The year 1900 was a dramatic year in Chinese history. In the first half of the year, a number of officials were beheaded by Empress Dowager Cixi at Caishikou for advocating the suppression of the Boxers and opposing war with the great powers. At this point, the ministers who advocated the use of the Boxers to wage war against the great powers were in the limelight in the court.
However, after the Eight-Power Alliance invaded and occupied Beijing, the former "Fragrant Dumplings" instantly became the culprits of the disaster, the court qin criminals, and were either exiled, imprisoned, or beheaded by Empress Dowager Cixi who fled to Xi'an. One of them, who did not clamor for war or advocated peace talks, eventually became a victim of gengzi's national disaster. He is Zhao Shuqiao.
The scene when the Eight-Power Coalition attacked Beijing.
Zhao Shuqiao, Zi Zhanru, a native of Dayuan Village, Fengxi, Chang'an County, Shaanxi, was born into an ordinary peasant family and came from a poor family. In the thirteenth year of Tongzhi (1874), he was admitted to the jinshi and was appointed by the imperial court as the chief of the punishment department. During his ten years in the Punishment Department, he studied and compiled the laws of the law, including obedience, women's divorce, and other contents, "can pass on the ancient meaning, and be recited by the times."
In the twelfth year of Guangxu (1886), Zhao Shuqiao was appointed as the prefect of Fengyang, and was later promoted to the post of Envoy of Wen prefecture and bu in Zhejiang. In the twentieth year of Guangxu (1894), because of his familiarity with the law, he was appointed as the left attendant of the Punishment Department.
After the coup d'état, Zhao Shuqiao served as the minister of military aircraft and entered the prime minister's yamen. Since then, his career has been like opening a plug-in, soaring. This is not only related to his proficiency in criminal law and caution, but also inseparable from the promotion of Him by Shangshu Bingbu and the assistant university scholar Gang Yi. Thinking of the source of drinking water, Zhao Shuqiao is grateful for his fortitude and obedience.
Zhao Shuqiao wrote letters in his hand.
In early 1900, the Boxers occupied Zhuozhou, and Zhao Shuqiao was ordered to disband the Boxers. After Zhao Shuqiao arrived, he announced the imperial court decree requiring the boxers to return to their hometowns. Instead of refusing to disperse, the boxers demanded the dismissal of Nie Shicheng , the directly subordinate governor ( who was suppressing the Boxers ) , and Zhao Shuqiao expressed difficulties. At this moment, Gang Yi suddenly appeared, promising to let Nie Shicheng retire first.
The two returned to the palace to resume their lives, and when Cixi asked about the situation of the boxers, Gang Yi blew the boxers to the point of being divine, and talked about "the loyalty and righteousness of the boxers can be used." Zhao Shuqiao has always been good friends with Gang Yi, and in view of the fact that Gang Yi's position of power is extremely prosperous, he also echoed "There is no problem with boxers". Based on this information, Cixi decided to let the Yihe boxers enter the Capital Division and began the struggle to eliminate the Yangs.
As the coalition forces broke through the imperial palace and Cixi fled with Guangxu, Duan Wang Zaiyi, Fuguo Gong Zailan, Gang Yi, Zhao Shuqiao, Shanxi Inspector Yuxian, etc., all officials who were involved with the Boxers, who had shouted war and killed foreigners, became "war criminals" in the eyes of the Eight-Nation Alliance. Cixi was anxious to find a "scapegoat" and abandoned this group of "pawns".
Empress Dowager Cixi.
Zhao Shuqiao was initially dismissed from his post and retained, but the countries did not follow suit, and the imperial court had to change the sentence to the marquis of beheading. Zhao Shuqiao had been a Beijing official for many years, and he was familiar with the criminal law of the Great Qing Dynasty, and felt that this matter would end here. After the following autumn, the coalition forces retreated, the two palaces returned to Luang, and they were released.
Unexpectedly, countries insisted on aggravating punishments. Under pressure, the imperial court changed the beheading of the marquis to the decision of the beheading. The news came out, "The people of Xi'an, even hundreds of people, asked for Shu Qiao's life", and even the gentry of Jiangsu cried out for him.
In order to stay peaceful in Xi'an, Cixi had to execute Zhao Shuqiao early, and Jia'en asked him to commit suicide and ordered the newly appointed Inspector of Shaanxi, Cen Chunxuan, to be imprisoned.
Receiving the edict that made him commit suicide, Zhao Shuqiao refused to go on the road for a long time, believing that Cixi would still have an edict to forgive him. His wife said, "Don't give in hope, sir, I'll accompany you on the road." Zhao Shu swallowed a little gold, and after three hours, he was not dead, and while "punishing family affairs", he scolded "Gang Ziliang (Gang Yi) harmed me".
The Eight-Power Alliance attacked the Imperial City.
Cen Chunxuan was anxious to resume his life before five o'clock in the afternoon, so he ordered someone to give Zhao Shuqiao opium, but he did not expect that he would "not die at two o'clock." Therefore, with another highly toxic arsenic cream, Zhao Shuqiao fell to the ground after taking it, moaning and moaning until sunset, and the breath was still there.
In order to restore His life to Cixi in time, Cen Chunxuan followed the advice of a servant, let people take out thick paper, dip it in shochu, and "cover its seven tricks", and after several layers, Zhao Shuqiao finally died of exhaustion.
At that time, there was no shortage of sympathizers, and they believed that although Zhao Shuqiao had the sin of lying about the situation and Afu Gangyi, his sin did not lead to death. However, under pressure from States, only minor offences and heavy penalties can be imposed.
As the saying goes, "The king wants his subjects to die, and the subjects have to die", which is probably the most helpless choice for the courtiers in the feudal era. In the prosperous taiping, the imperial family was sold to the literary and martial arts; in the face of great difficulties, it was the life of the emperor's family that was given.
The difficulty of Gengzi's country is a catastrophe for the country and the people; how can it not be a disaster for officials who are in this whirlpool?
References: Luo Xiaoxiao's "Fist Changes After the News", Zhao Erxun's "Draft History of the Qing Dynasty, Volume 465"