After Cixi's death, all the officials of the new dynasty who supported the Guangxu Emperor hated Yuan Shikai to the bone and regarded the expulsion of Yuan as the most important thing at that time. A struggle aimed at purging Yi Kuang and Yuan Shikai, consolidating the regent's position in charge of the state, and redistributing political power quietly unfolded.
Yuan Shikai
Driving Yuan was put on the agenda
After Cixi's death, the imperial authority declined severely. In the view of the regent Zaifeng at the time, Yi Kuang and Yuan Shikai posed a serious threat to the political authority and monarchy of the Qing Dynasty. Many imperial families who tried to reach high positions in the new dynasty, such as Shanqi and Zaize, also regarded the high-powered Prince Yikuang of Qing as a thorn in their eyes, and Yuan Shikai, who had great authority, as a thorn in the flesh, and wanted to get rid of it quickly. Yi Kuang was greedy and despicable, but because of his decades of experience in the center, he was enshrined as the hereditary Prince Qing. He had high prestige in the clan and a heavy weight among the courtiers, and his descendants were not easy to shake.
Empress
In the eyes of young people, Yuan Shikai was nothing more than a slave of the Qing Dynasty, and his status was slightly lower than that of Yi Kuang. Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao claimed that Yuan Shikai had betrayed the Guangxu Emperor and was imprisoned in Yingtai. Years of unsatisfactory years and untimely death have also made Yuan Shikai's image extremely ugly. All the officials of the new dynasty who loved and sympathized with the Guangxu Emperor hated Yuan Shikai very much and made the expulsion of Yuan Shikai the first priority at that time. The struggle aimed at purging Yi Xi and Yuan Shikai and consolidating the regent's position as the state and redistributing political power quietly unfolded.
Yikes
Ao Qilin, Jiang Chunlin, and Zhao Binglin took the lead in attacking. Zhao Qilin had offended Yi Li and Yuan Shikai by impeaching Duan Zhigui for offering a prostitute to Zaizhen, Yang Cuixi, and was dismissed from his post by Empress Dowager Cixi. Later, he was reinstated in the context of social solidarity. The three imperial historians ascended the throne successively, and yuan shikai was illegal. At this time, Yuan Shikai also created opportunities for others due to a series of policy disputes. Since Yuan Shikai became minister of foreign trade and commerce, he has made good friends with Europe and the United States and resisted the encroachment of Japan and Russia on the interests and rights and interests of Northeast China. When he planned these measures, he rarely consulted with other military ministers in korea, nor did he ask the imperial court for instructions, which inevitably touched the balance of Zaifeng. On December 10, 1908, Yuan Shikai submitted the issue of the exchange of chinese and American ambassadors to the imperial court for discussion, which caused fierce contradictions within the puppet Manchu government. In addition, Yuan Shikai misjudged the ATTITUDE OF THE United States toward Japan diplomacy and the bankruptcy of the proposal to reach a Sino-German alliance with the United States, which triggered attacks by courtiers and difficulties caused by japanese and Russian envoys in China, and fell into political difficulties.
On January 1, 1909, Yuan Shikai, due to financial problems, angered the Manchu Qingui of the current branch Shangshu. Yuan Shikai received reliable information and fled to Tianjin overnight. On January 3, Yushi Zhao Binglin impeached Yuan Shikai for Chen Tianshang, saying that he was "mechanically deceitful, good at building flesh and blood", "harboring evil intentions, disregarding great righteousness", "monopolizing power, adventuring and so on", "holding the army for a long time, holding the army and being proud", "entering the official system, angry and noble, shaking the cardinals, quite Tang Dynasty."
