1848 Great Qing Charcoal Burners

Chapter 92 Determination
"That's true, but what if Peng Gang makes exorbitant demands?" Qiu Gusan still had concerns, worried that Peng Gang would ask for too much money and grain.

"Father, with your meticulous calculations, you'll eventually drag our whole family down with you," Qiu Zhongliang said with a cold laugh, his face expressionless.

"A common man is innocent, but he is guilty of possessing a treasure. Haven't we learned enough from Zhang Jiaxiang's experience? Do you think our Qiu family's two or three hundred clan men and guards can hold off the Qiu family's fortress a few times?"

Although the Qiu family's main branch suffered relatively small losses during this uprising by the Heaven and Earth Society, the Qiu family's collateral branches living outside the fortress suffered heavy casualties.

Zhang Jiaxiang looted almost all the wealth and grain outside Qiujiawei Fortress.

Even Qiu Zhongliang's eldest sister, who had married into the county town, and her family were not spared. They were raped to death by Zhang Jiaxiang, Nong Yaozu, and others, their deaths were gruesome.

The sudden and tragic events in Guixian County and the resulting misfortune made Qiu Zhongliang much more mature.

"Our clan guards can't even protect the Qiu family, so how can that brat Peng Gang protect us?" Qiu Gusan said with a gloomy face.

“They might be able to,” Qiu Zhongliang said, burning all the paper money in his hand and patting the ashes off his hands.

"Have you seen the trainees that Peng Gang brought? They are even more skilled than the Shi family trainees I saw in Qishi Market. The Green Standard Army of Nanning and Xunzhou has been defeated by the Heaven and Earth Society. The Heaven and Earth Society will only cause more trouble next. If Father really cares about the life and death of the Qiu family, let me make a decision for the Qiu family this time."

If Father neglects Peng Gang and the God Society today, the one sitting in the main hall talking to Father in the future will not be them, but Zhang Jiaxiang. Zhang Jiaxiang is not as reasonable as Peng Gang.

"If we want to protect the Qiu family right now, we can't rely on the government; the only way is to befriend the God of God."

The name Zhang Jiaxiang is now known in Guangxi as someone who can stop a baby from crying at night.

Upon hearing the name of Zhang Jiaxiang, the god of death, Qiu Gusan was startled.

Dealing with Zhang Jiaxiang of the Heaven and Earth Society is not as good as dealing with Peng Gang, Shi Dakai, and Feng Yunshan of the God Society.

At least they were all scholars; Peng Gang, Shi Dakai, and Qiu Zhongliang were even fellow students, so they could at least offer some reasoned arguments.

“You speak to Peng Gang on my behalf,” Qiu Gusan said after a long silence, his brow furrowed in pain.

"Hopefully this kid isn't too greedy; the Qiu family's money and supplies didn't come from thin air."

"I know what I'm doing." After saying this, Qiu Zhongliang lifted the beaded curtain and returned to the front hall.

He sat down next to Peng Gang and said to him, "Brother, if you encounter any difficulties, please feel free to speak up. God will always help us. You are my brother, and we will do everything in our power to help you."

Qiu Zhongliang was much more decisive and swift than his father. Peng Gang turned his head to look at Qiu Zhongliang and felt that the Qiu Zhongliang in front of him was very different from the Qiu Zhongliang he had met last spring.

“I truly intend to give these 8,600 mu of mountain land to your Qiu family,” Peng Gang said. “As long as your Qiu family is willing to contribute 2,000 shi of grain and dare to buy the charcoal I produce for the next year, all of this mountain land will belong to the Qiu family.”

Qiu Zhongliang looked up and laughed, "I thought it was something of great importance. In Xunzhou Prefecture, the Qiu family buys the charcoal that others dare not buy and sells the grain that others dare not sell!"
I'll have someone prepare provisions for you, senior. And for any charcoal you need to sell in the future, just bring it to my Qiu's Charcoal Shop; we'll buy as much as you have."

Two thousand shi of grain was not much for the Qiu family. In the past few months, the Qiu family had lost at least fifteen or six hundred shi of grain to the grain shops in various markets.

"Qiu Zhongliang, are you crazy! Father, look at what he's done! Two thousand shi of grain, easily given away to outsiders!" Qiu Zhongyan jumped up from his chair in a panic. That's two thousand shi of grain!
“Father, we can’t let my brother run wild. Right now, the price of grain in your county is three taels and four mace per shi!”

Frustrated, Qiu Gusan stepped forward and slapped Qiu Zhongyan across the face: "Three taels and four qian a shi! Do you even have the life to sell it?! You good-for-nothing, you have no right to speak here, get out!"

