Chapter 11 10. Hundred Days Reform

In the twenty-fourth year of Guangxu (1898), in the late spring and early summer, Beijing was full of an atmosphere of transformation.Because everyone knows that the young Emperor Guangxu enthusiastically supported the reform.However, the conservative forces concentrated on attacking Kang Youwei, not only attacking Kang Youwei, but also attacking Weng Tonghe, who was closest to Guangxu, so that neither Weng Tonghe nor Kang Youwei could retain Beijing.Kang Youwei once wanted to leave Beijing, but he was afraid that Weng Tonghe would also be forced to leave Beijing, and no one among the ministers could preside over the reform, so he wrote a memorial "Please set the state and clarify the rewards and punishments", and asked the censor Yang Shenxiu to submit it on his behalf. He wrote a memorial and asked Xu Zhijing, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, to play it.Guangxu saw these two memorials, and his confidence in the reform increased.Guangxu knew that the atmosphere of opposition was also very strong, so he asked someone to tell Cixi: "Your son cannot be the king of subjugation. If you don't give me full power, I would rather give up." Cixi was very angry when she heard this, so she asked someone to tell Guangxu: " The empress dowager will never stop what the emperor wants to do." So Guangxu called all the military ministers to hold an imperial meeting according to the memorial submitted by Yang Shenxiu. The most important imperial edict, so it is transcribed below:

"Over the past few years, Chinese and foreign ministers and workers have paid attention to current affairs, and have advocated reforms and self-improvement. There are several edicts, such as opening special departments, eliminating redundant soldiers, changing the martial arts system, and establishing large and small schools. It is just proposed to be implemented. However, the atmosphere has not yet opened up, and there is no consensus on what to say, or rely on the old and patriotic, thinking that the old rules must be adhered to, and the new laws must be discarded. Still with untrained soldiers, limited pay, scholars without real learning, workers without good teachers, strong and weak, and rich and poor, how can we really control the strong and strengthen the army? If the country is uncertain, orders will not work. It is extremely corrupt, and it will inevitably lead to family disputes, mutual conflicts, and only follow the Song and Ming dynasties, so the government will not benefit. It is clearly declared that from now on, Chinese and foreign ministers, both princes and commoners, should work hard to make progress, become heroes, and use the knowledge of sages and sages to plant their roots, and those who need to adopt Western learning that is relevant to current affairs should pay attention to strength. To save the disadvantages of emptiness, pedantry and absurdity. Concentrate on one mind, strive for perfection, don't just follow its superficiality, don't compete with its words, always turn useless into useful, and use it to become a talent for economic changes. The Jingshi University Hall is the advocacy of all provinces In particular, it should be held first, with the Minister of Military Aircraft, the Prime Minister and the Minister of State Affairs, Wang, and Ministers to discuss and play together promptly. Those who are descendants of military officials in the Eight Banners and the provinces who are willing to enter the school are allowed to study in school, so that talents will emerge in large numbers and help each other in difficult times, and they must not be perfunctory and follow the rules for personal gain, so as to bear the earnest warning of the imperial court."

This is Guangxu’s official announcement of reform and reform. Judging from the content and tone of the upper edict, it seems to have been drafted by Kang Youwei. If it was not written by Kang, it was completely rewritten according to the essence of Kang’s memorial.And then the main show started—— On April 25th in the twenty-fourth year of Guangxu (1898), another edict was issued: "Xu Zhijing, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, will give a discount to those who are well-versed in current affairs. Prepare to be summoned on the 28th. Huang Zunxian, Chang Baodao of Salt Law of Hunan Province, and Tan Sitong, alternate magistrate of Jiangsu Province, will be introduced by the governor.

So Kang Youwei went to the pilgrimage in the early morning of the 28th. He met Rong Lu in the study outside, and talked with Rong Lu about the details and steps of the reform for a while.After talking with Kang for a while, Rong Lu went to the palace to see the emperor. Guangxu asked Rong Lu and Kang Youwei if they had talked.Rong Lu said: "Kang is arguing and chaotic politics." After Rong Lu withdrew, Guangxu immediately summoned Kang Youwei. The young emperor talked with Kang in an excited and friendly manner. politics. "China has reached a point of survival, and foreign aggression is never-ending," Kang said.

