The three northeastern provinces have the largest area, accounting for about 70% of the land area of eighteen inland provinces measured in square miles. Notable cities in the vicinity of Shengjing (Shenyang) include Fengtian (Shenyang), Changtu, and Jinzhou. To the north, there are Kaiyuan and Tieling; to the south, there are Jinhai and Gaizhou. In recent decades, Niuzhuang and Lushun have emerged as important port cities.
Famous cities in Jilin include Jilin, Ningguta, and Sanxing. Sakhalin Island is also associated with Jilin, including Alekseyevka and Hunchun. Hunchun is the closest to Russia and is an important area today.
Famous cities in Heilongjiang include Qiqihar, Hulunbuir, Heilongjiang City, Hulan, Moergen, and Butheha, all located south of the river; Aihun, Yaksa, and Nibuchu are all located north of the river. Aside from the area near Jinzhou where the Great Wall is situated, which was already part of Chinese territory, most of the remaining regions were territories of various ethnic groups during different periods, including the Han, Tang, and Yuan dynasties, as well as the Liao Dong, Bohai, Mohe, and Jurchen peoples.
When the Qing Dynasty was initially established, it settled near Changbai Mountain and later moved the capital to Xinjing, all of which are now part of Jilin Province.
Emperor Taizu unified the five cities of Manchuria and conquered the four Hulun tribes nearby, using a lot of military force. These places are located between present-day Jilin and Shengjing (Shenyang), and at that time, the territory was not particularly vast. Only the three divisions of the East Sea had the largest land area, and the records of sacrifices and military affairs during the reigns of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong were mostly about the East Sea's three divisions. Dozens of battles were fought, with fierce combat, and in the end, the two Changbai Mountain divisions also submitted. These areas stretched east to the East Sea, all the way to Sakhalin Island, west to all of Liaoning, connecting to Fengtian (Shenyang), north past the Hunton River, reaching the Greater Khingan Mountains, and south crossing Changbai Mountain to connect with Korea. Therefore, it can be said that the territory of Jilin Province stretches several thousand miles in all directions. Emperor Taizu repeatedly defeated the Ming army, personally capturing Fanyang (now Yixian, Liaoning), relocating the capital to Shengjing (Shenyang), and then attacking eastward to capture Jinzhou and Ningyuan, and southward to capture Jinhai and Gaizhou, thus bringing all the surrounding areas of Shengjing (Shenyang) into the Qing Dynasty's territory.
The origins of Heilongjiang Province trace back to Emperor Taizu's pursuit of Nikan Wailan in Eerqian, located in Qiqihar, and is considered the foundation of Heilongjiang Province. During the reign of Emperor Taizu, the most territory was gained through military campaigns and pacification. By the time of Emperor Shunzhi, the Liaocha were subdued, and a treaty was signed with the Russians to reclaim the city of Yaksa, after which the entire territory of Soren was incorporated into China. In summary, Heilongjiang Province was built on the foundation laid by Emperor Taizu, developed and expanded by Emperor Taizong, and protected and preserved by the Holy Ancestor, with strategic policies firmly established.
Therefore, in general, the vast territory of the three eastern provinces was acquired by the Qing emperors through significant hardship. Now, if we reflect on modern history, we will clearly see how we lost these lands.
In the 28th year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, a treaty was signed with the Russians, ceding Nerchinsk to them; this marked the first territorial concession in the Three Eastern Provinces. However, at that time, Nerchinsk was actually exchanged for Yaksa, not a genuine loss of territory. It is unclear when Kuye Island fell into Japanese control, but it was later given to Russia; but this was not a direct cession. The war in the 10th year of Xianfeng had the most significant impact on the situation, leaving future generations with lasting troubles: all territory north of the Heilongjiang River and east of the Ussuri River was surrendered in one fell swoop. In the 24th year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign, Russia demanded Lushun and Dalian Bay, and the Luda region was also annexed by Russia. To this day, conflicts between China and Russia have persisted, with Russia exploiting the situation; first occupying Niuzhuang, followed by the successive fall of the provincial capitals of Heilongjiang and Jilin to Russia. Cities such as Sanxing and Ninguta were also subsequently occupied. It is reported that the cities of Aihun and Huichun have also succumbed. Recently, the "Zilin Bao" reported: the Russians breached Liaoyang on the fifth day of the month and captured Shengjing on the ninth. Consequently, the provincial capitals of the Three Eastern Provinces and several important towns have all fallen into Russian control. It is said that the current Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, intends to expand further eastward, selecting strategically advantageous locations to establish new capitals for governing East Asia. It seems that the imperial ambition of Moscow is thriving, while the ancestral legacy of Hetu Ala is deteriorating! Alas, is it that heaven seeks to punish us and weaken our resolve? Is this fate, or is it a result of human actions? This much is already clear!
China is in the east of Asia, and the three northeastern provinces are located in the eastern part of China. The mountains there rise up from the sea, and all rivers flow into the sea. These mountains and rivers appear from the direction of the Zhen hexagram, and it is through this cyclical nature of existence that the principles of the universe are formed and developed. Therefore, its rise is swift, and its decline is just as swift! Look at Nurhaci and Huang Taiji; the emperors of the two dynasties spent a lot of effort in expanding their territory and conquering various tribes; the effort they put in was truly staggering! It was not until the time of Shunzhi and Kangxi that it was finally pacified. It went through four dynasties and took hundreds of years to stabilize, only to be surrendered to others in just over ten days!
Since the coup, those who adhere to the old system have tried their best to prevent reform and progress, always saying "honoring the ancestors." Looking back now, they're merely trying to placate the late emperor and show loyalty to former rulers! It's truly heartbreaking!
