Chapter 42 5. Be the "Emperor" for the third time

This is a passage from the "Enclosure" sent by Chen Zengshou who asked for leave to return to Tianjin one month after I took office.There are several other envelops of this kind sent from Beijing and Tianjin, which have given me infinite troubles. According to the agreement, when I am in power for one year, if the Kwantung Army does not implement the monarchy, I can resign.But I didn't do it.I don't have the courage, and even if the Kwantung Army asks me to resign, where can I go? To my surprise, Muto first raised this issue with me during a routine meeting a few days before his first anniversary in office.He said that Japan is currently studying the issue of the state system of Manchukuo, and when the time is right, this issue will naturally be resolved.

Not long after, on March 27, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations in order to make it easier to move freely.At the same time, the Japanese troops attacking the various entrances of the Great Wall stepped up their military operations, forming a situation of encircling Pingjin.At the end of May, the Nanjing government, which was busy fighting the civil war, further compromised with Japan and signed the "Tanggu Agreement", which designated the area south of the Great Wall and eastern Hebei as a demilitarized zone and withdrew the Chinese army, allowing Japanese forces to further control North China.Under such circumstances, people who were enthusiastic about restoration were greatly encouraged. They all thought that the time was ripe, and started to move forward one after another.In March, Xiqia ordered his confidant Lin Hegao to invite a group of Manchu "remainers" and congressmen from the former three provinces to meet in Changchun, intending to make a "persuasion form", but was stopped by the Japanese military police at that time. At this time the activity resumed.Some ex-directors in North China and some Japanese secret service vagrants planned to "support" Wu Peifu to come out of the mountain, and some veterans in Pingjin sent people to contact Zheng Xiaoxu to study the restoration in North China and Northeast China.In July, Tokuzo Komai, the head of the General Affairs Department, resigned, received a severance pay of one million yuan, and another huge sum of money for confidentiality, and went to Huang Yu to promote the independence of North China.Before he left, he told Zheng Xiaoxu that he would go to Shanghai to carry out activities for my restoration in the whole country in the future.In short, in those days, one could often hear legends about restoration or monarchy, and these legends inspired me and inspired ambitious people like me.Zheng Xiaoxu wrote a poem on the Double Ninth Festival this year, in which there is such a sentence: "Traveling in Yan City again is not a language, and a long-time guest in a foreign land is alone in love; the hero of the Southwest will not meet each other, and he will send the survivors to see him and clear up." The "ambition" of "Houqing" will be restored in "Yanshi", which will make me lessen a lot of bad feelings towards him.

My "emperor's dream" has come true again.I am very concerned about the news from all sides, and I further place my hope on the Japanese army that slaughtered my compatriots.After the Japanese army occupied Rehe, I held a celebration banquet to express my condolences to Muto and the Japanese generals who participated in the battle, and wished them "long-lasting military luck" and "continuous efforts".Later, there was a road where the Japanese army occupied Miyun, which was only a hundred miles away from Beijing, and they stood still. I couldn't help feeling very disappointed.At this time, Zheng Xiaoxu told me that it was only a matter of time before the Japanese army occupied North China and even South China.He also said that the decision on this matter is not in the Kwantung Army but in Tokyo. He has heard that many people in the Tokyo elder faction advocate my rightful position.After hearing what he said, I think that someone should be sent to Tokyo to do some side activities, at least to get some news.

It was my security officer Tada Kudo who accepted this mission.This person is Kudo Tesaburo who accompanied me from Tianjin to the northeast.He followed Shengyun in the late Qing Dynasty, and he was an active sponsor in Shengyun's subsequent restoration activities.When I was in Lushun, he didn't appear as an agent of the military like Shangjiao and Amakasu, but he stood by my side and talked, and even expressed his dissatisfaction with the Kwantung Army behind his back.Once, I saw that the tea in the cup seemed to be of the wrong color. I was afraid that someone had poisoned it and asked someone to test it. At this time, Kudo immediately picked up the cup and took a sip of the tea.After I became in power, he was the only Japanese who called me "Emperor", and he often expressed his dissatisfaction with the domineering Kwantung Army, and he often expressed his belief that I would be able to restore the title of "Emperor of the Qing Dynasty".His loyalty is no less than that of the most standard elders, so I renamed him "Zhong" and treated him as my own family member.He also expressed his gratitude and pledged his allegiance to the death, which will never change.He accepted my mission and returned after a short time away.He met Nanjiro and important figures of the Black Dragon Society in Japan, and found out that the people in power in the military department agreed to implement the imperial system.According to his information, I believe the time is coming.

