Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 373 Shi Dakai's Conditions

Seeing this, Zhang Suimou cleared his throat and said.

"First, after the King of Wings surrenders, he must retain his throne, his palace guards, and all other treatment equal to that of the other kings of the Tang Dynasty."

"Second, after our Heavenly Kingdom surrenders, the Tang Dynasty must treat our Heavenly Kingdom soldiers well."

"Since we started our uprising, our soldiers have been fighting against the Qing Dynasty and for the people of the world."

"I hope that the Tang Dynasty can give the Heavenly Kingdom soldiers the same rewards as the Tang Army soldiers, and not treat them too harshly."

"Third, Prince Yi hopes that the Emperor of Tang can properly arrange for the officials who have surrendered from the Heavenly Kingdom and recruit those with good character and conduct as appropriate."

"These officials have also made contributions to the anti-Qing cause. We must not let these meritorious officials feel disheartened."

"Fourth, King Yi hopes that after he leads his troops to submit to the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty can order the people of Henan, Shaanxi, and Gansu to reduce taxes for three years, giving the people of the three provinces a chance to recuperate."

"In this rebellion that has spread to the northwest, the rebels are really too crazy."

"Wherever the rebels pass, those crazy people will kill all those who do not believe in their new religion, even those who are followers of the old religion."

"Under the rampage of the rebels, many civilians in Henan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces were killed or injured. In many places, only one in ten people survived."

"The local area is in urgent need of rest and recuperation!"

Although this rebellion affected the entire Northwest, it mainly broke out in Shaanxi and Gansu, and Henan was not affected.

But since Shi Dakai wanted to put forward conditions, it was naturally impossible for him to only ask for benefits for Shaanxi and Gansu. The people of Henan were also his people, Shi Dakai, so he naturally could not favor one over the other.

There are reasons for the four conditions proposed by Shi Dakai, and they cover all aspects.

Removing the first condition is for his own benefit.

The next three conditions are to safeguard the interests of the army, officials, and the people.

As long as the Tang Dynasty agrees to these conditions, Shi Dakai will be able to gain a good reputation.

If the Tang Dynasty wants to successfully surrender Shi Dakai's troops, all these conditions must be agreed to.

Upon hearing this, Li Hongzhang did not dare to accept the conditions rashly, but just spoke.

"it is good!"

"I have already known the conditions you proposed, and will report them to the capital soon."

"I'm sure your majesty will consider it!"

Zhang Suimou spoke up.

"I want to go to the capital to have a personal meeting with the Emperor of Tang."

Upon hearing this, Li Hongzhang nodded immediately.

"of course can!"

"Today, I am only making contact with Master Zhang."

"Mr. Zhang, if you want to come to Beijing, you can set off at any time. The Tang Dynasty welcomes you."

After hearing this, Zhang Suimou nodded to show his satisfaction.

……

Soon, Li Yi, who was in the capital, received a telegram from Caozhou.

Looking at what Li Hongzhang reported in the telegram, Li Yi fell into deep thought.

After a moment, he spoke.

"This Shi Dakai has really given me a difficult problem!"

The conditions proposed by Shi Dakai were not simple.

It doesn't matter whether he is crowned a king or something like that. Shi Dakai surrendered three provinces to the country, so it is only right that he be given the title of a king.

Anyway, this title of king is just an empty title, with no fiefdom and no real power, so Li Yi would not be stingy with it.

Besides, if all else fails, there is always the trick of "destroying the bridge after crossing it"!

This is an essential skill for feudal rulers.

Li Yi would naturally know how to do it too.

But the last condition, requesting Li Yi to reduce taxes for the people in Henan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, posed a difficult problem for Li Yi.

Because if you want to reduce or exempt taxes, you can't just reduce them for Henan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, right?

Zhili, Shanxi, Shandong, Hubei, these places are all war zones.

If you want to reduce, you have to reduce everything.

If half of the northern region is exempted from tax, what about the southern region?

Isn't it unfair if the reduction is only given to the North and not to the South?
But if all of them were really reduced, the Tang Dynasty’s finances would not be able to withstand it.

But if he doesn't lose weight, Li Yi's face will look really bad.

Shi Dakai had already proposed it, but Li Yi refused. Then Li Yi's image as a benevolent monarch would be ruined.

Li Yi has some dignity, but he would never do such a thing that would destroy his image.

After pondering for a long time, Li Yi finally spoke.

"When Shi Dakai's envoy arrives in Beijing, send someone to contact him and tell him."

"I have accepted the requests made by Shi Dakai."

"Shi Dakai changed his title from Yi Wang to Yi Wang, and was granted a palace in the capital, 500,000 Tang silver dollars, 10,000 acres of fertile land, 1,000 pieces of Yunjin and Shu embroidery, a number of jewels and treasures, and a number of palace maids and eunuchs."

"Moreover, the throne is hereditary and will last forever along with the country. The throne will be inherited by the Shi family for generations, and he will be allowed to keep 300 guards in the palace, which will be supported by funds allocated by the court."

"In addition, the imperial court allocates a corresponding amount of funds to the palace every year to cover the expenses of the palace, and the treatment is the same as that of the other princes of the royal family."

"As for the conditions of treating the troops and officials well, we will all agree to them."