Guangxu said: "It's all because we are too old-fashioned." Kang said: "Since the emperor knows that keeping the old is making such a mess, he should change the law and restore the new." Guangxu said: "So now we must reform the law." Kang said: "There have been reforms in recent years, but only a few changes. If the so-called reforms are not completely changed, there will be no results. The system needs to be revised, and the system should be opened first." Guangxu said, "Yes, yes, yes." Kang said: "I have examined the reforms in various countries, and considered the situation in China. I have formulated rules and regulations for which items can be implemented. Please refer to the emperor."

Guangxu said: "The rules and regulations you wrote are very detailed." Kang said: "Then why didn't the emperor promulgate it?" The emperor looked outside the curtain, paused for a while, sighed, and said, "I'm bound by all kinds of restrictions, so I can't let go!" Kang said: "The big problem now is that the people's wisdom is not developed. The reason why the people's wisdom is not developed is because stereotyped writing is used as exam papers. People who learn to do stereotyped writing do not understand the conditions of other countries in the world, but they can rely on stereotyped writing to gain fame and become high officials. There are a lot of ministers, but none of them can take on the heavy responsibility of innovation, just because of stereotyped background."

Guangxu said: "Yes, Westerners do useful learning, but China does useless learning." Kang said: "Since the emperor knows the harm of stereotyped writing, let's abolish stereotyped writing!" Guangxu said: "It is possible. However, it is difficult to implement the New Deal financially. How can we raise funds?" Kang said: "China has a lot of minerals, which can be developed. As long as the sources are open, there is no fear of lack of money." Then he talked about employing people for administration, promoting social education, recruiting gangsters, translating books, sending overseas students and special envoys for investigation, and so on.

Guangxu nodded and said, "Not bad."Finally said: "You can go down, if you have any comments, you can submit a memorial at any time." After Kang went out, Guangxu told the minister of military aircraft: "Kang Youwei is walking on Zhangjing, the prime minister's office." The Hundred Days Reform refers to the 103 days that Guangxu implemented the New Deal. The time was from April 23rd (June 11, 1898) in the 24th year of Guangxu (June 11, 1898). 21st) the day when Empress Dowager Cixi took back power, a total of 103 days before and after.Now, the main edicts promulgated by Guangxu to implement the New Deal during this period are divided into four categories: politics, economy, military affairs, and culture and education, as follows:

1. Political aspect: Kang Youwei and other New Deal Suggestions Date of Guangxu's New Deal Edict (Gregorian calendar) Zhaodingguo is Zhaodingguo is June 11th Prohibition of women's foot binding ordered provincial governors to persuade women to ban women's foot binding on August 13 An imperial edict begging the ministers and workers to express their opinions in preparation for the selection August 2nd Order the governors to protect the virtuous and talented August 2nd I am ordered to meet a scholar who wrote a letter saying that the Metropolitan Procuratorate does not need to be dismantled and read, and it must not be backlogged September 2

Order the provinces to visit and investigate current affairs, diligent and patriotic personnel September 7th Sponsor diplomats and order provincial governors to sponsor envoys until June 11th Edict to select clan princes and princes to travel around the world June 12th Draw up the constitution, open the parliament, order the ministries to delete redundant regulations, and formulate concise regulations July 29 Cai Zhan Shifu and other six yamen September 9th Separating ministers at discretion to discuss common affairs September 13th Determined to open the Maoqin Temple to discuss the system September 14