In October 1933, Kudo's news was confirmed.The successor commander of the Kwantung Army, Takashi Hishikari, officially notified that the Japanese government was going to recognize me as the "Emperor of the Manchurian Empire." I got this notice and I couldn't be happier.The first thing I considered was that I must prepare a set of dragon robes. I got the dragon robe from the imperial concubine in Beijing, but the Kwantung Army told me that what Japan recognizes is the "Emperor of Manchukuo", not the "Emperor of the Qing Dynasty", so I can't wear the dragon robe of the Qing Dynasty, only the Kwantung Army The designated "Manchukuo Army, Navy and Air Force Grand Marshal's formal attire".

"How can this work?" I said to Zheng Xiaoxu, "I am a descendant of Aixinjueluo, how can I not abide by the ancestral system? Besides, all the clan Jueluo in Beijing will come, so what's the point of watching me ascend to the throne in Western-style clothes?" "What the emperor said is true." Zheng Xiaoxu kept nodding his head, looking at the dragon robe spread out on the table.This person who wants to be the prime minister of the "post-Qing Dynasty" is probably planning to be a first-grade coral top and three-eyed flower feather. Recently, he has become much more obedient to me.He nodded and said, "What the emperor said is true, but what did the Kwantung Army say?"

"Negotiate with me." After Zheng Xiaoxu left, I admired the dragon robe that Concubine Ronghui had preserved for 22 years alone, and my heart was full of emotion.This is worn by Emperor Guangxu, the real emperor's dragon robe.This is the dragon robe that I have been thinking about for twenty-two years.I must wear it to ascend the pole, which is the starting point of restoring the Qing Dynasty. ... Before my mind could cool down, Zheng Xiaoxu came back.He reported that the Kwantung Army insisted on wearing a marshal's formal attire when ascending the pole. "Have you negotiated?"

"How dare I not go. Itagaki told me personally." "How can this be done?" I jumped up, "Before ascension to the pole, there is a ceremony of proclaiming to the heavens. Do you want me to wear a marshal's uniform and kowtow to the heavens?" "I'm going to talk to Itagaki again." After Zheng Xiaoxu left, Hu Siyuan came over and reminded me that the fight was not about uniforms, but more importantly, telling the military about the right to appoint and dismiss officials.If this problem is solved, King Zhao Wuling's Hufu riding and shooting will be fine.

In fact, Hu Siyuan, like me, does not understand that Japan wants this imperial system, but it is to make me more puppet, and to rule this colony more conveniently.How can the name of the emperor bring me any power, and how can a person like me learn how to ride and shoot?Apart from clinging to the leather boots of the Japanese Kwantung Army, I could do nothing and think about nothing.So later the Kwantung Army agreed that I would wear a dragon robe to sacrifice to heaven, so I didn't fight for anything else. On the early morning of March 1, 1934, in Xinghua Village on the outskirts of Changchun, on the "Temple of Heaven" built of earth, I wore a dragon robe and performed the ancient ceremony of proclaiming my ascension to the throne.Then, when I came back, I changed into the so-called generalissimo's formal attire, and held the "ascension to the throne" ceremony.At this time, the ruling government was renamed "Imperial House", and the place where I lived was called "Imperial Palace" because I wanted to avoid the title of "Imperial Palace" by the Japanese Emperor.Among them, except for the addition of a "Tongde Hall", the rest were only repaired, and the name of the building remained unchanged.The ascension ceremony was held in Qinmin Building.

On that day, the hall of Qinmin Building was covered with a big red carpet, and the north wall was decorated with silk curtains to form a shrine-like place, with a special high-backed chair in the middle, engraved with orchids as emblems, the so-called "imperial pattern" chapter".I stood in front of the chair, and on both sides stood Baoxi, the Minister of the Palace, Zhang Haipeng, the chief military officer, Ishimaru Shidumo and Jin Zhuo, the military officers, Kudochu, the chief of the bodyguard, Xilunmen (son of Xiqia), and Run Liang (brother of Wanrong) and others, civil and military officials headed by "Prime Minister" Zheng Xiaoxu lined up and bowed three times to me, and I answered with a half bow.Then Japanese Ambassador Takashi Hishikari presented me with credentials and congratulations.After these ceremonies were over, the imperial clan Jueluo from Beijing (almost all the Zai, Pu, and Yu generations) and people from the former House of Internal Affairs bowed three times and nine times to bow down to me.Of course, I received the ceremony sitting in a chair.

