Why did the carpet weavers commit suicide? Who forced them to death? The villagers who came after hearing the news were puzzled and started talking about it for a while.
Some people said that it was no wonder that there was such a big commotion in the village last night, but no one from the couple came out. Some people also said that when they passed by the door last night, they heard crying coming from inside. At that time, they thought it was because they were sad about Sadik. When everyone worked together to untie the couple's bodies from the beams and prepare to carry them into the house, they discovered that the orphaned child was still sleeping soundly on the earthen kang in the house.
While everyone was sighing, a young villager finally couldn't help but said: "Yesterday, when Mr. Burke came, I, I seemed to see him entering this yard."
The villagers now all understood. Don't mention it, it must be Shakzhapal's old habit again!
At this time, everyone turned their attention to Yunyan and the other Beihai Navy. It was this young man and his companions who had sent Sadik back a few days ago. When everyone was chatting at Apizi's house, this young man also said that he was on the side of the poor.
While the villagers were observing Yun Yan and others, Wang Rong was also observing the villagers. He found that the older people were shaking their heads and sighing, while only a few young Uyghurs looked indignant. Even so, no one stood up and asked for justice, and no one even cursed.
"It seems like what Sadik said, Burke's power is too great. The people who have returned to Xinjiang have been submissive for many years and have long been accustomed to knocking out their teeth and swallowing it. If we don't uphold justice for them, who can they expect? ?”
It is said that the Manchu Qing Dynasty abolished the hereditary system of Burke and changed it to an appointment system. The appointment power was in the hands of ministers in various places. The Burkes should be obedient, and their power should also be under the close supervision and control of the Manchu system. Operate under constraints.
However, the fact is that none of the ministers in various places can understand the Uyghur language. They all rely on these Burkes to control the Uyghur group. As a result, the Burkes have too much power, and restraint and supervision have become empty words on paper. , the ordinary people living at the bottom can only serve as slaves, and I as fish and meat.
You must know that the Manchu ministers in the eight cities in the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains were appointed for three years. Being sent to a place like the Western Regions to serve as an official was just like being sent to a place like the Western Regions. Who would have the trouble to learn Uyghur language? What the hell!
Although the Qing government also promulgated some regulations, they were all based on principles without specific details. In addition, the ministers who handled affairs were inactive, which led to the Burkes turning their hands into clouds and rain within their own jurisdiction. .
For example, under the rule of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, various large and small yamen in Huijiang had a lot of expenses to meet their needs, and Burke provided for the shortcomings. And these Burkes often force the apportionment in the name of running errands; if the minister wants one stone of food, the Burkes will send hundreds of stones to make a profit from it.
Another reason is that when the territory is vast and there are few people and abundant land, the three-year planting rotation is generally implemented. But the Burkes let their people plant the resting land, and the harvest was theirs. The resting land has not been rotated, so the soil fertility has naturally declined and the output is insufficient. However, the Burkes do not care about the life and death of the people. Not only do they have to pay a penny less in taxes, but they even charge more.
As for seizing the women of the subordinates, and even changing them when they get tired of it, that is simply not a big deal. I don’t know how many things happen every day in the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains!
Thinking of this, Wang Rong's heart was filled with anger, and his two thick eyebrows got closer and closer.
He is from Guide Prefecture, or Shangqiu to be exact, and has been joining the Northern Navy for six years. In the fiftieth year of Qianlong's reign, there was a great disaster in Henan, and the Shangqiu area was the most severe, with people starving and eating each other. His mother and two-year-old son starved to death. Unexpectedly, they were dug up and eaten that night after they were buried. Later, his wife was abducted on the way to escape, and her whereabouts are unknown. He and his father struggled to reach Kaifeng and were about to starve to death. As a result, they met Xu Dayong.
Even after going to Beihai Town and meeting countless people who had the same experience as him, he didn't think anyone could be worse off than his family.
Well, no matter how high the taxes were under the Manchu rule in the pass, as long as it was not a famine year, there was always enough to eat; no matter how overbearing the landlords and gentry were, no one dared to come to their homes and rape women.
