Chapter 37 first quarter

Just over a year after Yuan Shikai's restoration of the imperial system fell, another restoration event occurred in the Republic of China. Yuan Shikai's restoration, because of its powerful strength and sufficient planning, people generally call his restoration a "scandalous drama" rather than a "farce". The vileness of his actions and the severity of the consequences make it impossible to underestimate them. However, this restoration, which happened in the summer of 1917, was a pure farce, like a well-acted play, suddenly a group of clowns rushed to the stage, kicked the serious performers off the stage, and announced to the audience I am the protagonist, and the script I brought is the main story; while everyone was dumbfounded, the group of clowns hadn't calmed down yet, and suddenly they were swept away with a bang.At that time, Chinese people could not laugh at this, and foreign countries laughed out loud.

This restoration, which was the biggest farce of the Republic of China, was the restoration of the famous "braid handsome" Zhang Xun. To talk about this restoration, we must first talk about Zhang Xun.Mr. Yan Chongnian, who loves the emperor of Qing Dynasty very much, and who is elated when he mentions Qing emperor, is very dissatisfied with the term "Zhang Xun's restoration". He specially emphasized his tone when lecturing on TV: "It should be called 'Zhang Xun's Mutiny, Puyi's Restoration'!" In his old man's heart, Zhang Xun is not the emperor of "My Great Qing Dynasty", so what qualifications does he have for "restoration"?It was Xuantong who was restored!

This seems to be more rigorous.But I still think it's not bad that this farce is called "Zhang Xun's Restoration", because Pu Yi was only twelve years old at the time, and he was lying on the table under the supervision of his masters to write his homework that was exhibited in the Palace Museum today. Restoration ability?There were indeed some veterans of the former Qing Dynasty who dreamed of restoration, but after the founding of the Republic of China, they were all in vain, and there was no possibility of putting their dreams into practice.During Yuan Shikai's restoration, this group of people became excited, thinking that they were going to put Puyi on the throne again. Unexpectedly, it was Yuan Shikai himself who proclaimed himself emperor, and the royal family had nothing to do with it.Disappointed, they retreated angrily, gloating over Yuan Shikai's end.

Without Zhang Xun, this farce would absolutely be impossible.Pu Yi relived the emperor's dream for 12 days, the spirit of the elders cheered up for 12 days, and the people of the whole country were dumbfounded for 12 days, all thanks to Zhang Xun - Zhang Xun is the main actor in this vicious restoration event. What kind of person is this Zhang Xun? He was born in Chitian Village, Fengxin County, Jiangxi Province. When he was young, he was poor and had no means of living. He went to Jiangjitou Village, not far from his home, to work as a book boy for a family named Xu.Zhang Xun had been a school boy for several years, and felt that there was no way out, so he had an idea, forged Xu Zhenwei's recommendation letter, stole Lao Xu's seal, and ran to join the Jiangnan camp of the Qing army.

Seeing this man coming with a letter of recommendation from the governor, the chief of the Jiangnan camp not only immediately approved his entry into the camp, but also took special care of him; and after Zhang Xun joined the army, he worked hard, was loyal, brave and reliable, and was promoted smoothly. In 1895, he served under Yuan Shikai as a supervisor, and in 1899 as the general soldier. By the time of the Revolution of 1911, he was already such a big figure as the admiral of the south of the Yangtze River and the minister of Jiangfang defense. Xu Zhenwei later found out that Zhang Xun had forged his letter of recommendation to join the army, but at that time Zhang Xun had already achieved his goal, how could Xu Zhenwei pursue it?Just be a favor and admit it.

Zhang Xun's character, the most prominent is his solid eyes, but he is also a bit simple and honest. He stubbornly abides by all the traditional creeds.At the time of the Revolution of 1911, the Qing Dynasty had collapsed and everyone pushed back. Many people in power and leading troops turned their backs overnight, but he never.He thought that he had been favored by the Emperor of the Mountain, so how could he betray him?The Jiangsu-Zhejiang Allied Forces attacked Nanjing, which he was guarding, and it became the most tragic battle in the entire 1911 Revolution. The civilian army took ten bloody battles to recover Nanjing. During this period, Zhang Xun searched all over the city and found that all those who had their braids cut were executed!

During the Battle of Nanjing, there was another interesting incident.Zhang Xun was fifty-seven years old at that time, and had many wives and concubines, but he bought a new concubine, a beautiful woman from Suzhou.Zhang Xun named her "Xiao Maozi", and he was very fond of her, and everyone knew it.When retreating to Xuzhou, Zhang Xun was in a panic and ignored Xiao Maozi, which caused Xiao Maozi to be captured by the militia in Xiaguan.When Chen Qimei heard about it, he came up with a bad idea: He suggested that Xiaomaozi be put on display in Zhangyuan, Shanghai, and visitors would be charged 40 cents per person, so it is estimated that 100,000 yuan in military expenses could be raised!

