Chapter 13 Er Ding Si Restoration
On the day of Yuan Shikai's death, as soon as the news spread into the Forbidden City, everyone seemed to have encountered a great event.The eunuchs rushed to tell each other, the concubines went to burn incense in front of the statue of Guan Shengdijun, the emperor who protects the country, and Yuqing Palace suspended classes for a day...
Then, a new noise was heard in the Forbidden City:
"Yuan Shikai failed because he had the idea of dove occupying the magpie's nest."
"The imperial system must be done, but what the people want is the old master."
"Yuan Shikai is different from Napoleon III. He does not have the ancestral shadow of Napoleon."
"Rather than calling Yuan the emperor, it's better to return the property to the old owner."
...
These voices resonated with the words of the masters that "this dynasty is deeply benevolent and generous, and the people of the whole country have old thoughts".
At this time, my thoughts and feelings were very different from those in the first few years.At the beginning of this year, I just showed "success" on the issue of Yikuang's posthumous posthumous law. At this time, I became interested in newspapers again.
Not many days after Yuan's death, the newspapers published the news that "the revolt of the Clan Socialist Party failed" and "the Manchu and Mongolian bandits were rampant".I know that the princes and ministers who openly resisted the republic—Shanqi, Puwei, Shengyun, Tieliang—are working on my behalf.The four of them were called Shen Baoxu at the beginning, but they failed to cry to Qin Ting.Later, Tieliang hid in the foreign concession in Tianjin, and the rest lived in the Japanese concessions in Lushun and Dalian. Through his Japanese ronin, he colluded with Japanese warlords and chaebols to engage in restoration armed activities.Among the four, Shanqi was the most active. The Japanese Kawashima Naniwa, the police adviser he hired when he was Minister of Civil Affairs, stayed with him all the time, helping him run and stretch.Baron Kihachiro Okura, a wealthy Japanese man, gave him one million yen as an activity fee.Japanese soldiers Aomori, Doi and others recruited Manchurian and Mongolian bandits for him, organized and trained the army, and there were thousands of them.As soon as Yuan Shikai died, trouble broke out.Among them, a team led by the Mongolian noble Babu Zhabu once approached Zhangjiakou, and the momentum was very rampant.It was not until Babu Zabu was assassinated by his subordinates during the mutiny that it came to an end.During the most violent days, a very strange phenomenon occurred: on the one hand, the "King Qin Army" and the army of the Republic of China were fighting lively in several places in Manchuria and Mongolia; The government and the small court of the Qing Dynasty continued to congratulate and entertain each other as usual.The prosperity of the Forbidden City since the day of Yuan Shikai's death has been flourishing day by day, not affected by Shanqi and Babu Zhabu's rebellion, let alone their failure.
After Yuan's death, Li Yuanhong succeeded as president and Duan Qirui as prime minister.The Forbidden City sent Pu Lun, who had persuaded Yuan Shikai to enter, to congratulate him. Li Yuanhong also sent a representative to thank him, and sent the emperor's guard of honor that Yuan Shikai was going back to the Forbidden City.Some princes and ministers also received medals from the Republic of China.Some princes and ministers who hid in Tibet during Yuan Shikai's era now also hang up the Jiahe badge and appear in social places again.On New Year's Day and my birthday, the President sent officials to congratulate me, and my father also presented delicacies to President Lebanon and Prime Minister Duan.At this time, the House of Internal Affairs was much busier than before. It was necessary to draw up a decree to confer posthumous titles, to reward court horses, two-person shoulders, flower feathers, top wear, what to grant, and other guards from the Qianqing Gate. , Also secretly took in the new eunuchs who were prohibited by the conditions of preferential treatment.And, of course, all kinds of social entertainment that I have no way of knowing, from individual private dinners to public dinners for members of Congress. ...
In short, the Forbidden City is alive again as before.In the year of Dingsi (the sixth year of the Republic of China), Zhang Xun entered the palace to pay his respects, and the climax of restoration began.
Before this, I personally summoned not many people to pay homage, and it was only limited to the Manchus.Apart from going to Yuqing Palace to study and reading newspapers in Yangxin Palace, my daily activities are mostly games.I saw that there were more feathered gowns at Shenwumen, and I felt happy. When I heard that King Qin's army had launched, I was especially excited, but when King Qin's army was defeated, I also felt discouraged.But in general, I also tend to forget about these things.Prince Su fled to Lushun, and the news was unknown, so he was worried for him, but when he saw the camel sneezing, it was fun, and Prince Su's safety was forgotten.Since there are princes and masters and ministers here, why should I worry so much?When the matter is told to me by the master, then everything must be negotiated.This is the case on the twenty-seventh day of the fourth lunar month.
