On June 21, 1900, Cixi ordered a declaration of war on eleven countries, including Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Japan, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
In the edict, the facts of the great powers bullying the mainland, occupying our land, ravaging our people, and extorting our property called on everyone to share the same hatred and hatred for the mainland.
Along with this holy decree, there was another edict sent to the provinces: the war between China and foreign countries has begun, and the Boxers directly under Tianjin have been rewarded for helping the Qing Dynasty to destroy the foreigners. If you find such righteous people, it is better to organize and defend against foreign aggression.
The reason why the Empress Dowager Cixi dared to declare war on the eleven countries at the same time was that the Boxers had miraculous power to protect their bodies and were invulnerable. Therefore, it is understandable that she hopes that the Boxers can develop throughout the country.
However, in the First Sino-Japanese War just past, the Qing Dynasty was defeated in one country against Japan, and now it has declared war on 11 countries at the same time, isn't this sick?
At that time, the telegraph lines of Beijing-Tianjin Zhili had been destroyed by the Boxers, and all the edicts sent to the whole country could only be sent to Jinan manually, and then from Jinan to various places. Therefore, the first person to see these two edicts was Yuan Shikai, the governor of Shandong.
Yuan Shikai had just been promoted to the governor of Shandong, and when he saw this edict, he immediately panicked: Isn't this nonsense? The Boxers are just pretending to be gods and ghosts, it's okay to fool people, but if they really want to start a war with foreigners, isn't that sending them to death?
Shandong is close to Beijing, Tianjin and Zhili, and the Boxers want to develop to the south, and the first pass is Shandong. Let the Boxers in, and the world will inevitably be in chaos. Not allowing the Boxers to come in is to resist the order. What can I do?
Yuan Shikai hurriedly sent telegrams to Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong, Liu Kunyi and other feudal officials, after all, Li Hongzhang and others had high prestige and experience.
Li Hongzhang's reply was very simple: "This is Qiao Zhao, Guangdong does not obey the edict." "This is a false edict, I don't admit it. At that time, Li Hongzhang was the governor of Liangguang, so he called himself Guangdong.
Ginger is still old and spicy! Since it is a fake edict, of course it cannot be recognized, and it should be deserved, and no one can find fault with it.
The strongest reaction to the Empress Dowager Cixi's edict was Sheng Xuanhuai, who was in charge of the Westernization Movement in Shanghai. Telephone, railways, factories and mines were all his undertakings. The Boxers wanted to bring them all down, and he was anxious.
Sheng Huaixuan found Yu Lianyuan in Shanghai and said: "Beijing and Tianjin have become chaotic, and there is news of the Boxer Rebellion killing people and arson. If there is also an uprising and a reunion in Shanghai, what do you say? ”
Yu Lianyuan almost jumped up: "Then it's okay?" If there is a Boxer Rebellion in Shanghai, the customs tax will be sharply reduced immediately, and I will drink the northwest wind in this customs road? ”
Sheng Xuanhuai handed the two telegrams to Yu Lianyuan: "Look at it, the imperial court's edict to let the provinces support the Boxers." ”
Yu Lianyuan: "To serve the edict is to harm the country, since people praise me for being an iron-faced imperial history, it is my duty to drum and shout for the people." Xingsun, you just say what to do! ”
Xingsun is the word of Sheng Xuanhuai. Yu Lianyuan and Sheng Xuanhuai are two generations of friends, so they speak very casually.
Sheng Xuanhuai said: "First of all, we must ensure that Shanghai is not chaotic. However, Shanghai department stores are gathered, from both sides of the Yangtze River. Therefore, if we want to protect it, we must protect the entire southeast. ”
Yu Lianyuan: "If you keep the southeast, you will save half of the country for the Qing Dynasty and the lifeline of the Qing Dynasty!" ”
Sheng Xuanhuai: "There are two problems now. First, it is forbidden for boxers to disturb Jiangnan. The second is to prevent foreigners from entering Jiangnan. Now, the foreigners have proposed to Liu Kunyi, Liu Yanshuai, Liangjiang, and Zhang Xiangshuai, Huguang Zhangzhidong, to send troops into the Yangtze River to protect merchants. If they are allowed to enter the Yangtze River, I am afraid that there will be endless troubles! ”
Yu Lianyuan: "Then what should I do?" ”
Sheng Xuanhuai: "We might as well have a mutual insurance with foreigners." We promise not to let the boxers go to the southeast and ensure the safety of the lives of Chinese and foreign businessmen. The foreigners had to ensure that they would not send a single soldier or boat into the Yangtze River. In this way, China and foreign countries will not interfere with each other, and stability in the southeast will certainly be guaranteed. ”
Yu Lianyuan: "If the Southeast Mutual Insurance can be completed, it will be a blessing for the whole country!" ”
Sheng Xuanhuai: "That's not necessarily. If we engage in mutual insurance in the southeast, some people will inevitably accuse us of being traitors. It's nothing to be scolded, in the future, if someone who supports the boxers comes to power, I'm afraid that you and I will not be able to protect our heads! ”
Yu Lianyuan: "Who will go to hell if I don't go to hell?" I've put my life on the line! ”
Sheng Xuanhuai: "That's good! I'll contact the governors, and you will contact the foreigners. ”
After receiving Sheng Xuanhuai's proposal, Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Huguang, Liu Kunyi, the governor of Liangjiang, and Li Hongzhang, the governor of Liangguang, and other bigwigs called back in agreement. Especially Li Hongzhang's reply: This is an overkill, and Guangdong will not obey it.
It's not that I don't obey the edict, but this edict is fake, and of course I can't do it. This time, not only is he not guilty, but he is meritorious! Ginger is still old and spicy!
When the Yangtze River basin was completed, Sheng Xuanhuai informed Xu Yingqi, the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, Liu Shutang, the governor of Zhejiang, Kuijun, the governor of Sichuan, and Yuan Shikai, the governor of Shandong, and others, and everyone agreed. Over there, Yu Lianyuan also negotiated with the foreigners. As a result, the Southeast Mutual Insurance was formally formed.
There is no doubt that for the Empress Dowager Cixi, who had just declared war with the Eleven Kingdoms, the Southeast Mutual Insurance was undoubtedly a betrayal to her. However, at that time, the war between Beijing and Tianjin was in full swing, and Cixi had no time to look eastward.
When the Eight-Nation Coalition invaded Beijing and Cixi fled in embarrassment, she returned only to find that it was precisely because of the mutual protection of the southeast that half of the Qing Dynasty was saved.
As a result, the people of Southeast Mutual Insurance are not only not guilty, but have merit. In November 1901, because of the mutual insurance in the southeast, Sheng Xuanhuai was rewarded with the crown prince's young insurance. Li Hongzhang was directly promoted to the governor of Zhili, and concurrently served as a minister with full powers, and re-became the leading minister of the Qing Dynasty.
However, no matter what, the Southeast Mutual Insurance directly slapped Cixi in the face. The will of the supreme ruler can be openly opposed, and it can only be said that from that time, the demise of the Qing Dynasty was inevitable. #头条创作挑战赛#