Elders from all over the Guan, such as Chen Kuilong, Ye Erkai, Liu Chengqian, Zhu Ruzhen, Xiao Bingyan, Zhang Kou, Li Zhanzhi, Wen Su, Wang Zhaoyong, etc., all sent congratulatory forms.Chang Yuqing, the leader of the gangsters in Shanghai, also sent a memorial to me as a minister. On June 6, the Emperor of Japan’s brother, Chichibu Gong Yongren, came to congratulate me on behalf of the Emperor, and presented me with the Chrysanthemum Grand Medal of the Great Order of Japan and the Crown of Graceful Beauty. Hu Siyuan repeatedly reminded me that none of the rights I asked for had been obtained, and I was already in a daze.In July, my father brought his younger brothers and sisters to Changchun to visit me.My reception of him speaks volumes for my narcissism. When he arrived in Changchun, I sent officials from the Imperial Palace headed by Baoxi and a team of guards led by Tong Jixu to line up at Changchun Station to greet him.Wanrong and I waited in the "Emperor Palace" and outside the gate.Wanrong is dressed in palace attire, and I am wearing a military uniform with medals on my chest.I have three sets of medals: one is a gift from Japan; one is from the "Manchurian Empire";Of course, the latter set cannot be used in front of the Kwantung Army, and can only be worn by taking advantage of this opportunity. My father's car arrived, and I stood at attention and waited for him to get out of the car. I gave him a military salute and knelt down politely.Then I accompanied him into the living room, there was no outsider in the room at this time, and I was still in uniform, so I knelt down for him. This evening, a big family feast is held.We ate western food, and the arrangement of seats was completely foreign, with Wanrong and I sitting in the host and hostess seats.In addition, according to my arrangement, from the moment I entered the banquet hall, the band began to play music.This is the orchestra of the Imperial Household House. I have forgotten what tune it played, probably there is no regulation, they can play whatever their beloved wives want, anyway, as soon as the trumpet is played, I think it is good enough. When the banquet was about to drink champagne, according to my arrangement, Pu Jie stood up and raised his glass and shouted: "Long live His Majesty the Emperor, long live, long live!" My family echoed, even my father was no exception.Hearing this call, I got to the point where everyone is drunk without drinking. The next day, Baoxi, the Minister of the Palace, told me that the Kwantung Army Command sent people to protest to me in the name of the embassy, ​​saying that the armed guards went to the station yesterday in violation of the obligations already undertaken by the "Manchurian Empire" The former Northeast authorities signed an agreement with Japan. This agreement stipulates that a certain range on both sides of the railway is a subsidiary of the "Manchurian Railway", and no armed forces other than Japan are allowed to enter.Commander of the Kwantung Army—no, the Japanese ambassador asked for assurances that similar incidents would not happen again in the future. This incident was enough to wake me up, but the Japanese still showed me face at this time. First, they didn’t protest publicly. Second, after I sent someone to apologize and made a guarantee, they didn’t say anything more.But more importantly, the many ostentations it provided me satisfied my vanity so much that I fell into a coma again. The ones that fascinate me the most are "Yu Lin Xing" and "Xun Hunting". According to the arrangement of the Kwantung Army, I have to go to other places once or twice a year, which is called "hunting tour".In "Xinjing" (Changchun), I have to participate in four routine ceremonies every year, one is to go to the "Zhongling Pagoda" to worship the souls of the Japanese soldiers who died in the war of aggression, and the other is to go to the "Jianguo Zhongling Temple" to worship the Puppet Manchukuo Army The souls of the dead, once went to the Kwantung Army Headquarters to celebrate the Emperor's birthday "Tianchang Festival", and once went to the "Concord Association" to participate in the annual meeting.Such outings are called "Yu Linxing".Take going to the "Xiehehui" as an example to talk about the pomp. Let's talk about the "halogen book" first - that is, the so-called "the emperor comes out, the order of driving", it is like this: the first one is the "clean street car" of the military and police, and after a certain distance is a red convertible car with plugged in. A small flag, the "police chief" was sitting in the car, and behind it was the "front car" I was sitting in, all red, accompanied by two motorcycles on each side of the car, and behind it were the vehicles of the entourage and security personnel.This is the usual "short-style halogen book". On the day before going out, Changchun's military police and gendarmes first took the opportunity to arrest "suspicious elements" and "vagrants" who were "obscene".Based on this sign, the citizens can judge that I am going out.On the right day, the road was pre-posted with military police, standing facing the outside, prohibiting passersby to pass, prohibiting people from entering and leaving the shops and houses on both sides, and prohibiting people from looking at the windows.Loess was paved inside and outside the gate of "Xiehehui".Before the car drove away, the radio station broadcasted