Patrolling Korea with japanese troops
On February 11, 1896, dozens of seoul police officers stormed Gyeongbokgung Palace, the palace of the Joseon Dynasty, and escorted away Kim Hong-ji, then prime minister.
Subsequently, at the behest of pro-Russian officials, Kim Hong-ji was taken to a small stone bridge by the police officer An Huan and hacked down the street, and was violently killed in Seoul's most prosperous area of Jongno.
What is even more strange is that the Hancheng residents who saw this scene did not bear it, but instead clapped their hands and praised it, and made various cruel moves against the body, throwing stones, cutting meat and eating it raw, breaking the skull, and even cutting off Tintin.
Because in their eyes, the cabinet led by Kim Hong-ji is a pro-Japanese traitor and a sinner who hinders North Korea's independence.
But in fact, Kim Hong-ji was a down-to-earth and diligent man, devoted his life to the reform of North Korea, and mediated with the Qing, Japan, and Russia, and was known as the "talent of saving the times."
Kim Hiroshi set
Even though he had cooperated with the Japanese government, he was still regarded by South Korea as capable, diligent and responsible after the restoration of the peninsula, and promoted the modernization of the peninsula and social progress, and even the north of the peninsula called him a "conscientious innovation bureaucrat" and regretted his death.
The evaluation of the two countries is here, which shows that Jin Hongji is definitely a patriot of the peninsula.
But why did such a patriot, who was committed to the prosperity and strength of the peninsula, become a traitor in the eyes of the people of Seoul?
Today, I would like to tell you about the ill-fated life of Kim Hongji.
Born with a famous political achievement, he is known as "the talent of saving the time"
Kim Hongji was born into the famous family, and after the official eunuch Gyeongju Kim clan, his father Kim Yongju stayed in Kaesong Province and served as a feast official for King Gojong of Joseon.
Kim Yong-juk was able to serve as the king's teacher and was naturally very good at learning, and Kim Hong-ju, as his son, received a good sinology education from an early age, and in 1868 he was awarded the title of C.K.
King Gojong of Joseon
Hearing his teacher's son Zhongju, King Gojong of Joseon was very pleased and specially ordered him to praise and reward him, but what Emperor Gojong did not know at this time was that this Kim Hongji would become his "thorn in the eye" in the future.
However, Jin Hongji is also somewhat tragic, just zhongjue his father Jin Yongjue died of illness, and when the three years of shouxiao were about to expire, his mother Changning Chengshi died again, and Jin Hongji had to continue to keep filial piety.
For more than 5 years after zhongju, Jin Hongji spent time in filial piety and was unable to realize his political ambitions in the official arena.
Finally, in 1873, Jin Hongji, who had completed his filial piety period, was reinstated as the deputy head of the Quanzhi Chengwen Yuan, and three years later he was sent to Xingyang County to supervise him, where he was well governed during his reign and helped tens of thousands of starving people during famine.
In 1876, Kim Hong-ji was transferred back to Seoul and successively held the posts of Hu Cao, Gong Cao, Bing Cao, and Li Cao Senator, and was unanimously recognized by his colleagues and King Gojong for his outstanding performance.
In 1876, something happened on the peninsula that changed the fortunes of Korea, that is, Japan opened the door of Korea with the help of strong ships and cannons, and forced the peninsula to sign the Treaty of Ganghwa, which humiliated the country.
Japan also relied on this treaty to obtain advantages such as free trade on the peninsula, exemption from customs duties, the circulation of Japanese currency, place of residence, free survey of the coast, and consular jurisdiction.
Of course, with the continuous plundering of Japan, the North Korean side also knows that this is not the case, and it also wants to argue on some controversial terms.
Therefore, in 1880, the Korean side appointed Kim Hong-ji as a messenger to Japan in order to negotiate with Japan on matters such as in-tugon's opening of the port, the Yonegu embargo, the revision of tariffs, and the stationing of ministers, but the result, of course, was that Japan did not agree to any of them.
