In 1912, the Qing Dynasty officially came to an end and replaced it with the Republic of China. However, in the early days of the founding of the Republic of China, the military and political power throughout the country was in the hands of Yuan Shikai. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the feudal governors, the nine governors, were also facing a change in the political system.
Under such circumstances, some of them firmly supported the feudal imperial system and tried to help Yuan Shikai restore, and the result was dismal. However, some people left the military and political vortex early and chose to devote themselves to the study of literature and history, but they also saved their lives.
(1) The office of governor
Ancient China was ruled by feudal culture, while modern China was infiltrated by democracy and civilization. Therefore, ancient China and modern China are very different from all aspects of society and politics. For example, in the area of military positions and officialdom. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the position of governor existed in the imperial court.
The governor is a kind of official position sent by the central government to the local government, so it is fundamentally directly subordinate to the central court, which is different from that of local officials. These governors went to different places and were responsible for local military and political power. That is to say, the governor was a feudal governor who commanded a stable side.
With the advent of modern times, the Republic of China period appeared. This means the end of the feudal era, and it also means the end of the Qing Dynasty's rule. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, there were a total of nine viceroys in the imperial court, and they were also the last governors in Chinese history.
2. Nine governors at the end of the Qing Dynasty
Since the governor is responsible for local military and political power, it is usually the name of the official position according to the region. For example, Zhang Zhenfang, who was the governor of Zhili and the head of the nine governors at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Because the name of the place is directly subordinate, it usually refers to the place where the son of heaven is at his feet. Another example is the Viceroy of Liangjiang, who was in charge of the military and political affairs of the three provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui and Jiangxi.
The Viceroy of Shaanxi and Gansu, as the name suggests, was responsible for shaanxi and Gansu. The Viceroy of Liangguang was responsible for Guangdong and Guangxi. The Governor of Huguang was responsible for Hubei and Hunan. The Governor of the Three Eastern Provinces was responsible for the military and political affairs of the three northeastern provinces. In addition, there was the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, responsible for Fujian, Zhejiang. Governor of Yunnan-Guizhou, in charge of Guizhou, Yunnan. The governor of Sichuan, as the name suggests, is responsible for the military, government, and people's livelihood of Sichuan.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the entire country was mainly controlled by these nine governors. Through regional division, each person leads the military and political economic development of one province or several provinces. These nine governors belonged directly to the central government, so they needed to report some of their daily work directly to the emperor. As a result, the emperor has a certain understanding of the national conditions of the whole country.
Third, the development of later years
From the last years of the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, Chinese society underwent a qualitative change. During this turbulent period, the nine governors of the last years of the Qing Dynasty also underwent changes in their positions. Zhang Zhenfang, who is a relative of Yuan Shikai, can be regarded as a cousin of Yuan Shikai. He and Yuan Shikai are considered to be the same faction in politics.
Therefore, when the Republic of China was just established, Yuan Shikai took the throne. Zhang Zhenfang's position has basically not changed, and he is still in charge of the power of the directly subordinate areas. But later, because of his support for Yuan Shikai's restoration, Zhang Zhenfang was arrested. He was held in prison for two or three years, and only when he was 55 years old was he released. He later became a director of Tianjin Salt Industry Bank.
Although he had no political power, he at least ended up with a job that could be earned. Zhang Xun, the governor of Liangjiang, was not so good-hearted, and he was very persistent about restoring the imperial system. He has always been determined to be loyal to the Qing court and wanted to support Puyi's restoration, so he also went to fight Yuan Shikai.
Later, in the early days of the Republic of China, in the process of warlord melee, he was defeated and ran to Tianjin, and later died of illness. Governor of Shaanxi and Gansu Doroth. Sheng Yun is a Manchu who has always been obsessed with the restoration of the Qing Dynasty and assisted Puyi. In the process of his retrograde behavior, he ran into walls everywhere, was depressed, and eventually died of illness in the Tianjin Concession.
Zhang Mingqi, the governor of Liangguang, later became a traitor with the most heinous crimes. Zhang Mingqi supported the feudal monarchy, so after the success of the Xinhai Revolution, he fled to Japan. Later, after Yuan Shikai ascended to the throne, he returned to China to support and support Yuan Shikai.
The most unexpected thing is that later, after the fall of Yuan Shikai, Zhang Mingqi actually chose to cooperate with the Japanese for the sake of power and interests. Later, after the end of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Zhang Mingqi became an outcast of the Japanese and died in remorse and guilt.
The governor of Huguang, Borjigit Ruiliang, did not resist the revolutionary army with all his strength when the Wuchang Uprising broke out, but instead fled to Shanghai. Because of this incident, he was dismissed from his post by the Qing court. But even after being dismissed, Rui Li still had a million family wealth.
However, after the founding of the Republic of China, his property was confiscated, and he later lived a poor and destitute life. At the age of 53, he died in an apartment in Shanghai. Zhao Erxun, the governor of the three eastern provinces, organized armed forces to oppose the Xinhai Revolution during the Wuchang Uprising. Later, during the establishment of the Republic of China and the reign of Yuan Shikai, he served as the governor of Fengtian.
But two years later, he resigned himself. Later, Zhao Erxun immersed himself in the study of Chinese history. Presided over the compilation of the Draft History of the Qing Dynasty. This is also his residual heat and contribution to the history of China. At the same time, because Zhao Erxun left the military and political circles early, he also let himself live his life in peace, living until the age of 83.
Song Shou, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, was also an old stubborn ideology feudal, so after the success of the Xinhai Revolution, he chose to commit suicide and martyrdom. Although his thinking is stubborn and corrupt, it has to be said that he has the integrity of a soldier. Li Jingxi, the governor of Yungui, was also a firm supporter of the feudal imperial system. So at the time of the Xinhai Revolution, he chose to flee.
But later, when Yuan Shikai was restored, he returned to China and held certain positions in Yuan Shikai's group. Later, after Yuan Shikai's death, Li Jingxi hid in Tianjin. Because of his physical health problems, he went to Shanghai for treatment, and finally died of illness in Shanghai.
The governor of Sichuan, Zhao Erfeng, was Zhao Erxun's younger brother and a controversial official. When he put down the rebellion in Tibet, he was cruel. However, he is very concerned about the livelihood of the people and has made a significant contribution to the stability of the Sichuan region.
Because of his great prestige among the local people, he was still responsible for the military and political work in Sichuan during the Republic of China period. However, later, Zhao Erfeng was framed to death for competing with Yin Changheng, another high-ranking official in the Sichuan army, for military power.
4. Summary
Effort is very important in a person's life, and as important as effort is his choice, especially in the face of great changes. Because change means not only crisis, but also hope. In modern times, China's political system has undergone essential changes.
From the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, there were many Officials of the Qing Dynasty who still adhered to feudal ideas and tried to act retrogradely, which also led to their own inability to live in peace in their later years. But there are also many officials who can recognize the reality of social development and choose to support the revolution or withdraw from the stage of history in time. Such a choice also allows them to get a relatively stable old age.