Having achieved his goal, Peng Gang agreed on a time for transporting the grain and took his leave. Just as he stepped out of Qiu Family Fortress, Qiu Zhongliang caught up and blocked Peng Gang's horse, saying, "Brother, I want to go with you."

"Come with me? Why? Why would you give up being a proper young master of the Qiu family to suffer in the mountains with me?" Peng Gang was very surprised. "The county examination is approaching. The teacher said you are doing quite well at the academy and have a good chance of passing the county examination. Go back and prepare well for your county examination."

“Even if we are lucky enough to pass the exam, what then? We can’t even protect our families. Since the 24th year of the Daoguang Emperor’s reign, five students from our Guixian County have been killed by thieves.” Qiu Zhongliang said sadly yet resolutely.

“I want to avenge my sister. You are a capable person, and I want to follow you.”

"Your older sister?" Peng Gang glanced at the hemp rope tied around Qiu Zhongliang's waist and asked, "Who is your enemy?"

"Zhang Jiaxiang!" Qiu Zhongliang gritted his teeth and uttered his enemy's name. "I want him dead!"

Zhang Jiaxiang was no nobody. Among the various leaders of the Heaven and Earth Society in Guangxi who were recruited by the Qing government, Zhang Jiaxiang was the one who fared the best.

After being recruited and pacified, Zhang Jiaxiang changed his name to Guoliang, and the name Zhang Guoliang became more widely known.

After surrendering to the Qing Dynasty, Zhang Jiaxiang not only worked exceptionally hard to suppress the Heaven and Earth Society, but also served as the Governor of Guangxi to suppress the Taiping Army when Xiang Rong was ordered to enter Guangxi. Zhang Jiaxiang was highly appreciated by Xiang Rong and followed him in the pursuit of the Taiping Army, chasing them all the way from Guangxi to Jiangning (Nanjing). He eventually made it to the position of Governor of Jiangnan through his meritorious service.

"We can't go into the mountains empty-handed." Peng Gang was so happy that he could hardly contain his smile when Qiu Zhongliang offered to join. With this kid on board, they wouldn't have to worry about money and food for the next year.

Do you know any families living near Muge?

“I grew up in Muge and know it like the back of my hand,” Qiu Zhongliang said.

“If that’s the case, pick some literate young men aged fifteen to thirty who have a blood feud with Zhang Jiaxiang and come with me into the mountains. I will definitely give you a chance to take revenge,” Peng Gang said, patting Qiu Zhongliang on the shoulder.

Determined to take revenge, Qiu Zhongliang didn't hesitate. He selected seventy or eighty able-bodied men from Muge to escort two hundred shi of grain to join Peng Gang and head towards Pingzai Mountain.

When Peng Gang returned to Bitanxun, he saw that fifteen or sixteen households in Bitanxun had also hung up spirit banners in front of their doors, and there was a chorus of wailing and shouting. He could already guess what had happened.

Most of the Green Standard Army troops, led by Li Dianyuan in Xunzhou and Sheng Jun in Nanning, failed to suppress Zhang Jiaxiang. The Bishan garrison soldiers who accompanied them on the expedition suffered heavy casualties.

"Commander Xie was seriously injured by Zhang Jiaxiang." Hou Jiyong, who came out of the small yamen of Bitan Xunshou, told Peng Gang about Xie Bin's situation with a solemn expression.

"This time, we must thank your God Society, and thank the Shi brothers for saving the brothers who are still alive, including the captain and the brothers from Bitanxun."

As members of the local militia in Guixian County, Shi Xiangzhen and Shi Zhenlun also participated in this campaign to suppress Zhang Jiaxiang.

Shi Xiangzhen and Shi Zhenlun were highly skilled in martial arts, and Xie Bin, as a captain with a proper martial arts background, was no ordinary person either.

Zhang Jiaxiang's ability to escape unscathed from these three men and even seriously injure Xie Bin shows he's quite something.

"Zhang Jiaxiang is so powerful? Even two brigades of the Green Camp couldn't wipe him out?" Peng Gang couldn't help but be a little surprised. Had the Green Camp in Guangxi become this rotten?
"If the two armies work together, annihilating Zhang Jiaxiang will be a piece of cake," Hou Jiyong said indignantly.

"Commander Xie and Brother Shi said that Deputy Commander Li and Deputy Commander Sheng were mutually destructive and scheming against each other. Prefect Gu was ignorant of military affairs, but he liked to show off and interfere. The three forces were difficult to coordinate, which led to Zhang Jiaxiang defeating them one by one."

(End of this chapter)