Chapter 62: The Reform Began

  Just as Ronglu was investigating Ye Zhiqi's style of work in Tianjin, Kang Youwei, who had been tirelessly petitioning for six or seven years, finally received imperial favor, and the Guangxu Emperor decided to summon him to an audience at the Diligent Government Hall.

  That day, he was in high spirits, his years of hard work had come to an end, but fame and success had yet to be achieved. He was like a dragon emerging from the sea or a tiger descending from the mountain, ready to make a big splash with one stroke of his brush. Therefore, he did not deign to engage in petty reforms like the Western Affairs Party; he wanted to seize power in one fell swoop and issue orders at will. Kang Youwei had long since prepared a draft, ready to make a good impression on Guangxu's face.

  When Kang Youwei walked out of the imperial palace after waiting for the edict, he was elated and looked down on the world.

  The little eunuch who led the way had only turned a few corners, but Kang Youwei felt a sense of familiarity. He seemed to have passed by here earlier, so why hadn't they arrived at the Temple of Diligent Government after walking for half a day? He couldn't help but ask the little eunuch, "How much longer will it take?"

  The little eunuch didn't even turn his head, muttering: "What's the hurry? We're almost there, aren't we?" But in his heart, he thought this person was so tactless and ignorant of etiquette. If our family doesn't take you on a detour, it would be a waste for us to have been mixing around in the palace all these years.

  Kang Youwei entered the palace for the first time to pay his respects, not knowing what etiquette to follow, so he put away the expression of contempt for the world he had just shown and followed behind a small eunuch, walking humbly.

  After a long time, Kang Youwei finally walked to the front of the Xiyuan Temple, where a small eunuch gave him a glance and slowly went forward to report. Before long, a senior eunuch shouted: "Summon Kang Youwei, the Minister of Works, to come forward and pay his respects!"

  Kang Youwei patted his robe, held his head high and chest out, and strode into the Temple of Diligent Government. As soon as he entered, he saw Guangxu waiting for him with an excited face. He hurried forward to pay his respects, saying: "Your humble servant Kang Youwei pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

  Guangxu got up and went forward to support Kang Youwei, saying: "Mr. is a great talent, hurry up and get up! Come on, take a seat!"

  Kang Youwei took the opportunity to stand up, although he replied with his mouth: "Thank you for your praise, I am ashamed and dare not!" However, he sat down on the seat next to him with a fart.

  The Guangxu Emperor was considered a benevolent ruler, but if Kang Youwei had met with the Empress Dowager Cixi instead, she would have been displeased by his actions. The Guangxu Emperor smiled and said: "Sir, I carefully read your recent memorial on introducing reforms to strengthen the country, and I discussed it with my father, who was very supportive. I had only seen your memorials before, but today I finally get to meet you in person, which brings me great comfort. Is there anything else you can teach me?"

  Kang Youwei bowed his head and said in a shocking tone: "Your Majesty, our Qing dynasty is going to perish soon!"

  Guangxu was taken aback by his words and curiously asked: "Sir, how can you say such a thing!"

  The Emperor, our great Qing dynasty is about to perish at the hands of those conservative people who refuse to reform. These people, for their own selfish interests, are trying to stop the reforms, causing our country to remain weak and unable to become strong. Other countries are getting stronger and stronger, while we are getting weaker and weaker, making it easy for other nations to take advantage of us. In the end, our great Qing dynasty will surely perish! I fear that by then, Your Majesty and your ministers will seek to be ordinary citizens but will not be able to!

  Guangxu furrowed his brow and asked again: "Then what should I do?"

  Kang Youwei blurted out: "The Emperor wants to rely on those old ministers to reform and change the law, which is no different from seeking fish by climbing a tree. The Emperor should abolish the eight-part essay imperial examination and re-select new-style talents! Then reuse the junior minister."

  Guangxu was shocked in his heart, this is almost going to shake the entire political system. He couldn't help but say with concern: "What's going on?!"