On this day, Chen Baochen, the newly awarded "Caibao" and Liang Dingfen, the "Yuqing Palace Walker" who had just arrived in the Forbidden City, walked into the Yuqing Palace together.Before sitting down, Master Chen spoke first:
"The emperor doesn't need to study today. A minister came to pay his respects to the emperor, and the eunuch at the performance office will come up later to ask for instructions."
"Who is it?"
"Former governor of Liangjiang and governor of Jiangsu, Zhang Xun."
"Zhang Xun? Is that the Dingwu Army Zhang Xun who didn't cut his braids?"
"That's right, that's right." Liang Dingfen nodded approvingly, "Your Majesty has a really good memory, it's that Zhang Xun." Master Liang never misses the opportunity to praise, for this purpose, he is writing my daily note.
In fact, I don't have a good memory, but I just heard the story of Zhang Xun from the masters not long ago.Since the founding of the Republic of China, he and his army have kept braids.Yuan Shikai succeeded in suppressing the "Second Revolution" in the second year of the Republic of China by capturing Nanjing with his braided soldiers.The braided soldiers robbed and burned Nanjing, accidentally injured the staff of the Japanese consulate, and the Japanese protested.After Longyu's death, he sent a telegram to express his condolences, calling it "national mourning", and also said "all the officials of the Republic of China are the subjects of the Qing Dynasty".Soon after Yuan Shikai's death, a telegram from Zhang Xun was published in the newspaper.This telegram expressed the attitude of Xuzhou's warlord meeting towards the political situation after Yuan's death. The first line was "respect, preferential treatment, and clearing the house".In short, I believe he is a loyal minister, and would like to see what he is like.
According to the rules of the Qing Dynasty, when the emperor summoned the ministers, no one who had nothing to do with him was allowed to be around.Therefore, every time before summoning people who are not common, the master always teaches me and tells me what to say.This time, Master Chen told me in a very serious manner that he should praise Zhang Xun's loyalty and remind me to remember that he is now the patrol envoy of the Yangtze River, and there are sixty battalions of troops in Xuzhou and Yanzhou. and the army, so that he would know that the emperor cared about him.At the end, Master Chen urged again and again:
"Zhang Xun will inevitably praise the emperor, the emperor must remember to answer with humility, this is to show holiness."
"It's full of losses, but humility benefits." Master Liang quickly added, "The more humble you are, the more holy you are. The last time Lu Rongting met Tian Yan, he still wrote letters to praise the saint..."
Lu Rongting was the patrol envoy of Guangdong and Guangxi. He was the first general in the Republic of China to be rewarded with riding a horse in the Forbidden City.Two months ago, he came to Beijing to meet Duan Qirui. For some reason, he came to the palace to invite me, and he paid 10,000 yuan for Chongling to plant trees.When I was in the sedan chair back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, I suddenly remembered that when Lu Rongting had an audience with me, the expressions of the masters and the earnest teachings to me were also similar to this time.The appearance of Lu Rongting that time seemed to be a great event in the Forbidden City.The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the masters arranged unusual rewards, including the so-called imperial brush Fushou characters and couplets written by me, a niche for the Golden Buddha of Infinite Life, a handle with three inlaid jade ruyis, two jade furnishings and four ruler heads.After Lu Rongting left, he wrote a letter, asking Shixu to "play on behalf of God and thank God".Since then, "South Lu Bei Zhang" has become a topic often mentioned from the master to the eunuch.Zhang Qianhe said to me: "With the two loyal ministers in the South, Lu and North Zhang, there is hope for the Qing Dynasty."
I imagined Zhang Xun's appearance based on the lithographic pictorials that the eunuch bought for me, and when I got off the sedan chair, he hadn't formed in my mind yet.Not long after I entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he came.I sat on the throne, and he knelt and kowtowed in front of me.
"Minister Zhang Xun kneels to ask Shengan..."
I pointed to a chair next to him and told him to sit down (at this time, the palace no longer adopts the rule of letting ministers speak while kneeling), he kowtowed his head again to thank him, and then sat down.Following my master's instructions, I asked him about the situation of the troops in Xu and Yan. I didn't pay attention to what he said.I was somewhat disappointed with the appearance of this "loyal minister".He was wearing a gauze gown, with a dark red face, heavy eyebrows, and chubby.Looking at his short neck, it is not ideal. If he had no beard, he would look like an eunuch in the imperial dining room.I noticed his braids, and he did have one, and it was mottled.