Kim Hiroshi, who served as a messenger
Although it did not succeed in the right way, it was also expected, because Japan could not give up its exploitation. However, the harvest of Jin Hongji's trip was enormous.
First, the thriving social landscape of Japan after the Meiji Restoration greatly stimulated Jin Hongji, allowing him to see the direction of national development.
Second, He Ruzhang, the Qing Dynasty minister in Japan, and others actively discussed with Kim Hong-ji the strategy for the country's prosperity and strength, encouraged the DPRK to actively engage in foreign exchanges, and even personally wrote a pamphlet entitled "The Dpron Strategy" and sent it to Kim Hong-ji, saying that the DPRK should accept advanced Western science and technology in order to strive for self-improvement.
North Korea strategy
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After returning to China, he could not wait to present the "Korean Strategy" to King Gojong, and won the high approval of Emperor Gojong.
However, this kind of proposal has stabbed the honeycomb of North Korean conservative scholars and Confucians, who held high the banner of "Defending the Right and Rejecting Evil" and vigorously attacked the "North Korea Strategy."
More than 300 Confucians even organized a Fu Que Shangshu in Seoul, scolding Jin Hongji as a beast, and the history called it the "Xin Wei Campaign to Rebuke Evil Spirits."
Kim Hong-ji, who advocated reform, became the target of public criticism for a while, and had to ask for his dismissal in three consecutive ways, and King Gojong, who deeply agreed with the Korean Strategy, was also very angry.
On the one hand, he transferred Jin Hongji to other places to take shelter, and on the other hand, the pair severely suppressed the Shangshu Confucians, executed and exiled many people, and quickly calmed the storm.
Subsequently, Kim Hong-ji returned to his post and was appointed as the manager of the Department of Trade and Commerce of the General Machinery Department, and began to participate in the diplomatic affairs of North Korea.
During his diplomatic affairs, Kim Hong-ji led the signing of the Treaty of Reconciliation and Commerce between the DPRK and the United States, and also actively negotiated with British and German envoys, which introduced a large number of business opportunities to Korea.
At that time, North Korea had begun to communicate with other countries
Ma Jianzhong, a Qing Dynasty official, had a very good impression of him after communicating with Jin Hongji, commenting:
"Jin Hongji is more than forty years old, and looks like thirty people, and he is familiar with current affairs... The best in the country. ”
In 1881, the "Noon Mutiny" broke out in Korea, and the korean princess Min Fei, who held real power, fled, and Kim Hongji was originally on the assassination list, but when the chaos occurred, he fled in time, so only the mansion was destroyed.
After the Noon Mutiny, Kim Hongji was reused, not only going to Incheon to preside over the signing of the Treaty of Jiwupu with Japan, but also accompanying Zhao Ningxia to the mainland to "Thank You" and signing the "Sino-DPRK Merchants' And Land Trade Charter".
A North Korean training team during the Noon Mutiny
After returning to China, Kim Hongji was appointed as the Judge of Ricao and later concurrently served as the Foreign Affairs Inspector, becoming the highest head of foreign affairs in North Korea.
He was insulted by all sides and was repeatedly hidden by Gaozong Bird
Faced with the situation of being plundered by Japan again and again, people of insight in Korea began to vigorously promote the civilized movement, hoping to put the peninsula on the road to prosperity and strength through reform.
The groups advocating civilized reform can also be subdivided into two factions:
First, the "moderate and civilized faction" represented by Kim Hong-ji, Kim Yoon-sik, and others advocate maintaining Sino-DPRK relations and carrying out gradual reforms.
Second, the "radical enlightenment faction" represented by Kim Yu-kyun, Hong Young-sik, Park Yong-hyo, and others demanded that the peninsula must be completely independent from the Qing Dynasty and carry out comprehensive reforms following the example of Japan.
Civilized Party
Why did Kim Hongji suggest gradual reforms?
Because at that time, The korean national strength was weak, if it rushed to break away from the protection of the Qing Dynasty, in the face of the wolf's ambitions of Japan and Russia, there was no self-preservation at all.
