Qing Dynasty Secret History

Chapter 104
In other words, Yang Chongyi said: "You want to know this person? This person."

Having said that, he raised his thumb up and said, "It's today's day."

Everyone asked in amazement: "Why do you want to hinder his old man?"

Before Chong Yi could answer, another person rushed in from outside and reported: "The matter is urgent. The reform party urged the master to send troops to besiege the Summer Palace, but the master refused. They claimed to act according to the order, and as expected, Lafayette will It's dangerous."

Chong Yi said: "That's not bad! We know that because I participated in the Wen Ting Shi, it is not false to say that he was popular when things happened, gathered a large number of similar people, discussed current affairs, and made friends with the eunuch Wen Hai. One way, this group of reformers and rebels The party is originally a gangster. Remember that Wang Mingluan and Changlin were dismissed for lying and slandering the previous year?
Everyone said: "Let's stop talking."Yang Shiyu, hurry up and tell me how to save the sky.Yang Chongyi said: "There is no other way now, but hurry to Tianjin, go to see Rong Zhongtang, discuss with his old man, and implore the Empress Dowager to re-train the government. After this matter is done, the emperor has no power, how can he take care of the new party? "

Everyone praised the trick.Yang Chongyi said: "It's not too late, let's do it."

So everyone took a donkey cart and set off for Tianjin.At this time, the Beijing-Tianjin Railway has not yet been built, and it took a whole day and night to arrive under the stars and the moon.Yang Chongyi waited and went to the Governor's Yamen to see him.When Ronglu connected, Yang Chongyi cried bitterly about the rebellion of the Reform Party, and then said: "For the sake of the community, I have to come and beg Zhongtang, begging Zhongtang to play the empress dowager, and begging her old man Then hang down the curtain, go to the Guzong Temple, and save the people. The emperor was originally a sage, but he was lured by this group of new parties who have no world.

Now that the situation is urgent, if Yao and Shun don't come out, the world's affairs will be out of control!

" Rong Lu said: "Sure enough, they want to surround the Summer Palace with soldiers? Isn't that a rebellion?
This group of reforming parties has changed one after another, and it’s okay if they don’t have ancestors in their eyes. Why don’t they even have the empress dowager?The emperor is really ignorant, he has become the master, and this group of grassroots is new, and they do things recklessly, and they don't stop them!Don't even think about it, if there is no empress dowager, you will have an emperor everywhere, at most it is just a prince.Now that you are like this, people are willing to tolerate you, but heaven is not willing to tolerate you! "

Yang Chongyi said: "What Zhongtang said is true, I beg Zhongtang to go to the Summer Palace as soon as possible. Once a catastrophe strikes, I'm afraid it will be too late."

Rong Lu pondered for a while, then whispered a few confidential words into Yang Chongyi's ear, and Chongyi nodded.So Rong Lu personally wrote a secret book and gave it to Chongyi. Chongyi and others took a donkey cart and rushed to the Summer Palace in the starry night.

When the trip arrived, it was only past noon.Chongyi and others got off the car outside the palace gate and entered through the left gate.

After entering the gate of the second palace and entering the court room, a few third-class eunuchs walked in, worshiped Yi, and said: "We have a secret and important matter, and we want to interview the Empress Dowager, as well as Tianjin Rongzhong Hall. Secret fold."

The eunuch in the lead said without waiting for Chongyi to finish, "What is a confidential matter, it's so important, Lafayette is listening to an opera in the Yile Hall."

Chong Yi said: "This matter is really important, no matter who you invite, go back for me."

The eunuch ignored him and said: "Lafayette is happy, who dares to trouble you!"

Knowing that they wanted a palace gate fee, Chong Yi discussed with several Manchu ministers who came with him, collected more than ten taels of silver, and gave it to the eunuch.The eunuch smiled, and said to Yang Chongyi: "Master Yang, we are all on our own, so why bother. Lafayette is really listening to the show. Your business is really important. I will invite Director Li to come. If you have anything to say, tell me Manager Li said it, just like what Lafayette said."

Yang Chongyi said: "It's the best, it's a lot of trouble."

After waiting for a while, I saw four young eunuchs arrive, and they said "Director Li has arrived".

Yang Chongyi and others hurriedly stood up and waited for each other, then coughed, and an old eunuch with a wrinkled face, wearing a second-rank official uniform, with a red top and flower feathers, came out lightly.Yang Chongyi rushed to pay his respects, and Manager Li was busy paying back.When they met each other, they were very kind.Ask Yang Chongyi and others what is the matter?
Yang Chongyi explained Ronglu's secrets and his own intentions in detail.Manager Li was neither angry nor panicked when he heard this, and he was still as normal as anyone else, and he replied peacefully: "Everyone, just wait here for orders, I'll go back to Lafayette."

