p: Recommend a good book to book friends, "Rebirth in Primitive Society". The writing is smooth and the content is novel. It should not be missed!
In late August 1878, the Nanyang intelligence officers sent out to contact the Dutch colonists received news that the Dutch governor was willing to reach a compromise with the Chinese side regarding the pirate attacks. The two parties would not hold each other accountable. The Dutch colonists promised that there would be no future attacks.
Then support other forces to launch hostile actions against the Han immigration fleet. At the same time, Mei Dongxing, on behalf of the Han government, recognized the Netherlands’ absolute sovereignty over the East Indies. The Han government would restrain the Nanyang Army and its affiliated Taiping forces and ensure that
The Dutch will not conflict with local indigenous people and colonists without provocation.
The Dutch colonists were willing to reduce major issues to resolve disputes with the Han in the Nanyang region, and the remaining issues related to the Chinese Kapitan ransom would be much easier to deal with.
On August 22, after successfully collecting 3 million taels of ransom from the East Indies, Mei Dongxing, Li Han and the British businessman Kirby, who changed his mind and agreed to work for the Han government, boarded an ironclad ship purchased from France, along with three others.
A fleet of ironclad ships set out together to visit the Malay Peninsula controlled by the British.
The Malay Peninsula is backed by the Strait of Malacca and has an advantageous geographical location. In the 1830s, the British snatched Singapore, Penang and other Malay Peninsula port cities from the Dutch, but the British did not control the Malay Peninsula coastal ports.
Compared with the emphasis on cities, places such as Kuala Lumpur in the Inner Mongolia Peninsula were not effectively developed until the end of the 19th century. Before the British directly controlled the Inner Mongolia Peninsula, places including Terengganu, Perlis, Kuala Lumpur and other places were controlled by local people.
It was controlled by the Tuwang and the Chinese communities that mined tin.
The large influx of Chinese gold diggers into the Malay Peninsula stemmed from the development of the tin mining industry. In the mid-19th century, the Chinese who went to sea early to make a living found a large number of good-quality, easy-to-mine tin deposits in the Malay Peninsula. As a result, word of mouth spread through fellow villagers.
After receiving the news, Chinese people from mainland China swarmed in and took advantage of the Chinese people's unity and strength to quickly gain a foothold in the Malay Peninsula, and then divided their spheres of influence according to different resistance and power differences.
The prosperous mining period of tin mines in the Malay Peninsula basically coincided with the raging peasant uprisings in the mainland. Peasant armed forces that failed in the mainland or gangs that were attacked by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Qing government retreated from the mainland and took advantage of the mainland.
The experienced armed forces trained in melee battles defeated the indigenous forces that originally occupied the tin mine resources, and within a few decades, they became the two major armed forces in the Malay Peninsula alongside the indigenous forces.
The Malay Peninsula was the sphere of influence of the British. Although most of the area was not directly under British rule, due to the British colonists' threat to Songkhla and the resistance of the local Chinese Kapitan, the Taiping Society was established in Malaya.
The development in the peninsula was not smooth compared to other regions.
There are seven branches under the Taiping Association, and each branch usually has seven to eight branches. However, the number of branches under the Malay Peninsula branch is only five. Among them, only Huang Ping has a branch with more than 1,000 people.
In the Selangor Branch of the Lord, the other four branches have between eight and nine hundred people, and only three to four hundred people. This makes the overall strength of the Malay Peninsula Branch different from other branches.
The Songkhla region in central Malay is a Chinese autonomous force that is supported by the Han State. At the same time, the large number of Chinese in the Malay Peninsula are also potential immigration targets that the Han government cannot give up. Therefore, taking the opportunity to visit the colonies in the Malay Peninsula, Mei
Dongxing and others planned to use the four Chinese Kapitans in the Malay Peninsula who were willing to cooperate to enhance the strength of the Malay Peninsula branch and expand the Taiping Society's sphere of influence in the Malay Peninsula.
