Now that the emperor in Beijing is gone, the former imperial doctors and eunuchs no longer have a living.
When I heard that the "Emperor" had gone to Tianjin Zhangyuan, all the people in the palace immediately ran to Tianjin.
Zhang Yuan was originally the residence and garden of Zhang Biao, the governor of Hubei and the commander of the Eighth Town in Wuchang in the late Qing Dynasty. Zhang Biao claimed to be a loyal minister of the Qing Dynasty. Puyi came to Tianjin, which made this former Qing minister feel extremely honored. In order to express his gratitude,
The Qing Dynasty's infinite loyalty took the initiative to give up "Zhang Garden" to Puyi to live.
Although Zhang Biao was almost seventy years old, he still respected Puyi as his old master very loyally, tried his best to meet Puyi's requirements in life, and resolutely refused to charge for rent. Regardless of his old age, he personally cleaned Puyi's yard every day and made careful arrangements.
Puyi's diet and daily life also prepared a modern radio for Puyi, and asked his family to obey and take care of Puyi.
Zhang Biao also built a series of four bungalows on the right side of the garden for the use of Puyi's entourage and servants. In addition to supplying and taking care of Puyi's daily necessities, Zhang Biao also continued to give some cash to Puyi for daily allowance at first.
As a veteran of the Qing Dynasty, Puyi praised Zhang Biao's loyalty and was very satisfied with the environment of Zhang Biao.
Zhangyuan covers an area of 18 acres and is full of flowers, fruits and trees, as well as rockeries, pavilions, pools, stages and tennis courts. There is a three-story house in the garden, and each room is decorated with foreign-style furniture, which is extremely luxurious.
Puyi, who grew up in a palace since childhood, had no chance to come into contact with modern lifestyles. The ancient palaces made Puyi feel like he was still living in ancient times. Coming to Tianjin opened Puyi's horizons and he began to enjoy modern life. He bought a lot of high-end luxury goods.
Daily consumer goods, cars, diamonds, pianos, gold watches, etc., start a new lifestyle.
Puyi often visited major department stores in Tianjin such as Huiluo, Zhengchang, Zhongyuan, etc., and also frequented high-end eating and drinking places such as Qishin and Lishunde. Puyi wore a top hat, a civilization stick in his hand, and a tuxedo, looking very comfortable
Enjoying every day, as if he was going to live like this forever, forgetting the past of being kicked out of the Forbidden City.
The consuls or garrison commanders of the British, French, Italian, German and other countries in the concession maintained close contact with Puyi. Puyi often received various invitation letters from the leading figures stationed in Tianjin from various countries.
There were entertainment activities such as intercourse balls, dinners, weddings, and military parades in the concession, and Puyi often visited.
Originally, Puyi and Wanrong came to Tianjin to prepare to study abroad, but the urban life in Tianjin dazzled Puyi. This new lifestyle made Puyi temporarily give up his plan to study abroad.
Puyi, who stayed in Zhangyuan, did not indulge in the luxury of life all day long. He also thought about restoring the Qing Dynasty. Puyi established his own small court in Zhangyuan, which was known to the outside world as "the Tianjin Office of the Qing Dynasty"
", still using the reign title of Xuantong. A large group of elders gathered around Puyi, fighting for power and profit around Puyi's future, all trying to win Puyi to their side.
After Puyi came to live in Zhangyuan, Tianjin, the old and young came to greet him. Luo Zhenyù, Zheng Xiaoxu, Beile Zaitao, etc. often waited in the garden. Chen Baochen also followed Puyi and made arrangements for Puyi. In order to make it easier to enter and leave Zhangyuan, Chen Baochen
Chen Baochen also moved his family to Tianjin. At this time, Chen Baochen was nearly eighty years old, but he still visited Puyi in a carriage every day, and asked his relatives and children to enter Zhangyuan to serve Puyi.
Restoring preferential treatment conditions is a long-lasting goal in Chen Baochen's mind. Whenever there is a slight disturbance in the political situation in Beijing, Chen Baochen is extremely excited.
Chen Baochen went to Beijing many times, found old friends with whom he had interacted in the past, and discussed with the officials of the Republic of China many times, asking them to support Puyi's return to the palace. Whenever he gained anything, he reported to Puyi in time. Although Chen Baochen's activities were eventually
There was no result, but his loyalty to the Qing Dynasty and Puyi was evident from this.
While Chen Baochen was campaigning for the restoration of Puyi, a more famous figure was also actively promoting his own political ideas in order to restore the Qing Dynasty. He was the central figure of the 1898 Reform Movement, the famous Kang Youwei.
Kang Youwei was the main leader of the reform movement in the late Qing Dynasty. After the failure of the reform movement, he went into exile overseas and returned to his motherland after the Revolution of 1911. He tried his best to safeguard the imperial system and opposed the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty. He once teamed up with Zhang Xun to engage in restoration activities and served as a supporter of the royalist party.
leader.
After Puyi arrived in Tianjin, he immediately called Kang Youwei and asked him to come to Tianjin. Kang Youwei set off immediately after receiving the call. Regardless of his old age, frailty and fatigue from the journey, he traveled to Zhangyuan that night to "see the beauty of heaven", so naturally he paid homage to him.
Knocking is no different from the etiquette used to meet Emperor Guangxu in the past. The emperor and his ministers relived old dreams, miserable and miserable. Then, Kang Youwei advised him to "advance virtues, cultivate careers, be close to the virtuous, and stay away from the sycophants", and Puyi felt that his loyalty was commendable.
