Huangsangying Ruins

　　In the 21st year of the Jiajing reign during the Ming Dynasty (1542), Jiangkou Fort (formerly known as Jiangkou, the original name of Huangsangping) was established, with city walls built over sixty zhang in length, fifteen chi in height, and one zhang in thickness. During the Qing Dynasty, to address the provisions needed for numerous troops, the entire county adopted a military farming system, cultivating 2,839 mu of garrison farms. In the 18th year of the Shunzhi reign (1661), to further adapt to military demands, the garrison farms were converted to civilian farms, making the stationed troops more militarized. In the 6th year of the Yongzheng reign (1728), the fort was abolished and upgraded to a camp, with one Lieutenant, one Commandant, two Battalion Deputy Commanders, four Company Commanders and four Acting Company Commanders, as well as 542 combat-ready soldiers. The camp oversaw eight outposts across the county, with four beacon line routes (east, south, west, north) established to enhance military communication, and a drill ground added on the opposite side of the camp. By the 36th year of the Kangxi reign (1697), the garrison farms had expanded to 18,297 mu. In the 5th year of the Qianlong reign (1740), after the imperial court organized 15,000 soldiers from the five provinces of Liangguang, Huguang, Yunnan, and Guizhou to brutally suppress the peasant uprising in Suining, Chengbu, and Yining counties led by the Miao rebel Su Xianyu of Suining (from Longjiaxi in Jiejie, Huangsangping), five additional civilian forts were set up in Suining, along with an increase of 1,207 mu of garrison farms. The Huangsangying Camp was not disbanded until the 5th year of the Republic of China (1916). Historical records note that "60% of Suining County’s population were Miao, and 40% were Han." Neighboring counties such as Chengbu, Yining (now Longsheng in Guangxi), Tongdao, Jingzhou, and part of Wugang County (now the Naxi Yao Ethnic Township in Dongkou County) were all areas densely inhabited by Dong, Miao, and Yao ethnic groups. Therefore, the county annals described the region as “a critical area for the Miao and Dong peoples,” noting that “since the Ming Dynasty, [they] have remained defiant, colluding with Tongdao, Chengbu, Wugang, and the Yi peoples of western Guangdong, bringing harm to the region.” To suppress resistance among various ethnic groups against the authorities, the current site of the Huangsangping Miao Ethnic Township Government was the command center of the military stationed in Suining. As a Qing-era local poet wrote: “Heaven-born Huangsang guards the border town; garrisons were stationed here to subdue the Miao and Yao.”

　　The following cultural relics remain today:

　　Remnants of city wall foundations. Located along the river south of the current township government, scattered sections totaling approximately a hundred meters in length vary in height from 3 to 5 meters. Within the former city, some sections of the street paved with bluestone slabs remain. Beacon towers. Multiple sites exist, but only Yan Tang Jie remains relatively intact. It is located on the mountainside east of Jiejie Village, a square column with each side measuring 1.5 meters, a remaining height of 0.7 meters, built from blue bricks, with a stone-paved base in the middle. Ironworks ruins. Multiple sites related to iron smelting and arms forging during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Two examples are introduced here. One is Guangkong Jie, situated on the mountainside by the creek in Lanjia Village, where two piles of slag, iron scraps, and charcoal remains can still be seen. The other is Shangdajiang, in a mountain valley upstream along the creek in Laotuan Village, where besides large amounts of charcoal waste, there are also heavily rusted iron remnants, along with 12 nearby mining caves. Horse-running grounds (trenches). Two locations: one on the hill behind Shangbao Village, about 500 meters long and 100 meters wide; another on the mountainside opposite Zhongbao Natural Village, sloping up from the foot of the mountain to the hillside, about 150 meters long and 2 meters wide. Golden Hall ruins. Located in Shangbao Village, the original structure is gone, leaving only two flagpole bases in front of the hall. Legend has it that in the 4th year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming Dynasty (1460), rebel leader Li Tianbao declared himself king here, established the reign title Liewu, and designated areas including Jiejie, Baliu, Xuelin, and Chiban extending outward as provincial, prefectural, district, and county seats. The imperial court dispatched General Li Zhen to lead troops in suppression. Thousands of rebels were killed, Li Tianbao was captured and died a martyr.

　　Site of the former residence of rebel leader Su Xianyu, from the 5th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. Located in Longjiaxi, Jiejie Village, where Su Xianyu launched his rebellion. The court appointed Zhang Guangsi, Governor-General of Guizhou, as imperial commissioner, stationed at Zhulinzhai (one li southwest of the current Huangsangping Township Government), commanding 35,000 soldiers and local militias from five provinces who advanced via five routes. The rebellion failed, Su Xianyu was wounded, captured, and died tragically in prison, with over 1,900 others killed. Tomb of rebel leader Yang Shengtai from the 9th year of the Tongzhi reign (1870). Located in Yingtianchong, Jiejie Village. That year, Yang launched a peasant uprising using the White Lotus Sect, but the rebellion was suppressed by government forces before it could be fully prepared due to an informant, and the leader was beheaded in the county seat at Zhaishi. Zhongyong Ancestral Hall, located in Shangbao Village, rebuilt in the 7th year of the Tongzhi reign (1868). It was established by Suijing Fort (a civilian fort, now Shangbao Village) to commemorate those who died suppressing the rebellion. Built with brick and wood, it houses carved wooden plaques and murals.