Chapter 12 Chapter Ten
The Qing court lost its last chance and boarded the autocratic carriage in 1908 and left without dust.
Regarding this turning point, "Shenzhou Daily" had a magical prediction a year ago:
For despotism, the government takes the truth and does not want to take the name; for constitutionalism, it takes the name and is afraid of living up to the truth.From now on, the government's policy will be nothing more than two aspects: on the one hand, it will increasingly talk about dissolving the Manchu and Han, reforming the common government, proclaiming the constitution, and granting freedom to the people; Recruit the army.But the so-called constitutional cloud and constitutional cloud, the more earnest (sincere) they say, the farther they go.
In a word: listen to what he says, and you will lose everything, but check the truth, and you will lose everything.
The only thing that makes people feel that there is still hope is the nine-year preparatory constitutional plan.The court promised that by the ninth year, a constitution (rather than an outline) would be promulgated and elections would be held.
Objectively speaking, even Japan, which has undergone the fastest transformation, took 22 years from the accession of Emperor Meiji to the opening of the Diet.
Nine years is already very short.
The problem is that the Celestial Dynasty owes so much money that it is at the end of its rope.If you don't reform, you will perish; if you reform, you will perish.
As for the House of Representatives mentioned in the plan, it is not a cake to fill the hunger.The Zhizhengyuan in the "Four Courtyards" during the Bingwu restructuring was its trial version.
According to Yuan Shikai's design, the Zizhengyuan collects public opinion, is the embryonic form of the parliament, and is the intermediary leading to constitutionalism.
A year later, Sun Jianai and Belle Pulun (who had led a delegation to represent China in the World Expo for the first time) worked with the Military Aircraft Department to draw up the structure of the Zizhengyuan: one speaker, two deputy speakers, half elected members and half elected members.
The elected members are selected from the princes and ministers.Elected members naturally come from the people, but the question is, how to choose?
We choose in the council bureau.
As a provincial public opinion organ, the Consultative Council is a warm-up before the official opening of the Zizhengyuan, and it can be called the highlight of the nine-year constitutional preparation plan.
Although the councilors are basically Jinshi candidates with traditional backgrounds, the elections are ridiculously fake-some people know how many votes someone has won before the vote warehouse is opened, and some people who have already died of illness are included in the candidates.
But no matter how staggering the posture, the step of "popular election" was finally taken.
The industrious and brave Chinese are marching into a new era together.The social backbones who have rekindled their hope have temporarily put aside their petition for "quick opening of the Congress" and have managed their respective positions in the consultative bureaus of 21 provinces across the country, excluding Xinjiang, in accordance with the "Charter of the Imperial Consultative Bureau".
Yuan Shikai shook his head with a wry smile, he no longer cared about the macro restructuring, and devoted all his energy to his work.
He wakes up at 5 a.m. every day and works until 9 p.m., with short breaks for meals and breaks in between.
When Qu Hongxu was in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, his style of work was procrastinated, and foreigners were extremely disgusted.
Of course, most conservatives express their understanding: foreigners are scum, out of sight, out of mind.
The problem is that if you try to be quiet, the people of the whole country will not be quiet.Diplomacy requires great wisdom. Blindly "shelving disputes" and pinning hopes on the next generation will cause minor illnesses to become terminal illnesses.After all, no one can guarantee that Emperor Hui of Jin will not appear in the descendants.
After Yuan Shikai took office, he changed his habit of procrastination.Every day when the Military Aircraft Office is off work, all the backlog cases of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be handled ahead of schedule, and the letters will be replied on time.
Previously, the most thorny diplomatic problem was the re-collusion between Japan and Russia, which divided Manchuria into southern Manchuria and northern Manchuria, each occupying half.
In order to contain Japan, the United States adopted a positive policy toward China, offered to return the boxer indemnity, and suggested that the money be used for China to send overseas students to the United States and for Americans to carry out education in China.
Yuan Shikai responded immediately and reached a preliminary agreement with the United States to upgrade the diplomatic relations between the two countries from the ministerial level to the ambassadorial level.
As the highest level of diplomatic envoys, ambassadors enjoy higher courtesy than ministers and have the right to request an audience with the head of state.
It is the first time for China to establish an ambassadorial relationship with a foreign power.If successful, it will significantly improve China's international status.
Therefore, the big head asked for an order and sent Tang Shaoyi as a special envoy to the United States to handle the matter with full authority.
During the honeymoon period between China and the United States, the "New York Times" interviewed Datou.
What the reporter is most interested in is his views on the United States. Yuan Shikai said:
I have been looking forward to visiting the United States.Of all the countries I have never visited, the one that fascinates me the most is the United States.This may be because many young people around me were educated in the United States.In my opinion, despite the apparent differences between China and the United States, the United States is actually closer to our system than any other Western country.I have noticed that American-educated Qing nationals were able to apply what they had learned to domestic management more easily than European-educated Chinese.
Asked about his expectations for reform, he replied:
Our internal management system must be fundamentally reformed.This is easier said than done because it involves radically changing or even overturning certain aspects of the current system.And this system has existed for hundreds of years, and many factors are intertwined.But as far as public opinion is concerned, I am sure that most of the goals of reform can be achieved anyway if we are given time and opportunity.
Unfortunately, there was neither time nor opportunity.
On November 15, 1908, after dinner, Cixi suddenly fainted for a long time.
Knowing that her fate was about to end, she woke up and immediately summoned the important ministers of the central government to explain her funeral.
It is said that before she died, she repented and said:
Do not allow women to interfere in state affairs in the future. This is against the family law of this dynasty and must be strictly restricted.In particular, those who must be strictly guarded against are not allowed to let the eunuchs take power. The events of the end of the Ming Dynasty can be used as a lesson.
But judging from the emergence of the Empress Dowager Longyu, it can be seen that her so-called repentance is not that simple.
Not long ago, Cixi had her last birthday.
The Dalai Lama of Tibet came to Beijing with his subordinates to celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday.
At that time, Cixi's mausoleum had been completed, and there were rumors in the capital that "one city cannot accommodate two Buddhas", and Lafayette would be killed by the Living Buddha.
As a result, Cixi fell ill as soon as the birthday party was over.
The Dalai Lama was very nervous, and presented a Buddha statue, saying that it should be sent to the Empress Dowager's mausoleum immediately to suppress the bad luck.