But back here in Xinjiang, that's not the case at all. The dignitaries in Burke are doing evil wantonly and preying on the common people. It's simply lawless!
He regretted that he was too hasty when he came out and didn't bring the radio with him, so he could only ask the signal corps to go back quickly to report. This time, no matter how fast it is, it still takes more than three hours.
Suddenly, Wang Rong and others felt a slight tremor on the ground beneath their feet, and then the rumble of horse hooves came from the east. His face suddenly became stern, and he immediately issued an order to alert everyone. When the surrounding villagers saw this, their expressions changed drastically.
Not long after, I saw a bright red color jumping out from the horizon at the end of the woods two miles away to the east. Subsequently, about a hundred Northern Navy cavalry figures appeared in the field of view of the telescope.
"Why is the Second Company here too?"
Wang Rong felt a little surprised when he saw the banner of the Second Company. But when he met Second Company Commander Sun Desheng, he found that he not only brought a field radio, but also the Uighur language instructor named Guang Fu.
"The battalion commander saw that you were leaving in a hurry and didn't bring a radio, so he asked me to come."
Wang Rong instinctively felt that something was wrong. Although the radio station was valuable, it could not afford to use a company of men and horses. In full public view, he took Sun Desheng to a secluded place to ask questions. Only then did he find out that even the deputy brigade commander Bayan knew about Sadik, and he cursed his mother in anger after hearing about it.
"Before I came out, I heard from the regimental commander that the deputy brigade commander had already sent a telegram to the headquarters. Just wait and see, this matter is not a big deal!"
Wang Rong sighed, told the story about the carpet weavers, and finally said: "That Burke is really seeking death!"
Sun Desheng frowned and listened, then thought for a moment and said, "Hey, Political Commissar Fan used to say when he was teaching us, who does God want to destroy?"
Wang Rong was stunned for a moment, then he came to his senses and said in a dumbfounded voice: "If God wants to destroy people, he must first make them crazy."
"Yes, yes! That's it! Based on our commander's temper, I think Mr. Burke is not far from death!"
Wang Rong shook his head slightly and said: "For us, killing an evil Burke is like crushing a bed bug, but don't forget the person standing behind him."
"Who? Are you talking about the group of people who returned to the palace? According to me, you can just kill those guys, just like we did with Shandroteba and Taiji in Khalkha!"
"Back to Xinjiang, it's much more complicated than Khalkha, I heard."
While the two were talking, the operator of the Second Company ran over and shouted: "Company Commander! We have contacted the regiment headquarters. The regiment commander is looking for you and Company Commander Wang!"
At this time, more than a dozen villagers from Aletonglek Village were standing dozens of steps away, curiously watching Wang Rong's every move. They saw him coming to a Bei Haijun who was carrying a backpack, and first put it on his head. A black thing that looks like ear protection, and then he said something loudly to a palm-sized thing.
"What is that adult doing? Why do you need to wear ear protection?"
"It's cold. It's not strange at all for those bannermen and military lords to go out like this before."
"Mohetar, look at these soldiers, they are so majestic in their clothes! I wonder if they will accept us Uyghurs. If I could wear something like this, that would be so impressive!"
"Yes, they are so well-dressed! Their muskets are also different from those held by King Hui's men. I heard they can fire many shots in a row. I heard that squad leader Yun said before that Bogda Khan's soldiers fired upon them when they saw them. Kneel down and surrender.”
"What are you two thinking about? We are all Han and Mongolian. In the past, the soldiers of the Qing Dynasty did not accept Uyghurs. Let's just farm the land honestly."
While several people were talking, a rapid whistle suddenly sounded. In an instant, more than two hundred Northern Navy cavalry had begun to line up, and soon they formed an extremely strict formation, looking murderous.
Wang Rong and Sun Desheng stood in front of their respective queues, waited for each platoon under their command to finish reporting, and then informed the regiment headquarters of their orders.