Only by developing the economy and science and technology first under the protection of the Qing Dynasty can we have the ability to be truly completely independent when the country is rich and strong in the future.
However, kim yu-eok and other civilized party members do not believe in heresy, and are not only very dissatisfied with the ideas of Kim Hong-ji and others, but also naively believe that Japan is sincerely helping Korea to become rich and strong.
Thus, in October 1884, the Kaihua Communists joined forces with Japan to launch the "Koshin Coup", killing six conservative ministers and seizing power.
Kashin coup d'état
Japanese exile Park Young-taka, Kim Yu-hyun 4
Emperor Gaozong and Concubine Min urgently asked for help from the Qing Dynasty, and Yuan Shikai decisively led the Qing army stationed in Korea to attack, foiling the Japanese coup plot, and Jin Yujun and others fled to Japan.
(Friends interested in this incident can pay attention to this article: North Korea's pro-Japanese faction launched a coup d'état, and Yuan Shikai decisively sent troops to "continue his life for ten years" in Korea for the Qing Dynasty.)
After the defeat of the Koshin coup, kim Hiroji, far from participating in the coup, also fully demonstrated his talent and loyalty, was promoted by Gojong to the position of left-wing government of the Council of Ministers, and signed the "Seoul Treaty" with Japan on behalf of Korea, further ceding many rights.
Although this treaty can be described as an alliance under the city, and everyone must sign and pledge, the conservative ministers who hate Jin Hongji have taken advantage of the theme to play a crazy propaganda of Jin Hongji's pro-Japanese traitor, and many people who do not know the truth have also begun to insult Jin Hongji.
If Emperor Gaozong was a wise man with a strong backbone, these rumors and conservative attacks would not work.
Gojong of Joseon
However, Emperor Gaozong Li Xi was a cowardly and unasserted person, and although he admired and trusted Jin Hongji, he was still reappointed as a "judge of the Central Government", which seemed to be a high-ranking congyipin officer, but in fact it was an idle post.
As a result, many people jokingly call Jin Hongji like "shoes worn on rainy days", only used when it rains, and is discarded after a sunny day.
Although Kim Hong-ji was later reinstated to the position of leftist government twice, under the suppression of the conservatives, he was soon forced to resign and could only continue to idle, and this idleness was ten years long.
He became prime minister and led the modernization reform of North Korea
In 1894, the Dongxue Party uprising broke out in Korea, and the Qing Dynasty and Japan simultaneously sent troops to Korea, and the political situation on the peninsula was in great turmoil.
Dongxue Party Uprising (Stills)
In this context, calls for reform in North Korea have grown, and resistance to reform has reached an all-time low.
Jin Hongji, as the leader of the moderately civilized faction, began to vigorously advocate reform at this time, and vigorously advocated the "more open cause" at this critical moment of life and death.
Subsequently, Kim Hongji was appointed foreign premier, and after the Japanese army captured Gyeongbokgung Palace to provoke the Sino-Japanese War, he served as the leader of the government and held real power.
Although Kim Hiroki was supported by the Japanese for its reuse, he himself did not turn to the Japanese, but only because he saw the scene after the reform of Japanese society and wanted to emulate it in an all-round way.
In particular, after he saw the Japanese army occupying the palace and putting Gojong under house arrest, he was even more distressed, saying that he must enrich the national strength through reform and make Korea rich and strong.
With outstanding political talents and the seniority of the civilized generation, the Japanese attach great importance to Jin Hongji, and Japanese Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu even called Jin Hongji "the predecessor who deeply won the expectations of the people".
Jin Hongji during the Jia Wu Period
After gaining real power, Kim Hongji quickly began to carry out reforms, and established the "Military State Aircraft Office" in Gyeongbokgung Palace as the core institution of reform.
In the following months, the "Military State Aircraft Maintenance Office" promulgated 208 reform decrees to carry out a comprehensive modernization reform of north Korea's politics, economy, and society.
