preface
In October of the 34th year of Guangxu (1908), a 3-year-old child was worshiped in the Hall of Taihe. The sound of shouting long live echoed in the huge palace. This huge battle frightened the 3-year-old young emperor to cry, and the child's crisp cry resounded throughout the hall. The kneeling crowd just lowered their heads and couldn't see clearly.
The way to the death of the "little masters"
I really couldn't imagine that the mess left by Empress Dowager Cixi was left to a 3-year-old child to take over. During Puyi's reign, his father Zaifeng served as regent, and Empress Dowager Longyu assisted him. Zaifeng was the last regent of the late Qing Dynasty, and he also wanted to do something to leave a great fortune to his son Puyi.
Photo|Juvenile Puyi
What are the facts? When the eight-nation coalition army invaded Beiping, it was so frightened that Cixi packed his bags and fled all the way to the west, without the power to parry at all. For the sake of this temporary peace, the Westerners led by Zhang Zhidong signed a peace treaty with the foreigners on "mutual protection in the southeast" and "mutual non-aggression," in exchange for temporary peace.
In the Battle of the Sino-Japanese Sea commanded by the Guangxu Emperor, the Qing army was defeated. Cixi's punishment of Li Hongzhang, the main combatant, was only to remove him from his official post and did not dare to make any other moves. Because Cixi clearly knew that there was nothing to do with Ai Xin Juluo in this Great Qing River. In the eyes of these officials, the imperial court was only a key to their enforcement of their rights. Cixi knew that she could not change anything, so she didn't care about anything, just enjoy her happiness in peace.
But where can this young regent understand this, and he does not know that the sky is high and the earth wants to take back the two major powers of military and government. He feels that the reason why his brother Guangxu is so rich is because he has no power in his hands, so he will be pinched, and he must hold power in his hands if he wants to do something.
Figure|Zaifeng
Zaifeng quickly began to act, thinking that as long as he held military power, he was afraid that others would not listen to him. He first made his younger brother Zai Tao the Minister of the Military Council, and then appointed the Minister of the Navy of Zaixun, and his own confidant Yin Chang as the Minister of War. Left and right are their own people, and fertile water does not flow into the fields of outsiders. But these people are originally a group of young people, what big things can they achieve?
Once everything was ready, the first task was to rebuild the navy. Jae-hyun offered to use seven years to build a new naval unit. Zaixun did things without planning and went directly to European and American countries for investigation. With his own habit of being a gentleman, he did not consult with the country, bought a warship for a lot of money, and prepared to show his strength. Ironically, when the Qing Dynasty was strong, it took 7 years for the navy to take shape. Now cutting land, paying reparations to the treasury is in deficit, and still thinking about building an excellent naval corps in 7 years is really a fool's dream.
Zaifeng looked for relatives who had graduated from the Manchu Summer Palace Naval Officer Academy in terms of the employment of warships. These brothers who train in the garden all day, they don't know what the sea looks like, and if they go to command warships, the consequences can be imagined.
Xu Shichang, a politician, said: "The death of the Great Qing was not due to the revolutionary party, but to a group of 'young masters'. And Zaifeng is the eldest brother of this group of "little masters".
1908 A group photo of Prince Chun with his son A little older next to him is Emperor Puyi
After the outbreak of the Wuchang Uprising, the imperial court sent Yinchang, the minister of war personally promoted by Zaifeng, to fight against him. Yin Chang was not only as timid as a rat, but also had poor military talent, and was defeated by the rebel army. The urgent documents came one after another. And the only Beiyang New Army that can compete with it is the trusted troops that Yuan Shikai has cultivated. This force only obeyed the command of Yuan Shikai alone, and Yin Chang could not command at all. The people in his own hands are unusable, and those who can be of great use are offended all over again.
Puyi's gold medal tutoring
This situation continued until February 12, 1912, when Empress Dowager Longyu of the Qing Dynasty reluctantly announced her abdication in the name of Puyi, who was only 6 years old at that time. For Puyi's abdication, the imperial court made two different sounds. In the case of the Qing clans, abdication is to announce the end of the Qing dynasty, and all the power of the princes and nobles will disappear with it, which they do not want to see. At that time, the Qing Sect Society had a considerable force. They decided to unite the power of the Eight Flags to get rid of the biggest stumbling block, Yuan Shikai, and although they sent people to assassinate them many times, they all ended in failure.