Cixi then ordered Yikuang to handle the matter quickly.
Sending a Buddha statue is worthy of King Qing?In connection with the long-standing secret battle between Yikuang and Zaifeng, the answer is obvious.
In terms of the use of power, the distance between Zaifeng and Yikuang is like the difference between a white belt and a black belt in Taekwondo.
The reason why he was chosen was the result of the exhaustion of Cixi's organs.
First of all, there is indeed no better use in the near branch, and it is barely reassuring to use Zaifeng to check and balance Qingyuan;
Secondly, his son Puyi is young, if he has a long life and makes him the king, he can continue to teach politics;
In the end, is it possible for Zaifeng and Yuan Shikai to turn enemies into friends and be led by the nose like Yikuang?
The answer is absolutely impossible.
In addition to brother (Guangxu) feud, there is another little-known reason.
That is the big villain: Zhang Yi.
This "soy sauce man" who doesn't even have a date of birth and death, and even a history professional will only think of Zhang Yi, the general of Shu in the Three Kingdoms period, is a key factor in promoting the development of the plot.
As the groom of Prince Jin's mansion, Zhang Yi was deeply loved by Yizhen, and was promoted to be a close servant, and he was like a brother with Zaifeng.After becoming an adult, he donated a Jiangsu alternate road, and succeeded Tang Tingshu as the supervisor of Kaiping Coal Mine, officially starting his villain career.
In the first season, Zhang Yi, who was in charge of military supplies, provided inferior coal (cinder) to the Beiyang Fleet. Ding Ruchang repeatedly questioned him and refused to correct him after repeated admonitions;
In the second season, on the eve of the Reform Movement of 1898, Rong Lu wrote his proposition into a secret letter and entrusted Yikuang to convey it to Cixi, which led to the launch of the anti-coup.It was Zhang Yi who took the train to Beijing to deliver the letter;
In the third season, just play big.Seeing that the capital of the Qing Dynasty was captured by the Eight-Power Allied Forces, well, think about it for yourself.As a result, the Kaiping Coal Mine was sold to Hoover (and Hoover was transferred to British businessmen).
After Yuan Shikai took charge of Beiyang, he discovered this.In anger, he went to the imperial court and pointed out: "The mine is a national property, and the stock capital is the capital of a businessman. How can one or two people give it to each other without permission!" Explain to him that "the mine was approved by Li Hongzhang to raise official and business capital, which is well known at home and abroad. The private contract between Zhang Yi and Hoover has not been clearly stated by our government, and it will never be recognized."
At this time, Zhang Yi, who privately sold state-owned assets, had become a minister.After Datou participated in the performance, he was dismissed and ordered to go to England to fight a lawsuit.
For a legally illiterate, this is quite a challenge.
Zaifeng came forward to intercede for Zhang Yi, but Yuan Shikai sternly refused.
This is how the second beam was formed.
In order to set up Zaifeng's game, Cixi forcibly abolished the marriage that she had made, and since there was no one in her family to betroth, she married the daughter of her favorite minister Ronglu to Zaifeng, who was Puyi's biological mother, the Guerjia family.
But she obviously overestimated Zaifeng's passion for power.This person is cowardly, just like his father Yizhen.When Cixi chose Guangxu to enter the palace to inherit the great rule, Yizhen was so frightened that he suffered from a liver attack in a hurry, and immediately resigned, begging "for the world to accommodate a person who has lost his title".
The mysteries are endless, misfortunes and fortunes take turns.
When the decree of establishing Puyi and making Zaifeng the regent was passed to Prince Chun's residence, Zaifeng's biological mother, Liu Jiashi, said fiercely:
First kill the son of the family, and then the grandson of the family!Giving the false name of an emperor is actually equivalent to life imprisonment!
This is the truth.
As strong as Kangxi, he once lamented that "the ministers can be officials if they can, and they can stop when they can. A king should work hard all his life and never rest."Let alone being a puppet for Cixi?
Therefore, out of real fear, Zaifeng sincerely bowed his words, not just acting.Guangxu, who was critically ill, was very happy when he heard about it, and said, "Wouldn't it be better to establish a long monarch? That's not bad."
The same suggestion was made by Zhang Zhidong to Cixi: it is better to establish Zaifeng directly if the master has less doubts about the country.
Cixi's answer was very official:
If you don't establish a queen for Mu Zong (Tongzhi), you will never be able to deal with the dead.Now that Puyi is established, Zaifeng is still in charge of state affairs.
The real reason is the balance of power.
The reason why Yikuangzhi was sent to the Eastern Tomb of the Qing Dynasty to deliver Buddha statues was to create conditions for the implementation of the succession.
As soon as King Qing left, Cixi transferred all of Duan Qirui's sixth town away from Beijing, and took over the first town of Tieliang, Shangshu of the Ministry of War.
And let Puyi inherit the throne of Tongzhi, the result is that Guangxu's concubine, as an important political force, will be completely abandoned.
After Yikuang returned to Beijing, the political situation was done.
In order to appease the veterans, Cixi gave King Qing the honor of "hereditary replacement".This means that when he dies, his son Zaizhen does not have to be granted the title of prince of the county according to the routine of "demotion and inheritance", but the prince of the hereditary Yikuang, commonly known as the "Iron Hat King" (there were only twelve families in the Qing Dynasty. ).
The problem is that once the emperor and the courtiers, no matter how hard the hat is, it can't hold the actual power.There are many people who have been given iron hats because they left tea cold, and Yikuang has to take it seriously.
Facing the endgame, the seasoned King Qing was stunned to pull back a victory.
He proposed: Puyi can succeed the Tongzhi rule, but he must succeed the heir of Guangxu first—as long as Guangxu is called father, Queen Longyu must be called mother.
At that time, the Queen Dowager Longyu will share the power of the regent Zaifeng equally, so that Yikuang can live in safety.
The question is, can Cixi agree?A comparison of intimacy and distance will make it clear.
There is only one connection between Zaifeng and Cixi: his nephew (his father Yizhen is the younger brother of Cixi's husband Xianfeng), is far inferior to his brother Guangxu.
Guangxu's mother, Nala, was both Yizhen's Fujin (lawful wife) and Cixi's biological sister.And Zaifeng's mother, Liu Jiashi, is nothing but Yizhen's identity as Fujin.
