Chapter 32: The Flag Bearer of the Imperial Edict (Part 1)

  When Yuan Shikai arrived at the east wing, he saw someone walking back and forth outside the door from a distance, also wearing a green robe and small hat, with a large cloak draped over his outer garment. He approached him and said: "Xi Zi, at this critical moment, everyone else is avoiding me, but you are openly running here. Are you dissatisfied with the crown on your head being too comfortable?"

  Someone stepped forward and said: "Mr. Yuan is a man of noble character, and Yang has always admired him. As the saying goes, 'adversity reveals true feelings'. If Yang had hidden at this time, he would not have returned from Dongying to assist Mr. Yuan in those days."

  His name is Yang Du, and his style name is Xi Zi. He was a native of Xiangtan in Hunan Province and was a favorite disciple of the great Confucian scholar Wang Xianqian. He was deeply fascinated by the study of emperors and kings. During the Hundred Days' Reform, Liu Guangdi and Yang Rui were his fellow students and seniors. Before the Hundred Days' Reform, Tan Sitong and Tang Caichang founded the Shiwu Academy in Changsha, where Yang Du also attended classes, thus establishing an unbreakable bond with the "Reform Movement".

  In the 19th year of Guangxu, Yang Du passed the imperial examination as a juren, but after repeated attempts, he failed to pass. After the Gengzi year, he sought change and self-funded his studies in Japan until the 29th year of Guangxu, when the court held an economics special examination. Yang Du returned to China to take the exam and was ranked second in the first class, with Liang Shiyu ranking first. Because Kang Youwei, the leader of the "Reform Party", had originally been named Kang Zuyi, when Empress Dowager Cixi asked about the background of the top scholar Liang Shiyu, a minister tried to deflect her inquiry by saying that Liang was related to Liang Qichao and shared the same last character in his name as Kang Youwei, implying that he was not a good person. As a result, Empress Dowager Cixi became enraged and ordered an investigation into the examination officials, cancelling everyone's degrees. Thus, Yang Du's chance at becoming a "bangyan" (second-place scholar) was lost, and because he had studied at the School of Current Events with Tan Sitong and Tang Caichang, the court sought to severely punish the remnants of the "Reform Party". Yang Du became disheartened and lost interest in pursuing honors, and soon set sail for Japan once again to continue his studies.

  During his study in Japan, Yang Du successively got to know Liang Qichao, Huang Xing, Wang Chongming, Cai E and others. His thoughts became more and more radical. Although he did not agree with the revolutionary program of the Tongmenghui, he was also dissatisfied with the monarchical rule and began to seriously study constitutional monarchy. The Qing court announced "preparation for constitutionalism" and sent five high-ranking officials to investigate constitutional government in foreign countries. However, these officials were ignorant of constitutional government and could not write a report on their investigation. In desperation, they had to send their entourage, Xiong Xiling, to Japan to ask Yang Du for help. Yang Du was also unceremonious and asked Liang Qichao, the "leader of the revolutionary party", to co-author the report. As a result, a detailed and well-considered report on constitutional government was placed on Empress Dowager Cixi's desk. Therefore, the guiding principles of the Qing court's new political system were actually written by two "revolutionary parties". This secret was known to everyone in official circles, except for Empress Dowager Cixi who was kept in the dark.

  Yang Du also rose to fame, being praised as the "Flag Hand of Constitutionalism". His name quickly reached the ears of Yuan Shikai, who was in charge of the new government. Yuan Shikai, who wanted to restrict imperial power through constitutionalism, intentionally recruited Yang and, in conjunction with Zhang Zhidong, jointly petitioned for Yang's appointment as a fourth-rank official in the Imperial Capital, serving as a compiler in the Constitutional Compilation Bureau. He was tasked with lecturing on the benefits of constitutional monarchy to the nobles in the palace. Later, Yuan Shikai even invited him into his inner circle, treating him with great respect and kindness, winning Yang's heartfelt gratitude. From then on, Yang became Yuan's right-hand man, and many of the new policies implemented during Yuan's tenure as Governor of Zhili were devised by Yang himself.

  Yang Du pointed at Yuan Shikai's bruised forehead and asked: "Mr. Yuan, what happened?"

  Yuan Shikai smiled wryly, rubbed his forehead and said: "It's a long story, let's go inside to talk."

  Two men entered the east wing, Yang Du took off his cloak and pulled out a letter, saying: "Today I didn't come alone, this is Yan Fanshu's letter, Governor Yuan can take a look first."

  Yan Fansun is also Yan Xiu, who was once a staff member of Yuan Shikai. He was born into a Hanlin family and later became an official through the recommendation of the Yuan family. Now he is the vice minister of the Ministry of Education. His relationship with Yuan Shikai is not ordinary, and he also gets along well with Yang Duan.

