Zhengzhou is now the capital of Henan Province, with a well-developed economy and transportation. It is the central city of china's central region and an important transportation hub of the country. It is now the only double cross center in the country's ordinary railway and high-speed rail network.
However, do you know that until the early years of the Republic of China, Zhengzhou was only a small county with a population of less than 20,000, and Kaifeng was the political, economic and cultural center of Henan. What is the reason for the rapid development of Zhengzhou? All this was because of a decision by Yuan Shikai.
At that time, Yuan Shikai, as the provisional president, had the biggest characteristic of being good to his hometown and seeing the development of his hometown. Initially, japan invaded northeast China, and the Qing government planned to build the Beijing-Zhang Railway. The railway was originally planned to pass through Zhoukou, but Zhoukou was close to Yuan Shikai's hometown of Xiangcheng. During the Qing Dynasty, Zhoukou was one of the four famous towns in Henan, the largest commodity trade distribution center in eastern Henan, and also a military town, with a very superior geographical environment. Moreover, during the Ming Dynasty, Zhoukou was a water and drought wharf, and the north-south waterway trade had to pass through this place. At that time, the Qing court also valued the geographical advantages of Zhoukou to position it as a passing city for the Beijing-Hankou Railway.
At that time, the war between Japan and Tsarist Russia had just ended. The two countries are at war, especially along the railway.
In order not to bury his former residence, out of the consideration of taking care of his fellow countrymen, Yuan Shikai moved the railway line to the west. Where to migrate? Moved from Zhoukou to Luohe. The construction of the railway was a matter of one stroke, because the railway in Zhoukou had to go west, and the railway in Kaifeng had to move west. Bypassing kaifeng In addition to the collateral impact of not taking the Zhoukou, the Yellow River in the Kaifeng section is a hanging river, which is not conducive to the construction of the Yellow River Bridge. Therefore, the railway moved to Zhengzhou, which was still called Zheng County at that time.
In this way, Zhengzhou developed, but Zhoukou Xiangcheng fell. After the founding of New China, Zhengzhou directly became the capital of Henan Province.
Yuan Shikai was self-defeating and diverted the railway to protect his hometown, which turned the small county town into a large provincial capital
Yuan Shikai's decision seemed very correct at the time, but now it is very absurd in retrospect, and even hindered the future development of his hometown's economy, transportation and other aspects.
The railway changed the fate of some cities, such as Zhengzhou, with the rise of the railway, developed into an international metropolis and became the capital city of Henan; and Kaifeng, even if it was once the imperial capital of many dynasties, was a political, economic and cultural center, and was finally defeated by Zhengzhou, which came later.
This article is original by Ma Qianjian History, welcome to pay attention to, take you along with long knowledge!