At noon, in the Perak state of the Malay Peninsula, it was a sunny day with high altitude, scorching heat and windless wind. In the tin mining area with a radius of more than ten miles, a group of female workers with red headscarves on their heads were among the densely packed Chinese coolies. They looked particularly special.
different.
In the early days of the mainland Chinese's arrival in Nanyang, all the workers in the mines were Chinese workers in their prime. Later, as more and more Chinese forces participated in the tin mining industry, the competition in the tin mining industry became increasingly fierce. At the same time, in order to reduce the number of mining workers,
On the one hand, the Chinese gang leaders who control the operating costs of the tin mining area have intensified the exploitation of ordinary Chinese workers and increased the hours that the Chinese workers work every day. Moreover, after the Chinese workers complete the prescribed mining tasks, the Chinese gang leaders in the mining area also continue to
The foreigners introduced opium, and then cooperated with the casinos and brothels opened in the mining areas to induce Chinese workers to take opium and participate in gambling and gambling, and then earned the wages earned by the Chinese workers back into their hands.
On the other hand, in order to directly reduce the wage expenditure of Chinese workers, gang leaders targeted women and children who followed their families to Southeast Asia. They recruited Chinese female workers and underage children at wages far lower than those of adult male Chinese workers, and then arranged for female workers, children
Working alongside adult Chinese men did not reduce the workload of female workers and children because of their meager wages.
The primitive accumulation of capital was bloody. Subject to the decadent feudal system of the Manchu Qing government, the abundant young labor force in the continent became a burden, and this caused a large-scale peasant uprising. However, those cheap labor forces in the continent
However, they have become a precious human wealth in the eyes of Western powers and Nanyang Chinese gangs. The British, Americans, Dutch and even Peru, which has just become independent in South America, have introduced a large number of Chinese workers from the continent and then squeezed them out like livestock.
Massive benefits.
The abundant labor force or demographic dividend has become a bloody benefit for other countries. Even the Chinese gangs in Southeast Asia have taken the opportunity to earn bloody benefits from their compatriots, and then completed the change of status and class with the capital earned.
, becoming the monopoly comprador class that is superior to ordinary Chinese - Kapitan.
Nanyang Kapitan or Nanyang wealthy businessmen, in terms of national sentiments, whether it is Kapitan Yap Ah Loy in Kuala Lumpur or Cheng Jinggui in Kapitan, Perak, they are the leaders of cruel gangs that oppress their compatriots.
Zheng Jinggui, a man from Kapitan in Perak who was first captured and then voluntarily surrendered. He directly controlled an area of about 170 miles in Perak. Within the control area, he controlled four large and small tin mines and a plantation area of more than 400,000 acres.
There are more than 20 theaters, casinos, and opium dens, and nearly 2,000 thugs under his command.
It is the armed force second only to the Sultan of Perak in Perak.
Nearly 2,000 thugs and gang members are the core force used by Zheng Jinggui to control the Chinese in Perak. As a powerful armed force, no less than a hundred Chinese die directly or indirectly at their hands every year.
Among the more than 100 Chinese deaths every day, excluding gang infighting, less than half of the Chinese deaths are attributed to Zheng Jinggui and his thugs.
Although Kuala Lumpur Kapitan Yap Ah Loy had a better reputation in later generations, in the early days of his career, he also accumulated capital by opening casinos, opium dens, etc.
Zheng Jinggui and Ye Yalai had deep influence in the Malay Peninsula. Although their actions were not in line with the ideas of the Han government, Mei Dongxing still accepted Zheng Jinggui's surrender out of consideration for the interests of the National Defense Forces in Nanyang and made Perak a visit.
the second destination.
A middle-aged Chinese woman with a red scarf on her head was carrying mud on her back. Behind her were two child laborers, a man and a woman, aged 12 or 13. The three of them walked towards the tin mining area, stooping step by step.
When Mei Dongxing, accompanied by Zheng Jinggui, entered the tin mining factory, he saw such a scene.