Later, when his words turned to me, as Master Chen expected, he really complimented me.
He said: "The emperor is really clever!"
I said, "I'm far behind. I'm young and know very little."
He said: "Emperor Zuren of this pilgrimage also practiced his age, and reached the throne at the age of six!"
I quickly said: "How can I compare to my ancestors, that is my ancestors..."
This summoning was not longer than usual, and he sat for five or six minutes before leaving.I think he speaks rudely, probably not comparable to Zeng Guofan, so I don't feel particularly happy.But the next day when Chen Baochen and Liang Dingfen met me, they smiled and said that Zhang Xun praised me for being smart and humble, and I was proud again.As for why Zhang Xun came to pay his respects, why the masters seemed happier than when Lu Rongting came, why the Ministry of Internal Affairs prepared more rewards than Lu, why the concubines also rewarded banquets and other issues, I can't even think about it. Didn't think about it.
Half a month later, on the thirteenth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, at Yuqing Palace, three masters Chen Baochen, Liang Dingfen and Zhu Yifan appeared together with very solemn expressions on their faces. It was Master Chen who spoke first:
"Zhang Xun came early in the morning..."
"He invited Ann again?"
"It's not about asking for peace, but everything is ready and everything is in order. Come and support the emperor's return to listen to the government, and the restoration of the Qing Dynasty!"
Seeing that I was in a daze, he quickly said: "The emperor must agree to Zhang Xun. This is a plea for the people, heaven and man return..."
I was dazed by this sudden happy event.I stared blankly at Master Chen, hoping that he would say a few more words so that I could understand how to be the "true emperor".
"There is no need to talk to Zhang Xun, just agree to him." Master Chen said confidently, "But don't agree immediately, first decline, and finally say: If this is the case, let it be difficult."
I returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and summoned Zhang Xun again.What Zhang Xun said this time was similar to what was written in his memorial to the restoration, but it was not as gentle as the memorial said.
"The Empress Dowager Longyu couldn't bear to let the people suffer for the honor of her family name, so she issued an edict to establish a republic. Who knows that the people who run it are in dire straits... The republic is not in line with our national conditions. Only when the emperor is restored can the people be saved..."
After hearing him finish his narration, I said, "I'm too young, with no talents or virtues, to take on such a big job." He praised me, and then repeated the story of Emperor Kangxi becoming emperor at the age of six.Listening to him talking, I suddenly thought of a question:
"What about the big president? Give him preferential treatment or something?"
"Li Yuanhong asked him to abdicate himself, and the emperor approved his request."
"Well..." Although I still didn't understand, I thought that the masters must have discussed it anyway, and now I should end this summoning, so I said: "In this case, I will refrain from doing it!" Emperor of the Great Qing Empire.
After Zhang Xun went down, groups of people came to kowtow to me one after another.Later, the eunuch at the performance office brought a bunch of written "Shangyu".On the first day, nine "shangyu" were issued in one go:
enthronement edict;
Li Yuanhong, please return the state affairs, and make Li a first-class public to honor the special award;
A special cabinet minister is appointed, and the rest of the official system is temporarily in accordance with the early years of Xuantong, and the current civil and military officials are all working as usual;
Conferring seven ministers of state affairs (Zhang Xun, Wang Shizhen, Chen Baochen, Liang Dunyan, Liu Qianchen, Yuan Dahua, Zhang Zhenfang) and two cabinet Yan Cheng (Zhang Xun's chief of staff Wan Shengshi and Feng Guozhang's staff Hu Siyuan);
Conferred ministers of various ministries (Liang Dunyan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhang Zhenfang of the Du Branch, Wang Shizhen of the Staff Department, Lei Zhenchun of the Army Department, Zhu Jiabao of the Ministry of Civil Affairs);
Confer Xu Shichang and Kang Youwei as principal and vice presidents of Congee Deyuan;
The governors of the original provinces were granted the titles of governor, governor and capital commander (Zhang Xun also served as the governor of Zhili and Beiyang Minister).
According to the old Beijinger’s recollection of the situation on the streets of Beijing at that time: that morning, the police suddenly ordered all households to hang dragon flags, and the residents had no choice but to use paper flags to deal with it; People appeared on the street, one by one, who seemed to have escaped from the coffin; the newspaper office published an extra number of restoration news, and the price was more expensive than the daily newspaper.In this kind of spectacle, you can hear the voice of newspaper vendors chanting "Xuantong Shangyu" everywhere: "Six big coppers buy antiques! This thing will become antiques in a few days, six big coppers buy an antique It's not expensive!"
