History Live: Starting from Qin Shi Huang

Chapter 162: The Six Gentlemen of Wuxu
“Is the first bullet to overthrow the imperial court gone just like that?”

At this moment, the emperors of all time and space were confused.

In their view, the flames of revolution should not be extinguished like this.

Even if you fail once, you must regroup and try again.

They firmly believe that Mr. Sun will not fail!

Soon, in the sky, the inventory continued.

[In addition, there is a group of scholars who have taken the first step to awaken the corrupt people. ]

[1895, the first year after the Sino-Japanese War of -, brought huge post-war psychological trauma to countless people at that time.]

[The Beiyang officers and soldiers who were obsessed with the seabed were all Yan Fu's classmates at the Fujian Naval Academy and the British Royal Navy Academy, as well as his students at the Beiyang Navy. The loss of many lives overnight made Yan Fu angry, sad, and wailing.]

[In 1897, he and Xia Zengyou founded the Guowen Newspaper and translated the overseas ideological work Evolution and Ethics, awakening national consciousness.]

[The following year, in the 24th year of Emperor Guangxu's reign, Emperor Guangxu ordered Yan Fu to come to Beijing to present his ideas for reform and write the "Ten Thousand Words Letter to Emperor Guangxu".]

[The storm began to gather, and the "Hundred Days' Reform" was launched. ]

“The strength and survival of a country depends on three basic conditions: first, the strength of its blood and physical strength; second, the strength of its intelligence and wisdom; and third, the strength of its moral conduct and benevolence.”

"I will take the lead, and I believe that more and more scholars will awaken the national spirit and join the ranks."

"Reform and save the country, it is urgent!"

Yan Fu said this in the newspaper where the article was published.

In the capitals of various dynasties, the scene changed again.

It's just a simple and dilapidated house.

Six men in their twenties and thirties gathered here to discuss major reforms.

The gears of destiny also begin to turn here.

Tan Sitong devoted his entire life to reform and opening up. He was one of the country's scholars and one of the pioneers of the revolution.

The other five are Kang Guangren, Liu Guangdi, Lin Xu, Yang Shenxiu and Yang Rui.

In this country where people eat each other and there is no dignity, they were the first six people to wake up.

"If we want to make our country rich and strong and to avert national humiliation, we must first reserve talents."

It was Tan Sitong who called on these six people. Taking the first step is always difficult, but not taking it will only make things more difficult and this country will never have a future.

"All reforms in a country are achieved through bloodshed. Today in China, no reform has ever involved bloodshed. This is why the country is not prosperous. If there is such a thing, please start with Si Tong."

A single spark can start a prairie fire.

Although there are only six of them now, they know that there will be sixty, six hundred, or even tens of thousands of people behind them...

At this moment, emperors of all dynasties were collectively shocked.

"Why is the long night so bright? Because the torches are in their own hands."

In Confucius Academy, Mencius clenched his fists, and a light of hope burst out in front of his eyes.

During the chaotic times of the Spring and Autumn Period, there was also a need for someone to hold the fire.

Aren’t they preaching morality just to save the people?
The countries in later generations had such difficulties and they all started their own countries, let alone us?
"The first change was ignorant and doomed to fail, but I have a feeling that this change will have far-reaching consequences!"

"What a saying, 'All reforms in a country are achieved through bloodshed'. This shows that they are ready to make up their minds!"

"Such a transformation, is this the origin of the Chinese nation?"

"..."

At this moment, emperors of all dynasties were excited.

Poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Xianyu and others could not help but shed tears.

There are too many people among them who are frustrated and have great ambitions but no way to realize them.

The common people were honest and incorruptible, and were demoted to border areas. These six people spoke up for them.

Who says scholars can’t save the world?

Born in a turbulent time, those in power and the lower classes are all confused, but it is this group of scholars who see and understand the most clearly.

Whatever the outcome, it no longer matters.

As long as these six people decide to use their lives and blood to change the law, they will succeed.

They use their pens as weapons and their thoughts as backing. With hundreds of millions of ordinary people behind them, what is there to be afraid of?

"call……"

After taking stock of this, Jiang Li couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief, his face serious.

In fact, strictly speaking, he should have started editing from here, but the overall background of the times was too chaotic, and he was afraid that the emperors of those dynasties would not be able to understand and would not know what would happen next.

So, I started editing from the late Qing Dynasty.

Feudalism, corruption and incompetence, the late Qing Dynasty perfectly interpreted these six words.

And starting from these six people, the real era has just begun.

He typed a few lines on the keyboard.

【1898 is the year of the dog.】

[At the beginning of spring, Jiaozhou and Lushun were lost, and Mr. Nanhai wrote a letter to the emperor, crying about state affairs and asking for reforms.]