"Accept the order from the regiment headquarters! The two companies cooperate to surround the Burke Mansion and capture the murderer of Sadik and the family of the tapestry maker, Shakzhapal and his minions! In addition, the Western Front Command ordered us , Even if we go to heaven or earth, we must arrest the person and bring him to justice!"
Buzz! ! !
The more than two hundred Northern Navy soldiers present immediately became agitated. Especially in Yunyan's class, Timur pumped his fist vigorously and shouted excitedly, "Great!"
"Quiet!" Wang Rong glanced seriously for a moment, waited for the queue to quiet down, and continued: "If you encounter armed resistance during the arrest, you must obtain the consent of me and Captain Sun before shooting! In addition, I want to remind you Attention, some of them! No lynchings are allowed, let alone dismemberment! The person must be taken back to the Hami City Military Control Commission for custody! The Military Control Commission will convene a public trial at a selected date to pronounce his crime! Whoever dares to mess up the matter? Well, I’ll be fired from the military directly and go back to farming and herding cattle!”
After Wang Rong finished speaking, he called Guang Fu, the Uyghur translator on the side, and asked him to explain the meaning of his words to the villagers to reassure everyone. Guangfu quickly said yes and gave a less than standard salute. Then he walked to where the villagers were and spoke loudly in Uighur.
What is a public trial? What is the Military Control Commission? The Uyghurs present could not understand it at all. Even so, more than a dozen Uyghurs, including Apizi and his son, understood that Shakzhapar was afraid that he was going to die. Their faces all showed excitement, and tears came to their eyes. Ignoring Guangfu's dissuasion, they all knelt on the ground and kowtowed to the officers and soldiers of the North Navy on horseback.
Afterwards, the whole village was in a commotion. Except for the few old men who wiped the body of the deceased with the door closed, no one bothered them. Everyone else opened their mouths in surprise when they heard the news. The person they wanted to arrest was Mr. Burke!
"Let's go! Follow and have a look!"
Apiz couldn't bear to feel sorry for his old friend, so he took a donkey out from home. His wife Sharhan was worried, so she asked her son Mokhtar to follow him. Who knew that this was exactly what he wanted.
Several other bold villagers were also moved when they saw this, so those who had donkeys rode on donkeys, and those who had mules rode on mules, and followed Bei Haijun in small steps.
Shakzhapar's Burke Mansion is less than five miles away from Altonlek Village, and more than two miles away from the Hui Palace. When a large force of troops from the Northern Navy surrounded the Burke Mansion, and it took a long time to open the door, the trembling servants said that Shakzhapal was not at home, and it was not clear where he had gone.
Of course Wang Rong would not believe what the other party said, and he immediately ordered a search into the house. Seeing the armed Bei Navy storming into the Burke Mansion, the onlookers secretly applauded.
Because they wanted to catch the murderer, Bei Haijun, who went in to search, naturally had a bad face. Guangfu, who was accompanying him as a translator, had had conflicts with Shakzhapal over the uneven distribution of the spoils before, so he also spoke harshly when asked.
The housekeepers, servants, and servants in the Burke Mansion were so frightened that they didn't dare to breathe. They just shook their heads and said they didn't know. The women and children who were blocked in the backyard felt that a disaster was coming and were so frightened that they cried.
Unexpectedly, dozens of North Marines searched the entire Burke Mansion, but Shakzhapal was not found at all. Later, Wang Rong asked the Apizi father and son to identify the four servants who beat them, but only two were caught.
Wang Rong and Sun Desheng both secretly screamed that something was wrong. At this time, Guangfu came over and said softly: "Captain Wang, I have already questioned all the servants in the house. However, judging from my humble position, the steward's words seem to be untrue. Don't tell me. Next to me, this man is a housekeeper, how can he not know where his master has gone?"
When Sun Desheng heard this, he turned to the orderly beside him and said, "Go and call Huang Wanliang."
Not long after, a soldier with a short stature and a thin face ran over. After waiting for the soldier to finish saluting, Sun Desheng briefly explained the situation, and then said: "I'll give you half an hour to learn the skills you learned as a security police officer." Take it out and be sure to find out the whereabouts of that bastard."