At this time, the business of some shops outside Qianmen was booming.One is the ready-made clothing shop, where dragon flags are made and sold; the other is the clothing appraisal shop, where the robes and gowns of the Qing Dynasty have become bestsellers for the old people who have just been appointed officials; the other is for costume props, and people go there Begging for a ponytail to make a wig.I still remember that in those days, in the Forbidden City, people in the Forbidden City were dressed in robes and gowns, and people had a braid behind their heads.Later, when the rebellious army entered Beijing, discarded real braids could be picked up everywhere. It is said that Zhang Xun's braided soldiers cut them off and threw them away in order to escape.
Had those who entered and left the Forbidden City had had a little bit of the newspaper-seller's eye for anticipating the fate of braids and edicts, they would not have been so happy in the first few days.
In those days, the staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were particularly neatly dressed and there were a large number of them (the minister in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs had specially instructed them). Because the number was still not enough, a few were temporarily transferred from the waiting staff.One of them is still alive, and he recalled: "In those two days, those of us writing shifts were very late, and we were always unable to write. Every day, every concubine gave a meal. When it was time for the meal, there was always a message: Don't call me Xie En. Now, the masters of the four palaces know about your hard work." But he didn't know that the concubines were so happy that they didn't know what to do, and they went to burn incense in front of the gods and Buddhas almost every day, so they didn't have time to meet them.
In those days, the princes who did not fulfill their political desires were very unhappy.On the second day after launching the restoration, Zhang Xun made an "edict" prohibiting relatives and nobles from interfering in politics, which made them very angry.Prince Jin has become the center of a group of Baylor boys again. If he wants to argue with Zhang Xun, he also asks me to make decisions.When Chen Baochen heard the news, he rushed to tell me:
"This Dynasty handed over the country in 1911, it was caused by such princes and dignitaries interfering in politics, and now they are going to make trouble, it is really stupid! The emperor must not agree to them!"
Of course I trusted my master.However, the princes who knew they were isolated did not give up, and gathered together all day to find countermeasures.This countermeasure has not yet been thought out, and the rebellious army has already entered the city.This fulfilled them, and freed them from the responsibility of this restoration.
Master Chen was originally the most stable and knowledgeable person.In an incident that happened at the beginning of this year, I still have this view of him.At that time, Lao Naixuan quietly brought a letter from Qingdao.I can't remember the name of the sender, but I only know that he is a German, expressing his willingness to support the restoration of the Qing Dynasty on behalf of the German royal family.Lao Naixuan believes that this is an excellent opportunity, and if coupled with the marriage of the two imperial families of Deqing and Qing Dynasty, it will be even more certain.Master Chen strongly objected to this matter, saying that Lao Naixuan is too absurd, he is a person who does not accomplish much but fails; even if foreigners have such good intentions, they cannot find such a person as Lao Naixuan.Unexpectedly, from the day of restoration, this prudent and seasoned old master has completely changed.
"Touching lonely ministers and evil sons, their worries are also dangerous, and their worries are also deep, so Dao!"
On the first day of the Restoration, I was congratulated by groups of lonely ministers and evil sons, and when I returned to Yuqing Palace, I heard Master Chen chanting.He has a white beard, and his eyes behind the old glasses are narrowed into a slit, showing unusual excitement.
However, what surprised me the most was not his excitement, nor his confrontation with the princes and dukes on the issue of "favorite over politics" (although it was my father who directly offended), but his dealing with Li Yuanhong fierce attitude on this issue.First, Liang Dingfen volunteered to see Li Yuanhong, and persuaded Li Yuanhong to give up the presidential palace immediately, but was rejected, and came back and told Chen Baochen and Zhu Yifan angrily.When Chen Baochen heard the news, he came to Yuqing Palace together with Liang Dingfen and Zhu Yifan. The smile on his face was completely gone, showing a livid color, and he lost control and said to me:
"Li Yuanhong dared to refuse, refused to accept orders, please kick him immediately and kill himself!"
I was taken aback and thought it was too much.
"It's outrageous to give Li Yuanhong death as soon as I was restored. Didn't the people treat me preferentially?"
This is the first time Chen Baochen has encountered my public refutation of him, but the same hatred made him forget everything. He said angrily: "Li Yuanhong not only did not retreat, but also stayed in the presidential palace. He is a traitor and a villain. How can you speak with the Son of Heaven?"
