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On August 31st, 1788 AD, Li Hongzhang, the Governor-General of the Beiyang region, issued an order. Effective immediately, landless and small-landholding peasants in Shandong province could submit applications to the government for free land distribution.
Regardless of age or gender, two mu of land would be allocated per person.
If anyone in the family joined the Beiyang army, an additional five mu of land would be granted.
Previously, Li Jingyuan had intended to allocate ten mu of land per soldier. However, Shandong had limited land and a large population.
To allocate such a large amount of land to hundreds of thousands of soldiers while also distributing land to the vast number of landless and small-landholding peasants would likely exhaust all the land in Shandong.
If they could overthrow the Qing dynasty, large-scale nationwide migration to the Northeast and the western frontier could potentially alleviate the population pressure in the homeland.
Even more so, if they could secure victory in future wars against foreign powers.
For instance, defeating the Russians and seizing Siberia and Central Asia would undoubtedly allow for large-scale migration to these regions.
If they could defeat Western colonial powers in the South Seas, it would be even more advantageous to expand in that direction and carry out large-scale migration.
In comparison, the conditions in the South Seas were undoubtedly better.
Aside from the slightly hot weather and heavy rainfall, there were no other issues.
The vast and fertile lands here, controlled by the natives and Western colonial powers, were terribly wasted.
If they could seize this land, it could sustain the entire population of the country.
Moreover, the population within the country would experience rapid growth in the future.
Of course, all of this was for later.
The most important tasks before the Beiyang government and Beiyang army remained defeating the Qing army and overthrowing the Manchu rule.
At the same time, the Beiyang government also issued an order.
All land held by landlords had to be sold to the Beiyang government, which would then distribute it to landless and small-landholding peasants.
This order from the Beiyang government immediately caused an uproar in Shandong, even throughout the entire country.
Countless people in Shandong, especially the poor farmers, were shocked. They never imagined that the government would distribute land to them for free. This was something unprecedented in centuries!
While many expressed doubt, some even refused to believe it.
However, more people began to inquire whether this news was true.
The first lands to be distributed were those seized from large landlords and families who had colluded with the Qing dynasty, as well as land already in the government's possession.
Once many farmers truly received their land, their own land, everything changed.
Their dreams had become reality.
They were immensely grateful to the Beiyang government, the Beiyang army, and Li Hongzhang and Li Jingyuan, father and son.
These simple folks knew who treated them well, and they would repay that kindness a thousandfold.
Especially the Beiyang government's preferential treatment of soldiers led to long lines at every recruitment point.
More and more young men, bid farewell by their families and spouses, joined the army.
They were not only fighting for the Beiyang army, but also for themselves.
However, the landlords were extremely dissatisfied, even cursing the Beiyang government and Beiyang army.
They felt that the Beiyang government, forcibly purchasing their land at such a low price, was nothing short of stealing their wealth!
Naturally, they were unwilling to surrender these lands.
But this time, the Beiyang government wouldn't tolerate their defiance. They took decisive action.
The Intelligence Bureau, together with the government and the army, directly raided these uncooperative landlords.
It was common knowledge that these landlords were not good people.
They had done countless heinous deeds to acquire more land, provoking the wrath of heaven and man.
Bullying men and women, causing harm without restraint, were commonplace for them.
It was extremely easy for the Intelligence Bureau to find their crimes.
Those found guilty of serious crimes were immediately executed and their families' possessions confiscated.
Those with lesser crimes also had their possessions confiscated.
Faced with this situation, a number of the resisting landlords who refused to cooperate were promptly beheaded and their families' possessions seized.
This frightened the remaining landlords.
They wanted the land, but they didn't want to lose their entire families.
Nor did they want to risk their years of accumulated wealth by resisting the Beiyang government.
If they cooperated, even if they lost the land, their accumulated wealth would still be enough for a comfortable life.
These landlords were not fools, they knew what they had to do.
Thus, aside from a handful of stubborn landlords who chose to resist and were subsequently beheaded and had their families' possessions seized, most of the landlords chose to compromise and readily cooperated with the Beiyang government's land distribution policy.
This made the implementation of the land distribution policy in Shandong exceptionally smooth.
Each prefecture began distributing land to landless and small-landholding peasants, realizing the goal of "those who till the land shall own it."
The distributed land could not be bought or sold. Furthermore, the taxes were very low, only 10% of their income. The government would also reduce or waive taxes during times of natural disaster.
This resulted in the Beiyang government's policy gaining the support of the vast majority of the population in Shandong.