"Company commander, don't worry! It won't take half an hour, I can ask you with a stick of incense. But I have to find an empty room for me, and find a helper besides the Uyghur speaker."
"You can take your pick of people, there are plenty of them in the house."
Wang Rong had heard of Huang Wanliang before, but this was the first time he saw him. This man had worked as a security policeman in Fuldan City for more than three years. Later, he felt that it was not interesting to either arrest and fight people every day or stare at people spitting and urinating everywhere, so he signed up to join the army. Because I had done interrogation work in the security police, I was often called upon by the regiment to do prisoner screening work.
Sure enough, in less than 15 minutes, Huang Wanliang and his companions walked out with a pale-faced Guangfu. Guangfu seemed to be frightened by the former's interrogation methods. He looked at the other party as if he was seeing the god of plague, evading him.
"Company Commander, I asked! That bastard was called away by someone who came back to the palace half an hour ago."
Under the gazes of countless people around them, Wang Rong and Sun Desheng discussed in a low voice, and then issued an order. A platoon from the second company was left to stare at the Burke Mansion, while the others gathered and went back to the palace!
At the same time, in front of the door of the meeting hall of King Hui's palace, Uqibokshak Zapar was kneeling on the cold stone slab, suffering the anger that King Hui had vented with his whip.
"You bastard! Do you think Benbeile's words are useless now?!"
"I don't dare! Please spare my life, Master Beile!"
Guillaumet, who was on the side, also said bitterly: "I told you before, restrain yourself and don't give the Bei Navy an excuse. How dare you turn a deaf ear to it! Damn it!"
"In the name of God, this villain can swear that I didn't mean to kill him!"
"How dare you quibble!"
It is not a trivial matter for more than two hundred Northern Navy cavalry to enter the territory under the jurisdiction of the Hui King. After Turgo, who was responsible for managing the village of Altonlek, learned the inside story, he ran to Taiji Mansion early in the morning to report. Ermott was shocked when he heard the news. Shocked.
His first reaction was that he must not let Shakzhapar be captured by the Northern Navy. Although this bastard got into trouble, if he couldn't even protect his subordinate Burke when he returned to the palace, there would be no prestige in returning to Xinjiang in the future.
So he first sent someone to call Shakzhapar, and then went to the palace to report. Erdsil, who had not yet gotten up, was so frightened that he almost crawled under the bed when he heard that a large number of Northern Navy troops had entered his territory.
After being whipped for more than ten times in a row, Shakzhapal's gorgeous fur was beaten to pieces, and he kept begging for mercy. Erdsil was also tired. He threw away his whip and said to Ermott: "Tell me, how should I deal with this damn slave?"
Ermet had already thought of a countermeasure, so he replied: "For the current plan, the only way is to let this bastard go to the Etikal Grand Mosque to hide first, and then the situation will calm down in a few days. I will block the palace. Master Beile, I'm afraid you have to make a move and go to Hami City to meet with the big boss of the Military Control Commission to make peace."
"A blind dog slave, do you want Ben Beile to behave like a slave to them?"
Ermott advised: "The other party is coming with force. If they can't find anyone, they will definitely not give up. This time we can only admit defeat, put on a show, pay some money to bury that Sadik well, and use some money to comfort him. "
Erdsil asked worriedly: "What if they storm into the mosque and arrest people?"
Ermott smiled slightly and said confidently: "Have you forgotten? They have military orders not to enter the mosque without permission. They say they want to respect the religious beliefs of Hui Xinjiang. If they really go back on their word, not to mention that God will send down divine punishment, they will not be allowed to enter the mosque without permission. Everything the village mullah said has become a joke!"
Erdsil pondered for a long time, and finally reluctantly agreed.
He really didn't want to deal with the Beihai Navy. In his opinion, only the legendary "King Zhao" was qualified to allow a noble "descendant of the saint" like himself to condescend to pay homage.
(End of chapter)