Her arms could not twist her thighs, and Empress Dowager Longyu did not have the ambition of Empress Dowager Cixi or the talent of Empress Lu. I can only cry and sign the abdication letter. The young Puyi didn't know what was happening, but just cried with Empress Dowager Longyu. Although the days after the abdication were not as luxurious as before, there was a preferential policy for the royal family at that time, and Puyi's life was also very moist. However, Empress Dowager Longyu felt ashamed of Cixi's instructions and buried the Great Qing, and died of depression soon after.
Photo: Empress Dowager Longyu
The death of Empress Dowager Longyu did not stir up much waves. Pu Yi's life still has to continue, although the Beiyang government is also very tight in terms of finances, but it does not treat Pu Yi harshly, and will give him a fixed allocation of 4 million taels of silver every year, and also attaches great importance to Pu Yi's education.
Therefore, Puyi is fluent in Manchu, Chinese and English. First of all, Puyi's first Chinese teacher, Zhu Yifan, was the chief supervisor of the Jingshi University Hall, and the Guangxu Emperor was also his student. In addition to his very high literary attainments, Zhu Yifan is also a very famous calligrapher and writes well. With such a famous teacher one-on-one tutoring, it is conceivable that Puyi's words are also very good.
Puyi calligraphy
In addition to Zhu Yifan, Puyi's other four Chinese teachers are Chen Baochen, Xu Shichang, Yuan Lizhun and Liang Dingfen. These four people are all from junior scholars, and there is definitely nothing to say about learning. Now all of them are at the master level, even if Pu Yi is greedy for fun, he is still a little real and learned.
As the emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Manchu was also a compulsory course for Puyi. Although Puyi did not like it, under the teaching of his Manchu teacher Iktan , he also mastered Manchu reading and basic communication.
As Puyi's English teacher, Johnston is even more powerful, he graduated from Edinburgh and Oxford universities. At first, Puyi was very curious about this blond foreigner and showed great interest in his lessons. Under the teaching of this foreign teacher, Puyi's basic English dialogue is not a problem at all, and occasionally reads some English novels.
In the long-term learning process, the relationship between the two has become closer and closer. At that time, the situation in China was chaotic, and Johnston also persuaded Puyi to study in Europe. Later, Puyi got married and gave Johnston a first-class official uniform, and Johnston was greatly moved, happily wearing the official uniform to take photos and send it to relatives and friends in his hometown. He thanked the emperor for his reward and recognition of his status as an official of the Qing Dynasty.
Photo: Johnston Puyi
Above we also said that Puyi is playful, but as an adolescent boy, it is also natural to love to play. Influenced by Johnston and influenced by Western culture, Puyi cut the braid that represented the Manchus and combed the hairstyle that was relatively new at the time. He often appeared in all corners of the Forbidden City in a suit. Not only the transformation of appearance, Puyi also learned to ride a bicycle, in order to facilitate his better riding, he also ordered people to remove many thresholds in the Forbidden City to ensure that his riding was unimpeded. In order to play tennis, a large tennis court was even built in the Forbidden City.
Although Pu Yi's life is mostly fun, he has been trapped in the Forbidden City since he was a child, and he is also very yearning for the world outside the palace walls, until he heard that Prince Dun's mansion installed a telephone, Pu Yi's heart was excited. Because in Puyi's eyes, the telephone is not just a small black box, but an important tool to connect him with the world outside the palace wall. At this moment, Pu Yi's heart was extremely eager to communicate with people outside the palace walls.
Hu Shi was very excited to see Puyi
Pu Yi's proposal to install a telephone was quickly blocked by the Qing dynasty widows, but this time Pu Yi was very insistent. On May 17, 1922, the Yangxin Hall in the palace was equipped with Puyi's heartfelt telephone. At that time, there were very few people who could have telephones at home, so a phone book contained the numbers of all users in the capital. Who to call?