Zaifeng found an excuse from the imperial throne and decided to take advantage of the favorable opportunity to get rid of Yuan Shikai. Of course, this is not an easy task. To move Yuan Shikai, we must not only have the courage to make a plan, but also have the ability to pass the level and slash the general. Zaifeng had just drawn up an edict to remove Yuan, calling him "domineering and indomitable" and preparing to take away Yuan Shikai's official title and take custody of him, so he had to face opposition from the imperial court and the foreign minister stationed in China. Yi Kuang, who had long been in the center and commanded the military captain, as well as Shi Xu, Zhang Zhidong, and other important courtiers of the imperial court, such as the high-ranking officials Houlu, did not approve of the removal of Yuan Shikai. While dissuading Zaifeng, Zhang Zhidong claimed that the two palaces must maintain a stable situation. Yuan Shikai led the army for a long time, and there were many henchmen among the courtiers. The new dynasty needs stability to cope with difficult times and should not kill its subjects.
Loaded
Not only that, Yuan Shikai resigned in 1906 and handed over the new army of the first, third, fifth and sixth towns to the War Department. In 1907, Yuan Shikai was transferred from the Beiyang Army from Ming Sheng and Secret Descent to serve as Minister of War and Minister of Foreign Affairs. It can be said that Yuan Shikai's power is gone and will not pose a threat to the imperial court. As long as he doesn't push too hard, he won't take the lead in opposing it. After Yuan Shikai fled to Tianjin, Zhu Erdian, then the British minister to China, personally asked Yuan Shikai for mercy and swore to save his life. At the same time, Yuan Shikai stopped all participation in the affairs of the Military Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the grounds of "leg disease". Duan Qirui, the Beiyang general stationed in Baoding, instigated the Nanyuan soldiers to make trouble and prepared to pacify the "Nanyuan soldiers" and change the name of the Beijing Division, although the incident was quickly quelled, it still shocked the government and the opposition.
Faced with opposition from inside and outside the imperial court and the threat of the Beiyang New Army, Zaifeng hesitated and finally had to find a step down through Yuan Shikai's "foot disease". On the same day, Zaifeng issued an edict in the name of Emperor Xuantong, saying that Yuan Shikai was suffering from a foot disease and it was difficult to seize his post, and immediately opened up a shortage and returned to his hometown to recuperate from illness, in order to show the court's sympathy for the ministers. Yuan Shikai escaped safely and temporarily recused himself from the center of power. Zaifeng wanted to clean up Yuan's henchmen, and Yuan Shikai's departure was a concession made by both sides to maintain stability. With the goal of excluding Yuan Shikai from the center, the Yuan faction also achieved the original intention of saving Yuan Shikai's life, and the contest between the two sides naturally entered the next link.
For Zaifeng, in addition to strengthening the surveillance of Yuan Shikai, who was waiting for an opportunity in Huanshang Village, Zhangde, Henan, he gradually cut off his henchmen in the DPRK and gathered scattered forces. Chen Bi, then Shangshu of the Postal Ministry, had close ties with the Beiyang Ministry and bore the brunt of the attack. Yushi Xie Yuanhan impeached Chen Bi for taking the throne, saying that he had no state money and was corrupt and perverted the law for personal gain. Enraged, Zaifeng convened a meeting of military ministers, intending to depose Chen Bi first and then severely punish him. He was dissuaded by Chen Bi and several other military ministers, and had to agree to appoint the appointment to eat first.