To sum up: Zaifeng and Cixi are not related by blood.
Longyu is different.His father, Guixiang, is Cixi's younger brother, and she is Cixi's niece.If you don't please your aunt, you are still a family.
Therefore, when Yikuang knelt in front of the sick bed and tried to persuade him, the half-drowsy Cixi agreed to his request and made the last check and balance in his life, adding a foreshadowing at the end of the will:
In case of major events, the Empress Dowager must be invited to order.
With the backing of Longyu, Yikuang finally got a happy ending even if everyone blamed him.
The cold moon is silent, and the lights are flickering.
In Yingtai Hanyuan Hall, thirty-seven-year-old Guangxu finally passed away with a smile after years of confinement.
More than ten hours later, Cixi passed away.Before dying, he suddenly sighed:
Misunderstanding, after all, it is not constitutional.
Whether the twenty-six-year-old Zaifeng can steer the dilapidated ship of the empire is a lingering question that lingers in everyone's mind.
In Yuan Shikai's view, the answer is obviously no.
In traditional China, the country was founded on agriculture.The chaos of its social order depends to a large extent on the appropriateness or inappropriateness of land distribution.
Every time there was a great turmoil, the population fell so sharply that there was enough land left for the survivors to farm.
The new dynasty ushered in an era of peace.After the prosperity of the so-called "Great Rule", the natural growth of the population inevitably led to the decline of the per capita cultivated land area, thus entering the troubled times again.
And so on and on.
The contradiction between man and earth is actually the code to crack China's chaos and ups and downs.
If we take 1660 in the early Qing Dynasty and 1800 in the middle Qing Dynasty as two time points, it is not difficult to find that the population growth exceeded 100%, but the cultivated land area increased by less than 50%.
With the rise of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the situation deteriorated further.Nearly 90% of farmers have no arable land, so they have to work on the landlord's land and pay high land rent.
The outflow of silver and currency depreciation caused by the massive import of opium further exacerbated the already acute social contradictions.
At the same time, history entrusted the helm of the late Qing Dynasty with an extremely difficult task: not only to meet the challenges of modernization, but also to integrate ethnic relations and resolve the almost unsolvable conflict between Manchu and Han.
What is even more unfortunate is that the turning point of the dynasty itself just coincided with the external crisis of the invasion of China by the great powers...
So, without foreign aggression, could the Qing court complete the magnificent turn from autocracy to democracy?
Considering the history, it was in the Qing Dynasty that the centralization of the monarchy was truly perfected and put into practice.
In the Tang Dynasty, all government orders were drawn up by the prime minister and sent to the emperor for signature;
In the Song Dynasty, the prime minister made a statement to the emperor, and after obtaining the emperor's approval or correction, he formally drafted the decree;
In the Ming Dynasty, the Cabinet Scholars divided the prime minister's power, but they were still able to "vote drafts"—the cabinet ministers wrote their own opinions, and the emperor carefully read and decided.If there is a foolish emperor on the stall, who doesn't look at the "ticket plan" and directly approves the rewards, then the bachelors can also exercise power.
It was not until the Qing Dynasty that "everything depends on the top, and power cannot be left behind" was institutionalized.
The Military Aircraft Department emptied the cabinet, but it was just a secretarial team.The memorial was sealed by the official with the right to perform the matter, and the emperor dismantled it in person, and distributed it to the military aircraft department after reading it.The Minister of Military Aircraft drafts the decree according to the emperor's Zhu Zhu or face-to-face order, and then it can be issued after the emperor's approval.
However, it turns out that the more complex the machine, the more error prone it is.
Such a hands-on design puts extremely high demands on the monarch's ability, physical strength and endurance, and non-workaholics cannot do it.
Yongzheng obviously overestimated the strength of future generations.
And Zaifeng's character also determines that he will not let himself die from overwork because he wants to escort the Qing court, even if his first appearance on the international stage is to humiliate the Qing government.
The first article of the "Xin Chou Treaty" stipulates: Regarding the murder of the German envoy Klind, China sent a prince to Germany to apologize on behalf of the emperor.
The Qing court wanted the minister in Germany to apologize on his behalf, but the German side refused, so they humiliatedly sent Zaifeng, who was only 18 years old, and Tong Yinchang, the vice capital.
Tell Yinchang to go, because he was a classmate with the current Kaiser Wilhelm II when he was in Germany.
As a result, the Kaiser was very clear about public and private affairs, and he didn't buy into the account of his old classmates at all. He arranged for the apology group to be the apartment where the French Emperor Napoleon III, who was captured in the Franco-Prussian War, lived.
The next day, in an atmosphere full of indifference and hostility, Zaifeng and his entourage had an audience with William II and bowed to the third to make amends.
William sat to receive the letter of credence, and he did not get up to give the speech, but said arrogantly: "It is absolutely impossible to apologize because of your prince, so it is said that the previous guilt (qian, sin) has been forgiven."
Although this trip left Zaifeng with an indelible memory of humiliation, it also created an opportunity for him to go out of China and see the world with his eyes open.
In Germany, he witnessed the construction of the giant merchant ship "Wilhelm II" (displacement 30,000 tons), and visited the famous Krupp military factory.
In his diary, he recorded the process of steelmaking in detail:
There are forty large furnaces in the furnace factory, and it takes nine hours for unsmelted steel to enter the furnaces, and the furnaces cannot be cast until the furnaces are heated to 2,000 degrees;
After the refining and rolling of each new steel plate is completed, it is first bombarded with giant cannons to see how effective it is.
The calm demeanor shown by the young Zaifeng also left a deep impression on the German royal family and Western media.
"The Times" Beijing correspondent Morrison concluded: "After this tortuous journey, the Queen Mother will definitely arrange a prominent position for her favorite nephew in the future, in order to compensate him for the sacrifice he made for the dignity of the court." .”
Different from other reserved and old-fashioned relatives of the older generation of royal family, Zaifeng often appeared at the gatherings of various countries' embassies in Beijing.The observation of an American missionary named Hedland is typical:
He is very upright, with piercing eyes, often keeps his mouth shut, doesn't talk much, walks upright, but reveals the demeanor of a prince from head to toe.
However, everything is just an appearance.