Pu Yi aimlessly flipped through the phone book and suddenly saw a familiar name. Yang Xiaolou, a famous corner in the capital, previously Yang Xiaolou entered the palace and performed in front of the hall. Pu Yi immediately dialed the call to Yang Xiaolou's house, and the phone was quickly connected. This was not enough, Pu Yi learned the tone of Peking Opera and asked: "Come but Yang Xiaolou", and an unfamiliar male voice on the phone answered yes. Frightened, Puyi immediately hung up the phone, but thinking back to the novel scene just now, he couldn't help but laugh.
Photo|Hu Shi
This opened the door to a new world, Pu Yi was playful, and then called the Dongxing Lou Restaurant in the capital, reported a few false information, and ordered a bunch of non-existent banquets. At this time, he continued to look at the phone book, and a name appeared in front of his eyes - Hu Shi. Hu Shi knew him, and his teacher Johnston mentioned to him that Hu Shi was the leader of the vernacular literary movement, and he had read books such as his "Collection of Attempts".
Pu Yi knew that Hu Shi was still a "new youth" who had stayed in the ocean, which made Pu Yi even more curious, what was the difference between this doctor who had drunk foreign ink and those pedantic old and old-fashioned people in the palace? So he called Hu Shi's house directly.
Puyi: "Are you Dr. Hu?" Great, guess who I am? Hu Shi thought, there are not many telephones in this capital, who is this person? Who knew that on the other end of the phone, there was a burst of laughter and then said: "Guess, let me say, I am Xuantong!" Hu Shi's whole person was shocked at this time, and the emperor called him? Who knew that Puyi then said: "Yes, I am the emperor." I heard everything you said, I still don't know what you look like, you have time to come to the palace, let me see." ”
After Hu Shi put down the phone, he felt that everything just now was like a dream, and Hu Shi immediately called Johnston to ask whether it was true or not, and only then let go when he learned that it was true. Hu Shi and Johnston knew each other because they were both members of the Wen You Association, an international group in Beijing, and both served as presidents. For this appointment, Hu Shi first went to visit Johnston.
Photo|Puyi
Hu Shi first learned some of Pu Yi's recent situation from Johnston, and found it incredible to learn that Pu Yi had finished reading his "Attempt Collection" and "Wencun". There is still a big difference between Pu Yi and his stereotype of "emperor", and he feels that Pu Yi is more able to accommodate and accept new ideas and things.
On May 30, 1922, the modern Chinese scholar, Hu Shi, met the last emperor of China, Puyi, for the first time. On this day, Hu Shi followed behind a eunuch and stepped into the Shenwu Gate to the world within the palace walls, all the way to the Yangxin Hall. The eunuch raised the heavy and gorgeous curtain to report first, and then Hu Shi walked in. Hu Shi did not bow down, but bowed to Pu Yi and said "The emperor is good", and Pu Yi also replied lightly "Good sir".
The two were then seated. Pu Yi picked up the vernacular love letter he wrote to Empress Wanrong and showed it to Hu Shi, who felt the youthful words and youthful love. In the subsequent conversation, Puyi also confided his troubles to Hu Shi, saying: "We have done a lot of wrong things, and to this point, we have to spend a lot of money in the Republic of China, and I am very uneasy in my heart." I wanted to live independently, so I wanted to open a royal property clean-up office. But there were many people against this matter, because as soon as I became independent, many people had no dependence. ”
The two said a lot, and Hu Shi also felt the bitterness and helplessness of the young emperor for the first time, and he couldn't help but feel a little sympathy in his heart. After the meeting, Hu Shi returned home, his heart could not calm down for a long time, this excitement was not only brought to him by the majestic and magnificent palace, but also from the young emperor. One night a week later, Hu Shi waved his pen and wrote a poem to record this incident and express this feeling in his heart. This little poem is called "Feeling":
A nucleus that can't be bitten, can't be broken,
Can't shut down a little business in the nucleus;
A hundred-foot palace wall, a thousand-year-old ritual religion,
Can't lock a teenager's heart!
At this moment, Hu Shi really felt the helplessness and misery of a teenager trapped in the palace wall isolated from the outside world, and understood his heart that longed to fly out of the palace wall.
In 1922, Puyi also completed his life events and married a concubine. Because according to the "ancestral system" of the Qing Dynasty, the emperor must marry when he is 16 years old. For the Qing Dynasty, which had already existed in name only, pro-government was meaningless, but marriage could still be carried out as scheduled. Hearing the news that Pu Yi had chosen a concubine, many fallen nobles, or some figures with heads and faces, put their daughter's photos in front of Pu Yi for him to choose.
