The May Fourth Movement, as an important ideological emancipation movement in China's modern history, has a far-reaching influence in Chinese history, and even to this day, a hundred years later, it is still talked about by people.
However, due to the fragmentation of historical materials, there are still many unsolved mysteries about the causes and processes. As for the reasons for the outbreak of this movement, Taiwanese historian Lü Fangshang, in his book "On the History of the Republic of China", analyzed the many relationships between the May Fourth Movement and the Kuomintang. Other historians, on the other hand, are also looking for clues in the power of the proletariat.
In fact, in this movement, there has always been a shadow of the Beiyang government, and historians have rarely mentioned it.
Here, let's first talk about the may fourth movement, the first of the famous "three traitors": Cao Rulin.
In his later recollections, he wrote: "The cause of the (May Fourth) movement was nothing more than the contradiction between President Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui, the head of the Anhui warlords, and a little personal grudge between Lin Changmin and him..." However, because of the disgraceful role played by Cao Rulin himself in this movement, these words have always been regarded as Cao Rulin's justification for himself.
However, if you think about it carefully, Cao Rulin's words are not completely worthless. After all, Cao Rulin occupied an important position in the political arena of the Republic of China, especially in Sino-Japanese diplomacy. Even after the failure of China's diplomacy, he once became the primary target of public opinion, and he also knew a lot in the Struggle for Anhui and Zhizhi.
At that time, the contradiction between Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui was obviously established, but behind this contradiction, it actually reflected the struggle between the two clans of the Beiyang warlord Anhui and Zhi. If the facts are really like Cao Rulin said, or half-truths and half-truths, then this will certainly provide some new ideas for the study of the May Fourth Movement.
When it comes to the Anhui struggle, it is necessary to mention President Xu Shichang.
Although Xu Shichang did not join any of the Anhui factions, in fact, he was single-handedly held by Duan Qirui, the head of the Anhui clan. Xu Shichang was originally friendly with Yuan Shikai as Yuan Shikai's right and left arm, but in Yuan Shikai's attempt to claim the title of empress dowager, he broke with him and retired to the mountains. It was not until after Yuan Shikai's death that Duan Qirui invited him out of the mountains again to mediate the "dispute between the government and the court".
Later, when the second president of the Republic of China was elected, Duan Qirui was even more inseparable from Feng Guozhang and elected Xu Shichang to be the president of the Republic of China. The relationship between Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui may be a bit of an exaggeration to say that it is a marionette and a matchmaker, but if there is no Duan Qirui, there will certainly be no later Xu Shichang.
It is reasonable to say that Xu Shichang became president under the support of the Anhui clan represented by Duan Qirui, and even if he is not grateful to Duan Qirui, at least, he should not oppose it. However, the fundamental contradiction between the two men lies in the disunity of political views. Xu Shichang advocated peaceful reunification, while Duan Qirui advocated force. This point laid the groundwork for the discord behind.
However, what really swayed Xu Shichang was the direct line from the Anhui family. At that time, the contradiction between the direct lineage of the Anhui clan could almost be said to have torn the face, and it was almost a knife and gun. Xu Shichang, although supported by the Anhui clan, knows that if he wants to sit firmly in the presidency, he must stabilize the domestic situation. As for which faction is in charge, it is not something he can control.
At that time, the former direct head Feng Guozhang withdrew from the stage of history, and the new direct leader Cao Kun, under the deception of Duan Qirui, had been acting as the vanguard of Duan Qirui's armed reunification.
The general Wu Peifu under Cao Kun was the first to bear the brunt of it, defeating the main force of the Gui clan in one fell swoop, and then crushed the Hunan army and captured Changsha. However, in the rear, Duan Qirui sent his confidant Xu Shuzheng to train his own armed army to participate in the war, and borrowed military resources and armaments from Japan and threw them there. However, the direct line that worked the front line did not catch half the benefits, and it was cheap in vain.
Even Duan Qirui's personal attendant Zhang Jingyao was given the post of overseer in this battle. However, for Wu Peifu, he was only sent to be a Fuwei general with no real power. However, Duan Qirui's trick of reaping the benefits of fishermen is really not very clever, Mo said that the shrewd Wu Peifu even saw through the stupid Cao Kun. As a result, when Wu Peifu hit Hengyang, he began to fight passively.