The real answer lies in the memories of Pu Yi's younger brother Pu Jie:
My father (Zaifeng)'s humble and retreating style, his easy-going and fearful character, are probably similar to my grandfather's (Yizhen), but his foresight and foresight in dealing with people is far less than that of his grandfather.
At home, Zaifeng's prestige is not even as good as his wife Guerjia's.
Once, the Guerjia family left the mansion to go out, and the servants on duty were idle for a whole day, without even opening the windows of each room.Even so, Zaifeng could only shout helplessly: "I'm still in the mansion, go to the window!"
At the same time, he is afraid of socializing, no matter how late the guests stay, there will be no food left at home.Once, a Mrs. Baylor said to the Guarja family: "I heard that your family's western food is very good. Since you don't want me to eat, can you send me two to try?"
While Guarjia smiled wryly, he had no choice but to send the food to the other party's home.
Puyi also clearly remembered that when Zaifeng encountered a major event, he either sighed or turned around in circles, stammering to him: "Your Majesty, this, this, this also needs to be discussed slowly."
Outside, Zaifeng was even more indecisive, not daring to be self-reliant.
One day, Xiliang, governor of the three eastern provinces, urgently reported to the central government that Chen Bing was on the border at the same time as Japan and Russia, and had an audience with Zaifeng.Unexpectedly, "there is only ordinary condolences and no other words" when calling.
Xiliang expressed his feelings again, and Zaifeng simply said: "Have you recovered from your phlegm disease?"
Not long after, Wang Daxie, the servant of the Postal Department who went abroad for inspection, returned from Dongying and reported Chen Japan's tricks, but the notes were kept unpublished.
Playing again and again, finally able to meet Zaifeng.After talking bitterly about his interests, Zaifeng remained silent, immediately took out a pocket watch, and said, "It's already ten o'clock."
Then serve tea to see off guests...
The cowardly Zaifeng couldn't even deal with the equally mediocre Longyu, and was ridiculed by people at the time as "fearing Fujin internally and Longyu externally".
When Longyu became empress dowager, the first thing he did was to build the "Crystal Palace" in the Forbidden City as a place for entertainment. However, the Qing court, which was building a new army, was already in a tight financial situation, but Zaifeng was powerless to stop his prodigal actions.
Of course, it is not objective to say that there is no wrist at all.
Zhen Guogong Zaize was imprisoned because of corruption, and when Zaifeng passed it on, he folded it to show it.
The evidence was solid, and Zai Ze knew that he couldn't hide it, so he confessed one by one and waited for punishment.Unexpectedly, Zaifeng put away the notebook and said calmly: "Since there is indeed such a thing, there is no need to submit it for investigation."
The naked cover won him a slave who was willing to serve.
In the second year of Xuantong (1910), the whole country urged to lift the ban on the party.In order to establish an enlightened image, Zaifeng intends to lift the ban and bring Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, who were in exile, back to China.
In the end, Long Yu, with the phoenix crown on his head, found Zaifeng anxiously, and obstructed him: "If it wasn't for these two, why did the late emperor suffer for ten years?"
The regent's power operation had to be stranded again.
Zaifeng, who came to court on time every day, would stare at the west wall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation for a long time.
Hanging there is a list of job titles for officials in various provinces, from the governor-general down to the prefect and above, all have a share.
For those who rule the world, power is first manifested here.
On both sides of the west wall, there is a couplet inscribed by Yongzheng:
There is only one person to rule the world; how can we serve one person for the world.
For Yongzheng, Lianyu expressed a kind of complacency and desire for centralization; but for Zaifeng, it was full of inexplicable irony.
The subtlety of power checks and balances is that when someone is in power, he is responsible for the effect of the power; while someone has power, but is never responsible.
Longyu plays the latter role. It does not assume the responsibility of power, but has the power to supervise power.
Because of the inheritance left to his niece by the Queen Mother, Zaifeng will always be in a passive position.Perhaps, abdication is his best destination.
On October 16, 1911, Zaifeng handed over power and returned to the domain, and returned to the mansion with a calm expression.
He changed his clothes with tea, and calmly said to the weeping Guarjia, "It's all right now, I can go home and hold the baby."
After retiring, Zaifeng engraved two seals, one is "leisure garden" and the other is "heaven promises to be an idler". Listen to music and study astronomy.
Compared to the vastness of the universe, what happened on earth is nothing.
Every summer night, Zaifeng pointed out the constellations in the sky to the children, and drew Halley's Comet and Five Stars observed with the astronomical telescope, and put them in his diary.
A stark contrast is that when such a heavyweight as Sun Wen came to visit, Zaifeng only mentioned in his diary that "Sun Wen came to talk and Jiang Chaozong (the then commander of the infantry) was present".
When Zhang Xun was restored, the elders and children of the former Qing Dynasty kept coming to greet him and beg for officials, but Zaifeng remained indifferent and blocked them all.
With the determination to stay at home until death, he finally survived until after the founding of the People's Republic of China.
If there is one clear political proposition to be found in Zaifeng, it is to overthrow Yuan.
He was so clear that even his two-year-old second son, Pu Jie, knew how to crawl over to gouge out Yuan Shikai's eyes when he saw Yuan Shikai's photo.
Public opinion would have been very favorable.
Rumors in the palace were tragic, saying that before his death, Guangxu held Zaifeng's hand to ask him to kill Yuan Shikai; some were suspenseful, saying that when Longyu was sorting out Guangxu's relics, he found an imperial brush "to kill Yuan Shikai" in the inkstone box.
Overseas cooperation is also very good.
As early as 1907, Kang Youwei instructed Liang Qichao and Mai Menghua to make anti-Yuan the primary task in the future, and said murderously: "Lu's troubles are not over, so let Nie Zheng do it."
The reason why Kang Nanhai uses the allusions of the Spring and Autumn Period so well is that he always reminds others that he is an expert in the study of "Spring and Autumn".
The allusion used here is intended to instruct the disciples: Yuan Shikai can be assassinated if necessary.
At the funeral of the two palaces, the "Nanhai Brand Rumor Making Machine" started spreading rumors again.
It is said that Yuan Shikai took advantage of the critical illness of the queen mother, bribed the servants, poisoned (poisoned) Guangxu, and secretly summoned the Zhili admiral Jiang Guiti to lead the army into Beijing for self-defense, plotting to kill the new emperor and usurp the throne.
