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[gylspct]

Update: More rebels(cooked)

More peasants are incensed over the lack of food and what they perceive to be excessive concessions made by the government to the British in their negotiations. As a result, the rebel force has swelled to 150,000. Previous attempts at suppressing the rebels by Wang Qinghe have failed due to the lack of guns, not just in the police, but also in the entire army.

In other news:

In discussions with a British trade envoy, the Imperial government has agreed to quadruple opium imports and ship the entire forbidden city, piece by piece, to the United Kingdom. The Imperial government will be covering transport costs. The Emperor will also be shipped to the United Kingdom, and will now be owned by the British. In return, for every kilogram of the forbidden city transported to the United Kingdom, the British will ship 50 grams of mushed up rats, cats, dogs, or biscuits to China. Truly a great trade... ‎

P.s. the British will be pissed if you go back on your word

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Taxes? in MY government?

Due to the egregious amount of tax cuts, the Ministry of Agriculture is now underfunded — civil servants are now coming to office barefeet, as they cannot afford shoes.

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Update: Tea Trader in Hot Water

Wang Qinghe has seized most of Zhang Yi Hong's poppy plantations and farms, with the rebels taking over the rest that they have not bought up yet. Zhang Yi Hong only controls a fraction of his former holdings.

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Update: Rise of the God-Worshipping Society(GWS)

Anger at the Qing government over the famine and increasing foreign influence has reached a zenith. A group of highly motivated rebels known as the GWS has risen up in Guangdong and Guangxi, led by the charismatic Hong Xiuquan. Given their early purchase of tea plantations sold to them by Zhang Yi Hong, the rebels have a strong economic base that they have used to bribe and strongarm local guides and low-level government officials, contributing to their speedy advance. Currently, the rebels number 100,000 fighting men, although this could rapidly grow over time. While they currently lack heavy weaponry, this could change in the future...

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DOWN TO THE COUNTRYSIDE(?)

In response to the famine, the imperial court has attempted a myriad of activities to attempt to alleviate the drought, including sending police officers to.. work in the fields? As a result, the crime rate has grown up — though it is being increasingly clear that the only thing available to be stolen in China are newly planted wheat seeds (which take time to grow, by the way). In the meantime, Hu Qingrong has decided to take an ‘diplomatic mission’ of indefinite length to Britain — though it is unsure when the British are going to respond. In other news, rumours have erupted that the British are trying to assassinate with each other with.. cigars??

In other news, the famine has grown worse, and more young women are being sold into prostitution — the peasants grow restless.

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Dust… Dust all around…

“wanle wanle wanle. I have no food for my family, I have no food to sell. How am I going to make it through this winter? I’ll have to sell my daughter into prostitution just to make ends meet…”~Canson Lhen

Decades of historical economic mismanagement by the Qing dynasty and a once in a thousand year drought has led to the biggest crop harvest failure in the last century. Many in southern china are now facing starvation over the winter, and it seems like the government is not doing anything. How peasants will face this is still thus far unknown, but one thing is certain. The government seems to care more about dealing with foreigners than helping its own population…