  Kang Youwei burst into tears and said: "Your Majesty, you are the master of the world. Your Majesty only needs to take control of the situation, and your orders will be like thunder. In our great Qing dynasty, there is no powerful feudal lord, nor a dominant general. Your Majesty just needs to make up your mind, wherever the imperial edict reaches, who dares to oppose it within the four seas!"

  Guangxu was blown away, imagining himself as the ruler of the world. However, after seeing a shadowy figure outside the window behind the dragon chair, he suddenly thought of Cixi and his enthusiasm vanished. He waved his hand somewhat listlessly and said: "I'm feeling a bit tired, let's hear your teachings another day, sir!"

  Kang Youwei was speaking with great passion and eloquence, completely absorbed in his words. If he were alive today, even if he didn't become a public speaker or get into sales, he would still be able to make a fortune.

  Unfortunately, his Cantonese was so explosive that Guangxu's head buzzed with a loud humming noise. Guangxu had no patience and thought it would be more convenient to read his memorial instead.

  Kang Youwei's voice stopped abruptly, and he had to get up and bid farewell. As he retreated, he still shouted: "Your Majesty, reform must not use those old ministers! Your Majesty only promotes junior ministers, does not begrudge titles and rewards..."

  The Guangxu Emperor was initially stirred up by Kang Youwei's passionate words, but after calming down, he thought to himself that something wasn't right. Kang Youwei had only talked about grand principles, such as abolishing the eight-legged essay and issuing a decree to bring all under control, but hadn't discussed how to specifically implement these ideas or provided a concrete solution.

  Guangxu had no choice but to go find his own teacher Weng Tonghe for advice.

  Weng Tonghe was revising the "Edict of the Crown Prince" for Guangxu when he heard Guangxu mention Kang Youwei and ask for a book that Kang had given him to pass on, which made Weng feel depressed. The old man wouldn't deliver your book, yet you still reported it to the throne.

  Guangxu asked innocently: "I heard that Kang Youwei had previously asked Weng Tonghe to pass on some 'memorials', where are they now?"

  Weng Tonghe thought to himself, every day he handed over thousands of memorials to the Emperor on your behalf, also several hundred, how could he remember so clearly, and casually replied: "I have no dealings with Kang Nanhai."

  Guangxu was somewhat curious and said: "Kang Youwei is very famous, why doesn't Master Weng have any dealings with him?"

  Weng Tonghe stroked his beard and replied, "This man is inscrutable, with a mind that only thinks of climbing up. I also just recently read his 'Examination of Confucius' Reform' and realized! He cannot be deeply interacted with!"

  Guangxu was speechless! Neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

  Not long after Guangxu summoned Kang Youwei, Cixi also summoned Li Hongzhang in the Yiheyuan to ask about what kind of person Kang Youwei was!

  Li Hongzhang said directly: "Kang Youwei is a frivolous and childish scholar, like those in the market who love to fight and win lawsuits."

  Cixi asked in puzzlement: "If so, why are all the foreigners praising and supporting him?"

  Li Hongzhang retorted with a bad temper: "That's because Westerners don't understand the literati of our Great Qing Dynasty, taking our Great Qing Dynasty's literati as knowledgeable researchers in their own country. Once those Westerners find out what kind of role the literati of our Great Qing Dynasty play, I'm afraid they'll be unable to escape."

  Kang Youwei had unknowingly offended Ronglu and Weng Tonghe, and was not favored by Prince Gong and Li Hongzhang, so he was destined to be disappointed. When he returned home with joy, expecting promotion and wealth, the appointment came - a sixth-rank official, still a chapter in the General Affairs Office.

  This is why, on the surface, it was due to the opposition of officials such as Ronglu and Gangyi, and also because Weng Tonghe and others did not support him. Therefore, even if Guangxu liked him very much, he could only do so. Fortunately, he gave him a consolation prize, allowing him to "memorialize directly". Kang Youwei had no choice but to continue his own petitioning business!

  Beijing is in turmoil, Kang Youwei sees himself as too small an official, feels that it won't do, needs to pull in more talent, gather some momentum, so he starts actively recruiting people everywhere, pulling them into the fold. As a drill instructor directly under Commander Ye Zhiwei, he also catches Kang Youwei's eye.