The Manchus and the Han Dynasty did not divide and ordered the Bannermen to run businesses The government of the monarch and the people has not issued an edict Construction of Xinjing has not issued an edict The decree has not yet been issued 2. Economic aspect: Kang Youwei and other New Deal Suggestions Date of Guangxu's New Deal Edict (Gregorian calendar) To revitalize commerce, all provinces are ordered to set up bureaus of commerce June 12 Agriculture and industry order local officials to revitalize agriculture on July 4th Order Liu Kunyi and Zhang Zhidong to run the Bureau of Commerce on a trial basis July 25 Ordered Chen Baozhen and Liu Kunyi to try to set up the Machinery Manufacturing Bureau in Shanghai August 25th Beijing Normal University sets up State Administration of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce August 21st Order the agricultural, industrial and commercial sub-bureaus of all provinces to build machines August 9th All provinces are ordered to set up agricultural bureaus and farmers' associations, and separate silk tea companies September 13th Incentives for new inventions in crafts, awards for people's creation of new methods July 5th Mining and road construction promulgated the 12 articles of the regulations on industrial revitalization and award July 12th Prompt Sheng Xuanhuai rushed to run the Manghan Road, and quickly opened the Yuehan and Shanghai Han roads. June 26th Establish Mining and Railway Administrations in Beijing August 2nd Ordered Hu Yunfen to organize the Beijing-West Railway Sales and Marketing Railway September 10th Held the postal statistical bureau to order foreign divisions and set up post offices at all treaty ports on September 13 Huge sums of money were raised, the New Deal ordered the Ministry of Households to compile a budget and report it monthly on September 16 Waste water transportation has not been issued Abolition of lijin has not been issued 3. Military aspect: Kang Youwei and other New Deal Suggestions Date of Guangxu's New Deal Edict (Gregorian calendar) Disarmament drills ordered the provincial armies to change to foreign exercises June 19 Order the Eight Banners Han Army to train with the new method July 9th Order all provinces to cut troops and train troops on July 16th Practicing Baojia, holding a group training, all provinces practicing Baojia, July 16th Statistics of the overall situation, large sums of money raised to carry out the New Deal, training the navy and the army to strengthen China, ordered the provinces to strictly order the local officials to handle the Baojia July 30th All provinces are ordered to hold group training on September 5 Order the provinces to raise funds for the addition of the navy to prepare for the construction of warships July 28 4. Culture and education: Kang Youwei and other New Deal Suggestions Date of Guangxu's New Deal Edict (Gregorian calendar) The abolition of stereotyped essays is an instruction to start from the next grade, and the abolition of stereotyped essays is a policy June 23rd The Kaifa test will be ordered to return the economic year section to the regular section on June 30 The following examinations are ordered to focus on practical learning and practical administration, and regular script is not used. July 19th The decree changed the imperial examination, and after that, once the palace examination was passed, it would be regarded as a conferment, and the court would stop on July 21st. Ordered to change the translation bookstore to the government-supervised commercial office June 28 Translating Western and Japanese books and ordering schools in various provinces to widely translate foreign agricultural books for borrowing July 4th Send people to study abroad and order the provinces to select students to study in Japan August 18th The establishment of the newspaper office changed the "Current Affairs News" to the official newspaper July 26 Ordered to set up a newspaper office in the capital on September 12 Abandoned obscenity shrines set up schools, academies in various places and folk shrines that are not in shrines were changed to schools July 10 Founding of the Imperial University Hall on July 3rd Ordered to set up Mining School in Nanbeiyang on June 20 Ordered to organize specialized schools for mines, railways, etc. August 10 Fate agreed Naval Academy August 21st All provincial agronomy, engineering, and commerce matters are ordered to take place on August 10 Ordered all treaty ports to set up tea service schools, Sericulture Academy September 11th Order all provinces to set up primary schools September 29 Incentives for the establishment of a school on July 5 Although the new government edicts were promulgated one by one, Emperor Guangxu did not have a lot of real power. There was Cixi at the top, the Military Aircraft Department at the bottom, and the governor of Zhili who held military power outside.Although Kang Youwei was known by Guangxu Teda, he could only walk in Zhangjing, the prime minister's office, and could not enter the military aircraft office.On July 20, Guangxu really felt that it was too difficult to carry out the New Deal without the help of new people, so he issued an edict: "Cabinet candidate Yang Rui, candidate for the Ministry of Punishment Liu Guangdi, cabinet candidate Lin Xu, Jiangsu candidate prefect Tan Sitong They are all rewarded with the title of four-rank minister, and they walk on the