Chapter 11 11. The Annoyance and Defeat of the "Closed Emperor"

Among the farce of Yuan Shikai's restoration, the most hilarious thing is that "Prince" Yuan Keding forged "Suntian Times" to deceive the old man.Yes, "Suntian Times" is what Yuan Shikai read every day, because this newspaper not only has a large circulation, but also is a Chinese-language newspaper run by the Japanese in Tianjin (from which we can see the Japanese government's movements), and Yuan Shikai was very interested in Japan's attitude is the most sensitive. "There is no one who knows a son like a father", and vice versa. In order to facilitate the old man to proclaim himself emperor and fulfill his "prince dream", Yuan Keding did not hesitate to forge a fake "news" that published some news that advocated the monarchy and supported President Yuan as emperor. Shuntian Times, and show it to Yuan Shikai every day, which has to be said to be a strange story.

Yuan Jingxue, Yuan Shikai's favorite third daughter, recalled: "The fake version of "Suntian Times" was produced by a group of people organized by the elder brother (Yuan Keding). False. The elder brother separated our family from the real news. Unexpectedly, one day, a girl of mine was going home to visit her father. At that time, I loved black-skinned five-spice crispy broad beans, so I asked her By the way, I bought some to bring back to eat. The next day, this girl bought a big bag, which was wrapped with the entire "Suncheon Times". When I was eating broad beans, I accidentally saw the first few pages. Today’s newspaper was actually different from the “Suncheon Times” we usually see, so I hurriedly searched for the same day’s newspaper to check, and found that the date was the same, but the content was different. I thought it was very strange , I went to my second brother (Yuan Kewen) to ask what was going on. The second brother said that he had already seen the different "Shuntian Times" outside the mansion, but he didn't dare to explain it to my father. He then asked me: "Do you dare to say it?" I said: "I dare." That night, I gave the real "Suncheon Times" to my father. After my father read it, he asked where he got it. So I told the truth. At that time, my father frowned and didn't express anything. He just said: "Go and play." The next morning, he called his eldest brother, and asked him that he was the culprit. I was so angry that I beat my elder brother with a leather whip in the sound of my elder brother kneeling and begging for mercy. While beating, he also called him "deceitful father and wrong country". From then on, my father became angry when he saw him , No matter what he said, my father always kept his face straight, let out a 'hum' from his nose, and stopped talking to him to show his distrust of him."

Although Yuan Keding lost the old man's trust at a critical moment, he still has a trump card, which is the "family curse" that Yuan Shikai can't get rid of.This matter is very strange to say, in Yuan Shikai's family, those who went out to serve as officials have never lived beyond the age of 60, such as Yuan Jiasan, Yuan Baoheng, Yuan Baoling, Yuan Baoqing, and even Yuan Shikai's own father Yuan Baozhong also died in his prime.As a result, the 60-year-old mark became a long-lasting nightmare in Yuan Shikai's heart, which could not go away. Since the founding of the Republic of China, Yuan Shikai's health has been deteriorating, which made him feel even more suspicious.

When the sixty-year-old deadline is approaching, Yuan Keding made repeated remarks, declaring that "only by proclaiming himself emperor can he break through this curse", which had to have a strong attraction for Yuan Shikai.That's right, the emperor is the "Ninth Five-Year Supreme", the most prestigious in the world, what is more noble than this in the world?Perhaps, this curse really dare not infringe on "The Right One"?To put it bluntly, Yuan Shikai was also a superstitious person at that time, and it would be unreasonable to blame Yuan Keding for proclaiming himself emperor.

In stark contrast to Yuan Keding's enthusiasm for the imperial system, Yuan Shikai's second son Yuan Kewen (zi Hanyun) was indifferent to it.Not only that, but the "second son of the emperor" even wrote a poem satirizing his father, which can be regarded as a rare masterpiece among the ancient poems of the Republic of China: The last two lines of the poem are the key point, which is nothing more than to persuade the old man to "don't go to the top floor of Qionglou", otherwise he will stand high and fall hard, and all his old capital will be lost.It's a pity that Yuan Shikai didn't read enough books. Su Dongpo also said in "Water Tune Getou Mid-Autumn Festival" that "the heights are too cold", but he had forgotten it in a moment of fever.

After a lot of intensive preparations, Yuan Shikai bowed again and again, and finally accepted the "support" of the people, and he really wanted to change his system and become emperor.The auspicious day for Huang Daoji, who officially ascended the throne, was set on January 1, 1916. Before that, Yuan Shikai decided to hold a congratulatory meeting for all officials, and Yuan Keding would choose the date.Yuan Keding was impatient and said, "Just tomorrow, December 13th will be a good day!" In the morning of the next day, Yuan Shikai held a congratulatory meeting for all officials in Zhongnanhai.Due to the rush of time and no preparations in advance, the officials who came to congratulate only included officials in Beijing, and none of the local officials participated.The funny thing is that this pilgrimage has neither uniform nor prescribed procedures. Some officials who came to congratulate were dressed in long gowns and mandarin jackets, while others wore suits and dresses. Here we go.

