At that time, Tan Sitong was only 33 years old and dedicated his life to reform! And even if he had the opportunity, he would rather choose to stay and sacrifice. It's a pity that the price he paid was far more than that, and even his family was affected.
So why did he fight to the death and continue? Was it really just because he couldn't escape his life? Or was it because his pursuit of ideals and morality was too strong? I think it's a combination of both.
Cixi and Guangxu, two people with completely different views. In the 24th year of Guangxu (1898), Cixi, who held real power, resolutely opposed the new wave of law changes in order to stabilize her position. Guangxu hoped to make the country stronger through reform. The relationship between the two is becoming increasingly strained. Cixi, the mother of two emperors, was politically experienced and only cared about the rights and interests of the Manchus.
For foreign aggression, she only wants to maintain the status quo and is unwilling to have major surgery. Guangxu, on the other hand, was relatively open, learned a wide range Xi of foreign knowledge, and wanted to use reforms to improve the country's situation. In 1898, he decided to make a bold attempt and summoned Kang Youwei and others of the Restorationist faction to discuss state affairs. This made Cixi feel threatened, and she began to secretly prepare for a coup d'état to restore power.
This is where the big war begins.
In Guangxu's most important team to promote the reform of the law, there is a young man named Tan Sitong, who is very talented. Although his family background is very good and his father is also in a high position, he did not follow his father's path, but vigorously supported the change of the law and learned Xi advanced concepts. In 1898, the Guangxu Emperor asked him to help him carry out reforms.
Because of his excellent ability, he soon rose to the position of Minister of Military Aircraft and became a celebrity next to the emperor. He joined forces with Kang Youwei and others to promote reform. He was conscientious and won the trust of Guangxu. Guangxu even gave him the right to make some major decisions, giving him the greatest degree of freedom. Tan Sitong was very moved and determined to do his best to help the emperor solve the problem. Since then, he has devoted himself to this battle for innovation.
Cixi Wisdom Captures Guangxu Just when Tan Si and the other reformers were going all out, Cixi suddenly made a move. In September 1898, on Guangxu's business trip to Tianjin, Cixi suddenly staged a coup d'état, sent troops to arrest Guangxu, and then imprisoned him. She once again took back power on the grounds of "supervision", closely guarded Guangxu, and controlled the overall situation.
Hearing the news, Tan Sitong and the other reformers were frightened. They realized that reform was completely hopeless, and that Cixi would definitely have to clean up the reformers, and that she would not be able to escape the disaster. But Tan Sitong didn't think about himself first. Even after seeing that the situation was getting worse and worse, he was still trying to save the detained emperor.
Tan Sitong adhered to his principles, remained firm and unwavering, and stayed in the capital. In the face of other leaders fleeing for the disaster, he stood his ground and made it clear that he would not flee. He decided to wait for the right moment to try to rescue Emperor Guangxu again.
Others told him to run away, but he didn't go, he was stubborn and had a sense of justice. He often mingled in various secret gatherings, and dared to tell Cixi in person, not afraid of being arrested. For that courage, he definitely deserves to be remembered.
Tan Sitong didn't think about escaping in the chaos. Friends feared for his safety and advised him to go south, but he was reluctant to leave. "I have to repay the emperor's kindness, of course I have to stay here. "The words he said before he left were clear. As a result, not long after, he was targeted by the secret agents sent by Cixi, and then he was arrested.
He knew that he was gone in this life, but he was not afraid. At the age of 33, he lost his life because of reform and was cut dozens of times before he hung up. His death made everyone start to focus on this reform.
Although he was executed in the crowd, he did not seem scared or panicked at all. With his own death, he showed us the spirit of gritting his teeth and persisting in reform.
After the criminal punishment began, the knife slowly slashed at his neck. It hurt a lot, but he didn't say a word, he just endured the pain. In the end, he was slashed more than 30 times, and he died heroically.
Some people even dipped steamed buns in his blood and ate them, as if to celebrate his death. Tan Sitong tried his best to reform and lost his life. His blood tells us that the reform failed, and the year, 1898, the blood was rendered particularly red.
In less than a few months, the reform went from germination to disappearance. Empress Dowager Cixi strengthened her position. In order to prevent further reforms, she stared at Guangxu and made him a puppet.
From then on, the Qing Dynasty could no longer be saved.
Now, more than 100 years have passed since then, and everyone still often mentions Tan Sitong, and his story still makes people sigh. It's a shame that a promising young man just walks on the road of no return.
However, looking back on this period of history, you will find that Tan Sitong is not a victim of blindly enduring fate. He is full of determination and perseverance to adhere to his ideals.
At that time, it was difficult to say what the country was like. Tan Sitong felt that he should stand up and save the country through reform. His ideals did not succeed, but he lost his life in the trap of political enemies.
Even in a desperate situation, Tan Sitong did not lose confidence. Because he has a higher desire in his heart, that is, no matter what the cost, he must adhere to the concept of implementing reform.
It is precisely by relying on this kind of ideal feeling that dares to take risks that Tan Sitong can be strong in the face of so many pressures and difficulties. No amount of intimidation or threats will bring him to his knees, and no sacrifice will stop him from fighting to the end.
Yes, Tan Sitong's death did make his enemies get carried away, but his spirit will always accompany us on our way. In the days of that generation, Tan Sitong was a representative of political damage.
His struggle shattered the illusion of idealistic reform that had been shattered in the long course of history. However, even though the dream is shattered, Tan Sitong's spirit still shines as bright, like a star that never falls.