I don’t know how the Kang Party, which is far away in Japan, made up such absurd secrets of the palace fight. Anyway, Liang Qichao called the governors of the provinces based on this, saying, "The two palaces have changed, and Yuan is the chief culprit. Beg to punish the thieves to avenge public anger."
In fact, modern scientific tests show that when Guangxu died, the arsenic content in his hair was more than 100 times that of normal people, which can basically prove that he died of arsenic poisoning.
Dare to kill the emperor with poison, except for Cixi, there is no second person.
It is completely understandable to let Guangxu die before him, lest his superiors reverse the case.But such a confidential matter, it is estimated that only Li Lianying and Xiao Dezhang know about it, and the outer court has no way of knowing it, so what does it have to do with Datou?
Kang Youwei also knew that the plot was not very down-to-earth, so he wrote his own essay to criticize Yuan Shikai, accusing Yuan Shikai of all the bad things that happened in China since the Reform Movement of 1898, calling for "to avenge the great revenge of the former emperor, and to get rid of the big beetles (du, pests) for the people." , sent all over the court to civil and military affairs.
Liang Qichao took the inside line and established long-distance contact with Shanqi and Du branch Shangshu Zaize very early.
At the critical moment, the two insiders joined hands to frighten Zaifeng, saying that Yuan Shikai's party feathers had spread all over the world, and the only queen mother who could restrain him was also dead.In the future, the consequences will be disastrous.
Facts have proved that these people are purely unfounded.
For Zaifeng, Zhu Yuan had no choice but to do so.
After decades of spinning silk, weaving nets and moistening things silently, Datou has arranged the inside and outside of the court into an iron armor and steel fist that can affect the whole body.
On the other hand, Zaifeng only holds half of the monarchy, and he is still far away from life and death.
Therefore, he did not dare to act in a hurry, but took advantage of the change of Yuan Xuantong to add Yuan Shikai and Zhang Zhidong's prince Taibao titles.
Datou has kept a low profile since the day of Empress Dowager Cixi's funeral, hiding at home all day to rewrite the unfinished memoir "Records of the Reform Movement of 1898", reviewing that unbearable night in Beijing, and defending himself.
"Tan Fusheng visited Fahua Temple at night, Yuan Weiting refused to be Li Duozuo" is also a chapter in Liang Qichao's "The Coup of 1898".According to historian Yang Tianshi's textual research over the years, Liang Zhu deliberately concealed many facts, while the "Records of the Reform Period" is basically reliable, only covering up and beautifying a few issues.
For example, Yuan Shikai once said to Tan Sitong that "killing Ronglu is like killing a dog".Later, I may feel that it will damage the image and cause unnecessary troubles, so there is no mention in the summary.
For another example, the big head in "Ji Lue" chanted "the righteousness of a man and a minister" at every turn, making himself look like five bars.At this point, Chinese readers can just smile, no one will take it seriously.
After finishing the project, Yuan Shikai solemnly handed over the "Records of the Reform Movement of 1898" to Zhang Yiling, his aide, for preservation, and told him: "In case something unexpected happens one day, we must find a way to make this book public, so as to set the record straight."
Zai Ze had expected that Zai Feng would not be able to do so.
From the day he first summoned the Minister of Military Aircraft as regent, Zai Ze had a premonition.
It was cold and windy that day.In order to show humility, Zaifeng chose the relatively remote Wenhua Palace as the venue for the meeting, and agreed that all decrees issued in the future will be sealed by the Regent and signed by the Minister of Military Affairs.
This move was intended to buy people's hearts, but it put heavy shackles on himself, which made Zaize and others feel heartbroken.
Of course you may ask, Zaize is also a constitutionalist, why did he have to overthrow Yuan Shikai?
This is the complexity of China's problems - political opinions must also serve political struggles.
In addition to the "mission" of being a princeling to seize power, there is a little-known fact: Sheng Xuanhuai once paid 700,000 taels of silver, and used his contacts in foreign firms to help Zaize money laundering.
There is only one condition: Invert Yuan.
Therefore, as the Minister of Finance of the Qing government, Zai Ze did not focus on financial management, but stared at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs all day long, and finally caught Yuan Shikai's little pigtail: the United States System Day.
That is to accept the United States' overtures, form an alliance with it, and upgrade diplomatic relations to the ambassadorial level.
This was a national policy set by Yuan Shikai and Cixi when Guangxu was alive. Due to concerns about the intervention of Japan and Russia, it has been carried out in secret and is not known to outsiders.
Until Zai Ze came to dig the grave.
Even such a foreign policy that benefits the country and the people has to be hacked, which shows that this person's greatest ability is to reverse right and wrong.
He excitedly reported to Zaifeng as if he had discovered a new continent, and instigated: "Japan arrives in China within three days; the United States aids China within 20 days. Don't worry about disasters in three days, wait for twenty days." To aid is to have bad intentions with the minister."
It's fine if you don't know how to make long-distance and close-knit attacks. Zai Ze calculated the accounts like a housewife: "Then, the annual cost increases by tens of thousands, and only a false title of ambassador is the best policy?"
Zaifeng thought: "Is there another matter?" He hurriedly ordered someone to investigate the difference between the ambassador and the minister.
The reply said: the ambassador can request an interview with the head of state of the host country.
The royal family of the Manchu Qing Dynasty had always been afraid of the ocean, and Zaifeng suffered from social phobia.He has to receive foreign envoys at every turn, and he would rather retire early.
The problem is that Tang Shaoyi has already negotiated with the US side, and the big head is not willing to fall short, and he still strongly advocates when he is in the right. As a result, Zaifeng is furious and overturns the case on the spot.
Yuan Shikai was terrified, and retreated silently.
Zaifeng was ready to kill, he ground his teeth and sucked blood, and drew up an imperial edict, which stated that Yuan Shikai was "dominant and disobedient, and all things are difficult to forgive", and he wanted to dismiss him from his post and exile.
Don't underestimate exile, it's the most powerful punishment before you make up a reason for beheading.
How many political prisoners who were exiled for three thousand miles died unexplainably on the border of the motherland, such as Zhang Yinhuan and Zaixun.If Yuan Shikai is really assigned, the imperial decree to bestow death is just around the corner.
Therefore, when Zaifeng asked Yikuang to make a judgment with the imperial edict, the other party said without any suspense: "This matter is of great importance, please ask the prince to review it again."
