Chapter 57 Lost power, humiliated the country and returned to the west

Cixi fled with Emperor Guangxu and some ministers. On the way, she authorized Li Hongzhang to act cheaply and asked him to negotiate surrender with the imperialists.Prince Qing Yikuang and Li Hongzhang were appointed ministers of peace negotiation and plenipotentiary to clean up the mess.But Yikuang was greedy and incompetent, and it was Li Hongzhang who really negotiated with foreign countries. At first, Britain, Germany and other countries took a tough attitude and refused to recognize Li Hongzhang as a legal representative, and even refused to recognize the Qing government headed by Cixi.Russia, France and other countries were worried about the expansion of Germany's influence in China. At the same time, Li Hongzhang, who had always been known for being pro-Russian, made a deal with the representatives of Tsarist Russia in private, agreeing to give Tianjin a concession and satisfy Tsarist Russia's aggression requirements in the Northeast. coordination.At the end of October in the twenty-sixth year of Guangxu, all envoys who invaded China held a meeting.On December 24, representatives of various countries agreed on a "Minister for Peace", a total of twelve articles, and handed it over to Li Hongzhang.Li Hongzhang quickly telegraphed the Empress Dowager Cixi in Xi'an.The Empress Dowager Cixi was overjoyed to see that the countries did not pursue her, she hurriedly called Yikuang and Li Hongzhang, and agreed to all twelve requests.

The negotiation of the "Xin Chou Treaty" lasted for nine months, and Li Hongzhang worked hard for it. On September 22nd, Li Hongzhang, who was on the sickbed, played the "Painting of the Peace Conference", and then submitted it to the imperial court for investigation. suffer.Last year's incident was particularly hasty, causing deep pain, and Bo Hai was startled.Now that the peace negotiation has been completed, the overall situation is a bit settled. I still hope that the imperial court will stick to its decision, reconcile externally, and seek prosperity internally. Maybe there will be a turn for the better. For example, a sick person is good at self-healing. No matter how brave and ruthless you are, your life will be in danger.These words are really the finishing touch, every word is pearls.

On September 7, 1901, after many disputes over the distribution of interests and rights among the eleven countries that invaded China, a consensus was reached.On behalf of the Qing Empire, Li Hongzhang signed the most notorious unequal treaty in modern Chinese history, the "Xin Chou Treaty" with eleven countries. This treaty consists of twelve articles and nineteen appendices.The main content is: China’s compensation of 450 million taels of silver, paid in 30 years, plus an annual interest of 4%, a total of more than 980 million taels; set up an embassy area in Dongjiaomin Lane, Beijing, and foreign countries can garrison troops. People were not allowed to enter; the forts from Dagu to Beijing were demolished, and foreigners could station troops on the line from Beijing to Shanhaiguan; the Qing government guaranteed that the Chinese people would never rebel against imperialism in the future. The "Xin Chou Treaty" was a heavy shackle imposed on the Chinese people by the imperialist powers. The signing of this treaty further deepened the semi-colonialization of Chinese society. The embrace of doctrine has become a tame tool for the powers to rule the Chinese people.

Since then, the humiliating status of China's semi-colonial and semi-feudal society has been fully established.Although the root cause of this situation was the corruption of the Qing government, Li Hongzhang, as an imperial court official, a minister of peace and plenipotentiary, as one of the decision makers and main executors of this humiliating treaty, naturally bears unforgivable culpability. After signing and returning, Li Hongzhang once again vomited blood in purple and black with large lumps.The doctor's diagnosis was: rupture of gastric blood vessels.The imperial court specially gave Li Hongzhang a 20-day holiday, asking him to recuperate with peace of mind.

Li Hongzhang himself was also on September 22, half a month after the signing of the "Xin Chou Treaty". And feel ashamed. After Li Hongzhang's condition improved slightly, he negotiated with Russia on the Northeast issue.After the rise of the Boxer Rebellion, Russia's interests in China were impacted, and the Russian army began to enter the Northeast on a large scale, controlling the situation in the Northeast.When the coalition forces entered Beijing, Russia also joined in.During the talks with the G8, Russia stated that the Northeast issue would not be included in the talks, and its arrogance was overwhelming.

After the "Xin Chou Treaty" was signed, all the coalition forces left Beijing.Only Russia was still hanging on, and they put forward more stringent requirements and conditions to the Qing government.Helpless, Li Hongzhang began to negotiate with the Russians again.Cixi, who was in exile in Xi'an, sent a telegram to Li Hongzhang saying: Li Hongzhang was sick because of working hard for the country, worry and fatigue.I wish him a speedy recovery and be rewarded.However, Li Hongzhang did not wait until the day when he was honored with the reward. In order to avoid the interference of foreign powers, Russia played tricks and demanded that the Chinese and Russian governments sign a troop withdrawal treaty, a private agreement between the Chinese government and the Sino-Russian Daosheng Bank, and transfer all the road mines and other rights in the three northeastern provinces to China and Russia. Dawson Bank.On October 10, 1901, the representative of the Sino-Russian Daosheng Bank in Beijing proposed a draft bank agreement to Li Hongzhang, insisting that the bank agreement be concluded first as a condition for concluding the withdrawal treaty.

Li Hongzhang did not agree with the unreasonable request of Tsarist Russia. He made it clear that he could only negotiate with Russia on the concession of mineral resources.On October 30, when he went to the Russian embassy in China to discuss matters, he was intimidated and coerced by the Russian embassy, ​​and his condition has deteriorated since then. Li Hongzhang could not eat for six or seven days before his death. He lay on the bed with a haggard face.This big man who called the wind and rain in the political arena in the late Qing Dynasty and dealt with the great powers is actually so weak now.People can't see the strength of a generation of famous ministers who have struggled and been strong for a lifetime and want to use their last strength to save the Qing Dynasty.