During the reform period, Jin Hongji was exhausted, spending almost all his time in the palace, rarely returning home, and in the face of many difficulties and obstacles, he also argued with reason, without the slightest fear of offending people.
He even imposed strict restrictions on Emperor Gaozong's monarchy, because Jin Hongji knew that if he did not carry out reforms in terms of monarchy, it would be impossible to embark on the road of prosperity and strength, and the backward feudal system could not lead the advanced productive forces, but this reform also made Emperor Gaozong very angry.
Unfortunately, in the face of Japan's wolf ambitions and conservative obstruction, Kim Hiroji's personal ideas and abilities are not important.
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Japanese troops landing on the peninsula
The policies that can really be implemented are often measures that Japan believes will be conducive to its own control and colonization, such as the introduction of the silver standard, allowing Japanese money to circulate, and allying with Japan.
In fact, although Kim Hongji recognized Japan's development achievements, he also knew that the Japanese had bad intentions, so he also secretly contacted the Qing army during the Battle of Pyongyang to try to give the Qing army an advantage, but the gap in military development between the two countries was not able to change the situation by relying on intelligence.
In this case, although the Japanese admired Kim Hiroji's ability, they did not trust him unconditionally, and not only sent many pro-Japanese officials into the Military Aircraft Office, but also restricted reform through various means.
In this way, Jin Hongji can be said to have been caught between the left and the right, on the one hand, the Japanese completely suppressed him, on the other hand, the people also believed that he was a traitor, and the reform also stagnated under the dilemma of left and right.
He died in an insulting name and was humiliated by the citizens
Kim Hong-ji's hesitation and hesitation were all in the eyes of the Japanese, so he urgently forced the North Korean government to pardon the civilized Party member Park Yong-hyo who was exiled to Japan, and installed him in the Korean government as minister of internal affairs.
Park Young-hyo is also a highly controversial figure in the history of the peninsula, he is very knowledgeable in appearance and beauty, he is the donkey of King Chuljong of Joseon, and the designer of the Korean flag, who has struggled for the prosperity of Korea all his life.
Park Young-hyo
At the same time, he was also a notorious "Korean traitor", who was exiled by the South Korean side three times, and was confirmed as a pro-Japanese traitor by the north and south of the peninsula.
(Those interested in Park Young-hyo's life can pay attention to this article: he is the "designer of the Korean flag", but he was listed by South Korea as a "Korean traitor" and nailed to the column of shame)
Subsequently, Park Yong-hyo began to implement the cabinet system through the reform of the official system, abolished the Military Aircraft Office, and jointly formed a cabinet with Kim Hongji to begin the "Second Jia Wu Zhang".
Although Kim Hong-ji still served as the nominal supreme commander of the reforms, the "Prime Minister of the Cabinet", but because Park Yong-hyo himself was a more pro-Japanese presence, and Gojong had long resented Kim Hong-ji because of the restriction of his monarchy, the reform was almost entirely led by Park Yong-hyo.
Feeling overwhelmed, Kim resigned in May 1895 and retired from politics.
However, only a month later, Princess Min, who had previously used each other with Park Yong-hyo, began to operate, and she could not forget the humiliation of being ousted by the Japanese during the Sino-Japanese War, so she seized the opportunity to hug Russia's thighs and support a group of "pro-Russian officials" to come to power.
Consort Min (Empress Mingcheng, photo disputed)
Coincidentally, at this time, a Japanese "happened" to reveal that Park Yong-hyo was going to assassinate Princess Min to launch a coup d'état, and "just happened" to let a North Korean know about it.
After Park Young-hyo's so-called "rebellious conspiracy" was exposed, Gojong Lee Hee was frightened, and at this time he remembered Kim Hongji, who had been snubbed by himself, and immediately summoned him to the palace to discuss countermeasures, and expressed remorse for his removal, hoping that he would become prime minister again.
Therefore, only the wrong name, no wrong nickname, Jin Hongji "rain shoes" name sincerely does not deceive me...