Zaifeng restrained himself, took advantage of one day when the military plane was on duty, and summoned Zhang Zhidong and another military minister, Shi Xu, inside.
He took out the smoldering imperial edict again.
I thought that Shixu was a Manchu, and Zhang Zhidong had many conflicts with Datou, so there should be no objection.
Unexpectedly, the two put the overall situation first, fearing that Yuan Shikai's resignation would cause shock at home and abroad, so they resolutely opposed it.
Facts have proved that there is no need to worry.After Yuan Shikai was dismissed from office, the embassy area in Dongjiaomin Lane suddenly exploded. "The Times" published an editorial, positioning the big head as a "great statesman", and said for him: "It is such an official who was exiled by the government in an insulting way."
Helplessly, Zaifeng was stubborn.
Zhang Zhidong persuaded Yuan Shikai tactfully, with tongue-tied lips, and finally helped Yuan Shikai work out a solution of "returning to his hometown after a vacancy".
After coming down, some people were puzzled and said: "Xiang Cheng (Yuan Shikai) is a hero of the first generation, the court can't use it, just kill it. Now that he returns home with sorrow, aren't you afraid of leaving troubles in the future?"
Zhang Zhidong waved his hands and said: "There was Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, who was diligent in governing and loving the people. He can be regarded as a generation of virtuous monarchs. He only treated his subordinates harshly, ignoring killing, so the country perished. Today, the supervisor is kind and enlightened, and we should guide him to be lenient." , in order to strengthen the country. If the important ministers of the previous dynasty were killed just after the administration, I am afraid that he will repeat the mistakes of the late Ming Dynasty."
Under the unanimous opposition of Lu Chuanlin and other military ministers and the Beiyang military officers at the same level in Xinjunzhen, Zaifeng had to use the name of "foot disease" to open Yuan Shikai's vacancy, and ordered Na Tong to be the military minister.
Although the excuse is lame, it is absolutely innocent.
Six months ago, on Yuan Shikai's 50th birthday, he received more than 500 copies from the birthday party and more than 100 birthday cakes.The family is full of guests and friends, and the momentum is brilliant.
Anti-Yuan expert Jiang Chunlin went deep into the enemy's rear in order to collect evidence, and also came to celebrate his birthday.
He found that the congratulatory ceremony sent by Yikuang was not signed by the king, but directly written by his name. Zai Zhen even called himself "Rudi" (worshiping brothers), which violated the king's regulations, so he started with this and listed Yuan Shikai's twelve congresses. The crimes, including his distant relatives smoking opium, are included in the impeachment.
Cixi thought that she was about to die and had to be beaten again before she died, so she summoned Yuan Shikai, showed her bullets, and criticized him angrily.
It's completely unreasonable to be shot while lying down.
When going down the steps, the frightened Datou accidentally twisted his foot.
The phrase "difficult to walk, hard to be competent" in the strike comes from this.
After Yuan Shikai received the order, his face flushed, and he forced a smile and said, "Heaven is kind and sincere."
At that time, Cixi's funeral had not yet been finished, and the big head was one of the ministers attending the funeral. He was on duty every day. Thinking of this, he suddenly said: "I am on duty today, what should I do?"
Shixu on the side sighed and said, "I'll go for you."
After leaving the palace, Yuan Shikai began to prepare for returning home.
He has already laid out the situation of perishing in the Qing Dynasty.All that was left for Zaifeng was dead chess.Not to mention how many important positions in the central and local governments the Beiyang faction holds, just look at the list of three-level officers in Xinjunzhen, Xie, and Biao, and you will know who is in charge of the world: Duan Qirui, Wang Shizhen, Wu Peifu, Duan Zhigui, Cao Kun , Zhang Huaizhi, Tang Tianxi, Lei Zhenchun, Lu Jianzhang, Zhang Jingyao, Sun Chuanfang, Tian Zhongyu, Jin Yunpeng, Wang Zhanyuan, Meng Enyuan...
Almost all of them come from small stations.
This group of momentary choices is distributed in the "Six Beiyang Towns" (until 1911, there were only 14 towns in the whole country), and they control all the gates of the world.
The first town is stationed in Beijing;
The second town is divided into Shanhaiguan and Yongping Prefecture of Zhili Province;
The third town is located in Baoding and Jinzhou Prefecture of Fengtian Province;
The fourth town stationed in Tianjin Station;
The fifth town is stationed in Jinan;
The sixth town is stationed in Nanyuan, Beijing.
Although four of the towns have been assigned to the Ministry of War, the army always recognizes people, and Duan Qirui and others don't take Tie Liang seriously.
On the other hand, with the abolition of the imperial examinations, the status of the gentry class, the social base on which the governance of China relied, has undergone a transformation.
The younger ones were fooled by the revolutionary party and embarked on the road of overthrowing the current regime;
The older ones squeezed into the Advisory Council through elections, and confronted the Qing court to the end with a non-violent and non-cooperative attitude.
Zaifeng, whose talents are not enough, is helpless in the face of such a mess, even if he is full of resentment.
Therefore, Ito Hirobumi from the East of the East China Sea predicted when he met with the British envoy: "Within three years, there will be a revolution in China."
Yuan Mansion is not far from Donghua Gate, and everyone has been waiting here for a long time.
Yuan Keding yelled as soon as he saw his father:
This is to be killed like Er Zhurong!
Er Zhurong was a powerful official in the Northern Wei Dynasty during the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Because of the sharp conflict with the royal family, he was tricked into the palace by Emperor Xiaozhuang of the Northern Wei Dynasty and hacked to death.
Zaifeng never had such courage, but Jiufang's wife and concubine persuaded him to go abroad and escape while crying, which made him confused and couldn't make up his mind for a while.
At that time, Zhang Huaizhi, who was the first town association commander of the New Army, suggested:
Huaizhi alone escorted me to Tianjin at high speed, relying on Yang Shixiang to make further calculations.
That's all for now.
As a result, when the car arrived in Tianjin, Zhang Huaizhi called the direct governor Yang Shixiang and asked him to send someone to pick him up, but was rejected:
He was ordered to return home, how could he come here?If you come, you must report it.
Zhang Huaizhi said no more, turned around and reported to Yuan Shikai.
Yang Shixiang hung up the phone, and his staff said: "Even so, we must go to condolences, and don't let him hate us."