While he was stationary, he hooked up with the South and corresponded with each other;
On the one hand, with the most radical patriotic appearance, he frequently sent telegrams to wantonly criticize the Various Acts of the Beijing Government, and even named and denounced important government officials by name.
Hitting the dog and rushing at the owner, Wu Peifu's move was undoubtedly a provocation to the Anhui clan that was in charge at that time. The new direct lineage, which had gradually grown in strength through war, had already faintly gained the momentum of winning the Central Plains at this time. It just so happened that China's diplomatic failure at the Paris Peace Conference at that time gave the direct family an opportunity to attack the Beiyang government headed by Duan Qirui. The protest movement of the May Fourth students has expanded this opportunity indefinitely.
It can be said that Wu Peifu's various remarks had a great impact on both public opinion and the political situation at that time.
At that time, Wu Peifu was in the limelight for a while due to successive victories, and although there were other elders in his immediate family, such as the "Three Governors of the Yangtze River" (Su Du Li Chun, Gan Du Chen Guangyuan, and E Du Wang Zhanyuan), if he wanted to be a family member, no one could compete with Wu Peifu. Although Wu Peifu's speech may not be able to replace the entire direct family, they are all happy to express their dissatisfaction to the Anhui government through Wu Peifu.
Xu Shichang, who is an old friend of Yuan Shikai, although he has broken with his old friend, he is not willing to see the Beiyang group split. For him, although the Anhui clan was his old owner, in order to make his position more stable, it was necessary to maintain the balance of the various factions of the Beiyang warlords, of which the Anhui and Zhi clans were the most important. If he only became president under the baton of the Anhui clan, then wouldn't xu Shichang have become emperor of Han Xian?
It was precisely because of this consideration that he dared to have some "different opinions" with Duan Qirui. On the contrary, they were more inclined to consider Wu Peifu's suggestion, and even at that time, Lin Changmin exchanged a treaty between China and Japan on the Shandong issue, and China had the diplomatic rhetoric of "gladly agreeing" to the domestic press, which also led to the dismissal of Cao, Zhang, and Lu, and even triggered the burning of the Zhao Family Building.
However, Xu Shichang only called Lin Changmin over for training, and the pro-Japanese Anhui faction could only sacrifice Cao, Zhang, and Lu, so that as a direct line of the pro-Anglo-American faction, it gradually gained the upper hand.
It can be said that the outbreak of the May Fourth Movement was an important turning point that symbolized the decline and fall of the two factions of anhui and direct forces.
Through the May Fourth Movement, the Anhui clan and its Anfu government were completely saddled with the name of traitor, while among the direct lineage, especially Wu Peifu, gained the reputation of patriotic Heroes, and since then, they have gained the legitimacy of action.
The following year of the May Fourth Movement, the two sides of anhui and direct finally ushered in a big war, before the battle, the Anhui and direct families were almost not a level. However, the balance of victory is constantly tilted towards the originally weaker direct line. In addition to the strict training and tactical advantages of the direct family, the morale of Anhui due to the infamy caused by the infamy of the direct family is also an important factor.
It is said that at that time, China's domestic forces were complex, ranging from the kuomintang forces with strong capital to many forces such as Lu Rongting in Guangxi and Tang Jiyao in Yunnan. However, at the critical moment of May Fourth, they let their pro-British and American direct relatives lead the limelight. Wu Peifu, through his performance during the May Fourth period, became the guide of public opinion.
In an era when news and public opinion have become a social force, this kind of discourse power obviously has unimaginable power. And Wu Peifu, it was through this power that he suddenly became the most dazzling hero at that time. It can be said that the May Fourth Movement was born in the struggle of various factions of the Beiyang warlords, and it also witnessed the rapid turn of the Anhui forces and the splendor of the direct lineage.
It is no exaggeration to say that Wu Peifu is probably the biggest winner of this struggle.
Resources:
["Redemption of China: The May Fourth Movement", "General History of China, Cao Kun Wu Peifu", "Beiyang Confucian General Wu Peifu"]