The ceremony was presided over by Duan Zhigui, the "Yuaner" of Emperor Yuan, but what puzzled him was that the emperor ordered him to bow three times during the court congratulations, and he couldn't perform the three prostrations and nine prostrations he imagined, which annoyed him endlessly.At 9:00 on the same day, under the guidance of four military officers, Yuan Shikai came to Jurentang. However, he did not wear the million-dollar dragon uniform and crown that everyone had guessed, but the military uniform of the Generalissimo. Not even a hat (because he always hated the field marshal's cap with the feathers).However, this made his big head more shiny, as if the purple air was coming from the east, and the sky was full of blessings.

Although the civil and military officials have been divided into shifts, Duan Zhigui is a warrior and doesn't know the rules of emcees. Before Emperor Yuan was seated, he bowed down first, and the others were in a mess during the visit because there was no one to bow. Yes, some bowed down, and some shouted "Long Live the Emperor". They were uneven, so that Emperor Yuan couldn't sit or stand, hesitating for a long time. He just supported the throne dragon chair with his left hand, and turned his palm upward with his right hand. Those who bowed and prostrated nodded their heads.

After the congratulatory ceremony was over, Emperor Yuan asked everyone to disperse and went back to work, and he didn't even invite everyone to a banquet.After everyone walked out of Ju Ren Tang, they came back to their senses: this morning celebration ceremony is too simple and too economical!Just like usual, he seems to be the emperor behind closed doors, sneaky and shady... What's the matter? But that’s not the case. When Cai E, Tang Jiyao and others raised the banner of "protecting the country" in Yunnan, Yuan Shikai had to postpone the date of enthronement, saying that he would wait until the rebellion was quelled before enthroning. The war between China and the People's Republic of China will not end in a short while. As a result, Yuan Shikai did not officially ascend the throne until his death, and at best he was a "closed emperor".

In ancient Chinese history, after the establishment of a new dynasty, it was necessary to "relocate, correct, change clothes, and change sacrifices." Therefore, there is no need to "relocate to the place of residence"; but it is still necessary to make a fuss about "rectifying the first year", that is, after 1916, the five years of the Republic of China were abolished and the first year of Hongxian was changed, and the calendar was also changed to the "Almanac of the First Year of Hongxian". ; As for "easy-to-wear color", according to the three-system cycle theory of "Xia Hei Shang Bai Zhou Chi" in Jinwen Jingxue, the Hongxian Dynasty should advocate red, so the pillars of the three halls of the enthronement should be painted red, and the tiles should also be red. Replace it with red tiles to show celebration.

