Chapter 108 Empress Dowager Cixi's political will

It is said that when Yuan Shikai was busy with the "Xinwei party struggle", he did not forget to do the right thing: promote local autonomy. Under the national conditions where the people's legal knowledge is quite lacking and their democratic consciousness is very indifferent, if we want to promote constitutional reform, we must have a high-quality cadre team.Yuan Shikai was also very aware of this, so he thought of a trick to promote the modernization of cadres: sending officials abroad to study and study. At that time, officials who went abroad for investigation still had to suffer a little bit, and they had to receive training in China in the early stage to lay a solid foundation.During the day when I was abroad, I had to go to places to visit and study during the day, and I was so exhausted that I had to attend classes at night and receive training from foreign lecturers.

The suffering was not in vain, and Yuan Shikai got a high-quality cadre team. In the following period of time, under the leadership of Comrade Yuan Shikai, supplemented by the hard work of a group of outstanding cadres represented by Zhou Xuexi and Li Shiming, the Tianjin Council, the first local council elected by the people in China's history, was established in 1907. It was formally established on August 18, 2010. This is an epoch-making event in the history of Chinese constitutionalism!This is a great achievement. In the future, other places can follow the example of the Tianjin Parliament!

August 1907 was a happy season for Yuan Shikai. His political opponents fell, and great achievements were made in constitutional reform. But before Yuan Shikai could enjoy the fruit of happiness in the future, Cixi promoted him and Zhang Zhidong to the minister of military aircraft with a single order. On the surface, Yuan Shikai was promoted from a local boss to a top central cadre, but in fact this was to remove his real military and political power in the local area, and Yuan Shikai lost his territory and army.In order to prevent Yuan Shikai from acting arbitrarily in the military aircraft department, Cixi also transferred the veteran Zhang Zhidong to the military aircraft department, with the purpose of restraining Yuan Shikai.This tactic has another advantage: Zhang Zhidong, the second Han Chinese, was deprived of his real military and political power without any trace.

Kill two birds with one stone!Cixi is really scheming! However, Yuan Shikai and Zhang Zhidong were not vegetarians either. They could see Cixi's intentions very clearly. Therefore, although Yuan Shikai and Zhang Zhidong held different views on many political matters, in the face of national prosperity and national righteousness, the two were willing to put aside their previous differences and formed a united front on the constitutional issue. Under the single-handed planning of Yuan Shikai and Zhang Zhidong, the preparatory constitution was still done with great fanfare, which was beyond Empress Dowager Cixi's expectations.

The winter of 1907 passed in a hurry. Yuan Shikai had been in the Imperial Capital for a while, and although his work could barely be called smooth, compared with the straightforwardness of doing whatever he wanted to do in Zhili, Yuan Shikai felt that working in the Imperial Capital had one feeling: heavy resistance. Just when Yuan Shikai lamented that it was too difficult to do things in the imperial capital, a person came into his sight. This person is Yang Du.Yang Du is no longer in Japan. He returned to China at the end of last year and was elected as the president of the "Hunan Constitutional Association".After that, he contacted a group of gentry, signed a petition, and collectively wrote a letter, calling on the government to open a democratically elected parliament and implement a responsible cabinet system.

As Minister of Military Aircraft, Yuan Shikai had the honor to read Yang Du's letter-"Petition for All People's Elected House in Hunan" because of his proximity to the water. Talented people who are proficient in the constitution can be of great use!After reading it, Yuan Shikai couldn't help expressing his love for talent. Of course, Yuan Shikai, who loves talent, cannot let Yang Du go. Next, Yuan Shikai recommended Yang Du to Beijing as an alternate fourth-rank constitutional editorial office for promotion.Yang Du also happily went. Yang Du refused to accept Sun Yat-sen's solicitation, why did Yuan Shikai come as soon as he was summoned?Because Yang Du has his purpose, maybe you will understand after reading his talent file.

Yang Du, courtesy name Xizi, alias Hu Toutuo, was born in Xiangtan, Hunan Province in 1874, a fellow of Mao Zedong. This guy was a child prodigy when he was a child, and his reputation spread to Wang Kaiyun's ears.Wang Kaiyun was a master of Chinese studies at that time, a superstar in the academic world.This person is also considered a maverick, he actually let go of the burden of being an idol, and personally came to ask Yang Du to be his student.Yang Du's prodigy level can be seen from this. Qi Baishi, Yang Du's younger brother, should be under a lot of pressure. His older brother is so heroic, he needs to work harder as a younger brother!

For such an extraordinary person, his ability is naturally remarkable.Yang Du has the ambition to devour the world, and is good at the strategy of changing the dynasty, because what he learned from Wang Kaiyun is the learning of emperors.In today's terms, this person is a factor of social instability.This brother's later experience really verified this truth. Since Yang Du was a capable constitutionalist, not only did he not have to write constitution-related documents himself, Yuan Shikai also arranged a special job for Yang Du: a guest professor, to supplement legal knowledge for princes and ministers in the Summer Palace, and to set up free constitutional documents. lecture.

Yuan Shikai's purpose is simple: to improve the quality of this group of people, so that they will make less trouble for the reform. With Yang Du's help, Yuan Shikai finally had spare time.So, he took Duan Fang, who was as passionate about constitutional monarchy as himself, and Zhang Zhidong, who was a little less courageous, and they took turns talking to the old lady. At the end of August 1908, the old lady Cixi, who couldn't stand the trio's chatter, felt that she was breathless, and finally promulgated the "Imperial Constitutional Outline" and "List of Yearly Preparations", which finally gave comfort to the people who were full of expectations.

The promulgated ordinance said: Let's go in three steps. In 1909, the provincial constitutional assemblies were held, in 1910 the national constitutional assembly was held, and in 1917 the National Assembly was held. That is to say, nine years later, the constitutional assembly officially began. It's a pity that God is no longer willing to give this decadent dynasty time.