On November 6, 1901, Li Hongzhang could no longer speak.However, his family members called softly, and he still agreed. On November 7, 1901, just over an hour before Li Hongzhang’s death, the Russian envoy came to Li Hongzhang’s sickbed with documents and forced Li Hongzhang to sign the Sino-Russian handover treaty, and even tried to force Li Hongzhang’s The assistant took out Li Hongzhang's official seal. Before Li Hongzhang died, his anger was like a gossamer.His family members asked him if he had any family affairs to explain, but Li Hongzhang did not speak.At this time, Zhou Fu and Ma Yukun, who were guarding Li Hongzhang's side, asked Li Hongzhang softly: "Master Zhongtang, what other state affairs do you want to explain?"Still speechless, but two lines of muddy tears flowed slowly from his tightly closed eyes.

At the last moment of his life, Li Hongzhang was full of deep regret and bitter pain.He seems to be blaming himself for his credulity towards Tsarist Russia, lamenting the mistakes he made, and worrying about the future fate of the Qing Dynasty. Seeing Li Hongzhang closed his eyes, Zhou Fu burst into tears: I still have something to say to Zhongtang, you can't just leave like this!Unexpectedly, when he shouted, Li Hongzhang's eyes suddenly opened again, startling everyone around him.Zhou Fu had no choice but to comfort him and said: The Russians said that after Zhongtang left, he would never make things difficult for China!Also, the two palaces will arrive in Beijing soon!

Li Hongzhang opened his eyes and opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something else. Zhou Fu who was beside him said to Li Hongzhang repeatedly: "I'm done with the unfinished business. Please don't worry!"Li Hongzhang died in peace at the age of seventy-eight.Li Hongzhang left with too much resentment and concern. Ever since he led the Huai Army to the expedition, Li Hongzhang wiped out the Taiping Army and the Nian Army, established foreign affairs diplomacy, and organized internal affairs. The Qing government's internal affairs, diplomacy, military affairs, and economy all depended on Li Hongzhang. He was tied to the safety of the Qing Dynasty.While alive, he was quite attacked.He knew the international situation at that time best, and had keen insight and extraordinary insights.But in the imperial court, the Empress Dowager Cixi was arbitrary and self-righteous, and the princes and ministers were ignorant and only knew how to fight for power and profit, which made it difficult for the country to use his ideas.But his death made the Qing court find that its rule became more precarious.

Both the ruling and opposition parties were shaken up and down, as if Optimus Prime had collapsed, with no support left.Those who usually vigorously attacked Li Hongzhang felt sorry.It is only now that people understand the irreplaceable and important role of senior ministers in the country.Li Hongzhang devoted his whole life to the cause of Westernization, but in the end he was reviled by the world because he was defeated in the Sino-Japanese War of 1899-1895.However, when he came to Beijing to negotiate with foreign countries this time, everyone knew that he alone could save the crisis, so more voices praised him. It can be said that he died at the right time.Cixi also issued a decree: Li Hongzhang, the governor of Zhili, Su Yibo, the first-class scholar, has profound knowledge of weapons and great talents. He was led by the Hanlin to lead the Huai army, and he made great achievements in suppressing the bandits.The imperial court was very kind, and Jin was granted the title of Earl, and Yi Zan Lunfei.Reinstating Governor Zhili and acting as Beiyang Minister, to help the difficulties, to harmonize with China and foreign countries, and to seek the country with a deep heart.Last year, during the change of the capital, the scholar was appointed as the plenipotentiary minister to conclude peace treaties with the envoys of various countries, which was considered opportune.Fang hoped that the overall situation would be safe, and he was honored with a prize, but when he heard of his death, he mourned deeply.Li Hongzhang first added grace to the book, gave him a shirt according to the university scholar's rules, and rewarded him with the Dharani Sutra. He sent Prince Gong Puwei (the grandson of Yixin) to lead ten guards to lay the stone. Wait for the Marquis to enter the Xianliang Shrine to show his sincerity, and the rest will be decorated with the end ceremony, and then the decree will be issued. The posthumous title Wenzhong is second only to Wenzheng.In the late Qing Dynasty, Lin Zexu, Hu Linyi, Wen Xiang, etc. received this posthumous posthumous title. All of them were important officials of the imperial court and made immortal contributions.Granting Li Hongzhang the posthumous title Wenzhong was based on Li Hongzhang's outstanding achievements and lofty prestige throughout his life. Li Hongzhang's death dealt an irreversible blow to the Manchu dynasty.It was one of the most shocking events in the late Qing court. On the third day of October, Xingzai (referring to the place where the emperor is) Zhongmou received Li Hongzhang's note. On the seventh day of October, Xingzai then issued a pension edict, further instructing the funeral arrangements, and at the same time, giving sympathy to Li Hongzhang's descendants. From the perspective of feudal talent standards, Li Hongzhang can be regarded as a loyal minister, especially in his later years, when the Qing Dynasty was in danger, he almost always came forward to deal with the capitalist powers.Although in this process, he often adopts an attitude of compromise and concession, which has caused irreparable trauma to the country and the nation; but in his own opinion, he is serving the country with all his heart.To sum up Li Hongzhang's life, in his own words: Kedi as a young man, soldier in his prime, Fengjiang in his middle age, and Westernization in his later years.He has been active in the ever-changing political arena for half a century and was one of the most important ministers in the late Qing Dynasty. His life is famous, yet complicated, his merits and demerits are difficult to determine, and can only be commented by future generations.