Kang Youwei's trip to the north caused an uproar. Comments were made one after another accusing "Kang Shengren." Beijing's "Great Alliance Against Preferential Treatment of the Qing Dynasty" publicly issued a declaration saying that Kang Youwei, the leader of the royalist party, together with Sheng Yun, the leader of the Zongshe Party, and other members of the restoration party
, gathered in Tianjin, secret meeting, "plot to overthrow the Republic", "desperate move"
To this end, the association made an urgent appeal to all walks of life to expand the "Great Alliance Against Preferential Treatment of the Qing Dynasty", monitor the whereabouts of Puyi, Kang Youwei and other Qing Dynasty elders, and investigate the relationship between Japan and the Puyi Group.
However, the government of the Republic of China, especially the president, did not respond at all to this.
"Oriental Times" even published a comment under the title "Saints of the Qing Dynasty": "Only the Kang family is a saint of the Qing Dynasty, and an unlucky person of the Republic of China. Whenever he has an agenda, it will be detrimental to the Republic of China. Therefore, we are here to visit him."
Yes, I have to be afraid. Because I changed Lao Tzu's words, I sighed and said: The saint will not die, the trouble will not stop."
Kang Youwei analyzed the political and economic conditions of the United States, France and other countries in turn according to his own point of view, and concluded that China's situation and customs are completely opposite to those of Europe and the United States. Democracy and republic are just names for China, and China's political system cannot
In his view, the Republic of China and the Republic were the source of China's troubles. All political systems could not adapt to China's national conditions. Only by establishing a monarch could China have hope. In Kang Youwei's view, only Puyi could save China.
Kang Youwei's long letter strongly inspired Puyi and the elders around him, and gave them great confidence. They held an "imperial meeting" in Zhangyuan...
At this time, Zhang Xun, who also lived in Tianjin, also came to see Puyi.
Zhang Xun is an indispensable figure in the annals of modern Chinese history. He is famous for directing the 12-day restoration of Emperor Xuantong of the Qing Dynasty in 1917.
Zhang Xun was born in poverty and has done many philanthropic deeds. He donated money to build a guild hall in Beijing and funded Jiangxi students and poor people in Beijing. Shao Shiping, the first governor of Jiangxi Province, and world-famous Fang Zhimin, Zhang Guotao, Xu Deheng, etc. have received funding.
They were all Jiangxi students at Peking University at the time, and in Fengxin they also used food money to provide relief to local disaster victims, orphans and widows.
When Zhang Xun saw Pu Yi, he walked up to Pu Yi without hesitation, lay down on the brick floor and kowtowed to Pu Yi. At the same time, he said in a rough voice: "How do you do, Your Majesty?"
Pu Yi was a little surprised and moved in his heart. He hurried forward to help him up and said: "How are you, General? General, please rise."
As he spoke, Puyi stepped forward and pulled Zhang Xun up, and walked to the living room together.
The living room was furnished with hardwood tables and chairs, Western-style sofas, and glass screens, which were very elegant and nondescript. Puyi and Zhang Xun sat across from each other at a round table, and Zhang Xun smoked cigarettes one after another.
Zhang Xun said: "The emperor has been here in Tianjin for so long, are you used to living there? I should have gone to see you, but the emperor lives in the concession, and it is very inconvenient to come in and out. I did not go to pay your respects to the emperor. I hope you will forgive me."
"General, you're welcome. I live well in Tianjin."
"Oh, it's all that Wang Hengyue who drove the emperor out of the palace. Didn't he, Wang Hengyue, do it just to get more treasures in the palace? It's a pity that I don't have the soldiers and power in my hands now. Otherwise, I will defend your majesty and those slanderous officials and traitors to the death.
Fight to the death," Zhang Xun said with enthusiasm.
"The general's loyalty can be seen from heaven." Puyi was really moved, so he spoke out what was in his heart: "Does the general think the Qing Dynasty can be restored?"
Zhang Xun's answer was without hesitation: "Yes, I can definitely do it. As long as I have my ministers here, even if I lose my fortune and my body is shattered, I must restore the Qing Dynasty. In this way, I will die without regrets."
Puyi looked to the side: "I want to go to Japan. What does the general think?"
"No, you must not!" Zhang Xun was shocked when he heard this: "The Japanese are ambitious and have been eyeing China for a long time. If the emperor leaves, he will definitely become a prisoner of the Japanese. We are in the country, calling on all the people to be diligent and diligent."
, restore the royal family, and fight the rebels vigorously."
Seeing that Zhang Xun did not agree with him to go to Japan, Puyi was a little disappointed.
Whether Zhang Xun or Kang Youwei, although they were both "loyal ministers", they did not have military power in their hands. How easy was it to talk about restoring the Qing Dynasty?
Only the Japanese can help themselves
Puyi had actually made up his mind at this time.
Zhang Xun had no idea what Puyi was thinking: "Your Majesty, I think that we can first summon all the old people from the palace to Tianjin. Although many people have come to seek refuge with the Emperor, it is still not enough. If the Emperor's Zhang
The garden is not enough to live in, so I am willing to donate my own house."
"You are very good, you are very good." Puyi said a few perfunctory words, but he was absent-minded: "I will naturally send someone to handle this matter, so don't worry."
Zhang Xun nodded, but he was still uneasy: "Your Majesty, I risk my life to advise you, don't rely on anyone but the Japanese, otherwise the Emperor will be fooled by the Japanese sooner or later, and those who are loyal to the Qing Dynasty in the world
Loyal ministers will also feel chilled by this."
"Oh, I have my own idea in my heart. Don't worry about me, dear."