Chapter 37 2. One sentence from Wang Zhao revealed the real reason for the Reform Movement of 1898

Wang Zhaozi Xiaohang was a prominent figure in the Reform Movement of 1898.He was originally a director of the Ministry of Rites, but unexpectedly, a letter of impeachment sent all six court officials down. This was a strange event that had never happened since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, and it caused a sensation all over the country.Here's the thing. Not long after the implementation of the New Policy, Xu Yingkui, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, offered a 10% discount, saying that the current affairs policy of the Special Economics Examination was an extraordinary move, and it was inappropriate.This is blatantly contradicting the New Deal, and the censors Yang Shenxiu and Song Bolu jointly impeached it.Emperor Guangxu hated Xu Yingkui for obstructing the New Deal and wanted to depose him.The co-organizer's scholar Gang resolutely came forward to intercede for him.This is the first time that the old and the new factions will confront each other head-on.

In mid-July, Wang Zhao, the head of the Ministry of Rites, wrote a note asking the emperor to travel around the world to broaden his horizons, and suggested the establishment of a ministry of education to support the holy religion.Because Wang Zhao's official rank is low, he can't play by himself, so he asked Xu Yingku to hand it over.Maybe not.Kang Guangren said to Wang Zhao that the emperor called for a wide range of speeches, and he should be impeached if he could not allow the ministers to obstruct him.Wang Zhao's character is brave and straightforward, and he immediately participated in the impeachment.The servants Kunxiu and Pu Ting ordered the palm prints not to be accepted.Wang Zhao was so angry that he went out with the booklet in hand, claiming to go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate to file a complaint.Kunxiu and others had to agree to deliver it on behalf of them.Xu Yingkui was furious when he learned about it, and hurriedly went up, saying that Wang Zhao yelled at the government office as an excuse to blackmail him; he also said that he invited the emperor to travel around the world to put the emperor in a dangerous place with ulterior motives.Emperor Guangxu was very displeased when he saw Xu's memorial, and ordered it to be handed over to the Ministry for discussion. He also ordered that all officials in the future should present the original seal without tearing it down.The ministry will demote Xu.Emperor Guangxu was annoyed that the punishment was too light, and in a fit of anger, he dismissed all six hall officials, including Huaitabu and Xu Yingku, the ministers of the Ministry of Rites, Kunxiu and Xu Huili, the left servants, Pubing and Zeng Guanghan, the right servants.Appreciate Wang Zhao's third-rank top wear, use the fourth-rank Jingtang as an alternate, and inspire with Zhao.Specially promoted Li Duanfen and Minister of Rites of Yulu Department, Qishou and Wang Xifan's left servants, and Salian and Xu Zhijing's right servants.As soon as this order was issued, the whole country cheered and cheered for it, striving to submit a letter. Every day, various departments had to submit dozens of seals. Emperor Guangxu read it from the cock crowing to the evening. the whole country.When it came time for the coup, Wang Zhao naturally became a member of the arrest list.With the help of foreigners, he also left Beijing in time to escape to Japan.First, he lived with Liang Qichao in Baba Shitamachi, Tokyo, and later Liang went to Yokohama, so he lived alone.At that time, Wang Zhao received Liang Qichao's letter and inquired with his friends. He knew that Yang Du lived in Tanaka House in Iida Town, so he came to visit with a book.

When the old man Tanaka handed over the name badge printed with the words "The head of the Ministry of Rites rewards the third rank and wears the fourth rank Jingtang alternate Wang Zhao" to Yang Du, he said in surprise: "Mr. Xiaohang is here!" Yang Du had long admired Wang Zhao, and after meeting, he knew that he was a tall, thin man in his forties.Everyone does as the Romans do, and sits cross-legged on tatami mats in the Japanese way, sipping tea and chatting.After reading Liang Qichao's invitation letter, Yang Du was very happy and said, "Mr. Xiaohang, let's go to Yokohama together on Meiji Festival!"

"I won't go, I just came from Zhuo Ru's place a few days ago, so I won't accompany you this time." Wang Zhao thought for a while, then asked, "Do you know Yokohama well?" "I'm not familiar with it." Yang Du shook his head, "After I disembarked from Yokohama twice, I immediately transferred to Tokyo, and I didn't even visit the market." "Then Yamashita Town, can you find it?" "I want to find it." Yang Duman replied confidently, "Zhuo Ruxin has clearly drawn the route, besides, our brother's Japanese is ok, the road is at the entrance, if you don't know it, just ask, You can always find it!"