【He said: "Today, in our country, reform is the second priority for all political affairs. If the first priority is to change the imperial examination system and abolish the eight-legged essay system, so that all scholars in the country will abandon their stubborn and absurd learning and focus on practical learning. Then, people all over the world will be like blind people who suddenly open their eyes and understand the reasons for the strength and weakness of various countries. They will naturally develop a patriotic heart and talents will emerge. Once this barrier is broken, the roots of all new policies will be established."】

[The six people were called the "Six Gentlemen of the Wuxu Reform". They wrote a joint petition to change the official newspaper to publicize the content of the reform, allowed local officials and civilians to write petitions, adopted Western military training, dismissed old and weak soldiers, reduced military pay, abolished eight-legged essays, provincial and metropolitan examinations, and the examinations for children, and allowed them to study abroad. They changed the examinations to history, politics, current affairs, and the Four Books and Five Classics, and held special economic examinations regularly...]

【The reforms in the four areas of education, politics, military, and economy, each of which hit the Qing court where it hurts.】

The reform begins here.

After reading about the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period and various schools of thought, I was deeply touched.

Scholars change this country with their pens and papers, and only character and backbone can win people's hearts.

I don’t know why, but when seeing this scene, all the philosophers and thinkers were happier than seeing their own ideas popularize among the masses.

Because this country is too dark!

But they are the ray of light that breaks through the darkness!
Hope the light will bloom!
Now, the emperors only wanted to know the results of the reforms and hoped to see changes in the country.

I saw the Chinese characters on the sky continue.

【My 1898 is the 1898 of the people of the whole country. 】

[In April, Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao founded the National Protection Association, and Emperor Guangxu issued the "Decree of State Affairs", and the reform began! ]

【However, no one knew that Yuan Xiangcheng at this time had different moral principles from Tan Sitong, Liang Qichao and others, and they did not work together. 】

"Hmm? Different ideologies, different plans? What does that mean?"

Looking at this line of words, the expressions of all the emperors changed suddenly.

Ying Zheng even asked, "Didn't Yuan Pifu join the reform camp?"

The inventory continued.

[Although Tan Sitong raised the fire of reform, the power of the royalists was still deeply rooted. After the reform, Emperor Guangxu and the Empress Dowager Cixi were at loggerheads, while Yuan Shikai maneuvered between the reformists and the royalists, and thrived.]

Upon seeing this, the emperors, generals, sages and poets all felt a sinking feeling in their hearts, knowing that this reform was doomed to fail.

In any era, in a war, people are not afraid of how strong the enemy is, but they are afraid of betrayal by their own side. [In September of the Wuxu year, Empress Dowager Cixi attempted a coup.]

As this text ends, a new picture appears.

Late at night, Tan Sitong met with Yuan Xiangcheng.

"The emperor is in great trouble now, and you are the only one who can save him."

Yuan Xiangcheng smiled and said jokingly, "The emperor is doing well in the palace, what disaster could happen? Could it be that Lord Tan heard some rumors and believed them to be true?"

At this moment, four words emerged in the minds of the emperors of various dynasties who saw this place: cunning and treacherous!

Yuan Xiangcheng actually understood the purpose of Tan Sitong's night meeting with him, but he would not release the eagle until he saw the rabbit.

In the picture, Tan Sitong also understood what Yuan Xiangcheng meant, so he took out the copy of Guangxu's secret edict written by Kang Youwei and handed it to him.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Xiangcheng just took a look at it, then smiled and threw the copy on the table.

There was contempt in his eyes.

"This edict is fake."

Yuan Xiangcheng glanced at Tan Sitong calmly and said, "The imperial edicts were all written in red ink, but this one was written in black ink."

Yuan Xiangcheng saw through the fake secret document. Tan Sitong, who was of a tough character, was furious and stopped talking to him. He said, "How important is the emperor's secret order? How can I carry it with me?"

"Besides, even if this secret decree is fake, my identity as a military secretary is real, right?"

"Mr. Kang's recommendation of you to the Emperor is not false! Now, Ronglu, your immediate superior, has written to the Empress Dowager to depose the Emperor. The Emperor is facing this great difficulty. How can you just stand by and watch, Mr. Yuan?"

It was late at night, and the entire Fahua Temple was echoing with Tan Sitong's passionate voice.

But even so, Yuan Xiangcheng remained unmoved.

Although Empress Dowager Cixi had delegated power to Emperor Guangxu for nine years, she still held great power and her position in the court was deeply rooted. Although Emperor Guangxu had a group of scholars following him and building up momentum for him, they were ultimately just scratching the surface.

As long as Empress Dowager Cixi gives the order, all scholars will have their heads cut off!
"Sir Tan, even if what you said is true, the imperial edict asks you to wait for the fourth military minister to go to Beijing to mediate between the emperor and the empress dowager. You should just obey the order. Why are you looking for me, Yuan Shikai?"