Pu Yi's wedding scene must be huge, and although the national government's financial situation is tight, it still allocates 100,000 silver dollars to Pu Yi as a wedding gift. Yuan Shikai also personally wrote a letter of blessing, in which Puyi was called the young master. However, these 100,000 silver dollars were far from enough to support the emperor's wedding. In order to defend his dignity as an emperor, Pu Yi transferred 40 boxes of gold and silver jewelry from the treasury and sold them to the British, before completing his face project. With the company of Wanrong and Wen Xiu, the dull days seem to be much more interesting than before.
The fallen emperor paid rent for his house
Puyi's happiness did not last long, and on November 5, 1924, Feng Yuxiang sent Lu Zhonglin to lead troops into the Forbidden City and force Puyi to leave the palace. Although Puyi yearns for freedom, he can't accept being kicked out of the place where he grew up. He refused this request to leave the palace, but he saw that Lu Zhonglin directly ordered people to set up a cannon in Jingshan, if Pu Yi did not leave and directly ordered people to open the cannon, in order to survive, Pu Yi had to quickly pack up and move.
At this moment of disappointment, Japan actually extended a helping hand to Puyi, published articles expressing sympathy for Puyi in major newspapers, and secretly transferred Puyi to Tianjin. However, it is very ironic that during the invasion of North China by the Eight-Power Alliance, Japan sent the most troops and had the most firepower. They did this only to pave the way for the establishment of a "puppet Manchukuo" state in the future, using the influence of Emperor Puyi's status to achieve their goal of annexing China.
The downcast Puyi was arranged by the Japanese to live in a hotel in the Japanese Concession of Tianjin. When Pu Yi was alone, the Manchu widow Zhang Biao heard about Pu Yi's recent situation and expressed his sorrow about what happened to this master. Zhang Biao was afraid that Pu Yi would not be comfortable in the Japanese concession, and in order to show his loyalty, he directly vacated the house where he lived, Zhang Yuan, to Pu Yi. During this period, Puyi gained absolute freedom and began to squander the gold and silver treasures he brought from the Forbidden City, and his concubines also became modern girls and began to go shopping in major shopping malls.
Under the corrosion of this life, Puyi's thinking has changed greatly. He has given up his original dream of studying abroad, and even developed a very extremely terrible idea - restoration.
To this end, he also set up an office in Zhangyuan to meet with ministers to discuss how to restore. He also roamed among the warlords, wooing them with treasures brought from the Forbidden City. In order to restore Pu Yi, it had reached the level of almost madness at that time, and those warlords, no matter how big or small, as long as they said that they would help him and support him, Pu Yi would meet the other party's various requirements without a little thought. Over time, money was consumed, but there was no progress in the restoration.
The time came in June 1928, on this day the Kuomintang occupied Tianjin, and Japan, seeing that the momentum was wrong, immediately withdrew from Tianjin. When Pu Yi saw this situation, he couldn't help but be anxious for his dream of restoration. What made Pu Yi feel even worse was that Zhang Biao, who lent him the garden, had also died, and those sons who inherited Zhang Biao's garden did not have his loyalty, and in order to drive Pu Yi out, he directly asked Pu Yi to collect the rent, 700 oceans a month. At this time, Puyi did not have so much money at all, and had no choice but to continue to sell his remaining antiques. Even so, the money on hand will not last long for this expensive rent.
Such a situation made Puyi's heart very uncomfortable, and the house was indeed someone else's. But in the face of high rent, Puyi had no choice but to find another place. Soon Puyi moved to Qianyuan, not far from Zhangyuan, where the rent was relatively cheap, 30,000 silver yuan for 10 years. After moving, the first thing Puyi did was to change the dry garden to "Jingyuan", which means to wait and see the change and wait for the opportunity.
Puyi, who had lived in the Japanese concession in Tianjin for 7 years, began to believe that only the Japanese could realize his dream of restoration under the wooing and brainwashing of the Japanese. Finally, in 1931, Japan occupied the three northeastern provinces and left Tianjin with Puyi. The establishment of the puppet Manchukuo also represented Puyi's 12-year puppet life.