Subsequently, Park Yong-hyo once again went to Japan, and Kim Hong-ji replaced Park Ding-yang as prime minister on July 5, and entered the cabinet for the third time.
Although there was no Park Yong-hyo, the reform work was still difficult to carry out, mainly because Princess Min ousted Park Yong-hyo and gained real power with the support of the Russians.
The so-called "Prime Minister" Kim Hong-ji is simply in an empty state, so the new cabinet he formed is also jokingly called "Golden Skin Min Meat".
But what Princess Min did not expect was that the situation of the Russians' overwhelming support made the Japanese determined to take the risk.
Under the planning of the Japanese minister Miura Wulou, the Korean training team, the Japanese garrison and the Japanese ronin invaded Gyeongbokgung Palace in the early morning of August 20, 1895, and assassinated Concubine Min.
Miura Oo tower and Japanese ronin
Subsequently, the Japanese took control of Gojong in Korea, purged the pro-Russian forces of the Korean government, and the ministers of Kim Hongji's cabinet were replaced by pro-Japanese factions, and at the same time forced Gojong to issue an edict so that the cabinet power was above Gojong.
Although Jin Hongji himself was the biggest beneficiary of this incident, after hearing the news of the B Wei Incident, he once planned to commit suicide with the righteousness of "the Lord insulting the subject to death".
Fortunately, Yu Jihao dissuaded him, and Emperor Gaozong also privately advised Jin Hongji, saying that it was forced by the situation to let this move end.
But there is no impermeable wall under the heavens, and when the B Wei Incident occurred, the Russian technician Bazin and the American military instructor Dey happened to be in Gyeongbokgung Palace, witnessing the death of Concubine Min and revealing the truth to the world.
Subsequently, Confucians and ordinary people everywhere launched an uprising with slogans such as "avenge the Mother of the Nation" and "The head can be broken, the hair cannot be cut", and the "Father of the Korean Nation, Kim Jiu", also personally killed a Japanese officer at that time.
The slogan "hair cannot be cut" was mainly because the Kim Hongji regime carried out the reform of cutting off hair and changing clothes, which was no problem in the long run, but it was obviously a bit hasty, which was also one of the reasons why his people were deeply resentful and accused of being pro-Japanese and Korean traitors.
Under these circumstances, the pro-Japanese cabinet became the target of public criticism, and whether kim Hongji really struggled for The prosperity and strength of North Korea, he became the biggest "traitor to the country" in the eyes of the people, and the Kim Hongji regime, which lasted for a year and a half, was already in turmoil.
At the same time, When Emperor Gojong and Crown Prince Lee Tuo learned the truth about Princess Min's death, they were distraught and hated Japan and Kim Hongji's cabinet to the bone, so they looked for ways to escape japanese control.
At this time, the Pro-Russian factions of Russia and Korea took advantage of the situation, and after careful planning, Li Fanjin, Li Wanyong, and other pro-Russian officials finally helped Gojong escape from Gyeongbokgung Palace and take refuge in the Russian legation in Korea.
(Friends who are interested in this story can pay attention to this article: as the "founding emperor of Korea", he can only hide in the Russian embassy to preside over state affairs, extremely humiliated)
After arriving at the Russian legation, Emperor Gaozong immediately issued an edict declaring that "he rebelled against the government, but only intended to correct the accusations", ordered severe punishment for rebellion against the party, and designated Jin Hongji, Yu Jihao, Zhao Xiyuan, Zheng Bingxia, and Zhang Bo as the "five ministers of the rebellious thieves".
When Jin Hongji received the news, he was discussing political affairs with the house, and the minister next to him advised him to flee into exile quickly, but Jin Hongji refused this proposal and said, "Dead ears!" Ning Xiao (Park) Yong Hyo Sung reverse name? ”
He then prepared to go to the Russian legation, determined to prove his loyalty and ambition to make Korea rich and strong before Gojong, while the rest of the ministers fled to the Japanese legation for refuge.