Text appeared on the screen.

【Tan Sitong thought that Yuan Xiangcheng had wavered, so he took the opportunity to reveal his purpose of visiting him.】

"If we don't get rid of Empress Dowager Cixi, the country cannot be saved!"

Little did he know that upon hearing this, Yuan Xiangcheng was so frightened that he jumped up from his chair and said sharply: "This is treason!"

"I, Yuan, have been in government for more than 30 years. My brothers all believe in 'loyalty to the emperor and patriotism'. If I ask them to rebel, I'm afraid no one would dare to respond."

Yuan Xiangcheng finally rejected Tan Sitong's suggestion to abduct the empress dowager.

But the next moment, Tan Sitong suddenly took out a gun from his arms and pointed it at Yuan Xiangcheng's head.

"Your life is in my hands, and my life is in your hands. If you don't agree, you will die!"

The picture gradually turns black here.

In every dynasty, words appeared in the sky.

【Tan Sitong let Yuan Xiangcheng decide his life, and Yuan Xiangcheng's life also depended on Tan Sitong. Sitong never feared death in his life, but was afraid that he would not die a good death. He threatened Yuan Xiangcheng with his life and was ready to die. Finally, Yuan Xiangcheng felt a little bit afraid. If he did not agree, Tan Sitong would really shoot.】

【Thinking about the pros and cons, Yuan Xiangcheng verbally gave in and agreed to Tan Sitong's request, but he left himself a way out on the grounds that he was short of manpower and ammunition and that the army needed to be mobilized.】

After bidding farewell to Yuan Xiangcheng, Tan Sitong stood alone in the dark night.

The sky was still dark and the dark clouds were still thick, but a hint of moonlight appeared in a corner of the sky.

The moon is out.

He looked up and gazed at the moon. Although Yuan Shikai agreed to send troops, there was no smile on his face.

Instead, there is depth.

"Man proposes, God disposes. The literati are the masters of thought, and peace and stability in the world depend on military force. We have already done our best in this reform, and the rest depends on the process..."

Under the moonlight, Tan Sitong muttered to himself and his figure disappeared into the darkness.

At this moment, the text reappears.

[The road is long and far away, I will search up and down! 】

Northern Song Dynasty.

Wang Anshi looked at Tan Sitong's departing back and felt inexplicably sad.

The Xining Reforms failed to save the people of the Northern Song Dynasty from dire straits, so he voluntarily resigned from his position as prime minister.

Since ancient times, those who carried out reforms have never had a good ending. Wang Anshi was an experienced person, so he had already seen it.

This reform is destined to have no good ending.

"The most important thing for reform is the support of those in power. Whether it was the Xining or the Wuxu, they were all surrounded by enemies and full of thorns..."

"As a person, you need to be able to see the difference between good and bad. Don't be a good-for-nothing scholar..."

Yuan Dynasty.

The burly men with stubble couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Yuan Xiangcheng is an ambitious man. He has been in power for thirty years. How can a scholar like you who has studied for a few years compare to him? You should not look for Yuan Xiangcheng, and you should not tell him your true purpose."

The nomadic people valued the use of force and looked down on scholars. When they saw this scene, they all spoke up.

Han Dynasty.

"This is an era of constant trial and error, constant mistakes, and repeated corrections."

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, sighed lightly.

After watching for so long, he finally understood.

In this country, hope cannot be treated as hope, and despair cannot be treated as despair.

Amid the darkness and corruption, there are too many people who want to change the country's system.

But there were no torches ahead, and it was pitch black.

They can only be their own pioneers, trial and error step by step, make mistakes step by step, and correct them step by step.

This was the case with the Taiping Rebellion, the Westernization Movement, and now it is the Hundred Days' Reform.

He crossed the river by feeling the stones. He took the first step firmly, but failed to do so with the second step. He fell into the bottom of the river without a trace of his body.

Emperor Wu of Han saw it clearly, Emperor Qin Shi Huang saw it clearly, and Li Shimin saw it clearly.

Confucius saw it clearly, Mencius saw it clearly, Mozi saw it clearly, and Han Feizi saw it clearly.

Li Bai understood it, and Du Fu also understood it.

Everyone understands it.

Even the common people of various dynasties could not understand it.

"Where is the end? Where is the light?"

They hope again and again, and fail again and again. That is why they can always look forward to it.

After experiencing countless hopes and countless failures, what kind of process is it to finally rise from the ruins and reach the pinnacle?
"But what is certain is that no matter what the situation is, whether the building is about to collapse or it is shattered to pieces, there will always be people who stand up."

"This is enough."

(End of this chapter)