"You guys are so young, you can learn Chinese quickly." Wang Zhao sighed, "To tell you the truth, I have been in Japan for five years, and I can only speak some daily words in Japanese. I want to talk about knowledge and politics with their students. Talking about politics at home is still very difficult!" "It's more difficult to learn languages ​​when you're older. It's no problem to read Japanese books!" Yang Du himself can't talk about in-depth topics in Japanese, but he has always thought highly of himself and believes that he can do it in less than a year. do it.

"It's not a problem to read Japanese books, but it's difficult to improve conversation and writing in Japanese." Wang Zhao seems to have a headache for this. "Mr. Xiaohang, what have you been doing in Japan these past few years?" Yang Du asked. He knew that it was impossible to return to China in the short term. How to make full use of his time in Japan and learn more useful knowledge. complete plan.Wang Zhao's experience may be cited as a reference. "I want to do a lot of things, but I haven't achieved anything so far." Wang Zhao picked up a square one-eared Japanese teacup, took a sip, and said, "First, I kept learning Japanese, but I didn't master it. Then I wanted to write a book about the year of 1898. The book of the New Deal, truthfully recorded everything I participated in and knew, and made it public. Halfway through writing, Mr. Nanhai asked me to organize the Royalist Party. I couldn’t get used to Mr. Nanhai’s paternalism, so I quit soon Later, I wanted to continue the research of "Shuowen" in China. I thought about studying Chinese characters in a foreign country, but I felt that it was incongruous, so I put it aside. Only occasionally, at the request of Zhuo Ru, I wrote some poems in the newspaper he ran. Wen, but it’s still a little useful.”

When it came to poetry, Yang Du remembered that Wang Zhao's "Miscellaneous Songs of Fangjiayuan" was widely praised at home and abroad, so he said: "Mr. Everyone likes to read well-known historical facts. You are writing history, and you can write more poems in this regard in the future.” "That's just a matter of the past, and it's not history." Wang Zhao smiled, and picked up the teacup again. Yang Du remembered something: "Mr. Xiaohang, you said in "Fangjiayuan Zayong Jishi" that the Empress Dowager only knows about rights and has no political opinions. It is purely a family dispute. Is this true?"

"It's true." Wang Zhao looked at Yang Du and said seriously, "People in the world say that the change of 1898 was because the queen mother wanted to maintain the ancestral system, and the emperor wanted to imitate the Westerners. They have different political views. In fact, this is not the case at all." Wang Zhao glanced at the teacup in his hand. Yang Du guessed that there might be no water in the cup, so he got up and picked up an antique pottery pot with a big belly and short mouth with three-eared fish pattern, and refilled Wang Zhao's cup with dark sauce-colored strong tea.Wang Zhao took a sip and continued: "Another example is that the Empress Dowager deposes the second concubine Jin and Zhen. People in the world say that Concubine Jin and Concubine Zhen support the emperor, so the Empress Dowager blamed them. In fact, they betrayed the official position to annoy the Empress Dowager. The business can only be monopolized by the queen mother in the imperial court, and no one else can get involved. The two concubines Jin and Zhen originally thought that the queen mother could do this, and they could also follow the example. The problem lies in this "imitation". Therefore, in my opinion, the implementation of The New Deal, if the Empress Dowager is given priority and let her show up, then the New Deal is right. I have told Mr. Kang Nanhai about this idea a long time ago. He is a stubborn person. She must not be allowed to lead the New Deal. As a result, the queen mother felt that the emperor was using the name of the reform to compete with her for power, so she wanted to oppose it desperately, and did not hesitate to imprison the emperor and kill six gentlemen to show her inviolability The British are smart. Queen Victoria is greedy for money and goods, so let her be greedy. Her greed is limited. She gave up power, the country is rich, and the income is far more than her corruption. If Kang Nanhai can Like the British, since the Queen Mother was greedy for power, she gave up the leadership of the New Deal to her. She was happy, and the diehards did not dare to oppose it. There was no resistance to the implementation of the New Deal. "