Chong Yi cupped his hands and said: "The safety of the country depends entirely on the great efforts of the general manager."

Manager Li smiled, followed Ronglu's secret report, and went inside.

After a while, Director Li issued an imperial decree: "Lafayette will see you, Yang Chongyi, Ouxiangxie.

Chong Yi answered "Yes", and then followed Director Li to meander in. When we arrived at Ouxiangxie, the Empress Dowager was already there first. I saw the Empress Dowager wearing a yellow satin gown, embroidered with light red peony flowers, yellow The satin headband is fully decorated with pearl and jade flowers, with a pearl tassel on the left side and a phoenix hewn from white jade on the top. Outside the long coat, there is a shawl woven with pearls, shaped like a fishnet. They are round, the size of sparrow eggs, with the same color. There are three or four pairs of pearl and jade bracelets on the arms, and five or six beautiful jade rings on the fingers. On the right finger, there are two gold finger guards three inches long. The left hand is covered with jade finger guards. Even the shoes are covered with bead tassels and decorated with all kinds of precious jade. The kind face is solemn and the phoenix eyes are clear. Chongyi knelt down and kowtowed, and made an audience salute. The queen mother said: "Look at Ronglu's memorial, you know about the rebellion of the Reform Party, tell me what's going on! "

Chongyi said: "My minister is also a rumor. I heard that the rebellion was caused by nine people, including Kang Youwei, Kang Guangren, Wang Zhao, Liang Qichao, Yang Shenxiu, Yang Rui, Lin Xu, Tan Sitong, and Liu Guangdi, to confuse the emperor. Palace There is a secret room in the palace, nine of them, discuss new policies with the emperor every day. I heard that Kang Youwei persuaded the emperor to eat and cut his hair all day long. The emperor was afraid of the queen mother and dared not agree. Kang Youwei lured the emperor into committing treason."

The Empress Dowager said: "They tempted you, but is your master willing to rebel?"

Chong Yi said: "I heard that the emperor has not agreed yet. Now they are ready to correct the decree and go ahead, saying that the matter is done, and the emperor will be blessed alone.

If the matter fails, the nine people are willing to accept the disaster. "

The Empress Dowager said, "Are you sure what you said?"

Chong Yi said: "How dare I lie to the Queen Mother? At the beginning, I didn't dare to hear about the Queen Mother. Later, I thought about it. If they really acted boldly, it would be related to the world, the country, the ancestral temple and the community. There was a discussion at Rongzhongtang, and I risked my life to come here to hear about it.

"The Queen Mother told Chongyi to retreat, and summoned several Manchurian ministers. The words played were similar with minor differences. The Queen Mother believed it was true, and couldn't help being furious. She sent a secret telegram to summon Rong Lu and his troops to Beijing to wait for the order. Arms, let's go.

At this time, Yang Chongyi and others hadn't left the Summer Palace when they saw the eunuch come out to preach: "Lafayette will be lucky in the Forbidden City."

Seeing the imperial guards standing in line one after another, the deacon Luanjia was all lined up in an instant.The imperial guards go first, and then Luan drives the stew book. After the stew book is finished, it is the queen mother's phoenix chariot.The chariot is yellow, and eight husbands are given to go.On the left and right of Fengjia, there are four top-ranking officials, riding on horse wings to protect them.There are forty or fifty eunuchs behind him, all on horseback.Usually, from the Summer Palace to the Forbidden City, when we arrive at the Wanshou Temple, the Empress Dowager always delivers an edict to rest.This time, because of the urgency of returning to the palace, there was no decree to rest, and the stars rushed by, and they arrived at the gate of the palace in an instant.

The eunuch guarding the palace gate hastily entered the newspaper.When Dezong heard that the Empress Dowager had arrived, it was like a thunderbolt in the clear sky, and his whole body became numb from shock.Eunuch Wen Hai broke in and said, "Lafayette has come in, and Long Live Lord hurry up and kneel down to meet him!"

After hearing this, Dezong rushed out of the palace as if waking up from a dream.The queen mother came in with an angry face, and Dezong knelt down quickly.

The Queen Mother said: "Good boy, you have done a good job! Get up and follow me!"

Dezong didn't dare to refuse, so the Empress Dowager went straight into Dezong's office and searched out all the performances and drafts of Shangyu, which were compiled and approved by Zhu Zhu. Excuse me, forgive me for being so far away, I don’t even know. You know that although my body is in the Summer Palace, my heart, ears, and mind are always here. Could it be that Taizong and Shizu’s efforts to conquer the world, I don’t worry that you will disturb it. No way!"

