Research on Population Migration in the Border Area of Modern Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui: 1853-1911

Author: Ge Qinghua
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(1) The indiscriminate killings by the Qing army were a major reason for the severe population loss in this region. Due to its geographical location, this area became a focal point of contention between the two armies. In the first year of the Tongzhi reign (1862), the Qing court issued an edict stating: "Those who fight alongside the rebels and resist the imperial troops without surrendering early will be executed in full upon the recapture of the city." The Xiang Army, responsible for suppressing the Taiping Movement, carried out this edict without fail. When they captured Ningguo Prefecture (governed by Xuancheng County), they "shouted and charged in, cutting down everyone without exception"; upon entering Jingde County, they looted village after village, "killing anyone they encountered." The devastation in counties like Anji, Xiaofeng, and Wukang was also greatly related to "the troops slaughtering and looting after retreating." As a result, contemporary foreign missionaries in China sarcastically noted: "The Qing troops seemed to be competing with the rebels to see who could be more brutal—they looted everything they touched, shamelessly and mercilessly treating the." Given the destructive nature of the army, Qing commander Zeng Guofan had no choice but to issue a ban on military discipline in the first year of the Tongzhi reign (1862). It must be admitted that the Taiping Army also bore some responsibility. In the early stages of the war, the Taiping Army maintained strict discipline, with commanders strictly restraining their subordinates. "They were very peaceful toward the people and did their best to protect them, thereby winning over the hearts of the populace. Those who burned and looted recklessly were severely punished by military law." However, by the later stages of the war, the leadership of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom had become indulgent and complacent, neglecting progress and failing to uphold the principles of governance. Discipline deteriorated, and incidents of looting and indiscriminate killings by the Taiping Army became frequent. "Even when several people were killed daily, they could not stop the looting, and some even secretly encouraged it." These are undeniable facts. But the "killings and looting" of the Taiping Army were entirely different from those of the Qing army. Their targets were primarily officials, wealthy families, and landlord gentry, while they generally avoided indiscriminate killings of ordinary civilians. Foreigners in China at the time shared this view: Without a doubt, the rebels sometimes had to use their swords quite ruthlessly when they had no choice, but this was only done to ensure their absolute safety. Perhaps the entire city had fled, and the number of dead lying on the ground due to various reasons might have been large, but to blame the "Long-haired" (Taiping rebels) for excessive cruelty and bloodthirstiness would be very unfair. ⑤ Moreover, in terms of brutality, the Qing army's killings were even worse than those of the Taiping Army. This was also acknowledged by contemporary feudal literati: "The burning, killing, and looting in various places were often carried out by defeated imperial troops, not solely by the rebels. Additionally, after the imperial troops defeated the rebels and recaptured the cities they had occupied, the brutality of burning, killing, and looting was even worse than that of the rebels. This must be understood."
(2) The custom of suicide during the war further increased the population loss in this region. In traditional Chinese society, people were deeply influenced by the concept of "loyalty and integrity," often resorting to suicide to avoid humiliation, especially women. Foreigners in China at the time had a deep understanding of this: Based on the experience of British troops over the past two decades, we know that when Chinese cities are forcibly occupied, tragedies often occur—families committing suicide together, women and children taking their own lives, and countless people throwing themselves into rivers and lakes out of baseless terror, resulting in the loss of countless lives.