeply grateful.
Zhou Shunda was granted the title of baron on the spot for his outstanding performance and great contributions, which aroused the envy of many merchants.
The Emperor assured everyone that they could focus on their business and exert as much effort as they could, assuring them that the court would guarantee the protection of every merchant's legal property.
At the banquet, he revealed the news of the upcoming expedition to southern Xinjiang and the grasslands, urging the merchants to quickly prepare goods and military rations.
This is a huge business opportunity. Although the southern border is far away, the furs and jade there are very valuable.
Needless to say, the grasslands are a prime location; any commodity transported there can yield several times the profit. Bringing back cattle, sheep, horses, and furs will generate even more profit.
Although transporting military provisions for the imperial court wasn't very profitable, the protection of the army provided greater security. Merchants were quite willing to do so.
So, right after the New Year, merchants got busy and started organizing their goods.
"Lord Zhou, are you also going beyond the Great Wall?" As soon as Zhou Shunda and his men stepped into the warehouse outside the city, a familiar person greeted them.
"That's right! It's cold and harsh beyond the Great Wall, so we should go instead! Your status is too high; you should stay in the capital and enjoy a life of luxury!"
"Hahaha! I'm still in good health, and while I can still move, I naturally want to do my part for the court." Zhou Shunda's face was beaming with pride. He cupped his hands in greeting as he walked inside.
This time, he planned to organize hundreds of horse-drawn carriages to help the imperial court deliver grain, and also bring some cigarettes and lighters along.
Making money was secondary; the main thing was to set an example. The emperor bestowed a title upon him, and Zhou Shunda had no way to repay him, wishing he could dedicate his life to the emperor.
For eight generations, no one in the Zhou family had ever held a high-ranking official position, yet he himself had been granted a noble title. When he returned home to pay respects to his ancestors before the New Year, Zhou Shunda certainly had a grand display of prestige.
"Your Majesty, this expedition to the southern border has a total force of approximately 15,000 men. We have also conscripted 30,000 laborers." In the Qianqing Palace, Wang Kaiyun was reporting to Shen Lian.
"Thirty-five thousand soldiers were dispatched from the northern desert region, and about fifty thousand laborers were conscripted."
"Yes! We must ensure that the laborers are paid their wages and food, and that they are paid for the horses and other livestock they provide." Shen Lian nodded and said.
The new dynasty has now abolished all corvée labor, and laborers are now paid.
"You must strictly implement the imperial court's ethnic policies. I am not worried about losing the war, but I am worried about you losing the hearts and minds of the people. This will not bring about lasting peace and stability!"
"Your Majesty, rest assured, the Censorate will dispatch a large number of personnel to supervise the army and officials at all levels. If anyone neglects their duties, they will be impeached immediately!" Chang Le stepped forward and reported.
"Yes! Don't rush in recklessly, proceed steadily and surely. Take one place at a time, govern it well. As long as we have the support of the people, these traitors are nothing but water without roots, they can't cause any waves."
"Yes!" the ministers nodded in response.
"Is the imperial court's military budget sufficient?" Shen Lian turned and asked.
"Your Majesty, the court has prepared twenty million taels of silver, which should be enough to last for six months!" Wang Kaiyun replied.
The provinces have already begun to voluntarily hand over their taxes, and the imperial court has also borrowed 30 million from the Industrial and Commercial Bank. Now the Ministry of Revenue finally has some silver, and Wang Kaiyun even spoke a little louder.
"Okay! Let's leave it at that for now!" Shen Lian nodded. Twenty million taels definitely wouldn't be enough; let them fight it out for now! He'd support them later if needed.
Without the reparations from Japan and the Eight-Nation Alliance, the country was actually not short of money.
Shen Lian estimates that the country's GDP still accounts for at least 15 percent of the world's total.
The Qing Dynasty was simply too corrupt in the past, resulting in the loss of too much tax revenue. Now, I need to find ways to increase my share and, more importantly, collect the taxes that should be collected.
The State Administration of Taxation has already dispatched personnel to various provinces to enforce the new tax law, with the Inspectorate accompanying them. Anyone who dares to disobey will be investigated and punished.
The guidance groups dispatched by the Ministry of National Defense to the provincial armies also began their work, reducing the number of old and weak soldiers and forming new armies.
The world will not be stable for the next few decades. Shen Lian plans to maintain the nation's army at over one million men. He also intends to increase investment in the navy and air force.
If China is given five years, it will be invincible. Considering that World War I was still seven years away, there is still time.