Because of his orders, all of Dezong's personal eunuchs were sent, "Ask Li Lianying to send someone to guard, and I will ask myself after a while."

Director Li knelt down and answered "Yes", and sent someone to guard Dezong's personal eunuch.

The queen mother got up and went straight to Dezong's bedroom.At this time the queen also knew, and led the second concubine Zhenjin and the palace family to come out on their knees.The Empress Dowager ignored her, and went into the bedroom, supervised the eunuchs, and searched Dezong's belongings all over the room.All the things with a little foreign style were ordered to be rolled up and taken to his palace.The queen offered tea, but the queen mother refused to eat it.Lead the eunuchs, get up and go back to Ningshou Palace.The emperor and the empress kept following them out, and the empress dowager said to the empress: "Good boy, I appreciate you for nothing, you are still my niece. People raise cats to catch mice, our cats can only bite chickens. They disturb The world, you don’t write me a letter? I also know that you just want to please the emperor and gain a good name as a good gentleman. I only know you are loyal today! I know you are filial! Now I don’t have time to follow If you care about it, I will ask you again after I have cured that heartless and disobedient child, go!
"The queen had to retreat.

Dezong has been following up the Compassion Palace.The Empress Dowager said: "Come here, let me ask you, which thing has wronged you, and you want to murder me? It's just a few words of discipline on weekdays. First, it is for the sake of the ancestors, and second, it is also for you. For some reason, I hate you for wanting to do such a rebellious thing!"

Dezong was so frightened that he knelt down and met again and again, saying that "the ministers dare not".The queen mother said: "You dare not, why did you ask people to lead soldiers to surround the Summer Palace?

De Zong said: "Lafayette Mingjian, some of the ministers don't know these things." "

The Empress Dowager said: "It's a pity that you don't know. If I knew, would I still be alive?"

He brought up the eunuch of Lord Long Live as ordered, and asked to see the yellow cloth bag to serve him.The yellow cloth bag is filled with bamboo boards of different shapes and sizes, and the Empress Dowager carries them with her, especially for whipping eunuchs, palace maids and so on.Immediately, the bamboo boards were taken out, and the twelve eunuchs of Dezong also took them with them.The queen mother sternly interrogated: "Kang Youwei waits to see the Lord Long Live every day, what are the ideas to discuss?"

The eunuchs and so on don't know.The queen mother was furious and ordered to carry out the stick.Director Li ordered them to lie on the ground, four to serve one, one to press the feet, one to press the head, and the two to hold the bamboo boards, bow left and right, and beat one at a time.When the beating reached fifty, the queen mother thought they were beating lightly, and ordered the eunuch who was executing the sentence to be severely punished.Those eunuchs didn't dare to use their feelings any more, they flew up the board, and tried their best to blame them.Immediately, flesh and blood flew everywhere, and there was almost a rain of blood on the palace.Even though he was beaten like this, he didn't even make a sound of moaning, because he was afraid of the majesty of the Queen Mother, so he endured the pain and dared not make a sound.When the hit hits [-] boards, the order stops.When Mr. Li looked at them, the four emaciated ones had already died from the torture, and the rest were also seriously injured, unable to stand up.Director Li played back to the Queen Mother, and four others, such as XX, were all killed with sticks.The Empress Dowager said: "If you're dead and dragged out, it's over. What else do you want me to do?"

He also ordered the remaining eight people to be sent back to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a strict inquiry.

At this time Dezong was still kneeling on the ground, the queen mother asked sharply: "Have you ever confessed your crime?
Dezong met and said: "The son is guilty, and I beg the mercy of the Holy Mother!" "

The Empress Dowager sighed and said: "At first, I only thought that this heavy burden has been handed over, so I don't have to worry about it. Now that I'm disturbed like this, if I want to let go, I can't let go. I have lived such an old age, and I have to spend a few years in peace. Days can't."

Speaking of sadness, I couldn't help but shed tears.

Suddenly reported to Zhili Governor Ronglu, waiting for the order outside the palace gate.The Empress Dowager retreated with Dezong and ordered Li Lianying: "Select ten proper eunuchs to serve the Lord Long Live. No matter who is in the palace, he is not allowed to meet the Lord Long Live unless he obeys my order."

Director Li replied "Yes", and sent someone to take a soft look at Dezong.The Empress Dowager immediately summoned Ronglu and asked him secretly for a long time.Then an edict was issued saying that the emperor was ill and could not take matters seriously, and the empress dowager re-educated the government.On the one hand, he ordered the commander of the infantry to arrest Kang Youwei and others, and imprisoned Dezong in Yingtai in the South China Sea; on the other hand, he ordered the ministers at home and abroad to recommend people who were proficient in medical science.