On January 14, Zaifeng issued an edict in the name of Emperor Xuantong, saying that someone had beaten Chen Bi to fake the national treasury, and sent the university scholars Sun Jianai and Na Tong to investigate impartially and selflessly, and that they should not be obscure and incomprehensible. Chen Bi knew that Zaifeng was dissatisfied with his own handling of Linggong unfavorably, and he wantonly sold shortages and sold defects, and had a close relationship with Yuan Shikai. Once the evidence is verified, the consequences are unimaginable. So he and some of his subordinates tampered with the current accounts to eliminate traces. Sun Jianai, Na Tong, and others went to check the postal office, but they could not find much evidence, so they had to sit on the grounds that the salaries of the railway bureau staff were too high. On February 6, Zaifeng had to hand over Chen Bi to the ministry for investigation based on Sun Jianai and Na Tong's affairs, and was deposed two days later. After Chen Bi left his post, Tang Shaoyi, Yan Xiu, Yang Shiqi, Cai Naihuang, Feng Ruqi, Zhu Jiabao, and other Yuan Shikai henchmen were also excluded. At that time, the wind was blowing, and many Yuan Parties in the imperial court panicked, not knowing which day it would be their turn. In the face of political strife, many people are trying to protect themselves and are reluctant to sit still. Yang Shixiang, the governor of Zhili at the time, quickly drew a line, refused to meet with Yuan Shikai to clear up relations, and bribed Zhang Yi to intercede with him from top to bottom of Prince Shuo's palace. In order to cater to the powerful and powerful Zaifeng, Yang Shixiang took the lead in cleaning up the finances under the direct subordination, saying that it was necessary to eliminate the officials who were full of private pockets, save money and use money, and care about the well-being of the people, which was very timely. Zaifeng is typical of Yang Shixiang. On the one hand, his instructions were in line with the original intention of the imperial court to read the people's difficulties, and he was worthy of being the leader of the officials of the imperial court. On the other hand, he praised him at the summons, saying that he was a down-to-earth man and that he would be more diligent in the future, especially by strengthening the implementation of constitutionalism, so as to continue to be a model for the provinces. Yang Shixiang died of illness soon after, and was posthumously awarded the title of Prince Shaobao. Yuan Shikai's close friend and close friend Xu Shichang was even more uneasy, and had to ask for the vacancy on the grounds of physical illness. Zaifeng originally wanted to take the opportunity to take Xu Shichang down, but he was not very sure in his heart. Under the persuasion of the military ministers Shi Xu and Lu Chuanlin, Zaifeng temporarily refused Xu Shichang's request on the grounds that the matters of the three eastern provinces were urgent, and let him continue to serve as the governor of the three eastern provinces. Xu Shichang was relieved while still feeling uneasy, so he once again put away his body and asked for internal adjustment, placing himself under Zaifeng's eyelids to show that there was no other master in his heart. Coincidentally, Chen Bi was dismissed from his post by Zaifeng, and the post of Shangshu of the Ministry of Posts and Communications was vacant. Xu Shichang was blessed by misfortune and entered the Ministry of Postal Communications.
Xu Shichang
Zaifeng was very satisfied with Xu Shichang's obedience and cleverness. He first gave him the post of Minister of Posts and Communications, and later added the title of Co-organizer of University Degrees, which led him to the Military Department. It can be said that he was revered and pampered and regarded as a confidant. After catching shrimp and crabs, the next step is naturally to catch a big fish. This big fish is Yi Kuang, who has always been considered to be Yuan Shikai's background, but things are not so simple. Yushi Jiang Chunlin and the others pushed down a team of Yuan Dang, opened fire, and aimed their guns at Yi Kuang, who was in a high position. Jiang Chunlin told Zaifeng that although Yuan Shikai had gone, it was still a major disaster for Yi Kuang to remain in the central government. Imperial Zhao Binglin was not willing to show weakness. He ascended the throne and said that although Yuan Shikai was deposed, his party had Yi Kuang as his caretaker, and the governor Yang Shixiang directly subordinated him provided financial resources. In case the imperial court was in occasional danger, they would take the opportunity to threaten him. He advocated transferring Yang Shixiang away from the viceroy and cutting off Yuan Shikai's economic resources.
Zhao Binglin
When Zaifeng summoned Zhao Binglin, Zhao Binglin suggested that the Guangxu Emperor's edict to assassinate Yuan Shikai be published, clarifying his crimes, deposing Yuan Shikai as a traitor, appointing Zhang Zhidong as the sole minister, appointing Cen Chunxuan to be in charge of guards, appointing Kang Liang and other constitutionalists as emperor elders and regent advisers, implementing constitutional government, and gathering the hearts of the world. Zaifeng was worried about Zhao Binglin's opinion and did not adopt it. Zhang Zhidong resolutely opposed the removal of Yi Kuang, believing that Yi Kuang was a serious person and should be trusted to appease the clan. So Zaifeng had to give up and wait again.
At this point, a political struggle that began with yushi impeaching Yuan Shikai and was intended to eliminate Yuan Shikai's forces ended with Yuan Shikai's resignation, the temporary separation of party henchmen, and the immobility of Yi Kuang.