military plane Zhangjing to participate in the New Deal." At the same time, Zhu Yu wrote to Yang, Liu, Lin, and Tan, teaching them to list the New Deal and try their best to assist them.Therefore, all New Deal memorials were handed over to them for review, and all New Deal decrees were drafted by them.As a result, everyone called them the "Si Jingqing", and almost all the real power of the Military Aircraft Department was in their hands at that time, which was equivalent to the status of prime minister.If this situation can really persist, the New Deal and newcomers will become a reality. Among the four capital ministers, Lin Xu was Kang Youwei's disciple, and Tan Sitong was Kang Youwei's private disciple.Tan is a native of Liuyang, Hunan. He once deduced Kang's theory and wrote a book called "Ren Xue". He served as an alternate magistrate in Nanjing for a year, and spent most of his time writing books behind closed doors. After being urged by Hunan governor Chen Baozhen, he returned to Hunan to implement new policies. .Established a current affairs school in Hunan, hired Liang Qichao as the head teacher, and Tang Caichang as a branch teacher. He also founded inland river ships, opened mines, built the Hunan-Guangdong Railway, set up a military equipment school, and set up a security bureau. He published "Xiangxue Xinbao" and "Xiangbao". The Kainan Society is the most important figure in the reform school, with knowledge, ability, courage, and courage. Guangxu and Kang Youwei could not meet because of the system, so all the secret orders Guangxu gave Kang were handed over to Lin and Tan, and sent to Kang's residence in the Nanhai Guild Hall. Kang's opinions were also passed on to Lin and Tan.Therefore, with this deployment, the New Deal faction and the emperor communicated with each other. The biggest mistake of Kang Youwei's New Deal faction was to mistakenly believe that the New Deal could be achieved with one edict of Emperor Guangxu.As for the conservative faction, they firmly grasped the Queen Mother of the West and completely ignored the edict of the New Deal. The governors of the provinces were even more old and treacherous officials. In this political battle, whoever wins in the end.Because when Guangxu issued the edict "Ming Ding Guo Shi" on April 23, it was equivalent to announcing the beginning of the reform, but he issued three completely opposite edicts on April 27, which means that Cixi can still influence the government. , the three edicts are: 1. "Zhu Yu: Weng Tonghe, Minister of the Department of Scholars and Households, who co-organized the University, has not agreed to cooperate with many things recently, so that the public is dissatisfied. He has repeatedly participated in the performance, and every time he is summoned, he consults whether the incident is arbitrary. The joy and anger can be seen in the color of words. Gradually showing power-grabbing madness and rebellion, it is impossible to win the cardinal's responsibility. He should have been investigated and dealt with severely, and I thought he had been walking in Yuqing Palace for many years, so he couldn't bear to be condemned so quickly, so he immediately returned to his hometown as a show Keep it safe. Here it is!" 2. "Shangyu: Afterwards, he will work in the court, pay tribute to the Empress Dowager Cixi, and give a supplementary award of civil and military affairs. All of them are written by the Minister of the Han Dynasty. They are all written by the Empress Dowager. The generals, governors, governors, and governors of all provinces The admiral and other officials also wrote a memorial to thank you." 3. "Shangyu: Wang Wenshao, the governor of Zhili, will enter the title immediately, and the governor of Zhili will be temporarily appointed as the governor of Zhili by Ronglu, a university scholar." It can be seen that the above three edicts are entirely Cixi's idea, which also shows that Guangxu must still obey Cixi's orders on major issues and personnel matters.Since Weng Tonghe was Guangxu's master and he was in favor of the reform, the conservatives had to go to Weng as soon as possible.It is reasonable to say that since Cixi has returned to the government, she does not need to meet with the ministers as usual, and the ministers do not need to express gratitude to the Queen Mother. The dynasty is pro-government.Besides, Rong Lu is Cixi's most trusted minister. At this time, Yixin is dead. Rong Lu should replace Yihe as the chief military minister. Now instead of asking him to be the governor of Zhili, it means that Cixi wants Rong Lu to directly command in Tianjin. At that time, the three main forces of Beiyang (Dong Fuxiang's Gan Army, Nie Shicheng's Wuyi Army, and Yuan Shikai's New Army).Therefore, judging from the above three edicts, it can be seen that it is an important deployment of Cixi. Soon after the promulgation of the New Deal, Guangxu reprimanded six officials including Huaitabu, Minister of Rites, for the sake of many diehards obstructing the New Deal.What happened was because Wang Zhaoshang, the head of the Ministry of Rites, invited Guangxu to travel to Japan. The ministers of the Ministry of Rites, Huaitabu and Xu Yingkui, refused to act on their behalf. Pu Xian, Xu Zengfeng and Zeng Guanghan were all dismissed.Waitab's wife was Cixi's attendant, and she cried to Cixi that Guangxu wanted to drive away all the Manchurians, which angered Cixi even more.