"I promise to treat the military officials of the Heavenly Kingdom just like the military officials of the Tang Dynasty, with regular rewards, promotions and appointments, and I will never treat them unfairly."

"And tax reductions and exemptions can also be implemented."

"Henan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces have experienced wars, and many people have been killed or injured. The places are devastated. So in response to King Yi's request, the three provinces will be exempted from taxes for one year and reduced taxes for two years to allow the people to recuperate..." As for other provinces?
Of course there is no such treatment!

It's not that Li Yi didn't want to, but ever since the Yellow River dike burst, the Tang Dynasty's finances had become tight in order to provide disaster relief, and it really didn't have the spare capacity.

In order to ensure the peaceful return of the three provinces of Henan, Shaanxi and Gansu, Li Yi spent a huge amount of money.

Of course, Li Yi also took this opportunity to show everyone that he, Li Yi, would never be stingy with his meritorious officials.

Of course, the fact is also true.

Now Li Yi has ordered people to prepare a list of rewards for the founding ceremony.

Li Yi was not stingy with official positions, titles, gold and silver rewards.

Upon hearing this, Secretary Zhang Zhidong immediately clasped his fists in agreement, then took his leave and left, ready to do as Li Yi instructed.

……

As time passed, Guangzhou's team for moving the capital was finally ready.

In early August of the fourth year of the Zhaowu reign of the Tang Dynasty, the team that moved the capital set out from Guangzhou and prepared to head north.

A large convoy slowly drove out of the main gate of the palace and headed towards the outside of Guangzhou city along the spacious street in front of the palace.

On both sides of the road, Guangzhou residents spontaneously came to the roadside and saluted the convoy.

Watching the convoy gradually go away, many Guangzhou residents felt reluctant to let it go.

Because everyone understands that once this convoy leaves, Guangzhou will no longer be under the rule of the emperor.

Many invisible benefits that can only be enjoyed under the feet of the emperor will also disappear.

Thinking of these, how could the people bear to give up?

However, everyone understands that it is difficult to go against the trend.

Guangzhou is indeed not a suitable place to be the capital.

Therefore, they could only come to the streets and see them off silently before the capital moving team left.

Zhao lifted the curtain of the car and looked at the people who had spontaneously gathered on both sides of the road, feeling quite emotional.

When Li Yi first started the rebellion, Zhao, as a mother, did not oppose it, but she was not optimistic that her son could really overthrow the Qing Dynasty and ascend the throne to become emperor.

It’s unbelievable that it’s only been a few years!
Their Li family really gave birth to a real dragon.

How incredible is it that his own son has conquered the capital, sat on the throne, and is going to take them with him to the Forbidden City, the imperial palace?

Zhao couldn't help but think of her husband.

If her husband were still alive and could see the achievements her son has made, she would surely be very pleased!
The emperor, that’s the emperor!
The Lord of all peoples, the Supreme Being!
However, as the team moved gradually out of Guangzhou, they left Lingnan and headed towards the completely unfamiliar capital.

Zhao couldn't help feeling uneasy again!
In another carriage, Luo Caiyu was in a good mood.

He smiled and teased Lee Jae who was sitting across from him.

"Xiao Ping'an, we are going to the capital soon to see our father. Are you happy?"

Li Zai smiled happily and clapped his hands.

"Happy, happy."

"I want to see my father..."

The royal palace team slowly left Guangzhou and arrived outside the city.

Then we headed north to Guangzhou Railway Station.

Today, the Guangzhou-Shaozhou Railway, China's first railway connecting Guangzhou and Shaozhou, has been completed.

And start the test run!

Although according to the original plan, the railway would take two years to build.

However, with the almost unlimited supply of manpower and material resources in the Tang Dynasty, as well as the method of increasing payment, the construction team from the United States successfully exploded.

It took only one year and three months to complete the construction of the Guangzhou-Shaoyang Railway.

In addition, several test runs have been carried out to ensure that there are no problems with railway operation.

This time, the capital moving team was heading north and prepared to take the train.

Soon, the capital moving team arrived at Guangzhou Railway Station, and the people of Guangzhou spontaneously followed the team and were sent here.

Zhao and others got off the carriage and prepared to get on with the help of maids.

Walking onto the platform and looking at the rails and sleepers in front of him, Zhao asked Du Er beside him with some curiosity.

"Du Er, is this the railway that the emperor ordered to be built?"

"It's such a waste to lay all this good iron on the ground."

"If these irons can be used to make farm tools, how many good farm tools can be made?"

With Zhao's way of thinking, she didn't quite understand things like railways.

Therefore, he was a little dissatisfied with his son's extravagance.

Du Er on the side wiped the sweat from his forehead and said awkwardly.

"Your Majesty the Queen Mother is right."

"But since His Majesty has done this, he must have his own considerations. It is not a waste of national funds..."

Du Er was speechless.

The Queen Mother Zhao dared to complain about the Emperor Li Yi in public, but he, an old servant of the Li family, did not have the courage to do so.

I was afraid that if I said something wrong, I would lose my life...

Seeing this, Zhao nodded slightly and said nothing more.

But at this moment, a loud rumbling sound suddenly came from the distance.

Zhao raised his eyes and looked in the direction where the sound came from, and saw a long black steel dragon lying on the railroad track, with black smoke coming out of its head, slowly moving towards them.

(End of this chapter)