A group of New Deal personnel, ranging from dismissal to arrest.The servants Zhang Yinhuan and Xu Zhijing, the censor Yang Shenxiu, the Jingqing Yang Rui, Lin Xu, Tan Sitong and Liu Guangdi were all arrested and sent to prison.Yushi Song Bolu was dismissed from office, and will never be employed.Shangshu Li Duanfen was dismissed and sent to Xinjiang.Chen Baozhen, the governor of Hunan Province, was dismissed and never employed.Call Ronglu to walk on the Minister of Military Aircraft, and give Yulu the governor of Zhili.Order Zhan Shifu and other yamen to be established as usual without any merger.

Prohibit scholars and civilians to write letters, abolish official newspaper bureaus, stop the establishment of schools in various provinces, prohibit newspapers, and strictly take the lead writers; in all examinations, the four scriptures are still used to test scriptures and questions, and special economic departments are suspended, meetings are prohibited, and abolished Drop the State Administration of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce.The New Deal that Dezong had completed in three months was wiped out with one stroke of his hand.Seeing that the empress dowager handled it in this way, these old-fashioned ministers were all grateful for their wishes.

For now, let’s talk about Kang Youwei, the leader of the Reform Party.One day, while chatting at a friend's house in the outer city, it was reported that there was a change in the palace, the gates of the city were closed, and the commander of the infantry led many soldiers, who were taking people everywhere.Youwei was shocked, and hurriedly sent people out to inquire, but he never thought it would be this case.After a while, another friend came, saw Youwei, and said, "Chang Su, why don't you go? You have committed a crime, and your younger brother has been taken away. Yang Shiyu, Lin Jingqing and others have all been sent to prison." gone."

Youwei said: "How come there is such a big change?"

The friend said: "The Empress Dowager has re-drafted the curtain, the New Deal has been completely overthrown, and even the emperor's life is at stake! At this time, the mountains and rivers are at the end of the road, you are resourceful, and it is difficult to go far away. 36, walk is the best. "

Immediately, Kang Youwei found a foreign friend, quietly left Beijing, and fled to Hong Kong.His master, Liang Qichao, followed suit and ended up heading towards Ben Yi.Liang Qichao went to Japan and ran a "Qing Yi Bao", which scolded the Empress Dowager to the brim.Although the empress dowager was angry, she couldn't help him.However, Kang Youwei established an imperial association, traveled around the Nanyang Islands, raised funds, called on party members, and often sent telegrams to Beijing to intimidate the empress dowager.Loyalty, righteousness and courage, to be a pure minister of the emperor's family, this is something to say.

At present, the commander of the infantry returned and only took Kang Guangren, the younger brother of Kang Ni.Kang Ni and Kang Ni's disciple Liang Ni have heard the news far and wide.The officials of the Ministry of punishment invited the ministers sent by the imperial court to interrogate the reformers.The Empress Dowager said: "What's the matter? I propose to cut it off."

Following the decree, Yang Shenxiu, Yang Rui, Lin Xu, Tan Sitong, Liu Guangdi, and Kang Guangren will be executed without interrogation.Zhang Yinhuan was sent to Xinjiang and strictly controlled.Xu Zhijing will be imprisoned forever.He also issued an edict to arrest Wang Zhao.

Why do you think the Reform Party was executed without a trial?It turned out that Zhao Shuqiao, Minister of the Criminal Ministry, was most annoyed by the New Party on weekdays. He arrested Yang Shenxiu and others. The Queen Mother summoned him and asked him to investigate the matter strictly.Zhao Shuqiao said to him: "This kind of beast without father and king can be killed, and there is no need to ask for a confession."

The Queen Mother nodded.One of Zhao Shuqiao's disciples was imprisoned in front of the Ministry. Because he was from the same village as Yang Rui and Liu Guangdi, he knew that they had been wronged. He begged Zhao Shuqiao to interrogate according to the law, but Shu Chi only agreed.

One day in Beijing it was widely rumored that the Reform Party was about to execute him. This man was shocked and hurriedly went to pay a visit to Shuqiao. He tried to force Chen Yangrui and Liu Guangdi, who were best friends with his disciples from the same hometown.He bowed again and again and burst into tears.Zhao Shuqiao said brazenly: "What you are talking about is friendship, what I am holding is the law of the country. Nanshan can be moved, but this case cannot be moved.

Get out quickly, and the decree is about to be made. "

Hearing this, the man had to weep and leave.Not long after, the six new parties proposed from the prison and took them to Caishikou for execution, but they all took it easy and wrote dead poems to die.Later generations called it the "Six Gentlemen of the [-] Coup".If you want to know what happened next, let's listen to the next chapter.

(End of this chapter)