Chapter 11 Political Affairs - Measuring China's material resources, and uniting with the country's favor

After the signing of the "Xin Chou Treaty", Cixi issued the "Sinful Edict", in which he expressed his gratitude to the "leniency" of the big powers: "Today, we discuss the treaty, do not invade my sovereignty, do not cut off my land, and remember the forgiveness of the nations. Foolish ignorance, thinking about it afterwards, mixed with shame and indignation." He also said: "Measure the material power of China, and unite the country's favor." When Zhang Zhidong was the governor of Liangjiang, he wanted to build an iron factory for making steel rails. He entrusted Xue Fucheng, the minister in Britain, to order the machines in Britain. The British side said that the samples of coal coke and iron sand should be sent to Britain for testing before they can judge their quality. It was decided to design a machine for ironmaking.Xue Yi told Zhang, and Zhang said: "China is so big, where is there no good coal and good iron? But it is okay to buy a copy from the British owner." So the British Teeter factory designed according to the acid method it used for ironmaking. The two Sema furnaces were shipped to China. At that time, Zhang Zhidong had been changed to the governor of Huguang. Iron ore was discovered in Daye. Someone suggested setting up a factory in Daye. In Hanyang, I can still see the chimneys of the ironworks.” So a factory was built in Guishan, which was located in a small area with paddy fields. It spent huge sums of money on the operation, and consulted coal mines in various places, and finally got Ma’anshan coal, which was both ash and sulfur. It is not suitable for coking, and the pig iron it makes is really unsuitable, and the steel rails are even more irrelevant.

The name of the presiding official of the imperial examination one year before Cixi's 70th birthday: next year will be auspicious, and Shoujing Nengcheng 1904 was the 70th birthday of Empress Dowager Cixi, and the officials who presided over the imperial examinations in the previous year paid great attention to "auspicious omens".After the examination, the imperial court sent the chief examiners and deputy chief examiners of the township examinations in each province.The first two batches were released from Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong, and Guangxi. The names of the eight people were: Li Zheming, Liu Pengnian, Zhang Xingji, Wu Qingdi, Dashou, Jing Fangchang, Qian Nengxun, and Luo Chengxiang. Auspicious, longevity can be achieved", it is really auspicious.

Amnesty in the name of Empress Dowager Cixi's seventy years of longevity In 1904, the Qing government had to adapt to the trend of the times and promised to implement reforms in the country.In this year, in the name of Empress Dowager Cixi's seventy years of longevity, an imperial edict was issued to pardon the criminals of the Wushu. In addition, the rest of the members of the Wushu case will be exempted from their past and will be rehabilitated. Those who have been dismissed from their posts will be restored to their original titles, and they will be arrested. Those who are currently imprisoned and handed over to local control will be released as a whole."

It only takes a single spark to create a prairie fire in politics. In 1904, Sun Yat-sen said in the article "The True Solution of China's Problems": "China is on the eve of a great national movement, and the rule of the Qing Dynasty is rapidly dying... As long as there is a spark, It can create a prairie fire politically." Every country has a constitution, bloodshed, and then there is peace As soon as the constitutional inspection team left the capital, Wu Yue threw a bomb at Tianjin Station, which was actively lined up, killing three people on the spot.Zai Ze and Xu Shichang were slightly injured, Shao Ying was seriously injured, and Wu Yue died on the spot.At that time, the newspapers and magazines condemned this assassination and terrorist activities, and believed that the five ministers went abroad to prepare for the establishment of the Constitution, which was related to the future of China. Anyone with a little patriotism should solemnly wish them a trip, and hope that the government will not be afraid of difficulties and move forward bravely. Row.But the Qing court advocated slowing down, and Zai Ze received a call from Japan, saying that there would be riots in Japan, and he was also asked to slow down.Among the inspecting ministers, Shaoying was seriously injured and is still recuperating.Some people ridiculed Shaoying, saying that he made an excuse to recover from his injuries, but he was actually not going to go.Shaoying heard these words and said angrily: "If I die and the constitution is established, I will die and live. Why should I die? Every country has a constitution and bloodshed, and then there will be peace."