Later, when he saw that I was determined, he didn't dare to insist anymore, and agreed to let Liang Dingfen go to the presidential palace again, trying to persuade his in-laws to leave.Before Liang Dingfen went, Li Yuanhong had already run to the Japanese legation holding the president's seal.
When the rebel army approached Beijing and the restoration became a desperate struggle, Chen Baochen discussed with Wang Shizhen and Zhang Xun and came up with a final solution. They decided to write an edict to Zhang Zuolin, appoint him governor of the three eastern provinces, and order him to enter Beijing as soon as possible.Zhang Zuolin was the governor of Fengtian at that time, and he was very dissatisfied with Zhang Xun giving him a governor of Fengtian.Master Chen placed great hopes on Zhang Zuolin at this time.This edict was written, but there was a problem when using the "Imperial Treasure". It turned out that the key to the printed box was in my father's hand.It would take too much time to send someone to fetch it, so Master Chen made a decisive decision and asked someone to simply break the lock on the printing box, and took out the "treasure" engraved with "Fa Tian Li Dao". (This edict was not delivered to Zhang Zuolin, because Zhang Haipeng, who was carrying the letter, was stopped by the rebel army as soon as he left the city.) I was deeply impressed by how decisive and bold Master Chen suddenly became.
In the first few days of the restoration, I spent half of the time in Yuqing Palace every day.Studying is stopped, but the masters must see each other, because everything must be guided by the masters.The rest of the day is spent looking at the pending edicts and the "Cabinet Official Gazette", accepting people's worship, or watching the ants fall into their nests as usual, and asking the eunuch to release the camels they raised to play.After only four or five days of this kind of life, the palace was bombed by the plane of the rebel army, and the situation changed completely.The kowtowers stopped coming, the edict disappeared, and most of the ministers who discussed politics disappeared, and they fled to different places. In the end, only Wang Shizhen and Chen Baochen were left.On the day of the air raid, I was talking to my teachers in my study room. I heard the sound of an airplane and an explosion that I had never heard before.In the chaos, the eunuchs surrounded me and hurried back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, as if the only place to sleep was the safest.The situation of the toffees was even more embarrassing, some hid in the corner of the bedroom, and some got under the table.At that time, there was a lot of noise from all the palaces, and there were several groups of people in chaos.This is the first time in Chinese history that there has been an air strike, and the first time that the Chinese Air Force has been used in the history of a civil war.If the first air defense situation is worth mentioning, it is: everyone hid in their bedrooms and put down all the bamboo curtains (that is, the rain) in the porch-according to the knowledge of the eunuchs and guards, This is the smartest move.Fortunately, the plane of the rebellion army did not actually do it, but it was just a threat, and only dropped a three-foot-long small bomb.One of these three bombs fell outside the gate of Longzong, injuring a bearer who carried the "two shoulders", one fell into the pool in the imperial garden and damaged a corner of the pool, and the third fell into the pool. On the tile eaves of Longfu Gate on Xichang Street, there was no explosion, which scared the eunuchs who gathered there to gamble half to death.
On the second day after the edict was issued to Zhang Zuolin, approaching gunfire was heard in the Forbidden City, Wang Shizhen and Chen Baochen did not come, and all contact inside and outside the palace was lost.Later, the sound of guns and guns subsided, and the eunuch in the report office heard the news reported by Yu Ti, the "commander of the army guards": "Master Zhang Xun, Zhang Xun's army has won the battle, and Duan Qirui's army has been completely defeated!" The news also reached the princess.While speaking, the sound of guns and guns outside completely disappeared. This time, everyone was smiling, and the eunuchs were talking nonsense, saying that the red rabbit horse that Master Guan was riding was sweating. Zhang Xuncai defeated Duan Qirui.After hearing this, I hurried to Master Guan and touched his carved wooden mount, but it was dry.Another eunuch said that this morning, he heard the sound of clanging armor behind the West Nuan Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. This must be Emperor Guan going to get the Qinglong Yanyue Knife.After hearing these words, the concubine and I both went to the Qin'an Hall to kowtow.Everyone slept soundly that night.Early the next morning, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported the real news: "Zhang Xun has fled to the Dutch embassy!..."
My father and Master Chen appeared at this moment.Their faces were gray and downcast.I read the abdication edict they had drawn up, and I was so scared and sad that I couldn't help but burst into tears.Here is the edict of abdication:
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