Not to mention the middle-aged Chinese women carrying cement on their backs, but when they saw two children who were only twelve or thirteen years old, using their thin bodies to carry wooden boards several times as long as their bodies, Rao Mei, who had experienced the hardships of mining in Australia,
Dongxing couldn't help but feel anger welling up in his heart: "Your Excellency Zheng Jiabidan, what's going on between the two of them? I hope you can give me an explanation."
"This must be a misunderstanding." Zheng Jinggui's wealth and life were in Mei Dongxing's hands. When he saw the other party's angry look, he hurriedly explained, "Master Mei, please listen to my explanation.
I, Mr. Zheng, have been traveling in Southeast Asia for twenty years. If you had seen child labor in the mines a few years ago, I would never deny it. But since I became the leader of Kapitan, Perak, I have one or two thousand brothers under my command.
, there are four or five tin mines in the area. It is unreasonable to hire child labor just to save a few bucks. The fellow villagers pointed their noses behind their backs and scolded them. Do you think this is true?"
The traditional concepts of the Chinese in Nanyang are relatively strong. After the Chinese have accumulated a fortune or achievements in Nanyang, they usually donate money or set up hospitals to repay the sins committed during their early family years, in order to seek their own psychological comfort and provide for future generations.
Accumulating moral virtue, therefore according to Zheng Jinggui’s status, there is really no need to make money by employing child labor.
After temporarily accepting the other party's statement, Mei Dongxing ignored the other party and gave instructions to the people around him. A few minutes later, a middle-aged woman wearing a headscarf and two Chinese children came to Mei Dongxing and others.
"Madam, your two children are still young, why do you let them do such heavy hard work?"
Mei Dongxing asked with a hint of reproach.
"The eldest sir will allow the woman to explain."
After learning Mei Dongxing's identity, the middle-aged Chinese woman said nervously, "The parents of these two children just left a few days ago and left nothing for the two children. Seeing that they were pitiful, the woman took them with her.
Do some odd jobs.
The mine does not support idlers, and if the women do not work with them to make money, the two children may not be able to survive here.
Sir, I have heard that the gentlemen of the Han Dynasty are good people. If you think these two children are pitiful, just accept them as servants. The two children are very sensible and will not cause any trouble to you.
I beg you, sir, to be kind enough to take them in, otherwise they will stay in the mine and follow the same path as their parents. I beg you, the peasant woman."
The middle-aged woman was a little scared at first, but when the two talked, she realized that Mei Dongxing was not as cold and ruthless as the Manchu officials. Gradually, the middle-aged woman let down her guard and asked Mei Dongxing to take in the two children.
"How did their parents die? Is someone trying to harm the two dolls?"
Mei Dongxing frowned and asked seriously.
"Women dare not say anything."
The middle-aged woman raised her head and took a careful look at Zheng Jinggui, and said fearfully.
"If you have anything to say, Mrs. Sun, just say it. From now on, Mrs. Mei will decide everything in the mine. You don't have to be afraid."
The performance of the middle-aged woman could not escape Mei Dongxing's eyes. Zheng Jinggui was worried that Mei Dongxing might misunderstand her, so he immediately expressed his stance.
"It's Foreman Zeng. He's attracted to the mother of two children. News came six days ago that something happened to Mr. Kapitan.
Foreman Zeng led his men to kidnap the Ma family's daughter-in-law. Brother Ma went to rescue her after hearing the news, but was injured by the men sent by Foreman Zeng. The man left without holding on the next day. Then the Ma family's daughter-in-law became angry and went to the house.
He hanged himself on the mountain behind the work shed, leaving only two babies alone with no one to take care of them, so the woman took them with her to take care of them."
"Mother Sun, how did you know about my accident?"
Zheng Jinggui's expression changed and he asked.
"Foreman Zeng said that Master Kapitan committed a crime and was killed at sea by the Han navy. He also said that the foreign master planned to appoint him as the new Kapitan and asked us to listen to his words."
"Okay, okay, what a Zeng Delin. Before I died, I was still thinking about my family business. If I really died, wouldn't it be what he wanted."