Wang Zhao's words greatly opened Yang Du's heart. He found that the middle-aged resigned official sitting in front of him, although not as dazzling as Kang Youwei, had more real ability to do things than him.He nodded frequently and said: "Mr. Xiaohang, what you said is very reasonable. I said that 'the song is complete, and the vain is straight', which is exactly what I mean." "That's right, that's exactly what it means." Wang Zhao said happily, "Xizi, I'll tell you one more thing. The year before last, an official who came to Japan to investigate the current affairs of international students was my old friend. He told me However, when Yihequan was in full swing in the year of Gengzi, Beizi Yimo, who guarded Xiling, said to Qi Lingchen who had fled to Xiling, I have two words to sum up the affairs of the court for ten years: the mother and child were at odds because of the husband and wife, and because Zaiyi conspired to usurp the mother and son because of discord. Yimo, do you know who it is? He is Emperor Xuanzongcheng's nephew, the emperor's first cousin, and he knows the inside story of the court best."

"Mother and son are at odds because of husband and wife's discord, and Zaiyi seeks usurpation because of mother and son's disharmony." Yang Du recited these two sentences from Yimo, and asked Wang Zhao, "How do you explain these two sentences?" Wang Zhao leaned forward and replied: "In the winter before the emperor's big wedding, he summoned five candidates in the Palace of Preserving Harmony, and they were arranged in order. The first one was the daughter of Du Yushi Guixiang, the Queen Mother. The second is the two daughters of Dexin, the governor of Jiangxi, and the last is the two daughters of Changxu, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites. At that time, the queen mother was sitting in the south, and the emperor was standing beside her, as well as Princess Rongshou and several princes near the branch Fujin stands behind the queen mother. There is a long table in front of the queen mother seat. On the table are displayed a jade ruyi and four red embroidered purses. These are gifts for the chosen ones. Those who are chosen as queens will give jade ruyis. Those who are selected as concubines will be given a purse. The queen mother pointed to the five girls and said to the emperor: "Emperor, whoever can be a queen will give her Yu Ruyi." As she spoke, she handed Yu Ruyi to the emperor. The emperor took Yu Ruyi and went straight to the emperor. Walking towards Dexin's eldest daughter, just as she was about to hand Yu Ruyi to her. The queen mother suddenly called out "Emperor", the emperor was stunned for a moment, seeing the eyes of the queen mother looking at the girl standing in the first place. The emperor understood what the queen mother meant , had no choice but to hand Yu Ruyi to Guixiang's daughter. The queen mother did not want the emperor to re-election, and ordered Princess Rongshou to hand two purses to Changxu's two daughters and put away the other two purses. Because the emperor likes Dexin The queen mother refused to let them enter the palace. But the emperor always disliked the queen in his heart, and never stayed in the queen's palace. He liked Changxu's two daughters, and named them concubine Jin and concubine Zhen. The queen cried to the queen mother, The empress dowager hated the emperor and concubines Jin and Zhen, especially concubine Zhen, and concubine Zhen got a huge bribe by selling her official position, so when the empress dowager fled westward, she pushed concubine Zhen into a well and drowned alive. The empress dowager hated the emperor for not obeying She wanted to, and heard the rumors that the emperor was going to surround the Summer Palace to force her to give up power, so she acted first, imprisoned the emperor, and decided to abolish the emperor. The news that the empress dowager wanted to abolish the emperor spread to the embassies of various countries in Beijing, which caused an uproar among outsiders, and they all disapproved. The Empress Dowager secretly solicited opinions from the governors of the provinces. At that time, the governors did not dare to make a clear statement on such a major event as the abolition of the establishment. Only Liu Kunyi, the Governor of Liangjiang, dared to speak out because of his high merit and seniority. He said two very important words: The division has been decided, and the mouths of Chinese and foreign countries should be guarded against. After hearing these two words, the queen mother did not dare to abolish the emperor, but chose Zaiyi's son Pujun as the crown prince. Zaiyi hated foreigners who interfered with her son's enthronement, so she deliberately cited meaning and Entering Beijing with fists, killing foreigners, and destroying the embassy, ​​thus incurring the great shame of the Eight-Power Allied Forces entering Beijing and the empress fleeing west."

Wang Zhao stopped talking at this point.Yang Du was fascinated by what he heard, and his heart couldn't stop rolling. He didn't expect that the grievances and resentments in the family and the personal desire for power would bring such a deep and painful disaster to the country.He was both angry and sad, unable to say a word for a long time.