In addition, when the emperor ascended the throne, he had to confer titles on meritorious ministers, and the benefits were shared, but there was also a small problem here, that is, the old friends from before, and Emperor Yuan was embarrassed to let them be ministers, so he wanted to stand out Old lovers (including Zaifeng, Yiqiu, Shixu, Natong, Xiliang, etc., all of whom were princes or famous governors of the former Qing Dynasty), old friends (including Xu Shichang, Zhao Erxun, Zhang Jian, Li Jingxi, and later The "Four Friends of Songshan Mountain"), Qishuo (Wang Kaiyun, Ma Xiangbo, etc.), these people can enjoy the gift of not being a minister.As for the provincial generals, patrol envoys, guard envoys, guard envoys, division commanders and above, they are divided into five titles of "public, marquis, uncle, son, and male". 128, even the late former Prime Minister Zhao Bingjun posthumously made a first-class official. In these happy days, there are also discordant sounds. For example, at the ceremony, former army chief Duan Qirui and former vice president Li Yuanhong (Yuan Shikai became the emperor, of course, vice president Li became the former vice president) never came.Yuan Shikai named Li Yuanhong a "Prince of Wuyi", but the former vice president repeatedly refused and refused to accept it.After the news spread, a nursery rhyme also spread like wildfire: "A good country can't be done in prison; a good country can't be jailed; no one wants the prince's gift!" During the process of Yuan Shikai becoming emperor, Yan Xiu and Zhang Yiling, two old friends who had followed him for many years, clearly expressed their opposition to the restoration of the monarchy. They repeatedly dissuaded Yuan Shikai not to take this path of desperation, but Yuan Shikai never came to his senses.After all, there is no medicine for regret in the world. On the night when the imperial system was abolished, Yuan Shikai called Zhang Yiling for a conversation, and said with great regret: "I didn't listen to you and Fan Sun (Yan Xiu's words) ), now that I think about it, I really feel regretful and ashamed! Fan Sun has been with me for many years, and has never mentioned any promotion to me; you have been in my shogunate for more than ten years, and you have never made any personal requests. It can be seen How precious are those who are indifferent to fame and wealth, glory and wealth, and fame and fortune. These are the real national scholars! Those who once promoted me, are they really serving the country and the people? They promote me as emperor today, and tomorrow It is possible to oppose the monarchy, such people are everywhere! In short, I spend more time doing business and less time studying, and this is my own fault, no one else’s fault.” In the end, Yuan Shikai said sadly: "It's just a small matter for me, but a big one for the country. Those who are in charge of the country must take it as a warning!" In the end, Yuan Shikai's body couldn't stand it any longer, and proclaiming himself king and emperor not only did not help him break the family curse, but accelerated his death.According to Yuan Jingxue’s recollection, during the Lantern Festival in 1916, when the whole family gathered around to eat the Lantern Festival, the sixth, eighth, and ninth concubines quarreled loudly in front of Yuan Shikai over the status of “concubine” and “concubine”. stand up.Seeing this, Yuan Shikai sighed and said, "Don't make trouble anymore! You all have to go back to Zhangde and wait to take my coffin back with me!" After speaking, Yuan Shikai got up and went back to the office.At that time, the War to Protect the Country had already broken out, and Yuan Shikai was worried and depressed all day long. After being disturbed by his family, Yuan Shikai began to eat less from that day, and gradually became sick. Amidst the voices of all parties demanding the president's abdication, Yuan Shikai was in a state of confusion, unwilling to abdicate, and then went to war but was unable to do so. In the end, he was exhausted physically and mentally, and his body collapsed.In the last few days of May 1916, Yuan Shikai was unable to work; on June 5, Yuan Shikai went into a coma for a while; until 6 am on June 6, Yuan Shikai finally passed away. Yuan Shikai suffered from soft foot disease in the late Qing Dynasty, which was also the reason why the then regent Zaifeng fired him.After the outbreak of the Revolution of 1911, Yuan Shikai came back and needed the help of servants when he entered the palace.This time, Yuan Shikai’s disease was bladder stones that caused uremia to infect the whole body. Originally, this disease would not lead to life-threatening, but Yuan Shikai was quite stubborn, and he always refused to see Western medicine or undergo surgery (probably because of the special location of the disease) , ashamed to speak), coupled with all kinds of dissatisfaction after the divine system, and the rush of anger, aggravated his condition. After Yuan Keding's insistence, Yuan Shikai asked the French doctor Béchier to come for diagnosis and treatment after his condition deteriorated sharply and he had trouble urinating, but it was too late.Bei Xiye suggested that Yuan Shikai go to the hospital for surgery, maybe there is still a glimmer of life, but Yuan Shikai refused.Under such circumstances, Beshiye had no choice but to catheterize Yuan Shikai's urine in his bedroom, but at this time all the urine was hematuria.Yuan Shikai knew that he couldn't afford it, so he hurriedly asked Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui to find him, and handed over the presidential seal to Xu Shichang, saying: "The president should belong to Li Songqing (Li Yuanhong's name), so I will be fine. I'm also planning to go back to Zhangde." It is said that after Yuan Shikai fainted in the early morning of the 6th and regained consciousness, he whispered to his old friend Xu Shichang, who was at his side, "Yang Du, Yang Du, you misunderstood me." !" Yuan Shikai didn't say who this "he" was, and most people thought he was referring to the eldest son Yuan Keding.Yuan Keding really has to bear half of the responsibility for this ugly drama of restoration. He wanted to be a prince himself and wanted to be crazy. In the end, he pushed the old man to the fire and made Yuan Shikai a generation of heroes. In the end, he was killed by this scorpion. What a pity. The ridiculous and deplorable infamy through the ages is really useless.Yuan Keding was a man who was neither literate nor martial, his character was not high, his morals were not obvious, not to mention half his life, he was a man's favorite in his later years, and because of this, he lost his family and property, and died in poverty.Yuan Shikai has such a prince, how can he be undefeated? Since Yuan Shikai was still the incumbent president when he died, Li Yuanhong treated his funeral as the incumbent head of state after he succeeded the president.At that time, in addition to allocating 500,000 yuan in public funds for funeral expenses, the central government also ordered civil and military organs to lower their flags at half-staff, stop banquets for 27 days, and stop folk entertainment for 7 days; all civil and military officials and troops stationed in Beijing should wear black gauze; At the "Department", Cao Rulin, Wang Yitang, and Zhou Ziqi will undertake the funeral ceremony, and Li Yuanhong, Xu Shichang, and Duan Qirui will be in charge. After Yuan Shikai's death, those who opposed him overtly and secretly in the war to protect the country also "dissolved their suspicions", or rushed to Beijing in person or sent their entourage to mourn the old leader, so Yuan Shikai's funeral was also held in a splendid manner. mourning.The most deplorable thing is Yu Ganer and Fengtian General Duan Zhigui. After he learned of Yuan Shikai's death, he hurriedly came from outside the pass. His dear father (what a filial son!). Because Yuan Shikai's funeral was too extravagant, at the final settlement, it was found that he could not make ends meet, and the special funds allocated by the government were not enough to build the cemetery after deducting the funeral expenses.For this reason, eight people, including Xu Shichang, Duan Qirui, and Wang Shizhen, jointly launched a public announcement, asking people from all walks of life to donate money and help, and finally collected 250,000 yuan to finally end Yuan Shikai's funeral. Wouldn't it be sad and deplorable for a generation of heroes to end up like this?