So he sent his son there.
Yuan Shikai had seen through Yang Shixiang, and dismissed his son lukewarmly.
Beijing.
Shixu went to Yuan's mansion to give condolences, but the gatekeeper said that Mr. Yuan was ill and would not let him in.Under the pressure, the other party had no choice but to tell the truth.
He was shocked and said: "This is really a catastrophe!"
Quickly urged Yuan Shikai to return to court by phone, and guaranteed with his personality that he would not be ordered to be severely punished.
奕劻和张之洞也派人转达了同样的意思，劝他赶紧回家，避其锋芒。
1909年1月6日，北风如刀。
袁世凯带着一大家子，伫立于北京火车站的月台上，即将奉旨回乡“调养足疾”。
前来送行的只有孙宝琦、杨士琦、杨度和严修等区区数人。
倒不是什么人情冷暖。重量级的官员为了不刺激敏感的载沣，早就私下送别过了。
比如张之洞。
唇亡齿寒的两个人冰释前嫌，促膝长谈。
张之洞大有兔死狐悲之感，握着袁世凯的手，慨叹道：“马上就轮到我了。”（“行将及我。”）
离别的车站。
四人里，孙宝琦跟袁世凯是儿女亲家，一向高调。
早年任驻法公使时，兴中会叛徒汤芗铭偷了孙文的公文包，拿着里面的会员名单跑去使馆告密。
结果，清廷的三品命官孙宝琦扭头就派人给孙文传信说“危险速逃”……
此外，杨士琦的农工商部侍郎、严修的学部侍郎以及杨度的四品京衔全是大头一手争取来的，三人岂能不感佩于怀？
大树既倒，载沣再接再厉，着手剪除袁党。
在这个问题上，缺乏阅历的载沣跟慈禧完全不在一个段位上。
后者欲擒故纵，分化瓦解，各种手段交替使用。而载沣除了正面打击，罢官贬职外，没有任何让人眼前一亮的政治手腕。
唐绍仪、赵秉钧和严修等相继去职，徐世昌内调为邮传部尚书，以锡良接替其东三省总督一职。
锡良一到任，就严参袁党骨干、黑龙江布政使倪嗣冲的贪污案，将其革职查办。
不久，杨士骧病故，端方北上署理直隶总督。
屁股还没坐热，就因一件荒诞至极的事被革。
当时正逢慈禧梓宫移陵，由端方负责相关事宜。从紫禁城到清东陵的路上，新潮的端大人想给隆重的出殡大典留下些历史记录，便举起相机，一路狂闪。
结果，没过几天便被农工商部左丞李国杰（李鸿章长孙）给参了。
李国杰是个混混，曾以“侄国杰”的身份，写信向端方求官。
端方一口答应下来，却因故未能践诺。
李国杰记恨多年，终于逮住这个机会，跑到隆裕那搬弄是非，说：“沿途拍照，毫无忌惮。岂唯不敬，实系全无心肝。”
隆裕见识短，心想自己刚上位，疆臣便敢如此不敬，一定要杀一儆百，树立威信。
于是，摄影爱好者端方因勇于尝试新鲜事物而被开除公职。
载沣则继续其揽权大计。
早年出洋的见闻让他看到，德国皇室从幼年起就接受严格的军事训练，因而国势强盛。
有心效法军国主义的他开始日夜思索如何集中兵权。
得出的答案是：国之利器，岂可予人？
Just do it.
先裁撤练兵处，再加两个弟弟载洵和载涛郡王衔，分管海军与陆军，完全无视慈禧遗折中“满汉视为一体，内外必须兼筹”的劝诫。
载洵把持着新成立的海军处，与其兄载沣性格迥异。以海军大臣的头衔出访欧洲时，一路颐指气使，纨绔到底。
当德皇的叔叔出面为载洵举办送别晚宴时，他竟以晚饭已吃饱为由，拒绝前往。急得驻德公使荫昌想辞职，最后生拉硬拽把载洵拖到了波茨坦皇宫。
结果，看到名流显贵济济一堂，名媛淑女竞相邀舞，载洵转怒为喜，又在觥筹交错间大醉失态。
美国政界普遍认为载洵不仅腐化，且对海军事务茫然无知。
当他出访美国时，马克西姆造船厂因施放了一组能在空中展示载洵身穿军礼服形象的焰火就赢得了订单，气得那些不懂中国逻辑的竞争对手直喷美国国骂。
回国后，玩兴大发的载洵在廷议上主张大举国债，建设海军，引得朝野大哗。
一浪高过一浪的反对让载沣也不便贸然支持自己这个脑残志坚的弟弟。
情急之下，载洵居然搬出宠爱自己的生母刘佳氏，跟里的白三爷似的，不依不饶，逼得载沣一个多月不敢回家。
左膀不行，还有右臂。
载涛相对而言更有城府，但也更年轻。载沣一直在物色机会，帮他铺路。
先是从新军第一镇中抽调士兵组成自己直辖的禁卫军，装备和粮饷优于各军，以载涛和铁良为训练大臣。
再将陆军部的下属单位军咨处分离出来，改造为直接对皇帝负责的军事顾问、指挥机关军咨府，交载涛管理，凌驾于陆军部之上。
紧接着，将新军第一镇镇统段祺瑞外放为提督；将铁良外放为江宁将军（南京地区总司令），而把荫昌召回，代替其陆军部尚书一职。
本来，和载沣拥有共同敌人的铁良是可以挤进政治核心圈的，奈何他押错了宝，竟跑到隆裕跟前劝她训政。
隆裕倒是想效法慈禧，再来一个太后垂帘。故动辄与载沣为难，事事力争。
但毕竟敌不过人兄弟齐心，三矢之誓。
由此可见，以铁良的智商，当个国防部长确实令人堪忧。