  Yuan Shikai pulled out the letter, hastily read it through, and immediately lit a match to burn it. He sighed bitterly: "Constitutionalism, constitutionalism. The imperial court is forcing me, you are also forcing me, I'd rather just leave, so as not to become a mouse in a bellows, suffering from both sides. Your news is indeed very well-informed, now that 'telegram' is probably known by the whole city of Beijing."

  "There's no news that can be kept secret in the official circles, let alone this shocking telegram? Now it's not just officials, but even those idle and scattered banner people are discussing how Yuan Gong was pushed by the rebel party to become the mastermind. Yang Du stood up, walked a few steps with his hands behind his back in the wing room, stopped in front of an imperial screen with " Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" on it, and sighed: "The world is united, what does it mean for the world to be united? This is what it means for the world to be united!"

  Yuan Shikai said in surprise: "Hui Zi, you don't think that the rebels in Jiujiang City really support me, do you? That rebel named Zhao Bei is cunning and treacherous. He sent this telegram as a trick, not to admire me Yuan. Besides, I don't even know him." After finishing speaking, he waved his hand, and the housekeeper led the servants out with a nod, closing the door behind them.

  Yang Du looked up at the foreign lamp on the roof and said, "The world is changing rapidly, and compared to foreigners, we Chinese are far behind. If we don't want to be slaves of a lost country, we must strive to catch up." He walked back to his chair and sat down, looking into Yuan Shikai's eyes, saying, "Nowadays, these banner people are hopeless. They only know how to raise birds in cages or listen to storytelling in tea houses. They are increasingly wary of us Han people and are not enthusiastic about constitutionalism. When I lectured them on constitutional government, those princes and nobles were lying on their opium beds listening, while I was speaking with great passion above, they were discussing below whether Japanese or Indian opium was stronger. In the past, Empress Dowager Cixi suppressed them, but now that she is gone, you see how these banner people are jumping up and down, eager to seize power. With the new emperor on the throne, it won't take a few years for our Han people's power to be swept away by these young and powerful nobles. By then, we will be nothing but secondary slaves of foreigners, while the banner people will be the primary slaves."

  "Xiaozi, your mouth is getting poorer and poorer." Yuan Shikai shook his head. "How could I not know the root cause of the country's failure? Not to mention other things, just that banner system, one year's expenditure accounts for half of the national treasury, but what comes out of it are a bunch of people who only know how to make their queues shiny! The banner people can't accomplish anything and only cause trouble. I understand this principle, but unfortunately, I, Yuan, have received the country's grace, born as a person of the Great Qing, dead as a ghost of the Great Qing. If you want me to do something that betrays the ancestors of the Great Qing, then you might as well tie me up and send me to the revolutionaries."

  Yang Du said: "We are not forcing Yuan Gong to do anything treasonous, Yan Fansun's letter clearly states that we just want to take advantage of this rare opportunity to settle the constitutional monarchy as soon as possible. If a constitution is established, although some imperial power will be stripped away, the Qing dynasty will not be destroyed by us, and the Qing dynasty will still exist, but it will no longer be dominated by the Manchu nobles, instead, it will be decided by the national gentry, by Yuan Gong, and by the parliament! The 'Glorious Revolution' in Britain also welcomed a monarch from another ethnic group, and after several hundred years, the dynasty has not been interrupted, and the throne is stable, which shows the benefits of constitutionalism. If a constitution is established, it will only bring benefits to the Aixinjueluo family, no harm, otherwise, just wait for the revolutionaries to take you to the guillotine."

  "Xiaozi, don't talk nonsense!" Yuan Shikai's face sank.

  Yang Du continued to speak, "Now there are only two paths in front of us Chinese: one is revolution, like the French Revolution, loud and fierce, killing until the sky is dark and the earth is covered with blood, then starting from scratch to rebuild the country after several decades; the other is constitutional reform, like the British 'Glorious Revolution', gentle and silent, but with a sudden clap of thunder, after many years, looking back, it will be a new look, strong country and rich people, standing proudly among the powers. Mr. Yuan, the fate of the country depends on you, at this time, whether to seize the opportunity or not is up to you! This morning, Sheng Xuanhuai came to see me, discussing back and forth, now is the best chance to force the Qing court to adopt constitutionalism, don't miss it, Mr. Yuan should take action immediately, jointly petitioning the imperial court to establish a constitution as soon as possible, set up a House of Representatives, promulgate the constitution, so that the people's hearts will be at peace, and revolution will naturally dissipate, when the time comes to form a responsible cabinet, who else has the prestige besides Mr. Yuan?"

  Yuan Shikai suppressed his anger, his face changing color again and again. Hearing this from behind, he could no longer hold back, interrupting Yang Duan's words, pointing to his own forehead, saying: "Hui-zi, you just asked me what was going on with my forehead, I'll tell you now, this is from kowtowing in the Forbidden City. If someone hadn't spoken up for me, what you'd be seeing today wouldn't be me, but my severed head!"

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