Zheng Jinggui was very angry. He thought about the trust he had placed in him in the past. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He turned to Mei Dongxing and asked for instructions, "Sir, there is a traitor under the villain. I don't need your help in this matter. I will definitely give you a reward."
Explain!"
"Brother Zheng is away these days. Your subordinate may have gathered a lot of people. Do you want me to send Brother Huang to support you?"
"Thank you for your kindness, sir. I have been operating in Nanyang for most of my life, and I am not afraid of Zeng Delin, a junior. Mr. Mei and Mr. Huang will wait for a while. After the villain has dealt with his traitors, I will meet with the two adults again."
"Brother Zheng, go ahead. Brother Huang and I are waiting for you here."
"I'll take my leave first, villain."
After Zheng Jinggui finished speaking, he walked towards the center of the mine with dozens of his men who had been released.
"Sir, will Zheng Jinggui regret it?"
Huang Ping, the leader of the Taiping Hui’s Xuelango branch, asked.
"No, apart from us, Zheng Jinggui has no power he can rely on."
Mei Dongxing looked at Zheng Jinggui walking away and said with a smile, "Zheng Jinggui has more than a thousand subordinates in our hands. Without these people, he cannot suppress other hostile forces, so he can only rely on us."
After talking about Zheng Jinggui, Mei Dongxing turned to look at the two skinny children standing aside in a restrained manner, and said with a smile, "Which one of you is older?"
"I am my sister and this is my brother."
The little girl with dirty cement dust on her head and shabby clothes replied in a low voice.
"Well, he is such a good and obedient boy."
Mei Dongxing did not dislike the dust on the two children. He reached out and touched the little girl's head, and then said, "I used to have a child as old as your brother, but he died of a serious illness ten years ago. Now I and I
You both have no relatives, would you like to treat me as your father and let me take care of you when you grow up?"
Mei Dongxing's attitude towards the two of them made them a little flattered for a while. The two children did not speak, but looked at the middle-aged woman beside them.
"Silly boy, please call me daddy. Mr. Mei will be your father from now on. After you follow Mr. Mei, you must respect him well."
"Dad...Dad."
With the approval of the middle-aged woman, the two children shouted one after another.
"Good children, you change clothes with some uncles first, and I will take you away after a while."
Mei Dong smiled happily and ordered several attendants to take the two children away. Then he asked the middle-aged woman for her opinion, and finally decided to take the middle-aged woman back and let her take care of the two children.
After going out for a trip and recognizing the two babies as his own children, Mei Dongxing felt much better. Even Huang Ping next to him couldn't help but recall his visit to Nanyang ten years ago when he saw Mei Dongxing's expression.
Ten years ago, Huang Ping took his family to Nanyang. During the voyage, his daughter Huang Youlan was molested by a foreign sailor. If Huang Ping hadn't appeared early, his daughter might have suffered a disaster. Ten years ago, Huang Youlan and Mei Dongxing recognized the age of the girl.
About the same age. Although Huang Youlan was young at that time, she was relatively sensible and was loved by Huang Ping. However, Huang Ping's wife died of illness four years ago, and her daughter had to observe mourning for three years. The marriage was delayed, and her daughter became a
The twenty-one-year-old girl was not married yet, and Huang Ping couldn't help but feel anxious.
Huang Youlan was pretty when she was young, and became even more beautiful as she grew up. She was a well-known beauty among the family members of the Nanyang National Defense Force. Therefore, seeing Huang Ping's lost look, Mei Dongxing quickly guessed what he was thinking.
"Hall Master Huang, according to your age, I should call you Brother Huang. Your daughter is not young anymore. She should find a good family to marry."
"Several adults here in Nanyang have already started families and started businesses. There is no suitable candidate. I am also worried about Youlan's marriage."
Huang Ping waved his hands and said helplessly.
"Brother Huang, why don't you let Youlan follow Miss Wu back to the mainland? There are many young talents in the country. Maybe Youlan will meet a suitable candidate soon when she gets there. In this case, you don't have to worry about it alone.
.”
"Master Mei is right. I will talk to Youlan Shang when I get back."...