Zuo Zongtang can be called a strategist. He is not only a soldier but a strategist who can fight. Only when he can analyze problems from an economic and political perspective can he be called a strategist, which is what the ancients called him. What a famous official!
The problem in the Western Region is definitely not a simple rebellion and suppression. After killing an Aguba, there will be peace for a short time. If the political and economic structure of this region is not changed, there will be new rebels in the future!
The governance methods of the past are not acceptable. The governance methods of Tibet and Mongolia are not suitable for Xinjiang!
The Qing Dynasty's rule over the entire empire was actually different. The area outside the Pass was the hometown of the Manchus. It was completely operated according to the military system. The military and civil affairs were all managed by generals!
This system is actually a protected area, which deliberately prevents large-scale development outside the customs and leaves a final living space for the Manchus!
The areas where the Han people in the Central Plains are concentrated use the ancient system of counties and counties in the Central Plains, which can be adopted as it is without reform.
Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Tibet, including a small part of the southwestern mountainous areas, rely mainly on local autonomy!
Chieftains, Mongolian palaces, living Buddhas, lords, and various kings of various sizes...these ethnic groups were different and had different names. The local emperors, the Qing Dynasty gave them great autonomy!
As long as you admit that this territory belongs to the Qing Dynasty, then I will not charge you taxes. You can just pay a symbolic tribute of some gold and silver vessels, jade, jewelry, and even cattle, sheep, and horses every year!
Recognize that they are all the territory of the Qing Dynasty, then pay appropriate tribute, and you can take care of the rest!
This kind of governance model has stabilized the border areas to a certain extent, but it has also laid hidden dangers to a certain extent!
There were always chieftain rebellions in the southwestern region from the Yongzheng to Kangxi years, forcing the Qing Dynasty to revolt and return to the country. During the Qianlong period, the conquest of Jinchuan and Jinchuan was even more of a mess.
It was even worse when we arrived in the Western Regions. The continuous rebellions never stopped. Aguba was the most violent of all the rebellions and caused the greatest damage!
This policy of autonomy is relatively stable in Tibet and Mongolia. Needless to say, Mongolia and the Manchus are a complete community of interests and have been almost integrated for two hundred years.
But Tibet has become a Buddhist country and cannot be judged by secular thinking!
Zuo Zongtang thought for a long time and decided that Xinjiang must change its governance model. It cannot be a big deal and it must be directly managed by the court!
Guan Lu and Duoluo had fought with this army in the Western Region for several years, and were very familiar with the mountains, rivers, customs and customs here. When they heard the commander's plan, they couldn't help but feel worried.
"It's difficult! The people here in the Western Regions have different religions from ours, they don't speak the language well, and they don't understand Chinese characters... In the past, we had no choice but to let them, the Khans, manage themselves..."
"Once we establish a province, these people will definitely not adapt! They will think that we are outsiders and invaders..."
"For the time being, they are hungry and have to rely on us if they can't survive. This is easy to handle and maybe there won't be any trouble... But what will happen after a few years?"
"When they have eaten and drank enough and healed their scars, they will definitely be dissatisfied with our officials!"
Zuo Zongtang nodded, "Yes... without a hundred years of running-in, we can't integrate together at all, so... I plan to leave these 100,000 brothers in the Western Region..."
"I won't let them... return to their hometown!"
ah! The chopsticks and cups in the hands of Doro and Guan Lu fell on the table. They were so surprised that they couldn't close their mouths. "Is the commander serious? These brothers are not going back to their hometown?"
"This, this, this...are we going to guard the border forever? God..."
Zuo Zongtang burst into tears, "Hey... this is their fate! When they were young, Changmao made trouble, their hometown was destroyed, and they no longer have any relatives in the hometown!"
"After fighting with Changmao for so many years, they have wasted their youth and have no skills. They are not good at farming or making crafts. Apart from serving as soldiers and eating food, they can't do anything else..."
"Where is my hometown? Wherever I fall, I am my hometown! What will happen if I go back? I am just lonely without relatives or family to accompany me..."
"It's better for all the brothers to get together and guard the border!"
"When you return to the capital, tell His Majesty... Just say this... Don't worry that I, Zuo Jigao, will rebel. After the Western Region is pacified, I, Zuo Jigao, will return to the capital alone!"
"I will die in the capital! These old brothers of mine will stay in the desert border and guard the border for the imperial court... Haha... What other threats are there? What other rebellions can there be?"
"As an old man, I just hope that Long Live Lord and the imperial court... can think of my Western Expeditionary Army... and don't deduct money and food from them in the future!"
"Give them a good death!"
At this moment, Duoluo and Guan Lu could not control their emotions, and tears burst into their eyes. "Don't worry, Commander, we will definitely bring our words to Lord Long Live and bring Commander's loyalty to the Emperor!"
The three of them wiped away their tears. Zuo Zongtang continued, "There is a third thing. Please tell your majesty that you must not be soft on Tsarist Russia! I am going to farm more slowly to fight Agub. In fact, I am accumulating strength to prepare for the reconquest in the future." Ili Valley!”
"Agubai is not a poisonous person, Rakshasa ghosts are the biggest scourge! Even if my life is ruined here, I must not lose it in the Ili Valley!"
Duoluo and Guan Lu left Dihua, took away their guard team across Central Asia, crossed the Xingxing Gorge into Jiayuguan, and rode towards the Central Plains of Lanzhou!
Doro and the others brought with them the military orders of the emperor and the commander-in-chief, and they could mobilize the best postal resources along the way. It would take two months to return to the capital even if the horses were replaced continuously, and it was already late autumn!
While Zuo Jigao, who was in Dihua, expressed his loyalty to Emperor Tongzhi, he also secretly contacted Xiao Letian. These telegrams eventually became dusty top secrets and were not made public until the eighty-year ban. Only at that moment did people know. This Western Region had actually been sold to the Chinese by Zuo Zongtang a long time ago.
Director Wang personally sent Xiao Letian one letter after another of the top secrets of the Western Regions. After reading it, the head of state scratched his head and said, "Ouch...Old Wang, look at it, look at Zuo Jigao, what a lion!"
"The telegram clearly told me that if he wants him to fight the Rakshasa ghosts, he should ask me to transport him another four hundred cannons!"
"Crazy! Simply crazy... Prussia didn't use so many cannons to fight the French! He already has more than 300 cannons in his hands. He wants another 400?"
"Seven hundred eighty-eight cannons? Does he want to dominate Central Asia and establish his own country?"
Wang Huaiyuan laughed and said, "If you ask for a high price, pay it back on the spot! We are not afraid that he will ask for a high price, but we are afraid that he will not ask for a price! It is good to have a price..."