Xu Shaozhen, the commander-in-chief of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Allied Forces, did not adopt this suggestion. Instead, he ordered Tao Xun, the director of the Jinpu Railway Bureau, to send Xiaomaozi to Su County, which is very close to Xuzhou, and returned it to Zhang Xun. Zhang Xun, who lost Xiao Maozi, was very irritable.His other aunts and wives had long been jealous of Xiao Maozi alone, but now Xiao Maozi fell into the enemy's hands, so they all ran over to fight for favor. Zhang Xun, who was depressed, spread his five fingers and beat all the aunts violently.Another chief of staff came to report the casualties of the Jiang Fang soldiers. Zhang Xun was very impatient: "What do you lose a few battalions of soldiers? I lost the little boy!"

Zhang Xun was overjoyed to learn that the militia had sent Xiao Maozi back.Although he was a life-and-death enemy to the civilian army who dared to rebel against the emperor, he was grateful for his kindness: in gratitude for returning the little Maozi, he returned the 14 locomotives and 80 passenger cars hijacked from Nanjing to the Jinpu Railway Bureau.These vehicles later played a significant role for the Southern Revolutionary Army in the Civil War. Zhang Xun has a strong sense of his hometown. After he made his fortune, he took good care of the elders in his hometown: for the fellow villagers in Chitian Village, Zhang Xun gave each family a big tile house.During the period of the Republic of China, the Jiangxi Guild Hall and Nanchang Guild Hall in Beijing were built with the money of Zhang Xun. In the Fengxin Guild Hall, there were actually five built, one in each of the east, west, north, south, and north; the Jiangxi Guild Hall outside Xuanwumen is regarded as the most luxurious Western-style building in Beijing , not only has a mansion garden, but also has its own generator, singing operas in it, and brightly lit.Zhang Xun gave scholarships to all Jiangxi natives studying in Beijing; as for the college students in Fengxin County, all expenses for food and clothing were covered by Zhang Xun.

Such an approach, of course, won him a reputation as a "living Bodhisattva" in his hometown.Every year on the first day of the first lunar month, a large number of Jiangxi old watches go to pay New Year greetings to Zhang Xun, and the Jinpu Railway Bureau prepares special trains for them at this time of year.Zhang Xun entertained the fellow villagers who came to pay New Year's greetings, and held a big banquet for three days.Mao Zedong worked as an administrator in the library of Peking University, and his monthly salary was seventeen oceans! All fellow villagers who seek employment or help from him will do so.During his rise to power, there were forty-seven people in Fengxin County who had served as county magistrates (county heads) in various places!

Zhang Xun also loves Peking Opera, has been intoxicated for many years, and is very proficient. In 1922, Zhang Xun, who had failed in restoration for five years, held a meeting at home to celebrate his 70th birthday. Yang Xiaolou, Mei Lanfang, Yu Shuyan, etc., and Sun Juxian, a veteran of the Peking Opera circle in his 80s, were well-known in the Beijing-Kunming circle. Gathering in Zhangjia Garden became an unprecedented event in Liyuan.These actors didn't dare to fool Zhang Xun, an expert, and each showed their housekeeping skills and performed hard.Zhang Xun said that he would be paid according to his performance level, but he gave Sun Juxian 600 oceans as his reward. Sun Juxian was so moved that he burst into tears and said in a trembling voice: "Anyone who understands opera is also Marshal Zhang! A bosom friend is also Marshal Zhang!" Zhang Xun When Xun died, Sun Juxian fell to the ground crying and said: "Huang Zhong Da Lu, I'm afraid I will die!" So many anecdotes about Zhang Xun's life also fully illustrate Zhang Xun's traditional nature. His character, creed, and taste are completely classical. If he has the opportunity, he will support the restoration of Puyi, which is very in line with his ideological logic.If he is ungrateful and ungrateful to his fellow countrymen after he develops, if his hobby is not Peking opera but drama, then he is another Zhang Xun, and he may not be able to restore the Republic of China when it has been established for six years and Yuan Shikai was defeated. thing to come. Although he tried his best to protect the Qing court, he could not be held accountable after the founding of the Republic of China because he had a large army in his hands. He continued to be a vassal.At this time, Zhang Xun began to be called a "monster" because of his braids. He himself resolutely refused to cut his braids, and he also forbade his soldiers to do so.To those who persuaded him to cut his braids, he was furious: "Whoever dares to touch my braids, I will die with him!" Later Yuan Shikai felt that it was unreasonable for a general of the Republic of China army to drag his braids, so he personally persuaded him.Faced with the president's advice, Zhang Xun still went his own way. Zhang Xun is really loyal to the Qing Dynasty in his heart, and now he can't serve the Qing Dynasty, so he insists on keeping this braid to express his heart and position, and waits for the day when the Qing Dynasty will make a comeback.