However, Jin Hongji was arrested by the patrol before he left Gyeongbokgung Palace, and he did not see Gaozong at all, and Zheng Bingxia was subsequently arrested by the inspector, and both were imprisoned.
During his imprisonment, Zheng Bingxia seemed anxious and manic pacing back and forth, while Jin Hongji was calm and relaxed, and also rebuked Zheng Bingxia for saying, "Life and death are destiny, but if you accept your ears, anxiety will be used?" Lose decency in vain! ”
Kim Hiroshi set
It can be seen that at this time, Kim Hongji has decided to die Mingzhi, thus proving his innocence and his true intention to make Korea rich and strong. Unfortunately, the pro-Russian cabinet did not intend to give Kim Hongji a chance to explain and express his sincerity, and ordered the immediate execution of the two.
Subsequently, police officer An Huan escorted the two to the small stone bridge outside the police department, kicked them into a kneeling posture, and then summoned Inspector Su Xingwen and others to slash and kill Jin and Zheng.
Subsequently, the two were violently killed in the bustling Jongno area of Seoul, with a flag next to them, which reads - "The Great Rebellion of the Road Kim Hongji Zheng Bingxia".
The two should be flags similar to the one above
Immediately afterward, Jin Hongji and the two were humiliated, and the citizens of Hancheng city made various humiliating gestures against him, throwing stones, eating his flesh, crushing his skull, and even cutting off Tintin.
The history is as follows:
"The people of the capital are heavily overlapped and surrounded, and they are not happy, and they are not satisfied with the punishment of not being late... The people complained about the lord's order to shave, and they threw rubble, their limbs were broken, and some of them cut their flesh and ripped off their flesh."
At this point, Kim Hongji, an innovator who worked hard for The prosperity of North Korea all his life, died in this way with countless insults.
Kim Hong-ji was a gentle and cautious man, down-to-earth and diligent in politics, devoted his life to North Korea's internal reform and opening up to the outside world, and if he had been born decades earlier, he might have been a minister of humerus that could go down in the annals of Korean history.
However, he was not able to live at the right time, not only because of the "Korean Strategy" storm and the incident of Jia Wu Zhang, but also because of the attitude of cooperation with Japan in the later period, he was spit on by the North Korean people.
However, judging from the evaluation of Kim Hong-ji by later generations, he is not a pro-Japanese traitor at all, and the famous North Korean historian Park Yin-sik commented:
"According to the August Change (B) Incident, Jin Hongji, who is special and cannot please the thief, sits on this and has no excuse, and if he is the perpetrator of the mastermind, he will not be disobedient, and the people of the whole world will know that he is wrong, and now he will kill this person and take revenge, can he?"
This means that Jin Hongji did have a fault, but being said to be the biggest sinner was absolutely unjust, and executing him was not at all a means of avenging the country.
Kim Hiroshi collects calligraphy
In modern times, North Korea calls him an "innovative bureaucrat from a feudal ruling class" and a "conscientious, advanced bureaucrat."
Korean historians also affirm Kim Hong-ji, believing that he is a "patriot" who is capable, diligent and responsible, implements a civilized policy, and promotes the modernization of Korea and social progress.
Why is it that although Kim Hongji cooperated with Japan, he was not regarded as a traitor to the korean country by the peninsula?
The reasons are mainly the following:
(1) At that time, the crisis facing North Korea was very deep, the regime was in turmoil, and even the most capable people would not necessarily do better than Kim Hongji;
(2) During his tenure as Prime Minister, Kim Hong-ji devoted himself to reform, did not even return to his home, and had a very correct attitude of loyalty to the country, and did not act greedily at all;
(3) In the face of the situation that he must die, instead of fleeing to Japan like other ministers, he decided to die and retain his last loyalty, which shows that his heart is frank;
The famous Korean historian Lee Hyun-geun lamented the death of Kim Hong-ji, and his one-sentence sentence I think is also very appropriate, that is, "Kim Hong-ji is a sacrifice for the great powers."