to the whole city: "His Majesty the Emperor drove out of the palace." Say it in Chinese and Japanese.At this time, all the people in the "Concord Association" stood up, and the special officials from the "Prime Minister" lined up outside the building to "welcome".Cars arrive, people bend at ninety degrees, and a band plays the "National Anthem."I entered the house, took a rest in the side hall, and then received the ministers.On both sides are the ministers of the palace, the chief military officer, the director of the bodyguard, the chief of ceremonies, the military officer, and the bodyguard.The tables, chairs and tablecloths used were all imported from the Imperial Household, with a specific orchid "royal coat of arms" on them.Qualified officials from the prime minister down saluted one by one in front of me and withdrew.After this cutscene, I got up and left the hall. At this time, the music was loud, until I entered the venue and stepped onto the podium.During this period of time, the people in the venue have been bent at ninety degrees under the stage.The commander of the Kwantung Army was at a corner of the stage at this time. When he saw me on stage, he bowed to me as a salute. I nodded in return.After I came to the stage, I turned around and greeted the audience, and the audience straightened up.At this time, the Minister of the Palace House held the "Edict" with both hands, I took it and opened it, and read it to the audience.All the people in the audience stood with their heads bowed and were not allowed to look up.After reading, when I left the venue, there was loud music again, and everyone bowed at ninety degrees.I went back to the side hall to take a rest, and at this time the special officials went outside the building again to prepare for "presentation".After sending me away, the loudspeakers on the streets of the whole city released the voices of the two countries, "His Majesty the Emperor drove back to the palace".When I got home, the loudspeaker said again: "His Majesty the Emperor returned to the palace safely." It is said that this was modeled on the method used by the Emperor of Japan.The articles written on my photos were also imported from Japan.My photo was called "Goyong". Later, I promoted the unpopular "Concorde" to adapt to the Japanese habits, and changed it to "Gomakage".According to regulations, in specific places of government agencies, schools, the military and all public organizations, such as the conference room of the government agency and the principal's office of the school, a shrine-like thing is set up with a curtain hanging outside, and my photo and "edict" are hung inside. ".Anyone who walks into this room must first salute to the place where the curtain is hung.In residents' homes, although there is no law to enforce the hanging of real shadows, the Xiehe Association once forcibly distributed photos of me and Wan Rong, and specified that they should be hung in the main hall. The focus of this idolatry education is in the army and in schools.Every morning, the army and schools in all parts of Manchukuo have to hold court meetings, and they have to perform two remote worship, that is, first facing the "Imperial Palace" (the place where the Japanese emperor in Tokyo is located) in the east, and then facing Changchun or the imperial palace, each with a nine Ten degrees of bowing the most salute.In addition, every edict is promulgated on the "Day of Edict Blessing", that is, the day when each edict is promulgated, and the edict must be read.I will talk about the edict later. In addition, there are many other regulations, as well as various ostentations during "hunting tours" in other places, so I won't go into details here.In short, the Japanese militarists took this set of tricks very seriously.According to my experience, this is not only for training the Chinese, to develop the habit of blind obedience and feudal superstition, even for the lower class Japanese.The Japanese Kwantung Army used me several times to encourage its subjects.Once when I went to Fuxin Coal Mine, the Japanese called the Japanese foreman and asked me to say a few words of encouragement to him.The foreman was moved to tears by this "honor".Of course, I feel more valuable now. It was after my visit to Japan in April 1935 that I finally had the greatest illusion and believed that I had extremely high authority. In fact, this visit to Japan was all arranged by the Kwantung Army.They said that it was necessary to do this in order to thank the Japanese emperor for sending his younger brother Chichibu Palace to congratulate me on my "enthronement" and also to demonstrate the "goodwill between Japan and Manchuria". The Japanese government, headed by the Privy Councilor Baron Hayashi Quansuke, organized a reception committee of 14 people and sent the battleship Hiei Maru to welcome them, accompanied by escort ships such as Baiyun, Congyun, and Boyun.When I set off from Dalian Port, I was inspected by the Kuma, 12th, and 15th Destroyer Fleets. When I arrived at Yokohama Port, I was welcomed by a formation of 100 aircraft.I remember writing a flattering four-character poem on this dazed and flattered voyage: On the fourth day of the voyage, I watched a drill of seventy ships, and wrote a seven-character quatrain while feeling seasick and vomiting: In short, I was flattered before I even got ashore.Not only am I deeply amazed by the power shown by