载沣的胡作非为引起了张之洞的不满，终于在津浦铁路（天津至南京浦口）的人事任用上集中爆发。
当时，张之洞已卧病在床，载沣拟定了督办人选，到病榻前征求老头的意见。
张之洞：“朝廷用人，如果不考虑舆情，恐怕要激起民变。”
载沣：“国家养着这些兵，怕什么民变？”
张之洞：“国家养兵，不是为了打老百姓。”
两人不欢而散。
望着载沣离去的背影，张之洞悲愤满怀，一口鲜血倾泻而出，怆然道：“不意竟听到亡国之言！”
不久，载沣听闻张之洞病危，再次前去探访，宽慰道：“中堂有名望，公忠体国，好好为国珍重。”
张之洞在枕席上吃力道：“公忠体国不敢当，廉正无私，不敢不勉励。”
意在讽谏载沣“廉正”，不要任人唯私。
载沣走后，礼部侍郎陈宝琛问道：“监国之意若何？”
张之洞长髯抖动，无他言，唯叹息曰：“国运尽矣。希其一悟而未能。”
1909年8月，中兴四大名臣中的最后一位溘然长逝。
遗折中，他念念不忘的还是警醒载沣：“臣平生以不树党援、不殖生产自励。”
载沣却并不领情，认为张之洞死了还要讽刺自己结党营私，将其“文忠”的谥号降为“文襄”，彻底寒了满朝汉臣的心。
没关系，以良弼（1872—1912）为代表的政治集团已然异军突起。
此人留过洋，才识兼备，素有大志，刚正不阿。可惜，人如其名般忠君爱党。
在视野开阔的良弼看来，气度狭隘、不能容人的铁良纯属弱智。
一味排挤、封闭，根本无法遏制北洋系尾大不掉的趋势。只有反其道而行之，广为延揽，拔擢富有朝气的新势力与之抗衡，方为上策。
归纳起来四个字：以汉制汉。
良弼的主张同其留学日本时的经历有关。他所在的学校是一所位于东京、精英辈出的名校——陆军士官学校，培养了东条英机、冈村宁次等著名战犯。
对中国而言，该校则是革命的摇篮，后来如雷贯耳的蔡锷、阎锡山、唐继尧、李烈钧、张凤翙等，均从这里毕业。
官派赴日留学的风气为大头所开。科举废除后，清廷为了培养新式人才为己所用，采纳袁世凯的建议，加大了公派的力度。
虽说有学监盯着，但这帮跑到墙外的学生还是纷纷投进革命的怀抱，踊跃加入同盟会。
良弼耳闻目睹，产生了强烈的危机感，“知清室将亡，当力图振奋”。回国后，历任练兵处、陆军部司长，整天游说高层，终于同载涛一见倾心，被其引为智囊。
良弼给载涛开的药方很简单：掺沙子。
所谓沙子，是指从士官学校学成归国的士官生。良弼天真地以为，用体制内的禄位羁縻软化，这帮成天跟政府过不去的八零后还是能够为我所用的。
由此，良弼汲引了大量排满反清的党人。用心固然良苦，怎奈生于末世运偏消，到头来不过是自掘坟墓罢了。
以士官生里的代表，同“北洋三杰”齐名的“士官三杰”吴禄贞、蓝天蔚、张绍曾为例，三个革命党，借着人才引进的东风，成功打入反革命大本营，以火箭速度被擢为镇统或协统。
三人里，吴禄贞跟良弼关系最好。两人的友情堪称道不同亦相为谋，后者明知前者的革命思想，仍在载涛面前力保其才。
后果便是：趁武昌起义爆发，荫昌率军南下平乱，作为新军第六镇镇统的吴禄贞立刻跑到河北滦州策动第二十镇镇统张绍曾起兵反清。
张绍曾曾兵谏清廷速开国会，但对直接造反还是犹豫不决。
不久，山西亦乱，阎锡山被推为革命军都督。
载沣调第六镇前往弹压。不料，吴禄贞却在娘子关与阎锡山会谈，商量组建“燕晋联军”，共讨北京……
在良弼的影响下，即使对禁卫军管带蒋百里（钱学森岳父）这样的中级军官，载涛也奉之如师。
换来的结果是，载沣很快发现，自己所倚重的军事力量，已成为一座踩在脚下、随时可能喷发的活火山。
当载洵结束对欧美的考察，取道俄国坐火车回国时，曾担任新军混成协队官（连长）的革命党人熊成基在哈尔滨布置暗杀任务，事泄被捕。
审讯中，熊成基历数清廷罪状，质问说：“近年创设海军陆军，若真有自强御侮之意，中国之大，岂无人才，何以偏要假手载洵、载涛等近支亲贵？”
并视死如归道：“自由之树，不以血灌溉，焉能期其茂盛？”
下野的袁世凯，明确向外界宣告了自己政治生命的终结。
在给师友亲朋的信中，他反复表示自己“年逾五十，精力已衰。遗大投艰（交给重大而艰难的任务），断难胜任”。
清制京官退休，不准住在京城，必须回原籍。
但一般而言，除非获罪遭遣，倒也并不一定非要回本县老家，原省即可。
袁世凯就没回项城，而是在同属河南的卫辉府下了车。
个中原因，他解释说是“屋宇无多，不足栖止”，实则另有隐情。
几年前，大头的生母刘氏去世，被朝廷追赏一品封典。
刘氏是袁世凯生父袁保中的侧室，在正房死后被扶为正妻。按宗法制，完全有资格入祖坟，与其夫同埋一穴。
谁知，大头的二哥、袁保中的嫡子袁世敦认为，他的生母才是实至名归的正室，刘氏只是山寨的。
于是从中作梗，坚决不准其与袁保中合葬。
为此，兄弟二人反目，袁世凯发誓再不回项城。
卫辉。
此地有崇山峻岭，茂林修竹，物华天宝，钟林毓秀，是姜子牙、商鞅的故乡，也是清朝官场公认的养老圣地。
在府治汲县，袁世凯买下一座当铺大院作宅子。当一大家子全部迁来后，这座拥挤不堪、毗邻闹市的府邸开始变得不敷使用。
正好袁世凯的亲家、富商何炳莹在邻府彰德的北郊买地建厂，盖了一栋别墅。听说大头要另觅新居，便将其半卖半送地给了他。
于是就有了富丽堂皇的洹上村。
洹水悠悠，流经宅前，默默地凝视着演替了数千年的兴衰荣枯。
战国纵横家苏秦，在向赵肃侯建言时就曾献过“令天下之将相，会于洹水之上”的合纵之策。
袁世凯并不在意这些历史掌故，只觉“前临洹水，右拥太行”的自然风情让他心旷神怡。
袁府山石叠翠，曲径幽兰。名花异草，争奇斗艳。洹水穿墙而入，凿地成池。池中莲蓬摇影，