Japan, but I also regard it as a sincere respect and sincere help for me.Some unhappiness in the past is only due to my misunderstanding. When I arrived in Tokyo, Japan, Hirohito greeted me at the station and hosted a banquet for me.After I called on them he called me back.I received congratulations from senior Japanese ministers, and inspected the army with Geren.I also paid homage to the "Meiji Jingu Shrine" and paid condolences to the wounded soldiers and officers in the Japanese Army Hospital who were beaten in the invasion of China.I went to Hirohito's mother and paid homage to her.Japanese newspapers once reported that I walked with her, saying that once I went up the slope, I supported the Japanese Empress Dowager with my hands. This has the same feeling as when I helped my father up the steps in the inner mansion of the Changchun Palace.In fact, I have never helped my father before. If you ask me how I feel about helping Hirohito's mother, frankly speaking, it is purely for curry favor. On the last day, Yongren sent me off at the station on behalf of his elder brother Yuren. He said in his farewell speech: "His Majesty the Emperor's visit to Japan this time has made a significant contribution to the goodwill between Japan and Manchuria. His Majesty the Emperor of our country is very satisfied with this. Please return to China with the firm belief that the goodwill between Japan and Manchuria will definitely be achieved. my hope." I replied very flatteringly: "I am extremely grateful for the grand reception of the Japanese royal family and the warm welcome of the Japanese people. I am now determined to do my best to work for the permanent goodwill of Japan and Manchuria. It’s with real confidence.” Before boarding the ship, I asked Lin Quansuke, who was in charge of the reception, to thank the Emperor of Japan and Hirohito's mother. At this time, my eyes were filled with shameless tears. This made the old man cry too.In retrospect, I don't even have any Chinese flavor. The hospitality given to me by the Japanese royal family this time made me even hotter. I felt that even the air had changed since I became emperor.A logic appeared in my mind: the emperor is equal to me, and the status of the emperor in Japan is my status in Manchukuo.The Japanese treat me as they treat their emperor. In this daze, as soon as I returned to Changchun, I immediately published the "Huiluan Edict" full of flattery. At the same time, I invited the new commander of the Kwantung Army, General Nanjiro, to express my feelings to him.The next day (that is, April 29th), I happily participated in the celebration of Hirohito's birthday. On the next day, I couldn't wait to issue an order to send all officials above the official position in Changchun, regardless of Chinese or Japanese Call me, listen to my lectures, and express my impressions of my visit to Japan.I didn't discuss with the Japanese at all in advance, and I didn't prepare a speech, but when the time came, I was eloquent.I told the story of my visit to Japan, vividly described the hospitality given to me by the Emperor of Japan, and the respect Japanese subjects had for me.Then talk about it. "For the goodwill of Manchukuo, I firmly believe that if the Japanese have anything against Manchukuo, they will be disloyal to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan; if the Manchurians have anything against Japan, they will be disloyal to the Emperor of Manchukuo; Those who are not loyal to the Emperor of Japan are disloyal to the Emperor of Manchukuo..." I was so naive. Less than a month after I returned to Changchun, Nanjiro, the commander of the Kwantung Army, told me in a routine meeting that "Prime Minister Zheng Xiaoxu is tired of working hard and wants to retire" and that he needs to be retired and replaced by a prime minister.I have heard a little bit about Japan's dissatisfaction with Zheng Xiaoxu, and I was looking for an opportunity to drive him away. Now that Nanjiro raised this matter, I immediately said without hesitation, let Zheng retire. I completely agree. Succession.I thought that Nanjiro, who had listened to my "Japanese-Manchu goodwill theory" twice, would obey my orders, but he hit a snag. He shook his head and said to me: "No, the Kwantung Army has already considered suitable candidates, and His Majesty the Emperor doesn't have to." Don't worry, let Zhang Jinghui be the prime minister." Not long ago, Zheng Xiaoxu made a complaint in the "Wangdao Academy" hosted by him.He said to the lecturers: "Manchukuo is no longer a child, it should be allowed to go on its own, and it shouldn't always let it go." This angered the Japanese master, so he kicked him away.Later, he couldn't even withdraw the "Founding Merit Fund" stored in the bank, and he was not allowed to move out of Changchun. Under the supervision of the Gendarmerie, he could only write and write at home.This "poet and calligrapher", whose bones were eaten away by "co-management" bugs, finally died violently in Changchun three years later with his failed wish.His son Zheng Chui also died suddenly, three years earlier than him.According to legend, both his father and son died under the assassination of the Japanese.Even if the rumors are not true, his end is enough to shatter my fantasy of restoring the ancestral property, and I didn't gradually understand it until a year later, on the eve of Japan's full-scale invasion of China.